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Wine & Vineyard Facts about Shades of Vino 2022 Fall Collections
Your Wine Concierge team believes it's as equally important to enjoy the history, stories and facts about the wines that please you most, as it is to enjoy drinking the result of the passions which made them.
After all, if you truly want to be a conossiuer who has the most fun savoring and sharing your wine experiences, it will mean ripening your knowledge of what makes these wines so special.
Now, let's dig into some roots.....
Carol Shelton Wines
Sierra Foothills, Placer County, California
THE CLUB SELECTION - -2021 Wild Thing Viognier, Damiano Vineyard
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Carol Shelton is a pioneer, queen of scents and an all around amazing woman and winemaker who is still paving new paths for wine, while passionately sharing the paths she came from.
At the age of six, Carol's mom introduced her to scent and would play a game with her daily about what aromas she could identify. This game she enjoyed with her mother as a child followed her and became a technique in her adult years, ultimately, it lead her to the scent of her own fine wines.
She studied at UC Davis and under the instruction of the founder of the Aroma Wheel, Ann Noble. With masters such as Peter Lehman, André Tchelistcheff and winemaking experience at Rodney Strong and Windsor Vineyards she didn't know then the path she was forging.
Carol entered the industry in the 70's, 80's and well past the 90's she experienced the resistence of woman in the industry, but she harvested all she could and made paths were there were few to none for women in the U.S. wine industry.
Eventually with her husband supporting her, Carol stepped out into the wide world of wine on her own and worked tooth and bone planting the vines to reap the rewards of being the winemaker of her own brands.
Time and time again, the Zinfandel grapes make her favorite wine she says. Sharing the unpretentious nature of the grape, the age-ability of the vines and the versatility and range of its flavor profile always excites her. Within Santa Rosa, is her domain. Carol and her husband have lifelong relationships with all the areas best vineyards, growers and are constantly showcasing wines which express her experience, her talent, her passion for the grapes and the terrior they call home.
Thanksgiving Farm Vineyard & Winery Estate
Harwood, Southern Heritage Region, Maryland
THE PREMIER SELECTION -2019 Meritage Reserve
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Doug and Maureen Heimbuch began planting vines on the rolling hillsides of Maryland's tobacco farms. Passionate about their love of wine, the history of the land and preservation with growth, they embarked on a journey to practice grape growing, wine making all with intent to protect and preserve the heritage of the farm and land which provides them so much to be thankful for.
Thanksgiving Farms Vineyard Estate proudly showcases traditional "bordeaux style" wines featuring noble grapes like Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc. The other grapes used in blending are Cabernet Sauvignon and Vermentino.
Maureen is particular about maintaining a specific style of wine, while her husband Doug has his hand in every step of the process. You will often see him amongst the barrels. Maureen is one of the first faces you'll come across when visiting and you may catch them both in the tasting room, but no matter where on property they roam, you are always greeted with a warm, welcoming smile.
The Thanksgiving Farms brand is from grapes grown exclusively at their farm location and the Towhee brand is from other of their selected various locations.
They produce wines in small batches, stainless steel for the whites and French oak barrels for the reds.
They practice responsible stewardship of the land they use, have been granted a land Conservation Easement and in 2007, Thanksgiving Farm (previously part of Richland Farm) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Truly something special, Doug and Maureen have succeeeded at a well blended expereince and taste of the old and new with class and style.
Empson & Co. Wines
Tuscany, Italy
THE CLUB SELECTION - 2017 Sumpremus Toscana ITG
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Supremus was first launched in 2009, by Neil and Maria Empson who founded several of their own brands from various Italian regions after they established Empson and Co.
The pair had always adored Tuscany, so it was only natural they craft a Super Tuscan of their own with the guidance of top enologist Franco Bernabei.
This passionate and experienced team focused on creating a harmonious wine made from Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The grapes hail from a few of the region’s finest vineyard sites in the areas of Maremma, Colline Pisane, Colli Fiorentini and Chianti Classico.
Kellerei Terlan - Cantina Terlano Estate
Terlano, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
THE PREMIER CLUB SELECTION - 2021 Pinot Grigio Südtirol-Alto Adige DOC
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Founded in 1893, the Cantina Terlano winery is now one of the leading wine growers’ cooperatives in South Tyrol, with a current membership of 143 growers working a total area of 190 hectares. That is the equivalent of some 1.5 million bottles of wine a year. We and our members have long had a strong focus on quality. That has attracted praise and recognition on the Italian and international wine markets, and in spite of its relatively small size, Cantina Terlano is now well established in the world of wine.
Our modern winery produces 30 percent red and 70 percent white wines, all of them of DOC quality (Controlled Designation of Origin). Following the last upgrade and refurbishment in 2009, our cellars now include a total of 18,000 cubic meters of storage space, which ensures that the wines can develop undisturbed. On the outside, the new tract has a natural facing of red porphyry, the stone that gives the wines in the area their typical character. The roof is planted with vines so that it blends in completely with the surrounding countryside.
Our wines are marketed in two distinct quality lines: Selections and traditional line. An annual rarity is also produced, which only comes on the market after it has spent at least ten years maturing in our cellars. That makes it a fine symbol of our focus on longevity.
Villiera Wines
Stellenbosch, South Africa
THE CLUB SELECTION - 2021 Jasmine Blend & 2021 Chenin Blanc
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Cousins Jeff and Simon Grier started the family-owned Villiera Wines outside Stellenbosch in 1983 and embarked on an extensive replanting of classic and local varietals.
Cathy Brewer (née Grier) later joined the family team to head up the sales, marketing and export divisions. The introduction of hi-tech cellar facilities for the production of still wines as well as Méthode Cap Classique combined with a unique wine business philosophy has seen Villiera developing into one of the largest private wineries in the country.
Grier Family: The Grier family is into its fourth generation as a family business. Grandfather Grier arrived in South Africa from the United Kingdom in the 1920’s. He studied at Elsenburg and started a poultry business. The second generation of Griers (Robin and Alexander Snr) took it a step further and were involved in developing County Fair, added value poultry business and planted some vineyard. The third generation (Jeff, Simon and Cathy) were more interested in what to drink with poultry and started a wine business (Villiera) in 1983.
Okapi Winery
Napa Valley, California
THE PREMIER CLUB SELECTION - 2021 Napa Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
As a young lawyer Dan met Dick Arrowood, then the winemaker for Chateau St. Jean, while handling a legal matter. Dick invited Dan to visit the winery, and that fateful introduction to wine and wine country living led to a desire to - eventually - make Napa Valley his home.
Dan found a kindred spirit in Kim. She was first drawn to the wine business as a college student, and then again when a hotel industry job brought her to Napa Valley to learn about dining trends from wine country chefs.
Together they transformed an overgrown walnut orchard into a vineyard in 2006.
With the help of neighbors and new friends, they learned about technical essentials like rootstocks, clones and trellising as they went along. Each season and vintage that followed challenged them to keep learning.
For people who are used to making things happen in the corporate and legal worlds, allowing nature to take control has been a profound lesson in patience and adaptability - one worthy of lengthy exploration over a glass of fine wine.
Ataraxia Wines at The Skyfields Farm
Walker Bay Wine Region, Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa
THE CLUB SELECTION - 2016 Ataraxia, The Skylands Farm Pinot Noir
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Greek for “a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation”, Ataraxia lives up to the hype. Aptly called The Skyfields, Ataraxia Wines is perfectly positioned on a commanding rise in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde wine-growing area.
Hemel-en-Aarde is Afrikaans for “heaven and earth” and the claim is justified.
This estate sits on a particularly heavenly stretch of land beneath a lofty peak of the Babylon’s Tower mountain range. In addition to its unrelenting beauty, Ataraxia is home to some of the most spectacular terroirs South Africa has to offer.
In 2004, The Skyfields Farm was visioned into the Ataraxia wine label when husband and wife, Kevin and Hanli Grant and a few friends purchased this 47-hectare prime vineyard property.
Almost two decades on, this couple and family is well associated with crafting wines of incredible finesse, balance and depth; wines that proudly hold their own on the international wine stage.
Born in Blantyre, Malawi and schooled at Rondebosch Boys High School in Cape Town, Kevin graduated with a B.Sc. Honours in Zoology from the University of Pretoria. Always drawn to winemaking, he went on to complete a Diploma in Cellar Technology at Elsenburg Agricultural College. Here he graduated as Dux student in 1990.
Eva Pemper Wines
Marlborough, New Zealand
THE CLUB SELECTION - 2020 Pemper Single Vineyard Chardonnay
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
I am a Croatian living in NZ. I came to New Zealand in 2012 following my dream to travel, meet people and make wine around the world. I absolutely fell in love with New Zealand and New Zealand wines, people and places.
I hold a master’s degree in winemaking from Agriculture University in Zagreb, Croatia and a Graduate Diploma in Oenology from EIT, Hawke’s Bay. This has given me a deep understanding of winemaking practices from very different parts of the world that I draw on in my winemaking.
I come from a winemaking family, so I didn’t have to go far for my inspiration to be a part of something as wonderful as the world of wine.
My parents are my inspiration. They are very talented and passionate winemakers. Their love for crafting wine immersed me, on a daily basis, in something that sparked a passion in me and led me to the path I am on now.
My parents started making wine in a garage with nothing but a strong belief and deep faith that this is what they should be doing. It was hard during the period of war in Croatia, but my family didn’t give up. As a family we are all proud of what we achieved in those extremely difficult times, making wine in a war zone is no easy thing! I treasure my family’s inspiration to work for something so interesting, challenging and amazing as making wine.
Due to a few sad things that happened there was no business for me to continue when I finished my study so now, here I am on the other side of the world, committed to continuing my family’s legacy and sharing our story.
I started EP Wines Ltd with my business partner who owns a vineyard in Marlborough. This means that we have our own vineyards and a secure supply of high quality grapes which is such an essential resource that ensures our ability to produce exceptional wine year after year.
Continuing my family’s legacy and sharing our story on the other side of the world is the core of my wines. I feel very special to be able to do that from New Zealand.
One of the fundamental inspirations of “Eva Pemper” wine is the significant influence of Croatian heritage in New Zealand’s wine industry. This history saw families coming here from Croatia over a hundred years ago with just their suitcases, following their dream. Today this dream has resulted in some of New Zealand’s highest profile wine industry people and brands that are well-known and respected here and around the world.
As the owner of the “Eva Pemper” brand one of my aims is to inspire young people in wine industry in NZ and all over the world to believe in themselves and to work towards achieving their dreams.
Little Cupid holding a glass of wine is a legacy from my family’s wine label and represents the love and passion for life that we all can enjoy in a wonderful glass of wine.
Azienda Agricola Cogno
Piedmont, Italy
THE PREMIER CLUB SELECTION - 2018 Bordini Barbaresco DOCG
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Elvio Cogno first came up with the idea to produce wine at the Ristorante dell’Angelo in La Morra, between tables and hungry patrons. Class of 1936 and originally from Novello, Elvio Cogno’s family had been cultivating grapevines for generations, but no one had thought of turning that work into a job.
The wine that the Cogno family began to produce did more than serve diners at their restaurant; it soon distinguished itself as a product of excellence.
It was so successful that by the end of the 1950s, with the support of a business partner and the growing prestige of his wines, Elvio Cogno decided to leave the restaurant business and produce wine full time. He began by collaborating with the Marcarini winery, who managed splendid vineyards in Brunate in the township of La Morra, cultivating nebbiolo destined for Barolo.
Elvio’s work became ever more oriented towards higher quality production and developing the incredible potential of the wines of the Langhe.
The first Barolo that the Cogno family bottled was the great vintage of 1961. Just three years later in 1964, far ahead of his times, Elvio Cogno decided to write the name of the vineyard on the label: Brunate. It was a sign of pride and knowledge of the uniqueness of his wines and of the terroir that helped to create them.
Domaine Cosse Et Maisonneuve
Mauroux, Cahors, Southern France
THE CLUB SELECTION - 2018 Cahors "Solis" Malbec AOC
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Matthieu Cosse and Catherine Maisonneuve created Domaine Cosse Maisonneuve in 1999. Both winemakers and oenologists, they took over a 5-hectare estate in Prayssac, near Cahors, and planted it with 40-year-old Malbec (or “cot”) vines. Using biodynamic principles, they set out to make wines that genuinely reflected their place of origin. Their first vintage was Les Laquet, grown in a soil of red clay and Jurassic limestone, cultivated using biodynamic principles, harvested by hand and crushed by foot. They were aged in barrels for 12 to 22 months before being bottled without filtration.
The estate is made up of 15 hectares of vineyards; Malbec is planted alongside other grape varieties, such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Gamay. The domain has a wide range of plots with different soils - clay, limestone and calcareous gravel. Some plots even overhang the River Lot. Tasting a wine from Domaine Cosse Maisonneuve allows you to experience something truly unique, a genuine taste of the Cahors terroir.
Certified organic by Ecocert although they farm their vineyards biodynamically and plan to become certified by Demeter in the near future. Everything they do in the vineyard is done to attain balanced soils that produce the best ripening conditions for the grapes to make harmonious, aromatically complex and precise wines. They consider that wine is the ambassador of the terroir, and a winemaker is an interpreter, thus to obtain perfect grapes that will clearly express the qualities of the Cahors terroir, everything in the vineyard must be natural.
Domain Schoffit
Alsace, France
THE PREMIER CLUB SELECTION - 2019 Harth Cuvee Caroline Gewurztraminer
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
"Schoffit is emerging as one of Alsace’s newest stars." - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
The Schoffit, in this case is Bernard Schoffit, the brilliant young pioneer in Alsace’s greatest Grand Cru, Rangen de Thann.
The domaine started by Bernard's father, Robert, is situated near Colmar, and that holding consists of 10 hectares. But fifteen years ago, Bernard, then still very young, embarked on an ambitious program of buying land in Rangen, around the Clos St. Theobold, totaling nearly 6.5 hectares, a good part of it abandoned, because it was too steep to work. Too steep to work for everyone but Bernard Schoffit. Through sheer determination and ambition, he has now reclaimed all 6.5 hectares, and from these incredibly steep slopes, and from even more incredibly low yields, he is producing simply extraordinary wine from each cepage he produces in Rangen (witness the review in Issue #129 of The Wine Advocate).
Bernard’s gift for wine-making is not reserved only for his Rangen wines, though. For the vineyards near Colmar he practices the same rigorous approach to yields, and that combined with some very old vines, produces under his guiding hand wines that are all marked by the following characteristics: intense and very pure varietal character; great concentration of fruit and richness on the palate, and perfect acidity to balance and carry this weight into a long and brilliant finish.
Camins 2 Dreams Winery
Lompoc, Sta. Rita Hills, California
THE PREMIER CLUB SELECTION - 2018 Zotovich Vineyards Syrah
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
We are a team of two winemakers, wife and wife, whose paths first crossed in 2006 through our work in the wine industry. Our friendship grew through wine and travels, which also sparked our love. Our journey of friendship, love, and wine now continues as together we found our dream winery, Camins 2 Dreams.
Mireia was born and raised in Catalunya, in the northeastern part of Spain. Her interest in wine started at a very young age. Growing up in Spain, wine is considered a food and was part of almost every meal. Mireia knew from a young age that she wanted to learn more about wine.
Mireia graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Barcelona, and then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Enology at the University of Rovira and Virgili. When she was in her last year of studies, she came to California as an intern for a harvest season, which is where she met her wife, Tara Gomez.
Tara’s passion for wine began when she was young and her parents used to take her wine tasting throughout the Central Coast. When she was a child she enjoyed looking at life through a microscope and it was the connection of wine to nature and science that made her want to pursue an Enology Degree.
Tara graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Enology from Cal State University Fresno. She worked for a few wineries, including Fess Parker and J. Lohr, at the same time she started her first label — Kalawashaq’ Wine Cellars (named for the village where her Chumash ancestors once lived) — sourcing fruit from her friend and mentor Larry Gomez, from Via Vega Vineyards in Paso Robles. Tara left her job at J. Lohr Winery in 2008, and put Kalawashaq’ on hold while she went to explore the world. During that time she worked two harvests at Castell d’Encus in Spain, the same winery where Mireia was the winemaker.
In 2017, Tara was ready to bring her personal project, Kalawashaq’ Wine Cellars, back to life, but instead decided to create a new label with Mireia. Thus, Camins 2 Dreams was born out of their shared love for wine, winemaking and each other.
Frichette Winery
Red Mountain, Yakima Valley, Washington
THE CLUB SELECTION - 2021 Sashay Rosé Merlot
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Frichette Winery is a family owned micro winery crafting wines from Red Mountain and Columbia Valley AVA vineyards.
A husband and wife team working in sync like all the compenents of a perfect wine.
Greg is from Pasco, Shae from South Carolina. Both were living in Southern California when they met, married, and had their son Jayden. They wanted to move closer to family in either South Carolina or Washington. With a flip of a coin, the coin toss determined they would relocate to Washington. Both agreed when they moved, they wanted to create a business that would give them goosebumps. With a little research and cheerleading from friends, they decided to go into wine, opening their tasting room in 2013 and offering their first vintage of 2011 with 650 cases of wine. Today, Greg and Shae produce nearly 3000 cases and enjoy hosting events for wine club members and guests from all over the world.
Bodega Marques de Murrieta
La Rioja, Spain
THE CLUB SELECTION - 2017 "Finca Ygay" Reserva Rioja
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
The origin of the Marqués de Murrieta winery is also the origin of Rioja. Don Luciano Murrieta, applying the techniques learned in Bordeaux, produced the first Rioja wine in 1852, with the intention of lasting over time.
Don Luciano was clear from the beginning that a wine with Rioja quality and good aging would have the ability to be exported outside of Spain. For this reason, he did not hesitate to send that mythical 1852 vintage to countries such as Mexico and Cuba, also becoming the first exported Rioja.
In the Ygay Castle, the noble materials and the latest technologies blend into a perfect union, turning the oldest industrial building in Europe into a benchmark of modernity and balance.
Thanks to its historical importance for the world of wine, its heritage and the architecture of the building itself, the Ygay Castle and therefore the headquarters of the Marqués de Murrieta was declared a museum in 2019.
Since 1983, the Cebrián-Sagarriga Family has been in charge of Marqués de Murrieta Estates & Wines, a family educated in good work and daily effort. Some brothers with a Galician heart who day after day remember their parents with affection and gratitude:
“Our parents started a great business and family project that today we try to continue with the same strength and enthusiasm. They transmitted to us the value of the family, they taught us to smile daily at the effort and the sense of sacrifice. They conveyed to us the need to respect and be faithful to our past without neglecting our future, always looking forward. They gave us their faith, their trust, their love for life and for those around us, their desire to always give. In short, his endearing way of living”. Vicente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga, Count of Creixell.
Our vineyards are our history, our uniqueness, our passion.
Our wines are born in our Finca Ygay, a 300-hectare vineyard, located in the south of Rioja Alta, which surrounds our winery, allowing us to exhaustively control the quality of our wines from the moment they are born.
Our team, led by María Vargas, with the help of a privileged climate, boundless care of the vineyard and resolute respect for the environment, achieves wines with enormous personality.
Château Rieussec - Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)
Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
THE PREMIER CLUB SELECTION - 2016 Sauternes 1`er Grand Cru Classé
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Putting it simply: “The wines of Sauternes are so wonderful that we wanted to have our own, and Rieussec’s vineyard is outstanding”
-Baron Eric de Rothschild
In the 18th century, the Rieussec estate belonged to the Carmelite monks in Langon. The confiscation of the estate during the revolution led to its public sale around 1790 as a “object of national heritage” to Mr. Marheilhac, owner at that time of Château La Louvière in Léognan.
For the 1855 classification, M. Mayne was the owner of the estate. The quality of the Rieussec soil earned its ranking as a first growth Sauternes and Barsac. After that date, Rieussec’s history involves many changes of owners: Charles Crepin (around 1870), Paul Defolie (1892), Mr. Bannil (1907), then the Gasqueton family (owner of Château Calon-Ségur at Saint Estèphe), P.F. Berry during the war (an American citizen and brother-in-law of the Vicomte de Bouzet), Mr. Balaresque (1957) and lastly, Albert Vuillier (1971), who was passionate about Sauternes’ “sweet wines”.
Château Rieussec was acquired by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) in 1984. The estate then consisted of 110 hectares, 68 hectares of which were vines. To enhance Château Rieussec’s potential, rigorous measures were implemented, including meticulous sorting of the grapes and fermenting in barrels, which provides a much finer selection for the blending of the Grand Vin.
L'Objet Wines
Dry Creek & Sonoma Coast, California
THE CLUB SELECTIONS - 2019 L'Objet Noir Sonoma Coast & 2021 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
A Black-Owned winery with a talented and hilarious man by the name of Dan Glover at the helm. He’s a great winemaker and a total riot.
According to the English Collins Dictory, L'Objet (Objet) is: a decorative object that is meant to be exhibited or open to view
In his own words:
In a previous life I was immersed in the art and culture of the music industry, writing and producing in Los Angeles. Then a different muse caught my eye in the form of the seductive Pinot Noir, drawing me into the artistry of winemaking. After several years at various wineries such as Clos du Bois, Armida and Dutcher Crossing, I’ve decided now to honor my muse with a creation all my own: L’Objet Noir.
My philosophy on winemaking is really very simple. I pursue the finest vineyards and fruit, turning away grapes I believe would require too much manipulation. I am sure you will find the quality of the grapes, the vineyards and this wine will speak for itself.
IL Palazonne
Tuscany, Italy
THE PREMIER CLUB SELECTION - 2016 Brunello di Montalcino, DOCG
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Il Palazzone is a winery in the Montalcino region of Tuscany, Italy. This is one of the best wineries to visit if you are coming to Montalcino, being close to the town and because of the presence of general manager Laura Gray.
The existence of Sangiovese on the property called Due Porte or ‘two gates’ which is around the house and winery is said to date to the 16th century.
Il Palazzone started making wine in the late 1980s, under Swiss entrepreneur Mario Bollag. He bought the estate for the view. He then planted vines on land that had been given to olive groves until 1985 when they were killed by severe frost. Bollag made the wine in a cavern beneath the house, ageing the wine in large oak barrels.
The estate has three separate vineyards in quite different areas of Montalcino. The microclimate and extraordinary variety of terroirs means that we are able, on blending the three vineyard harvests, to have three complementary aspects of Montalcino in our Brunello.
We pick by hand using small 5 kg. crates meaning that the grapes are in perfect condition when they reach the cellar. The crates are poured one by one through the de-stemmer. The vibrating selection table allows hand-sorting of the grapes and a complete and final quality control.
The Estate today is owned by husband and wife team "The Kerns" under the guidance of manager Laura Gray.
"Raetia" Südtiroler Weinbauernverba (Suditrol Wine Association)
Südtirol - Alto Adige, Italy
THE CLUB SELECTION - 2019 Pinot Grigio Ruländer Südtirol - Alto Adige
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
The Raetia project is born in 2000 with the aim to obtain the highest value wines from Alto Adige.
The project is curated by Marc de Grazia in collaboration with one of the most notable producers in the region. Raetia gets its name from the confederation of alpine tribes (Raeti) who had already an impressive wine culture back 2500 years ago in the region known today as Alto Adige.
Raetia in Roman times included todays Sud Tyrol all the way down to Verona, as well as parts of Switzerland. The tribe Raeti were likely of Etruscan origin and not part of the migrating hordes from the north and east (Goths, Huns, Germanic , etc.).
The Raetia wines are made from selected parcels in the Bassa Atesina Area, the most southern Area in Alto Adige. The vineyards there are characterized by warm days and cool nights, as altitudes reach from 700 to 1000 feet. These temperature fluctuations are essential to obtain expressive wines, combing intensity and elegancy.
The Raetia growers follow a strict sustainability program and the wines are made by the most notable producers in the Bassa Atesina area.
Cheurlin Champagne
Aube, France
THE PREMIER CLUB SELECTION - NV Cheurlin Champagne Brut Spéciale, Aube
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
NBA legend Isiah Thomas discovered champagne after winning the 1989 NBA Championship.
“Really! My earliest experience with champagne was having it poured over my head. It wasn’t until after I retired from playing ball that I discovered I love drinking it.”- Isiah Thomas
Known for his business savvy and philanthropic endeavors as much as his storied athletic career, Isiah and his wife Lynn wanted a healthier, great tasting champagne without the added sugar. Isiah is quick to point out, “it had to be reasonably priced and it definitely couldn’t come with a headache the next day. It took years but that’s exactly what we found in Cheurlin Champagne.”
In France, Thomas Cheurlin dreamed of taking his family’s champagne to the U.S., where he would introduce American consumers to “grower champagnes,” environmentally-friendly champagne production, and the superior taste harvested from Cheurlin grapes.
WORKING TOGETHER
The recent partnership between Isiah Thomas and Thomas Cheurlin may seem unlikely, but when you see these two men together, you find great similarities. Both men share a devotion to honesty and hard work, a commitment to excellence and collaboration, a passion for giving back, and a love of great champagne. After forming their alliance, ISIAH Imports was born and Cheurlin Champagnes was introduced to the United States.
Domaine Vincent Carême
Loire Valley, France
THE PREMIER CLUB SELECTION - 2019 Vouvray Los Clos AOP
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Vincent and Tania Careme inherited 5 hectares of vines in prime Vouvray terroir (just east of the city of Tours) from Vincent’s parents. They have since bought more vineyards and rented some as well to give a total of around 15 hectares which includes the superb Le Clos terroir.
All their wines are made from Chenin Blanc (the white Orbois grape is also permitted in this appellation) and they produce both sparkling and still wines. The wine is matured in oak casks, the majority of which are old (up to 10 years old) and a small proportion (around 10%) of which are new.
The grapes are picked by hand and pressed gently and then the natural yeasts are allowed to do their work.
The vines grow quite near the cave (some of them) overlooking the cliffs that line the Loire River in this part of the valley. Limestone rocks litter the surface and solid limestone is never far below the surface.
The Le Clos vineyard as well as a new vineyard Vincent has just planted are near the cave, but he also has vineyards in Vouvray and Noizay which lie on either side of Vernou.
Vincent is gaining a very strong reputation as one of Vouvray’s finest producers being praised by the likes of Jancis Robinson and Chris Kissack who blogs under the name of the Wine Doctor. He recently said:
“If there is a Vouvray resurgence coming, Carême will be at its heart.”
Jancis Robinson
Maison Noir Wines
Oregon & Washington
THE CLUB SELECTION - NV "In Sheep's Clothing" Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain - Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
Maison Noir is a two-fold lifestyle project producing both aT-Shirtline andOregon wines. Founded by sommelier André Hueston Mack in 2007, both ends of Maison Noir incorporate a trademark attitude and personal perspective on wine subculture. The wines are unique and distinctive garage wines, initially created for some of the New York's best restaurants for whom Mack was a sommelier and now available nationwide. Maison Noir apparel is inspired by WINE LIFESTYLE/STREET CULTURE of the punk and hip-hop scenes while reminiscent of independent skateboard company apparel of the 1990s
Domaine La Boutinière
Chateauneuf Du Pape, France
THE PREMIER CLUB SELECTION - 2019 La Boutiniere Chateauneuf Du Pape Tradition Rouge
Vineyard and Producer Highlights
André Fusat owned land in Caderousse, when he died in 1920, his wife Eugénie, alone with her 2 sons Ernest and Joseph, remarried with Félix Vidal, winegrower in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The alliance of these two families gave birth to the estate.
Ernest and his brother, then his daughter Huguette and her husband Gilbert Boutin have continued to develop the property.
The Cuvée Tradition Rouge was created in 1982, the first bottling of the Domaine.
In 1997 their son, Frédéric, took over the vines. He was convinced to respect the traditions to obtain the best of the vineyard. His wife Nathalie joined him in 2016.
When Amélie was born in 2003, the 5th generation , we created the Cuvée Grande Réserve, a plot selection of old vines planted in 1902 on one of the most esteemed localities of Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”.
10 grape varieties are significantly grown on La Boutinière with:
For the reds: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise, Vaccarèse;For the whites: Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne, Bourboulenc.
The property works in sustainable viticulture, which means that great care is taken in the viticultural methods to respect them and adapt them as well as possible to the vines and the terroir:
all the soils are worked, the green works are carefully carried out each spring including green harvesting if necessary, the treatments are reasoned and the natural treatments multiply.
This allowed us to move towards HVE 3 (High Environmental Value) certification. It certifies that our working methods preserve the general ecosystem of the property.