I’m sure you know that March is California Wine Month here at Binny’s.  Be sure to check our events page to see upcoming events at all 21 Chicagoland Binny’s locations – California themed or not – and don’t miss out on our huge California Wine Adventure event at Drury Lane coming up on Sunday, March 15th.  And of course, take a glace at our March Members Specials.  Some of the items listed are available in limited quantities.

Values from Vinum Cellars

This week, I was able to taste a couple of wines from Vinum Cellars, a small producer in California putting out some decent juice for a reasonable price.  These wines are all about value and fun:

It sounds cliche, but the 2007 CNW Chenin Blanc would be a great white to sip out on the porch on a breezy spring afternoon.  Light and floral with citrus fruit, it has a mellow quality without the bracing acidity of other white wines in the price range.  The CNW stands for “Chard-No-Way,” and with nine months barrel aging, this really does come across as a nice altrenative to the ocean of so-so California chardonnay out there, and at $10.99, it’s all the better.

Another great value from Vinum Cellars is their 2006 Pets Petite Sirah.  A little vanilla from the wood on the nose, then tight berry fruit with less tannin than you might expect from a petite sirah.  This wine delivers LOTS of bang for the buck.  Plus, a portion of the proceeds are donated to the San Francisco SPCA animal shelter Tanker Memorial Fund.  Usually $10.99, Binny’s has the 2006 Pets on sale for $9.99 all month.