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A Monthly Wine Club Selection
Emanuele Scammacca Barone del Murgo enjoyed a long, important career as a diplomat, serving as Italian Ambassador to Brussels and Moscow, as well as Assistant Secretary of the Estate of Foreign Affairs for Italy. His family had been cultivating olives and making wine on the slopes of Mount Etna—Sicily's still active volcano—since 1850. While production was originally intended for local consumption only (mainly friends and family), in 1981, Emanuele got more serious about the wine business. Well aware of the family estate’s excellent terroir (composed exclusively of decomposed lava), and with the help of his eight sons, he set out to transform the ancient property into a modern wine estate. They initially focused their efforts on Nerello Mascalese—an indigenous Sicilian grape varietal that thrives in the island’s high-altitude vineyards and pure volcanic soils.

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Pale pink in color, this is NOT your father's Lambrusco! It is a decidedly dry 'frizzante' or lightly sparkling wine made in the Ancestral Method in which the secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle, ending when the yeast cells deplete the supply of residual sugar. There is no dosage or sugar addition to kick-start the secondary fermentation nor is the wine disgorged to remove any remaining sediment or lees, hence the cloudy appearance of the wine.

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This single vineyard Monterey County Sauvignon Blanc way over-delivers for the price. Highly aromatic and easy drinking, this would even be perfect for the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc lover. It is a style that we find enormously appealing. Certfied organic in the vineyard.

This attractive, fruity and light wine is classic, just slighty spritzy Vinho Verde. Its citrus sherbet flavor is lifted by bright acidity and a fine, zesty texture. The blend is three traditional varieties, Arinto, Azal, and Trajadura. 11.5% ABV.

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When Lia Ices and her husband, Andrew Mariani, welcomed their daughter, Una Lou, into the world they created a celebratory rosé in her name.

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A Seasonal Rosé Club Selection
Skylark Wines come to us from our friends, John Lancaster and Rob Perkins: two of the nicest, most humble, talented sommeliers on the San Francisco restaurant scene, who met across the street at the excellent Boulevard restaurant as co-Wine Directors. With their cumulative experience working with fine wines from all over the world, they were inspired to launch their own label in an attempt to create great wines at restaurant friendly prices. To that end, they set about sourcing fruit from trusted growers in Mendocino and Sonoma counties, and made their first wine (14 barrels of Syrah) from the 2002 vintage. Encouraged by the praise of that initial wine, they expanded their scope to work with other Rhône varietals like Grenache and Carignan as well as Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, they produce small quantities of about 10 different wines, and due to their great success, Rob now spends most of his time out in the field showing the Skylark wines to an eager and ever-growing fan base.

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Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc harvested in March from various vineyards in the Central Valley of Chile. Juicy, refreshing, an ideal quaffer!

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This 2022 Turnbull Sauvignon Blanc is a very aromatic expression of the varietal thanks to the influence of the Musque clone. Meyer lemon is the citrus flavor that stands out the most followed by more lime driven notes and a lovely spicy floral character. The wine is light to medium bodied with good concentration and a zesty, bright finish of perfectly tuned fresh acidity. This wine has consistently been one of our most reliable selections in Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, especially as wine prices in the valley have been going up and up and up . . .

The Wittmann Estate Riesling Trocken is harvested by hand from estate-owned vineyards around the village of Westhofen. It is fermented with native yeasts and matured in large, neutral oak casks.

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A Seasonal Rosé Wine Club Selection
Bright copper hue. Fragrant, with heady, floral aromatics. The palate is very fresh and fruit-forward, with flavors of ripe strawberry, guava and a hint of sweet herbs. Bright and juicy, this charming wine is perfectly suited for sunny, spring afternoon with friends or a quiet summer dinner al fresco.

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A Seasonal Rosé Wine Club Selection
The Bourgeois family has been cultivating vines in the Loire Valley for eleven generations! In the 1950s, Henri Bourgeois planted five acres on the slopes of Chavignol, a hamlet in the Sancerre appellation that was fairly unknown at the time. Henri recognized the excellent potential of the land and the exceptionally diverse terroir that it offered. Joined by his sons, Jean-Marie and Rémi a decade later, the Bourgeois family became ambassadors for Sancerre, showcasing the purity of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir and the myriad of expressions that can be achieved from the mosaic of soils found throughout the Chavignol region. Today, the estate is run by Arnaud, Lionel, and Jean-Christophe Bourgeois who adhere to the original vision set forth by Henri. Each vine plot is isolated and worked with respect to its unique terroir. The vineyards are planted across 72 acres of the esteemed Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé appellations in four diverse soil types: Terres Blanches, Les Caillottes, Marnes Kimméridgiennes and Les Silex, which all contribute different qualities to the wines; each soil type is tended to and farmed differently to bring out the truest expression of the terroir.

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A Monthly Wine Club Selection
Bodegas Vetus was founded in 2003 with the purchase of a 20-hectare property by the Anton family, proprietors of Finca Villacreces in Ribera del Duero and Izadi in Rioja Alavesa. Winemaker Vanessa Perez and viticulturist Javier Vicente work to honor and express the true character of each varietal they farm, selecting several small plots of Verdejo planted in sandy soils at altitudes of 2,600-2,900 feet above sea level, to make this stellar Verdejo.

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A Seasonal Rosé Wine Club Selection
The Larrosa rosé is sourced entirely from head-pruned Garnacha planted in the early 1960s in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria at nearly 800 meters above sea level. The combination of elevation and chalky soils ensures these vines produce an elegant, vibrant and fresh wine. Hand harvested, the grapes were destemmed, the free run juice was fermented in stainless-steel tanks, and aged an additional 3 months in tank, prior to bottling. Vegan.     

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A Seasonal Rosé Wine Club Selection
Pale peach-colored hue. Aromas of dried raspberries and pink grapefruit peel. The medium bodied palate shows flavors of red berries, sour orange, citrus pith and roses. Nicely balanced acid, with a solid mineral core and a touch of spice on the finish.

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A Monthly Wine Club Selection
Now run by Tomislav “Tomba” Voštinić—the Young Prince of Škrlet (pronounced Shkirlet)—Voštinić Klasnić was established in 1936, when Tomislav's great-grandfather planted the first vines of Škrlet in this area, some of which are still growing in the vineyards today and some of the oldest living Škrlet vines in existence. The winery is a beautiful and humble estate surrounded by vineyards and orchards, in the Moslavina region of Croatia.

The philosophy of Le Marchesine is mainly focused on technological innovation. It's no coincidence that the farm boasts a more than ten-year relationship with a real institution of the Champagne region, the Champagne Oenological Institute, of which the oenologist of Le Marchesine is a member. "Nitens" is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco & Pinot Noir. If youy are not familar with Franciacorta as a category of classic method sparkling wine, this is a fine introduction.

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From the talented Thomas Rivers Brown, this expansive red is full-bodied, rich and satisfying. The blend is 70% 2019 Zinfandel from Atlas Peak and Mountain Peak, and 30% 2020 Petite Sirah from Palisades Vineyard. That means putting a vintage on the label was not an option, but honestly - who cares? When a wine is this delicious, it shouldn't matter.

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This delicious Cremant d'Alsace from Allimant-Laugner is by far our top selling wine in the history of this company. And for good reason. You simply cannot beat the quality for value in the world of sparkling wine. 100% Pinot Noir with all its wonderful aromas and flavors of bright cherry and juicy strawberry with excellent balancing acidity.

The 100% Glera (AKA Prosecco) comes from the chalky, clay hills between 150 & 200 meters elevation. Garbèl, which in the ancient local dialect means a dry, crisp, pleasantly tart wine, is produced in the north of the Treviso province, not far from the Valdobbiadene DOCG area.

The classic Brut Champagne from Billecart-Salmon with great balance and a pleasantly rounded, cool texture. Billecart-Salmon was founded in 1818 by Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon in the village of Mareuil-Sur-Ay. 

The classic Rosé. Champagne that got everybody excited about Rosé. Champagne in the first place! An elegant cuvee made up of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and still Pinot Noir red wine, it has substance, stature and considerable breed. Billecart has reached a level of worldwide demand with the likes of Cristal and Dom Perignon, most notably with this Brut Rosé. 

One of the most widely known and appreciated Champagnes in the world and always consistently delicious. Bollinger owns 164 hectares of vineyards in Grand and Premier Cru villages in the Vallée de la Marne, mostly planted to Pinot Noir with smaller quantities of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, but they are technically not an RM as they also buy in fruit from other growers.

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The thing about Champagne is that a celebration just isn't the same without it…and there is no higher form of celebratory wine than Krug. While many of the huge Champagne houses have their most special cuvée (think Dom Perignon, or La Grande Dame), most of those producers spend more time cranking out oceans of predictable and sometimes boring bubbles. At Krug all they do is make special cuvées, and there is never much of any of them. Krug doesn't have big brands that show up for bargain prices at the grocery store. It hasn't turned up in any rap videos, but it doesn't need to; Krug is the best of the best. Period. - Peter Granoff

Laurent-Perrier's goal with La Cuvée is elegance and finesse. That is achieved with a blend that is typically more than 50% Chardonnay, 30-35% Pinot Noir and 10-15% Pinot Meunier. 15-30% of the blend is drawn from Laurent-Perrier's substantial reserve wines, a valuable tool in delivering consistency of style over time. La Cuvée spends at least 4 years "en tirage" before release.

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N.V. Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Extra Brut Grand Cru, Bouzy, Champagne, France Members of the Paillard family have been living in the village of Bouzy for over four centuries. They were a humble lot of mostly shepherds, innkeepers and teachers until 1768 when Pierre Paillard purchased his first vineyard, effectively introducing viticulture as a new family vocation.

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Members of the Paillard family have been living in the village of Bouzy for over four centuries. They were a humble lot of mostly shepherds, innkeepers and teachers until 1768 when Pierre Paillard purchased his first vineyard, effectively introducing viticulture as a new family vocation. Eight generations later, it is Benoit Paillard and his sons, Antoine and Quentin who run Pierre Paillard while their cousin, Bruno Paillard owns his a separate domaine.

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Ruinart is the oldest house in Champagne, exclusively producing Champagne since 1729. As they proclaim, "Chardonnay is the very soul of Ruinart" and their beautiful Blanc de Blancs is their most coveted wine. However, they also make a lovely rose which just happens to be 45% Chardonnay and 55% Pinot Noir (including 19% still red Pinot) from their vineyards in Montagne de Reims and Vallee de la Marne.

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Tawnies with an age indication such as "20 years" are blended from different wines averaging 20 years. Niepoort produces 10, 20 and 30 years old Tawny. The prolonged ageing in small wooden casks confers the characteristic Tawny colour. The main features of an aged Tawny are the complexity of aromas, the freshness and a persistent bouquet and refinement. The Tawnies are aged in small old oak casks, (550l), in the cellars at Vila Nova de Gaia, over many years. The balanced marriage of the different characteristics and diverse ages is the art of the Niepoort Master Blender, José Nogueira.

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A Quarterly Sparkling Wine Club Selection
Barone Pizzini was founded in 1870 by the noble family of the same name. It is one of the oldest wineries in Franciacorta and the first organic Franciacorta grower and producer! The winery is a keen proponent of biodiversity, developing farming models that have kept them at the forefront of mindful land stewardship in the region. At its core, Barone Pizzini puts the land first. Silvano Brescianini, Managing Partner, took over winemaking responsibilities in 1994, aimed at crafting low intervention wines, “defined less by artifice and more by location”.

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A Quarterly Sparkling Wine Club Selection
The Brice family has lived in the village of Bouzy since the 17th century, and were exclusively focused on red wine production, only shifting to Champagne production after WWII. In 1994, Jean-Paul Brice founded Champagne Brice and ten years later Jean-Paul’s sons Jean-René and Remi took the reins, with consulting oenologist and viticulturist Christophe Constant, formerly of J-L Vergnon.

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A Quarterly Sparkling Wine Club Selection
Pale golden yellow. Fresh aromatics, with scents of green apple, lemon, buttered toast and
wet stone. The palate is vibrant, clean and focused with a fine, persistent bead. Bright
flavors of green apple, lemon mousse, and toasted hazelnut. The finish is long and elegant
with a graceful minerality.

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Pale yellow. Delicate aromas of Asian pear and white peach. Beautiful, frothy mousse. The palate is light and fresh with flavors of lemon and green apple, with a charming floral component. This charming crémant is the perfect summer apéritif.

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A Quarterly Sparkling Wine Club Selection
A family-owned Champagne house that has been producing Champagne in the village of Cells-sur-Ource since 1860, Éric Maître took over his family estate at the end of the 1980s and launched his eponymous brand in 1995. Today, he is assisted by his wife Daniella and their three sons, whose meticulous farming and winemaking is evident in the clean, pure, focused style of their wines. The vineyard spans a modest 8.65 hectares in the Côte des Bar region of l’Aube—where Pinot Noir is king.