SFSU expert recommends affordable wines for the season

SAN FRANCISCO, December 23, 2002 - If the uncertain economy has you watching your wallet this New Year's, San Francisco State University wine expert Fred McMillin can help keep the wine tab low. A longtime teacher of wine fundamentals at SFSU's College of Extended Learning, McMillin says there are many great affordable wines from which to choose.

If you fancy white wines, McMillin recommends going with a California chardonnay. "Here we're looking for wines with some pizzazz," says McMillin, who has taught and written about wine history for more than 35 years. He notes that familiar labels like Sutter Home, Camelot and Bogle, available at many supermarkets, offer satisfying, flavorful chardonnays for less than $10 a bottle. For a more memorable experience, he recommends Steele Wines chardonnays, which sell for $20 or more.

Among the reds, McMillin favors Merlots. Covey Run, of Washington State, and Tapiz, an Argentine wine distributed by Kendall-Jackson, produce good-quality, inexpensive merlots, he says. His upscale choices include Frick Winery, Chalk Hill and Sterling.

For sparkling wines, a budget-friendly option is the Freixenet Brut de Noir from Spain. If you want to splurge a bit on bubbly, McMillin suggests trying Étoile from Domaine Chandon of Napa Valley. "The brut will suit," he says, "but for a few more dollars you can get the super festive rosé."

Fred McMillin can be reached at (415) 563-5712; fax (415) 567-4468.

Student writer Scott Heil assisted in writing this press release.