Cultivating wine in these ancient lands goes back to the 3rd century. Today Marques makes memorable wines in a modern fashion. This expressive red is aged 6 months in American oak. Look for notes of strawberry, spice, and cocoa. Pairs well with grilled foods.

Grape • Tempranillo
Place • Valdepenas, Spain
FYI • Locally Tempranillo is known as Cencibel.

Two of Portugal's top oenologists joined forces in 2007 to make this wine. Since it's debut it is regularly considered one of the countries best table wines. The duo continue making it to this day. Dominated by black fruit and prunes this wine pairs perfectly with barbecue, ragù, and hard cheeses.

Grape • Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz
Place • Douro, Portugal
FYI • Dourum is Latin for "from two."

This is the wine that started it all for Fairvalley. A huge hit in the UK, it has now found solid footing in the US and is always a crowd pleaser. The backbone of important socio-ecoomic programs in the region, this wine shows beautifully with notes of cantaloupe and melon. Pairs well with capresi salad.

Grape • Chenin Blanc
Place • Paarl, South Africa
FYI • The logo comes from the wineries fair trade approach.

No stranger to the Oregon wine scene, Sarah Cabot coaxes from the cool-climate of Willamette delightful flavors. Exhibit A is this P.G. with ripe honeydew, stone fruit, and jasmine peaking around every sip. A clear winner served with cuisine with a bit of heat. Tired of cerveza with those spicy chicken tacos? Try this!

Grape • Pinot Gris
Place • Willamette Valley, Oregon
FYI • This grape gets its name from it's grayish-blue skin.

This is a family run estate. Pietro Colosi creates a refreshing, direct white with rounded flavors of honeysuckle, gooseberry, and apple blossom with a mesmerizing straw color. As you might imagine coming from an island vineyard, this pairs nicely with seafood.

Grape • Grillo
Place • Sicily, Italy
FYI • Sicily's volcanic Mt. Etna is still active.

The dirty pure project likes to shake things up by making wine from "the other" grapes grown in California. In their words, they like to "flaunt convention" with "unconventional grapes with unconventional names." Look for aromas of orange blossom, jasmine, and pear. Pairs well with a British aged cheddar.

Grape • Viognier, Chardonnay
Place • Lodi, California
FYI • Lodi is the birthplace of A&W Root Beer.

Hélène Jaeger took the reigns in 2005 and transitioned to organic farming just four years later. Her meticulous ways help bring out the best in her wines. With plenty of peppy acidity there is also a gracious mouthfeel of peach & apricot. Pair with fried river fish or a hard cheese such as Comté.

Grape • Chardonnay
Place • Burgundy, France
FYI • Rully wines are among the best "deals" in Burgundy.

A family owned winery for several generations, it is in transition once more from father to a son and daughter team. The continuity is evident in this full-bodied offering with layers of blackberry bramble, licorice, and coffee. Consider pairing with beef stew, braised pheasant, or beef ribs.

Grape • Grenache, Syrah
Place • Rhone, France
FYI • Wines from Vacqueyras must be at least 50% Grenache.

There are crowd pleasers and then there are CROWD PLEASERS. This is the latter. Fruit sourced from four vineyards and artfully blended and aged in french oak produces an opulent wine. Rich flavors of blueberry and vanilla will have you grinning from ear to ear on your first sip. Pair with a NY strip.

Grape • Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, P. Sirah
Place • Central Coast, California
FYI • Smith and Hook were initially cattle ranches.