A Love Letter to the Loire

I have long been a fan of Loire wines, well before I became the buyer for the category at K&L. The crisp, mineral-driven Sauvignon Blancs of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé were among the first wines I drank, even before I joined the wine industry. Back then, Pouilly-Fumé was the region to watch, driven by the cult producer Didier Dagueneau and the vibrant, smoky whites produced there. Sancerre was still a few years away from becoming the ubiquitous wine you now see on restaurant menus around the world.

Holiday Gift Guide

This year’s K&L Holiday Gift Guide showcases the bottles our buyers are most excited to give (and to receive). Below you’ll find Champagne benchmarks, hand-selected Domestic gems, top-flight Tuscan classics, and versatile Loire Valley wines, plus upcoming in-store events and our Thanksgiving Pairing Guide. Consider this your roadmap to the most compelling gifts of the season.

Discover Why the Loire Is France’s Best Wine Value

Ask a sommelier what they drink on their day off and more often than not, the answer is the Loire Valley. Why? Exceptional value, deep history, incredible diversity, and food-pairing perfection. From crisp Muscadet to age-worthy Chenin Blanc and soulful Cabernet Franc, the Loire delivers serious pedigree without the pretense—or the price tag. Below, you’ll find some of our most exciting discoveries, from under-the-radar gems to cellar-worthy icons.

Anthony Girard – A Sancerre Original

Anthony Girard remains one of my favorite "characters" in Sancerre. Years ago, he struck out on his own, leaving the family domaine to create La Clef du Récit in the southern part of the appellation. The name, which translates to “the key to the story,” is intriguingly ambiguous—there’s no castle here, despite the imagery. But maybe it’s more about the keys to his own imaginative mind-palace… which brings us back to that "character" part.

Loire Valley Newsletter: Keith's Road Trip!

Today's Newsletter is Loire Buyer Keith Mabry's travel diary, so to speak. Having just returned from the region, he's full of fresh insight and enthuisasm for an incredibly broad and diverse range of expressions, starting with a trio of standouts from Keith's many visits while he was on the road. Our direct-import Loire producers are firing on all cylinders, showcasing the reference-point class of Loire Sauvignon Blanc. Hidden-gem regions provide unbeatable value (and longevity) for jaw-dropping bargains, and Keith pays a long-awaited visit to an all-time favorite visionary in an up-and-coming appellation.

The Loire's Finest Values, Hidden Gems, and World-Class Buys

Today’s Loire Valley Newsletter starts with a few personal favorites of our intrepid Loire Buyer Keith Mabry, followed by an introduction to one of the great unsung heroes of the Chenin Blanc varietal—Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups. Next we dig a little deeper into the Loire's most famous region, Sancerre, by highlighting three under-the-radar stunners that provide everything Sancerre fans love about the appellation. The Loire's red wines get their due praise as Keith takes us through Cabernet Franc stunners that offer world-class appeal for simply unbeatable prices, and we round out the journey with thrilling examples of what the Loire arguably does better than anywhere else—provide exceptional wine drinking experiences for a mere song.

A Summer Sippers Jubilee

We’re deep in the dog days of summer, when nothing but a thirst-quenching glass of wine will do. In this week’s newsletter, our Buyers reveal some of their favorite refreshers from around the world, from Sauvignon Blanc to rosé to Gamay.

Visiting Our Favorite Winemakers in Sancerre

Next up in our France adventures: Sancerre! The Sancerre region is close to the heart of K&L—it’s Kay Beffa (the “K” of K&L)’s favorite wine, and our co-owner Clyde is also a big fan. It’s also the first place that we imported wine from directly, and we are still importing and loving the wines of that first producer, Franck and Betty Millet.

Kate SotoJune 16, 2021K&L Wine Merchantsklwines, sancerre, sauvignon blanc, loire valley

The Excellent 2019 Vintage in Sancerre

Loire Buyer Keith Mabry introduces viewers to the excellent 2019 vintage in Sancerre, one that started with the threat of frost, but ultimately ended dry and warm, producing good quality and balance in the wines.

A String of Successful Vintages in Rhône, Loire, and Southwestern France

Hot off the presses, our current newsletter, where French Regional Buyer Keith Mabry takes us on a Tour de France, covering some of the hottest Rhône, Loire, and Rousillon wines on our roster. Vintages have been good, and our producers are knocking it out of the park.

California Goat Cheese Salad—for Sancerre!

In a few days, Cinnamon and I are going to the Loire Valley for the first time, spending the whole trip relaxing in one place: Sancerre. I have been so excited about this trip that I couldn’t wait to get a little taste in advance, and started searching around online for recipes to go with the iconic Sauvignon Blanc from the region. I settled on the salade au crottin de Chavignol as inspiration, and read a number of recipes online. Naturally, I picked the wine first—and went with the 2017 Domaine La Clef du Recit, a recommendation from our Loire Valley buyer Keith Mabry.

Gary WestbyJuly 5, 2019sancerre, loire valley, food pairing, sauvignon blanc, sancerre food pairing

Keith's Loire Travelogue, Part 2

One thing I’ve learned about K&L Buyer trips is that they are not for the faint of heart! Buyers pack a lot of visits into a short amount of time so that they can see as many producers as possible. Luckily there’s ample cheese and wine for fortification.

Kate SotoJune 3, 2019loire valley, loire valley wine, anjou, chinon, sancerre, bourgeuil

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