10 Best Red Wines Made in the United States to Buy in 2022

Pinot Noirs have the highest levels of resveratrol, and Melville’s Pinot Noir is about as close to perfect as you can get—and reasonably priced at $38. Made at its Rita Hills estate and aged in French oak barrels, it features a complex, fruit-forward aromatic blend of pomegranate, rhubarb, tangerine zest, and cherries. It’s balanced, fresh, and vibrant.

This wouldn’t be a wine list without a selection from Napa Valley, and from there we have to go with Cuvaison, a family-owned winery founded in 1969. Its Estate Pinot Noir is a little pricier than our Melville pick, at $42 a bottle, but for a special occasion it’s worth it. You’ll find the aromas of rose petals, strawberries, and plums—and dark fruits on the palate—hard to resist.

While Napa is the most famous part of California wine country, I secretly prefer Sonoma (at least to visit!). My favorite wine there is Scribe, founded by two brothers in 2007. This 2018 Pinot Noir blend came with its “return to normal” after the 2017 North Bay fires and the years of drought that preceded them. Here, you’ll get spice from Martini grapes rounded out by the earthiness in Pommard grapes.

Big Little Lies fans will love La Crema, a winery partially based in Monterey, where the popular show is filmed. Its 2018 Pinot Noir is reasonably priced at $28 and features flavors of plums, cranberries, and raspberries. The winemakers highlight its “distinct minerality” and notes of barrel spice.

Another wine-making area I love in California is Paso Robles, and there my favorite is Justin. A good go-to is the 2017 Right Angle, a unique, full-bodied blend of cabernet, petite verdot, petit sirah, and malbec. You’ll taste ripe black fruit, vanilla, and oak upon your first sip. It’s affordable too, at $28 a bottle if you're a wine society member (and it's free to sign up). 

Now we’re moving north, to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, where good wine often comes a little cheaper than in trendy California. One favorite is Cooper Mountain, which is organically grown and biodynamic. Its signature (and most affordable, at $28 a bottle) Pinot Noir is sourced from its three oldest estate vineyards and bursts with forest floor fruit—blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries.

Even more economical at around $24 a bottle, Willamette Valley Vineyards’s Whole Cluster Pinot Noir is certified sustainable and incredibly versatile. The winemakers call it “liquid fruit salad in a glass” because it opens with aromas of ripe black cherry, strawberry, black currant, and raspberry. It’ll go perfectly with any BBQ dish this summer.

Montinore Estate is the largest producer of certified estate wines made from biodynamic grapes in the country (and it’s family-run—Kristin Marchesi manages the estate with her father!). Pinot Noirs are their specialty, and the 2017 Red Cap comes in at a great price point, just $24 a bottle. It's medium-bodied and has cherries, plum, and "a kiss of chocolate" on the palate. 

Yes, finally! A red that isn’t Pinot Noir! I love Bryn Mawr vineyards in Salem, OR, because the winemaker and vineyard director is a woman, Rachel Rose. One of her speciality wines, the 2015 Tempranillo, is outstanding. You’ll have to pay for it, at $50 a bottle, but that’s because this blend ages in barrels for at least two years and then bottles for at least one prior to release, which allows the tannins to soften and flavors to concentrate.

Now here’s something cool—a blend that combines the beauty of a Pinot Noir with the brightness and acidity of a white wine. This started out as an experiment at Left Coast and is now one of its most popular varietals. Pure Pinot Noir juice is fermented in stainless steel, then aged on the lees. You’ll taste honeysuckle, pear, peach, and pineapple with a smooth, refreshing finish.