A touch of Iberia in Salinas Driving through the Salinas Valley, you could not feel further from Spain, and yet, there is something that strikes you. And it must have felt the same for transplants to the valley, planting vines that seemed at home there, because there happens to be some amazing old vine material…
Wine by the people for the people Wine for everyone! Ian Brand created this project to provide people with an all access pass wines of the highest quality, amazingly old vines, from the heart of California, at a price they can afford. The Salinas Valley is not known for being picturesque. It is NOT quintessential…
Breggo Cellars, back and reimagined. Breggo sits on 203 acres of heaven, halfway between Boonville and Philo, in the heart of Anderson Valley. About 30% of the property constitutes what winegrowers might call “usable” ground: islands of open grassy slopes, on reasonably stable clay-loam soils, with gentle southeastern exposures. The rest is wilderness. Breggo means…
Washington value through the actual roof. From the busy people at Valravn, Averæn and Valkyrie Selections, we have their Washington State project, Requiem. As is always the case with them, this was born out of a restlessness for something better at a markedly better price. Tastes like $50, goes for $20, that is their type…
Small-batch, cool climate wines from coveted vineyards along the California coast. When I heard about Marine Layer a few years ago, I said out loud, to whomever was standing there, “great, that’s just what the world needs, another expensive and exclusive Sonoma County Pinot Noir brand”. My attitude, in short, was very very bad. But…
One Pinot Noir = a singularly mind blowing value Sostener is a collaborative project between two Monterey grower/vintners—Steve McIntyre of McIntyre Vineyards, and Michael Thomas of Wrath Wines. They both generally have their hands fairly full with their own wineries, but had an itch to fill a void in the world of Pinot Noir that…
Insanity in Domestic Syrah. Winemaker and Co-Founder Pax Mahle has a thing for Syrah. And, he has been making a name for himself and for the grape since 2000; with Pax Wines, Wind Gap, etc. Baron Ziegler, Co-Founder and CEO is/was a super fan of Pax, but he is also an innovator in the industry,…
Turning water into wine since 2019. A joint project between Patrick Cappiello (Monte Rio and Skull Wines) and Pax Mahle (Wind Gap, Halcon, etc). This is the kind of innovative, throw back, way delicious weirdness that makes us happy! Four flavors, each with a different fruit addition: Blancette, Rougette, Orangette and Pinkette. Do you like…
Handcrafted California wines with a modest price tag. A joint venture between Patrick Cappiello of Monte Rio Cellars, and Pax Mahle of Wind Gap, Halcon, etc. Skull Wines are simplicity itself. They are farmed organically and made naturally, with just four basic but never boring flavors: Red, White, Rose and Sparkling, all with minimalist labels…
Hand crafted wines in the spirit of old California. For fun, Google, “Patrick Cappiello Images”, and see what comes up. Or just click here, and I’ll save your fingers the work. The interwebs is loaded with our guy to the right standing in front of walls of wine, looking earnest, cheerful, tall, a smidge gangly…
One of the original and best in Coombsville. Coombsville is considered one of the coolest and most moderate AVA’s in the Napa Valley, and thanks to global warming (no thank you) it has become more and more coveted over the years. For example, properties like Favia, Arrow and Branch, Meteor Vineyards, Palmaz, and Farella (duh),…
Exploring the potential and joy of their corner of SLH one small lot at a time Wrath produces site-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc from their estate and respected vineyards from their neighbors in and around the Santa Lucia Highlands. They are located at the base of the “corner” of SLH, where the…