Note: A form of this article written by the authors first appeared in The Waltham Times November 13, 2026 online edition.
If you’ve been tasked with bringing the wine to a holiday dinner, this column is for you. Instead of picking up the old familiar names–Kendall Jackson, Meiomi, Josh, Cloudy Bay–spice up your gathering with these under-the-radar wines that are as good, or better, than the top-selling usual suspects. Many of our recommendations are from smaller producers located in lesser-known or up-and-coming wine regions. From the pre-dinner toast to the final dessert wine, these thoughtful selections will delight your family and friends.
We have nothing against any of the “usual suspects” noted in this column. They are the top-selling brands in American for a reason. But as wine lovers, we like to push the envelope of our own tasting ambitions, and hope that you will consider doing the same this holiday season.
Skoal! Cin! Cin! Prost! Santé! L’Chaim! Sláinte! and Salud! 🍷
| IF YOU USUALLY BUY… | …CONSIDER THESE INSTEAD | PRICE |
| Sparkling Mionetto Prosecco Brut Superiore; Veneto, IT; $15 | Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava; Catalonia, SP | $11 at Total Wine |
| Rosé Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel, Provence, FR; $21 | Côté Mas Sud de France Rosé 2025; Languedoc, FR | $10 at Total Wine |
| Chardonnay Kendall Jackson; Napa Valley, CA; $12 | Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard 2024; Santa Barbara, CA | $15 at K&L Wines |
| Sauvignon Blanc Cloudy Bay; Marlborough, NZ; $28 | La Cana Albariño 2025 Rías Baixas, SP | $18 at Gary’s Wine Mktplace |
| Pinot Grigio Santa Margherita; Veneto, IT; $14 | Aragosta Vermentino 2025 Sardinia, IT | $13 at Empire Wine |
| Cabernet Sauvignon Josh Cellars, multiple regions, CA; $13 | Broadside Cab. Sauv. 2025 Paso Robles, CA | $12.50 at Total Wine |
| Malbec Catena; Mendoza, AR; $17 | Susana Balbo Crios Malbec 2023; Mendoza, AR | $13 at Best Buy Liquors |
| Pinot Noir Meiomi: multiple regions, CA; $15 | Pavette Pinot Noir 2024 North Coast, CA | $11 at Empire Wine |
| Zinfandel Cline Ancient Vines, Lodi, CA; $15 | Lodi Zin, Michael David Winery, 2023; Lodi, CA | $14 at Buy Wines Online |
| Dessert Wine Paolo Saracco Moscato d’Asti; Piedmont, IT; $18 | Warre’s Otima, 10 Year Tawny Port Porto, PT | $24 at Total Wine |
