California has an entirely family-owned appellation, the American Viticultural Area known as Cole Valley, located in Mendocino County. The Sterlings own and operate Esterlina Winery, and produce a lovely off dry Riesling from the AVA.

The Esterlina Off-Dry Riesling 2007 Cole Valley ($19) is perfect for spicy dishes as it has both refreshing acidity and a touch of sweetness to cool the palate. It is fresh and fruity with notes of apple, pear, pineapple, and lemon.

This blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Sangiovese captivates immediately with aromas of cassis, fraise de bois, morello cherry, cantalope, spearmint, tarragon, cedar, and vanilla. It is a luscious red with ripe dark berry fruit, juicy natural acidity, and creamy oak notes. This silky, mouthfilling Cabernet only shows its tannic structure on the slightly drying finish, which is also imbued with a gorgeous long lasting blackcurrant note.

As acclaimed winemaker, Chris Dearden, describes it: “Chanticleer Cabernet Sauvignon has an unmistakable pedigree of quality, emanating from the western hills above the Napa Valley in the famous Yountville appellation. There is a finesse and elegance that is congruent with all vintages of Chanticleer, dating back to the original 2000. It is unmistakably Cabernet, with dark, brooding black fruit, ripe cassis, and a slight earthy minerality, typical of the rocky soils of Morningside Vineyard.”

Only 405 cases of this vintage were produced and over half are already allocated.  It is $55 per 750-ml bottle. Visit www.chanticleerwine.com for more info.

Wedding season is off to a grand start, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is himself tying the knot next month, passed a law allowing same-sex marriages.

What to serve? Well, if your crowd is into wine, treat them to a romantic rose wine:

  – Domaine Carneros Cuvee de la Pompadour Rose nv ($34) sparkling wine from Carneros, California. Made with 100% organically farmed fruit, this bubbly has notes of strawberry, pecan ice cream, biscotti, lemon, pink and yellow roses, and chalk. For a California sparkling wine it has great subtlety and finesse.

 - Champagne Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvee Brut Rose nv ($75) is another great option. It has notes of freshly baked bread, meyer lemon, marmalade, wild strawberry and tangerine, and has an undercurrent of tar and minerality.

- 2007 Benessere Estate Rosato, Napa Valley ($16), a vibrantly fruity blend of 68% Sangiovese and 32% Merlot. The fruit is ripe and refreshing, filling the mouth with bursts of watermelon, cherry and strawberry. Visit www.benesserevineyards.com for more info.