California New Releases and Current Obsessions

One of the best parts of my job is finding amazing new California wines to share with you. This lineup has a little bit of everything—crisp Sauvignon Blancs for sunny days, hidden-gem wineries making waves with small-lot wines, and even exclusive Napa library releases. I’m also especially excited about our upcoming tasting, where we’ll explore wines from California’s prehistoric seabeds. Whether you’re looking for an everyday favorite or a rare collectible, these picks are some of the most exciting bottles out there right now.

Ad Vivum’s Stunning Napa Cabs Direct from the Winery

Very few wines in Napa have even a fraction of the pedigree and quality you'll find in the wines from Ad Vivum. They are sourced exclusively from one of the best parcels in one of the most highly respected vineyards in Yountville and hand crafted by a winemaker with unbelievable experience and excellence. Ad Vivum is a small project from longtime veteran winemaker Chris Phelps. Chris gained a degree in viticulture and enology at UC Davis before heading to France to further his studies at the University of Bordeaux. After becoming friends with mentor and vigneron Christian Moueix, Chris worked at Château Petrus in Pomerol and several other Moueix properties in the region. Earning his trust and respect, Moueix then handpicked Chris to become the founding winemaker of his new venture in Napa Valley—Dominus.

Shockingly Good New Discovery: Common Thread Wines from Carmel Valley

Rarely have I ever tasted through a line up of wines from a producer I have never heard of before and been so flat-out stunned. My first thought was, “How have I never heard of or tasted these wines before!?” It’s not that I expect to know every producer in the market, but I do pride myself in keeping my finger on the pulse of what’s going on and who is making exciting wines—so when a new (to me) winery pops up, in a region so near and dear to my heart, and blows me away… it’s a (happy) surprise. That’s exactly what happened recently with my first exposure to Common Thread wines.

Finding Inspiration Across the Globe: K&L Buyers' Top Wine and Spirits Picks

Our Buying team truly comprises some of the most knowledgeable, passionate wine and spirits experts in the biz, and we’re happy to bring you a set of their favorites from across our aisles. From years of traveling and extensive experience in the industry, each buyer represents a wealth of knowledge broadly about wine and spirits, but very deeply about their own regions and categories. If you want to shoot the breeze about soils, talk about best vintages to buy, or just learn what’s new and exciting—they are unparalleled resources! Seek them out on our sales floor or shoot them an email via our Staff Profile page.

Ringing in Dry January!? NA Options for NYE

If you are considering a dry January, or just need a really well made non-alcoholic wine alternative for an upcoming occasion, I highly recommend checking out the range of “wines” we carry from Kally. I wrote about these great additions to our selections back in September, and we have continued to see them really loved by staff and customers alike.

Boutique California Sparkling Wines from BXT

If you’re seeking the best of grower Champagne–inspired bubbles, look no further than the fascinating and truly excellent wines of BXT. I’ve written about these brilliant wines at length before, but here’s a quick recap. BXT (that stands for Bubbles by Tom) is a tiny project that comes to you from the aptly named “Crusher District” in the industrial part of south Napa. Proprietor Tom Sherwood has a day job in Napa making mostly big, powerful Napa Cabs. His wife Brittany is the longtime winemaker at Napa icon Heitz Cellars. So, in his spare time (ha ha), Tom decided to start a very small brand focused on extremely limited-production, entirely hand-made, traditional-method sparkling wines.

Sparkling Wines from the Historic Schramsberg Winery Are As Good As Ever

Schramsberg is a winery with a long and lofty reputation for top-quality sparkling wines, and I’m pleased to say that the wines more than live up to the legacy and hype! The history of the winery dates back to 1862 when Jacob Schram first bought the parcel of land on Diamond Mountain. In 1870 Schram enlisted the help of Chinese workers who had just completed the Transcontinental Railroad one year earlier to use their tunneling expertise to hand-dig Napa Valley’s first-ever wine caves. Now under the ownership of the Davies family since 1965, this winery is one of the stalwarts of the region. The wines are consistently delicious, and very well priced given the quality.

Holiday Buying Guide: Our Top Picks for the Season

The K&L Holiday Wine Buying Guide is your ultimate resource for selecting the perfect wines to elevate your holiday celebrations. Whether you're searching for the ideal bottle to pair with festive meals, a special gift for a wine lover, or simply a standout wine to enjoy with loved ones, our curated guide offers expert recommendations across all price points and styles. From rich reds and elegant whites to sparkling wines and rare finds, our team of experienced sommeliers and wine buyers has handpicked a selection that embodies the spirit of the season, ensuring your holiday table is stocked with exceptional wines. Let us help you make this holiday season even more memorable with the perfect bottle for every occasion!

A Few of Our Favorite Things from the Domestic Wine Aisle

For the Holiday Buying Guide this year I decided to take a leaf out of Oprah’s book and present a few of my favorite things! As the Domestic Wine Buyer for K&L, I taste many thousands of wines a year: from high-end luxury cult Cabs to delicious everyday drinkers at $9.95; from solid, dependable, consistent old favorites, to the newest, most esoteric, experimental wines from folks trying something creative to get a start. My role as the buyer here is often not just to assess the quality and value presented by a certain wine, but to match it with a specific customer demand. The idea of this list is to be a little self indulgent (hey, it is the holiday season) and focus on wines that I personally enjoy to drink, share, and gift to others. Wines I believe have a broad appeal and will bring a smile to most people who taste them.

‘Tis the Season: Wine and Whisky Gifts

When it comes to finding the perfect gift, a truly exceptional bottle is often the way to go. While we take great care every day to ensure that everything we bring in meets the highest standards, these are some of the wines I would go to first. Each one is sure to make a memorable impression and offer an experience that will be appreciated by any wine lover.

Lightning Strikes Twice! Au Bon Climat Library Wines Coming to K&L

A few years ago, I was absolutely honored to be able to purchase the incredible 45-vintage-deep library of wines from Calera Vineyards. It was one of the most monumental projects of my 13 years here at K&L, and a humbling experience to be able to taste through so many wines that have helped to shape the California wine industry as we know it today. Josh Jensen was a visionary and a dedicated vigneron. I was thrilled to be able to share his life's work with you, our customers. On that note I'm pleased to say that today we have another historic offering to bring to you.

Thanksgiving Buying Guide: Find Your Perfect Pairing

This week, we’re officially kicking off our Thanksgiving planning. Halloween is in the rearview mirror; Hannukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa are just far enough away that we don’t have to wrap our brains around gifting quite yet… No elves on the shelves, but our rally bird is out in Redwood City—it’s the perfect time to talk turkey.

K&L Wine Merchants

www.klwines.com