Sekt (pronounced zekt) is the Germanic version of sparkling wine. Most Sekt gets its bubbles in tanks like Prosecco, but the better stuff is made like Champagne. Hager Matthias PUR is the latter. PUR Blanc de Noirs is 100% red... Read More
By local regulations, producers are required to age their vintage Champagne on the lees for a minimum of three years. Hubert Soreau ages for about 100 months (8.3 years). But there's another reason this bubbly is so unique:... Read More
Despite the whimsical label, Tenuta Giol in the Veneto is very serious about the environment and winemaking. That means there are no chemicals sprayed on the crops and land. Instead, organic farming produces Merlot for this vegan,... Read More
It's always exciting to try an obscure grape. Fabrizio Iuli saved Baratuciat from extinction and now grows it in a tiny village in Piedmont's northern edge of the Monferrato subregion. Meaning cat testicles in the local... Read More
With views of the Matterhorn, a cheese-friendly white grape like Gutedel (aka Chasselas/Fendant) is expected, but Switzerland's top three grapes include Pinot Noir and Gamay. In fact, Dôle is the Swiss version of Burgundy's... Read More
Domaine de La Patience gets its name from an aromatic herb that grows wild in southern France and not the state of toleration. However, owner/winemaker Christophe Aguilar still exercises lots of patience to make organic wine from... Read More
Larmandier-Bernier is a prime example of grower Champagne: Biodynamic protocol, small production, and dedication to quality over marketing. Pierre & Sophie Larmandier farm less than 40 acres in the finest Grand & Premier Cru villages... Read More
Pinot D'Alsace is a vague description, but you can be sure there is some combination of Pinor Noir, Pinot Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, and sometimes Pinot Gris. Barth's wine is mostly Auxerrois with a little Pinot Noir added.... Read More
Grolleau is among Loire's least famous red grapes, which most producers would rather replace with anything else. Meet Quentin Bourse of Azay-Le-Rideau who knows how to bring Grolleau to new heights in his Sottise all-natural... Read More
Owned and operated by Dominique Lelarge and Dominique Pugeot on 21 organic acres in the village of Vrigny, Extra Brut Tradition is a blend of primarily Meunier & Pinot Noir and just a dash of Chardonnay. This Champagne over-delivers... Read More
Staying true to its name, Flow is the essence of the Tokaj region, with all the personality, terroir, and grapes flowing from the bottle in their most natural form. Flow is an organic, low-intervention, low-sulfite blend of local... Read More
You've probably had Ciliegiolo (chee-le-jee-oh-lo) without knowing it. Seldom vinified as a single varietal in Tuscany, Ciliegiolo is blended with its relative Sangiovese in Chianti for added lightness. In Umbria, however,... Read More
There is a misconception that rosé must be consumed immediately. That might be true for simple wine but not for more complex rosé like the age-worthy ones from Provence. And speaking of Provence and its primary grape... Read More
Napa Valley Cab for $34 is a rarity. Luckily, Long Meadow Ranch has plenty of organic fruit on its 74 acres in Rutherford, plus another 16 acres of mountain vineyards on the Mayacamas Estate. The Farmstead line references the... Read More
Long Meadow Ranch produces its Bordelaise wine varietals down in Rutherford, Napa Valley, while the Burgundian grapes hail from Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, just north of Sonoma. As one of California's coldest AVAs,... Read More
Lopez de Heredia has been making wine for over one hundred twenty-five years. As staunch traditionalists, the family refuses to change the style of their wines to appeal to trends, so everything from the bottle design, winemaking... Read More