Magic in a Bottle for Ringing in the New Year!

Our selection of fantastic Domestic Sparkling wines continues to grow from strength to strength and as we approach 2026 we have over 70 options in stock. So, what to choose? Well we have the classics: Roederer Estate, Schramberg, J Vineyards. But we also have a beautiful selection of small production sparkling wines that are very much following the boutique, Grower Champagne type model with unwavering focus on quality, complexity and expression terroir. So, as we get ready to ring in another new year (my 15th here at K&L) I decided to highlight a few very special wines that are on my short list for popping when the ball drops (likely at NY time)! Wishing you all a wonderful New Year and health and happiness for 2026 and beyond! Cheers!

Coming Soon from the Anonymous Wine Collective

Anonymous is without doubt one of the most exciting projects we've launched in decades at K&L. The wines have been extremely well received all around and continue to fly off our shelves as folks drink them and taste for themselves what exceptional values they represent. It's a fun game to play, trying to guess whom we partnered with on each release, and many of you have emailed me some pretty good guesses. However, the most important thing that really drives this project is the quality that's in the bottle. If it doesn't taste good, intrigue and speculation can only carry the wines so far. The wines have to deliver, and I'm really proud of what we've put in bottle. I hope you feel the same way.

Inspiring Winemaking at Stolpman Vineyards

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.

There and Back Again: The Far Reaches of the West Sonoma Coast

Last month we finally pulled off a staff trip that had been six years in the making! I had long wanted to take our sales team up to the far West Sonoma Coast and Fort Ross-Seaview AVAs. This beautiful part of the state produces some of the very best and most distinctive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the world. However, the wineries and vineyards are extremely remote and getting to them requires long miles on very tiny roads full of switchbacks, precipitous drop offs, and centurion Coastal Redwoods. Putting together my dream itinerary for this trip was no small feat. Winemakers’ schedules had to align. I had to get 15 staff members on a bus to navigate these roads, and rely on the willingness of our fearless designated driver, Jorge Valencia, to traverse these coastal mountains, often on dirt roads in the middle of nowhere! But we finally did it!

Spring Is Offically Time for Rosé All Day

Spring has sprung and with it the official start of rosé season. As I’ve said before, personally I like to drink rosé all year, but here at K&L we definitely start to see an uptick in demand as the lighter evenings draw out and temperatures rise.

Iconic Collectible Wines from Our Own Backyard

With a string of exceptional vintages here on the West Coast, and viticulture and winemaking constantly going from strength to strength, it’s a great time to be a collector or consumer of benchmark wines from the U.S. I’ve put together a broad cross section of some of the very best domestic wines in our inventory for your perusal. These are in-stock ready to go, but many are very limited with massive scores so don’t delay if something takes your fancy!

Hiding in Plain Sight: Hendry Ranch Wines in Napa

Hendry Estate is a true hidden gem and one of my favorite places in all of Napa Valley. The wines are great, the views are beautiful, the surroundings calm and serene. But perhaps more importantly than any of those things, spending an hour or two at Hendry is like stepping back into a bygone era of Napa Valley. An era when multigenerational farming families worked the land together. An era when specific blocks of land were planted to varieties that made the most sense for quality and expression of place rather than an economic calculation of what variety would yield the highest return on investment.

Shockingly Good New Discovery: Common Thread Wines from Carmel Valley

Rarely have I ever tasted through a line up of wines from a producer I have never heard of before and been so flat-out stunned. My first thought was, “How have I never heard of or tasted these wines before!?” It’s not that I expect to know every producer in the market, but I do pride myself in keeping my finger on the pulse of what’s going on and who is making exciting wines—so when a new (to me) winery pops up, in a region so near and dear to my heart, and blows me away… it’s a (happy) surprise. That’s exactly what happened recently with my first exposure to Common Thread wines.

What's Our Resident Brit Drinking for Thanksgiving? Domestic Wines!

As I’ve written in years gone by, Thanksgiving is one of the funnest meals to pair wine with because, although you have the basic building blocks of what the spread will probably look like, so many folks have their own traditions and speciality dishes they contribute to the ensemble, giving endless opportunities to find new and magical food pairings. It’s also typically a long day of food preparation, socializing, and, quite frankly, some good old day drinking. So, keep refreshment in mind and always have some nice crisp, fresh, white wines on hand to keep that palate energized for the finishing stretch of chewing on a turkey leg or that extra scoop of stuffing you probably could have done without! I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving shared with loved ones new and old. And without further ado, here are a few wines I think might work to wash it all down!

Dynamic Domestic Wines: New Discoveries and Inspiration

The endless diversity and discovery of domestic wine are on full display in today’s buying guide. Leading the way is the vintage that almost wasn’t but has become one of our absolute favorites: 2022 in Oregon. We’ve also consulted our domestic wine experts in each store to share their favorite picks. Next, we highlight STiRM, showcasing stunning expressions of a minimalist approach at remarkable prices. We’re also ready to take non-alcoholic wines seriously, as evidenced by the offerings from Kally. Rounding out the guide is a review of our most exciting Insider's Advantage opportunities, featuring some of the fine wine market's best deals in the domestic category.

Our Domestic Wine Experts Weigh In on Current Faves

Wine Buyer Ryan Woodhouse steers the ship for the Domestic category at K&L, but he's got a passionate crew on hand at each store to help you find your next favorite. Carlo, Scott, and Al share some of the current standouts from California and Oregon.

STiRM: Minimal Intervention, Maximum Value

Wines that offer great value are a key focus for me whenever making buying decisions at K&L. Sure, some folks' definition of value might be quite different than mine, and not all great wines can necessarily be cheap. However, there’s something so satisfying when you find a wine that is just darn delicious for a great price. Even better (at least in my opinion) is when that delicious wine also happens to come from a small artisanal producer, hand-crafting wines from interesting vineyards in a non-interventionist style, with a great sense of place and authentic purity. This is exactly what I find in the wines of Ryan Stirm.

K&L Wine Merchants

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