9 California wines you have to try

The best wines from the recent California Wine Institute tasting in New York.

I admit, although I studied wine and I am not-so-humble to admit that I do know quite a bit about regions and grapes, I still have a lot to learn when it comes to California. Napa and Sonoma are the top regions you’ll likely see on menus most often, but there’s so much more to explore in the state—and excellent wines coming from outside the more well known regions. There’s Santa Rita Hills, Lodi, Santa Lucia Highlands, Central Coast. While we did study some of the top wine regions in America during my diploma program, I learned just enough to help me pass my blind tasting and theory exams. Now that I’m back home, I realize there’s so much more to explore here. Not just in California, but throughout the country as a whole. I’m looking forward to tasting more of it.

This week I had the opportunity to dive a little deeper in my knowledge at the California Wine Institute tasting in Manhattan. Unlike the James Suckling tasting, which was far too overwhelming and included too many stumbling drunks for my liking, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The scale was much smaller, and I felt like I had the space to really talk to producers and vineyard representatives, and even walked away with a few favorites that I really enjoyed. While I didn’t get to hit every table (I was there for ninety minutes before they closed down the media tasting for the day), I did hit a majority of their offerings and found myself walking away with a few favorites.

Here’s what I enjoyed, and all of my thoughts via cellar notes. (Warning, lots of C+ pictures and wine stains ahead!)