Scheid Vineyards Triple Layer Red 2009: The most palate-perfect, road trip-friendly stop on a drive to or from the Bay Area is Scheid Vineyards, located a stone’s throw off Highway 101 between King City and Greenfield. Thanks to the Scheid family’s ownerships of vineyards from the hot San Miguel plains to the cold Santa Lucia Mountains, there’s an ever-revolving slate of estate-sourced wines in the welcoming tasting room, from standards to eclectics like tannat, petit verdot, and albarino.
Their blends are best, and the Triple Layer — a Rhône blend of 42 percent syrah, 31 percent cinsault, and 27 percent grenache — will satisfy both neophytes and experts, its well-rounded fruit flavors easy and accessible yet offering a pleasing balance to chew on. Other faves include the grenache blanc and Odd Lot Red.
See scheidvineyards.com.