From Franzia to Fabulous: My pinot noir love story

I remember my first taste of red wine—well, what I thought was red wine. My first communion. I didn’t exactly savor the dry, cardboard wafer, but oh, that mysterious sip of “wine.” I wanted to circle back for seconds, giving the minister a “don’t be shy” nudge on the pour. My parents wondered why I suddenly had a near-perfect Sunday school attendance record. (I had my grape reasons.)

Fast forward to my twenties, when I was living my best life on a budget. I graduated from Boone’s Farm to Black Box Wine, thinking I had ascended the wine ladder, lightyears cooler than my Franzia friends. Box wine and Lean Cuisines were practically their own food group. My apartment in Appleton, Wisconsin, became the hotspot for gatherings featuring not charcuterie, but whatever could fit on a paper plate with a side of questionable decisions.

Then I met a sommelier. RIP, Black Box Wines. Suddenly, I was hosting wine tastings with my friends—none of us old enough to be a “properly aged cabernet,” but very committed to purple-stained teeth and dreams of Tuscany. I subscribed to Food & Wine, plastered Italy and Napa Valley across my vision boards, and began my true love affair with red wine.

As my taste (and paycheck) matured, I honed in on wines that feel like a treat without needing a second mortgage. One favorite that’s never failed me? Belle Glos Dairyman. From California’s Russian River Valley, this Caymus-owned beauty is named after Lorna Belle Glos Wagner (James Wagner’s grandmother, because every good wine deserves a good matriarch).

You can often snag it for under $40 on sale. It’s velvety and bold—perfect with grilled meats, decadent cheeses, or just because Tuesday deserves a toast.