Lighter easier drinking wines are filling the shelves at our favorite wine shops. There are many wine choices, some we seek out to enjoy for a special occasion, others we stock up on for all occasions.

California’s Mendocino County is widespread and extremely diverse, encompassing 2.4 million acres of land. The area sprawls across narrow valleys, giant redwood forests, and reaches out to the pristine northern California coastline. The scenic route and my favorite way to get there starts at Highway 128 in Cloverdale, at the northern tip of Sonoma County, and continues north until you reach Anderson Valley, an AVA (American Viticultural Area) most known for pinot noir, chardonnay, and Alsatian grape varietals.

Jean Bousquet, a third generation French winemaker, traveled to Argentina in the early 90’s and fell in love with a very particular area named the Gualtallary zone of Tupungato, sub-region of Mendoza’s Uco Valley. Sitting 4,000 feet in the Andean foothills, these high-elevation grape vineyards are considered to produce some of the finest wines in Mendoza.

On the Central Coast of California, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, is where you will see the best views of the rugged Pacific coastline. This area is also home to the Paso Robles wine region. Once known primarily for cattle ranches and grain fields, the region also has a rich history of grape growing by true American farmers.

Sauvignon Blanc, also referred to as just Sauvignon, is a dry white wine. Sauvignon means wild and blanc means white – appropriate names to define a fun summer wine.

The Willamette Valley, a premier wine growing region with over 20,000 acres of planted grape vineyards, starts less than an hour south of Portland, Oregon. The valley’s topography is over 100 miles long, spanning 60 miles at its widest point, sitting between the state’s breathtaking Cascade Mountains to the east, with outstanding views of Mount Hood and the Central Coast Range to the west.

New Hampshire is famous for the first-in-the-nation presidential primary held every four years. Beyond this, New Hampshire is annually recognized as one of the most livable states in the country. The Granite State is also famous for its abundance of natural resources and beauty: cherished ocean, large lakes, cascading rivers, and tall mountains. The farm-to-table movement and the growth of domestic wine production are adding to the state’s appeal.