Thanksgiving is a marathon, not a sprint! The only other day that can hold a candle to Thanksgiving for sheer endurance eating is Christmas. But on Christmas Day there are presents and other distractions to draw your attention away from the food. On Thanksgiving the primary purpose of the day is to feast on as much delicious food and wine as possible while you hang out with your loved ones.
Read MoreWeatherEye Vineyard, on the ridgeline of Red Mountain in Washington, is without doubt one of the most exciting vineyards anywhere in the United States: a site so radical, its implementation has been 15 years in the making! The incredibly rocky, volcanic soils, constant wind, elevation, and lengthy growing season give the wines immense concentration and structure. Even though the vines are relatively young, the intensity of the wines here is already formidable.
Read MoreOnce again, the dynamic duo of Ryan Woodhouse and Jorge Valencia treated the San Francisco team to a fantastic wine van journey. This time we embarked to the Santa Cruz Mountains and the awe-inspiring beauty, terrain (We experienced some of the steepest vineyards ever, akin to the Mosel!!), and talented winemakers we met along the way. What a beauty of a day!
Read MoreOur fearless Domestic crew traveled to Napa to taste the finest the valley had to offer at this year’s Premiere Napa Valley. Staffers Hope Cooc and Carlo Delgado recap their impressions in today’s blog.
Read MoreToday's Newsletter is an ode to the underdog, the scrappy upstarts and family enterprises that don't get the limelight they deserve but nonetheless put in the daily hard work to turn out remarkable results. Domestic buyer Ryan Woodhouse showcases four of this favorite under-the-radar discoveries and small producers from the Golden State that should earn a place in your cellar. We've also got a hand-picked roster of rosé winners to jumpstart the season in fine form.
Read MoreToday's Newsletter is a feast in more ways that one, but the centerpiece theme is value, including our favorite domestic Insider's deals of the year, hand-picked holiday pairing selections from buyer Kaj Stromer, and a duo of stunning library buys from a pioneering Napa icon. These are but a few of the many spectacular offerings that are at your fingertips, just in time for your holiday planning and preparations to kick into high gear.
Read MoreToday's Domestic Newsletter must be one of the broadest and most comprehensive editions we’ve written to date. Domestic Buyer Ryan Woodhouse starts off with the highly anticipated 2019 vintage in the Napa Valley then moves his focus to the exceptional, world-class wines coming out of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Next, SoCal Domestic Buyer Kaj Stromer gives us a look back at some of the brightest spots to come out of 2021 by recapping the best Domestic deals. Unprecedented times produced unprecedented deals. Continuing on the theme of wines that overdeliver, Kaj highlights his favorite bottles for under $25. Finally, Kaj looks at what K&L staffers are drinking during these long winter months. Read on and enjoy!
Read MoreNext up in our Meet the Staff series is Kaj Stromer, the Southern California half of the Domestic Buy Team Powerhouse Duo. His story involves following your dreams and taking big leaps, the stuff of all great modern tales. His love for Burgundy runs deep, and he’s on a never-ending mission to uncover what’s cool, unique, and utterly delicious about wine from the U.S.
Read MoreTo celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Judgement of Paris, we’d like to pay tribute to one of our very favorite California wineries, one whose 1971 Monte Bello came in fifth place in 1976, and whose 1971 Monte Bello came in first place 30 years later at the rematch—Ridge Vineyards. Our Domestic Buyer, Kaj Stromer, recently attended a Zoom tasting of Ridge’s spring releases, and he left thoroughly impressed. Click for his recap.
Read MoreThere’s no doubt that the wines coming out of California, Oregon, and Washington State these days are better than ever. With an influx of new talent and well-honed skills from the veterans, the wines are not just a departure from the “go big or go home” model, they are in fact some of the most pure expressions of the specific and varied terroir that the West Coast has to offer.
Read MoreWe are so lucky in California to be a stone’s throw from great wine regions, no matter which part of the state we live in—and it seems a particularly good moment to celebrate this unique part of the world while it suffers under smoke and fire right now. Hollywood staffer Illya Haase recently took his family on a short jaunt from LA to Ballard Canyon, home to Stolpman Vineyards and their great lineup of wines. He was impressed by their thoughtful winemaking and farming, but mostly by the deep connection to their people and their land.
Read MoreJust in time for the 4th: our Domestic Newsletter! Domestic Buyers Ryan Woodhouse and Kaj Stromer talk old vines, new wines, and the bounty of good juice that lies in between.
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