We know the feeling. It happens every year. Before we know it, the holidays are upon us, and it's time to start planning for multiple feasts and days filled with entertaining friends and family. Our buying guide takes the guesswork out of your wine selections with expertly chosen candidates for any table and any food pairing, all selected by our team of buyers, who will be pouring these proven performers at their own holiday tables this year.
Read MoreIn the world of Spanish wine there is a quiet revolution occurring, not unlike what is happening in some parts of France and the U.S. Winemakers young and old are challenging their regional traditions and making lighter, fresher wines than their parents or grandparents did.
Read MoreWhen I think of being thankful this time of year, one of the first things that pops into my mind is my gratitude to the farmers who feed us and grow the grapes for the wines that make our lives so much better. The first person who comes to mind is Paul-Vincent Ariston, the boss at Champagne Aspasie in the tiny village of Brouillet. He is one of the hardest working men I know, and one of the most patient. At home this year we will be starting off our Thanksgiving festivities with his excellent Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne $34.99.
Read MoreThanksgiving 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 MoreFood-and-wine pairing is more than a parlor trick; it’s a brain teaser than can bring out the real joy in eating. On Thanksgiving, when there are myriad flavors and textures on the same plate, wine lovers have their work cut out for them. This week, we’re doing a roundup of favorite in-stock choices from our wine buyers—each handpicked, each as unique as the buyers themselves.
Read MoreSometimes wines just fall into place at the right time. What is the right time? Well for this wine, the 2021 Falua "Conde Vimioso" Branco Tejo $14.99, the time is right now. It comes from Portugal, a country that is most definitely in the middle of a moment as one of the hottest tourist destinations in Europe. If you are reading this, you probably have been to Portugal in the last five years; if not, you definitely know people who have.
Read MoreThis week's newsletter is all about Burgundy value. If you thought the concept of bang for the buck in Burgundy was a thing of the past, think again. We've made it our mission to do the hard work of unearthing the region's hidden-gem regions and unsung domaines in order to make this category accessible to the widest possible audience.
Read MoreLast week, we held a Team Halloween candy and wine pairing contest for staffers in our San Francisco location. It was scary, it was fun, it was a little gross, but we all survived to tell the tale!
Read MoreMany of the lesser-known appellations in Burgundy have been making huge improvements in quality over the last 10+ years, and I’ve been travelling to these regions each year to find the hidden gems. Let’s take a deeper look at the Mâcon, Beaujolais, and the Côte Chalonnaise. These are all regions that are absolutely bursting with amazing values.
Read MoreWines from Chablis are currently seeing a surge in popularity. The problem with that is, like much of Burgundy, Chablis has seen a decrease in production thanks to hot vintages and then a disastrously cold, wet, and fraught vintage in 2021. We are always searching for new producers to import directly, but they have to pass our high standards at K&L to make the cut for our shelves. Fortunately for all of us Chablis lovers, Robert Goulley aced the exam.
Read MoreWow! How things have changed. Beaujolais was once considered the backwater appellation of Burgundy, where the banished Gamay grape was cultivated to make easy-drinking reds of little complexity and depth. But it is definitely not your father’s Beaujolais any longer! Today, there is an array of fantastic producers making cutting edge wines from Gamay—mostly via organic or biodynamic farming practices. The granite soil of Beaujolais is ideal for growing the Gamay grape, and the subtle hillsides and plateaus provide the perfect amount of sun and drainage for great Beaujolais. We have several fantastic wines in stock that are wonderful examples of the quality you can currently find in Beaujolais.
Read MoreThe Mâcon is just a quick 90-minute drive south from the town of Beaune, which essentially functions as the mid-point of Burgundy and divides the Côte de Nuits (north) from the Côte de Beaune (south). Once you arrive in the Mâcon you are greeted with rolling hillsides, quaint small villages, and a farmer-driven culture of winemaking. The Mâcon is home to approachable, ready-to-drink, and affordable wine values, which makes it incredibly important—and rare—in the Burgundian ecosystem. Domaine Renaud has been fashioning some of the best values to be found in Mâcon from an array of vineyards scattered throughout the many appellations located within the Mâconnais.
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