Margerum M5 Wine

Photo: Michael Kraus

Doug Margerum's M5, a blend of the five principal Rhône-style grapes grown in Santa Barbara County, is my surefire crowd-pleasing wine. I love the aromas of strawberry, white pepper, and plum, the hints of leather and smoke, and how it all comes through on the palate in a long, clean, delicious finish. Ditch the swank dinner at an overpriced steak house, and pair the M5 with a Double-Double Animal Style burger from In-N-Out. It's a match made in heaven, and, with a total tab of around $30, it's a perfectly affordable combo of sophistication and comfort. —Blaine Pate, Los Angeles, California