We at K&L are fastidious about our website and have a stable of editors who make it their mission to check every comma and critic review that goes up. In today’s Meet the Staff blog, we meet one of our fearless Grammar Crusaders, Chris Puppione! Chris and I actually started at K&L at the same time, back in early 2015, so he’s just celebrated his seventh anniversary with the company. Since then he’s had his hands full, starting both a family and a family winery! I wanted to know what it was like to be on the production side of things after so many years in retail, so I peppered him with questions.

California WineKate SotoMarch 2, 2022K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, on the trail, meet the staff, chris puppione

A Winter Wonderland of Wine from the U.S.

Today'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!

California Wine, Oregon Wine, Wine NewsletterKate SotoJanuary 24, 2022K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, wine news, domestic wine, oregon wine, california wine, learn about wine, kaj stromer, ryan woodhouse

Meet the Staff Series: Kaj Stromer Edition

Next 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.

burgundy, California Wine, champagne, Oregon WineKate SotoNovember 29, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, domestic wine, california wine, burgundy, kaj stromer, meet the staff

Wine Chat with Team Domestic

K&L’s Domestic Buyers met up virtually for a fun chat on their latest favorites from the U.S. of A. Join us on Instagram for weekly live sessions with Buyers, winemakers, distillers, and more @klwines.

California Wine, Wine NewsletterKate SotoOctober 13, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, domestic wines, california wines, oregon wines, kaj stromer, ryan woodhouse

From Amador to Zinfandel: A Mammoth Domestic Wine Newsletter

From busting myths to discovering cool new wineries, K&L’s Domestic Team has been busy finding the greatest wines from the U.S. of A. to bring to our customers. This week’s mammoth 12-page newsletter has the fruits of their labor. Whatever your fancy, allow Ryan Woodhouse and Kaj Stromer to be your guides, as they champion the depth and breadth of wines from our home turf.

California Wine, Oregon Wine, Wine NewsletterKate SotoOctober 4, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwiens, klwines, wine newsletter, california wines, washington wine, oregon wine, chardonnay, pinot noir, zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, kaj stromer, ryan woodhouse

A Summer Sippers Jubilee

We’re deep in the dog days of summer, when nothing but a thirst-quenching glass of wine will do. In this week’s newsletter, our Buyers reveal some of their favorite refreshers from around the world, from Sauvignon Blanc to rosé to Gamay.

California WineKate SotoJuly 26, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, summer wines, summer 2021, sancerre, rose, sauvignon blanc, gamay

XXL West Coast Wines

As the temperatures rise across California, our Domestic Buyers have been grabbing their jackets and hitting the coolest spots up and down the coast. What they’ve found are some of the most exciting wines and winemakers in the entire US, and you'll find their stories in this month's newsletter. And there are plenty of stories to tell—so much so that this is the biggest newsletter of the year (so far!).

California Wine, Oregon Wine, Wine NewsletterKate SotoJune 29, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, newsletter, domestic wines, california wines, kaj stromer, ryan woodhouse

Ridge Vineyards: History in a Bottle with a Beautiful Future

To 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.

California WineKaj StromerMay 24, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, kl wine blog, red wine, cabernet sauvignon, california wine, ridge vineyards, zinfandel, chardonnay, wine history, kaj stromer, judgement of paris, domestic wine

In Memory of a Larger-Than-Life Winemaker, Jim Clendenen

On Monday night, browsing through my Instagram feed, I was shocked to read about the sudden passing of Jim Clendenen. I have seen many outpourings of heartfelt sorrow for Jim's untimely death and several anecdotal stores highlighting just what a colorful guy he was. So, I figured I'd share a quick story about the first time I met Jim back in 2009.

California WineRyan WoodhouseMay 19, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, in memoriam, jim clendenen, winemaker profile, central coast wine, santa barbara wine, au bon climat

Eisele's Altagracia Cabernet Is in a Class by Itself

A couple years back I was lucky enough to get the full tour of Eisele Vineyard with General Manager, Antoine Donnedieu. After walking the vineyard and spending a few hours tasting with Antoine, I was able to fully understand how Eisele’s Altagracia Cabernet is differentiated from the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet "proper…"

California WineRyan WoodhouseMay 7, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, on the trail, eisele, napa valley, cabernet sauvignon, altagracia, ryan woodhouse, california wine

Celebrating Sauvignon Blanc Day

Today, the staff and buyers at K&L are opening up Sauvignon Blanc from around the world to pay homage to the Sauvignon Blanc grape and the wonderful wine it produces.

California Wine, new zealandThomas SmithMay 6, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, klwines blog, on the trail, sauvignon blanc, sauvignon blanc day, new zealand, thomas smith

A (Strange) Year in the Life of a Wine Buyer

When COVID-19 shut the world down 12 months ago, just about everything changed. Though it will never replace walking the vineyards or tasting barrels in the cellar with an amped-up winemaker excited to share their creations, I'm hugely grateful to the folks who have sent their wines during this time, and I have had more than a few "discoveries" that have left me stunned.

California Wine, Oregon WineRyan WoodhouseMarch 31, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, california wine, ryan woodhouse, oregon wine, learn about wine, new wines, wine discoveries

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