December Wine Club: The Taste – Exploring Slovenia and Georgia

This month in The Taste, we're exploring the exciting wines of Slovenia and Georgia! 

Slovenia, a hidden central European gem, is making waves in the wine world with its diverse grape varieties and widespread commitment to sustainable winemaking. Known for wine from indigenous grapes and orange wines (made from white grapes with some skin contact before or during fermentation) Slovenian wines reflect unique terroir while remaining easy-drinking and downright delicious.

Georgia, often considered the cradle of winemaking, boasts an 8,000-year-old winemaking tradition. The distinctive qvevri (clay vessel) fermentation method produces wines with deep character and complexity, often showcasing ancient and indigenous varietals.

Rodica Malvasia 2022

Country: Slovenia
Region: Primorska
Grape: Malvasia Istriana

Crossing the Adriatic Sea from one of last month’s selections (Cave Canem’s Montepulciano d’Abruzzo), the Rodica Winery looks out over the Gulf of Trieste from the Dragonja river valley in Slovenia. Their organic Malvasia Istriana is creamy but light, with intriguing mineral notes, a floral and peachy nose, and enough acidity to drink with your meal.

Rodica, founded in 1998 by a former auto mechanic, produces organic wines from over fifteen hectares of mostly indigenous grapes. Fermented with a few hours of skin contact and spontaneous yeasts, the Malvasia is aged primarily in stainless steel, with up to a quarter transferred to acacia barrels. I particularly love this wine as an apéritif, but it also pairs well with a variety of lighter meals. The producer recommends pasta with truffles—a local Slovenian specialty.

Dila-o Saperavi 2022

Country: Georgia
Region: Kaheti
Grape: Saperavi

An ancient grape that’s still new to many Americans, Saperavi is indigenous to the country of Georgia. This savory, organic red from the Teleda winery in eastern Georgia suggests violets and plum on the nose and flavors of dark berries, pepper, and earth. It has just the right amount of juiciness and freshness to pair perfectly with rich cheeses and holiday meals.

Dila-o’s Saperavi comes from a father-son team who ferment the wine with native yeast and age in qvevri (clay vessels buried underground). The name, which means paint or dye, references the wine’s dark color. Saperavi grapes have both dark skins and pulp, which is relatively uncommon among grape varietals. Also uncommon are the vines’ ages, all over fifty years old—a rarity in post-Soviet Georgia. With an 8,000 year old winemaking tradition, many natural winemakers today look to Georgia’s practices, such as fermenting and aging wine in qvevri or making skin-contact orange wines. For a “what grows together, goes together” pairing, try Saperavi with khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread).

November Wine Club: Holiday Celebrations

November wines are here to complement all of your celebrations this month, from Thanksgiving to Friendsgiving to the birthday party for your favorite Scorpio. Cheers!

Cave Canem Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2022

Country: Italy
Region: Abruzzo
Grape: Montepulciano

This wine takes us to the Sangro river valley in central Italy: the Apennine mountains rise in the west, and the Adriatic Sea’s Trabocchi Coast lies just east. Produced by a cooperative winery founded in 1971, Cave Canem’s grapes are grown on south-facing slopes in silty, limestone soils. This classic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a deep ruby red, with plum, red apple, and violet on the nose.

Medium-bodied but structured, this fresh bottle can pair with almost anything. (I once paired a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo with an aged cheddar grilled cheese sandwich—it was excellent!) Cheese and olives before dinner? Montepulciano. Something to pair with your full Thanksgiving spread? Montepulciano. Maybe you’re making a turkey bolognese on November 29? This Montepulciano would be perfect.

Pro Tip: Ever wonder about the difference between Montpepulciano d’Abruzzo and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano? The latter is a Tuscan wine from the town of Montepulciano, made primarily from Sangiovese.

Featured in: The Taste, Oh So Thirsty

Domaine Les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Les Trois Soeurs 2021

Country: France
Region: Rhône Valley, France
Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Carignan

Now we’re off to the Rhône river valley in southern France, where garnet Grenache and purple Syrah predominate. Les Grand Bois’ winemaker, Marc Besnardeau was a Parisian sommelier before he started making wine. At Le Grand Bois (“the big woods”), Besnardeau farms organic grapes in the village of Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, just north of Avignon. Here the hills, dominated by Mount Ventoux, are to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea lies directly south. Les Trois Sœurs, named for Besnardeau’s three daughters, is plainly delicious, with black raspberry, cassis, and spice and a rich yet silky finish. While this wine is definitely ageworthy, you probably won’t want to wait that long. A good Côtes du Rhône is always a crowd-pleaser; this is definitely the wine I would bring to Thanksgiving dinner if I’m not cooking myself.

Featured in: The Taste

Stolpman Vineyards Uni White Ballard Canyon 2022

Country: United States
Region: Ballard Canyon, California
Grapes: Roussanne, Chardonnay

A super sexy white from Ballard Canyon! Uni White is a blend of 60% Chardonnay with 40% Roussane from estate grown, hand-harvested grapes. Stolpman Vineyards specializes in classic Rhône varietals Syrah and Roussane with vines planted in the ‘90s. Through the combination of warm days, cool Pacific nights, and rocky limestone soils, grapes ripen slowly but evenly, developing richness while maintaining acidity. Check out the uni (sea urchin) on the label and you’ll get the idea.

The Roussanne portion of Uni White underwent twenty-four hours’ maceration before fermentation and aging in large French oak barrels, a quarter of which were new—subtly building on the wine’s richness. Bottled without filtration, Uni White continues to develop complexity in the bottle, and the Chardonnay lends this wine enough acidity and structure to pair with classic Thanksgiving foods. For me, this wine suggests brine and seaweed on the nose, finishing with a creamy texture and flavors of ripe persimmon and Asian pear.

Here are some additional tasting notes from the producer: “Despite the minority share of Roussanne, the grape shows itself dominantly in the dark golden hue of the blend. On the nose, the Roussanne’s deep concentration continues its march of honey suckle and golden pineapple. The Chardonnay comes through with an appealing, joyful brightness on the palate. The two marry into yellow mango flesh. Coating gourmet smoothie texture already envelopes any note of oak toast. Pear and apple through to kumquat on the finish.”

Featured in: The Treat

Hugo Mendes Lisboa Castelão 2023

Country: Portugal
Region: Lisboa
Grapes: Castelão

Described by our distributor as a perfect Thanksgiving red, Hugo Mendes’ Castelão is a chillable, cranberry-colored red with bright fruit flavors: fresh cherry, currant, and pomegranate. Notes of violet, black pepper, clove, and earth add complexity, and it has just enough tannic grip to complement but not overpower your meal.

Mendes, a former biomedical engineer turned winemaker, is known for working with indigenous grapes to produce classically fresh Portuguese wines. Based in Alenquer, north of Lisbon, the grapes benefit from chalky, clay soils and the Mediterranean climate to produce a lighter, more traditional style of Portuguese wine. I love the layered complexity of this wine under its juicy façade; it even paired surprisingly well with dark chocolate.

Featured in: The Treat

Préselő Tokaji Furmint 2019

Country: Hungary
Region: Tokaj
Grape: Furmint

The signature grape of Hungary, Furmit produces intriguing wines whether it’s vinified dry or transformed into sweet dessert wines. In this case, we have a dry Furmint from Tokaj, Hungary’s best-known wine region, where the grapes can be harvested fully ripe in the fall due to the hospitable microclimate. Farmed sustainably at the Messzelátó vineyard, a plot surrounded by forests, Préselő’s Furmint is aged primarily in stainless steel with a small portion fermented and aged in barrel. With a balance between fruit and mineral flavors, this wine offers remarkably complex notes of pear, quince, and apple and a long finish. Its lively minerality would pair equally well with turkey or Tiny Thai this month!

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

Longridge Wine Estate The Emily Chardonnay Pinot Noir Rosé

Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Pale enough you might mistake it for a white, this biodynamic rosé comes from Stellenbosch, South Africa, in the foothills of the Helderberg mountains. The unique blend is primarily made from unoaked Chardonnay grapes, blended with a small amount (3%) of oak-aged Pinot Noir. The Emily presents fresh citrus and green apple notes with tropical fruit flavors that often star in “new world” wines, including guava, pineapple, and kiwi. With the perfect amount of acidity to refresh and pair with lighter foods, enjoy it as an aperitif before dinner, or with seafood, salads, or snacks. (Personally, I’m thinking about how well it would go with homemade Chex mix.)

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

Weingut Roterfaden & Rosswag Vineyard Project 002 Terraces Red 2020

Country: Germany
Region: Württemberg
Grapes: Lemberger, Trollinger, Regent, Schwarzriesling (aka Pinot Meunier)

Vineyard Project 002 is a collaboration between a village cooperative (Rosswag; population about 1,200) and the winemakers at Weingut Roterfaden. The grapes for the biodynamic Vineyard Project 002 are grown in limestone soils on terraced vineyards. This blend of red grapes produces a juicy wine with notes of red fruit, bramble, allspice, black pepper, and earth. With no oak aging, the fruit and spice character shines through. Vineyard Project 002 would make a stellar Thanksgiving wine, but it’s equally a great choice for a weeknight dinner, perhaps with pizza or—keeping with the German theme—a homemade flammkuchen.

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

August Wine Club: Paris Olympics

This month, we’re watching the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics with wines from around France. Santé!

The Taste: Loire & Savoie

Domaine de la Petite Roche Anjou Cabernet Franc 2019

Country: France
Region: Anjou, Loire
Grape: Cabernet Franc

This sustainably produced ruby red wine comes from Anjou, in the heart of the Loire Valley, where the Regnard family have been tending vines since just after the French Revolution. It delivers classic Cabernet Franc flavors with ripe blackberry, a bit of pepper and smoke, and just enough soft tannins to stand up to your meal. Try this one with spicy pulled pork or jackfruit.

New to Cab Franc? It’s the parent grape of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carménère—see if you can taste the family resemblance!

Domaine Demeure-Pinet Vin des Allobroges Jacquère 2022

Country: France
Region: Savoie (aka Savoy)
Grape: Jacquère

We are HOT TO GO this summer, and this zippy Jacquère is here to quench our thirst! The Demeure-Pinet family are second generation winemakers in the Savoie in the French Alps, known not just for lively dry wines like Jacquère but also for its rich cheesemaking history. So why not pair this sustainable white with some Vermont cheese? Bright and mineral, it would be lovely with a washed rind cheese like Jasper Hill Farm Willoughby or a Raclette-style cheese like Spring Brook Farm Reading. Here's to staying cool!

July Wine Club: Summer Wine!

The Taste: Summer in Spain

This month’s Taste wines come from Galicia in the northwest and Catalonia in the northeast of Spain. These coastal wine regions produce some of the most refreshing whites and sparklers out there. ¡Salud!

Boal de Arousa Galicia Albariño 2023

Country: Spain
Region: Galicia
Grape: Albariño

Zesty citrus, refreshing acidity, and cool minerality. The family behind the Boal de Arousa winery grow Albariño on a single historic parcel, harvest the grapes by hand, and age the wine in stainless steel. Enjoy with whitefish, shellfish, salads, or on its own!

Nit del Foc Cava Brut

Country: Spain 
Region: Catalonia
Grape: 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay

Organic Macabeo and Chardonnay grown and fermented separately then blended before bottling. Like Champagne, Cava undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle to produce gentler fizz. This sparkling wine shows classic Cava flavors like apple and pear with a floral nose and nutty finish. 

In several Spanish regions, locals celebrate a Nit del Foc or "Night of Fire" at the close of regional festivals with bonfires and fireworks. What a wine for the 4th of July!

The Treat: Central Coast Cool

We love to celebrate women in wine! California native Terah Bajjalieh of Terah Wine Co. is a gay Palestinian American winemaker who purchases organic and biodynamic grapes from independent growers across the Central Coast for her exciting, delicious wines.

Terah Wine Co. Chardonnay Massa Vineyard Central Coast 2022

Country: United States
Region: Central Coast California
Grape: Chardonnay 

Fresh, fruit-forward, and zippy with a touch of lemony herbs and minerality. Terah sources the Chardonnay grapes for this wine from Massa Vineyard in the Carmel Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). The vines were planted in 1978 and are now farmed organically.

Terah Wine Co. Sparkling Wine Central Coast 2022

Country: United States
Region: Central Coast California
Grapes: 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Muscat 

A blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and old-vine Muscat from the Santa Clara Valley and Lime Kiln Valley, this sparkling wine’s citrus and ripe apple flavors give way to a refreshing acidity. 

This wine is technically a pét-nat (a.k.a. pétillant naturel, méthode ancestrale, or ancestral method), an ancient winemaking style in which wine is bottled before it is finished fermenting. This unfiltered style means that your wine is still developing until you open it! While some pét-nats may take some getting used to for those new to the style, Terah Wine Co.’s sparkler finishes clean and dry.  

The Toast: Continental Chic

Celebrate summer with some very special wines from Europe.

Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles "Grille-Midi" 2021

Country: France
Region: Chiroubles, Beaujolais
Grape: Gamay

A boulder from Beaujolais! Gamay is my #1 pick for summer reds, and the Chiroubles appellation is one of the most special in the Beaujolais, with the highest elevations in the region. Farmed organically by third-generation winemaker Pauline Passot, the winery’s 90-year old vines are planted in pink granite soils, yielding a wine brimming with red fruit flavors but also complexity. Grosse Pierre means “boulder,” and this is truly an outstanding yet classic Beaujolais, featuring the juicy results of carbonic maceration and undergoing full malolactic fermentation to produce a softer texture. Enjoy with friends and fireflies. 

Weingut Schödl "In den Kreuthern" Grüner Veltliner 2021

Country: Austria
Region: Niederösterreich
Grape: Grüner Veltliner

Oh my Grüner! This remarkable, racy wine from Winegut Schödl is totally off the charts in both acidity and minerality. The three siblings behind the winery farm biodynamic grapes, harvest by hand, and ferment with indigenous yeasts to produce an exceptional cool climate Grüner Veltliner. With a bit of peppery spice, this wine would work well with summer salads or something lightly pan-fried (think schnitzel!), but you may just want to enjoy it on its own. 

Oh So Thirsty: Red, White, and Sparkling (and Rosé!)

Celebrate summer with wines from France, Georgia, Germany, and Spain.

Teliani Valley Saperavi 2021

Country: Georgia
Region: Kakheti 
Grape: Saperavi 

Get to know the Saperavi grape, indigenous to Georgia (the country!), one of the world’s oldest wine growing regions. This juicy, ruby-colored red brings dark berry flavors and enough tannins and acidity to stand up to whatever you’ve got on the grill.

Seehof Riesling Elektrisch Kabinett 2023

Country: Germany
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Riesling

It’s electric! Bright acidity, deep minerality, and a touch of honeyed sweetness. Florian Fauth produces this Riesling from organic Rheinhessen grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts. If you thought Kabinett Rieslings were boring, Seehof is about to change your mind. Enjoy this off-dry Riesling by a cool lake or with spicy takeout from your favorite Winooski restaurant.

Nit del Foc Cava Brut

Country: Spain 
Region: Catalonia
Grape: 75% Macabeo and 25% Chardonnay

Organic Macabeo and Chardonnay grown and fermented separately then blended before bottling. Like Champagne, Cava undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle to produce gentler fizz. This sparkling wine shows classic Cava flavors like apple and pear with a floral nose and nutty finish. 

In several Spanish regions, locals celebrate a Nit del Foc or "Night of Fire" at the close of regional festivals with bonfires and fireworks. What a wine for the 4th of July!

Château Bonnelière Chinon Rosé "Rive Gauche" 2023

Country: France
Region: Chinon, Loire Valley
Grape: Cabernet Franc

Left bank cool! Made from organic Cabernet Franc grapes grown by the Plouzeau family of Château de la Bonnelière, this rosé is refreshing yet rich, bright and aromatic. The bottle’s name refers to the left bank of the Vienne river in the Chinon region of the Loire Valley, but drinking it will still make you feel like a cool kid in Paris.

June Wine Club: Balkans Deep Dive

This month, we’re headed to the Balkans, exploring wines from Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. This European region, just across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, has an ancient winemaking history dating back to the Roman era. Today, both multi-generational and new winemakers are updating the Balkan classics, implementing environmentally sustainable and organic growing practices, and producing some all-around exciting wines. 

Pomalo Wine Co. Slavonija Frankovka Red 2022
Pomalo Wine Co. Slavonija Frankovka Rosé 2023

Country: Croatia

Region: Slavonija

Grape: Frankovka (a.k.a. Blaufrankisch)

“Pomalo” has no fixed translation into English, but Croatians use it to describe slowing down, taking it easy, and enjoying what’s around you. Based in continental Croatia near the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Hungary, Pomalo’s wines are made by a pair of cousins using low-intervention techniques, spontaneous fermentation, and minimal filtration to produce easy-drinking, fruit-forward wines.

Frankova, also known as Blaufrankish, is known for black and red fruit flavors along with notes of pepper and spice. This pair of wines from Pomalo Wine Co. offers a chance to compare a red wine alongside a rosé made from the same grape; the red is made with juice left in contact with the grape skins for up to two weeks, while the rosé was made with minimal grape skin contact. These wines are ready for summer, whether you’re grilling, picnicking, or just relaxing with friends!

Featured in: The Taste, Oh So Thirsty

Dalia Negotinska Krajina Gamay Vranac Splet Red 2022
Dalia Negotinska Krajina Traminac Trač White 2022

Country: Serbia

Region: Timok

Grape (Splet Red): 80% Gamay, 20% Vranac

Grape (Trač White): Traminac (a.k.a. Gewürztraminer)

Kristina Lukić at Vinarija Dalia studied winemaking in Italy, then returned to her homeland of Serbia to found her own winery in 2021. Dalia is based in the Timok region, along the Danube River, near the Romanian and Bulgarian borders, with a winemaking tradition dating back to the Roman Empire. 

Dalia’s Splet red is predominantly Gamay, the primary grape in Beaujolais, France, with 20% Vranac, a grape with origins in Macedonia. Made from organically farmed grapes, Spelt offers notes of red fruit, licorice, and cocoa with enough tannic texture and acidity to pair with a variety of foods. 

Traminac, also known as Gewürztraminer, produces aromatic wines, often golden-colored wines that pair well exceptionally well with spicy food—or just good company. (The name of this wine, Trač, means “gossip” in Serbian). Trač presents classic Gewürztraminer notes of lychee and citrus and finishes with a balanced acidity. Try this with takeout from your favorite Winooski restaurant!

Featured in: The Treat

Tomac Marany Red 2021
Tomac Marany White 2021

Country: Croatia

Region: Plešivica

Grape (Red): Pinot Noir

Grape (White): Roter Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc

The Tomacs farm in central Croatia, where the family has been making wine for more than a century. The limestone and marl soils of the Plešivica region lend minerality and acidity to their wines. The grapes for their biodynamic Marany wines are fermented and macerated in clay qvevri, then pressed and aged in large oak casks. 

The Marany Red, an unfiltered expression of the Tomac family vineyards, is Croatia’s first biodynamic Pinot Noir! With bright raspberry and cherry flavors, Marany finishes with a touch of earth and gentle tannic structure. The Marany White, a blend of Roter Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc presents notes of dried apricots, apple cider, ginger, grapefruit, and a hint of spice. These unique wines highlight both the Plešivica regional terroir and the Tomac family’s commitment to winemaking in cooperation with the natural environment.

Featured in: The Toast

Pullus Haložan White 2022

Country: Slovenia
Region: Štajerska
Grape: Welschriesling, Riesling, Chardonnay, Furmint, Pinot Blanc

Located in inland Slovenia, Pullus produces lively cool climate wines aged in stainless steel to preserve fresh fruit flavors. The winery’s cellars have stored wine since 1239, making it one of the oldest cellars in Europe. A traditional local wine from Štajerska, Slovenia, Haložan is a light, off-dry and aromatic white from a blend of Welschriesling, Riesling, Chardonnay, Furmint, and Pinot Blanc. Aromatic and refreshing, this liter of wine is ready to join you outside this summer. And if you want to enjoy a white wine spritzer, Haložan would be perfect. (No judgment here!)

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

Zajc Cviček 2022

Country: Slovenia

Region: Dolenjska

Grape: 50% Blauer Koelner, 20% Blaufränkisch, 15% Kraljevina, 15% Welschriesling 

The Zajc family has been making wine since the 19th century. A traditional wine from Dolenjska, Slovenia, Cviček—often regarded as the national wine of Slovenia—is made from a blend of indigenous and regional grapes including Blauer Koelner, Blaufränkisch, Kraljevina, and Welschriesling. With notes of fresh cherries, this light-bodied red is low in alcohol and perfect for a barbecue–especially with a little chill on the liter bottle!

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

Skaramuča Plavac Mali 2019

Country: Croatia
Region: Dalmatia
Grape: Plavac Mali

Skaramuča’s Plavac Mali red offers a chance to get to know Croatia’s most famous indigenous grape. Produced on a Croatian peninsula in the Adriatic Sea, this wine is both rustic and easy to enjoy. A bit earthy, with notes of plum and cherry, this Plavac Mali is made in a lighter style and aged in stainless steel.

Extensive DNA research has established an earlier form of Zinfandel as one of the Plavac Mali’s parent grapes, and the Dingač Plavac Mali would pair perfectly with anything from the grill this summer, just like a good California Zin. 

Fun fact: Mike Grgich, the renowned Croatian-American winemaker who produced the California Chardonnay that outranked French wines at the famous “Judgement of Paris” wine tasting in 1976, was one of the first individuals to make the connection between Plavac Mali and Zinfandel and support the early research!

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

May Wine Club: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Welcome to Standing Stone Wine Club for May! This month, we’re celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, highlighting winemakers in California, Oregon, and India.

Camp Sonoma County Chardonnay 2021 by Hobo Wine Co.

Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County, California
Grape: 99% Chardonnay and 1% Vioginier

Hobo Wine Company sources grapes for Camp wines from organic growers in Sonoma County. Based in Santa Rosa, winemaker Kenny Likitprakong ferments this wine without commercial yeasts or additives and ages it in older oak barrels and stainless steel. These practices produce a crisp Chardonnay with hints of lemon and an ideal balance between acidity and creaminess. Enjoy with friends and a great meal.

Featured in: The Taste, Oh So Thirsty

Camp Sonoma County Zinfandel 2021 by Hobo Wine Co.

Country: United States

Region: Sonoma County, California

Grape: Zinfandel

The Camp Sonoma County Zinfandel is produced from grapes harvested early in the season to prevent overripening. Grapes undergo a gentle pressing, and the juice is aged in stainless steel and older oak to produce a lighter Zinfandel with bright cherry notes. This wine would also be delicious with a slight chill–enjoy with anything from the grill!

Featured in: The Taste

Salem Wine Co. Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2020 by Evening Land Vineyards

From winemakers Raj Parr and Sashi Moorman of Evening Land Vineyards, the Salem Wine Company Chardonnay offers a taste of the Eola-Amity Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. This wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation in neutral barrels, producing a rounder mouthfeel without losing freshness. With a bit of a saline finish, this Chardonnay would pair well with oysters or other seafood.

Featured in: The Treat

CEP Rosé of Pinot Noir, Hopkins Ranch, Russian River Valley 2023 by Peay Vineyards

Country: United States

Region: Russian River Valley, California

Grape: Pinot Noir

The Pinot Noir for this rosé was hand harvested from the organic Hopkins Ranch Vineyard in the Russian River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) of California. Peay Vineyards Winemaker Vanessa Wong "employ[s] wine making practices that are minimally manipulative to the grapes during processing and also to the wine during its vinification and barrel aging.” The grapes were whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel tanks with native yeasts.

Cep means vine stock in French, and the bottle itself features a beautiful illustration of trellised vines in the shape of a T. This rosé is crisp and mineral-driven, with notes of cranberry, white tea, and pink peppercorn and a slightly saline finish.

Featured in: The Treat

Sula Vineyards Estate Bottled Sauvignon Blanc, Nashik 2022

Country: India

Region: Nashik

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc

If this is your first time trying wine from India, you’re not alone! This fascinating Sauvignon Blanc from Maharashtra offers guava and bell pepper flavors with a light creaminess and doesn’t taste quite like any other Sauvignon Blanc I’ve tried. While it’s made in a New Zealand style, this wine’s flavors and texture stand out as something special and unique—in fact, it’s India’s first ever Sauvignon Blanc.

Rajeev Samant founded Sula Vineyards in the 1990s, after studying and working in California. Sula has since established the Nashik Valley area of Maharashtra state as India’s foremost winegrowing region.

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

Sula Vineyards Estate Bottled Shiraz, Nashik 2023

Country: India

Region: Nashik

Grape: Shiraz (Syrah)

This medium-bodied Shiraz (aka Syrah) from Maharashtra, India is a beautiful shade of purple with notes of black pepper and smoke. In the wine world, there’s a saying—what grows together, goes together—that highlights how well wines from specific regions pair with the cuisine of the same area. (Think Muscadet and oysters, coq au vin and Burgundy, or Sangiovese with tomato sauce.) While this red would pair well with foods like barbecue or spicy chicken tacos, you could also try some Maharashtrian recipes for a new wine and food experience!

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

Folk Machine Parts & Labor California Red 2021 by Hobo Wine Co.

Country: United States

Region: California

Grape: Grenache, Carignane, Syrah, and Barbera

A Grenache-dominant blend sourced from multiple vineyards around California's Santa Cruz Mountains, Folk Machine Parts & Labor is a fresh, fruit-forward red that’s ready to enjoy on its own or with food. If you’re a fan of Beaujolais, you’ll love this wine—but it’s also made in a style all its own by winemaker Kenny Likitprakong of Hobo Wine Company. The grapes were fermented with a mix of whole cluster and carbonic maceration, and the wine was aged in a combination of French oak foudres (large barrels) and stainless steel. This is a light, fun wine you could easily serve slightly chilled at any spring or summer gathering.

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

April Wine Club: Think Spring!

This month, the wine club heads into spring. We’re drinking refreshing whites from Austria, Sicily, and Oregon along with food-friendly reds from Argentina, France, Portugal, and Spain. 

Weingut Soellner, “Wogenrain” Grüner Veltliner 2022

Country: Austria
Region: Wagram, Niederösterreich
Grape: Grüner Veltliner

Grüner Veltliner is the classic Austrian grape, featuring fresh fruit flavors and often a little spice. From a fifth-generation farmer, Wogengrain is an older German term for the “gentle slopes” of the Wagram region, where Toni and Daniela Söllner now farm biodynamically. This wine is aged in oak foudres (extra-large barrels), imparting a softer texture while maintaining its fresh character. Wogengrain would be my pick to BYOB at Tiny Thai or Pho Dang this month.

Featured in: The Taste

Ciello Bianco Catarratto 2022

Country: Italy
Region: Sciliy
Grape: Cataratto

Cataratto—one of my favorite grapes to pronounce—is a grape indigenous to Sicily, known for its organic soils. This organic white wine from the Vesco family is produced with a short maceration, where the white grape skins mix with the pressed juice before fermentation. This process gives the finished product a bit of color and tannic grip. Ciello’s Catarratto has a golden hue and notes of almonds, apricot, and quince—perfect for a picnic! 

Featured in: The Taste, Oh So Thirsty

Vignobles Builliat Morgon Nature 2018

Country: France
Region: Morgon, Beaujolais, Burgundy
Grape: Gamay

Depending on who you ask, Beaujolais is either a region next to Burgundy or a subregion within Burgundy. Personally, I like to think of Beaujolais as Burgundy’s fun-loving cousin. But where almost all red wine produced in Burgundy proper is Pinot Noir, Beaujolais is known for the Gamay grape. Gamay often produces a lighter red wine that you can serve slightly chilled. You’ll pick up red and black fruit flavors but also some earthier notes that give this wine depth.

Morgon is one of the ten “crus” of Beaujolais, areas known for their top-tier growing conditions. Builliat’s Morgon is a rich but silky wine that you could easily mistake for a classic red Burgundy. But now that you know it’s Beaujolais–have a little fun and enjoy it with a great meal!

Featured in: The Treat

Fossil & Fawn Only Always 2022

Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Grape: Field blend of Auxerrois, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer

“Only Always” is Fossil & Fawn’s homage to the field blends of Alsace, France and Austria. This wine is produced from Auxerrois, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer grapes farmed together in the South Salem Hills of Oregon. This blend of grapes and the aging process, featuring both neutral French oak and newer Oregon oak, produces an aromatic white wine with herb and spice notes including ginger and plum. 

Either of the wines in this month’s Treat would make an excellent eclipse-watching wine paired with cheese and charcuterie, or you could try them with some roasted or braised meats. A meal I made recently, One-Pan Pork Tenderloin with Mushrooms and roasted spring-dug parsnips, would make a lovely pairing. 

Featured in: The Treat

Quinta de Santiago Vinho Verde 2022

Country: Portugal
Region: Vinho Verde
Grape: 40% Arinto, 30% Trajadura, 30% Loureiro

Vinho Verde is a perfect wine for spring, with fresh flavors and a little fizz. Featuring fresh lemon and grapefruit peel flavors, this wine comes from the Santiago family, who have farmed in the same place since 1899 but only began bottling their own wine in this century. Santiago’s Vinho Verde is surprisingly complex and mineral-driven, making it a great wine to enjoy as an apertivo or paired with lighter dishes. 

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

Bueyes “Retinto” Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Bueyes’ Retinto is a fresh, approachable Cabernet Sauvignon from an organic family winery in Argentina. The name, Bueyes, and picture on the bottle refer to the oxen the winemaker’s father used to farm after immigrating from Italy to Argentina. With notes of green pepper, berries, and plum, this wine would pair well with comfort food like a burger (meat or veggie) or pizza. 

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty

Bodegas 1808 Rioja 2020

Country: Spain
Region: Rioja Alavesa
Grape: Tempranillo

My notes on this bottle say, “food wine!” but that’s not just because it tastes good. This Rioja’s flavors, acidity, and tannins are all in balance. It’s an excellent introduction to the Tempranillo grape and a classic example of a young, fresh Rioja. The 1808 winery has over 140 years of history, and the Martinez family now farms biodynamically, focusing on small production, high-quality wines. This wine exhibits fresh berry flavors paired with layers of lavender, vanilla, and coffee and is a great match for almost anything tomato or pasta-based. 

Featured in: Oh So Thirsty