Line 39 Excursion Red Blend

Line 39 Excursion Red Blend is a California red wine bottled at 13.5% ABV in a 750ml format, built around the uncommon Teroldego grape. The 2017 vintage earned 86 points from Wine Enthusiast, and the Line 39 portfolio collected seven Wine Enthusiast Best Buy awards in 2020—recognition that underscores the brand's consistent over-delivery at its price tier.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: California, USA  |  Style: Red Blend  |  Producer: O'Neill Vintners & Distillers

Production & Heritage

O'Neill Vintners & Distillers, based in California's Central Valley, produces the Line 39 range from grapes cultivated along the 39th parallel—a latitude band considered a sweet spot for viticulture due to its balance of warm days and cool nights. The Excursion Red Blend is fermented in stainless steel before aging on a combination of French and American oak, a dual-oak regimen that contributes both subtle spice and rounded vanilla character. What makes this blend unusual is its mashup of six varietals: 30% Teroldego, 26% Syrah, 17% Merlot, 12% Touriga Nacional, 8% Petite Sirah, and 7% Petit Verdot. Teroldego, an Italian-origin grape rarely seen as the lead in California blends, gives the wine a distinct dark-fruit intensity and a structural backbone that separates it from more conventional Cabernet-driven reds.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated blackberry jam and ripe raspberry, moving quickly into mocha and warm toasted oak. There is a secondary layer of plum and cassis that deepens as the wine breathes.

Taste: The entry is soft and fruit-forward, with strawberry and raspberry-jam flavors meeting the palate first. Mid-palate, the wine gains structure as dark chocolate and sweet vanilla emerge, supported by moderate tannins from the Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot components. The overall impression is medium-bodied and well balanced, with enough richness to feel substantial without turning heavy.

Finish: The finish is moderate in length, trailing off with warm baking spice and lingering berry notes. Tannins remain supple throughout, leaving a clean, slightly sweet impression.

How to Drink Excursion Red Blend

This is a ready-to-pour red that drinks well at cellar temperature (60–65°F) without decanting. Its fruit-forward, medium-bodied profile also makes it a reliable cocktail and sangria base. A Classic Red Sangria benefits from the wine's berry-jam richness paired with citrus and brandy. A Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) works because the blend's soft tannins and natural sweetness integrate cleanly with the mixer. A Mulled Wine preparation draws out the mocha and spice notes already present in the oak-aged profile.

Best For

• Weeknight dinner pairing when you want something richer than a Pinot Noir but lighter than a Cabernet
• Introducing someone to complex red blends without an intimidating price tag
• Casual gatherings or barbecues where a crowd-pleasing, fruit-forward red is needed
• Exploring uncommon California varietals like Teroldego and Touriga Nacional

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Excursion Red Blend taste like? It is a fruit-forward, medium-bodied red dominated by blackberry, raspberry jam, and plum, with supporting notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, and warm baking spice from French and American oak aging.

How does Excursion Red Blend compare to Conundrum Red? Both are multi-varietal California red blends positioned in a similar value tier, but the Excursion leans on the less common Teroldego and Touriga Nacional for its structure, whereas Conundrum Red typically builds around Petite Sirah and Zinfandel. The result is that Line 39 Excursion tends toward darker, jammier fruit with softer tannins, while Conundrum often shows more peppery spice.

Is Excursion Red Blend good for beginners? Yes—its soft tannins, fruit-forward character, and approachable price point make it a welcoming entry into California red blends without overwhelming newcomers with oak or alcohol heat.

Where is Excursion Red Blend made? It is produced by O'Neill Vintners & Distillers using grapes sourced from vineyards along the 39th parallel in Northern California, a latitude recognized for favorable growing conditions that balance ripeness and acidity.

What foods pair well with Excursion Red Blend? Grilled burgers or sausages match the wine's smoky oak and dark fruit. Pizza with roasted vegetables or meat toppings complements its medium body. Braised short ribs echo the mocha and plum tones. Dark chocolate desserts amplify the cocoa notes from oak aging. Aged cheddar or Gouda provides a savory counterpoint to the wine's berry sweetness.

What sizes does Excursion Red Blend come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Excursion Red Blend worth the price? Line 39 Excursion positions squarely as an entry-level California red blend, and its multiple Wine Enthusiast Best Buy designations confirm it delivers quality above its price bracket—making it one of the stronger values in the sub-$15 red-blend category.

Why Excursion Red Blend?

The defining differentiator here is the blend itself: leading with 30% Teroldego is a genuinely unusual choice for a California red, and it gives the wine a darker, more structured core than the typical Cabernet-Merlot blends that dominate the shelf. The addition of Touriga Nacional—a Portuguese grape best known for Port production—adds another layer of complexity you rarely encounter at this price level. An 86-point score from Wine Enthusiast and the brand's track record of Best Buy awards validate that the winemaking behind this bottle is sound, not gimmicky. For anyone tired of formulaic California reds, the Excursion offers a genuinely different glass.