Happy June! June is one of my favorite months of the year as it is my birthday month, so let’s celebrate! Pop and pour one of these beauties to toast the start of summer.

I have such an adoration for bubbles. Flirty and fun, every day is a day to enjoy a sparkling wonder. From the rolling hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene with Veneto’s Prosecco region, Bellenda San Fermo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut showcases the earthy minerality from the rocky limestone and clay hillsides of Conegliano where the glera grapes are grown. Of course, like all Prosecco, there is a lively fresh fruit-forward profile, but this mineral note is an unexpected pleasure, bringing with it lovely texture, structure, and balance.  This is a sparkler you can easily enjoy from the start of a meal to the end, with a dry palate, pairing nicely with white fish, shellfish, vegetable risotto, or light poultry dishes.

With a sense of place, highlighting the unique soils of Santa Barbara County that was once underwater, Diatom from Greg Brewer/Brewer Clifton, is named for the diatomaceous earth, a plankton fossil, found in the area. Clean, lean, and focused, Diatom Chardonnay showcases the story of terroir Brewer is trying to achieve by letting the land shine through the wines, focusing on refinement. Wines are produced with as little intervention in the winery. Very focused and precise, the wine opens with lively lemon zest, orange blossom, and lime leaf, followed by citrus and melon flavors on the palate with a note of salinity carrying through from the start to the finish. Pair this beauty with oysters or steamed clams, summer salads, and fresh pasta with pesto and herbs.

Since 1824 Italy’s Duca di Salaparuta has been crafting wine from native varieties on the island of Sicily. With a focus on being stewards of the land, the group was the first in Sicily to be recognized for two sustainability certifications, VIVA and Equalitas. Its Calancia Rosato is fresh, vibrant, and juicy, a perfect summer sipper. A blend of red varieties, grown in volcanic soils which benefit from a Mediterranean climate, filled with sunshine to ripen grapes, moderate annual rainfall, and warm breezes to keep grapes dry and free of disease. The wine delivers exactly what you would hope for in a summer rose, wild strawberry, fresh cranberry, and red licorice with a nice note of brininess thanks to the climate.

100% Pinot Noir, primarily from Goldeneye’s Anderson Valley estate fruit, Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir showcases the quality of fruit this far-northern California region affords. Plush and textured, rich and refined, balanced and elegant, an approachable wine upon release that will also age nicely for the next several years to come. Black raspberry, ripe strawberry, red cherry, and black plum fill the palate of the latest release, bringing in subtle notes of black tea, Asian spice, and pie crust. I am a fan of the wines of the region, consistently finding the wines to deliver the quality any wine drinker is looking for. Goldeneye once again delivers with this wine.

When a winery creates its “signature” wine it is intended to be the jewel of the winery, a representation of who they are and what style of wine they make. Lucky for us, Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon is just that. The flagship selection from the historic Napa Valley winery, it is crafted from the rocky hillsides of its Pritchard Hill vineyard bringing structure and complexity to the textured fruit. Nicely concentrated, the wine opens with layers of kirsch, black cherry, and red plum, followed by toasted cedar, dark chocolate, pencil lead, and espresso. Powerful and rugged, melding with refinement, the wine is ideal to pair with grilled ribeye, lamb chops, or braised short ribs.