Sometimes it’s simply kismet. Our latest private-label release is a collaboration with the famed Chablis producer La Chablisienne. K&L has worked closely with La Chablisienne for many years, and when the opportunity arose to create a private label together, we jumped at the chance. Adding to the magic is the timing: the 2023 vintage commemorates La Chablisienne’s 100th anniversary, while its release in 2026 coincides with K&L Wine Merchants’ 50th anniversary.
Read MoreThere is a misconception that Italian sparkling wine begins and ends with simple Prosecco. But if you dig just a little deeper, you realize that Italy is actually one of the most dynamic sparkling wine nations on earth. We have the "Grand Crus" of Valdobbiadene, the serious Metodo Classico of Lombardy, the savory fizz of Emilia, and even volcanic bubbles from the slopes of Etna.
Read MoreMy recent trip through the Rhône was one of the most productive I can remember. I tasted with dozens of vintners, reconnected with many of our long-standing direct-import partners, and discovered several exciting new producers along the way. One of my favorite “finds” from this trip was the exceptional range from Laurent and Dominique Courbis.
Read MoreFrom top-performing sub-$50 values to cellar-worthy icons from benchmark vintages, this Bordeaux roundup showcases the full depth and diversity of the region. You'll find Left Bank stars from 2016 and 2019, rare mature releases, a compelling new discovery in Bordeaux Blanc, and a powerful case for the greatness of 2022. We've also released our 2024 Bordeaux Vintage Report, highlighting the most recent growing season's challenges and charms. There’s never been a better time to rediscover Bordeaux’s dynamic landscape—both on the page and in your glass.
Read MoreDão is one of the most unique regions in the country. It is essentially an isolated bowl located in the center north of Portugal. It is surrounded by mountains, which protect it not only from coastal influence but also from the sweltering heat of the middle of the Iberian Peninsula. This is a place apart from the rest of the winemaking regions of the country. While most vineyards are not planted on the slopes of the surrounding mountains, the region has an alpine feel. Here the smaller vineyard holdings are surrounded by forests. It is not uncommon to find giant granite boulders strewn across the landscape—it has an untamed feel to it. The wines from the region have been called the Burgundies of Portugal. While I do not know if that fits, the wines do feel brighter, more aromatic, and more restrained—especially when compared to the bold, sun-drenched wines from the rest of the country.
Read MoreGreg St. Clair has been at the heart and soul of our Italian wine program for 28 years. He has excelled at finding us wonderful wines from Italy at great prices, as well as being the greatest ambassador for everything Italy. He’d pour the staff a wine and accompany it with a story about eating nothing but wild boar for a week in Tuscany or climbing a precariously sloped vineyard in Soave, with such vivid details that we it was easy to feel transported to another world—his version of Italy is the best version, the one where your glass is never empty and your stomach always has room for the never-ending parade of mouthwatering food that your dear friends are cooking for you. He is passionate about Italy, and it was hard not to fall in love with it too when he was pouring wine. He embodied the dolce vita and was always there to remind us of the pleasures of the table.
Read MoreAustria is dominated by old wineries with long lineages, yet they’re also at the forefront of both organic and biodynamic faming. Grüner Veltliner is the most recognizable grape variety grown in Austria, and it recently has gone through a revolution—almost all of the Grüner Veltliner producers we carry are at the very least growing organically and many are employing biodynamic growing practices…. We have tons of great values in Grüner Veltliner in stock to help you get better acquainted to this alternative to Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.
Read MoreSo many exciting things are happening in the Portuguese wine world. Over the last 30 years the wine industry has changed so much… in the span of just one generation, Portuguese wine is ready for international success. Winemakers and viticulturalists have so much knowledge now, it is no surprise how good these wines are now. And the best part about it is that we are along for the ride to watch and taste what is happening.
Read MoreWhether you’re a seasoned Sangiovese collector, newly enraptured with Tuscany or just reaching for a warming red this season, finding the right bottle of Chianti Classico is getting a whole lot easier.
Read MoreMany of the lesser-known appellations in Burgundy have been making huge improvements in quality over the last 10+ years, and I’ve been travelling to these regions each year to find the hidden gems. Let’s take a deeper look at the Mâcon, Beaujolais, and the Côte Chalonnaise. These are all regions that are absolutely bursting with amazing values.
Read MoreI have long believed that the Santa Cruz Mountains are a truly special place to grow grapes. This rugged coastal range forced up by the collision of two tectonic plates has an incredible bounty of complex soils. It’s a geological kaleidoscope of ancient uplifted seabed, volcanic deposits, and metamorphic rock bent and twisted by the immense pressures below. All of this is churned up by the San Andreas fault and weathered down by several millennia of coastal storms.
Read MoreIn the five years since we added Château Gigognan to our Direct Import portfolio, I’ve watched this estate evolve into a truly impressive producer. When I last visited in 2022, I saw they’d made some exciting physical improvements: they’d added a new barrel-aging facility to augment their concrete fermenters, and they’d put the finishing touches on their new visitor center. Surrounded by the lovely Bois des Moines vineyards, whose fruit goes into their Côtes du Rhône, this is property that showcases the beauty of Provence in full force. But most importantly, its terroir really speaks through its wines.
Read More
