"There are a lot of reasons why we don’t want California to secede from the Union, and wine is at the top of the list. The state, which would be the fourth biggest wine producer in the world if it were its own country, makes a lot more than just the cabernet sauvignons and chardonnays it’s best known for. If you want to do a deep dive, head to Coast And Valley, a restaurant and wine bar in Greenpoint that has about 100 bottles on its all-California wine list. Everything on the menu is available in 2 and 5-ounce pours, so you can try a lot without spending too much money or getting too drunk. Sit at the bar and ask the friendly servers to recommend a few different glasses of roussanne or pinot noir, or sit at a table and have the sweet potato with parmesan fondue (the best thing here)." - matt tervooren
