Domaine La Ligiere 2022 Vacqueyras “Le Chemin Blanc” Certified Organic! Domaine La Ligière is situated in Beaumes de Venise, in southeastern France, about 50 straight-line miles from the Mediterranean. The land has been in the family since 1896 when it was a mixed-crop farm, raising silkworms. The property’s unique terroir led Maurice Bernard to plant grape vines in the 1950s with the fruit going to a cooperative. Today, Domaine La Ligière is a biodynamic and certified organic winery with 60 hectares of vines spread between four appellations. The blanc is grown in the Vacqueyras appellation, and is a blend of Clairette and Roussanne, fermented with wild yeasts. Firm, long mouth with notes of wet asphalt lending to fresh minerality, and vanilla-kissed peach and pear.

Champagne Moutard NV Climat Richardot Vieilles Vignes The star of this pack: new Champagne Moutard single vineyard! Where do we start? This Buxeuil-based producer sports a backwoods vibe in the best of ways. They own probably half the town (our guess) with underground tunnels that pop you up in random buildings, all of which are loaded up with foudres, tanks, and barrels. One of our favorite Champagne houses, walking through their doors is like entering another world both in terms of human culture and in terms of what is inside the bottle. Everything is a bit different in the Côte des Bar. Allow us to show you with this wine… 100% Pinot Noir, 45 year old site called “Richardot” in Buxeuil on clay-limestone soils. South Exposition. Guyot pruning, sustainable farming. Lots of red and black fruit. Very gastronomic.

Viu Manent 2024 Secreto Viognier After nearly 100 years this firm is still family owned and operated (a rarity in Chile, especially for a winery of this size), all farming is certified sustainable, and two of Chile’s top names consult with the winery on a permanent basis – Roberto Pizarro (vineyard management) and Paul Hobbs (winemaking). Secreto means “Secret” because up to 15% of the wine has up to 15% of a “Secret Blend” that is only known by the Winemaker. This Viognier presents a brilliant light greenish-yellow color. Its intense, fresh flavors recall flowers and white fruits, citrus, apricots, cherimoya, and other exotic fruits. The palate is tense and vibrant yet delicate, complex, and well balanced with a pleasing finish.

Bodegas Naia Rueda 2022 Verdejo Started in 2002, Bodegas Naia had a straightforward purpose: making high quality white wines using grapes from old, indigenous Verdejo vines. The experiment worked. The winery has succeeded in making some of the best Verdejo in the world, and its affordable Naia is no exception. The fresh, well-structured Naia, a 100 percent Verdejo wine, is an excellent, straw-yellow-colored wine with flavors and aromas of peaches and apricots. Naia goes well with fish and seafood or just to sip on its own any time of year. We recently tried it with a rich chicken, chickpea and artichoke soup, and it complemented the dish beautifully!

Airfield Estates 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Airfield Estates is a family owned and operated winery and vineyard situated in the heart of the Yakima Valley – Washington State’s oldest established AVA. For four generations, their family has been farming in this region. They planted their first wine grapes in 1968, but prior to its farming days, Airfield Estates operated as a training base for hundreds of Army Air Corps pilots during World War II. The airbase closed in 1944, and the airplane hangars and other buildings were auctioned off to the Miller family for $1. The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is a refreshing, light-bodied wine with vibrant tropical citrus fruit aromas. Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lime zest, and layers of fresh lemongrass dominate the nose. On the palate, bright acidity highlights undertones of mandarin peel and a hint of minerality.

Weingut Helenental 2023 Zweigelt Rose Our first 1L bottle! The roots of today’s Helenental Kelleri (winery) can be found in the former Retz-Röschitz wine cooperative, founded in 1942 in Weinviertel, Austria’s largest specific wine-growing region (14,001 hectares). The winery is located in the village of Röschitz in the district of Horn in the state of Lower Austria, just 10 miles from the Czech border. This rose delivers authentic flavors of the region by highlighting indigenous varietals from Röschitz, such as this Zweigelt. On the palate it has fruit forward flavors of cranberries and dark cherries with refreshing acidity. Well balanced and easy to drink.

Thank you for your support of the family winegrowers we work with!