2018 Quinta du Regueiro Reserva Alvarinho as Kristen Bell

If you’re thinking to yourself that “Alvarinho” sounds a lot like a grape you know called “Albarino” then you are right! They are in fact, the same grape. In this case, Alvarinho is from Portugal and Albarino is from Spain. That’s the difference! You may also have had Alvarinho named for the region it commonly grows in – Vino Verde.

Additionally, in Portuguese wines “Reserva” means it’s a single vintage wine of superior quality. While it’s not a guarantee you’ll like the wine (or that it’s good value), it’s a good place to start if you are looking for high quality.

And this particular wine is goddamn delight. If you like Pinot Grigio in general, this wine is an elevated version – it is light, dry and acidic. Bold freshness finds its way through grapefruit, green apple, mineral, and maybe honey? It tastes smoother than it smells and is enjoyable to drink on its own, without food. That said, this is an ideal wine for happy hour – it will go with the full array of appetizers and little noshes that are around. Also pairs great with seafood. At under $20 for the bottle, this is a great value.

That’s why this wine as a celeb is none other than Kristen Bell. She really won me over in one of the best movies of all time, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. She’s funny, bright, refreshing, and goes with pretty much everything. Sadly, she’s not Portuguese, which would have really been the cherry on top. Can’t win ‘em all, but you can with this wine.