What do you get for the Syrah lover in your life this holiday season? Syrah of course. But it is always fun to surprise them with something that they haven’t had before. Now, unless you have access to their tasting notes you might not know what they have or haven’t tasted—but I’d wager there is an extremely low chance that they have tried the 2020 El Escoces Volante "Dos Dedos De Frente" Syrah Aragon $29.99 95WA from El Escoces Volante.
Read MoreAs the Spanish buyer I must take the opportunity of International Grenache Day to remind the wine drinking world that Grenache, AKA Garnacha, is from Spain. It is believed to originate in the Aragon region. It was the Crown of Aragon that brought the grape variety down the Ebro River to Catalonia and from Catalonia (what would become the French and Spanish sides) to the Rhône, Sardegna, and the rest of the Mediterranean. Now that the super-abbreviated history lesson is done, I want to take you on a quick tour of Spain’s take on the grape and point out several Garnacha-based wines that I highly recommend.
Read MoreToday's newsletter gives Portugal a long-overdue stint in the spotlight. With some of the greatest stylistic and varietal diversity in the world, it's a wine explorer's paradise… For all our Spanish aficionados, I'm also providing a fresh look at some of the most intriguing producers redefining the landscape of the country's most important region, Rioja.
Read MoreAnza is a perfect introduction to the “New Rioja.” Diego Magana is a second-generation wine maverick… I think that the curious collector will surprise not only themselves but their friends with these wines, especially if they allow them a little more time in the bottle.
Read MoreThe gorgeous Atlantic islands have been on top of mind for many people in the wine industry lately, as the wines being produced in places like the Canary and Azores islands are exciting and tremendously good. I have seen many great articles recently focusing on their many attributes. The vineyards are stunning… check out the above pictures of Pico and Lanzarote vineyards (l to r). Take a moment, take that in, have you ever seen vineyards that look like that? They are incredible. What’s even better, the wines from those vineyards are incredible. Volcanic wines are having a moment right now, but there are volcanic wines, and then there are Volcanic Wines! I have the images of these vineyards so interwoven in my mind that I see them in my mind's eye while tasting these wines. I go on a vacation with every glass of wine. And once you try these, I hope they will transport you, too.
Read MoreKirk Walker is our Spain, Portugal, and South America Buyer—if it has a Latin flair, Kirk likely brought it to our shelves. He loves research, and he’s a great person to talk to if you want to know how, for instance, the Andes’ rain shadow affects the vines in Chile. He’s also a good person to talk to in order to understand what’s going on with sparkling wine in Spain, the new wave of dry wines in Portugal, and for all your Rioja needs (I think it’s safe to say we all have Rioja needs). If you want to talk about the context of a wine region while drinking great wine, Kirk’s your man!
Read MoreIn the world of Spanish wine there is a quiet revolution occurring, not unlike what is happening in some parts of France and the U.S. Winemakers young and old are challenging their regional traditions and making lighter, fresher wines than their parents or grandparents did.
Read MoreLast week, we held a Team Halloween candy and wine pairing contest for staffers in our San Francisco location. It was scary, it was fun, it was a little gross, but we all survived to tell the tale!
Read MoreK&L Spain/Portugal Buyer Kirk Walker checks in on some of our longtime favorite wine producers and introduces us to a new-to-our-shelves importer who’s shaking things up in the European import world.
Read MoreMary Taylor is an innovative producer/importer who’s taking a fresh approach to the wine business. Not unlike the wines that Kermit Lynch imports, Mary Taylor’s wines are small-production and regional; the big difference, however, is that the brand on the label is the importer, not the producer. If you are seeking well made, regionally specific wines, fear not—these are the wines you’re looking for! Once you have tried a bottle with the name Mary Taylor on it, you’re sure to try another.
Read MoreSeñor de Lesmos is back! It has not been gone for long, but it sure feels that way. It is like waiting for your favorite fruit to come back in season. There is no such thing as Rioja season, but it always feels like an occasion when these wines hit the shelf again.
Read MoreCal Bessó is the relatively new Montsant project from the Castellví Figuerola family, who own and run Celler de l’Encastell in Priorat, and local grape grower, Jaume Valles. It is based around the village of Els Guiamets, which is located fewer than 10 miles south of the heart of Priorat.
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