The California most non-Calfornians have in their minds is either Hollywood, sprawling palm-lined white sand beaches, and rolling desert valleys studded with cacti and other parched-looking vegetation. And no mistake, this is a lot of California and an important aspect of the Golden State’s often dualistic identity. But go a little further north and you will experience a very different aspect of this giant of the West Coast – Arecaceae give way to redwoods, pines, and junipers, white sand becomes studded with pebbles and red rock spilling from the sea cliffs, and the perpetual sunshine of further south is punctuated by extraordinary downpours, sea fog, and the occasional blanket of snow. 

And this is the side of California credited with the cultivation and fermentation of some of the best and most iconic wines in the world. Anchoring the standard of viticultural production on Turtle Island, regions like Sonoma, Napa Valley, and the often-obscure Mendocino coastline have delivered some of our very favorite bottles in the collection – so now we’re taking a moment to honor them. Let’s dive in.

A (very) brief history of the California wine scene

California’s viticultural history follows a religious storyline which served to found a positively devout modern oenophilic lifestyle.

The west coast vineyards sank their roots in first at the encouragement of Spanish colonizers who encouraged Franciscan Missionarios to plant grapes to feed the demand for Catholic communion wine. An environment and soil makeup ideal for grape-growing facilitated the easy spread of these original farms across the state, cultivating an active culture of winemaking for many hundreds of years. 

Fast forward to the prohibition era and the region’s winemakers face some serious trouble – however some historic growers including the Martinez brothers were able to keep up production by continuing to legally produce sacramental wines for religious consumption. 

Following the repeal of prohibition legislation in the early 1930s, California’s numerous vineyards exploded, and especially Napa Valley and the surrounding regions bloomed to build the contemporary icon of the wine world.

And breathe.

Five fabulous Northern California wines from the Argaux collection

• 2020 Origin Pinot Noir – $45 Nestled in the foothills just miles from the ocean, this single vineyard is a pure expression of Pinot Noir grown quietly under the spell of the Pacific Ocean on an old, hidden estate.
• 2020 Origin Bates Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon – $75 This wine is a knock your socks off, savor every last drop kind of bottle. Just north of Big Sur, this old vine Cabernet is grown on the mountain peak which gives it intensity of flavor and rich minerality.
• 2020 Wonderland Project No. 9 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon – $55
  From the heart of Napa Valley comes this Cab Sauv whose grapes were grown in a blessed location high in the hills where the young uvae can escape the coastal fog and ripen slowly. The result is a deep and velvety wine that is bodacious but silky-smooth, gracing the menu of restaurants like The French Laundry. Sweet, savory, with fruits, herbs, and chocolate, this is the one to bring to your cold-weather BBQ. Pair with burgers and your favorite North Face vest.

Other offerings from Argaux

Not sure where to start when it comes to wine? You’re not alone.

Our team of sommeliers has put together a Wine 101 “starter kit” to make it easy for you.

Step 1: Purchase our Wine 101 Tasting Kit For Beginners by adding it to your cart below and proceeding to check out
Step 2: Receive your bundle of 4 wines including 2 bottles of white, 2 bottles of red, and a booklet explaining the 4 common grapes varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon delivered to your doorstep.
Step 3: Taste through the lineup for a fun and easy to understand experience to begin your wine journey with us!

Cheers!

How do you go about answering this question? Both wine and pasta – or rather, the dishes you can create using pasta as a base – are so incredibly diverse and expansive that finding the perfect viticultural match for the right semolina dish feels like an impossible task. The good news is that it’s hard to get it wrong, and foodies may follow their hearts and mouths when choosing a wine to go with their favorite noodle iteration.

For those of you who want a little more instruction, here’s our take.

Food for thought: how to think about pairing wine with pasta

Of course a good pasta is important to creating an enjoyable food-and-wine experience. But what we’re really talking about when we’re wondering how to pair wine with pasta is not which wines go well with boiled wheat noodles, but rather the sauces, garnish, and fillings with which we’ll be decorating those noodles. Although the shape of a noodle can affect how you experience the sauce – distribution, concentration, etc. – and may present another factor. 

For now, however, let’s just think about the sauce. Distinctive pasta dishes tend to fall into one of 4 categories, including tomato-forward, veggie-forward (primavera), cheese-forward, seafood-forward, and meat-forward although the latter is often integrated into one of the first two. Depending on how your dish is weighted, you’ll want to reach for a particular bottle that brings out the best qualities of the dish.

• Acidic tomato-based sauces like a medium-bodied red that can both match and break the tang of the zingy red fruit.
  
• Light and delicate vegetable-heavy pastas prefer something that will uplift the delicate flavors contributed by the plants: roses and white wines on the lighter side of the scale do well in this category.
  
• For creamy, cheesy, gooey dishes, you want to reach for something that will cut the fat but not become bitter by contrast – these are often fuller whites, and lighter reds.
  
• Think about wine you drink when you’re eating fruit de mer for seafood-heavy pastas. Like the primavera, your wine needs to avoid overwhelming delicate oceanic flavors. Acidic white wines are a fast friend here.

As a final note, any time you add meat, cream, or cheese to your pasta, the wine you match it with can get a little bigger and bolder to break through the richer flavors.

Critically, remember that the important thing is that you enjoy the experience – these “rules” are meant to guide you towards discovering what you enjoy in a wine and pasta pairing, so feel invited to explore, experiment, and discover. But maybe start with a few of our suggestions below. 

Best wine for pasta

• NV Delavenne Père & Fils Brut Tradition Grand Cru Champagne – $50
  A new-to-us grand cru champagne with which we are already completely in love. Classically flavored, shimmering and versatile, you can take this for corkage to your fav Italian spot or serve  it up casually at a friendly dinner party alongside a cheesy shrimp carbonara.
  

• 2021 Cantine di Marzo Fiano di Avellino DOCG – $26
  This wine is Margaux’s favorite, so you know it has to be good (like, astoundingly good.) It is an education in Amalfi Coast terroir with lemon, green fruits, and a Tyrheannian salinity on the tongue. Pair with a bright, lemony farfalle with peas, kale, grilled salmon, and a healthy grating of fresh parm.
  

• 2019 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Télégramme’ – $65
  Deep, dark, vibrant, and velvety – everything you wanted your goth phase in high school to be. We’ve grown up now and we still paint our nails black from time to time, but this wine bravely carries the fullness of its dark and delicious palate with it into the future – definitely one to age for a little before you pop the cork. When you do, a classic tagliatelle with marinara will be just the thing.
  

• 2013 Domaine Bohn Alsace Lieu-Dit Schieferberg Dry Riesling – $30
  George Clooney was spotted ordering a cacio e pepe, and we can only hope that this was the wine he decided to pair with it because, *mwah*, what a match – like salt-and-pepper on the silver fox celebrity. This mature riesling defies the genre with uncharacteristic but oh-so welcome notes of deep spice and sandalwood.
  

• 2020 Storm Santa Ynez Valley Sauvignon Blanc – $26
  She’s so dang cute. Grassy, citrusy, and full of sunshine, we can’t wait to take this bottle with us on our next gingham-blanket picnic – maybe to take in the upcoming superbloom? We’re gonna bring with us a frisbee, a Mary Oliver chapbook, and some crab ravioli.
  

• 2019 Domaine Alain Burguet Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Les Champeaux’ Premier Cru – $150
  A god among Pinot Noir, this gorgeous bottle exemplifies the varietal operating at peak performance, with utterly delicious results. It’s bold and full-bodied, but oh-so smooth on the finish which is rung in with florals, fruits, and earthen tones. Pair with a rigatoni and rabbit ragu. 

Other offerings from Argaux

Suffering from a little choice paralysis? Understandable. Wine and pasta are both incredibly varied and the possibilities seem to go on forever. How exciting! But how daunting, too, if you’re just trying to get dinner on the table and maybe impress your guests in the meantime. 

Well, we’ve got you covered, with our Italian Food & Wine Gift Box. This little gift kit comes with everything you need to construct a delicious and perfectly-paired meal featuring quintessential Italian flavors and textures, both in your glass, and on your plate. 

The kit includes 1 or 2 bottles of our favorite small-bath Italian wines, artisanal semolina rigatoni (this ain’t your grandma’s boxed spaghetti), an amazing Marinara from woman-owned Ciao Poppy, and organic EVOO from Ceralti to give everything that beloved Italian silk. 

This kit is a great way to learn more about pairing wine with a really simple (but absolutely iconic) pasta dish, or as a gift to another wine-loving foodie in your life. 

Cheers!

The humble hamburger has run the gamut from fast-food-classic-with-a-bad-name to elevated object of intrigue and invention among top chefs. An iconic food thing that (we think) originated on boats carrying immigrants from mainland Europe to the Americas – being made from a tough smoked beef which kept well and was ideal for long sea voyages – its modest origin has over the years given way to an unparalleled infamy and an extraordinary number of interpretations.

So how can this beloved and done-to-death giant of the culinary world be taken even further? Why, with the right wine pairing, of course! (We wonder if the sea-faring immigrants had any on their boats…)

How to pair wine with a burger

Okay, define “burger…”

The wine we recommend for a cow patty on brioche with swiss and mustard is not going to be the one we put forth for a garden burger with chipotle aioli. And everyone likes their burger, regardless of the base you choose, a little different – so our real recommendation is to do some experimentation and figure out what you like for yourself. 

But here are a few tips to get you started:

• Choose your basic wine style according to your main protein. Having a veggie patty? Go pink. Poultry? Try a white or sparkling. Beef? Go red.

• Varietals and finer tasting notes can be matched to your favorite toppings. If you’re a cheese-boy, tannic reds or acidic whites can help to cut the fat. Earthy reds and sweet pinks can elevate mushroom umami. Classic toppings like pickles, tomatoes, mustard, etc. can have that nostalgic burger-and-coke feeling evoked by a sweeter red, or even a little bit of bubbly.

• Don’t forget your side! Fries are just as variable as their main-course counterparts. Classic straight-cut russet fries with salt call for a little effervescence to lift them up. If you’re a fan of truffle salt on your frites, a fruity, floral red can make things even more interesting. If you like a sweet potato fry with a wasabi dip, reach for the rosé.

And if that wasn’t enough, here are a few specific recommendations from the Argaux collection we think you’ll love.

Best wine for burgers and fries

• 2020 Storm Duvarita Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir – $65
  The Pinot Noir of our dreams. Like sipping black velvet, it carries both the ocean and the forest floor in its oeuvre, while still delivering a fruit-forward punch that is just so very drinkable. The pairing: A well-done beef burger with raspberry jam, chevre, grilled mushrooms, and truffle fries on the side.
  

• 2003 Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – $270
  Aged to perfection – you have 5 years to experience the peak of what this bottle has to offer, so why not pair it with a really delicious meal? A deeply intriguing wine with complex flavors like gazing into a bottomless well. The pairing: A vegetarian beet-based patty on brioche with a side of sweet potato fries.
  

• NV Weingut Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Wine (Non-Alcoholic) – $25
  Joy to those who love to explore the best culinary wine pairings but prefer to leave out the alcohol. This effervescent 0.0% Riesling is fresh and green, gorgeous in a flute next to a greasy red gingham paper. The pairing: An herbaceous turkey patty topped with sesame coleslaw, side of curly fries smothered in sriracha-garlic mayo.
  

• 2019 No Name Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir – $35
  So very balanced, and super accessible to boot. In terms of taste, this wine is hitting way above its weight class, and we aren’t in the least bit surprised. Smooth, flavorsome, delicious – and evocative of a classic cherry cola on the tongue. The pairing: a beef cheeseburger with a slice of american cheddar and russet fries. Bacon optional.
  

• 2020 Norris Ribbon Ridge Dry Riesling – $35
  This crunchy Oregonian Riesling is one of our favs here at Argaux. This is a truly special bottle within its genre, with new fruits bursting forth on the tongue with every sip. It’s wildly food-friendly, and a good one to reach for if you want an elevated eating experience whatever meal you’re having. The (burger) pairing: a chicken or beef patty topped with guacamole and pickled jalapenos, side of cajun tots.
  

• 2021 Château de Montfrin ‘Paumiste’ Rosé – $18
  We hope to see this bottle making an entrance at every barbecue we attend this summer. It’s got that fruit/flower/mineral balance that just makes it such a good companion for even really rich foods. The pairing: Any base, absolutely smothered in grilled onions, and topped with a fried egg and fresh cilantro. Side of shoestring fries.

Other offerings from Argaux

Dive a little deeper into the wine counter for another classic comfort food with our Italian Food & Wine Gift Box.

This basket of goodies makes the perfect present for the foodies in your life, or as a little treat to your own taste buds that’ll take you on a well-deserved trip to  Europe’s favorite boot. 

Included are 1-2 bottles of Italian wine, along with artisanal rigatoni, to-die for organic olive oil, and a jar of delectable and totally traditional marinara. If you like, we can wrap it all up in our segmented canvas tote – you’ll be the envy of your local farmer’s market with your flowers and baguette protruding from their labeled pockets. 

Visit our gift page for this and other special collections from the Argaux cellars. 

Cheers!

Saint Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. And whether you’re celebrating one-on-one, having a group experience, or treating yourself to some well-deserved alone time, this holiday is the perfect excuse to splurge a little on a few special dainties. 

Caviar is synonymous with luxury – not least of all because of the price tag – and such richness rarely stands alone. Whatever substrate you use to consume your caviar, an accompanying glass of wine is simply a must. But how do you know which bottle to reach for? Let’s talk about it. 

How to pair wine with caviar

Caviar – the roe of a variety of fish species – is somewhat of a paradox in terms of its flavor profile. Quality caviar is rich but delicate, powerful but complex, and as a result pinning down the right wine to marry it with can feel tricky at first. 

High tannin reds can overwhelm the subtler flavors in caviar and may clash with the briney oeuvre offered by the fish eggs. Very sweet wines of any color can balance out a salt-forward variety, but if you’re reaching for top-shelf caviar, you want to steer clear of anything dessert or fortified. 

As a rule of thumb, you want to reach for drier white wines with generous acidity to create a balanced experience that doesn’t pit the beverage and the edible against one another. Oaked Chardonnays rarely go amiss when caviar’s on the table. And of course, brut or extra-brut Champagnes provide an iconic pair to this salty treat. If you’re feeling adventurous, a pink bubbly offers an intriguing fruit-forward match and wild textural experience all-round.

These are what the sommeliers have to say. But of course, the most important thing to consider is whether or not you like the wine you’re drinking. If you have a favorite bottle you’re committed to, cheers to you! If you wanna know what we think, here are a few bottles from the Argaux collection we’ll be breaking out for our fishy fare. 

Best wine pairings for caviar

• 2020 Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Chardonnay – $38
  This is a fresh and fruity Chard from the plucky Oregon vineyards which are fast becoming iconic on the viticultural map. Citrusy, bright, a contemporary classic, this bottle promises to shimmer with the light of a Hundred Suns next to your caviar can this V-day.

• 2012 Vilmart & Cie Champagne 1er Cru ‘Coeur de Cuvee’ Brut – $175
  Absolute luxury in a bottle. The flavor profile is silky in its refinement, with notes of lime flowers and spices to add a little intrigue to your roe. Offering a serious punch of salinity, she’s no lay-down however, and will prove more than a match to whatever other salty thing you’ve invited to play.

• 2021 Scribe Carneros Pinot Noir – $52
  If you want a red, it’s gotta be a Pinot. And California Pinots especially are famous for their smooth, smooth tannins and exquisite balance of fruity sweetness and earthy depth. If you’re big into finding umami in unusual places, a spoonful of caviar and this crunchy rouge will help you get there.

• 2020 Crazy Creatures Kremstal Gruner Veltliner – $24
  Traditionally one would squeeze a generous supply of lemon juice or other tart and acidic fruit over their caviar before consuming. And we recommend you continue the practice, however this weird, citrusy animal almost (almost) does the job for you. It’s savory, herbaceous, and absolutely deserves a seat at your table.

• 2017 Ultramarine Heintz Vineyard Sparkling Rosé – $235
  Wildly food-friendly, this bottle of opulent pink bubbles will welcome caviar with open arms. A delightful Pinot/Chardonnay blend, the sweet-tart-fruity oeuvre will sing the praises of your roe’s more delicate notes, matching the complexity of a really good caviar with its own depth and vibrancy.

• 2020 Domaine Rougeot ‘Les Grandes Gouttes’ Côte D’Or Bourgogne Blanc – $45
  Liquid gold from the Cote D’Or here to rain beauty and delight on your v-day spread. From the Premier Cru vineyards of Meursault-Charmes, this wine like a slice out of a truly exquisite French bakery offers a nuttiness which promises to enhance those same tones in your edible pairing.

• 2015 Delavenne Père & Fils Brut Millésimé Grand Cru Champagne – $85
  One of our favorites. We wouldn’t be surprised to learn they pick the grapes for this Champ individually with gold-plated tongs. If you have it, now would be the time to break out your grandmother’s gold-plated caviar spoon. If not, you lose nothing from this gorgeous bottle of bubbles. 

Further wine offerings from Argaux that pair well with caviar

If nothing in the above list quite caught your attention, no worries! Argaux has a huge range of seafood-friendly bottles to choose from that are sure to please any palate and any brand of caviar or other sumptuous feast item. 

If you’ve got very specific tastes, reach out and our team of pro somms can make a suggestion just for you. 

Or, if you’re looking for a complete wine and caviar gift set, order your ROE Caviar x Argaux Champagne Pairing for an elevated at-home date night, or save it for a rainy day – There are no rules for when and where to enjoy this delectable pairing!

Cheers, and happy V-Day!

The snows are just starting to melt in (most of) the northern hemisphere, lovebirds are necking on the branches, and Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. 

This holiday gives us a much-welcomed excuse to celebrate love in all its forms and bask in the sensual delights the world has to offer – especially the ones you can drink. 

However you’re spending this holiday, and whomever you’re spending it with, we encourage you to treat yourself to some serious viticultural deliciousness to toast to the budding season and amour, du soi, de les autres, de le monde. 

To help you celebrate, we wanted to inspire your date night this Valentine’s Day with a few ideas. Surprise, surprise…they all involve wine…the key to many of our hearts.

But, before we get into it…

A brief history of Valentine’s Day

The very first Valentine that we know of was written by the Duke d’Orleans to his wife in the 15th century, and reads: 

“Je suis desja d’amour tanné

Ma tres doulce Valentinée…”

This translates to “I am already tanned with love, my very sweet Valentine.”

The tradition of giving cards and dainties to beloveds on February 14th extends far back beyond the 1400s. And observation of the date itself is even older, originating as a feast to the Saints Valentine, three martyred figures who garnered fame as priests of the Catholic church.

The progression from Christian festival to a fete which honors love and romance is mysterious, although sometimes attributed to poetic observations of birds whose affectionate courtship rituals begin in the same season.

From Saints, to poets, to real-life lovebirds by some curious threads comes the traditions of today – and we adore them. So here are a few recommendations from us at Argaux to help you celebrate.

Best wine for Valentine’s Day

• 2022 Chateau Barbebelle Aix-en-Provence ‘Cuvée Madeleine’ Rosé – $25
  Sweet, light-hearted, with a blush to match the rouge of your lover’s cheek – if this wine were a person she would definitely sport flower crowns to the park. But this wine is just as comfortable on a white tablecloth as it is on a gingham blanket, offering a versatility that makes it flexible enough to suit whatever romantic activity you have planned for the day.
  
  Rich, rosie, and berry-forward, this wine is best paired with pastas, herbaceous flatbreads, and fruit de mer.

• NV Delavenne Père & Fils Brut Tradition Grand Cru Champagne – $55
  This Brut Tradition Grand Cru is the heart and soul of what the Delavenne’s do. Jean-Christophe describes this wine as the “embodiment of the Delavenne house tradition,” and we couldn’t think of a better bottle to elevate any dinner party, weeknight happy hour, or gathering amongst close friends.The Grand Cru label may feel intimidating at first, but this champagne is nonetheless accessible. Try it with a traditional Eggs Benedict for a romantic and well-tasted Valentine’s brunch.

2021 Massimago ‘Marchesa MariaBella’ Valpolicella Ripasso DOC – $35

If you had to imagine the idyllic setting for a pairing it would be: “A cut of meat, jazz, flowers on the table and sparkling company.” This wine is a weeknight staple and consistent best-seller.

Certified organic farming practices, woman-winemaker, native yeast fermentation, minimal sulfur addition, and 80% of all electricity used at Massimago is produced by solar panels.

Other Valentine’s day wine offerings from Argaux

If you’re a romantic soul who nonetheless gets a little stressed out when V-Day rolls around, never fear – allow us to take some of the pressure of planning off for you with some date night ideas, which can also serve as gifts for your Valentine.

For the competitive couple: The Blind Wine Tasting Kit – $85-$150

For the Francophiles, transport to the City of Love: Taste of France Wine Gift Box – $150-$200

Whether you are hopping on the next flight to Paris or simply wanderlusting from your couch, enjoy this taste of France gift set filled with some of our must-have goodies from one of our favorite countries.

This Gift Box Includes:
– Your choice of 1 or 2 bottles of our favorite French wines
– Pommery Meaux Mustard from a small town just east of Paris
– Jean Dubost 3Pc Cheese Set in Ivory
– Lola James Harper hand-poured candle from Provence

For the at-home bar enthusiasts – The Bargaux Cocktail Kit – $115

Ready to level up your cocktail game? The Volume Primo Vermouth was made specially for the legendary Archivio bar in Verona and is the main ingredient in their Negroni, which is rumored to be the best Negroni in the world. From Spritz to Negroni this kit covers the basics and gives you the tools to test out some new recipes with whatever your liquor of choice is.

Box Includes: 1 bottle of NV Volume Primo Vermouth, 1 bottle of NV Sorelle Extra Dry Prosecco, 1 bottle of Found Bubbly Water, Dehydrated Orange Slices and Cara Devine’s “Strong, Sweet and Bitter” Cocktail Recipe Book.

Cheers!

Wine is sometimes considered to be a beverage synonymous with privilege and more than a few dollars shed for a really good bottle. And no mistake, wine can get pricey – many experienced oenophiles with cash to spend will hardly blink an eye at laying down a couple hundred for something special. 

But a bottle’s price tag does not always signal better flavor, and foodies low on funds will be glad to know that it is absolutely possible to enjoy a balanced wine that won’t break the bank. 

What contributes to the cost of wine?

The amount for which the end-buyer eventually purchases a bottle of wine is decided by many other factors besides simply the quality of the product. Desirability and relative excellence of the fruit as well as the land on which it was grown absolutely has an impact, but so does the size of the vineyard, the year in which it was grown, where in the world it is being made, and where it’s being purchased.

You already know why price fluctuates for different vintages of the same varietal from the same winemaker: ideal weather conditions will make a better fruit resulting in a better product, and the price may go up. However sometimes the opposite can be the case, where a hard year may result in scant harvest. If the quality of the grape is not affected, a low supply may increase demand, and therefore the final price tag.

Of course overhead costs are another factor in wine cost. Generally, with a few notable exceptions, we might find that U.S. wines are a little pricier than European bottles, as a greater number of vineyards on the continent are lineage farms and so are subject to fewer external land-maintenance costs. Shipping costs, import fees, and tariffs can balance these numbers out however on bottles arriving from outside the country.

As with any business, cost of labor will influence a product’s end-price as well. Smaller wine operations may be able to sell a really amazing bottle for less as they’re supporting fewer workers and a smaller area of land. 

Best wine under $25 from Argaux

• 2020 Chateau des Antonins AOC Bordeaux Blanc – $25
  It’s fresh and dry and delicious with an oeuvre that feels like tasting your way through a garden planted exclusively with white flowers and green veggies. Pairs with fish, carbs, and hard, salty cheeses.
  

• 2019 San Giorgio a Lapi Sangiovese Rosso – $20
  This one’s a food-friendly red from the heart of Italy. If it grows together it goes together as they say, and the tasting notes of spice and tomato tell you exactly what this bottle begs to be matched with.
  

• 2021 Angelo Negro ‘Onorata’ Langhe Favorita Vermentino – $22.10 (sale!)
  The Favorita stretches your budget ever further with its broad appeal to a wide audience of wine drinkers. Versatile flavors cover a number of genres sure to please even the most particular palates. Invite her to your next dinner party!
  

• 2020 Les Athlètes du Vin Chinon Cabernet Franc – $24
  Serve in a stemless glass at your next outdoor soiree – ideally one where the barbecue is fired up and sizzling throughout. Throw it in the cooler for about ten minutes before you pour, and after you’ve sweat it out with your friends on the lawn.
  

• 2021 Herd & Hart Western Cape Sauvignon Blanc – $20
  Terroir is no thing reserved for the wealthy. This delicious Sauv Blanc hails from the coasts of South Africa, bringing with it the flavors from that storied soil. Fruit, salinity, and a little herbaceousness round out this wild experience.
  

• 2021 Par Fore the Course New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc – $18
  Another sporty option from Aotearoa, like fresh-cut grass and a bevy of tropical fruits that feel as deep and delectable as New Zealand’s mountain lakes. Enjoy on the course, in a hammock, or under the party tree at your uncle’s eleventy-first birthday party.
  

• 2021 Von Winning Sauvignon Blanc II – $25
  Germany’s famous for their beer expertise, but that doesn’t preclude the region from producing a really delicious wine, too. It’s classic, yet genre-defying, which is just so German, if you ask us. Pair with fish, veggies, and anything spicy.
  

• NV Sorelle Bronca Extra Dry Prosecco – $22
  Bubbles on a budget, perfect for creating sparkly wine-based cocktails to grace your next cute brunch date. Goes with anything really salty – we’re thinking a pate-and-olive spread and perhaps a few rosemary-almond crackers.
  

• 2021 Chateau Barbebelle Aix-en-Provence ‘Cuvée Madeleine’ Rosé – $25
  It’s a food-friendly, sustainable, delicious, classically-made rosé from a woman-owned winery. What’s not to love?

Other offerings from Argaux

If you want to take a vacation of the tastebuds – but you’re squirreling away for plane tickets – take a trip with Argaux to the old world and new world of wines. 

The Old World vs. New World Tasting Set offers a sensual Mediterranean tour from both the actual Med and its twin off the western coast of the Americas. In this box is included 2 to 4 bottles (your choice) of red or mixed red-and-white wines from both California and France, to give you a taste of what each region has to offer. Experienced tasters may encounter a little bit of culture shock, but also come away swooning at the serendipitous similarities between the two giants of the wine world. 

Cheers!

You’ve got a hot date coming up, and you’re still working out one or two of the evening’s critical details. However you’re spending it, and whatever’s on the menu, no amorous dinner or experience would be complete without something delicious to drink. So if you’re still in the process of putting together your wine list, allow us to make a few lush suggestions. 

What makes a romantic wine?

It could be argued that all wine is romantic in one way or another. Wine is iconically associated with romantic candlelit dinners, completed with lots of eye-gazing and moody ambiance. The depth of sensuality and intrigue offered by really high-quality bottles somehow offers a feeling of amour and passion. 

There’s no one flavor profile among the various wine genres that stands out as more romantic than any other. The best wine for your romantic dinner, then, should be based largely on what you’re eating.

Really truly though, the most romantic wine is going to be the one that makes your tastebuds sing with pleasure; that one wine that just gives you and whomever you’re sharing it with that full-body “yum.”

So think about it: what’s your favorite wine? Or what’s your partner’s favorite wine, the one that’s going to elicit an ear-to-ear grin when you pull it out of the bag?

“You remembered my favorite!”

If you can’t think of one, Argaux’s here to help. In this article, we’ve listed some of our favorites from the collections – those bottles that make our hearts and our bellies say, “mm-mm-mm.” We hope you’ll love them, too.

Most romantic wines from the Argaux collection

• 2018 Domaine Alain Burguet Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Mes Favorites’– $100

  The most striking thing about this Pinot Noir is how smooth and soft the palate is. This is a very approachable burgundy. It’s ready to drink now, but will continue to age beautifully over the next 10 years. Think notes of cranberry, morello cherries, cherry blossom, blueberry, vanilla, wild strawberries, mulberry, and forest floor.

• 2019 Domaine Gallety ‘Côtes du Vivarais’ Rouge – $40

  This Southern Rhone stunner comes from Saint-Montan, halfway between Cornas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wine is smoothe and velvety with just enough weight to warm you up on a cold night. Think notes of plums, black cherries, blueberries, olives, sweet spices, and dark chocolate.

• NV Delavenne Père & Fils Brut Reserve Grand Cru Champagne (half-bottle) – $38

  What’s more romantic than a personal bottle of Champagne? This Grand Cru Champagne is very complex, deep, and strikes the perfect balance between ripe fruit and toasty, buttered brioche flavors. It is autolytic and well developed with a long, mineral-driven finish. Think white peach, apple, apricot, lemon blossom, and buttered brioche.

• 2017 Domaine Rougeot Père et Fils Volnay-Santenots Premier Cru – $125
  A strong wine for strong love. Open her up now to enjoy a powerful punch of flavor and body, or tuck away in your cellars to open on your 10th, 20th, or 30th anniversary. It’s never too early to start planning your celebratory dinners. Jammy for all its fortitude, the Premier Cru Pinot will pair deliciously with BBQ, fish, carbs, or vegetables.

• 2022 Cantine di Marzo Greco di Tufo – $30

  Looking for a unique white wine that can go the limits? Check out this Greco di Tufo from Cantine di Marzo. Produced from volcanic soils in Italy’s Campania region, this complex and textured wine is like drinking southern Italian history—and it’s a no brainer with pizza and antipasti alike. Think lemon rind, bergamot, dried Mediterranean herbs, and smoky minerality.

• 2022 Rare North Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – $28

  This is our new ‘gaux-to’ Pinot Noir that outperforms its price point. It’s bursting with flavor and has a velvety mouthfeel and great structure due to the 9 months spent on neutral oak. Think notes of candied violets, red berry fruit, blood orange, forest, and lightly-roasted espresso beans

• 2021 Chateau Barbebelle Aix-en-Provence ‘Cuvée Madeleine’ Rosé – $25
  Bashfulness is an underrated emotion, and we hope your blush is well-matched by the color of this absolutely drinkable Rosé. She’s versatile, and can accompany you on a casual picnic date, a romantic lunch, or a take-it-to-the-next-level dinner. Like drinking perfume in all the right ways, this bottle lives up to its bouquet-evocative genre with notes of rose and geranium on the tongue. 

Other romantic wine offerings from Argaux that are perfect for a date night

We’ve got a few kits in our cellars sure to inspire a fun and gamified experience that won’t cut down on the amour. 

Our best selling Blind Tasting Kit challenges wine drinkers to engage all their senses in an educational game of viticultural sleuthing. Containing 2-4 bottles of mystery wine, as well as a comprehensive guide to wine tasting, this kit teaches you how to look at, inhale, and savor your vino like a pro so you can identify variety, region, and even year based on what you observe.

Or perhaps you want to go on a little trip from the comfort of your own home, check out our Destination Collection for a taste of California, France, or Italy! 

Cheers!

Name a more iconic pair; we’ll wait. Cheese and wine have held fast each other’s hands throughout the ages, on sumptuous feast tables, gingham picnic blankets, in many, many art galleries, and at so many other events of varying notoriety and luxury. The experience of wine and cheese can be either a humble snack consumed in front of your open fridge, or a sensory and expensive adventure guided by the hands of pro somms and cheesemongers. Either way, it’s usually delicious.

How to pair wine with cheese

The genres of wine and cheese both span from mild to intense, from aromatic to subtle, and from robust to velvety (or velveeta, as the case may be.) The wrong pairing can be just as problematic as the right one is delicious, but there are a few simple rules you can follow to tip the odds in your favor. 

• Go for congruent intensity. A strong cheese will pair amicably with a strong wine. A milder cheese will get along well with a lighter wine. And so forth.
• Temper funk with sugar. If you’ve selected your edible first, and tend to go for smellier varieties, a sweeter wine such as a port or riesling strikes the right balance.
• Geography provides a map to “yum.” Wines and cheeses made within the same regions often provide a miraculous match for one another. Similarities of tradition, access to ingredients, soil, and even the critters doing the fermentation may all be to thank for this phenomenon.
• Ask your cheesemonger for a nuttiness rating. It’s hard to go wrong with a hard, nutty cheese. The flavors are bold enough to stand up to a stronger wine but not so strong that they’ll overwhelm something with a more delicate body. 

If this guide isn’t quite enough for you, allow us to recommend some bottles from the Argaux cellars that were practically made to be eaten with our cheesy friends.

Best wine for cheese

• 2020 Storm Duvarita Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir – $44
  This jammy, spicy Pinot is super food friendly, and cheese is definitely on the menu once this cork is popped. Red fruits, herbs and earth are carried on a silky smooth body – pair with gruyere, either on its own or smothering a juicy burger you grilled up on the back patio. 

• 2021 Origin Santa Cruz Mountains Rosé – $65
  A wild mountain wine from the woody coasts of California. This rose owes its unique taste – ripe with strawberries and citrus – to native fermentation techniques and the rich redwood-and-ancient-seabed soils in which it was grown. Try it with a slice of provolone, or a chunk of ripe Humboldt Fog goats cheese to evoke more of that California coastline. 

• 2020 Viña Cartin Rías Baixas Albariño – $32
  Fresh, delicious, accessible – an excellent weeknight staple. Citrus, nuts, and melons deck out this wine’s wonderful palate, inspiring some of the accouterments you might add to your cheeseboard. Between your almonds and sliced clementines, consider tucking in manchego for a geographic pairing, or some fresh burrata to bring out the best in this bright and acid beverage.  

• 2021 Cantine Carlo Mazzella Ischia Biancolella – $24
  Verdant and saline, this exceptional bottle can be compared to a dip in mediterranean waters – or Tyrrhenian, more accurately. Farmed sustainably and organically, fermented with native yeasts, the Biancolella begs to be paired with a fresh mozz in herbed olive oil. 

• 2020 Weingut Emmerich Knoll Loibner FEDERSPIEL Grüner Veltliner – $25
  For tried-and-true foodies and siloed wine enthusiasts alike, this maker just keeps ending up on menus at the world’s most notable restaurants, so you know it goes well with a generous helping of the good stuff. Stone fruit, florals and spices on the tongue offer a sensuous tasting experience. It’s the perfect pair for something soft and just a little funky, say, a honeyed chevre. 

• 2020 Lionel Faury Saint Joseph ‘Vieilles Vignes’ Rouge – $60
  Old, old, old vines, with a flavor that tells no lies about their age. Proud flavors of dark vittles like blackberry, olives, leather and cherry come together to create a velvety palate and sophisticated sip. Gouda has gotta be the right cheese for this wine.

Other offerings from Argaux

If you’re looking for additional culinary wine pairing inspiration that extends beyond the cheese board, we’ve got a couple choice kits in the Argaux collection that are bound to spark any foodie’s imagination.

For a simply delicious experience, take your taste buds on a trip to Italy with our ‘Gaux To Italy Italian Wine & Food Gift Box. Perfect as a present or for adding a little spice to your dinner time routine, this kit comes complete with artisanal semolina rigatoni, OOO (organic olive oil), marinara from Ciao Pappy, and a bottle (or two!) of Italian wines, your choice of red, white, or mixed, to complete the table spread. 

For a broader palate, take a peek at our Food & Wine Pairing kit, flush with two bottles of hand-selected vino, a 101 pairing guide, and a copy of Vanessa Price’s brilliant Big Macs & Burgundy that will teach you how to match wines with all your favorite foods – from poached salmon and asparagus, to a greasy pack of fries.

Cheers!

Vegan food gets a bad rap. To those of us who don’t have experience with plant-based cuisine, when we think of animal-free foods we often imagine processed and flavor-minimal meat replacement substances that try (and fail) to pretend to be something they’re not. To individuals who include meat, eggs, and dairy on their plates, these foodstuffs can be uninspiring at best, and repulsive at worst. 

But this is a small, small corner of the world of vegan cuisine, which is more often made up of delicious vegetable-based dishes that uplift and celebrate all things leafy, grainy, and fruity with creative preparations and exciting flavor profiles that show off proudly what they’re made of. And complex plant-based dishes beg to be carefully paired with the right wine, as well. 

So whether you’re experimenting with more meat-free meals in the new year, or cooking a plant-based dinner for a vegan beloved in the coming season, you can engage this guide to help you find the right vino for your table, whatever happens to be on it. 

How to pair wine with vegan food

Vegan cuisine pairing rules follow the same rules as any other animal-centric dish. The wine(s) you choose for your meal should serve as either a complement or a match to whatever is on the plate. Your beverage will act either to balance strong flavors, or to enhance and uplift more delicate ones, allowing both the meal and the wine to shine their brightest on your palate. 

Vegan food eschews some of the rules more traditional animal-based pairing techniques assume: for example, you don’t need to worry about taming your medium-rare steak with a high-tannin Cabernet. Beyond these few exceptions, however, pairing wine with plant-based fare can prove intuitive for experienced oenophiles. 

High-tannin wines will still comfortably pair with high-fat or very salty foods. Vegan desserts continue to beg for sweeter wines, like Rieslings or Ports. Acidic dishes – anything tomato or citrus forward – should be balanced by acidic white wines, and so on. 

In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at a few of our favorite vegan-friendly bottles from the Argaux cellars, to help you find the perfect pair for your next plant-based experience. 

Best wine for vegan food

• 2020 Storm Curtis Vineyard Carbonic Cabernet Franc – $32.30
  A genre-defiant red, this tannic Cab Franc is so, so drinkable in its final form – effervescent, and longing to be served slightly chilled. Dark, dark red with deep fruits and a selection of peppers on the tongue, this bubbly red can cut through the density of fattier vegan dishes while still supporting any more delicate, herbaceous flavors that might be present. We recommend pairing with a thick linguini smothered in dairy-free basil-cashew pesto.
  

• 2021 Chateau Barbebelle Aix-en-Provence ‘Héritage’ Rosé – $28
  A testament to its terroir, this beautiful pink wine is all fruit and flowers on the palate, invoking an afternoon summer breeze, wafting the perfume of ripe stone fruits and strawberries into every glass. Sommeliers recommend pairing this wine with seafood. We think a plant-based lobster-mushroom risotto would do just as well.
  

• 2020 Norris Ribbon Ridge Dry Riesling – $35
  We love a Riesling that resists the sickly-sweet stereotype, and this one delivers, with a complex green-fruit body that you can practically chew, it’s that palpable. A culinary darling, you can let your imagination run wild with the pairing possibilities for this bottle. Acidic, dry, delicious, we wanna have it with a spicy tomato and chickpea curry.
  

• 2018 Finca Míllara Ribeira Sacra El Prohibido – $28
  Dark greens are a staple in a lot of plant-based dishes, and can be tricky to pair well with wines. Reds make sense, but a tannin-heavy varietal risks bringing out the bitterness of the leaf, rendering the whole thing a little tough to swallow. But if you’re a fan of kale, arugula, chard, and other chewy veggies, this Spanish red will do nicely. Balanced, with minimal tannic presence, this is the wine for fans of vegetables, and anything red.
  

• 2018 Domaine Alain Burguet Vosne Romanée – $150
  It always feels a little wild recommending a more expensive bottle of wine to pair with your salty snacks – but here we are. This divine Pinot Noir bottle is fruit-forward with medium acidity, making it an ideal match for chips, popcorn, vegan cheetos, and other crunchy-savory-finger-dusting foods. Just give it a rest in your cellar for a spot of aging first. 

More offerings from Argaux

As long as they’re cooked in a plant-based oil, french fries are 100% vegan. There’s a whole world of plant-based delicacies – from the health-conscious and leafy, to the oily, sweet and indulgent. Did you know that oreos are also vegan? Is there a wine you could pair with them? Hmm, fries, oreos, and a bottle of wine. Sounds like a fun Friday night. 

We love wild culinary pairings at Argaux, and that’s why we teamed up with the brilliant Vanessa Price to bring you our Big Macs and Burgundy tasting kit, including a copy of Vanessa’s book: Wine Pairings for the Real World, as well as 2 bottles of premium Vino from the Argaux collection, and a guide to pairing wines with a few of your favorite junk foods – french fries included. 

Get a hold of one of these kits, and allow yourself to imagine the possibilities unlocked by plant-based snacking paired with the right wine. 

Cheers!

We’re going back to basics, baby!

There’s a world of viticultural delights out there, but when you’re just getting started in the world of tasting, pairing, and sharing about wines, it’s always good to start with the most familiar and iconic varietals available. 

Let’s be clear – there’s nothing pedestrian about the basic wines in our collection, but they do generously offer an accessible and delicious stepping stone into more complex tasting experiences. They are after all foundational to the wine world as we know it.

So let’s get back to our roots and take a look at a few favorite and recognizable bottles from our cellars. 

The Basics of Wine

Basic really depends on your point of view: where you are in the world, what the traditions of your culture may be, what varieties of wine are accessible. Something which is absolutely astounding to someone else may be foundational to you, and we acknowledge this truth. 

So here’s how we’re thinking about it: when you walk into your local Trader Joe’s, what varietals are flagged in the wine section? That’s the metric we’re going with here

You’ll notice almost immediately that all of the varietals listed have distinctly French-sounding names. And that’s because many of these originated or were made popular via the viticultural traditions within the country of France. As a nation, France has founded many of the winemaking practices and standards which the rest of the world now follows –  a fact which may help to further explain why we hold these grapes as fundamental.

So, today we’ll be taking a look at:

• Pinot Noir
• Pinot Grigio
• Chardonnay
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Syrah
• Riesling
• And Sauvignon Blanc

Let’s go!

Favorite basic wines from the Argaux cellars

• 2020 Norris Ribbon Ridge Dry Riesling – $35
  Riesling is beloved for its light body, medium sweetness, and fruit-forward palate. The more saccharine varieties can edge on the side of desserty-ness, but it’s closer to a fruit tart than a chocolate cake, if you know what I mean. The Norris shakes things up a bit with a drier experience that is no less delicious and offers a crispness which is rare to find in other Riesling bottles.
  

• 2020 Piro Presqu’ile Vineyard Pinot Noir – $45
  Pinot Noirs are typically lighter-bodied, with silky smooth tannins that coax white-wine-only evangelists into the redder side of things. Always a fan favorite and truly foundational to many global viticultural trads, the power of this grape is exemplified in the fruity, herbaceous, and food-friendly Piro.
  

• 2020 Cargaux Syrah – $45
  Syrahs are not for the faint of heart, but the rewards are oh-so worth it for the oenophiles who can stick it out. She’s big and bold, with a bodacious body that expertly balances acidity with sweetness, toning down the sometimes dry and chewy experience this grape offers. The Cargaux Syrah is a collaboration between Argaux and the Carhartt family, and we think it’s a delicious example that’s ready-made to appear at your next beach BBQ.
  

• 2020 Wonderland Project No. 9 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon – $55
  Talk about a big wine. Cab Sauvs are not most newbie’s first choice when they’re just getting to know the reds – and yet this tannin-forward, acid-forward, fruit-forward, body-forward wine is still the most popular variety in the world. And the Atlas Peak is an elevated take on the varietal, with notes of cherry, chocolate and florals on the tongue – Michelin-rated restaurants love, love, love it!
  

• 2021 Von Winning Sauvignon Blanc II – $25
  A dry wine that lures you in by pretending to be sweeter than it is – citrus and florals make the list on many tasting descriptions. The Von Winning bottle is fruity and green, a perfect refreshment following a friendly game of flag football or a day at the river.
  

• 2021 Weingut Griesbauerhof Alto Adige Pinot Grigio – $28
  In contrast to the Sauvy B, Pinot Grigios aren’t as dry, but their tangy tasting profiles rich with fruits and sometimes a little funk convince our tongues that they’re more bite than bark. But we know better, and we love it. And this bottle is loyal to the genre, but still rises above the rest with an exquisite texture and a palate of apple, stone fruit, nut, and rock.
  

• 2020 No Name Santa Barbara County Chardonnay – $30
  It’s soccer-mom basic and at this point she’s owning it, but don’t forget Chardonnay is the founding grape in many other famous and genre-defining wine traditions. She’s flexible, too, with a palate that can express in wildly different ways depending on how the grapes are fermented. This California Chard leans deliciously into the oaked variety with a palate like a sweet French bakery on a sunny provincial afternoon.

Other offerings from Argaux

Getting to know the basics of the wine world is one great and delicious way to begin a fruitful education in viticulture. And to help you learn even more about the world of wine, we’ve put together a little kit that makes honing your powers of perception into a fun and meaningful game. 

Our Blind Wine Tasting Kit comes with 2 to 4 mixed or red wines which are strategically wrapped to conceal their identities. You and your friends can then taste the wines and, using our handy tasting guide, make your best deductions as to the wine’s type (down to the year, if you want!) before you unwrap and reveal the label. 

Tasting wine is the best way to learn about the viticultural world and its complexities, and this kit is a great place to start. A fantastic party game, present, or self-care treat.

Cheers!