Giuseppe Quintarelli – A Legacy Bottled in Time

During the last hundred years the Quintarelli family has established its reputation through their estate located on the eastern slope of the Negrar Valley in the middle of Valpolicella. Silvio Quintarelli established the winery in 1924. It was his son, Giuseppe, also known as Bepi, however, who helped the winery achieve worldwide recognition. The winery has maintained its dedication to traditional methods and patient winemaking since Silvio’s era, but Bepi’s influence is incalculable. His manual label writing became an unmistakable signature for the brand, showing what a labor of love each and every bottle is. Combined with his use of ten-year Slavonian-oak barrel aging, Bepi developed a signature Amarone style that established itself as the reference point for many Italian winemakers.

Malescot St-Exupéry: Genuine Wines That Over-Deliver

Malescot has been wowing clients and critics alike for decades, and for good reason. To me, it strikes the ideal balance between accessibility and seriousness: it’s all too easy to pull the cork now, but patience is richly rewarded. And while the style leans a bit more flamboyant than some of its Margaux peers, the wines are always integrated, thoughtful, and beautifully made.

The Power of Terroir: Alsatian, German, & Austrian Whites You Need to Try

Alsace, Germany, and Austria continue to be some of the most dynamic and rewarding regions in the world of wine—regions that offer not just pedigree and history, but thrilling new releases year after year. What ties them together is a relentless pursuit of precision and purity, whether it’s the mineral drive of Dönnhoff’s 2023 Grosses Gewächs, the sculpted power of FX Pichler’s latest Wachau bottlings, or the quiet excellence of back-vintage Alsatian whites from Trimbach, Hugel, and Charles Baur. These are wines that don’t just deliver in the glass today—they age gracefully, deepen with time, and offer a glimpse into the soul of each region. This collection reflects the kind of craftsmanship that keeps me coming back vintage after vintage, and I’m excited to share it with you.

Charles Baur: The Maestro of Alsatian Wine Values

To me, Alsatian wines feel like a great novel that has been forgotten on a dusty bookshelf for far too long. The novel itself is timeless and perfectly written, yet it has gone overlooked for no particularly good reason, in favor of newer, trendier books. That in a nutshell is a perfect metaphor for the wines from Alsace. These wines are seriously good—and the current releases are easily the best that have ever been made from this region, especially since most of the producers are farming at least organically if not biodynamically. There are so many great producers fashioning world-class wines. Even better: their prices tend to be a mere fraction of what top producers from other wines regions charge. That fact may lead you to think these are not substantial wines, but this would be a mistake. Many of the world’s greatest Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Sylvaner come from Alsace.

2023 FX Pichler-Reference Point Wines of Austria

Austria is known as one of the old-world wine producers with an impressive stable of world-class Grüner Veltliners and Rieslings. FX Pichler is easily one of the greatest winemakers in Austria. His wines are stunning examples of what Grüner Veltliner and Riesling can achieve from the best vineyard sites in his capable hands.

Krug’s Exquisite Craftsmanship Shines in Current Releases

This month, the K&L staff was treated to a first-of-its-kind Krug tasting seminar conducted by Krug’s Director of Education, Julie Boilleau, and Director of Business Development for the Americas, Louis Henrion, whom we Zoomed in direct from Reims, along with Moët-Hennessey’s Director of Northern California, Omar Martin, and Associate Brand Manager for Krug & Ruinart, Allison Stackhouse.

Ar.Pe.Pe. – Nebbiolo’s Mountain Soul

From the core of Valtellina’s cliff-like landscape in the Italian Alps emerges Nebbiolo master Ar.Pe.Pe. They grow their Nebbiolo on vineyards higher than the clouds—both physically and spiritually. Each bottle carries the harmonious blend of stone, time, wind, and willpower that results in ethereal Nebbiolo wines that will descend deep into your memory. You will never forget about this producer once you try their wines.

The First Annual Great West Coast Wine Tasting Tent Event

Welcome to the wine list for our first annual West Coast Wine Tent Event at K&L San Francisco! This is more than just a wine tasting. It’s a rare opportunity to sample over 100 wines from California and Oregon’s most celebrated and emerging producers—all poured by the people who made them. Meet legendary and emerging producers alike, from wineries including Ridge, Spottswoode, Rhys, Hundred Suns, Walter Scott, and more! If you love West Coast wine, this is an event you don’t want to miss.

A Hollywood Premier: 2012 Billecart Salmon “NFB”

Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to the release party of the 2012 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" NFB Brut Champagne $199.99 96WA 95VN by the seventh generation of the Billecart family, Mathieu Roland-Billecart. The party was thrown at Larrabee Studios in North Hollywood, down an obscure alley in an unassuming part of town—but what a place! Everyone from Michael Jackson to Metallica has recorded there, and the sound-dampened walls felt like they were full of stories. It was an unforgettable evening, and the magic of the NFB has added another legend to this legendary place. It was a great chance to reconnect with friends in the wine world, and especially to spend time with the team from Billecart—Mathieu, Geoffrey, and Clément.

Elegance and Energy from Montalcino’s Hills: Pian dell’Orino Hits Our Shelves

Pian dell’Orino delivers some of the most authentic Sangiovese from Montalcino’s hillside region. Located near the Biondi-Santi estate, the Pian dell’Orino name has become synonymous with outstanding quality. The winery has been able to rise to benchmark Brunello status while working biodynamically and using a Burgundian vineyard management. They represent one of the more forward-looking producers you can find nowadays in Montalcino.

Ancient Vines, Fresh Voices: Europe’s Island Wine Revolution

For millennia the Mediterranean and Aegean islands were way-stations for traders and conquerors, each wave planting vines in their wake. Today those same outposts are buzzing with fresh energy. From Santorini’s volcano to Sicily’s lava soils, wind-lashed Corsica, and sun-soaked Sardinia, a new generation is pairing ancient bush vines with precision farming and low-intervention cellars—yielding mineral-charged whites, perfumed reds, and inventive blends that rival Europe’s mainland classics while staying refreshingly affordable and true to place.

Inside: Assyrtiko’s meteoric rise, under-the-radar Greek whites, high-altitude Xinomavro, Etna’s fiery reds, and Sardinia & Corsica’s boundary-breaking blends. Stock up and taste how brightly these island stars shine.

Greek Red Wines Are Better Than Ever

Reds definitely took a back seat to their white counterparts when Greek wines reemerged on the international wine scene a decade ago. The red grapes’ popularity suffered from difficult-to-pronounce names and a decided rusticity at the time. So much has advanced over the last decade, and I now find myself just as excited for the reds that are arriving as I was for the whites that were hitting our shores those short 10 years ago.

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