Here's What's New In Domestic Wine!
September 2025
This month in Domestic Wine, we’re celebrating everything from pioneering icons to hidden gems. Join us as we explore the groundbreaking work at Stolpman Vineyards, discover one of our buyer’s favorite small producers in MarBeso, and revisit the historic role of Farella in shaping Coombsville. We’ve also lined up tastings from Napa to the Central Coast that showcase California’s incredible breadth and depth. And for those who love a true K&L exclusive—keep an eye out for the next chapter of our Anonymous Wines project, releasing soon.
Inspiring Winemaking at Stolpman Vineyards
MarBeso Wines: One of Our Domestic Buyer’s Top Small Producers
Farella: Hidden in Plain Sight
Upcoming Tastings: 'From Sparkling to Cabernet: Napa Uncorked' (NorCal) and 'The Heart of Central Coast' (SoCal)
2021 Napa Valley Legends In Stock Now
Inspiring Winemaking at Stolpman Vineyards
Last month we took a phenomenal staff trip to Santa Barbara wine country with our Hollywood and Culver City sales teams. The day was packed with amazing visits to vineyards and wineries. One such visit was to Stolpman Estate.
The first time I encountered Stolpman was back in 2008 when I was working for Randall Grahm at Bonny Doon Vineyard. As the infamous “Rhône Ranger,” Randall sought out excellence in Rhône varietals throughout California, so it's no surprise that he ended up buying fruit from Stolpman who pioneered Syrah and other Rhône varieties in what was to later become the Ballard Canyon AVA. Stolpman’s Vineyard is planted across a series of undulating hills on the Western side of Ballard Canyon, just a few miles south of Los Olivos.
Stolpman estate is a patchwork of dozens of individual blocks covering just about every aspect and exposure you could imagine. The underlying geology of the vineyard is chalky, marine sedimentary rock with lots of sand and degraded shale on the top. Stolpman’s estate is farmed by the legendary Ruben Solorzano (who lives on the vineyard), and is organic, biodynamic, and largely dry-farmed. The vineyard is also mostly planted on its own roots. The team and I were blown away by the level of experimentation at Stolpman. Despite three decades of working this land, the team here have done anything but rest on their laurels. The vineyard is a maze of different row orientations, vine-training systems, and heritage pre-clonal selections from some of the most important sites in the Northern Rhône. Keep reading On the Trail.
WHITES
2023 Stolpman Estate "Uni" Ballard Canyon White Blend $24.95 View
2023 Stolpman "Estate" Ballard Canyon Vin Gris of Trousseau $24.95 View
REDS
2023 Stolpman Santa Barbara County Grenache (Elsewhere $36) 93 $19.95 View
2023 Stolpman "La Cuadrilla" Santa Barbara County Red Blend 92 $21.95 View
2023 Combe "Stolpman Vineyard" Ballard Canyon Trousseau $29.95 View
2023 Stolpman "Estate" Ballard Canyon Syrah 94 $29.95 View
2019 Stolpman "Originals" Ballard Canyon Syrah (Elsewhere $38) 93 $29.95 View
2022 Stolpman "Great Places - Jessica Lauren Stolpman" Ballard Canyon Syrah 97 $129.95 View
MarBeso Wines: One of Our Domestic Buyer’s Top Small Producers
One of the best things about my job as Domestic Buyer at K&L is the constant thrill of finding and working with exciting small producers. Sure, the Domestic category has its fair share of longtime classics and stalwart producers that I know and love (Ridge Vineyards, Mayacamas, Beaulieu, Montelena), but I relish keeping my finger on the pulse of new generations of winemakers and tasting new wines that push the envelope of possibilities while building on the legacy of those that went before them.
One of my absolute favorite small producers we're working with right now is MarBeso, based in the Sta. Rita Hills. I first got to know owner/winemaker Colin McNanny when he was making the wines at La Honda winery, just down the road from our Redwood City store. I admired the wines he managed to craft at La Honda, especially when you take into account that the team there produced wines from dozens of essentially “backyard vineyards” from Los Gatos to San Mateo. Colin and I became friends with a mutual enjoyment of surfing and finding great hole-in-the-wall taquerias around Redwood City. Keep reading On the Trail.
2024 MarBeso "Magic Hour" Santa Barbara County Skin Fermented Vermentino - Gruner Veltliner (Orange Wine) (Elsewhere $36) $29.95 View
2023MarBeso "Spear Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay (Elsewhere $40) $29.95 View
2023 MarBeso Sta. Rita Hills Grenache - Syrah (Elsewhere $52) 94 $39.95 View
2023 MarBeso "Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $68) 97 $49.95 View
2023 MarBeso "Robert Rae Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Syrah (Elsewhere $65) 96 $49.95 View
2022 MarBeso "Ascona Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $60) 94 $49.95 View
Farella: Hidden in Plain Sight
The region of Coombsville in Napa Valley even describes itself on the official vintners and growers page as a hidden gem. Despite being just three minutes from downtown Napa, the area is still somewhat off the beaten path for most visitors to the valley. Coombsville is one of the more recently established sub-AVAs in Napa, officially recognized in 2011. However, grape growing in the region dates back to the 1880s. To this day, the iconic R.W. Moore Vineyard, planted in 1905, remains in production.
The modern era of Coombsville truly began in the early 1980s, and no winery was more instrumental in the founding of this AVA than Farella. Second-generation owner Tom Farella not only wrote and submitted the petition that led to the AVA’s creation but also carried on the family legacy beyond simply filing paperwork. His father, Frank Farella, had originally established the winery in 1977. The first estate wines were produced in 1982 and commercially released in 1985.Keep reading On the Trail.
2023 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc $24.95 View
2024 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc $24.95 View
2018 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Napa Valley Malbec $29.95 View
2019 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Napa Valley Malbec $29.95 View
2014Farella "Estate" Coombsville Merlot (Winery Direct Library Release) $39.95 View
2019 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Napa Valley Merlot 92 $39.95 View
2021 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon 95 $64.95 View
2019 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 95 $69.95 View
2019 Farella "Alta" Coombsville Red Blend 95 $99.95 View
Upcoming Tastings
Saturday, 9/27: From Sparkling to Cabernet: Napa Uncorked
San Francisco | 1:00 - 4:00pm
Redwood City | 1:00 - 4:00pm
Few wine regions in the world carry the prestige and diversity of Napa Valley, and this lineup showcases why. From crisp, vibrant whites to richly structured reds, each bottle highlights a different facet of the Valley’s varied terroir and storied winemaking tradition. With estates that embody both classic pedigree and innovative spirit, this tasting offers a rare chance to experience the breadth and depth that has made Napa one of the most celebrated wine regions on earth.
Domaine Carneros "Cuvée de la Pompadour" Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine (Elsewhere $45) 94 $37.95 View
2024 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc $24.95 View
2023 Matthiasson "Linda Vista Vineyard" Napa Valley Chardonnay (Elsewhere $40) 96 $29.95 View
2014 Farella "Estate" Coombsville Merlot (Winery Direct Library Release) $39.95 View
2021 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $90) 95 $59.95 View
2021 Grgich Hills "Estate" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 95 $69.95 View
Saturday, 9/27: The Heart of Central Coast
Culver City | 3:00 - 6:00pm
Los Angeles | 3:00 - 6:00pm
The Central Coast continues to prove itself as one of California’s most exciting wine regions, where coastal breezes, varied soils, and visionary winemakers converge to create truly distinctive wines. This tasting offers a journey through Ballard Canyon and Sta. Rita Hills, highlighting everything from crisp whites and vibrant rosé to nuanced reds that balance elegance with depth. It’s a snapshot of the region’s incredible diversity and the energy driving it forward today.
2023 Stolpman Estate "Uni" Ballard Canyon White Blend 92 $24.95 View
2023 Tyler Sta. Rita Hills Rosé Pinot Noir 91 $21.95 View
2023 Combe "Stolpman Vineyard" Ballard Canyon Trousseau $29.95 View
2022 Tyler "Wenzlau Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $60) 93 $29.95 View
2023 MarBeso Sta. Rita Hills Grenache - Syrah (Elsewhere $52) 94 $39.95 View
2015 Stolpman "Ruben's Block" Ballard Canyon Syrah (Winery Direct Library Release) (Previously $98) 95 $69.95 View
2021 Napa Valley Legends In Stock Now
The 2021 Napa Valley vintage is widely regarded as one of the finest in recent memory—but the wines featured here stand at the very top of that extraordinary year. These are the benchmarks: the 100-point titans, the vineyard icons, and the collector’s jewels that define Napa’s greatness. Low yields and tiny berries gave the vintage its hallmark intensity, but it is the rare balance of power, finesse, and precision that elevates these bottlings above the rest. With critics awarding multiple perfect scores and calling 2021 “a once-in-a-generation vintage,” this collection represents the crème de la crème of Napa Valley—wines destined for the cellar, built for decades of evolution, and already commanding their place in history.
2021 Accendo Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 100 $374.95 View
2021 Chappellet "Pritchard Hill" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 99 $324.95 View
2021 Cliff Lede "Poetry" Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 100 $374.95 View
2021 Colgin "Cariad" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 100 $749.00 View
2021 Colgin "IX Estate" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 99 $749.00 View
2021 Colgin "Tychson Hill Vineyard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 100 $749.00 View
2021 Dalla Valle & Ornellaia "DVO" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 97 $324.95 View
2021 Dominus Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 100 $329.00 View
2021 Hundred Acre "Morgan's Way Vineyard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 100 $749.00 View
2021 Hundred Acre "Wraith'' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 100 $749.00 View
2021 Joseph Phelps "Insignia" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 98 $329.95 View
2021 Lewis Cellars "Cuvée L" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5L) $459.99 View
2021 Peter Michael "Au Paradis" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 100 $249.95 View
2021 Philip Togni "Estate" Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 100 $229.95 View
2021 Robert Mondavi "The Reserve - To Kalon Vineyard" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 98 $229.95 View
2021 Tusk "L'Orange" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend $749.99 View
Open Cellar: Taste and Discover
Each K&L store location now offers 16 rotating taps filled with our latest featured selections! Available by the 1- or 2-ounce pour, Open Cellar gives you the chance to explore everything from iconic collectibles like 2009 Latour to beautifully aged Barolo—without the full bottle commitment. And it’s not all First Growths and trophy bottles. Whether you’re after a fresh summer Sauvignon Blanc or a bold red to pair with dinner, you’ll find something to suit your taste and budget.
Incredibly easy to use, new wines are added every two weeks, so there’s always something fresh to explore.
At K&L, we’ve always loved helping our customers pick the perfect bottle—but now we get to open them, too. We can’t wait to share the incredible depth of our cellar with you.