Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Riesling Kabinett Trocken (Pfalz, Germany) | $21.99
If you’ve made a resolution to broaden your wine horizons this year, we strongly encourage you to consider a deep dive into the land of Riesling. Koehler-Ruprecht has been around since the 1700s and features brown glass bottles and classic German wine labels that would not be out of place in a lineup of hundred-year-old vintages. The grapes are hand harvested and the winery uses traditional low-tech winemaking practices passed down through generations. The secret to the quality behind these classic German wines? A cold subterranean cellar where the winemaker essentially takes a “set it and forget it” approach to letting the wines ferment slowly over the winter with the exception of regularly tasting for any problems that might arise during this process. These wines are a true embodiment of letting the land and the grapes speak for themselves. The Kabinett Trocken is a light, dry embodiment of the Riesling varietal with Kabinett referring to the light quality of the wine and Trocken meaning “dry” in German. This is a great place to start your German journey into wine country. We will also have two other wines on offer from Koehler-Ruprecht to round out a complete experience. Look for the Weissburgunder Kab Trocken Pinot Blanc and Riesling Saumagen Kabinett Trocken (single vineyard vintages 2018 and 2020).
La Miraja Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG 2021 (Piedmont, Italy) | $23.99
Tired of drinking the “same old, same old”? Try this unique red grape from the province of Asti in Italy. Castagnole Monferrato is the birthplace of Ruché (ROO-kay) and the Majole vineyard is home to some of the oldest Ruché vines in the world. Only seven villages are permitted to label their wines with the Ruché name under the new DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita). Seventh-generation viticulturist, Eugenio Gatti, maintains fewer than 4 hectares of Ruché to make this La Miraja specialty. We opened this floral and fruity bottle with pasta bolognese and the medium body, medium tannin wine balanced exceedingly well with the meaty red sauce. This wine compares well to its more popular neighbor Nebbiolo and the Beaujolais reds across the border in France. Pair it with slow-cooked beef, north Italian cheeses, and mushrooms – think umami.
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie 2021 (Beaujolais, France) | $21.99
Speaking of Beaujolais, let’s head northwest to check out this 100% Gamay from the Fleurie appellation. Clos de la Roilette (named for the owner’s racehorse) occupies some of the best territory in the Beaujolais Crus, though its exclusion from the neighboring Moulin-à-Vent appellation when Fleurie was first established in the 1920s caused the prior owner to withhold this treasure from the French market in protest. Fast forward 100 years and the current owners, the Coudert family, are more focused on the positives this terroir offers their grapes and approaches the land with sustainable farming methods called lutte raisonnée or “reasoned fight”. The vineyards are cared for by hand and the soils experience minimal intervention to protect the 40-year-old roots. This light, acidic wine is smooth and delicious with ripe fruit flavors. A great pairing for a hearty winter’s meal, especially one featuring chicken or duck.
Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino 2017 (Tuscany, Italy) | $52.99
Now back to Italy and a wine from Camigliano’s first officially certified organic vintage. Dating back to the 13th century, Camigliano Castle was purchased by the owners in the 1960s. Since then they have updated the winemaking facilities and adopted sustainable farming practices. Cover crops of legumes are planted in alternating rows in place of using chemicals to help control nitrogen levels in the soil, prevent erosion, and ultimately increase the quality of the grapes. The result is a Brunello (grape: Sangiovese) featuring notes of black fruits like plums, cherries, and currants. This elegantly balanced wine is perfectly suited to aging and will pair favorably with cheeses like parmesan or pecorino and meats like lamb and venison. No dinner party on the horizon? No problem! The winemaker even suggests enjoying this offering as a “meditation wine”, so we might just crack a bottle to sip as we ponder our New Year’s Resolution to drink more excellent wine.
François et Julien Pinon Vouvray Brut NV (Loire, France) | $27.99
New Year’s Eve may be fading in the rearview mirror, but there’s nothing to say you can’t keep enjoying bubbly all month long. We are loving this new addition to our shelves from Pinon. Since taking over from his father in 1987, François Pinon combines traditional techniques with the latest technology to emphasize ecologically friendly vineyard and cellar practices. Joined by his son, Julien, they make some of the finest wines on offer from Vouvray. Featuring lovely Chenin Blanc grapes from 45 year old vines, this Brut is made using méthode champenoise. The flinty clay soils over chalky limestone bring refreshing minerality to the bubbles paired with the rich apple, honey, and cream flavors a beautiful Vouvray is known for. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or another day-in-the-life, we can’t recommend this one enough!
Aekeir Brewing Unilluminable Sour Stout with Dark Cherry Puree (East Boothbay, Maine) | $17.99
A little closer to home, a little funky, and all the better for it. It feels like everywhere you look, IPAs abound. Don’t get us wrong, we love a good IPA, but biodiversity is healthy for every ecosystem and Aekeir Brewing is among the answers for Maine’s Beer Kingdom. Aekeir offers beers brewed in the Belgian tradition, specifically kettle and wild beers. Unilluminable is a prime example. This sour stout offers all the comfort of an excellent winter beer with the flavors of delicious sour. Think dark chocolate truffles with cherry filling. If you are looking for a New Year’s shake-up to your standard beer rotation, look no further than Unilluminable and you’re welcome!
“Dry January” Doesn’t Have to Be “Thirsty January”
Treat your tastebuds to some alcohol-free fun with beer from Brooklyn and a pair of punny sparkling wines.
Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects Non-alcoholic Variety 12-Pack (Brooklyn, New York) | $18.99
Folks who shop our non-alcoholic selection regularly have seen the Special Effects Hoppy Amber on our shelves. The Special Effects variety pack adds an IPA, Hazy IPA, and Pils to the Hoppy Amber for an alcohol-free party in which dry January revelers with diverse beer tastes can partake.
Thomson & Scott Noughty Dealcoholized Sparkling Chardonnay and Rosé NV (Germany) | $24.99
Did we mention we are fans of sparkling wine? If you, like us, are looking to add a little sparkle to your day, sans alcohol, look no further than Noughty. We should mention that we also enjoy puns and wordplay, so making an organic 0.0% alcohol wine referencing the British word for zero (nought) was the icing on the cake when we decided to bring this one in. The Chardonnay is reminiscent of crisp and ripe apples with a touch of sweetness while the Rosé delivers a scent of fresh-picked berries and is a lovely balance between acidity and sweetness. We think that you’ll enjoy celebrating with these two sparklers long into 2023.