One of the first wineries on the road to wine country, Cline Cellars is located 45 minutes north of San Francisco in Sonoma-Carneros. This historic property was once the site of a Miwok Village and the first camp of the Sonoma Mission. The tasting room is located in an 1850s farmhouse and the wine is the Cline Cellars Cashmere 2008. MORE >>

Ridge, Three Valleys, Sonoma (about $23). Luzon, monastrell, Jumilla, 2008 (about $8): This wine was funny since it was the cheapest wine we tasted for the day, yet the most popular as people reached for their pens to scribble this one down. Another six-week session of my NYU class just wrapped up last week. How could it not be? MORE >>

2009 Peter Michael Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille ( about $80 ) USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley. 2008 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley ( about $65 ) USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley. 2007 Iron Horse Vineyards Russian Cuvée ( about $30 ) USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley. MORE >>

Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Pinot Noir 2009. Mazzocco Sonoma Petite Syrah Aguilera 2007. Wilson Zinfandel 2008 Dry Creek. With its velvet texture, nose of well sorted fresh grapes, and fresh flavors, this is a well balanced New World Pinot that can match many foods, especially salmon, pork, rare duck. Macari Sauvignon Blanc 2009. MORE >>

Andrea Oberto Barbera d'Alba 2008 DOC Cherry pie, red berries, blackberries, tobacco, polished. Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 70% form Napa, 30% from Sonoma with a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Well, here they are. This wine is an excellent fruit forward California Cabernet. MORE >>