In the August 2025 issue of Food & Wine, Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle selected 2023 Old Vine Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon and 2023 Masciarelli Villa Gemma Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo for his monthly “What Ray’s Pouring Now” column, which spotlights his favorite things to drink. The picks highlight both a California debut and an Italian benchmark, showcasing distinctive expressions from two very different terroirs.
2023 Old Vine Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon ($20)
The first-ever Cabernet Sauvignon in Marietta’s always-reliable series of Old Vine Ranch wines, this is a terrific California Cabernet for the price. It comes from vines dating back to the 1990s in Mendocino and glides along with juicy red berry and currant flavors, accented by a green peppercorn note.
2023 Masciarelli Villa Gemma Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo ($20)
I was in Italy’s Abruzzo region briefly this spring (a side jaunt from Rome) and drank this crimson-hued rosé from one of the region’s benchmark producers at a classic trabocco—a fishing platform repurposed as a restaurant—over the Adriatic Sea. With ultra-fresh fritto misto? Fantastico!
You can’t go wrong with either wine, from the bold, fruit-driven charm of Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon to the bright, seaside elegance of Abruzzo’s iconic Cerasuolo!
