Under the Table Wines

• RED: 2023 THREE WINE CO FAUX PAS, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

  Owner Matt Cline oversaw the winemaking at his family’s well-regarded and very popular winery, Cline Cellars, for decades. In 2008, Matt and his wife Erin set out to create their own wine project, primarily focused on three wine grapes: Zinfandel, Carignan, and Mataro (aka Mourvedre). They are deeply committed to sustainability in their winery, and we’ve long been fans of their Contra Costa County Zinfandel. Their Faux Pas is a blend of Carignan, Zinfandel, Petit Sirah & Mataro. It’s loaded with fruit, like blackberry and raspberry, along with notes of spice and dark chocolate, all with a surprisingly light body. We like this wine with a hint of a chill, if you’re up for it. Pour alongside pork tinga, grilled flatbreads, or turkey burgers.

• WHITE: 2023 THREE WINE CO ESCAPADE, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

  [See red note for a bit about the winery.] The Escapade is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, Fiano, Chardonnay & Symphony. That last grape is quite aromatic as is Muscat, so get ready for enticing aromas of honeysuckle and citrus blossom. The other grapes give the wine notes of minerals and oranges and a nice weight on the palate. We support you drinking this wine with breakfast for dinner (particularly if French toast is going to show up), grilled chicken with tomato salad, or creamy but not too cheesy pasts.

• BUBBLY: NV EL BAJIO BRUT, VALLE DE BERNAL, MEXICO

  El Bajio is a collaboration between La Competencia Imports and Freixenet de Mexico with a singular focus on bringing Mexican wine into the United States. The winemaker, Lluis Raventos Llopart, comes from two powerhouse wine families in Spain (including last month’s bubbly pick), so you know you’re in good hands. He uses two of the three Cava grapes–Macabeo and Xarel-lo–and blends in Ugni Blanc for a bit more brightness. The wine is textured with a long finish and delightful green notes of apple and lime. Pair with shrimp tacos, lime chicken, or pesto & brie.

• ROSÉ: 2024 LELIEVRE GRIS DE TOUL, COTES DE TOUL, FRANCE

  Although winemaking in the area dates back to Roman times, it wasn’t until 1998 that this pocket of eastern France was categorized as a unique wine region. Brothers David and Vincent took over from their father and continue on his legacy of organic wines that are special to this place. Here, Gamay is one of the key varietals, and many of you may recognize the label from their sparkling Gamay that we carry. This Gamay rosé is almost orange in appearance, but the fruit is all yellow–apple, grapefruit, even tomato. Drink with BLTs (extra points for using yellow tomatoes), grilled sausages, or white bean and cucumber salad.

• NATURAL: 2024 LICORNE MECHANTE LE CRI DU LOUP, MENDOCINO, CALIFORNIA

  Last month, you received a wine from our friends at Populis, and now, we’re featuring their experimental label, Licorne Mechante (“wicked unicorn”). These wines are the natty side of the Populis/Les Lunes family, and we think “the Cry of the Wolf” is a great example of funky but delicious. It’s a blend of Carignan and Zinfandel that reminds us of ants on a log—you know, celery, nut butter, raisins. It has tingly tannins and would be happy with a chill on it. You could double down on the flavor profile and pair with a celery and peanut salad or use it as a jumping off point for soba noodles with Thai peanut sauce or mild cheeses and charcuterie.

• RED: 2022 KATO PINOT NOIR, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND

  Kato’s founder, Adam Torpy, has worked in wine all around the world, and he started this project to highlight the beautiful wines of Marlborough, New Zealand. Kato (translates to harvest in Māori) crafts sustainable, hands-off wines that are clean and pure. We fell in love with this Pinot Noir so much that we first poured it by the glass and are now sharing the goodness with all of you. It has a touch of spice to it with notes of red cherry and wet soil. The fine tannins make you want another sip (and another and another). Pair with lamb or duck with a berry sauce, mild blue cheese, or ratatouille.

• WHITE: 2023 KATO SAUVIGNON BLANC, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND

  [See red note for a bit about the winery.] It takes a lot to wow us when it comes to New Zealand Sauv Blancs because there are just so darn many of them. The Kato stands out with its ripe fruit like pomelo and passionfruit. This is a white for the height of summer. As good with tomato salad as it is with fish tacos or corn with lime butter.

• BUBBLY: 2019 LLOPART CORPINNAT ROSÉ BRUT, CORPINNAT, SPAIN

  The LLopart family traces their winemaking roots back to 1385, but it was in 1887 that they started producing only sparkling wines. They’re deeply committed to sustainability, and they were one of the leaders in creating the Corpinnat DO. This region is within Penedes, Spain (home to Cava), but they have stricter guidelines to ensure incredibly high quality, including that grapes must be 100% organic and that the wines must be aged for at least 18 months. This rosé is a blend of three red grapes: Monastrell, Garnacha, and Pinot Noir. It’s creamy with a light yeastiness to it and notes of plum and yellow raspberry. Pair these elegant bubbles with soft cheeses and/or summer fruits.

• ROSÉ: 2024 GILBERT CELLARS ROSÉ, WAHLUKE SLOPE, WASHINGTON

  Not that we buy wine solely for this reason, but the folks at Gilbert really seem like our kind of people. They started their low-intervention winery as a welcoming place for wine drinkers of all ages, including parents of young kids. They’re building a wine loving community much like we are, and it’s easy to see why people are drawn to these organic, sustainable wines. This rosé is a blend of Mourvedre & Grenache, and it strikes such a lovely balance between flinty minerality and summertime fruitiness. You could drink this wine with just about anything, but it’ll be particularly tasty with peach & burrata salad, sungold tomato frittata, or chevre grilled cheese.

• NATURAL: 2023 POPULIS ROSÉ, ORINDA, CALIFORNIA

  We hosted winemaker/owner Shaunt Oungoulian for our first winemaker party in the wine garden. He and his wine partner Diego Roig run two wine labels, Populis and Les Lunes. They graduated out of their basement where they had been making wines for years and now have a brick and mortar winery to visit. They lease their own vineyards because they believe in working the vines themselves, and the result is often clean, pure fruit. Their rosé is a fun blend of both reds (Zinfandel, Nero d'Avola & Cinsault) and whites (Pinot Gris, French Colombard & Orange Muscat). It tastes like a not sweet version of a cherry Jolly Rancher and seltzer. It’s a great wine to go with sushi takeout, light salmon preparations, or Mediterranean chicken skewers.

• RED: 2023 VIALLET SAVOIE ROUGE, SAVOIE, FRANCE

  • Marcel and Yvonne Viallet started a winery in 1966 in Savoie, and in the 1980s, their son, Phillipe, came to work for them. He saw the potential in this region and founded his own sustainable winery, Maison Phillipe Viallet, in 1985. We’ve never featured wines from this alpine region of France before in wine club, so we’re excited to introduce you to Savoie if you don’t already know it. The red is a blend of Mondeuse and Gamay with notes of red cherry, pencil shavings, cranberry, earth, and cured meat. A light chill would be lovely on this wine (like 30 minutes in the fridge). We recommend enjoying it with charcuterie, banh mi, or alpine cheeses.

• WHITE: 2023 VIALLET SAVOIE BLANC, SAVOIE, FRANCE

  • [See red note for a bit about the winery.] This white is a blend of Jacquere, Chasselas, Chardonnay & Altesse. You can almost smell and taste the clean mountain air and crisp spring water along with plenty of green fruit notes like apple and lime. Pair with a creamy chicken salad, mild jerk pork, or sheep’s milk cheeses.

• BUBBLY: NV CH DE L’EPERONNIERE CREMANT DE LOIRE, LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE

  • Owner Mathieu Tijou and his wife Charlotte decided to strike out on their own rather than inheriting Mathieu’s parents’ winery and took over Chateau de l’Eperonniere from their neighbors in 2007. This part of the Loire is Chenin Blanc country, so Mathieu uses Chenin as the base of his Cremant along with 35% Chardonnay and 5% Cabernet Franc. This dry sparkler has a lovely balance of citrus and tree fruit along with strong minerality. It’s an elegant way to start the party, so consider pairing it with gougeres or other small bites. Otherwise, it pairs nicely with scallops, clams, or oysters.

• ROSÉ: 2024 CHANTELEUSERIE BOURGUEIL ROSÉ, LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE

  • Owner Thierry Boucard and his wife Christine are the seventh generation of his family to make wine at Chanteleuserie. Importer Kermit Lynch discovered “the place where the larks sing” on one of his first trips to France in 1976, and the winery was one of the first in his renowned portfolio (read more about his adventures here). For his rosé, Thierry uses the primary red grape of the region, Cabernet Franc, which gives this wine its outstanding floral aromas. Notes of stone fruits like cherry and peach make this wine a delightful summer sipper. If you’re grilling seafood or light meats, this wine will be your friend, but it’ll also be happy with a light omelette and green salad for dinner.

• NATURAL: 2024 FABIEN JOUVES YOU FUCK MY WINE, OCCITANIE, FRANCE

  • Fabien Jouves comes from an old farming family and became a winemaker in 2006. His winery sits atop some of the highest slopes in Cahors where Malbec is the main varietal (they call it Côt). He’s a bit of iconoclast, as you might have guessed from the name of this wine. I wish I had a great story to tell you about the name, but as far as the importer knows, that’s just what Fabien decided to call it. This wine is a blend of his beloved Malbec with three rather obscure varietals, Jurancon Noir, Gibert & Valdiguie. The light body might surprise you and then the notes of raspberry, cranberry, and rose petal kick in to keep your mouth tingling. You could drink it chilled or as is and pair with turkey burgers, tomato salad, or black bean tostadas.

• RED: 2024 LUBANZI CINSAULT, SWARTLAND, SOUTH AFRICA

  Charlie Brain & Walker Brown, two American men, studied abroad in South Africa in 2014 and fell in love with the country. In 2016, they decided to start a winery there that focuses on sustainability both environmentally and economically. They started Lubanzi, named after a wild dog that followed them for 100 miles on a wilderness trip during that study abroad, with the help of renowned winemakers (including some of SA faves). We poured their Cinsault by the glass last summer and loved it so much that we’re getting it into more people’s hands now. It’s a juicy red with light tannins and notes of overripe berries, and it is fantastic with a chill on it. Stick it on ice when you fire up the grill–sausages, flank steak, or portobellos all work well.

• WHITE: 2023 STORM POINT CHENIN BLANC, SWARTLAND, SOUTH AFRICA

  Owner/winemaker Mick Craven came to South Africa by way of Australia and California. He was drawn to the Western Cape because of its complex landscape, old vines, and promise of possibilities. In addition to his Craven Wine label, which we love dearly, he started the Storm Point label to focus on a white and a red that are made sustainably and with as little intervention as possible. The white is a soft Chenin Blanc with notes of peach skin and lemon curd. Pair this wine with a salad of burrata, pesto, and peaches, or grill pork tenderloin with stone fruit and enjoy.

• BUBBLY: 2023 CLETO CHIARLI VECCHIA MODENA PREMIUM, EMILIA-ROMAGNA, ITALY

  It’s been a while since we’ve featured a Lambrusco, so we’re hoping you’re up for a wine adventure to kick off the summer. In the mid 1800s, Cleto Chiarli helped put Lambrusco on the wine map. His family founded their winery in his honor in 2000 and carry on his legacy of dry, sparkling reds. This wine is 100% Lambrusco di Sorbrara, which is known for its leaner body and bright acidity. Get ready for notes of tart plum and ripe raspberry along with food-friendly acidity. This wine is chef’s-kiss perfection with charcuterie, Italian heroes, or pizza. If you need help opening the bottle, this handy video shows you all the tricks.

• ROSÉ: 2024 WOLF & WOMAN ROSÉ, SWARTLAND, SOUTH AFRICA

  Jolandie Fouché started Wolf & Woman in 2019 to focus on organic, low-intervention wines from her beloved home in Swartland. The name of the winery comes from a Nikita Gill quote that Jolandie’s husband sent her: “Some days I am more wolf than woman and I am still learning how to stop apologizing for my wild.” We were fortunate enough to host Jolandie here in the wine garden and wanted to share her delightful rosé with more of you. This rosé of Grenache is peachy, minerally, and clean on the palate. We recommend it with orzo salad with tomatoes, brie & peach jam toasts, or steamed mussels.

• NATURAL: NV FIO NATCOOL RIESLING, MOSEL, GERMANY

  Fio (thread in Portuguese) is a joint venture connecting two families: the Kettern family, who have been making wine in the Mosel for several hundred years, and the Niepoort family, led by famed Portuguese winemaker, Dirk Niepoort. The intention is to make old school, natural wines that appeal to a wide variety of palates. The Natcool is 100% Riesling from across two vintages, aged for 1-2 years on the lees, some in old oak barrels and some in stainless steel. The resulting wine is a silky yet pithy wine with notes of lemon and quinine. Chill it down and enjoy alongside seared scallops, Indian curries, or baked trout.

RED: 2020 SIERRA DEL MAR CABERNET SAUVIGNON, CALIFORNIA

Owners Richard Bruno and Chris Condos first met in wine school at UC Davis in the 1990s. They’ve been friends and winemaking partners since then and created Sierra del Mar to focus on affordable, single-varietal wines from California. Although most of our club picks are from obscure regions or varietals, sometimes, we simply want to give you a really great version of a grape and place you likely know. When we tasted this Cali Cab, we knew this was one of those times. The wine is soft with a long finish and notes of cherry, raspberry, and vanilla abound. It’s a lovely match for steak sandwiches, aged Goudas, or Tex-Mex.

WHITE: 2022 SIERRA DEL MAR SAUVIGNON BLANC, CENTRAL COAST, CALIFORNIA

[See red note for a bit about the winery.] The delightful white counterpoint to the Cab is this fuller-style Sauvignon Blanc. It’s surprisingly lush with notes of orange blossom and soft apple. Great for enjoying with a big, crunchy salad, chicken Caesar wraps, or poké.

BUBBLY: NV RACK & RIDDLE BLANC DE NOIRS, SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Owners Rebecca Faust and Bruce Lundquist started their custom wine company in 2007 and quickly realized that specializing in sparkling wine could set them apart. They started their own wine label, Rack & Riddle, and hired winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster, who is pretty much single-handedly responsible for all great traditional method bubbles in California. Their Blanc de Noirs (meaning white from blacks) is 100% Pinot Noir and has notes of brioche, tart berry, and orange peel. Sounds just about right for French toast with berries or a savory bread pudding with sausage and orange zest.

ROSÉ: 2024 DIVISION OUEST, COLUMBIA VALLEY, WASHINGTON

Founded in 2010, Division was started by Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe as a way to explore and be playful with wines in Oregon. Kate worked in France to learn about wine, whereas Tom came from a completely different industry. Together, they see room for playfulness within the confines of making beautiful organic/biodynamic/sustainable wines. This is our first year working with their rosé, and we’re excited to get this blend of Sangiovese, Grenache & Gamay into your hands. Get ready for notes of ripe strawberry and cranberry with a minerally background. Drink it with chana masala, salmon with pea pesto, or any light pasta.

NATURAL: 2023 VINI RABASCO LA SALITA, ABRUZZO, ITALY

Iole Rabasco took over her family winery in the 2000s, leaving behind her life as a lawyer. The land has never been treated with chemicals, and in 2006, Iole converted it completely to biodynamic farming. From the start, her aim has been clear: to leave the land better than she found it. She’s an incredible person who lights up the room, and her enthusiasm for her little pocket of Italy is infectious. We hope you enjoy this barely macerated Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (just 24 hours on the skins). It’s full and weighty with notes of baked pear, dried apricots, and wildflowers. As easy to pair with seared scallops or baked trout as it is with pork chops or sharp sheep cheeses. The possibilities are endless.

• RED: 2022 ALTOS LAS HORMIGAS RSV MALBEC, UCO VALLEY, ARGENTINA

  Founded in 1996, Altos las Hormigas started as a partnership between Alberto Antonini, a Tuscan winemaker, and Antonio Morescalchi, an Italian entrepreneur. They’ve since added other partners, but their excitement for the high altitude and dry climate of Mendoza hasn’t waned. They are also deeply committed to sustainable, organic, vegan wines that are some of the most loved in Argentina. For their reserve Malbec, they age the majority of it in large concrete pools (giving it freshness and brightness) and the remainder in French foudre (giving it structure). The wine is inky with notes of plum and blackberry with tannins and acidity in lovely harmony. Crack it open for carne asada, black bean burgers, or aged cheeses.

• WHITE: 2024 ALTOS LAS HORMIGAS BLANCO, UCO VALLEY, ARGENTINA

  [See red note for a bit about the winery.] This white is a blend of Semillon, Chenin Blanc, and Pedro Ximenez (most often used in sherry) that we were wild about when we tasted it. The wine starts off with notes of salt and ripe stone fruit and then this unexpected drying minerally finish kicks in with a little weight behind it. This one’s truly a unique find. Pair it with perch or whitefish, an elaborate turkey club sandwich, or pasta with burrata and pesto.

• BUBBLY: 2022 KRONE BOREALIS BRUT CAP CLASSIQUE, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

  The Rands family purchased the Krone estate in 2012, and it’s now run by brother and sister duo Svend and Abigail. It’s rare to find vintage sparkling wines anywhere in the world but particularly in South Africa, so we find it intriguing that Krone only makes vintage wines because they believe that variation between vintages makes the wines more interesting. This wine is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with notes of dough, yellow apple, and sweet pear. Pop the cork the next time you have fried chicken (Butterbird takeout, anyone?) or an array of short cheeses (excuse to have friends over).

• ROSÉ: 2024 HUGH HAMILTON THE FLOOZIE, MCLAREN VALE, AUSTRALIA

  The Hamilton family traces their roots to Australia back to 1837 when Richard Hamilton smuggled vines from England and planted them in South Australia. Five generations later, the family’s wine legacy continues to thrive under the stewardship of Mary Hamilton. This is our first time carrying their wines, and we’re excited to get this blend of Sangiovese and Grenache into your hands. This rosé has notes of Pink Lady apples, lime, and peach skin, all with a long finish. You’ll love drinking it with a pear endive salad, white cheddar & apple grilled cheese, or a zesty ceviche.

• NATURAL: 2023 LAS MUJERES RED WINE, READSTOWN, WISCONSIN

  Las Mujeres is a farm, cidery, and winery run by Tony and Elise Bezsylko that started as an escape-the-big-city adventure and has become a wonderful addition to the Wisconsin wine scene. They insist on buying only organically grown grapes, and this Marquette comes from a farm in Orfordville, Wisconsin. The wine is aged for a year in barrel and nine months in bottle before being released, so it has time to come into its own and develop some savory characteristics. The tart blackberry and cranberry notes play nicely with the minerality and light texture of this fun find. Enjoy with roasted ham, seared duck breast, or lentil salad.

RED: 2022 AZUL Y GARANZA TEMPRANILLO, NAVARRA, SPAIN

Founders María Barrena, Dani Sánchez, and Fernando Barrena focus on organic winemaking in the harsh climate on the edge of Europe’s largest desert. They believe the surrounding plants and animals are as important to the success of their wines as the vines themselves. They take a natural approach to winemaking with a gentle hand in the vineyards and in the cellar. They use large cement vats for their Tempranillo, so you get a fresher, rounder version of the grape than you often see in Rioja. It has juicy red fruit notes and light tannins, making it a lovely red for the transition to spring. Enjoy with chicken and shrimp paella, chorizo and white bean stew, or sharp sheep’s milk cheese.

WHITE: 2023 AZUL Y GARANZA VIURA, NAVARRA, SPAIN

[See red note for a bit about the winery.] For the white, they take what is often thought of as an underwhelming grape and ferment it in cement before aging it in stainless. As a result, you get a clean wine with delicate notes of citrus and almond. We love this liter of goodness alongside tortilla española, a grain bowl, or a simple dinner of chicken with herby rice.

BUBBLY: NV SOMMARIVA IL ROSA, VENETO, ITALY

Several generations of the Sommariva family grew international varietals in the high plains of the Veneto and sold them off to other wineries. In the 1970s, Caterino and Urbana Sommariva decided to grow the grapes that would go on to make Prosecco famous and started their own winery. Their daughter Cinzia eventually fell in love with winemaking herself and now helps run this sustainable family estate. Her rosé is a blend of Raboso and Pinot Noir that has an incredible creamy mouthfeel and notes of red cherry and orange peel. Pop this beauty open with tuna poke, turkey and ginger stirfry, or soft cheeses.

ROSÉ: 2023 BONNY DOON VIN GRIS DE CIGARE, CENTRAL COAST, CALIFORNIA

Trying to sum up Bonny Doon in a few sentences is a challenge because they have such a storied history in California wine and in my personal wine journey. In short, owner Randall Grahm started Bonny Doon in 1986 in an attempt to make Burgundy-like wines in California. The winery expanded massively over the years until Randall reached a point in the 2000s where he scaled back, which is about when Director of Winemaking Nicole Walsh entered the picture. Nicole has a deft hand in the cellar, and she brought back the original style of Vin Gris de Cigare that I first fell in love with many years ago. This biodynamic wine is a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre & Cinsault with notes of wild strawberry, cherry, and earth. Pair it with shrimp scampi, chevre & jam sandwiches, or pesto pasta.

NATURAL: 2022 AMERICAN WINE PROJECT WE ARE ALL MADE OF DREAMS, UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY, WISCONSIN

Our natural woman winemaker is also a hometown sweetheart, Erin Rasmussen, who spent years in Napa and New Zealand honing her skills as a winemaker. She moved back to Wisconsin in 2017 to start American Wine Project, which focuses on natural wines made from cold-hardy grapes. You should go visit the AWP tasting room in Mineral Point and tell her we say hi! We’ve never had a wine quite like this Pet Nat. It’s made from Somerset Seedless grapes, which are usually eaten as table grapes. The result is a crisp, refreshing wine that reminds me of a great German pilsner. Bring on the spicy Thai noodles, barbecue ribs, or pizza.