​Proud Pour "Save the Ocean" Sauvignon Blanc ($17.99)
Mendocino County, California
From the producer:
"Proud Pour is dedicated to making your Happy Hours even more celebratory. Every time you buy a bottle of our North Coast Sauvignon Blanc, 100 wild oysters are restored to local waters. This group of hardworking bivalves will filter 3,000 gallons of water a day, protect our coastlines from erosion, and provide habitat for fish, crabs, shrimp, and thousands of other species. By the way, eating oysters is good for the planet! Oyster farms improve water quality in the ecosystem around them, and the shells from oysters we eat can be collected and returned to the water as the foundation for new wild reefs.

Berlin Kelly founded Proud Pour in 2014 as a way to connect her passion for high-quality, sustainable foods and wines with her concern for the environment. She had begun creating fermented beverages as part of New York City’s Homebrewer’s Guild, and the lightbulb went off one evening when she was drinking wine, eating oysters, and watching ShellShocked, a documentary about the oyster’s decline and efforts in New York to restore it. Soon after, Proud Pour was born.

Proud Pour’s Sauvignon Blanc is a bright, refreshing wine with a rich bouquet of flavors. Hints of citrus, melon, and stone fruit transition onto the palate, accompanied by a pleasant minerality and vibrant acids that finish smoothly. This wine’s balanced profile and clean finish are sure to please any oyster-lover.

This wine is ready to drink now and should drink well through the end of 2019.

Enjoy this wine with your locally-farmed oysters, clams, mussels, sea scallops, or periwinkles! Or simply on its own for a relaxing evening!"

From me:
Some Califonia Sauv Blancs are too ripe for my palate, but this one, coming as it does from the north coast area, has a beautiful balance of acidity. I recently met the co-CEO of Proud Pour, Brian Thurber, and I found him to be both sincere and ambitious in the pursuit of environmental change. I think that this organic wine represents real value for quality and does actual good for the world. 

Santa Julia Organic Malbec ($9.99)
Mendoza, Argentina
From the producer:
"Julia is the only daughter of José Alberto. Created in her honor, Santa Julia represents our commitment to reaching only the highest standards of quality through sustainable practices that contribute to the care of the environment and being useful to the community in which we live.


For the Santa Julia Winery, being natural, taking care of the environment, and growing in harmony with the community where we find ourselves, have been our founding pillars since the beginning.

Not only do we work at taking care of the land, we also take care of those who work it, and the community that surrounds it. We are convinced that the wine does not come only from the land, the climate, or the variety, rather that it is fundamentally the expression of the sum of people that intervene in the process of creating it.

The Santa Julia Winery was the first winery in Mendoza that has achieved the certification “Fair for Life”. The recognition allows us to commercialize our wines in external markets with the seal “Fair for Life”.
This certification assures the consumer that the winery follows strict guidelines for quality, that the workers throughout the production line enjoy good and fair working conditions. What’s more, a percentage of what the consumer pays goes back to the workers through a commission that decides the best way to reinvest this money for the same workers.

Our winery possesses a satellite classroom in the Santa Rosa Farm, in which exists the possibility that adults complete their primary studies, as well as support classes in the main subjects for kids and adolescents in rural areas. At the same time, in the Maipú estate, a primary school was constructed in 2013 thanks to a donation of land from the winery.


This purple-red wine is packed with ripe fruit flavors of plum, cherry and strawberries with hints of chocolate and a spicy finish. It will pair well with steaks, burgers, and pastas with red sauces."

From me:
This Malbec is vinified in stainless steel only, so it has no presence of oakiness, and it drinks a bit lighter and brighter. Because of this, I find it nice for summer, especially with a little chill on it. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you might consider making a nice dark sangria with it! Besides providing good wines at good prices, I really appreciate that the company puts forth good efforts on behalf of their workforce.

Côté Mas Rosé Aurore 1 Liter ($15.99)
Languedoc, France
From the producer:
"Jean-Claude Mas, independent winemaker, fourth generation grape grower, first generation winemaker and owner of Domaines Paul Mas, is a leader in fine winemaking in the Languedoc region of the South of France. Since taking the helm of the family winery in 2000, he has prioritized sourcing the highest quality grapes from twelve privately owned estates and premier growers in the Languedoc to make wines of authenticity and refinement. The result is a collection of magnificently charming wines that burst forward with the warmth and stunning beauty of the Languedoc. In 2012, Jean-Claude’s philosophy of “Luxe Rural” -- an appreciation of the simple pleasures of life, artfully rendered by nature – crystallized with the opening of the Côté Mas Restaurant. Côté Mas wines were first introduced at the restaurant and became so popular that they are now available for purchase worldwide.

Pale salmon color. Complex nose with cherry and strawberry notes evolving towards soft candied fruit. The palate is rich and smooth with ripe red fruits and a well-balanced acidity. Best served with light dishes, salads or on its own as an aperitif. This wine can be kept two to three years.

Grenache 50%, Cinsault 30%, Syrah 20%"

From me:
At $15.99 for a liter, this wine is an outstanding value. It's a perfect example of light, crisp, and refreshing rosé from the Languedoc region, and it is perfect for warm summer weather. The berry notes are not too overpowering, and the balancing acidity makes for a delicious wine that will pair well with the light fare of hot days.


Abbazia di Novacella Kerner ($17.99)
Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
From the producer:
"The Abbazia di Novacella winery is among the oldest active wineries in the world. At its founding, Abbazia di Novacella was lavishly provided with farms and land, among which were also vineyards, by Reginbert of Säben. As early as in 1177, Pope Alexander III. confirmed the Monastery’s ownership of vineyards in the vicinity. Over the course of the centuries, the Abbey acquired a respectable ownership in vineyards by means of gifts, donations, purchases, and exchanges. To this very day, the Abbey is surrounded by terraced vineyards. They extend from the monastic complex, which is located at an altitude of 600 m (2,000 ft.), up the steep hills to an elevation of 900 m (2,950 ft.). Since the temporary dissolution of the Abbey at the beginning of the nineteenth century, not all of them have remained in the Abbey’s possession. But to this day, most of the local farmers deliver their grapes to the Monastery, where they are turned into wines with a strong character in the Abbazia winery.

100% Kerner from gravelly marine soils planted at 600-750m in elevation. Vinified in stainless steel tanks using indigenous yeasts, then aged 6 months in stainless steel tanks."

From me:
Kerner is a hybrid whose parents, Riesling and Schiava, created a frost-resistent grape that thrives in the colder climate of northern Italy. The wine from Kerner is both fruity and aromatic, but with distinct acidity and a hint of mild nuttiness. This particular Kerner is made by monks, who grow the grapes organically. 

​Mont Gravet Colombard ($8.99)
Côtes de Gascogne, France
From the producer:
"Mont Gravet comes from vineyards located in the Gascony region, near the city of Toulouse in the South West of France. The climate combines the Oceanic and Mediterranean influences, which brings enough sun and humidity to grow rich, concentrated and ripe grapes. Close to the producers, and in order to source the best vineyards, our winemaker has found some amazing “terroirs” spread on hills. These hills are called “Mont” in French. So as a tribute to the terroir from where the wine comes from we have named in Mont Gravet, “Gravet” being the name of an oval shaped rock commonly found in the area.​

Mont Gravet has a pale, bright yellow color, with a very intense and refreshing nose. It displays flavors of citrus fruit and blackcurrant leaf. This wine will express itself best as an aperitif or with any seafood. Serve chilled at 50°F."

From me:
This is one of my favorite wines in my shop. It's crisp, dry, light, slightly lemony, and has a refreshing minerality. You will LOVE the value for money of Mont Gravet!

Montinore Borealis White Blend ($14.99)
Willamette Valley, Oregon
From the producer:
"Mouthwatering and multi-dimensional, this perennial crowd pleaser is a blend of our favorite cool-climate whites: Müller-Thurgau (38%), Gewürztraminer (32%), Riesling (19%) and Pinot Gris (11%). Crafted from several harvests in order to display the unique qualities of each variety, heady scents of orange blossom, ripe honeydew, guava and kiwi offer a vibrant introduction to this aromatic blend. The palate is sumptuous and round, bursting with stone fruit, Meyer lemon and juicy pear drizzled with caramel. This plushness yields to a clean, bright and uplifting finish."

From me:
Red blends have become really popular recently, but white blends have gotten little notice in the U.S.. The blend of grapes in Borealis is unique and delicious, offering fruitiness from Riesling and Gewurtz and body from the Müller. Pinot Gris balances it out with just enough acidity to keep the wine from being flabby. This wine is off-dry, meaning that it has a little residual sugar, but isn't even semi-sweet. Montinore practices Biodynamic farming methods, which you can learn about here.

​H. Blin Brut Champagne ($36.99)
Marne Valley, France
From the producer:
"Champagne H. BLIN embraces the Art of Champagne while remaining true to its remarkable character and style. Located in Vincelles, in the middle of the Marne Valley, Champagne H. BLIN primarily uses one of the most amazing varieties of the region: the Pinot Meunier.

This variety offers a unique and surprising taste with subtle freshness and fruitiness.

BLEND :
80% Pinot Meunier
20% Chardonnay

VINIFICATION:
Dosage 8 g/l
Disgorged 3 months minimum before delivery
Bottle age: 24 months minimum

TASTING NOTES :
Appearance : Golden straw, sparkling clear and transparent. Abundance of fine but persistent bubbles.
Nose : Lively and expressive. Scents of citrus freshness and nuances of freshly baked bread.
Palate : Simple and elegant. Lively aromas of ripe green apples and notes of toasty brioche.

FOOD PAIRING :
Daily aperitif
Tomato salad
Risotto with parmesan
Sweet and sour pork
Vanilla ice cream"

From me:
This Champagne is truly unique in its blend of grapes, and it drinks like a wine twice its price. The farming methods are organic, and the aim of the producer is to create a sense of terroir with their wines. This is not the approach of large producers like Veuve and Moët, which source grapes from all over the region of Champagne. The grapes for this Champagne come only from the area around the village of Vincelles. 

Scarbolo Il Ramato Pinot Grigio ($19.99)
Friuli, Italy
From the producer:
"Since the birth of the winery, Scarbolo’s philosophy has been very clear: contribute to a wine culture surpassing easy generalizations and fast trends that don’t belong to the world of farming. They have consciously invested in the Grave area of Friuli that for a long time has been considered only capable of ‘quantity’ wines, despite its amazing soil characteristics.

Valter Scarbolo inherited a passion for the vine from his father’s interest in viticulture. They planted their first vineyards in the 80s, in their hometown of Lauzacco. Lauzacco is located in Friuli on the right bank of the river Torre, just south of the Colli Orientali. The Scarbolo family puts immense effort into the vineyards in order to produce structured and elegant wines that represent the distinct characteristics of their native land. Their philosophy includes densely planting the vines and rigorously implementing sustainability practices to help preserve the ecosystem.

Made in the Friulian “Ramato” style, this wine is bright copper in color, with a nose exhibiting apple, wildberries and fresh citrus. Generous and fresh but with a lasting finish."

From me:
You know that thin, nearly clear, one-note Pinot Grigio that's mass-produced? This is not that. This is, technically, an "orange wine," which refers to the color that comes from elongated skin contact during the maceration process. While some orange wines can be a little funky, this one retains its freshness, mellowed slightly by lees aging, which also gives it a little richness on the palate. This is an elegant and interesting wine that will give you a new perspective on Pinot Grigio.

Schiopetto Malvasia ($19.99)
Friuli, Italy
From the producer:
"Malvasia Istriana is one of the historic varietals of the hills of Friuli. It grows well in poor soil of marl composition with hot and sunny exposition where the grapes are left for a lengthy maturation. They are then picked by hand, pressed at low temperatures. This is followed by a static decantation in absence of sulphur dioxide and the vinification and ageing take place in stainless steel for 8 months. The wine thus obtained is rich and complex but at the same time fragrant and aromatic.

​Bright straw yellow with golden touches.
Fresh and round balance marine aromas that are perfectly balanced with scents of flowers and sweet fruits.
Creamy, rich and warm. Sweet flavors are matched by a refreshing palate with a clean high acidity finish.

Food pairings: Perfect with apetizers and first dishes, both with fish
and meat."

From me:
This is one of the many Italian indigenous grapes with which I've become slightly obsessed. I'm especially keen to have more people taste Italian whites that aren't as well known as the standards. There is so much elegant and complex white wine, and this is certainly an example of that. 

Saveurs du Temps Cabernet Sauvignon ($12.99)
Nimes, France
From the producer:
"Vignerons Propriétés Associés is set on the right bank of the Rhône, a few steps from the historic site of the Pont du Gard. The vineyards are located in a triangle between the famous commune of St Hilaire d’Ozilhan at the heart of the southern slice of land bordering the Gard region and the Côtes du Rhône, then head westward towards Sommières, to the edge of the Camargue Region. VPA includes 620 Hectares spread out over the 4 communes of Saint Hilaire d’Ozilhan, Castillon du Gard, Valliguieres and Laudun. 930 Hectares of Costières land in six communes, Générac, Nimes, Saint Gilles, Milhaud, Bernis, Aubord and Beauvoisin. 1112 hectares of Oc and Coteaux du Languedoc land in Calvisson. All of these terroirs make up the vineyards and the diversity of their production.

Bold red cherries and red licorice on the nose. Flavors of black pepper and chocolate with subtle notes of baking spice and grippy tannins."

From me:
VPA is basically a collective of growers and winemakers. This Cab is one of the largest production wines at Sage, coming in at about 120,000 bottles per year. That's still tiny compared to large labels that produce by the millions. The wine is approachable and easy, and because it doesn't see any oak, the fruit is really prominent. This is a great summer red, and it can take a bit of a chill if you prefer.

Ottosoldi Barbera del Monferrato ($21.99)
Piedmont, Italy
From the producer:
"Intense ruby red color. Very fine perfume, deep and wide with red fruit, mint and vanilla scents. Full flavor, soft and rich, with a fresh and fruity final note. This wine pairs perfectly with red meat.
Best served at 18°-20°."

85% Barbera; 15% Merlot

From me:
I often struggle with wines from Piedmont, but this one is easy to drink. The tannins and acidity are tamed and the softness of the Merlot balances everything out. Good oak aging and a silky tannin on the finish.