There's no better way to kick off a fabulous year ahead with a fabulous box of wine! A lotta French, a little Italian, a touch Spanish and a scosh local. See you soon! 

'Tis the season to celebrate! We've snuck in an extra bottle this month for all of those holiday parties, get togethers, and just festive fun this month. We hope you enjoy this holiday fun bunch! 

November hits and for those of us in the food and wine state of mind, we're thinking of what to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner! The point of wine club is to try it and see if you like it, yeah? Well, try these and see what you want to have on the table come this Thanksgiving weekend. Most will be available, although some are special for our club members and won't be hanging out on the shelf for long. See you soon and enjoy!

Run, don't walk, this is our version of trick-or-treating! We're excited for y'all to try these wines, some new to the market and some exclusive to Seattle! Once again we're traveling all around Greece, Croatia, France, and Macedonia. Enjoy!

We're super excited about this global little bunch for y'all this month! We're headed to Hungary, Slovenia, Georgia, Greece (of course!), France, and Italy. We hope it inspires thoughts of your next big trip, or perhaps just the next fun meal to pair. Enjoy!

We're thinking BBQ's, late nights by the campfire, long days in the sun, and delicious meals with friends.

Okay, that's what we said for July... turns out were still on the same vibe! Add in a boat for Seafair weekend (or every August weekend), beaches, and just any event in the sun! This month's selection is your best companion for simply enjoying Seattle summer. Cheers, friends. 

We're thinking BBQ's, late nights by the campfire, long days in the sun, and delicious meals with friends. It's officially Lambrusco season (one of many... or perhaps it's always?!) and this one is perfect for those BBQ nights or cozying up by a fire pit. You choose! This selection will leave you coming back for more of each... so hurry over and drink up! Cheers, friends. 

Domaine Pluchot Côte Roannaise

100% Gamay Saint-Romain

Brambles and earth on the nose. Fresh red berries, blackberries and minerals. Youthful yet rich with a lightly spiced finish.

The estate was created in 2005 by two brothers, Edgar and Marc-Antoine Pluchot, in tribute to their grandparents. The Estate’s name,“Le Retour Aux Sources” translates from French to English as: "Return to the Sources". Today the two brothers own 7.6 hectares of vines mostly located in the Côte Roannaise appellation. Edgar, after studying viticulture, had worked in vineyards of Macon, St-Véran and Pouilly-Fuissé for four years. He returned in 2005 to the village of his grandparents and With the help of his brother Marc-Antoine and other family members, they worked developing the vineyards for three years. They have since tripled in size and are now working to convert to become certified organic.

Located between Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon, north of the Loire department. This is one of the southernmost vineyards in the Loire Valley, but also one of the highest. Most of the plots are between 400 and 500 meters above sea level. The granite soils of the area allow gamay to flourish, particularly one of gamay’s clones, Saint-Romain. The climate combines cold, dry winters and hot summers with low rainfall. The vineyards are scattered among other crops, pastures for livestock, and woods.

Sorting on entry into the cellar, total destemming, 12 day maceration in indigenous yeasts. Short aging in vats.

Domaine de Châteaumar Cuvée Bastien Grenache Côtes du Rhône

100% Grenache

Ripe black cherry, pepper, graphite and earth. Rich, fruity, and elegant, with classic Châteauneuf Grenache character. Finishes with velvety tannins.

The Castel Mar (Châteaumar) estate dates back to the 11th century. Over countless generations, the vines at Domaine de Châteumar have been cultivated without any pesticides or herbicides by father and son in the Souret family. Today the vineyard is managed by Jean-Felix and Frederic Souret. Cuvée Bastien, named after the winemakers’ son, is made from a single vineyard of 50+ year-old vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The estate is located less than 6 miles from Orange, in the heart of the Côtes-du-Rhône AOP. The vineyards include 12 acres in the prestigious northern plain of Châteauneuf-du-Pape on red clay, and 25 adjacent acres in Côtes-du-Rhône on stony clay-limestone soils. The vineyard is established with several noble varieties of the Southern Rhône, such as: Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. The soil is turned several times during the year allowing the grapes to develop character.  Farming is organic, but uncertified.

No Chemicals are ever used on their lands. Vinification is carried out over more than 15 days. Hand-harvested, selected, and sorted. 8 to 10 months in concrete tanks. Sustainable farming.

Carra di Casatico La Luna Lambrusco Secco

100% Lambrusco Maestri

Juicy and fun! Lush dark cherry, plum, strawberry, with soft floral aroma. Earthy, with a hint of funk all balanced out with nice acidity and bubbles. An excellent choice to entertain friends!

Carra di Casatico’s vineyards are run by owner Bonfiglio Carra and winemaker Alberto Musatti. They believe in keeping the production chain as short as possible in order to keep everything under control. His wines are intentional and everything is looked at from a technical point of view, all while keeping the environment in mind. All biodynamic farming is practiced in the fields and in the cellar, this includes: harvesting according to the cycles of the moon. This is where the name “la luna” comes from, meaning “ the moon”. 

Wines of Lambrusco Maestri are more grapey with soft, creamy bubbles. Maestri is actually the most well-traveled of all the lambrusco varieties and there are some excellent examples coming out of Australia and Argentina. 

Biodynamic practicing.Handpicked, then soft pressed and undergo fermentation in stainless steel for 4-5 months. Native yeast and minimal sulfur added. Unfined, unfiltered, and spontaneous fermentation.

Pinia Rosé, IGP Ile de Beaute 

70% Sciaccarellu, 30% Grenache

Zippy, fruity and easy drinking, get ready to be transported to the Corsican coast! Apricots, fresh strawberry, citrus and salinity. Fresh and intensely aromatic.

This wine is dedicated to the huge forest of Pinia, a unique and environmentally protected area, known for its pine trees bordering along white sand beaches close to the vineyards on the eastern shore of Corsica. The grapes used, Sciaccarellu and Grenache, are grown near the Pinia pine forest and benefit from its sandy-silt soils.

Ile de Beauté, is the title given to wines that come from Corsica, a French island that sits in the Mediterranean Sea between the coast of Provence and the western coast of Italy.

Harvested at night to prevent oxidation followed by cold fermentation then controlled temperature fermentation. Aged on fine lees and bottled early.  

Oltretorrente Bianco Colli Tortonesi

Timorasso, Cortese, Favorita, and trace amounts of Moscato Bianco and Giallo

Green apple, citrus zest, with touches of honey. Lots of minerality, juicy mandarin and pineapple. Smooth, silky and vibrant!

Chiara Penati and her husband Michele Conoscente started Oltretorrente in 2010 with just 1.5 hectares of vines in tiny Paderna, on the steep foothills of southeast Piedmont. They both came with years of experience in winemaking all over Italy. The name Oltretorrente means “Beyond the Stream” in reference to the Scrivia, a tributary of the Po River, it also translates to 'Against the Current” which is very fitting for the couple’s independent winery. Grapes here have to be harvested by hand due to the steep slopes. The couple work hard to restore the soil, going beyond organic farming to plant grasses, cover crops and other plants to regenerate fertility.

The Bianco Colli Tortonesi is a beautiful field blend of local grapes, sourced from all of the estate's parcels. Their small parcels are scattered around the village; some of the vines are 100 years old.

Organic and biodynamically grown, low-intervention. Whole cluster pressing, fermentation in concrete and stainless steel vats, then 6 months of aging on the lees; malolactic fermentation happened naturally; light filtration and minimal added So2 at bottling. Vegan

La Quercia Aglianico Puglia

100% Aglianico

Beautiful deep red purple in the glass with fresh dark fruits. Dried fruits, Plum, pepper, sweet tobacco and wood. Tart yet super smooth with nice plush texture from tannins. Long finish with hints of baking spice and smoke.

La Quercia's vineyard and estate are run by four friends - Elisabetta Di

Berardino, Fabio Pedicone, Luca Moretti and Antonio Lamona, who met each other while working at a big winery in the late 80s. They purchased La Quercia in 2000 and have since gone on to produce olive oil, salumi, cheese, and vegetables. They grow organically and promote biodiversity across their property. Winemaker and co-owner Antonio Lamona owns the single vineyard in Puglia from which this Aglianico comes from. Puglia (the heel of the Italian boot) has a wine history dating back over 2000 years, when the Greeks first arrived. Surrounded by 3 seas (Adriatic, Mediterranean and Ionic), there are over 800 kilometers of coastline, and their marine breezes are critical for viticulture in this hot and arid location. 

Aglianico might be the most under-appreciated grape in Italy. It definitely deserves to be named along with Sangiovese and Nebbiolo as one of Italy's great varietals. With the classic ripe plum and spice notes this varietal is known for, this is a rare opportunity to taste Aglianico in a more fresh style. If you have yet to try this varietal get ready for a treat!

Organically farmed (non-certified), dry-farmed, picked by hand. 

Travel from an hour north of Lisbon, Portugal to Madrid, Spain before hopping over to Naples, Italy on your way to Greece and finally landing on the coast of Turkey. Sound fun?! Well that's what's in store for you this month!

QUINTA DO PINTO ARINTO

100% Arinto

Notes of honey, lemon, lime, and pineapple. Toasted apples and a hint of creaminess.Nice balance of acidity with a touch of minerals and saltiness.  

Quinta do Pinto, founded in 2003, is a family estate winery on the Atlantic coast in the municipality of Alenquer just outside of Lisbon. In the area you can visit authentic rural villages, with their mills and white houses. Planted on 63 hectares of gentle slopes, the vineyard enjoys southern exposure. It is protected from the north winds by the Serra de Montejunto and benefits from the Atlantic influence. The climate is maritime temperate, with Mediterranean characteristics, with the ocean 25 km away. The soils are clay-limestone, originating from the Jurassic period with a clayey texture. Diversity of the soils, even from plot to plot - a strong asset of the property.

The owners' passion for wine and their relationship with the land, solidified through five generations linked to agriculture and wine. António Afonso Lasso de la Vega Cardoso Pinto, the producer, is the coordinator of the oenology project at Quinta do Pinto. Rita Cardoso Pinto, his daughter and the property’s administrator, has the regular support of about 20 employees, including her sister Ana and brother, Francisco. The objective at Quinta do Pinto is to make superior wine with its regional grape varieties; to bring attention to these grapes outside Portugal. They grow just over 2 dozen varieties including: Arinto, Fernão Pires, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Miúda, Aragonez, Alfrocheiro, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Syrah and Merlot.

Use of indigenous yeast, 100% herbicide free, sustainable farming practices, vegan, low intervention and use of traditional concrete tank.

PASAELI 6N KARASAKIZ

100% Karasakiz

Lighter, chillable red here! Lots of bright cherry, juicy plum, and dry figs. Earthy, spicy and with a little bit of funk. Finishes with soft dusty tannins. A perfect summer grilling wine!

The grape varietal, Karasakız, is native to Kaz Dağları (near the site of ancient Troy!) and has been grown in Turkey for centuries. The grape is also known as “Kuntra” in some parts of Turkey and has been used in the production of cognac.

Paşaeli is a family owned Turkish wine estate and was founded by Seyit Karagözoğlu in 2000. He planted vineyards and founded Paşaeli after a decade as a wine importer, as he felt the soil and climate of Turkey were ideal for growing high quality grapes. Indigenous varieties were planted in the Aegean region, such as Sultaniye, Yapıncak, Çalkarası, and Karasakız, and Bordeaux varieties. Turkey is currently the world’s 6th largest grape grower and has many micro climates and soil types. Paşaeli is part of a new wave of winemakers and winery owners who are championing native varieties and bringing them back from the brink of extinction. 

We have featured wines from Paşaeli in the past, maybe you remember the tasty rose with the cute seahorse label?? 

Harvested from a single vineyard at an altitude of 550 meters, the wine is fermented with native yeast only before aging for 6 months in French and American oak barrels.

MARKOGIANNI DIAGON VERTZAMI

100% Vertzami

Intensely aromatic with notes of jammy cherries, black currant, and warming spices. Floral, herbaceous and lush. Complex and rich with lingering notes of vanilla, cocoa, and black tea.

Unique wine from the rare variety, Vertzami, of the island of Lefkada. Vertzami is found mainly in Lefkada, but can also be found in the western regions of the Peloponnese, central Greece, and even in Epirus. It is considered to be a very luscious variety with a lot of acidity, tannins and a very intense color. 

Markogianni Winery is a family-run business operating since 1982 in the cultivation of vineyards for the production of quality wines and spirits (such as tsipouro). The winery is located in Skiloundia Olympias of Andritsena-Krestena Muncipality. All 63 hectares have been cultivated organically since 2001. Their philosophy is respect for nature and production of quality wines. Local varieties are cultivated such as Roditis, Koliniatiko, Mandilaria, and Vertzami.

Organic, 17 months in barrique, 8 years of aging, and low intervention.

MUSTILLI AGLIANICO

100% Aglianico

Bold, jammy dark berries and fruits with mediterranean herbs. Robust notes of leather and tobacco. Finishes with a touch of cocoa, pepper and minerals. A lovely pairing with hearty pastas, steak or pizza!

Aglianico is a black grape that can be found in southern Italy. Wines produced from the grape tend to be full-bodied with firm tannins and high acidity, making them good candidates for aging. The grape is full of history and is considered one of the three greatest grape varieties of Italy along with sangiovese and nebbiolo.

The Mustilli family settled in the town of Sant’Agata dei Goti (a sub-region of the DOC Sannio) in the 14th century, and has been producing wine for five centuries. The area is striking and marked with many historic buildings. They are the only winery in the area and all 20+ hectares are planted with indigenous varieties, such as: Aglianico, Piedirosso, Falanghina and Greco di Tufo. In the 1960’s, Leonardo Mustilli established the modern day iteration of its production. He is the first to have bottled pure Falanghina in the 70s. Today, the estate is run by two of the daughters- Anna Chiara, who manages the vineyards and winemaking, and Paola, the commercial side of the business. 

Organically farmed and vegan. Low yields and manual harvest. Grapes are immediately de-stemmed and crushed. Fermentation for about 15 days in stainless steel. Maturation in second pass French oak for 9 months. Lightly fined, unfiltered and a small SO2 addition prior to bottling. 9 months in bottle prior to release.

ALPHA ESTATE HEDGEHOG XINOMAVRO

100% Xinomavro

Bright purple-red in color, this has more to it than its super-friendly face initially lets on. Give it some air and flavors emerge from under that bright cherry-red fruit – some of xinomavro's tell-tale tomato-leaf and lamb-fat notes. Inviting nose of pot pourri, wild red berries and pomegranate. Full mouth of vibrancy and brightness with well-managed tannins. Leather and spices alongside hints of ripe blackberry offer plenty of juicy and crunchy fruit, refreshing acidity, and a linear finish with long aftertaste of quince. A very drinkable xinomavro, so pop it now!

Alpha Estate was founded in 1997 by the experienced viticulturist Makis Mavridis and chemist-oenologist Angelos Iatridis, who, after years of experience in various locations of Greece and abroad, chose the Amyndeon region to create his own wine. The knowledge and love for winemaking was passed on to the next generation. Angeliki Iatridou and Emorfili Mavridou carry on the tradition today, aspiring to evolve, while participating in the team’s common vision.  “Absolute respect to the Ecosystem, with human in the epicenter” is the winery’s philosophy, claiming that the main feature of their work is the ‘’soul’’ of the people that contribute every day to this dream, with respect to nature, combined with high quality and deeply eco-friendly growing practices of sustainable viticulture and wine making. 

Alpha Estate’s privately owned 220 hectares of vineyards in the Amyndeon plateau of NW Macedonia, Greece, has its own unique ecosystem. Harvest is done at the coolest hours of the day, and the winery is located next to the vineyards, so transport of the grapes during harvest is done in the shortest possible time to preserve freshness. The winery is designed in such a way to exploit gravity in the best possible way throughout the winemaking process, applying the minimum possible stress to the raw material. All construction materials are highly inactive and neutral in order to secure completely neutral atmospheric conditions inside the winery, protecting the quality of the grape, must and wine. One of the most important parts of the winery is the underground cellar, which houses the oak casks were Alpha Estate’s wines are aged, at ideal and optimum conditions throughout the year. Angelos Iatridis invented technology specific to the Xinomavro grape, which has many seeds, to filter the seeds away from the juice in order to produce this fresh version of Xinomavro.

Fermentation in stainless steel, 8 months on the lees with regular stirring before 12 months in used French oak barrels and 12 months in the bottle. Vegan.

ALTA ALELLA GX ROSE

Garnatxa Negra and Garnatxa Peluda

Elegant and aromatic fresh-cut strawberry on the nose, with citrus and floral notes.

Bright acidity, ripe fruity notes, and mountainside herbaceousness. Crisp, fresh and very balanced with a distinctive, salty minerality on the palate. The perfect rose for beach day or a picnic!

The Pujol-Busquets Guillén family established Alta Alella in 1991 on the 19th century Can Genís estate by Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets and his wife, Cristina Guilléns. The Alella D.O. is actually the smallest D.O. in Spain. The winery has always practiced certified organic farming techniques, creating a balanced ecosystem that respects the native flora and fauna. They seek to produce ‘transparent’ wines that reflect the terroir of the region. The estate is just two kilometres away from the Mediterranean Sea and a 20 minute drive to Barcelona. The vines are grown on sauló soil, an acidic white granite-based sandy soil with low limestone content, low organic matter and good natural water drainage. This soil is key to the wines produced by Alta Alella. In addition to producing still wines, two thirds of their production is dedicated to cava. Cavas using amphorae partly made from their own sauló.

The drought and high temperatures during the growing season resulted in yields slightly below the usual average, but with very good ripening thanks to the light rainfall in August. The harvest was accelerated to prevent the grapes from becoming raisined. Organic and vegan. Grapes are hand harvested exclusively to produce rosé wine. The grapes are lightly pressed to obtain the first pressing must, which ferments in tanks at a low temperature.

We're channeling the SUN ️that we've seen this past week with two bottles of rosé this month... c'mon 70 degree weather! Disagree? Well, our air conditioned indoor seating will help you :)

Alongside those lipsmacking blushes, we treat you to an easygoing Gamay, lively Nero d'Avola in a gluggable and shareable 1L bottle (!), foxy pinot noir, and cool kid french blend. Cheers!

Château des Annibals La Cuvée des Annibals 

55% Cinsault, 25% Grenache, 20% Syrah

Fun and summery rose with an excellent balance of fruit and minerals. Juicy peach and strawberry notes with soft floral aromas. Crisp, refreshing and just lovely!

Château des Annibals, founded in 1772 is located in the heart of the Provence Verte region with vineyards near the La Loube mountains. Their estate falls under the Coteaux Varois en Provence AOP, and as they are the oldest winery in Provence, they are considered the benchmark for the Appellation Coteaux Varois. Ruins from thousands of years ago can be seen on the property.

Owner and winemaker, Nathalie De Wulf Coquelle has dedicated herself to sustainability. The Château is a certified organic winery and is powered by 100% renewable solar and wind energy. The commitment to sustainability extends to their choice to source all dry goods from recycled materials. 

Spends 6 months in stainless steel in which oxygen levels in the tanks are controlled in order to use as few sulfites as possible during production. 

Gönc Cuvée Anna

50% Žametna črnina, 30% Pinot Noir, 20% Blaufränkisch

Zesty and full of life! Lots of peaches, tropical fruits, and citrus. Mouth watering acidity, fresh herbs, citrus peel aromas and good minerality.  

Gönc winery is now led by 4th generation winemaker, Peter Gönc. The winery was built in 1936 in the small town of Dobrovnik in Slovenia, by Peter’s great grandfather. After World War II, Peter’s grandfather moved to the city, Ptuj, where he started working in the Ptujska Klet, or Ptuj wine cellar, as a cellar cleaner and worked his way up to head winemaker and CEO of the oldest winery in Slovenia, now known as Pullus. Peter’s father 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. The family’s name, Gönc, is a name for a barrel that is produced in Hungary.

This vibrant rosé is named after Peter’s grandmother. The grape varietal most represented in the wine, Žametna črnina, is the oldest living vine in the world (at 375-400 years old) and it’s traditionally planted in Slovenia. Make sure to keep an eye out for other Gönc wines, they are typically decorated with flashy labels and references to music!

Farming is organic, minimal intervention and all the wines receive little to no added sulfites at bottling.

Due Terre Nivuru 

100% Nero d’Avola

Juicy, bright, and floral. Notes of cranberry, dark plum and hints of spice. Does great with a slight chill and so so fun to share with friends!

Located in Sicily, Due Terre is a relatively new winery from owner/co-winemaker Catherine Stratton and oenologist/winemaker, Vito Loaura who set out to produce small lots of organic wines in Sicily using indigenous grapes.They also focus on producing expressive wine at approachable prices.

Certified organic and small production.

Chateau Pierre-Bise Anjou Gamay 

100% Gamay

Ripe blackberries, dark cherries. Earthy with hints of forest floor. Complex yet smooth and easy drinking!

Pierre Papin bought Château Pierre-Bise, at the age of 50, in 1959. In 1974, his son Claude took on the original nine hectares in Pays de la Loire and gradually expanded the estate. In 1992, he also took over the Clos de Coulaine vineyard, adding the Savennières appellation to the estate.

The estate practices “do-nothing” farming, a concept from Japanese researcher Masanobu Fukuoka. They believe in conservation agriculture, leaving nature in charge of how the landscape changes.

Organic and minimal intervention. Maceration and controlled aeration to help stimulate fermentation. Maturation partially in small and old oak barrels and 10-hectolitre jars. Aging can include one or two rackings, and lasts for 1-2 years.

Cypres de toi 

60% Syrah, 30% Grenache Noir, 10% Carignan

Seriously quaffable, this zero-zero blend is medium-bodied and super clean, light and chewy with gentle tannins. Crunchy black fruit, a sprinkling of peppercorn and a long, fresh finish.

Fond Cyprès is located just outside Escales, a medieval town in the northernmost part of the Corbières AOC. Winemakers and Owners Laetitia Ourliac & Randolphe Gianesinit are a couple intent on producing wines that express their sultry slice of the Languedoc - specifically, Escales. Their domaine begins at the end of a road lined with Cypress tress, and extends in either direction along 15 hectares of lush vegetation - a secret garden of olives, tomatoes, eggplants, wild herbs, and kittens! The vineyards are grown on calcareous soil and blue marl. The "vent Cers", or winds from the northwest, bring cold and dry weather as a counterpoint to the warm, humid air from the Mediterranean Sea to the east. 

Organic farming, destemmed and fermented for three weeks in concrete with indigenous yeasts, aged in flex tank, unfined/unfiltered, and no added SO2.

Sanctum Liscia Pinot Noir

% Pinot Noir

The wine shows a bright cranberry nose alongside cranberry, white pepper notes, and touches of oak. When allowed to breathe, complex vegetal notes and a touch of smoke emerge. Rounded and medium-bodied on the palate, the mouthfeel offers intense dark fruit and flowers initially, but elegance and inviting drinkability are revealed when this earthy, medium body wine is paired with food. 

In the mid-12th century French Carthusian monks settled in this northeast region of Slovenia and planted it with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines. The Podkubovšek family, starting with Vlado and his son, Marko, has always cherished and been proud of this local heritage, hence the fact that all of their wines are made in a traditional style, where the vines and the microclimate speak for themselves. The continental micro-climate on the steep hills and valleys of Lipoglav, located by the beautiful town of Loče in northeast Slovenia. All vineyards are located on steep 45° slopes with southern-exposure, ranging from 100 meters to 480 meters above sea level. Nights are refreshingly chilly, as the winds whip around the sharp hills and valleys. The soil made up of marl, clay and sand. All of the grapes are strictly hand-picked on steep marl-rich slopes, and vinified with minimal intervention in the winemaking process.

No irrigation. No herbicide. Environmentally friendly and sustainable viticulture, with respect for the land.

Okay we're back to our usual tour around Europe with wines from Spain, Italy, Greece, and France! INCLUDING... the just-landed, new vintage of Rezabal Txakoli Rose!! If the sun isn't out, you can at least imagine it while sippin' on this dreamy effervescent rosé. So gear up and pack your bags for this little Euro trip because this selection will take you oh so many places!

CASTELLO DI PERNO BARBERA DI ASTI 

100% Barbera

Classically Barbera with an intense and lively ruby red color with purple reflections. On the nose very intact, fragrant aromas of small red berries and hints of black cherry alongside floral notes of violet. The mouthfeel is full and agile with vigorous body; persuasive and balanced, it is deliciously drinkable with acidity typical of Barbera. It has an excellent persistence. Simplicity at it’s finest!

Located in Perno, a hamlet of Monforte d’Alba, a Middle Ages castle lies atop the hill overlooking miles of hills and valleys covered with vineyards. This is the land of renowned Cru DOCG Barolo, in between the ridges of Perno and Serralunga. The castle, once transformed into residential homes between the 17th and 18th centuries, is now owned by professor and lawyer, Gregorio Gitti. The project of the Gitti’s family from the beginning was double: to restore the Castle of Perno to its history, both to the most recent one driving it like a home for culture and to the oldest one of the cultivation of vines and the vinification of its own grapes. Castello di Perno, it’s winery born in 2013, is not only the center of an high-level winemaking activity, it is not just a charming historic residence, but intends to embody hospitality as an engaging experience to live and discover, a home for culture, with particular attention to contemporary arts.

The oenological project of Castello di Perno can be defined as neoclassical: balancing equal respect of the tradition and awareness of renewability. A classical imprint in addition to a contemporary vision, Castello di Perno aims to find the best expression of elegant wines. Specific techniques and knowledge of this historical terroir are involved and influence the winemaking with a sensibility that the wines are living things and therefore they are born, they age and improve like the people who seek them as good company.

Destemming, cold maceration for 48 hours and spontaneous fermentation with maceration of about 20 days at a controlled temperature. Aging in steel for about 9 months.

EN COTEAUX PINOT NOIR

100% Pinot Noir

A fresh and pure, yet elegant, expression of French Pinot Noir. Translucent vermillion red in the glass, aromas of fresh red cherries jump out. A well-rounded pinot noir with a relishing aftertaste marked by cherries, spices, and a bewitching earthy flavor. This pinot noir is lush with a light but intense experience of fruit.

Winemaker and grower, Jeff Carrel studied Oenology in France, vinifying in the Loire, Alsace and the Languedoc regions where he took up a role as Technical Director for a Bordeaux wine merchant before taking complete charge of the domaine. Today Jeff works mainly in Languedoc Roussillon but also in Bordeaux, Beaujolais and Burgundy. Jeff develops original wines with precision that deliver a sense of place at a great value. Each wine is a reflection of the people behind them, a story of encounters, cultural traditions, varietals, and the land. Jeff Carrel works with organic growers and his labels include a wide range of wines, domaine wines, and also the By Jeff Carrel brands. Check out his Languedoc which also lives on Agora’s shelves!

He named En Coteaux after the hillsides of the vineyards (“coteaux” is French for “hillsides”), which are nestled in the slopes of the French Pyrenees Mountains. Grown in a coastal climate, cooled by sea and ocean winds. The wine is naturally fermented with no sulfites added.

REZABAL TXAKOLI ROSE

100% Hondarrabi Beltza

This shiny bright salmon pink Txakoli will captivate you at first sniff with vivid aromas of fresh wild strawberries. Silky and expressive in its path, it’s captivating palate is slightly effervescent with peachy notes and just a touch of jalapeno. This native varietal is alive and fruity, with refreshing acidity. A balanced and feminine body with an easy and radiant finish leaves you wanting more!

Txakoli Rezabal winery is located in the best slopes of Zarautz, Getaria and Aia, caressed by the sea breeze. Their vineyards breathe nitrates and they feed by a humid soil that exudes fertility, power of quality and uniqueness of our Txakolis. Rezabal belongs to the PDO “Getariako Txakolina”, which preserves the tradition of many centuries to maintain the characteristics of Txakoli. It requires the latest technology to serve quality, in order to extract maximum juice from the grapes, and traditional methods to preserve these privileged grapes that have survived over time. Rezabal is a family winery, dedicated in body and soul to a passion in which they have been working for years. Three generations of winemakers, the grandchildren are now maintaining the vineyards and wines as their grandfather would. Their passion is born from a beautiful heritage that requires not only dedication, it needs love and affection too. The aitona (grandfather) can be rest assured, knowing that new prunings will come back, new strains will be planted, bunches will be collected and musts will continue flowing.

We call Txakoli Rezabal Rosé “musical” because there is a good harmony in its sensations. From the beginning we chose quality, use of raw materials from the area, innovation and small details produced by Txakoli Rezabal. With 60 acres growing two native varieties, Hondarrabi-Zuri and Hondarrabi-Beltza, in a traditional high trellis system to accommodate the humidity of the area, Rezabal is proud of the progress they have made in sustainable viticulture to preserve and protect the environment. 

Fermented and aged in stainless steel, no CO2 additions.

GROLOLO

80% Grolleau, 20% Cabernet 

This glou glou Grolleau pairs with almost everything and goes down all too easily! Chill it down, let it quench your thirst and rest your mind. Grolleau is a gorgeously low alcohol grape taut with the food friendliest of acid and a rustic charm.'Grololo' Grolleau smells like the all sprinklers just went off at dusk in late July; lawns of peppered strawberry and blackberry, wet sidewalks wafting. And it tastes like  spiced raspberry juice, soft, and subtle but spicy, angular, and vibrant, carefree goodness. It's a pure and simple pleasure, the kind of thing you don't have to think too much about.

Since 1978, Jo Pithon has been a star of the Loire. He was the first in the area to switch to organic farming and champion living soils, the first in the area to create hyper-terroir wines from individual parcels after the Burgundian fashion, and an early adopter of natural winemaking.

These 26 hectares produce some of the most lauded Chenin Blanc in the Loire, the bottles you crack on special occasions, yet it’s Pithon-Paillé’s every day drinker, the ‘Grololo’ red and white, that have become the glou glou darlings of international renown. A note of explanation for the more bashful drinker that first sets eyes on the labels’ infamous cartoons: The original red cuvée is a play on the name Grolleau, an indigenous grape of the Loire the fleet-footed and high in acid, making extremely food friendly and nourishing vin de soif. It’s mother’s milk to vinophile. Hence the play on words: Grololo is basically a child’s slang for breasts! On the white cuvée we see the male equivalent on a couple of revelling bare-chested winemakers! Tres risqué!

Now on the verge of retirement, Pithon is handing over the reins as he works closely with rising star Adrien Moreau, a gentleman who’s plied his trade at canonical domaines like Cheval Blanc, Haut-Brion, Harlan Estate, and Roederer (buy a bottle at Agora today!). Vineyard work continues on with Jo’s protege team, pioneers in biodynamic winemaking.

In the end it is still a rather simple endeavor at Domaine Pithon-Paillé: giving the vines all the TLC and none of the chemical punishments, listening and responding as unobtrusively as possible to these plants, and fostering a dynamic environment. As thanks, nature yields back healthy and complex grapes that Domaine Pithon-Paillé can gently guide through fermentation and pass that gift onto the world.

Carbonic maceration highlights the red fruited character of this indigenous Loire variety while keeping the tannins low. A wine made simply from tenderly pampered, biodynamically farmed vines that produce faithful and nourishing grapes year after year. 

TATSIS YOUNG VINES XINOMAVRO

Xinomavro, with a touch of Negoska

Typical xinomavro aromas are black olive, cooking spices, earth, and black fruit, but this younger, easily accessible blend of Xinomavro and Negoska retains a freshness and lighter structure. Fruit-forward and ready for consumption, this red mainstains the right amount of structure with long, dusty tannins and concentrated dark fruit of prunes, black cherry and kola nut. Fantastic dinner wine, especially for lamb and beef dishes.

“Our family is as steeped in winemaking history as anyone could imagine,” says Periklis Tatsis, one half of the sibling team that owns and operates Domaine Tatsis with his younger brother Stergios. “During the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and the forced population exchanges in 1924 our grandparents came from Ano Vodeno in Eastern Romylia,” an area of Thrace that equates roughly to today’s southern Bulgaria. Periklis explains that his people were always grape growers and winemakers and it had been the trade of the family since time immemorial. “They came from a village that was homogenously Greek, like a leftover from Byzantium, and draw their history from there.”

When the Tatsis family was moved to Greece they chose to settle in Goumenissa, an area (and appellation) that was covered in vine and spoke to their values and history. The fit was natural and the Tatsis brothers forbearer’s property started with a scant 4 hectares that has now grown into 14 with additions that they’ve made since taking over the domaine from their father with their first vintage in 1996. Periklis works the land and oversees the vines with Stergios in charge of making the wine although the lines often blur with a family endeavor. The wines are certified organic with many biodynamic principals applied but the best way to describe them is as one of the small group of original natural winemakers in Greece to pop up in the 1990s, numbering no more than 3 or 4 at most at a time when international varieties, commercial yeasts and 100% new oak was the norm in the rest of the country.

Domaine Tatsis wines can easily be seen as traditionalist in nature but that would be only a part of the story. They constantly experiment, doing long macerations of their native white varieties and long élevage for roses. They release their appellation Goumenissas with significant bottle aging for a true representation of the wine as it should be enjoyed. They are both a throwback as well as on the forefront of the wine scene in Greece with nary a care of what anyone else is doing. There’s no irrigating of the vines and all fruit is hand picked. The wines are fermented with native yeasts, bottled unfiltered and unfined, with only a tiny amount of sulfites added.

Xinomavro, meaning ‘acid black,’ is high quality grape often compared to Italy’s Nebbiolo grape. Negoska is a fairly rare variety with soft tannin and good alcohol that balances Xinomavro’s acidic nature in blending, a practice particular to Goumenissa. 

4 MONOS GR-10 GARNACHA

Mainly Garnacha with small hints of Cariñena, Morenillo and Syrah

It pours a pale mid-ruby color with garnet highlights. The GR-10 is elegant on the nose, featuring aromas of ripe red berry and stone fruits complimented by spice and a lovely floral note. The palate is fresh, lively and juicy with soft, fine-grained tannins that perfectly frame the cool red and blue fruit and floral flavors that lead into a refined and savory finish. A mineral spine runs through the wine, adding complexity and depth. Enjoy with dry-rub pork chops, assorted cured meats or a good book.

4 Monos (4 Monkeys) is a team of four friends native to the Sierra de Gredos, a mountain range just 80 km west of Madrid. The four met while hiking in the mountains and discovered that they each had a passion for wine. The group, whose first vintage as a team was in 2009, consists of winemaker Javier Garcia (also the head winemaker at Méntrida icon Bodegas Jiménez-Landi), co-winemaker Laura Robles, wine-lover David Velasco and vineyard-holder David Moreno. Their 4 hectares of vineyards are planted to old bush vines located between 600-1200 meters elevation planted on sand, granite, and schist intermingle with sweet-scented olive, evergreen, almond, and chestnut trees, scrub brush, chamomile, and wildflowers. This is a landscape that feels like a holy collision between the Mediterranean and the Alpine, and the region is often deemed magical for its beauty and immense diversity. 

It is this terroir that 4 Monos champions with organic farming, and articulates so beautifully with their utterly crystalline and transparent wines. 

Over ten years they have acquired 5 hectares of their own vineyard parcels, a small bodega with built-in concrete tanks in Cadalso de los Vidrios, and are also working another 5ha with local growers who share their passion for organic farming practices. By putting a focus on the land and the variances in terroir from village to village, they have brought the potential of the Gredos terroir to the world’s attention and revived production from grapes such as Morenillo and Cariñena.

This regional tinto from multiple villages in the Gredos that is affordable and highly representative of the Sierra de Gredos terroir. It is named after the spectacular walking trail, GR-10, which connects Lisbon and Valencia and crosses through a few of 4 Monos' vineyards. Minimalism reigns supreme in their cellar. They pick Garnacha, Cariñena and Morenillo as soon as they achieve initial ripeness, and vinify using whole grape clusters, gentle extraction, and aging in neutral oak of varying sizes. The grapes are typically cold macerated 50% whole cluster and 50% de-stemmed, wild yeast fermented for 30-40 days, then raised in 300, 400 and 500 liter used barrels and foudres for 9 months to impart freshness to the wines.