Even before the movie "Sideways" made wine tasting de rigueur, connoisseurs knew the value of sipping and savoring a great wine.

But if you don't know a Beaujolais from a Bordeaux, then recommendations might be a welcome relief. To this end, why not consider the 2002 Samuele Cabernet Franc from Viansa Winery?

This complex wine exudes aromas of violets and luscious flavors of juniper and blueberry. A distinctive blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot aged in oak barrels for 26 months makes this a rich and elegant wine with beautifully balanced tannins and acids.

Still not convinced this wine is a keeper? It was awarded a Gold Medal and chosen best of its class at the 2006 Jerry D. Mead New World International Wine Competition.

Established in 1990, the competition is open to wines produced anywhere in North America, Central America and South America, as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

All wines are judged by price category, ranging from inexpensive to premium prices, with each wine being judged against others of its type and also against its price peers. To date, it is the only competition in America to pit the best wines from each price class against each other to determine an overall best of variety or type.

To ensure that all wines are based on merit, judges for the competition do not know the identity of the wines they are tasting nor do they know the wines that are entered.

Samuele can be fully experienced by pairing it with something as simple as a summer barbecue, meats roasted with herbs and garlic, as well as heavier Italian dishes.

Viansa is a destination winery at the entrance to the Sonoma Valley Wine Country. In addition to offering an array of award-winning California varietals, Viansa is the premier producer of Italian varietals in the United States.

The winery is marketed by the publicly traded 360 Global Wine Company. For more information, log on to www.360wines.com. Wines can be ordered by visiting www.viansa.com or through the Tuscan Club, Viansa's wine and food club. - NU

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