10 wines to toast on National Drink Wine Day 2020

CLEVELAND, Ohio - National Drink Wine Day is something many of us can get behind throughout the year. But the official day is Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Years ago you had to find a bottle shop and pray the owner knew his or her stuff when it came to vino. Now is a good time to be a wine drinker, with so many varietals from so many places being available in so many local stores.

Online options also range considerably for folks to order wine. Below we offer 10 wine suggestions, along with links to where you can buy the wines online.

If you're going to celebrate National Drink Wine Day, remember some basic tips:

1. Decant: Opening a bottle and pouring it in a decanter isn't just for expensive, old wines. It helps the wine wake up.

2. Swirl: This gets the wine to open a bit.

3. Sniff: Three sniffs is maximum before your olfactory acumen gets overrun. Here's a trick: Sniff your shirt sleeve on the fourth sniff, then go back to the glass. It's also a good test to see if the wine is corked. (Wet cardboard = bad.) Send it back if you're in a restaurant.

4. Sip: Let the wine rest on your tongue for a second and blanket your taste buds.

If you're really into wine, consider proper varietal glasses. They make a world of difference.

Here are 10 wines to consider based on your mood today, with our tasting notes and suggested retail price (which can vary and sometimes is cheaper online).

Feeling cheap?

Citra Vini, Montepulciano, Italy, 2017, $10: We've had a couple Citra wines, and at this price point we went in with low expectations. Very pleasantly surprised. At 10 bucks all you can hope for is a sippable enough wine with no off flavors. This one has some tannins with spice, and plum and blueberry on the finish. Great value. Here are Citra offerings at wine.com.

Still feeling cheap?

Citra Vini, Abruzzo region of Italy, Sangiovese, 2017, $10: Very nice wine, proof that Citra wine isn’t a one-trick pony. Light to nominal tannins, dark fruit, faint hints of cocoa and spice, and berry on the finish. Good stand-alone sipper. Two for two on our Citra wines we tried in recent months. Here are Citra offerings at wine.com.

Feel spicy?

Fetzer Monterey County Riesling, Fetzer Vineyards, Monterey County, California; Riesling, 2016, $12: A medium-sweet Riesling with petrol in the nose and pear on the finish. Call this a crowd-pleaser: Sweet fans will like. This is a nice balance to mildly spicy Asian dishes. Here are various vintages of Fetzer Rieslings at wine.com.

Feeling like you can’t wait for summer?

Cameron Hughes, Monterrey County, California; Lot 639 Rose, 2017, $13: Roses are a great wine, and while associated with summertime they really make for a nice break any time of year. This is the latest of several Cameron Hughes wines we’ve tried, a new one for us. So far so good. This Rose has strawberry and cranberry with a tiny bit of a sour though pleasing finish - almost Jolly Rancher-ish. Got better with time and air. Medium-bodied. We're told it’s available online, but this one is not in widespread distribution in Northeast Ohio. Here are some Cameron Hughes wines at wine.com.

Feeling like having a sweet-wine loving friend over?

7 Moons Wine, California, red blend, 2017, $13: It's billed as a "fruity, easy to drink wine." Well, it's fruity, that's for sure. It's got seven red-wine grapes in it with milk chocolate and black raspberry notes. No tannins, nothing complex. We're betting sweet fans will enjoy. Here's where to find it at wine.com.

Feeling responsible?

The Dreaming Tree Wines, California, Sauvignon Blanc, 2016, $15: Musician Dave Matthews and Sean McKenzie teamed up for this line of wine. This one is pretty mellow - definitely not a grapefruit-screaming New Zealand Sauv Blanc. No long finish, but at this price point that's OK. The DT line embraces sustainability, from using recycled paper for its labels to lighter bottles. Here's where to find Dreaming Tree wines at wine.com.

Feeling like showing off?

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Chenin Blanc, Napa Valley, California; 2017, $16: This is the type of wine you want to bring to a dinner party to show you know about more than just Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio when it comes to white wines. It's listed as a blend but is technically a Chenin Blanc (it's composed of 83% Chenin Blanc and 17% Viognier.) Pear is strong across the palate, along with pineapple and apple. One tasting pal said this would be a perfect summer sipper; no argument. Here's where to find Pine Ridge at wine.com.

Feeling like a nice meal of steak or pasta?

Jason-Stephens Merlot, California, Merlot, 2014, $24: This wine has healthy tannins that help it stand up to a variety of food (we had it with ribeye, which was a tasty pairing), and a montage of spice, black cherry, some cocoa and a hint of raspberry. We loved this and savored every sip; it's definitely worth its price. Here's where to find Jason Stephens wines at wine.com.

Feeling like having barbecue in the wintertime?

1924 Double Black, Gnarly Head, Lodi, California; red blend, 2017, $15:

Plum and blackberry are predominant in this extremely fruity wine. One pal who loved it said it would go great with barbecue, and I agree. It's too sweet for me but would pair with ribs slathered in a rich sauce. Here's where to find 1924 Gnarly Head Double Black at wine.com.

Feeling like wine for dessert?

Harveys Bristol Cream, Cream Sherry, Spain, NV, $15: Sherry is a great topoff after a meal, but its flavors actually go well with cheeses and other foods. This brand has been out for years. We detected traditional nutty and rich caramel flavors with some orange-peel notes. Very smooth, not overly alcoholic in taste or volume (it's 17.5%, barely above what many big reds come in at). Here's where to find it at wine.com.

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