Our Buyers' Mother's Day Picks 2026: Champagne, Barolo, Rosé & Spirits

Every year our buyers put together their honest picks for Mother's Day—not the obvious stuff, but the bottles they'd actually bring to their own mothers. This year that means Grand Cru Champagne from Avize, modern Barolo from one of Piedmont's most important winemakers, six Provence rosés all under $34, and three spirits that will make her cocktail hour considerably better. Plus two events worth getting off the couch for, and a couple of gift options that keep delivering long after Sunday.

Maison 76: K&L's Own Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from Avize

After 25 years of sourcing Champagne for K&L, Gary Westby finally made one of his own. Maison 76 is a Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from Avize, made in collaboration with Olivier Bonville — 60% reserve wines, three years on the lees, dosed at just 5.8 grams per liter, and priced under $50. Gary calls it one of the greatest brut sans année offerings K&L has ever carried. The first case off the truck went straight to his house.

Rosé for Mom: Aaron's Picks for Mother's Day

Rosé might just be the oldest wine in the world, which means gifting it to mom is basically a tradition as old as time. Aaron Hughes, K&L's Redwood City Tasting Bar Manager, picked six bottles for every kind of rosé lover — from bone-dry Provence elegance to fruit-forward pool wine — and none of them will break the bank.

Win Favorite Child Status: Jonathan's Mother's Day Spirits Picks

Forget the gift card. Jonathon Goldstein, K&L's Spirits Buyer, has three bottles that will actually impress her—whether she's shaking Negronis, stirring Martinis, or squeezing limes for a Margarita that finally tastes the way it should.

E. Pira Barolo 2022: Chiara Boschis and the Making of a Modern Classic in Piedmont

A deep dive into E. Pira Barolo 2022 and the vision of Chiara Boschis, one of Piedmont’s most influential modern winemakers. From Cannubi to Mosconi, this vintage captures a rare balance of elegance, terroir expression, and early drinkability in Barolo.

Champagne for Mom: Franck Bonville's Grand Cru Avize Is a Sure Thing

If you want a Champagne that never misses—for mom, for the table, for any occasion worth celebrating—Franck Bonville from the Grand Cru village of Avize is the answer. Gary picks three bottles for every kind of mother, from $53.99 to a once-in-a-while splurge that will genuinely stop her in her tracks.

Give Mom Champagne All Year Long

The gift that keeps arriving. Our Champagne Club delivers two bottles every other month — each from a different corner of France's most beloved region. Starting at $69.95 a shipment, with member discounts on every bottle. Cancel anytime. Give mom something she'll actually look forward to.

Spring 2026 Newsletter: Staff Picks, Bordeaux Futures, and Rare Spirits

This Spring 2026 newsletter brings together sharp insight from our buyers, a fresh look at Bordeaux futures, ten bottles our staff can’t stop opening, milestone releases from the Anonymous Wine Collective, a truly rare 36‑year‑old Speyside malt, and one of our favorite chillable Rhône producers just in time for warmer days.

Stock Your Back Bar for Mother’s Day Brunch Cocktails

When I’m stocking the bar for a Mother’s Day brunch, I look for bottles that make great cocktails feel effortless. A few smart aperitifs, good sparkling wine, and quality soda go a long way—especially when you want to stay at the table, not stuck mixing drinks.

Spring Is in the Air: The Return of Spritz Season

For me, spring marks the unmistakable return of spritz season at K&L, when Prosecco, Italian aperitifs, and fresh botanicals once again define how I drink as the days grow warmer. The classic Aperol Spritz is always my starting point, but I’m just as drawn to lighter, more aromatic variations like the Hugo Spritz, where elderflower liqueur adds a floral lift perfect for brunches and Mother’s Day celebrations. When I want more depth, the Negroni Sbagliato and the historic Americano showcase the versatility of vermouth and bitter aperitivo. Built on sparkling wine, soda, or aromatized wine, the spritz remains my go‑to cocktail for spring.

Spirits Selections in a New York Minute

Greetings from Midtown Manhattan, where I’m proud to represent the third generation of my family to work in the New York wine and spirits trade. With decades behind the counter—and now a new chapter as a Spirits Buyer at K&L—I’ve pulled together ten bottles I genuinely believe deserve your attention this spring. As warm‑weather holidays stack up, these selections span mezcal, tequila, whisky, rum, gin, and bourbon, each chosen for character, craftsmanship, and sheer drinkability. These aren’t trend‑driven picks or flashy one‑offs—they’re bottles I reach for, recommend, and enjoy. If you’re looking for smart, celebratory spirits with real stories behind them, start here.

Inside Vietti’s 2021 Barolo Crus

Few estates in Piedmont occupy the rarefied position that Vietti holds today. Founded in the late 19th century in Castiglione Falletto, Vietti has long been both a guardian of tradition and a catalyst for progress, helping to define how the world understands Barolo and Barbaresco. Decades before single‑vineyard bottlings became the norm, Vietti was already isolating and elevating individual crus, insisting that Barolo was not a monolith but a mosaic of distinct sites. That conviction—paired with meticulous farming, sensitive winemaking, and an unerring sense of balance—has made Vietti one of the great reference-point producers of Piedmont.

K&L Wine Merchants

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