| Category | Name | Rating | | Notes |
| Pinot Noir | Adelsheim Vineyard Pinot Noir | | | This wine opens with delicate floral and ripe berry aromas, then delivers a mouthful of black cherry fruit. The tannins are soft and integrated and the wine deliciously balanced. |
| Pinot Noir | Charles Krug Pinot Noir | | | It's tough to find good pinot noir under $20, but this is one to seek out. More Burgundian than Californian in style (read medium body, tangy red fruit and earthy notes), the wine's finesse makes it a comfortable dinner companion. |
| Viognier | Clay Station Viognier | | | This deliciously dry and full-bodied wine captures the heady, perfumed quality of viognier at an affordable price. Orange blossoms and ripe peaches greet you on first sniff and follows through with flavors of tropical fruit, honey and spice. |
| Merlot | Clos du Bois Merlot | | | Captures the roundness and soft tannins of merlot with a stylish streak of acidity. Black cherry and plum fruitiness finishes with spicy, black pepper note. A real crowd-pleaser. |
| Merlot | Clos LaChance Merlot | | | A beautifully textured wine that showcases the suppleness of top-notch merlot at a price that makes it even more appealing. Plum and spiced aromas and flavors are supported by an ultra-smooth, velvety texture. |
| Viognier | Echelon Viognier 'Esperanza Vineyard' | | | More restrained in its aromas and fruit flavors, but sporting a zingy core of acidity that pairs well with food or can be served simply as a cocktail. (The Clarksburg appellation is located near the cool Sacramento River delta in California.) |
| Pinot Noir | Handley Cellars Pinot Noir | | | It manages to successfully marry depth of flavor with brightness of fruit. Touches of cedar spice augment sweet cherry aromas, then it's back to fruit, fruit, fruit when you sip the wine. Ideal with Thanksgiving or any meal, for that matter. |
| Viognier | Pepperwood Grove Viognier | | | Similar to chardonnay in its full-bodied texture, but with juicy tropical and peachy fruit aromas and flavors, this wine is full of viognier character. Pepperwood Grove is a California-based negociant business that buys grapes and blends their own wine. |
| Merlot | Wolffer 'La Ferme Martin' Merlot | | | A fun wine that sports bright cherry fruit flavors and light tannins. Acidity is the key to food pairing and this wine has it in spades, making it easy to tackle turkey and all the fixings. |