Plavac Mali from Croatia:
Ruche
Freisa
Lacrima di Morro d’Alba
Aglianico
Negramaro
Mondeuse
Fiano
Falanghina
Verdicchio
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My #1 recommendation would be California grenache blanc. Curran and Tercero are so consistently good. Tablas Creek, Kinero and some others are good too.
They’re wines that will please your geek palate, but your relatives and neighbors will love them too. Good as cocktails and with food, good young but can age a medium amount.
If it sounds like I’m describing Loire chenin, it’s pretty well in the same bucket to me.
Such an open ended question. So many producers doing a great job with so many less common grapes. I’d suggest ordering a selection, tasting through them, and going from there. Some particular wines might really inspire what you want to explore next.
Idlewild is an excellent high quality, low priced producer. My introduction with them was Nebbiolo - one of the better made in CA, made in a ready to drink, transparent style. (He presses a little early, so it’s not over-extracted.) Everything I’ve had from them is excellent. Plenty of single variety wines, but he’s also a masterful blender.
If you point us to the website of one of your favorite retailers, we could suggest a selection of specific wines.
“Native Wine Grapes of Italy” by Ian d’Agata is a wonderful book that will inspire explorations.
A few particularly exciting grapes to me right now, off-hand: Touriga Nacional, Falanghina, Fiano, Gamay, Graciano, Sagrantino, Carricante, Nerello Mascalese, Cortese…
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We drink many Alto Adige specialties like Lagrein and Schiava.
Nerello Mascalese Etna Rossos
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Some notable examples from the Central Coast (with producer)
Ugni Blanc (Paix Sur Terre)
Counoise (Paix Sur Terre
Melon (Lieu Dit)
Cinsaut (Thacher)
Picardin ( Tablas Creek)
Bourboulenc (Tablas Creek)
Mollard, persan, Ribeyrenc, Verdanel, Chatus, Genouillet, Terret, gringet, bouysselet, …
Savagnin!
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Savagnin often produces excellent wines in French Jura, Arbois and Côtes du Jura (sometimes combined with chardonnay).
Vin jaune and Château-Chalon can be tremendous !
Poulsard and Trousseau are worth tasting there (not only pinot noir).
Idlewild just released their first ever Erbaluce.
Tablas Creek seems to be a great place to start
Bourboulenc
Clairette Blanche
Counoise
Petit Manseng
Picardan
Picpoul Blanc
Tannat
Terret Noir
Vermentino
Vin de France (Gaillac - Sud-Ouest) Plageoles Mauzac noir 2019 : 14/20 – 23/2/2021
12°. Robe assez pâle. Matière fluide, acidulée et « verte », rappelant par ses goûts nets (mais simples) la groseille et le poivre (du cépage gaillacois Duras ?).
Very unusual …
Forlorn Hope is making quiet unusual and interesting wine in Sierra Foothills, CA, including some crazy blend for their “Queen of Sierra” product line (for example, the red is a blend of Zinfandel, Barbera, Tempranillo, Trousseau noir, and Mondeuse).
Harrington Wines have been making lovely wines from unusual varieties for years. Sadly, they are no longer making wine, but they are still selling wines. Check out their great offers here. You’ll find Greco di Tufo, Malvasia, Sagrantino, Aglianico, and Muscat Canelli, among others.
My best Erbaluce wines, at the domain in november 2015 :
Barbaglia Colline Novaresi Lucino 2013 : 15,5/20
Cépage erbaluce. Matière déterminée, florale, citronnée. Très dynamique (avec ses 5g de sucre résiduel), un goût salin, du caractère.
Barbaglia Colline Novaresi Curticella Caballi Regis Vino Spumante di Qualita Metodo Classico Brut Erbaluce: 15,5/20
54 mois sur lattes. 7g de S/R. Fruité, tonique, fin.
Barbaglia Colline Novaresi Curticella Caballi Regis Vino Spumante di Qualita Metodo Classico Brut Erbaluce : 16/20
60 mois sur lattes. Récolte 2008, dégorgé en 2014. Plus de complexité que dans la cuvée précédente. Pamplemousse, citron, apport tertiaire (cuir). Même dosage mais le moelleux du sucre est moins perceptible.
Teroldego was not mentioned I think. The base cuvée from Elisabetta Foradori is not expensive and quite enjoyable.
Uncommon grapes I would recommend: Cataratto, Xinomavro, Garganega (makes Soave). Soave from volcanic soils can be lovely. Pelaverga. Agree with the Canary Islands recommendation.
Widely available obvious picks that I would recommend: Portuguese reds, Zinfandel/Primitivo (often gets a bad name, but can be so so good), Beaujolais, Aglianico, Gruner, Txakoli.
Yes, an amazing portfolio! Jason linked to my notes from last year. https://tablascreek.com/uploads/news/PDWR-Tablas-Creek-2020.pdf
Mencia, anyone? Hits that medium-bodied weeknight red wine craving. Endlessly pairable.
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