Our Buying team truly comprises some of the most knowledgeable, passionate wine and spirits experts in the biz, and we’re happy to bring you a set of their favorites from across our aisles. From years of traveling and extensive experience in the industry, each buyer represents a wealth of knowledge broadly about wine and spirits, but very deeply about their own regions and categories. If you want to shoot the breeze about soils, talk about best vintages to buy, or just learn what’s new and exciting—they are unparalleled resources! Seek them out on our sales floor or shoot them an email via our Staff Profile page.
Read MoreThe K&L Holiday Wine Buying Guide is your ultimate resource for selecting the perfect wines to elevate your holiday celebrations. Whether you're searching for the ideal bottle to pair with festive meals, a special gift for a wine lover, or simply a standout wine to enjoy with loved ones, our curated guide offers expert recommendations across all price points and styles. From rich reds and elegant whites to sparkling wines and rare finds, our team of experienced sommeliers and wine buyers has handpicked a selection that embodies the spirit of the season, ensuring your holiday table is stocked with exceptional wines. Let us help you make this holiday season even more memorable with the perfect bottle for every occasion!
Read MoreThe holiday season is a time for giving, and if you're looking for a gift that combines thoughtfulness, variety, and sophistication, K&L has you covered. We offer a variety of Wine Club subscriptions at different price points that will keep your loved ones in the holiday spirit all year long.
Read MoreWhile I enjoy splurging on a few fancy bottles for Thanksgiving itself, for Friendsgiving, I typically hunt for more affordable wines that punch well above their price point. We don’t want to break the bank, but we want everyone to enjoy the wine. That’s one reason I keep returning to the wines of New Zealand and Australia for Friendsgiving. They’re incredibly delicious, appeal to a wide range of tastes, and consistently offer extraordinary value for the price. Here are some of the wines we’ll be serving at our Friendsgiving this year:
Read MoreOn September 19th and 20th, K&L had the pleasure of welcoming the esteemed and affable winemaker Helen Masters from New Zealand’s Ata Rangi Winery for a memorable tasting series and unique dinner in San Francisco. For an in-depth discussion on Ata Rangi's background and ethos, check out the fantastic write-up by Emma Jenkins, MW for Decanter. Ata Rangi is undeniably one of the top Pinot Noir producers in New Zealand. They were not only recognized in 2010 with the inaugural Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa or "Grand Cru of New Zealand" award, but they've earned a reputation for producing wines that are delightfully approachable, expressively terroir-driven, and remarkably age-worthy. Plus, it's hard not to have a great time around Helen, a true champion of the wine industry and wonderful person!
Read MoreThis week, we’re excited to introduce several new and intriguing Australian producers, including Swinney wines from the remote Frankland River region, which are available in the U.S. for the first time. We’re also welcoming back Sons of Eden, a collaboration between master winemaker Corey Ryan and renowned viticulturist Simon Cowham, after a six-year hiatus. Additionally, we have a stellar lineup from Lienert in the Barossa, known for their exceptional Roussanne. And, of course, don't forget about the world-class values from Oakridge.
Read MoreIt’s rare that these days for me to sit down at a winery and be totally blown away by a label I’ve never seen before. But that’s exactly what happened last June when I was at the Artisans of Barossa tasting room in South Australia. The winery, in this case, was Lienert. The Roussanne was the first wine that stopped me in my tracks. Gorgeous acid, sweet fruit, and beautiful notes of honeycomb immediately struck me. The same was true for the Grenache and the Mourvèdre, both stunningly delicious wines that blew me away. Moments later I was looking through my notes trying to figure out how to get in touch with these guys when a broad-shouldered gentlemen with a reddish beard plopped down in the the chair across from me and extended his hand for a shake, “Hi there, I’m James Lienert.”
Read MoreIf the quality of grapes is a measure of a wine, then the measure of a winery is the quality of the people who make it. By that estimate, Sons of Eden is one of the best Australian producers out there.
Read MoreIn 2018, Swinney released their first wines to instant acclaim. They enlisted Western Australian winemaking legend Rob Mann from Cape Mentelle to lead the winemaking. The debut vintage garnered shock and admiration within the Australian wine scene. Since then, Swinney has continued to build its reputation. Australian wine critic James Halliday has awarded the winery a coveted five-star rating, his highest accolade. Their wines have received impressive 98+ scores from Decanter and the Wine Advocate.
Read MoreLast June, I had the extraordinary opportunity to explore the Australian wine country, searching for the next wave of exceptional wines that deserve a place on the shelves at K&L. I was not only impressed by the quality of the wines I tasted but also surprised by the sheer number of producers crafting exquisite artisanal wines that had never been imported to the United States.
Read MoreLast June while touring the wineries of Victoria, Australia, and I had an experience that was as close as you can come to Lopez: Tahbilk. About forty minutes outside Melbourne, as the suburbs and development communities give way to the marshlands of the Murray River, Australia’s most iconic vineyards lie surrounded by swamp land of the Nagambie Lakes, with history everywhere you look.
Read MoreCabernet Sauvignon has a long history in Australia dating back to the 1830s when it was introduced by Scottish immigrant and wine pioneer James Busby. Though a hardy and disease-resistant cultivar, early experimental plantings failed due to poor vineyard locations and lack of knowledge. It didn’t take long to get it right—the oldest surviving Cabernet Sauvignon vines are believed to be Penfold’s Kalimna Block 42, planted in the Barossa Valley in 1888. Today it is the second most-planted wine grape in Oz at 25,000 ha. Here are a few world-class renditions of one of Australia’s flagship varieties:
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