1. Lieu Dit Rosé (shown below!)
- Producer: Lieu Dit
- Region: Santa Barbara, California
- Varieties: 100% Cabernet Franc
- Alcohol: 12.5%
Lieu Dit Winery focuses on three classic French grape varieties—Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Cabernet Franc—to craft wines that are perfect for both everyday enjoyment and special occasions. Their winemaker, Justin Willet, a native of sunny Santa Barbara, California, brings his deep local knowledge to the craft, sourcing responsibly grown grapes from the region's hidden gems to produce consciously crafted wines that reflect the unique character of the area.
Few wines evoke the essence of sea spray and sunshine quite like rosé. Cabernet Franc, in particular, is perfectly suited to capture the charm of Santa Barbara—and bring it to life in a pink hue. At Lieu Dit Winery, rosé is crafted to be enjoyed at the dinner table and on weekend getaways throughout the year. This expression of Cabernet Franc showcases the grape’s vibrant range of aromas and flavors, from bright, brambly fruit to cool herbal notes. As the first wine bottled each year, this rosé offers an early glimpse of the vintage and serves as a refreshing sipper for the seasons ahead.
2. Stolpman Vineyards Uni White Ballard Canyon (shown below!)
- Producer: Stolpman Vineyards
- Region: Ballard Canyon, California
- Variety: Roussanne and Chardonnay
- Alcohol: 13%
Over 20 years ago, Tom Stolpman, our Founding Partner, discovered a remarkable viticultural site on California’s Central Coast, ideal for growing Syrah and Roussanne. Nestled on a rare limestone outcropping and exposed to Pacific Ocean winds, this land is perfect for vine cultivation. We are dedicated to preserving this environment through conscious, dry farming and sustainable practices. In the winery, we emphasize native fermentation and minimal intervention. Our commitment to sensible farming and winemaking allows us to produce vibrant, site-specific wines that capture the unique character of Ballard Canyon AVA, California.
Roussanne is a rich, decadent white grape known for its intense, hedonistic flavors, but it often loses acidity by harvest. At Stolpman, they blend it with zesty Chardonnay to create a balanced wine with a refreshing finish. Their Uni white wine, first made in 2016 for the Uchi sushi group in Austin, Texas, combines the richness of Roussanne with the structure of Chardonnay, reminiscent of Santa Barbara's prized sea urchin. The 2022 vintage, with its cloudy appearance and tactile mouthfeel, offers notes of golden pineapple, white flowers, and Asian pear, balanced by lively acidity and a full-bodied texture.
3. Lorenza Picpoul Blanc Terra Alta (shown below!)
- Producer: Lorenza
- Region: Clements Hills-Lodi AVA, California
- Variety: Picpoul
- Alcohol: 11%
Lorenza was founded in 2008 by mother-daughter duo Melinda Kearney and Michèle Ouellet, inspired by their shared love of Provence rosé. With Melinda’s deep wine industry experience and Michèle’s global perspective from her modeling career, they set out to create intentional, dry rosé in California, reminiscent of the French wines they adored. Over time, they expanded their portfolio to include Picpoul Blanc and red wines like Cinsaut and Carignan, all crafted with Mediterranean influences. Lorenza wines are bright, fresh, and designed to complement everyday celebrations, reflecting their passion for food, wine, and family connection.
The 2023 Lorenza Picpoul Blanc, sourced from the organic Terra Alta Vineyard in Eastern Lodi's Clements Hills, marks the third vintage from this rare California grape, with only 33 acres planted statewide. It has a clear straw hue, offering aromas of lime zest, shale, and honey. The palate is viscous, featuring flavors of grapefruit, lemon meringue, and lime, balanced by savory hints of dried hay and finishing with a zingy acidity.
4. Pray Tell Fruit Snacks (shown below!)
- Producer: Pray Tell
- Region: Oregon
- Variety: 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Syrah, 25% Merlot, 25% Malbec
- Alcohol: 13.5%
Tom Caruso has been immersed in the world of wine since childhood, growing up in South Philadelphia where he helped his grandfather make wine using a hand-crank destemmer and basket press. Though he initially pursued a career in writing, working as a book editor in New York, his passion for wine was rekindled through exploring restaurants and wine lists. This led him to work his first commercial harvest at an urban winery in Brooklyn and enroll in a sommelier program. Eventually, Tom decided to focus entirely on wine production, gaining experience on the West Coast and in Oregon under the guidance of esteemed winemaking mentors.
In 2017, Tom launched his own project, Pray Tell, which reflects his curiosity and desire to create wines that align with his values. He takes pride in managing every aspect of the process, from farming decisions to winemaking and even designing the labels.
A long-held dream to produce world-class wines in his hometown of Philadelphia became a reality after thirteen years, countless miles, and tons of grapes. Recently, Tom opened a new winery in the Olde Kensington neighborhood, in the same building where his family started their business over thirty years ago.
This wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, and Malbec, sourced from select vineyards in Oregon and Washington State. It undergoes native yeast fermentation and is aged for five months in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel before bottling.