• Grocery-store wines vary in quality, and as a sommelier, I'm here to help.
• Cabernet sauvignon is one of the most popular red wines and is easy to find at most stores.
• I found seven different bottles, all $35 and under, that I think are best.

Selecting a bottle of wine can be daunting. The labels often have confusing jargon, and it's hard to know if you're getting a good deal.

As a sommelier, I'm here to help. The good news is you don't have to spend a fortune. There are probably several solid bottles of good-quality wine right at your local grocery store.

Let's start with cabernet sauvignon, one of the world's most widely planted wine grapes that's especially prominent in places like Napa Valley, Bordeaux, and Chile.

Here are seven cabernets I like to pick up at the grocery store, all $35 and under, listed from cheapest to most expensive.

Ironstone Vineyards cabernet sauvignon is easy to drink — and easy to love.

If you're looking for a wine that's super easy to drink and that's enjoyable both on its own or with a weeknight meal, the cabernet sauvignon from Ironstone Vineyards is the one.

At $14, it's also the most affordable option I reach for.

The pleasant, light-red blend offers notes of juicy, ripe fruits on the nose and palate. It has just a touch of residual sugar for those who prefer sweeter fruity notes.

For an organic option, pick up Domaine Bousquet Reserve's cabernet sauvignon.

Domaine Bousquet is a family-owned estate in the Mendoza region of Argentina. Its reserve wines are made with hand-picked, certified organic fruit.

I love the brand's cabernet sauvignon because it tastes exactly like a cab should (full-bodied and dark) for only $18 a bottle.

The wine has a nice tannin structure, so it's on the drier side. Additionally, the notes on both the nose and palate are dark and complex.

In the winter, I reach for Juggernaut Hillside cabernet.

Juggernaut's cabernet — made from grapes on hillside vineyards — majorly over-delivers for its $20 price point.

Upon first taste, the wine is dark-fruited and herbaceous in nature. Then, a smooth and velvety side comes through with some chocolate notes, giving it a rich and warming impression.

It's the perfect winter cabernet to enjoy with a pot roast in front of a crackling fireplace.

Bonterra Estate Collection's cabernet sauvignon is everywhere.

Bonterra, a leader in sustainable winemaking, offers an easier-drinking cabernet sauvignon with little tannin impression, making it less dry and bitter on the palate.

I think it delivers precisely what a cabernet should for $22: A quaffable glass of red everyone can enjoy.

Bonterra is also one of the easiest-to-find brands on the list. It has wide distribution in major retailers such as Whole Foods, Albertsons, and Trader Joe's.

If you're hosting dinner, check out Ancient Peaks' cabernet sauvignon.

From the sprawling Santa Margarita Ranch on the south side of Paso Robles, California, comes a spicy little number from Ancient Peaks Winery.

The brand's $25 cabernet has a more dramatic nose and palate, with notes of cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla.

Although some cabernets can be sipped on their own, this bottle is best enjoyed with food. I think it would shine with a hickory-grilled burger, grilled portabellas, or a spiced pork tenderloin.

Alta Nova's cabernet sauvignon is great if you have a little more room in your budget

Founded and owned by master sommelier Des Echavarrie, Alta Nova highlights wines made from grapes grown at high elevations in Paso Robles, which is located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Its $33 cabernet is deep, dark, and brooding in nature, with a good tannin structure. However, it's still a ripe, fruity crowd-pleaser.

Rounding out the top of the list is Rodney Strong's cabernet sauvignon.

Rodney Strong Winery is a legacy Sonoma producer that showcases beautiful grapes from the Alexander Valley.

Its cabernet is dark-fruited, with a lovely note of sweet spice from the oak influence.

Although it's the most expensive on the list at $35, it's the perfect bottle to enjoy with grilled steak or braised short ribs.

• As a sommelier, there are a few white wines I'm loving right now.
• Chenin Blanc is my go-to white wine, but I'll also settle for a glass of garganega.
• If you're looking for something different that's similar to a classic white, try an amber wine.

I've worked in the wine industry since 2008, and I feel like we're going through a wine renaissance right now.

There are so many choices out there, diversity is celebrated, and winemakers are embracing sustainable vineyard and cellar techniques.

As a sommelier, I always seek drinks that enhance my food and vibe. These are the white wines I'm buying at the moment.

Assyrtiko is bright and fresh.

Assyrtiko, sometimes spelled Asyrtiko, is a white-wine grape that originated on the Greek island of Santorini. However, it has since spread to South Africa, California, and even North Carolina.

I love Assyrtiko because it's high in acid, incredibly fresh, and food-friendly. It can be pretty citrusy on the palate, with notes of guava and minerals.

With its high acidity, it's a great wine to pair with a cheese plate or charcuterie board at a holiday party.

The Armenian whites are too often overlooked.

I recently visited Armenia for a wine-tourism conference and fell in love with its white wines. The Asian country, like Georgia, is one of the oldest wine regions in the world, with thousands of years of winemaking history under its belt.

I was impressed by the variety and high quality of wines I tried there.

Armenia is better known for its brandy, but if you find any white wine, grab it.

These wines pair perfectly with the highly aromatic cuisines of Armenia and Iran, and they'll also go well with Thai and Vietnamese food.

Amber wine is like white wine's cool cousin.

Most white wines are made by fermenting the juice, resulting in the pale hue we all recognize. Amber wines, also known as orange wines, are different because they achieve color through skin contact or maceration, like red wines.

Although they're made with white grapes, the result is various hues of amber with unique textures, tannins, and flavors.

This style of wine originated in Georgia, but it is now produced in winemaking regions around the world.

Amber wines are delicious, fun, and sometimes ethereal, so I always look for them on a wine menu at a restaurant or bar. It makes me think the curator there knows what's up.

If there's a Chenin Blanc on the menu, I will order it.

I always call Chenin Blanc the greatest wine grape on earth — it never fails me. It grows worldwide, but its home is the Loire Valley in France, and there's a high concentration of vineyards in South Africa.

The grape is actually used to make various wines, from refreshing sparkling bottles to dry, sweet, and golden-hued varieties. I love them all, especially a dry, tart Vouvray.

Expect flavors of apples and pear, honey, light tea, and persimmon. These wines are perfect with goat cheese, fattier fish like sardines and tuna, and pasta.

Garganega is the best of the best in Italy.

If Chenin Blanc is the world's greatest wine grape, garganega is Italy's best white grape.

The Italian white wine is wonderful and young. As it ages, it evolves from stone fruit, melon, and citrus aromas to more citrus peel and nutty aromas.

The fresh wine has a medium body and is a great alternative to pinot grigio. Try garganega with shellfish and richer dishes seasoned with fresh herbs or butter.

Malvasia and trebbiano blends from Lazio are my local go-tos.

I live near Rome and like to drink locally, so I often reach for wines from my Lazio region of Italy.

Roman cuisine is heavy, so I want a wine that can stand up to the sharp and salty flavors of pecorino Romano cheese. The most popular blends are made from malvasia and trebbiano grapes.

These wines are aromatic, with notes of citrus, tropical fruit, and white flowers, but they're also very acidic and thirst-quenching. I like to pair them with a plate of carbonara.

Give chardonnay another try.

On my wine tours, I meet many different people with varying tastes — including those who are what we call "ABC" (anything but chardonnay) drinkers.

Many people don't like it, but I think it's a real shame. I love chardonnay so much that I named my dog after it.

The grapes grow worldwide, but their reputation can't seem to shake the overly oaked, buttery California chardonnays of the '80s and '90s.

Those styles still exist, but that's not all there is to the wine. When made well, it can be complex, with notes of lemon, apples, tropical fruits, stone fruits, cherry blossom, orange zest, flint, jasmine, and nuts. There's something for everyone.

Because chardonnay isn't particularly acidic, it can be enjoyed on its own without the need to be tamed by food. However, it also pairs well with soft cheeses, vegetarian cuisine, mushrooms, and fresh herbs.

Medical accounts of red wine headaches go back to Roman times, but the experience is likely as old as winemaking—something like 10,000 years. As chemists specializing in winemaking, we wanted to try to figure out the source of these headaches.

Many components of red wine have been accused of causing this misery—sulfites, biogenic amines, and tannins are the most popular. Our research suggests the most likely culprit is one you may not have considered.

The common suspects

Sulfites have been a popular scapegoat for all sorts of ailments since it became mandatory in the 1990s to label them on wines in the US. However, not much evidence links sulfites directly to headaches, and other foods contain comparable levels to wine without the same effects. White wines also contain the same amount of sulfites as red wines.

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• Paris is great, but I prefer Bordeaux in the winter because it's less crowded and magical.
• The city is two hours south of Paris and has incredible holiday markets, shops, and food.
• Bordeaux has great wine and is a day trip away from famous spots like Saint-Émilion or Margaux.

As the oft-repeated saying goes, Paris is always a good idea. And although that's true, it can feel crowded and congested, especially during Christmastime.

That's why I now prefer to go to Bordeaux, the wine capital of the world, during the busy winter season.

This elegant city, just two hours south of Paris by train, is a real stunner filled with classic Haussmanian buildings, dramatic 18th-century neoclassical architecture, and picturesque cobblestone streets.

At less than half the size of Paris, Bordeaux gets a fraction of its millions of tourists a year, which makes it the perfect place to enjoy French esprit de Noël without feeling overwhelmed.

Bordeaux starts to get fully festive in November

In late November, Bordeaux transforms into a winter wonderland with festive lights and illuminated backdrops.

The season officially kicks off with a concert at the Opéra National de Bordeaux on Place de la Comédie, followed by the lighting of a 36-foot-high Christmas tree made of steel and glass.

For a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city, start your trip with the Les Caneles Cruise, an hour-and-15-minute ride up and down the Garonne River.

You'll learn about the city's fascinating (and troubling) history, architecture, and culture while sipping wine and munching on canelés, a famous local pastry. It's the perfect way to acclimate to Bordeaux.

The city has great seasonal shopping and eats

If holiday shopping and sampling local culinary specialties tops your list of must-dos, grab a cup of vin chaud (mulled wine) or chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) and wander through over 100 petite wooden chalets at the Grand Marché de Noël in Bordeaux's city center.

At this holiday market, local purveyors sell everything from hand-poured candles to grilled chestnuts. This year, the market has several workshops where you can make your own candles, maple butter, cosmetics, and more.

Or head to Darwin, the right bank's eco-district, for an alternative Christmas market featuring handcrafted goods, art, live music, organic food, and more. It's where all the cool kids hang out.

You can also wander along Rue Sainte-Catherine, Europe's longest pedestrian shopping street.

Maybe visit the posh Chartrons district north of the city center, where you'll find Rue Notre Dame, one of my favorite streets in Bordeaux.

It's filled with hip boutiques like the Do You Speak Francaise concept store, antique shops, restaurants, and my favorite place for canelés — Micheline and Paulette Bakery.

Warm up with wine, culture, and art

Bordeaux isn't called the wine capital of the world for nothing. There are wine bars are everywhere, serving the best vintages from the region.

Two of my top picks are Yarra Wine Bar and Le Bar à Vin. The latter is in a magnificent 18th-century building across from the Bordeaux Tourism office.

Here, you can order affordable regional wines by the glass and cheese plates, charcuterie, and other snacks. A top-notch glass of bubbly will only set you back about four euros.

If the weather isn't cooperating, you can always wander through the city's many museums, including the must-see Cité du Vin, an immersive wine museum, or Bassins des Lumières, the largest digital art center in the world located in a former submarine base.

Plus, it's in a prime location if you want to explore other parts of France

Another reason to spend the winter holidays in Bordeaux is you can easily visit nearby villages without having to elbow your way through hordes of tourists.

Weather and time permitting, you can take a half-day or full-day chateaux or winery tour to Saint-Émilion or Margaux, two of the world's most famous wine destinations.

I look forward to returning to Bordeaux this year to experience even more holiday joy and the city's many charms. Maybe I'll see you there?

Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a bill into law that will prevent schools from allowing students of the opposite sex into restrooms and locker rooms. 

The legislation, the Protect All Students Act, dubbed the "bathroom bill," was sent to DeWine’s desk earlier this month after the state Senate passed the bill 24-7 on a party-line vote. The House version of the bill was passed before the chamber went on summer break in June. 

The law will take effect in 90 days and will restrict transgender students from using facilities associated with their gender identities.

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It applies to public K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. It requires schools to designate separate bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations "for the exclusive use" of either males and females, based on one’s gender assigned at or near birth, in both school buildings and facilities used for a school-sponsored event.

DeWine’s signature was not guaranteed and Democrats, teachers unions and civil rights groups had hoped that his veto earlier this year to a ban on sex changes for minors and hormone therapies for transgender individuals under 18 would yield a similar course of action. In the end, the state's Republican-dominated Senate voted to override that veto and the ban came into force.

DeWine did not release a statement announcing he signed the bathroom bill on Wednesday.

"Common sense is on a winning streak in America today," said Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue, which backed the bill, in a statement.

"No student should be forced to go into the bathroom or locker room with a student of the opposite sex, and Ohio’s kids are better protected now because of Governor DeWine’s decision to sign this bill."

Riley Gaines, a former 12-time All-American swimmer at the University of Kentucky and an advocate of keeping biological males out of female sports, echoed those words.

TRANSGENDER ACTIVISTS URGE SUPPORTERS NOT TO ‘VILIFY’ CRITICS AFTER TRUMP WIN, DIP IN PUBLIC SUPPORT: REPORT

"Common sense is making a comeback nationwide," Gaines wrote on X.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost thanked DeWine "for siding with biology, history, safety and common sense."

The ACLU of Ohio was among the groups that had lobbied for a veto and condemned the measure as a violation of the right of privacy of transgender Ohioans that would make them less safe.

"We will always have the backs of our trans community," the organization wrote on X. "Every Ohioan deserves the freedom to be loved, to be safe, to be trusted with decisions about healthcare and to access the facilities that align with their gender identity. We will not leave anyone behind. Trans Ohioans belong."

School employees, emergency situations and people assisting young children or someone with a disability are exempted from the restrictions, and schools can still offer single-use or family bathrooms.

Various battles regarding the issue of transgender people using bathrooms that align with their gender as well as participating in female sports are playing out across the nation. President-elect Trump has repeatedly vowed to keep men out of women's sports.

At least 11 states have adopted laws barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s bathrooms in public schools and, in some cases, other government facilities.

The laws are in effect in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah. A judge’s order putting enforcement on hold is in place in Idaho.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

• I've been a server at a winery for years, so I've seen guests make their fair share of mistakes.
• A tasting is an opportunity to expand your horizons, so try a wine you don't think you'll like.
• Customers should tip the staff in a tasting room just like they would at a restaurant.

As a server, I've always thought of a wine tasting as an opportunity to share my love for the alcoholic beverage with others. However, tastings are pretty important for the wineries, too — Silicon Valley Bank found that in 2023, tasting rooms made up 31% of total sales at premium wineries.

Needless to say, I always aim to ensure my guests have the best tasting-room experience possible. I started out at David Hill Vineyards and Winery in Forest Grove, Oregon, as a dishwasher and worked my way up to tasting-room associate — a fancy title for a server — over seven years.

Throughout my time at the company, I've seen almost everything, from the wannabe wine sommelier to the guests who think a tasting is an excuse to get drunk with a view.

Here are some of the biggest mistakes I've seen customers make at a tasting.

I recommend expanding your horizons during a wine tasting

One of the most common mistakes I've noticed is that people assume they know exactly what a wine will taste like based on its name or varietal.

For example, I've had guests turn their noses up when I say "riesling" and immediately declare that they don't like sweet wines. In reality, though, not all rieslings are sweet — some are incredibly dry, with crisp acidity and minerality.

That's why I encourage guests to taste like it's their first time trying wine. You might think you know what you'll like, but sometimes, the name of the wine doesn't tell the whole story.

The best part of a wine tasting is discovering something unexpected that surprises your taste buds.

Make sure you're educated on proper tipping etiquette

Many guests forget — or don't realize — that tipping is customary in a winery's tasting room. The setting is a bit more relaxed than at a restaurant, so it seems some people often don't associate the tasting-room experience with the idea of tipping.

However, the tasting-room staff work hard to make your experience enjoyable, and many of us rely on tips.

We're offering you our world of wine knowledge and making recommendations based on your preferences. It's a personalized service that goes beyond simply pouring a glass.

So, it's very discouraging when guests finish their tasting and leave without tipping — or tip like they just got a coffee at Starbucks.

Tipping might not be required, but it's a small gesture that goes a long way in acknowledging a server's effort to make each tasting special.

Don't be unruly just because you're in a large group

One challenging aspect of working in a winery's tasting room is managing the expectations of large groups who come in for bachelorette parties, birthdays, or other celebrations.

Based on what I've seen, the tasting-room staff has good reason to run and hide in the kitchen if someone walks in wearing a "Bride" sash. Don't get me wrong — I love a good chance to day-drink, but sometimes, guests arrive expecting to do what they see in the movies.

They envision wine tastings as an opportunity to slam rosé and run through the vines, but an intimate tasting room isn't the space for that. It's a refined experience, focusing on savoring the wine and enjoying the setting.

I always recommend reserving a private tasting room for larger parties or calling ahead to establish proper expectations so everyone can enjoy the experience without stepping on any toes.