Under the Table Wines

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.

RED: 2023 REVELLO BARBERA D’ALBA PIEDMONT, ITALY

Right after World War II, the Revello family settled in Piedmont and started growing grapes in the mid-1950s. At first, they sold those grapes to other wineries, but they started making their own wine by the late 1960s. Since then, it’s become a true family operation with multiple generations helping oversee the vineyards, winery, and accompanying restaurant. It’s been years since we’ve featured a Barbera in wine club, and we’re particularly excited to showcase a wine from Alba (rather than the more popular Asti). This wine is juicy with balancing acidity, light tannins, and a prominent black cherry note. Enjoy alongside pork ragu pasta, polenta with sausage or mushrooms, or lamb chops.

WHITE: 2023 STEFANO MASSONE GAVI MASERA , PIEDMONT, ITALY

Stefano Massone’s vineyards are located in the warmer southeastern part of Gavi where the Cortese grape ripens easily. Because this varietal can be very productive, rigorous vineyard management and low yields are vital to producing Cortese of high quality, as practiced at Massone but at few other estates. This wine manages to be both weighty and full while still dancing lightly on the palate with notes of fennel, apple, salt, and bitter almond. A great match for roasted trout, chicken tacos, or aged cow’s or sheep’s milk cheeses.

BUBBLY: 2022 DME PLAGEOLES MAUZAC NATURE, GAILLAC, FRANCE

Founder Robert Plageoles took great pride in bringing back the lost indigenous varieties of the area. He researched and replanted over a dozen varieties (7 in the Mauzac family alone) indigenous to Gaillac that had all but vanished. Robert’s son Bernard continued this work, and now Bernard’s sons Florent and Romain have taken up the cause of natural wines in Gaillac. In this wine, they use the ancient method of making sparkling wine, resulting in a fizzy Pet Nat that reminds us of pear cider. Notes of minerals and almond add to the savoriness of this fizz that’s great with French toast, omelettes, or a grilled ham & cheese.

ROSÉ: 2024 FOLK MACHINE ROSÉ, SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA

Yes, you read that right, 2024! This wine is brand spanking new. Kenny Litkitprakong is one of our very favorite winemakers, both because of his deft hand in the fields and winery and because his winery supports important causes with real action. They believe in environmental and social justice, and we love supporting their work. This rosé is one of the first to arrive every year, but it’s extra early this year, and we’re rewarding you great people with this round, citrusy rosé of Gamay. Enjoy with spring rolls, chicken & sweet potato stirfry, or turkey burgers.

NATURAL: 2023 LES LUNES ASTRAL BLEND, 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, both of which are long-time favorites around here. They lease their own vineyards because they believe in working the vines themselves, and the result is often clean, pure fruit. The Astral Blend is exactly the kind of fun, undefinable wine we had in mind when we started the natural wine club. It’s a blend of carbonically macerated Zinfandel, rosé of Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, so it’s a little bit of red, white, and pink in one tingly, vibrant red. It has notes of roses and cranberry with light but noticeable tannins. Pair with roasted chicken, grilled salmon, or duck with cranberry sauce.

• RED: CH CARBONNEAU PUR JUS, COTES DE BORDEAUX, FRANCE

  Chateau Carbonneau was first built in 1860 and passed through a few hands due in part to the world wars. Current owner Wilfrid Franc de Ferriere married a woman visiting from New Zealand, which tied in nicely with his own mother’s roots to the island country. Now, his children are the third generation of New Zealanders to live at Carbonneau. He and his wife Jacquie brought winemaking back to the estate in the 1990s, which is great for all of us because their wines are so lovely. Pur Jus is a blend of Merlot and Malbec with notes of herbs and both red & black cherries. Its grippy tannins make it a great match for grilled ribeye, aged cheddar, or meaty lasagna.

• WHITE: CH CARBONNEAU MARGOT, COTES DE BORDEAUX, FRANCE

  [See red note for a bit about the winery.] Margot is named after Wilfrid and Jacquie’s eldest daughter, and it’s 100% Sauvignon Blanc. You can really taste the New Zealand heritage behind these French grapes. This wine manages to straddle both styles with a definite nod towards New Zealand with its notes of gooseberry, tart kiwi, and asparagus. Why not get a little French and fancy for no reason and make a chevre souffle to serve with this wine? Otherwise, a lemony white bean soup would be just the thing.

• BUBBLY: 2018 PERE MATA GRAN RESERVA FAMILIA BRUT NATURE, PENEDÈS, SPAIN

  Owner and winemaker Pere Mata farms everything organically and by hand at his 5 hectare (about 12 acre) winery in the heart of Cava country. He ages all of his wine far longer than required for the style and dates with a vintage, so you can really geek out about his bubbles. We’ve been pouring his rosé Cava by the glass and wanted to get you his Gran Reserva bubbles to start your new year in style. It’s a blend of the three Cava grapes–Macabeo, Xarello & Parellada–with notes of nuts, chalk, and bright fruit that leads to a layered, complex wine. We highly recommend opening this wine a bit before you plan to drink it to give it time to open up or drink the bottle slowly over the night (no need to stick it back in the fridge). Enjoy with almond pain perdu, hazelnut-crusted pork, or a selection of firm cheeses.

• ROSÉ: 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.

• NATURAL: 2023 LUYT PIPENO BLANCO, MAULE VALLEY, CHILE

  One of our goals with the natural club is to include a wide variety of styles as well as regions, so our eyes turned towards South America to kick off the new year with something unexpected. Owner/winemaker Louis-Antoine Luyt was told by many landowners in Chile that it didn’t make financial sense to make their own wines and that no one could make money growing lesser known Chilean varietals, all of which felt like a worthy challenge to Louis-Antoine. He studied winemaking in France and then started his winery in 2006 where he breaks with convention and makes old-school wines. This wine is a blend of Muscat, Chasselas, Semillon & Torontel that macerates on the skins for 15 days. It explodes with notes of tropical fruit salad, honeysuckle, and ginger. It’s surprisingly not funky and quite quaffable, so we recommend inviting some friends over for fish tacos, white pizza, or a chips/dips party.

RED: 2017 QUINTA DO ARROBE OCULTO RED, TEJO, PORTUGAL

Founded in 2011, Quinta do Arrobe uses vines first planted by the owners’ great-grandfather in 1882. They’re located in central Portugal, about an hour north of Lisbon. They focus primarily on local varietals with a few international varietals in the mix as well. This cozy red is a blend of Cab, Syrah, and Touriga Nacional with notes of blackberry and eucalyptus. Nicely structured with a long finish, this wine is at home with just about any roasted meat, from lamb to short ribs or with hearty grains and greens.

WHITE: 2019 QUINTA DO ARROBE OCULTO WHITE, TEJO, PORTUGAL

[See red note for a bit about the winery.] The white is a blend of two Portuguese varietals–Arinto and Fernão Pires–and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s round and silky, making it a nice winter white, with notes of white flowers, salt, and apple skin. When you’ve had too much of the holidays, order sushi takeout and crack this baby open, or pour it alongside other light fish or pasta dishes.

BUBBLY: 2023 BOKA BIRTOK SPARKLING KADARKA, HUNGARY

Boka Birtok first started in 1903 and was taken over by the newest generation of the family in 2012. On their “micro-estate” (just 1.5 hectares), they produce low-intervention wines that are clean & pure expressions of Hungarian grapes. I tasted this rosé Pet Nat right when the dark clouds descended upon us in November, and it brought me a moment of joy & peace. I hope it does the same for you this holiday season. The grape is Kadarka (think of it like Hungarian Pinot Noir). Creamy yet light, the wine has notes of apricot and red apple. It’s the perfect accompaniment to latkes and lox, French toast brunch, or even a cookie plate.

ROSÉ: 2023 CH GASSIER ESPRIT COTES DE PROVENCE ROSÉ, COTES DE PROVENCE, FRANCE

Georges Gassier is the fifth generation of his family to oversee their gorgeous land in Provence. Nestled between mountain ranges and only 30 km from the Mediterranean, their organic vineyards are quite breathtaking. Since 2015, Ch Gassier’s wines have been woman-made by Léa Rouyet who is rightfully in love with her surrounding landscape. Their rosé captures the spirit of the region with its blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Semillon, Rolle & unnamed others. It’s elegant and round with notes of almond and red currant. Serve before dinner with Mediterranean snacks or with a white pizza.

NATURAL: 2022 CASTELLO DI TASSAROLO ORSOLA ROSSO, PIEDMONT, ITALY

The estate is run by Massimiliana Spinola whose family has been making wine at this estate since the 1300s. They switched to biodynamic farming in 2006 and proudly don’t add any sulfites to their wines to show off the purity of their fruit. The Orsola label is a collaboration between Tassarolo and the natural wine importer Jenny & Francois, and it’s named after Massimiliana’s relative. Orsola lived in New York for a while and befriended many artists, including Andy Warhol. Yes, that’s a real Warhol on the label (it still hangs in Orsola’s house not far from the winery). This red is a velvety blend of Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon that tastes like red & black cherries. Serve with lasagna, Italian sausage sandwiches, or a wide variety of cheeses.

RED: MOTHER BLOCK RED, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Mother Block is the second label of Chalmers, a beloved winery in Australia that specializes in Italian varietals. It’s in their home vineyard, known as the Mother Block, that they grow a wide array of Italian grapes that growers around Australia have begun using. The Chalmers family started off as growers and then became winemakers twenty years ago, and now we get to enjoy the delights of this sustainable vineyard. The red is a blend of Sagrantino, Nero d’Avola, Aglianico, Sangiovese, Uva di Troia, Teroldego & Piedirosso. We were immediately taken with its approachability and notes of black fruit and spice. Serve with your favorite roasted meat, sharp cheddar, or a peppery stir-fry.

WHITE: MOTHER BLOCK WHITE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

[See red note for a bit about the winery.] The white is a blend of Vermentino, Fiano, Grechetto, Greco, Glera, Pinot Bianco & Pinot Grigio. It’s a delicate wine with notes of apple blossom, orange zest, and lemon. The balance of fruit to acidity makes it a great wine for just sipping without food, but if you’re pairing it, go for lemony white beans, clams with linguine, or fennel & orange salad.

BUBBLY: 2022 JC CALVET CREMANT DE BORDEAUX, BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Founded in 1818, Calvet started with inherited vineyards in the Rhone Valley before expanding to the more prestigious regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. Throughout the 19th and most of the 20th century, Calvet was one of, if not the, biggest names in French wines. Lucky for us because their wines are still incredibly well-made and still reasonably priced. This Cremant is an unusual blend of Merlot and Semillon made just like Champagne. It’s fruity & creamy with notes of apple blossom. If there’s something worth celebrating at the beginning of this month, crack this beauty open! Otherwise, save for Thanksgiving or the next time you’re roasting a chicken.

ROSÉ: 2023 BAGLIESI SCIAPÓ, SICILY, ITALY 

Bagliesi started in the early 1960s and is now overseen by the 3rd generation of the Bagliesi family. Located in the southern hills of Sicily, the winery is deeply dedicated to organic farming, and the purity of fruit comes through in all of their wines. This rosé is 100% Nero d’Avola. It’s delicate with notes of citrus and red berries. It’ll be a perfect accompaniment to your Thanksgiving dinner or enjoy with cheese & charcuterie when you don’t feel like cooking (or thinking too hard).

NATURAL: 2023 LES TETES TETE ORANGE, LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE

Les Tètes is a small wine project run collaboratively by four friends– Nicolas, Philippe, Baptiste, and Vivien–in the Loire Valley. In their words, “Les Tétes is about friendship, and wines you drink with friends.” We could think of no better sentiment in the month of Thanksgiving and a challenging political world that calls out for extra time with people we love than this skin contact wine. It’s a blend of Chenin Blanc, Muscadelle, Mauzac Rose & Colombard that are macerated separately for 8-14 days before being blended. It’s a textured, minerally beauty that reminds us of a whole orange–zest, juice, and seeds. Pair with soft cheeses, orange chicken, or baked salmon.