Unabashedly opulent, California’s world-renown red wines are de rigueur at every holiday table and seasonal event. The success of the California wine boom has been a saga uniquely American in its complex combination of politics, entrepreneurship, science, and unforeseen acts of God.
Sometime around 1780, missionaries first planted vinifera grapes in California. After America annexed California in 1847, vineyards spread north from Los Angeles throughout the state. Worldwide recognition came with the surprising results of the 1976 Paris tasting when both Chardonnay and Cabernet wines bested esteemed Grand Crus and First Growths.
The unsurpassed quality found in California wines today are especially exemplified by the regions Cabernets, Pinot Noirs, Zinfandels, and Merlots at every price point.
Donum Estate 2022 Terroir Trio
Discover three distinct expressions from Sonoma’s Donum Estate vineyards in Carneros and Russian River Valley with this 2022 Pinot Noir trio: the Carneros, TFV, and Russian River Valley. The 2022 Carneros, sourced from both TFV and the Donum Vineyard, offers aromas of mulberry, blackberry and graphite, with a palate of raspberry, porcini and sassafras. Also from Carneros, the 2022 TFV presents notes of blackberry and cocoa alongside a palate of berry, cherry and apricot. Completing the trio, Donum’s 2022 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir from Ten Oaks Vineyard is among their most robust wines, layered with aromas of plum, nectarine and blackberry, and a dark palate of black currant, cocoa and raspberry.
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2021 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon
One of Napa’s most heralded wineries since 1976, iconic Stag’s Leap Cellars creates wine of classic beauty — wines with an artful balance between ripeness and restraint, softness and structure. Named after the Greek Goddess of the hunt, Artemis is a wine that is the result of the winery’s hunt for the finest grapes from Napa Valley. When blended with estate-grown fruit, it creates a balanced and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon that expresses the regional character of Napa Valley with the signature style of Stag’s Leap Cellars.
The Silver Oak x Sunday Scaries Holiday Gift Box
Famous for its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, Silver Oak Cellars presents a Holiday Gift Box featuring its 2021 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in a wooden case engraved with one of several of Sunday Scaries podcasts’ signature quips. Designed to make the season feel a little lighter, opened, shared, and savored. By pairing Silver Oak’s enduring commitment to quality with Sunday Scaries’ tongue-in-cheek storytelling, the partnership turns a classic Cabernet into a collectible moment; one that meets the season’s mix of celebration and self-awareness with style, humor, and humanity.
Seven Apart Expedition 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
For those just beginning their Seven Apart Wines expedition, winemaker Morgan Maureze recommends this Cabernet Sauvignon blended with grapes from the winery’s Base Camp and Stag’s Ridge vineyards. The grapes — 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot — were harvested September and October 2023 aged in 30 French oak barrels for 18 months, bottled April 26, 2025. The deep, red wine has intense aromas of ripe black cherries, summer strawberries, milk chocolate, and plum. On the palate, the wine’s soft, lush tannins combine with well-balanced acidity.
Oberon 2023 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, Oberon Winery has been a beacon of winemaking excellence since it opened its doors in the early 2000s. Their 2023 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is a standout vintage shaped by mild weather, generous yields, and extended hang time. It’s blended with complementary varieties to enhance its deep color, silky tannins and bold flavors of black cherry, candied blackberry, coffee, dark chocolate, and spice, with a delightful, lingering finish.
Bricoleur Founder’s Block Pinot Noir 2022
The 2022 Founder’s Block Pinot Noir by Bricoleur Vineyards is a concentrated, fruity red from Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, offering rich aromas of cherry, hibiscus tea, tobacco, pomegranate, and red currant, with notes of spice and a silky structure. Praised for its vibrant fruit and age-worthiness resulting from a concentrated 2022 vintage, it’s elegant yet powerful, with earthy undertones and a bright finish. It justifiably receives high scores like 92 points from Wine Enthusiast.
Orin Swift’s 8 Years in the Desert 2023
Winemaker Orin Swift‘s 8 Years in the Desert is a bold Napa Valley red that showcases the winery’s signature style of ripe fruit and structural complexity. This 2023 vintage blends carefully selected varietals to deliver layers of dark cherry, plum, and subtle spice, with a rich, velvety texture that builds toward a lingering finish. The wine’s name reflects the desert-like conditions of certain Napa vineyard sites, which concentrate flavors and create the intensity characteristic of Orin Swift’s portfolio. Ideal for those seeking a full-bodied wine with depth and character.
Talley 2023 Pinot Noir
Estate Pinot Noir is the quintessential expression of Talley Vineyards, representing the cool climate and hillside topography of the San Luis Obispo Coast’s Arroyo Grande Valley. The bright and crunchy 2023 vintage is laced with accents of black raspberry and orange zest, and aromas of bing cherry, cardamon, resin and strawberry with a vibrant finish.
Francis Coppola Diamond Collection 2022 Claret Cabernet Sauvignon
Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Claret is the Napa winery’s signature offering. Made in the same style as Bordeaux’s finest Medoc-type wines, Claret is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine blended in the classic Bordeaux style that exhibits an exceptional depth and truly unique flavors. The Claret’s Black Label bottle is distinguished by gold netting, a tribute to the way Europe’s top wines were once presented.
Federalist Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel
America’s original craft wine, Zinfandel is made for the people by the people at Federalist. This is an old-vine Zinfandel. Bold, ambitious, and unconventional, Federalist Zin has big raspberry and black pepper flavors bolstered by rich vanilla notes from a 4-6 month aging process in charred bourbon barrels. It’s young, fresh and spirited with a long, smooth finish, and a modest price tag making it popular for large events.
