Golden State, Silver Linings: The Domestic Wine Newsletter
As California finds itself in the midst of another brutal fire season, we release our newsletter devoted to its wines. The timing is coincidence, but the sentiment is sincere: we are passionate about our state and want to support our fellow Californians in this difficult time in any way we know how. The way we know is wine. We’ve enclosed in this newsletter some of our Buyers’ current favorites. And we are publishing it with the hopes that our beloved places and people under siege by fire will soon get the reprieve they so desperately need.
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The Wonderful Wine World of Ballard Canyon
We are so lucky in California to be a stone’s throw from great wine regions, no matter which part of the state we live in—and it seems a particularly good moment to celebrate this unique part of the world while it suffers under smoke and fire right now. Hollywood staffer Illya Haase recently took his family on a short jaunt from LA to Ballard Canyon, home to Stolpman Vineyards and their great lineup of wines. He was impressed by their thoughtful winemaking and farming, but mostly by the deep connection to their people and their land.
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Wine and Friendship for the Ages: Accendo Cellars
Behind every great wine is a great story. Napa’s Accendo Cellars indeed makes great wine, and the story behind it is particularly special to us at K&L. Bart Araujo, former owner of Eisele Vineyards and Araujo Estate Winery, is the man behind the magic at Accendo Cellars. He also happens to be good friends with K&L’s Clyde Beffa, and their story stretches back to the baseball diamond at Serra High. Luckily they both held their own on the ol’ sand lot, though you might hear a bit of friendly rivalry now and again! Since those years, they’ve built some amazing businesses, and a remarkable multi-generational friendship.
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The Summer Sun Is More Fun with Wine in Hand
Summertime, and the livin’ is…well, decidedly different than we all had expected. But the wines are excellent, and there’s no shortage of options, both tried-and-true and off-the-beaten path. In this week’s newsletter, our Buyers have joined forces to bring you a guide to beating the heat with the coolest of the cool summer wines on our shelves.
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Celebrate the Red, White, and Blue with Some Red, White, and Rosé
Just in time for the 4th: our Domestic Newsletter! Domestic Buyers Ryan Woodhouse and Kaj Stromer talk old vines, new wines, and the bounty of good juice that lies in between.
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The 2016 Chalone Pinot Wins Wednesday Night
Chalone Vineyard in Monterey County is a truly special place. We have a fantastic price on their 2016 Pinot, and it's worth stocking up by the case!
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A Day on the Mountain at Beauregard Vineyards
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Beauregard Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Winemaker and Owner Ryan Beauregard pointed out that the best way to understand his wines is to see the place. And to his point, there is so much more to these wines than just aromas and flavors. Instead, they tell a story of time and place, history and character, woven together by the hands of a talented winemaker.
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Faves of 2019, Trends for 2020
It’s that time of year that tends to fill us all with both nostalgia and optimism, when we reflect on our past year and peer into the future… and in our world that means we talk about booze! Here’s what the Hollywood staff chose for favorites of 2019 and predictions for 2020.
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Zinfandel Is As American As Apple Pie
On this, the eve of the most American of holidays, Shelby ponders the most American of grapes: Zinfandel!
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An Interview with Chad Melville on his Magical 2016 Estate Pinot
The Melville Winery has set the benchmark for silky, aromatic Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir during its 20+ years in the region. Chad Melville is the man behind the magic—son to the founder and both lead winegrower and winemaker. He spoke with me about their 2016 Estate Pinot, a wine that is always special, but that shines particularly brightly in the 2016 vintage, which also happened to be his first as lead winemaker.
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A Visit From Françoise Antech
If you’ve been following our social media, you might have noticed that one of our favorite women winemakers from France was out last week visiting California. Françoise Antech, the sixth-generation winemaker from her eponymous estate, was on a quick tour of California and managed to stop in all of our stores, holding three staff tastings and two public tastings. Her incredible energy and enthusiasm was absolutely infectious, and her knowledge and stories were a highlight of the week.
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The Beauty of Bien Nacido
I have always held the opinion that there is nothing quite like visiting a place to gather a deeper understanding of the wines that come from there. The experience of walking the land; feeling how it moves; seeing the weather change throughout a day; and using the rest of the senses to take in the surroundings is one that cannot be completely recreated in any form. So the fact that, on a recent trip to Santa Barbara with the team, we had the chance to stay on site at a vineyard, offered an experience unlike any other, and left a lasting impact on my understanding of the wines that come from Bien Nacido vineyard.
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