The holidays bring more than just festive decorations, they bring a surge of curiosity about wines that suit celebrations, special dinners, and gift-giving. Wine enthusiasts and casual sippers alike are searching for wines that offer excitement, approachability, and a sense of occasion. This year, searches spike for bubbly wines, crisp whites, aromatic orange wines, chillable reds, and approachable alternatives to Cabernet. Each category resonates with a different kind of holiday moment, and the wines chosen perfectly answer that demand.

California’s wine industry is navigating a period of profound transformation. Over the past few years, the state has witnessed an overwhelming surplus of grapes, tumbling demand, drastic market shifts, and seismic distribution changes. Once buoyed by strong vintages and steady consumer interest, the landscape today demands both clarity and adaptation.

San Luis, the person, not the place, had a rough start. It was 1284, and little San Luis was just 10 years old, he became a political prisoner, held hostage in Catalonia by the King of Aragon for nearly seven years. This wasn’t uncommon for the time, his father was Charles II of Anjou, King of Naples, and young Luis was the heir. In the late 13th century, royal families negotiated peace not with signatures but with sons. In this case, San Luis paid the price for dynastic diplomacy.

Is it February that just brings out the crazy need to feel somewhat romantic with your spouse? Maybe it’s just the time of year. Christmas was two months ago, and we all spent way too much and regretted it. All through January, most of us hibernated because it was just too dark outside to get out after work. But here is February. The depths of what should be winter, and we realize that actually spending time with people again is a good thing.