Ok, I admit it right out of the gate—I am a Southern California gal with a penchant for wines from Napa, Sonoma, and Paso Robles. I have been up North at least 80 times in my adult life. The highest elevation vineyards I've visited during was during a cooking class at Chappellet Winery above the dreamy Hennessy Lake in Napa. So when I tried to wrap my head around grapes being lovingly grown at 4,000 to 6,000 feet in elevation, I was utterly perplexed. Who does that? Well, in New Mexico, that is EXACTLY what they do honoring a long tradition, which is always comforting—and the wines are amazing. VIVA VINO! 

Viva Vino New Mexico glasses ready for wine tasting © 2019 Pam Baker

This year, pour Mom what she really wants for Mother’s Day—a knockout Chardonnay from a winemaking family who knows their way around tasteful California wines. Honestly, I haven’t found many Chardonnays that I could rave about. That has all changed… and just in time for Mother’s Day!

Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Vineyard 2017 Chardonnay © Linda Kissam

The wine world has its share of eponymous regions; so famous, that just the mere murmur of their name evokes a sense of wonder.  Chateauneuf-du-Pape is one of those regions. The rich, bold and sensuous red wines that are created from this parcel of land in the south of France have been renowned for hundreds of years.