Wine picks

www.agrapeaffair.com

Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon, California $18.99
Aromas of cedary oak, currants, black cherries and ripe plums suggest the fruit flavors to come, as does the intense, deep red color of the wine. Dense, mouth-filling cherries, plums, chocolate and tobacco marry with the oak nuances

Acquese Moscato d’ Asti, Piedmont, Italy $9.99
While the sweet, fruity sparkle of Asti Spumanti garners instant recognition with most American consumers, relatively few are familiar with Moscato d'Asti, a very different effervescent wine from Italy's Piedmont region. Moscato d'Asti is aromatic semi-sparkling wine (about half the carbonation of a typical sparkler) with a mild level of sweetness balanced by vibrant acidity. Moscato d'Asti also serves well as a dessert wine, but possesses enough versatility to be enjoyed as a refreshing aperitif. Both Asti Spumanti and Moscato d'Asti are best consumed within two years of the vintage.