Fall Party Pairings

Pairing: 2010 Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé ($12)

With soft red currant flavors and a subtle sweetness, this is an immensely drinkable rosé.

Pairing: 2009 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc ($12)

Made with grapes from a vineyard located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, this features lively citrus tones.

Pairing: NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs ($11)

This pear-scented bottling is the driest, crispest sparkler in the winery's lineup and features an attractively low price.

Pairing: 2009 Castle Rock Pinot Noir ($12)

Making decent, value-priced Pinot Noir is almost impossible, but Castle Rock pulls it off with this bright, plummy wine.

Pairing: Juve y Camps Cinta Purpura Rserva Brut ($12)

Some inexpensive cavas are simple and boring, but this one offers loads of refreshing apple and floral flavors.

Pairing: 2010 Chivite Gran Feudo Navarra Rosado

A bright, zesty rosé made primarily with Garnacha and full of graceful raspberry and cherry flavors.

Pairing: 2010 Tiefenbrunner Pinot Bianco ($14)

Tiefenbrunner's entry-level whites are aged in tanks (not oak), which emphasizes this wine's minerally apple and citrus tones.

Pairing: 2011 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay ($14)

Straightforward citrus flavors are rich yet focused in this tasty KJ white.

Pairing: 2007 Clos du Bois Merlot ($15)

Clos du Bois helped popularize Merlot in the 1980s with plummy, herb-accented bottlings like this one.

Pairing: 2009 Esser Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon ($10)

A dash of peppery Petite Sirah adds a bit of firmness to this supple, berry-driven Cabernet.