1. Heiligenblunt Riesling
Guys. It’s Riesling season and I really need you to get serious. This Riesling is authentic + charming + trocken (aka dry). The acid is high, but that’s what makes it so food friendly and refreshing. Riesling is the kind of white wine that gives you a warm hug in the cold winter months, due to its luscious ‘n silky food-bodied texture. We who work in the wine world really, really love Riesling and spend a lot of time fighting misconceptions about it being too sweet. It’s not! It can be sweet, but the best Rieslings that are “sweet” are still balanced, high quality and there is a time + place for it. Heiligenblut is a charming little winery in Rheinhessen, Germany, just southwest of Frankfurt. This region is known for its connections to ancient viticulture. Riesling was first mentioned here in 1546 by the botanist Hieronymus Bock! This Riesling is herbal with notes of underripe pineapple, apricot, ginger, and Meyer lemon. The minerality is satisfying and keeps everything in balance and in check. Serve chilled and pair it with fried shrimp, crab cakes, chicken tikka masala, kimchi pancakes with soy sauce dipping sauce, soft cow’s milk and dried fruit. Prost!
2. COZs Pop Vinho Branco
COZs Pop Vinho Branco is a lush, savory white wine made from the Vital grape variety from Serra do Montejunto in Lisboa, Portugal! Very close to the Atlantic coast! Vital is a Portuguese grape variety you may not have heard of or tasted before as it has been historically used as a blending grape. COZs Pop Vinho Branco is macerated on the skins for 3 days then fermented in neutral Burgundy barrels for 11 months. It is such a lovely winter time white wine - dry with a slight oxidized apple vibe, hint of beeswax, nutmeg and soft tannins that feel velvety. Balanced and hella food friendly. Serve chilled and enjoy with soft cheeses, duck fried rice, bacalhau (salted cod!) or grilled octopus. Saúde!
3. Quinto Quarto Bianco Sivi
Situated in the hills bordering Italy and Slovenia, Franco Terpin produces some of the most outstanding skin contact whites coming out of Italy. Franco Terpin makes his wines in a beautiful rustic fashion without fining or filtration, incorporates only native yeast, and adds minimal to no sulfur at bottling. His wines are extremely limited and highly sought after - us wine shops fight over allocations! Our wonderful Rebecca got some hard-to-find bottles for our Gold members only! Bianco Sivi is a skin contact Pinot Grigio in the most beautiful peachy pink color! Don’t get confused - this is still technically a white wine but notice how your mind processes color and tastes what you drink! Light and fruity, softly tannic and bursting with mouth watering acidity. Pair with soft cheeses, clam linguine, fish tacos, or eggs benedict at a hungover brunch.
4. Eric Kamm Pinot Auxerrois 2021
"Anarchie" by Jean-Louis is a fresh, electric, luscious, and mineral-driven white wine from Alsace made with 100% Auxerrois grapes. His style is a modern expression of artisanal and anarchic! The Kamm estate is made up of a tiny plot of vineyard in Dambach-la-Ville. This area is renowned for its terroir, namely the volcanic granite soils! Eric began to make wines in 2005 that differentiated from those of his father, Jean-Louis. He specializes in growing Pinot Gris, Riesling, Auxerrois, Muscat, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir. “Anarchie” is vinified in concrete tanks without sulphites and any type of filtration. It is floral, salty, fresh and clean! 100% organic and ready to fight the machine! Serve chilled and pair with hearty foods like roasted brussels sprouts, creamed corn, roasted chicken, miso black cod, or Stouffer’s Stove Top Stuffing. Sánte!