Updated July 24, 2006

I have added a few new selections to this page and I've made sure that all of the wines listed still meet my criteria for excellence. There's something here for everyone, in all price ranges!

This page is different from the "Wine of the Week," as that page is dedicated to featuring a new wine and reviewing it, sometimes giving it a low score. Below are listed my "Standard-Bearers." These recommendations are not specific to year, these are winery-specific, rock-solid wines.

People write me all the time asking about what wines to order or serve for a wedding, night out or special occasion at home. These wines listed below will never steer you wrong in my opinion.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINE:

Domaine Ste. Michelle: A low priced sparkling wine that has never disappointed my guests. They have sweet and dry champagnes, none over $10. BevMo always has it, and it's worth having some of this around in case a celebration breaks out.

Schramsberg: Located in Napa Valley, Schramsberg makes a variety of great sparkling wines that never disappoint. They range in value from $25-$100. Visit their winery for a great tour of the caves.

Piper-Heidsieck: A solid mid-range champagne whose Brut usually runs Around $25. If you can find it for less, buy lots of it.

Pommery: Same as Piper, but a little better in my opinion. They sell single bottles of these at many restaurants ($15) and Beverage specialty stores ($8). The big bottle is about $30 most places.

Veuve Cliquot: I believe this is the most consistently great champagne on the market. Much better than Dom or Christal, which are completely overrated. Veuve's low-end bottle is about $35, they have a great $85 bottle reserve as well. It's all fantastic.

WHITE WINE:

Gallo Of Sonoma: Probably the best low priced wine on the market is Gallo of Sonoma. Consistently great for its price, their Chardonnay is crisp and easy to drink for just $9

Ferrari-Carano: One of my favorite wineries, their chardonnay is always a hit and has been served at the White House for many state dinners over the years. About $25

Rombauer makes an amazing Chardonnay every year that is buttery and crisp. Usually about $25

Pride Mountain Vineyards is the Cadillac of the wine world in my opinion. It's hard to find, but worth it. Their Chardonnay is the opposite of Rombauer's. It's filled with toasty oak flavors and a great finish on the tongue. Not for beginners. About $45 per bottle at the winery.

RED WINES:

Robert Foley Wines: Bob Foley is the winemaker at Pride who also has his own, very exclusive label. He makes blends and cabernets and all of them score 95 or higher every single year. They are amazing wines and they are VERY hard to find. I have begun to see them on nicer restaurant wine lists, other than that you have to be on his mailing list, which has a huge waiting line. I wish you luck. Bottles will cost $100+ but are well worth it.

Rombauer makes great merlots that are slightly fruity, but full like a great cabernet. Every year their merlot is one of my favorites. Their Cab is good, but not great.

Duckhorn: Great reds, merlot especially that can run you from $35 to $150. Always solid.

Chateau Ste Michelle: Out of Washignton state, this winery seems to make something great out of everything they touch. Their basic Merlot and Cabernet are only about $12 and always rank on the "best" lists. They also have reserve wines from Cold Creek ($30) that are deeper in taste and finish that are fantastic.

Del Dotto: The single best Winery to visit in Napa, if you take the Cave tour. In one hour you will be hammered on some fabulous wine right out of the barrel. Buy their Merlot ($35), Cabernet ($50) and the David ($75) to be blown away in ascending order

Ferrari-Carano: A gorgeous winery to visit in upper Sonoma, this has long been one of my favorites. Their Merlot ($25) is easy to drink fruity and a little dry, their Tresor reserve ($50) is fantastic every year

Nickel & Nickel: All they do is red wine, and they do it well. Avoid their merlot, buy their cabs. The best ones run about $125 at the winery and $200 in restaurants, but they are deep, full, chocolatey, and have a great aftertaste.

Niebaum Coppola Rubicon: Yes, that Coppola, the director. Here's the deal; his winery is like a mini-disneyland with way too many people and emphasis on his movie career. He makes way too many wines, many of them sub-par. His Rubicon, however ($150) is incredible every year. This is a red wine drinker's red wine. Full bodied, smooth, easy finish. Just great.

Page: A Hard to find, small, family owned winery that makes red wine blends for about $75. Great stuff if you can find it.

Paloma: Same as above, run by a retired husband and wife from texas. For $40, their Merlot has been voted Wine of the Year in the past and can't be beat…it also van't be found many places. Too bad for you.

Pride Mountain Vineyards: (the Cadillac of all wineries) is my favorite overall winery. Everything they make is not just good, not just great, but amazing. It's a hard to find wine, but it's worth it. Their merlot is about $40, their Cab about $60 and their reserve wines, some of the best on the planet are about $125.

Insignia by Phelps: This is it. The greatest, most consistent bottle of wine I have ever tasted. It's been named Wine of the Year on multiple occasions. It has a bouquet that is unmatched, a smooth flavor that in unbeatable and a finish that is legendary. It's $125, but you can find it in "warehouse" stores for around $90.