Hubert Meyer, "Crémant d’Alsace Rosé"
Alsace, Crémant d'Alsace, FRA

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pinot noir (NV)  $37

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The Meyer family has a tradition as vignerons in Alsace in the village of Blienschwiller that dates back to 1722. In 1976, Hubert Meyer succeeded his father as the head of the domaine. His son, Pierre, returned from his studies of viticulture and oenology to take the torch in 2009. This elegant sparkling wine has acidic vivacity that’s supported with fruited notes of wild strawberry, salted cream and raspberry pureé.

Vigneti del Sole, "Prosecco Treviso Frizzante"
Veneto, Prosecco, ITA

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glera (NV)  $26

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In 1952, brothers Natale, Nicola, Riccardo and Umberto Pasqua moved from Puglia to Veneto and established their company, Vigneti del Sole, in Verona. The family estate is now run by second and third generation Pasquas. In 2000, the family bought additional land in Puglia, where they focus on grape varietals that are indigenious to the area. This delightful little prosecco has a lively bubble and creamy notes of banana and vanilla. A light maceration on the skins gives this soft, briochy wine a little bit of acidic structure with notes of lemon zest.

La Collina, "Rosa Luna Lambrusco"

Emilia-Romagna, 
Lambrusco dell'Emilia, ITA

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lambrusco salamino (NV)  $33

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La Collina is a whole-agriculture co-op founded in 1975 by 12 farmers. The farm is just outside of Reggio Emilia, the historic heart of Emilia-Romagna. Along with vineyards, the coop cultivates fruits and vegetables, grains, livestock, bees and dairy for one of the region's prime exports, Parmigiano-Reggiano. The coop was certified organic and biodynamic in 1985. Herbs and black fruit with notes of juicy pomegranate, fresh raspberries and sweet balsamic. The effervescence almost takes on a mousse-like quality.

Terrabianca, "Moscato D'Asti D'Oro"

Piemonte, Asti, ITA

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moscato bianco (2020)  $26

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Terrabianca is a farm estate located in Mango d’Alba in the Langhe. Founded by vine grower and winemaker Mario Apliste in 1920, the property still remains under the ownership of the Alpiste family today with the leadership of Mario’s grandsons: brothers Giorgio and Luigi. The estate is named after the calcerous land upon which the vines grow, since Terrabianca translates directly to “white land." This moscato is bursting with floral, rose aromas. Lightly effervescent with floral notes on the palate, complemented with a soft white pepper spice.

Pierre Gimonnet & Fils, "Champagne Brut Sélection Belles Années"
Champagne, FRA

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chardonnay (NV)  $75

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It’s a grower champagne! Didier Gimonnet is the second generation of growers to direct this estate, with 28 hectares of holdings in grand and premier cru villages, predominantly in the Côte de Blancs. The winery is in the premier cru village of Cuis where Didier’s family has been growing grapes since 1750. Pierre Gimonnet, Dider’s grandfather, started bottling estate champagne in 1935. In addition to the 13.5 hectares in Cuis, Gimonnet owns 11 hectares of chardonnay vines in the grand cru villages of Cramant and Chouilly, plus another hectare in Oger and two in Vertus. Gimonnet also owns half a hectare of pinot noir, split between the grand cru of Aÿ and 1er cru of Mareuil-sur Aÿ. This champagne spends 72 months on the lees. This brings forth yeasty and creamy notes of brioche that intermingle with notes of melon and lemon zest for a mineral finish. Truly a celebration bottle!

Le Rocher des Violettes, "Montlouis-sur-Loire Pétillant"
Loire Valley, Touraine, FR

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chenin blanc (2017)  $43

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Winemaker Xavier Weisskopf earned a degree in viticulture and enology at the wine school in Beaune.  He then went to work for Louis Barruol at Château de Saint Cosme in Gigondas. He quickly became Louis’ chef du cave, and made four vintages there. In January 2005, Xavier bought 22 acres of vines in the Saint Martin le Beau sector of Montlouis and an enormous, raw 15th century stone cellar—originally a quarry dug deep into the Loire’s chalk limestone bank in Amboise. The vines (chenin blanc, cabernet franc, grolleau and malbec) are scattered about in various parcels and were planted at different times, but the majority were put into the ground before WWII. This 100% chenin blanc is bracingly dry and effervescent. It is vinified in both stainless steel and old wooden vats and then blended to achieve balance. The result is a grassy, floral wine with a fruity and salty finish. Notes of cherry blossom and marigold perfume with golden apples. 

La Biancara, "Garg`n`Go"

Veneto, ITA

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garganega (2020)  $38

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La Biancara was founded in 1988 by Angiolino Maule and his wife, Rosamaria. After working as pizzaiolos for 12 years, the couple decided to buy six hectares in the hills of Sorio di Gambellara and start planting vineyards, where the grow primarily garganega. Now, the Maules work with their elder sons, Francesco and Alessandro. The vineyards have expanded to 11 hectares and include olive, cherry, fig, apricot and peach trees. This dry, fizzy delight is made in the col fondo style, which allows the secondary fermentation to take place once it’s bottled. Notes of green apple, fresh pear and a touch of salt. 

Hunter's Estate, "Orbis Moderandi Petillant Naturel"

Marlborough,Wairau Valley, NZL

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sauvignon blanc (2021)  $32

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Hunter’s Estate is one of the oldest in the Marlborough region. The family were pioneers along with Cloudy Bay. Winemakers Peter and James McDonald are young winemakers who wanted to create a line with some whimsy, made with all sustainably farmed, estate fruit. This wine is in a class of its own. Perfect for casual drinking on a hot day, it’s bursting with notes of guava, pineapple, mango and jasmine. This wine has a significant amount of sediment because it was not cold stabilized or disgorged after its secondary bottle fermentation. 

Iapetus Wine, "Tributary Piquette Pétillant Naturel"

Champlain Valley, Vermont, USA

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marquette, la crescent, frontenac, louise swenson, itasca & petite pearl  (2020)  $35

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In early 2008, Ethan Joseph began working at Shelburne Vineyard. Ten years of self-education, first-hand experience and the support and guidance of friends, colleagues, and co-workers led Joseph to start his own winemaking project: Iapetus. Iapetus is the name of the ancient sea which once covered the bedrock that was thrust into the present-day Champlain Valley. Joseph works with the soil, water and vines in order to make wines he feels represent the region and story of the grapes and land. This light red is a piquette, which refers to an old style of winemaking, traditionally made and enjoyed by farmhands and vineyard workers. Water is added to grape pomace in a 50/50 blend, fermented and pressed off the skins. This results in a fresh, low-alcohol and often lightly sparkling wine. The nose of this piquette is juicy and floral, abounding with rose petals and warm, earthy undertones. Notes of macerated strawberries, roses and lively bubbles zip across the palate.

Gabernik 23, "Rumeni Muškat Pét Nat"

Podravje, Štajerska, SVN

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rumeni muškat (NV)  $33

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Gabernik 23 is a small family-owned winery in Štajerska, Slovenia. Janko Bogatic started working alongside his father in the vineyard when he was 10. He took an interest in dairy farming, but was forced to return to the family property to manage the vineyards after the sudden passing of his father. 30 years later, Janko is farming 9 hectares of vineyards situated on the slopes around Ritoznoj in the foothills of the Pohorje range. While some of the grapes are sold to another local winemaker, Janko began bottling his own wines under the Gabernik 23 label in 2018. There are many varieties planted in the Gabernik 23 vineyards, but the focus is on the less fashionable varieties, like yellow muscat and zweigelt. This is a delightfully rosy and tropical sparkling wine. The large bubbles and persistent effervescence show notes of pineapple, honeysuckle and a kick of argula-like green spice.  

Frecciarossa, "Sillery"
Lombardy, Casteggio, ITA

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pinot nero bianco (2019)  $28

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The Frecciarossa estate sits above the small town of Casteggio, in the hills of Oltrepò Pavese, at the same latitude as Piemonte, Burgundy and Bordeaux. Like these other famous regions, Oltrepo Pavese has been a wine growing area since the days of ancient Rome. Founder Mario Odero came back to Italy shortly after WW 1, around 1919. He was originally from Genoa but spent most of his adult life in England, working the coal trade between the UK and Italy. Four generations later, the vineyards have expanded and Mario’s great granddaughter, Valeria, is head of operations. Crushed red berries and white-flesh stone fruits dance with spices, balsamic herbs, and pressed white flowers in this enveloping, lively pinot nero bianco. This wine layers its silky texture on a sturdy acidic spine. This straw-yellow wine is an unusual spin on the traditionally red wine grape.

Botromagno, "Gravina Bianco"

Puglia, Gravina, ITA

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greco, malvasia (2020) $31

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In 1991, the D’Agostino family merged with the local cooperative winery of more than 100 growers, creating Botromagno. The D’Agostinos invested in the Gravina DOC, recovering the production of this white wine and rebuilding its reputation as an elegant and versatile wine. Today, they are the only producers of the flavorful and refreshing gravina. This gorgeous, soft and silky wine smells like golden apple cider and tastes like buttery, caramelized tarte tatin. Excellent for solo drinking or richer seafood dishes. ​

Joseph Jewell Wines

Sonoma County, California, Dry Creek Valley, USA

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vermentino (2019) $33

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Micah Joseph Wirth and Adrian Jewell Manspeaker made their first wine together, a single vineyard pinot noir, in a garage in 2006. They launched Joseph Jewell (a combination of their middle names) soon afterward and made a name for themselves making single vineyard pinot noirs. A bright, floral medium-bodied white with aromas of honeysuckle, white flowers, hay, almonds, beeswax and nutmeg.

Corta y Raspa, "Cádiz La Charanga Mahina"

Andalucía, Cádiz, ESP

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palomino (2019)  $42

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Corta y Raspa is a label made by Mayeteria Sanluqueña, a collective of farmers who also makes their own wines. In this case, given the small production of each grower, they decided to come together in 2016 and form a group to combine resources. Currently the group is made up of 4 mayetos: Antonio Bernal Ortega, Rafael Rodriguez Jimenez, Jose Manuel Harana Yuste, and Daniel Rodriguez. The pillars of this mayetería are organic farming, preservation of old vines, and spontaneous fermentations in old sherry botas. The wine is bottled without fining or filtering. All of their wines are labeled under the Corta y Raspa brand which is a reference to a specific type of pruning used locally. We like this wine as a dessert option and for solo drinking. The nose and texture feel very much like a fino sherry with deep notes of toasted hazelnut and a touch of salinity. Definitely a good choice for the curious wine drinker!

BLANKbottle, "Nothing to Declare"

Swartland, Stellenbosch, ZAF

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marsanne, roussanne, grenache blanc, grenache gris, viognier, verdelho (2020)  $44

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From the winemaker: “In 2004, a lady came to my house (then also my office) to buy wine. She asked for anything but Shiraz. “I don’t drink Shiraz”, were her exact words. I poured her a glass of wine. She loved it and bought 3 cases. It was a straight Shiraz. Having no indication of cultivar on the bottle, not only demands complete honesty when it comes to quality, but it allows me the opportunity to introduce once-off limited runs of interesting wines. An honest brand that had no limitations when it came to style, vintage, area or cultivars. Something for someone with an open mind and an adventurous heart. A mid-bodied white wine perfect for cold, winter weather. Notes of baked yellow apples, a sprinkling of cinnamon and custard add complexity and structure.

Château Farizeau, "Entre-Deux-Mers"

Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers, FRA

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sauvignon blanc, sémillon, muscadelle (2020) $40

 

The Moreau family has been involved in the wine trade in Bordeaux since the early 1800s, initially working as coopers and cellar masters. In 1911, Maxime Moreau was finally able to purchase a small vineyard of his own in Sadirac, in the region of Entre-Deux-Mers. In 1980, Maxime's son, André, and his wife, Nicole, officially founded Château Farizeau. André's eldest son, Guillaume, eventually joined the family winery, bringing with him a renewed focus on farming and natural work in the cellar. The Moreau's began by ripping out high-yielding parcels and replanting them at much higher densities. The Moreau's went on to pursue full organic certification starting in 2010. They use biodynamic practices in the vineyard and cellar processes. The blend of sauvignon blanc, sémillon, muscadelle creates a fruity and floral wine with a supple texture. Notes of yellow fruits like yellow plums and nectarine compliment the citrus zip of lemon zest and aromas of white flowers.

BLANKbottle, "Aasvoël"

Swartland, Stellenbosch, ZAF

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verdelho (2020)  $46

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Clearly we love BLANKbottle's wines, we selected another for the season. This wine’s silky texture and flavors of oyster shell and ripe melon make it a lovely study in juxtapositions. It’s hard to find the right words but this wine is a stunner. We think this wine would pair well with oysters, shellfish, and light white fish. Alternatively you could drink this with soft cheeses, herby spreads, and good bread. 

Màquina y Tabla, "Toro el Oso y la Alemana Bianco"

Castilla y León, Toro, ESP

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verdejo, malvasia (2020) $40

 

The Màquina y Tabla team is comprised of Oriol and Susana. They are a small family business run by the couple that started its journey in 2012 in Castilla y León. This project started from scratch, and Oriol and Susana traveled through the region in search of the oldest and most peculiar vineyards. Oriol handles the winemaking, cultivating the grapes following biodynamic principles, while Susana manages communications and sales.

Oriol and Susana aim to create wines that can be drunk casually with friends. Their suggested vessel is a plastic cup outside with friends. While drinking out of a wine glass will no doubt provide a better experience to smell the bright scents, drinking this wine out of any vessel will be enjoyable. This wine smells like lemon drop candy with a hazy finish and drinks with crisp and soft acidity that isn’t too powerful. The wine has a salty backbone finish and a white pepper spiciness to balance it all out. This wine would be delicious with fish but is particularly lovely on its own.

Jász Laci, "Sági Narancs"

Balaton, Somló, HUN

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olaszrizling (2020) $45 

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Jász Laci founded the “Nagy Bajuszú Jász Laci Pincéje” (The Big Mustached Jász Laci’s Winery) in 2013 on Somló hill, a volcanic butte in western Hungary. His two first wines were both regionally traditional skin contact styles: an orange wine and a síller (minimal skin contact red). He went on to complete degrees in winemaking and viticulture, with a thesis was on low-sulfur winemaking and the
Kartulian (Georgian) winemaking method. Now, he only makes wines that
spend time on their skins. He adds zero or very little sulfur in the cellar. His vineyards are in the Somló region, Hungary’s smallest appellation and once an underwater volcano. Now dormant, its slopes of ancient sea sediment, hardened lava, and basalt are home to some of Hungary’s steepest vineyards. This single varietal white takes a lot of its cues from its cousin riesling with a strongly floral nose and notes of stone fruit, orange oil and peaches.

Jász Laci, "Rising Sun"

Balaton, Somló, HUN

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olaszrizling, juhfark, chardonnay (2020) $43 

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The skin contact wines from Jász Laci have caught our attention. Where the single varietal cuvee is more classic and tea focused, this blend is different. This is one of the most unique orange wines we’ve tasted. Instead of a typically tea-like and tannic presentation, this blend is bursting with baking spice notes of nutmeg and almond extract. Tangerine acid and fruit with a smoky finish. 

Gönc Winery, "Anna Rosé"

Podravje, SVN

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žametna črnina, pinot noir, pinot grigio, blaufränkisch (2021)  $30

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In 1936, Peter Gene’s great grandfather built Gönc Winery’s first wine cellar and planted the vineyard around it in the small town of Dubrovnik in Slovenia. After World War II, he moved to the city Ptuj where he started working in the Ptujska Klet – Ptuj wine cellar as a cellar cleaner and worked his way up to head winemaker and CEO of the oldest winery in Slovenia. Peter’s father also worked at the same winery but on the side, he also planted 24 acres of vineyards to keep up the family tradition (now 28 acres total). When Peter came of age, they built a new cellar in Ptuj and started Gönc again. Peter is the 4th generation of winemakers and winegrowers in the family. This is the perfect rose for drinking as the weather turns. Springy notes of white strawberry and lavender florals with a bright acidic peak and crisp finish.

Domaine de Majas, "L’Amoureuse Rosé"

Languedoc-Roussillon, Côtes Catalanes, FRA

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merlot, syrah (2020) $23 

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Alain Carrère founded Domaine de Majas with his wife Agnès in 1992. Today, the estate represents 30 hectares, all in the commune of Caudiès-de-Fenouillèdes. The vineyards principally consist of carignan grown on terroirs of schist, volcanic stone and mountainous limestone, but they also grow a number of other French grapes.  They didn’t start as a natural vineyard but once they decided to make one of their employees a partner and he got them started on converting everything over to organic production. Tart, juicy and electric red berry flavors abound in this excellent spring-y rosé. Excellent with pizza or for solo drinking!

Intellego Wines "The Pink Mustache"

Western Cape, Swartland, ZAF

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 syrah, cinsault (2020) $31 

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Intellego translates “to understand” in Latin and is aptly named as Jurgen is just beginning to understand more than the potential of Swartland. He currently owns no vineyards and no cellar of his own, but developed Intellego while working at Lammershoek with Craig 'El Bandito' Hawkins. His wall of old barrels in the rented space at Annexkloof bears the names of favorite musicians and DJs. Intellego Wines never fail to delight us. This rosé has a nose like fresh goat cheese followed by flavors of cherries and strawberry tea on the palate. We recommend drinking this while crushing a whole pizza.

Stolpman Vineyards, "Syrah Crunchy Roastie Rainbow"

California, Ballard Canyon,

USA

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syrah, viognier (2020)  $43

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Thomas Stolpman founded Stolpman Vineyards over 20 years ago on a limestone outcropping in the hills of California’s Central Coast. Now it’s in the hands of a talented team of people, including Peter Stolpman, Thomas’ son. This family business takes ecological impact and concerns seriously while focusing on making fun, light hearted wines. This syrah is carbonically macerated, which brings forward the crushable cranberry and raspberry flavors in a zippy and light bodied red. The finish is tart and reminiscent of a yogurty tang. The bottle is named for the infamous “Double Rainbow” video.

David & Nadia Wines, "Topography"

Swartland, ZAF

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pinotage (2020) $35 

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David and Nadia Sadie met at the University of Stellenbosch when he shifted his focus to viticulture after sustaining a rugby injury.  David went on to work vintages around the world, from Marlborough to St. Emilion, before finally landing back in South Africa. He eventually took over the cellar in the Swartland where Andrea and Chris Mullineux used to make wine prior to their purchase of Roundstone Farm and restored it in 2014. His wife Nadia joined him in 2016. Nadia oversees viticulture for their project and manages the vineyards that they lease. She employs biological farming, which is to say she avoids the use of any herbicides, plants cover crops and she’s begun experimenting with a conversion to organics. This pinotage is a layered and complex wine from start to finish. The nose has notes of creamy gouda cheese that gives way to a bright, almost lightly pickled fruitiness on the palate. Grippy tannins and aromas of orange oil.

Giribaldi, "Schiena del Crottino"

Piedmont, Dolcetto D'Alba, ITA

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dolcetto (2017)  $26

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The Giribaldi vineyards and winery in Piedmont, Italy are run by 10 family members who are third generation viticulturalists and wine makers. In 2001, the Giribaldis began the process of switching their vineyards over to organic production and in 2004, they received their certification. In 2015, they began experimenting with low sulphite winemaking and natural production methods. Christie says this wine “does a good job of representing that it grows in the dirt,” which makes me laugh but also feels right. This lighter-bodied red has a nice fruit-forward structure heavy on notes of blackberry and balanced with black pepper spice and a springy green quality. Serve with a slight chill.

Day Wines, "Vin de Days Rouge"

Oregon, Willamette Valley, US

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pinot noir, pinot meunier, pinot gris (2021) $44

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In 2012 Brianne Day  started her own winery with some pinot noir grapes from the 15 acre, dry-farmed Crowley Station Vineyard in the Eola Amity Hills. The inaugural vintage was only 125 cases and sold out quickly. On the strength of that single bottling, she was invited to the RAW fair in London and was one of only seven American wineries mentioned in Isabelle Legeron’s Natural Wine, alongside Edmunds St. John and Arnot Roberts. Since then, Brianne has grown production to a level of around 5000cs/year and continues to experiment with under-appreciated varieties such as malvasia, tannat, and aligote. This wine is carbonically macerated, which makes it a fruit-forward crowd pleaser. Tart cherry and raspberry mingle with floral notes of geranium and white pepper spice.
 

Casa Vinicola D’Angelo, "Aglianico Del Vulture"

Basilicata, Barile, IT

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aglianico (2017)  $34

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D’Angelo is a fourth generation family vineyard in Basilicata, Italy. It’s wines made their first appearance at the 1924 Bari Trade Fair and began importing to the US in the 1980s. The family has helped to grow the market for wines from this region, worldwide. Ruby red to garnet in color, this full bodied red wine is robust and tannic with notes of black figs, blackberries and cedar.

Domaine de la Marinière, "Chinon La Peau de l'Ours"

Loire Valley, Chinon, FRA

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cabernet franc (2020) $35

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The Domaine de la Marinière, situated in Panzoult on the eastern edge of Chinon, has been farmed by the Desbourdes family since 1965. The land here was initially used as a polycultural farm, raising animals and growing cereal grains in addition to grapes. Renaud Desbourdes returned to help his father in the 1980s, turning the focus to grape growing and winemaking and expanding the vineyard plantings, and eventually took full control of the domaine in 1999. Today, Renaud’s son, Boris, has joined his father full-time, and is helping to take this traditional family farm into the next generation. Boris initially became passionate about organic farming after working with Vincent Laval in Champagne, and upon his return, he immediately transitioned his family’s vineyards to organics. This 100% cabernet franc from the Loire Valley hits all of the classic notes of cabernet franc with green notes of bell peppers and the woodsy spice of white peppercorn. The twist is that this wine was carbonically macerated, which brings forward fresh red fruit notes and some extra zip.

Barbara Lebled, "Hey! Un Dernier Côt?"

Loire, Vin de France, FRA

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côt/malbec (2020) $37

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Barbara Lebled is the daughter of Laurent LeBled who made his first vintage in 2010 after switching careers and learning the trade. In 2019, Laurent was able to purchase 10 hectares of vines and a cellar from a retiring vigneron in the same proximity to the Saint-Aignan vines he’d been working. After acquiring all of this land, Barbara stepped in to help her father and in return was granted 2.5 hectares to begin her own project. This is her first independent vintage from that land. The name of the wine is a pun. "Hey! Un Dernier Coup?" roughly translates to "Hey, One last Drink?". The word coup has been replaced with Côt, the grape this wine is made with. This wine is carbonically macerated, a process that highlights the fruit notes and brings them to the forefront. Notes of black plums, and blackberries mingled with deeper notes of earth and balsamic, leaving this wine complex but still light on its feet. 

Red Tail Ridge, "Finger Lakes Pinot Noir"

Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake, USA

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pinot noir (2020) $31

 

Red Tail Ridge Winery is owned and operated by husband and wife Mike Schnelle and Nancy Irelan. The bulk of Red Tail Ridge’s production is riesling, but they also grow several clones of chardonnay and pinot noir alongside small experimental plots of blaufrankisch, dornfelder and teroldego. As a former executive in charge of viticulture and oenology R&D at a large winery, Nancy strongly believes in sustainability and the winery is the only LEED gold-certified green winery in New York. Along with their commitment to sustainability, Red Tail Ridge works within their local community. Learn more about Red Tail Ridge’s role in community-supported relief from food insecurity. This 100% pinot noir is a light and juicy expression of the varietal that spends 10 months on the lees in old oak barrels. This softens the tannins and brings out herbaceous notes of oregano and thyme that nicely contrasts with the fruity, hard cherry candy flavors.