Featured Winery: Spagnol

Spagnol is a prominent winery located in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. With a rich history dating back to 1926, Spagnol has established itself as a respected producer of high-quality wines, particularly Prosecco.

The winery is situated in the heart of the Prosecco production zone, benefiting from the region's favorable climate and exceptional vineyard sites. The Spagnol family's commitment to traditional winemaking practices, combined with modern techniques, results in wines that exemplify the unique character of the region.

Spagnol offers a wide range of Prosecco wines, crafted from the Glera grape variety, along with other indigenous grapes. The winery is known for its attention to detail throughout the winemaking process - from vineyard management to harvesting and fermentation. 

Spagnol’s Prosecco gives notes of crisp green apple, citrus, and floral notes, accompanied by delicate bubbles and a balanced acidity. In addition to Prosecco, Spagnol also produces reds, whites, and rosés. 

Featured Winemaker: Benoit Touquette

Benoit Touquette is one of the most accomplished winemakers in the industry. Originally from Bordeaux, France, Benoit honed his winemaking skills through his studies in viticulture and enology. After working in wine regions like Australia and California, he began his Napa Valley winemaking career at Screaming Eagle, where he played a pivotal role in developing their iconic wines. 

Benoit began Teeter-Totter in 2011 where he collaborates with other wineries and vineyards including Realm Cellars, Hartwell Vineyards, Kata and Fait-Main, which he co-founded with his wife, Julianne. Fait-Main, meaning "handmade" in French, is a boutique winery dedicated to producing small-lot, handcrafted wines that showcase the unique terroir of Napa Valley. 

Throughout his career, Touquette's winemaking style has been characterized by his meticulous attention to detail, his ability to capture the essence of the vineyard, and his unwavering pursuit of excellence. His wines are known for their elegance, complexity, and balance, reflecting his profound understanding of vineyard management and his intuitive winemaking approach.

Teeter-Totter Chardonnay

With grapes packed full of flavor, Teeter-Totter’s 2021 Chardonnay maintains the same characteristics the wine has been known for: pure, powerful, bright fruit paired with toast, honey, and brioche – and adds new layers of lemon, apricot, white peach and stunning minerality. The full-bodied palate rolls into a smooth, lingering finish that keeps you coming back for more. 

Featured Wine: Senses Pinot Noir

The Pinot Noir from Senes Wines showcases the delicate balance between fruit, earth, and spice. Aromas offer notes of ripe red berries, cherries, and subtle floral. On the palate, the wine reveals layers of vibrant fruit flavors, complemented undertones of forest floor, baking spices, and vanilla.

Senses Wines is a boutique winery rooted in craftsmanship and a deep respect for the land. Sourcing grapes from carefully selected vineyards across California, Senses Wines aims to showcase the purest expression of each grape variety.

Featured Winemaker: Thomas Rivers Brown

Thomas Rivers Brown is a visionary winemaker based in Napa, California. His love affair with winemaking began in his early twenties while studying political science at the University of California, Berkeley. After taking a job at a wine shop, he was immediately captivated, and his passion for wine developed into a career. 

Brown started out by working under Ehren Jordan at Turley Wine Cellars, and eventually began his winemaking career at Schrader Cellars, where became known for developing critically-acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

In 2022 he established his own label, Rivers-Marie, where he crafts Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the region’s most prestigious vineyards. He additionally collaborates with other producers including Schrader, Outpost and Maybach. 

Featured Wine: 2021 Olema Pinot Noir

The 2021 Olema Pinot Noir, made by Amici Cellars, is a smooth and aromatic Pinot Noir showcasing the best of Sonoma County winemaking from an excellent vintage. A blend of Pinot Noir grapes from premier vineyards in the widely acclaimed Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations, the wine features classic Pinot Noir characteristics of perfumed aromas and bright, focused red fruit flavors, framed by delicate tannins.

WINEMAKING NOTES

The 2021 Olema Pinot Noir opens with aromas of ripe cherry, candied red apple and mulling spices. The palate is full of depth and balance, with black raspberry and strawberry notes leading into the silky-smooth finish.

VINTAGE NOTES

The 2021 harvest will be remembered as a harvest of rebirth and of achievement for Olema Wines. The warmer, drier winter pushed bud break earlier than usual and was followed by a dry but steady summer growing season. Harvest began in mid-August and continued steadily before ramping up in September as the heat rose across the valley. Drought conditions throughout California led to lighter crop yields; however, they still experienced an exceptional quality of fruit and resulting wine in the 2021 Olema Pinot Noir.

92 Pts. - JAMES SUCKLING
“A bright and crisp pinot with strawberries, flowers and hints of citrus. Medium body. Framed acidity. Consistent pinot character. Drink now.”

Featured Wine: La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc

The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc from La Pelle was made in such small quantities that it remains difficult to find! Delicate and quenching, the acidity lifts a core of oyster shell, white peach and stone. The flavors range from zesty grapefruit and tangy lemon to juicy pineapple and ripe melon, providing a combination of fruit and acidity.

La Pelle sources its grapes from carefully selected vineyards, seeking out regions known for producing exceptional Sauvignon Blanc.

Featured Winery: Fulldraw Vineyards

Fulldraw began in 2012 when Connor McMahon jumped on the opportunity to acquire a 100-acre vineyard site in the Templeton Gap of west side Paso Robles. Connor and his wife Rebecca work closely with crew members to follow organic and regenerative farming practices in order to best take advantage of the site’s demanding soil and extreme exposures.

Fulldraw creates a sustainable and healthy environment for each and every vine in order for the resulting fruit to translate into beautifully balanced wines that fully express the unique place that is their home.

Featured Wine: Purlieu Le Pich Sauvignon Blanc

Purlieu’s 2022 Le Pich Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of tangy passion fruit and creamy guava, enriched with dried pineapple and a subtle minerality. Juicy nectarine, sweet key lime and the warmth of dried ginger shine on the palate, with cool stony undertones to ground them.

Purlieu Winery is a boutique winery located in the heart of Napa Valley, California. Founded by winemaker Julien Fayard and his business partner, Lynette Fayard, Purlieu Winery focuses on crafting small-lot, premium wines that exemplify the unique characteristics of Napa Valley's renowned vineyards.

Featured Wine: Hunter Glenn Chardonnay

The 2019 Hunter Glenn Chardonnay has subtle aromas of apple blossoms, lemon balm and wet stones. On the palate are a glazing of Meyer lemon curd, which fades through to a Pink Lady apple slice and spritz of Elderflower cordial.

The 2020 vintage features blooms of Meyer lemon olive oil cake, and as it settles in the glass, a spiced Golden Delicious apple pie arrives. Flavors of bright, almost ripe pineapple shines first, backed by the distinct taste of Sicilian Almonds, Jasmine Tea and the perfect amount of flinty minerality.

Featured Wine: Fulldraw Vineyards Chopping Block

Pop and pour, Fulldraw Vineyard’s 2019 Chopping Block is well-rounded and balanced. The structure and flavor profile will only get better with air or a little time. This wine will not disappoint!

49% Syrah; 34% Grenache; 17% Mourvedre

Featured Wine: State of Mind Riesling Ranch

The 2022 Riesling from State of Mind wines is bright and fresh. Made at Zillah Ranch Vineyard in Rattlesnake Hills, this vintage is as serious of a white wine that can be made in Columbia Valley. Structurally similar to Alsace in style, while maintaining new world fruit. The soils (Riverstone, limestone, sand and calcium) allow for a great amount of vibrancy.

Featured Winery: Arkenstone Vineyards

Owners Ron and Susan Krausz purchased the property on Howell Mountain, Napa Valley in 1988. With the goal of producing the best wine possible from this beautiful site, in 2008 the property became a true Domain Estate, where an underground winery along with the Estate vineyards planted in 1998 allows the owners total control over all winemaking.

Using the best of old world practices along with the newest technology, Arkenstone Winery produces the highest quality vintages - from vine to glass! The Arkenstone winemaking philosophy is based on consistency and elegance. During harvest, they use gravity to move the fruit gently from the above ground crush pad into fermenters below, while natural temperatures in the cave allow for optimal fermentations and barrel aging.

Featured Wine: Weingut Bossert Gundersheim Riesling

The 2016 Gundersheim Riesling is visually brilliant with a shimmering gold color. Orange blossom, lime sour patch candy and flintstone. Very delicate approach with a fully textured mid-palate and lip-smacking acidity.

Featured Wine: 2019 La Pelle Cabernet Sauvignon

A Cabernet Sauvignon base with a subtle blend of Petite Verdot, showcases the diversity and depth that Napa Valley’s Mediterranean climate has to offer.

Dark in color with aromatics of blackberry, deep purple prunes, crème de cassis, violets and graphite. Full-bodied with a silky texture from front to back with juicy, round tannins. Ripe black fruits and blueberries with impressions of tobacco and mountain herbs, and well-balanced acidity to carry the wine through a delicate and juicy finish. The 2019 has been cellared to enjoy upon receiving. It is opulent and will continue to age elegantly for the next 20+ years.

Philippe Melka

Philippe and his wife, Cherie, are co-proprietors for Melka Estates. Under Melka Estates are 4 distinct brands: Métisse from Napa Valley, Mekerra from Sonoma Valley, Majestique from sites around the world and CJ, also from Napa Valley.

Philippe learned winemaking and vineyard techniques from prestigious estates like Haut Brion, Chittering Estate, Badio O Coltibuono, the Moueix domains and Dominus. He began his career working at wineries in France (Château Haut-Brion and Château Petrus), Italy (Badia a Coltibuono), Australia (Chittering Estate) and California (Dominus and Ridge) before settling in the Napa Valley in the '90s.

In addition to founding his own winery, Philippe has consulted for notable brands including Fairchild Napa Valley, Cliff Lede, Hundred Acre, Seavy and Sosie. His style is a blend of his French influence with techniques like gentle harvesting, extended skin contact, use of new oak and his ‘American’ insights about artisanal farming as well as winemaking.

Philippe was born and raised in the Bordeaux region and graduated from the University of Bordeaux with a degree in geology in 1989 and then earned a second degree in enology in 1991, specializing in agronomy and vineyard soils.

Featured Wine: 2019 La Pelle Alluvium Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Alluvium Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is from La Pelle’s St. Helena vineyard in Napa Valley. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is brought up in 70% new French oak barrels. This variety features red and black currant fruits, notes of spice, dried flowers, chocolate, and tobacco. Full-bodied and rich with moderate acidity and tannins make for a brilliant, ripe, plush Napa Valley Cabernet that can be enjoyed today or cellared for years to come!

Featured Wine: Marcel Hearts Rosé

Maison Marcel is crafted with love, where the grapes grow wild and the wine flows free. Their bottles are filled with body, flavor and soul.

Like all good stories, Maison Marcel’s begins with love. Mr. Marcel was a bon vivant who loved dry rosé. His darling preferred things on the sweeter side, and turned him down when he brought her a classic rosé bottle. That night, he spent hours coming up with the perfect recipe. Not too sweet, not too dry, just right. Darling took one sip of Macel’s creation and the rest was history.

The Maison Marcel NV Sparkling Hearts Rosé has notes of grapefruit, nectarine and bubbles to heaven. Grapes: Muscat, Aligote, Syrah.

Julien Fayard Winemaking

Originally from Provence, Julien Fayard is one of Napa Valley’s most respected consulting winemakers producing California varietals with French finesse. Formerly of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, he lends two decades of winemaking expertise to more than a dozen different brands, including the highly-rated Le Pich and Purlieu wines, as well as his own labels - Azur, Covert Estate and Empreinte.

At Julien Fayard, they focus 100% on varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc that are balanced and precise renditions of these noble varieties.

Olema by Amici Sparkling Brut Rosé

Gear up for the spring and summer seasons, where wine preferences shift a bit…rosé…ier.

Olema by Amici Sparkling Brut Rosé is delightful on the palate as it is at first sight. The Olema Sparkling Rosé is a salmon color with tiny bubbles that lead into a dazzling, effervescent nose and palate. Aromas begin with rose petal, ripe strawberries and fresh cream, leading into a palate with delicate red fruits and lovely effusive texture.

James Suckling - 90 Points

“A dry and creamy sparkling wine with cherries and peaches, as well as bitter-lemon character. Medium body. Friendly and delicious. Nice alternative to rosé Champagne. 80% cabernet franc.”