Behind the Cork™ Reviews

Affordable & Attainable Wine Suggestions

Behind the Cork™ Reviews

Part of the fun and adventure of wine is opening a bottle and finding out what’s Behind the Cork™.

I am not paid by any producers of wine, although I may be provided with samples for review. And, in those cases where I am, I’ll be sure and tell you. I am not a professional reviewer of wine. I simply love to share recommendations on great wines. Hope you enjoy these!

I frequently get asked “What’s a good bottle of wine to buy?” And, my response always begins with “What types of wine do you enjoy drinking?”

Most people are just looking for a nice bottle of wine to have with dinner or to take to a party. Something that’s easily obtainable and affordable.

These are wines I’ve tried and liked. Wines that you should be able to find, afford and hopefully, enjoy.

While I always say that you should drink whatever you like, these Behind the Cork™ recommendations will give you the opportunity to try something new without fear of the unknown.

Behind the Cork™

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Behind the Cork™ - Rombauer Zinfandel

Behind the Cork™ - Rombauer Zinfandel

Koerner and Joan Rombauer established Rombauer Vineyards in 1980, and in 1984 they released their first California-style Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. One interesting note about the Rombau…

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Behind the Cork™ - Carneros Creek Reserve Chardonnay

Behind the Cork™ - Carneros Creek Reserve Chardonnay

Carneros Creek Winery (now a brand under Carneros Wine Company) was originally founded by Francis Mahoney in 1972. While the physical winery was sold to Michael Mondavi in 2006, the Mahoney family has…

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Behind the Cork™ - Sobon Estate Barbera

Behind the Cork™ - Sobon Estate Barbera

Shenandoah Vineyards in Plymouth, CA, was founded in 1977 by Shirley and Leon Sobon. They moved from Los Altos, California, where Leon was a Senior Scientist with the Lockheed Research Lab. Leon&#8217…

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Behind the Cork™ - Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon

Behind the Cork™ - Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon

When Chateau Ste. Michelle was founded in 1967, many believed great wine could only come from Italy or California. Their founders set out to prove otherwise—and in doing so, established Washington’s f…

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Behind the Cork™ - Bezel Cabernet Sauvignon

Behind the Cork™ - Bezel Cabernet Sauvignon

Bezel is a new wine adventure from the famed Cakebread Family of wines. Since 1973, they have made wine in Napa Valley at Cakebread Cellars in Rutherford, California. But with Bezel, they are breakin…

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Behind the Cork™ - Parallelle 45 Red Blend

Behind the Cork™ - Parallelle 45 Red Blend

Parallèle 45 is named after the earth’s 45th parallel, a famous circle of latitude that marks the midpoint between the equator and the North Pole. It also passes over the cellars of Paul Jaboulet Aîné…

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Behind the Cork™ - Montes Alpha Carménère

Behind the Cork™ - Montes Alpha Carménère

Montes — officially Viña Montes — was founded in 1987 by four partners with extensive experience in winemaking and viticulture: Aurelio Montes, Douglas Murray, Alfredo Vidaurre, and Pedro Grand. Their…

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Behind the Cork™ - St. Francis Pinot Noir

Behind the Cork™ - St. Francis Pinot Noir

The fruit for this wine was sourced from multiple vineyards in the Sonoma Coast region. This Pinot was fermented using a combination of techniques, fusing both old and new world styles of Pinot Noir …

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Behind the Cork™ - Olarra Classico Gran Reserva Rioja

Behind the Cork™ - Olarra Classico Gran Reserva Rioja

Olarra Clásico Gran Reserva 2016 is a well-regarded Spanish red wine from the Rioja region of Spain. With a history dating back 50 years, Bodegas Olarra base their wines on the ideal selection of the…

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