Discover the Latest Italian Gems and Benchmarks

Italian wine offers something few wine cultures can: an unmatched combination of history, place, and everyday pleasure. From the sunlit hills of Tuscany to the fog-shrouded vineyards of Barolo, Italy’s greatest wines are rooted in native grapes, centuries of tradition, and a deep connection to food and local life. At the same time, Italy remains one of the world’s best sources of value, producing honest, character-driven wines that deliver far more quality than their price suggests. In this issue, we explore the power and prestige of Tuscany, the depth and longevity of Barolo, and the joy of discovering Italian wines that prove you don’t need to spend a fortune to drink beautifully.

Critically Acclaimed Chianti Classico Under $20
Discovery Series
2021 Brunello: A Return to Classicism
Sassicaia 2022 + Conterno 2019 Monfortino Pre-Arrival
Tignanello + Cervaro
Raineri Direct Import Barolo
Saturday Tasting (All Stores): Nebbiolo & the Hills That Made It

Critically Acclaimed Chianti Classico Under $20

Few names in Tuscany embody the soul of Sangiovese like Fèlsina. From their benchmark Chianti Classico to the profound Riserva and legendary Rancia vineyard, this estate delivers wines that combine authenticity, elegance, and longevity in every vintage. The 2022 release once again proves why Fèlsina is considered a standard-bearer for Chianti Classico. Read More On the Trail

2022 Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 92 $19.99 View

Discovery Series

The K&L Discovery Series is a curated collection of wines selected by our expert buying team to spotlight what we believe are the hidden gems, overlooked vintages, and exceptional expressions worth discovering in today’s wine world. The aim of this exclusive collection is to showcase wines that are both quintessential and exemplary representations of their region and/or vintage— and are brought to life through labels designed to educate and inspire discovery. Each bottle in the series is the product of K&L’s 49 years of deep, trusted relationships with wineries and growers, crafted in collaboration with partners we know and respect. Each wine in this series must rise above its peers, often outperforming bottles at multiples of the price. Only those that meet this high bar make it into the lineup.

2020 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Elsewhere $30) $17.99 View
2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo (Elsewhere $60) $27.99 View
2022 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Super Tuscan (Elsewhere $110) $39.99 View
2019 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Brunello di Montalcino (Elsewhere $110) $59.99 View
2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo Mosconi (Elsewhere $70) $37.99 View

2021 Brunello: A Return to Classicism

The 2021 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino is being celebrated as a radiant return to classicism, offering a vibrant energy and serious structure that distinguishes it from the opulent heat of recent years. These wines are marked by "al dente" fruit profiles—think crisp sour cherry and blood orange—supported by electric acidity and fine-grained, chalky tannins that promise exceptional longevity. Read More On the Trail

2021 Costanti Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival, Elsewhere $130) 99 $99.99 View
2021 Costanti Brunello di Montalcino 6-Pack in OCC (Pre-Arrival) 99 $539.99 View
2021 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival, Elsewhere $120) 99 $99.99 View
2021 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 6-Pack in OCC (Pre-Arrival) 99 $549.99 View
2021 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival) 99 $249.99 View
2021 La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival) 96 $69.99 View
2021 Le Potazzine Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival) 98 $89.99 View
2021 Gianni Brunelli Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival) 100 $89.99 View
2021 Gianni Brunelli Brunello di Montalcino 6-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) 100 $539.99 View
2021 Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival) 98 $249.99 View
2021 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival) 94 $54.99 View
2021 La Gerla "La Pieve" Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival) 100 $89.99 View
2021 La Gerla "La Pieve" Brunello di Montalcino (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival) 100 $199.99
2021Fattoria dei Barbi "Vigna Fiore" Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival) 94 $99.99 View
2021 Casanova di Neri "Giovanni Neri" Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival) 98 $329.99 View
2021 Casanova di Neri "Tenuta Nuova" Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival) 96 $129.99 View
2021 Casanova di Neri "White Label" Brunello di Montalcino (Pre-Arrival) 95 $69.99 View
2021 Il Marroneto "Madonna Delle Grazie" Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (Pre-Arrival) 100 $499.99 View

Sassicaia 2022 + Conterno 2019 Monfortino Pre-Arrival

Sassicaia and Monfortino occupy a singular place in the history of Italian wine because they reshaped how the world understood Italy’s potential for greatness. Sassicaia, born in Bolgheri, shattered rigid appellation rules by proving that Cabernet-based wines from Tuscany could rival the finest Bordeaux, helping to launch the Super Tuscan movement and usher Italy into a modern, international era of fine wine. Monfortino, Giacomo Conterno’s legendary Barolo Riserva, represents the opposite but equally powerful force: an uncompromising commitment to tradition, terroir, and long aging, elevating Nebbiolo and Barolo to a benchmark of classical excellence. Together, Sassicaia and Monfortino define the dual soul of Italian wine—innovation alongside tradition—and established Italy as a country capable of producing wines of profound identity, longevity, and global significance.

2022 San Guido "Sassicaia" Bolgheri 98 $249.99 View
2022San Guido "Sassicaia" Bolgheri 6-pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival) 98 $1,499.99 View
2019 Giacomo Conterno "Monfortino" Barolo Riserva (Pre-Arrival, Elsewhere $1000) 100 $799.99 View
2019 Giacomo Conterno "Monfortino" Barolo Riserva (3L) (Pre-Arrival) 100 $3,999.99 View
2019 Giacomo Conterno "Monfortino" Barolo Riserva (1.5L) (Pre-Arrival) 100 $1,899.99 View

Tignanello + Cervaro

Two of Antinori’s most important wines have arrived, each representing a defining expression of modern Italian winemaking. The 2023 Cervaro della Sala remains the reference point for ambitious Italian whites, combining precision, texture, and aging potential in a way few wines in the world can match. Alongside it, the 2022 Tignanello reasserts why this historic vineyard site continues to set the standard for Super Tuscan reds, delivering depth, balance, and unmistakable Tuscan character. Together, these releases capture the breadth of Antinori’s vision and the enduring relevance of two true benchmarks.

2023 Antinori "Cervaro della Sala" Chardonnay Umbria 97 $74.99 View
2022 Antinori "Tignanello" Toscana 96 $159.99 View

Raineri Direct Import Barolo

Perno is a fascinating cru in Monforte. It sits on a ridge that catches the wind, often producing wines that are more austere and “intellectual” than their neighbors. Raineri’s take is stunning. It opens with notes of wild mint, iron, and crushed rose petals. On the palate, it is tense and vertical, with fine-grained tannins that grip but don’t punish. This is Barolo for purists—elegant, savory, and precise. A wine that will evolve beautifully for decades. Read More On the Trail

2024 Raineri Langhe Bianco $14.99 View
2024 Raineri (Ca Dei Folli) Piemonte Barbera $14.99 View
2021 Raineri "Castelletto" Barolo (Elsewhere $100) 95 $59.99 View
2021 Raineri "Perno" Barolo (Elsewhere $70) 94 $49.99 View

Saturday Tasting (All Stores): Nebbiolo & the Hills That Made It

Saturday, January 31st
$35 per ticket
3:00PM–6:00PM — K&L Culver City
3:00PM–6:00PM — K&L Hollywood
1:00PM–4:00PM — K&L San Francisco
1:00PM–4:00PM — K&L Redwood City

Barolo’s history is shaped by a shared commitment to Nebbiolo grown on steep hillsides, long aging traditions, and the distinct identities of its communes, all codified when the region earned DOCG status in 1980 as one of Italy’s earliest protected appellations. The producers in this tasting reflect that lineage through vineyards rooted in sites like Bussia and Castelletto, areas long recognized for their calcareous soils and exposure, while approaches to fermentation, maceration length, and aging vessels reveal how Barolo has evolved since the 19th century without abandoning its foundations. Taken together, these wines trace how individual estates contribute to Barolo’s broader narrative, where geography, regulation, and generational continuity shape expression more than any single stylistic trend.

2021 K&L Discovery Series Italy, Barolo (Elsewhere $60) $27.99 View
2021 G.D. Vajra "Albe" Barolo $44.99 View
2021 Giulia Negri ”La Tartufaia“ Barolo $69.99 View
2019 Giovanni Rosso Barolo $59.99 View
2021 Raineri "Castelletto" Barolo (Elsewhere $100) $59.99 View
2021 Poderi Einaudi "Bussia" Barolo $89.99 View

Lineup is subject to change. Walk-ins permitted as capacity allows.
K&L Culver City
K&L Hollywood
K&L San Francisco
K&L Redwood City

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, January 28th – Dark Matter: A Stout Study (San Francisco & Redwood City)
Thursday, January 29th – Jettywave: Crafted Along the California Coastline (Redwood City)
Thursday, January 29th – Sylva: Non-Alcoholic Aged Spirits (Culver City)
Thursday, January 29th – Bird Snapper Non-Alcoholic RTDs (San Francisco)
Thursday, January 29th – The Wines of Anna Maria Abbona (Hollywood)
Friday, January 30th – Sonoma County Tasting (All Stores)
Saturday, January 31st – Casa Azul Tequila: Nature and Tradition (Culver City)
Saturday, January 31st – Nebbiolo & the Hills That Made It (All Stores)
Sunday, February 1st – Margarita-Focused Tasting with Real del Valle Tequila (Culver City)
Thursday, February 5th – Wine Club Pickup (All Stores)
Friday, February 6th – Burgundy (All Stores)
Saturday, February 7th – Loco Tequila: Born of Heritage (Culver City)
Saturday, February 7th – Northern Rhône (All Stores)
Saturday, February 7th – Knob Creek with Garrison Hearst (San Francisco)
Sunday, February 8th – Craft Spirits Cooperative: Flor De Luna Distillery (Culver City)
Sunday, February 8th – Prohibition to Port Barrels: High West Whiskey (Redwood City)
Thursday, February 12th – Blind Tastings at K&L! (All Stores)
Friday, February 13th – Burgundy (All Stores)
Saturday, February 14th – Rosé Champagne (All Stores)
Sunday, February 15th – Bird Snapper Non-Alcoholic RTDs (San Francisco)
Thursday, February 19th – Isle of Harris: Island Spirits (San Francisco)
Thursday, February 19th – Public Trust Spirits: Montagave Tequila (Culver City)
Friday, February 20th – Greece (All Stores)