ADVERTISING: Advertorial — 2023 favorites and staples on our dinner table

As we wrap up another year, it's time to look back on some of my favorite, accessible and affordable wines of 2023. Having The Dinner Party means I'm lucky to have access to a wide variety of excellent local wines as well as imports from around the world. This year, four wines stood out as staples you’ll find on our dinner table and in our cellar. 

The 2018 Gifford Hirlinger State Line Red is a robust red blend from just across the border in Walla Walla, Washington. This small winery sources grapes from premier vineyards on both sides of the state line, creating a bold table wine with layers of blackberry, cherry, and spice. Aging in oak barrels adds hints of vanilla and cedar. Led by winemaker and owner, Mike Berghan, a native of Sandpoint, Idaho, Gifford Hirlinger captures the essence of this unique cross-state region while allowing us to have that sense of local support at the same time. While this is not a complex wine, it's eminently drinkable and pairs well with hearty pasta dishes and grilled meats. For an everyday wine with a sense of place, the Gifford Hirlinger State Line Red is a winner.

For a special occasion bubble, the Allimant Laugner NV Cremant d'Alsace Rose popped this year. This crisp, elegant rosé bubbly hails from a family winery in Alsace, France that dates back to the 1600s. It reveals notes of fresh strawberry, pink grapefruit, and brioche against a delicate mousse. Made in the traditional method, this blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris grapes provides a sophisticated aperitif wine or accompaniment for light seafood dishes. The affordability is just icing on the cake.

Those seeking a robust red will appreciate the Kinhaven Carmenere from Walla Walla, Washington. The 2021 vintage shows off Carmenere's signature savory, peppery notes with lush dark fruit like burgundy plum and black raspberry, complemented by hints of green peppercorn and minerality reminiscent of granite. Though full-bodied, the silky tannins make it very approachable either on its own or paired with lamb or beef dishes. Kinhaven is a boutique, family-owned and operated winery that truly embodies what it means to share a space where everyone is family. 

Finally, Failla Winery in the Sonoma Coast impressed me with their exemplary Pinot Noir in 2021. The Failla Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir contains tantalizing hints of ripe cherry and wild strawberry blended with earth, underbrush, and baking spice. This textural Pinot Noir envelops the palate with lush fruit flavors accented by brisk acidity. Winemaker Ehren Jordan sources from premier cool-climate vineyards in the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley AVAs for complexity. Aging in neutral French oak allows the vivid fruit and sense of place to shine. For exemplary Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Failla delivers on all fronts. 

In a year filled with change, these wines provided meaningful moments of enjoyment, respite and connection. Savoring a glass with friends and neighbors allowed us to embrace the changes around us, while still appreciating the distinctive flavors and craft behind each pour. The rolling vineyards of France, rugged hills of Walla Walla, and windswept ridges of California seemed closer when we raised a glass in camaraderie. As we look back on 2023, I'm grateful for the exceptional wines that transported us to new places, and the supportive community we shared them with. Though the coming year brings more change ahead, I raise my glass in appreciation of the kindred moments wine and fellowship can provide. May 2024 bring even more wine adventure and discovery.

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Laura Olson is co-owner of The Dinner Party along with her partner, Joe Petersen. You can also follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop or visit www.thedinnerpartyshop.com.