For a grape that is planted in so many countries worldwide, few wine lovers rank Riesling as among their favorite varietals, instead naming whites like Chardonnay, even Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc ahead of it. Once appreciated for the very qualities that distinguished Riesling—its sweetness, richness and acid—today the sale of sweet wines (usually for dessert), even French Sauternes, has decreased in favor of what many perceive as more sophisticated dry varietals.

The preferred grape for amateur vintners was one that wasn’t particularly popular with the professionals: alicante bouschet, described in one 1883 wine guide as lacking “elegance, force and delicacy.” It’s what’s known as a teinturier variety, meaning that, unlike most red grapes, its pulp as well as its skin are deeply colored, resulting in wines so dark that they’re almost black.

On Father’s Day, tempt Dad’s palate with a bottle of fine wine, whether he prefers rich reds, refreshing whites or crisp rosés. To honor fathers everywhere, many of our selections come from family estates where winemaking skills are handed down from generation to generation.

Increasingly, The Dozen is covering wines not just from around the world, but from around the country. Many of these wines are not in general distribution through wine stores, but they are available direct-to-consumer through online shipping – since Covid, an increasing channel of distribution.

One of the native grape varieties leading the Georgian wine export growth is Saperavi, the most-planted red grape in the country. A surge in overall interest for the category among US consumers has catalyzed a series of promotions and events in the focus market dedicated to the ancient grape variety, which accounts for 33% of the wine produced in Georgia as the country’s most prominent red grape variety.

Fourth generation wine producer, Meaghan Frank, does a deep dive into her family’s rich heritage of growing vinifera grapes and making wine in the Finger Lakes Region of New York – an often-overlooked gem in the crown of American viticulture.