JULY WINE CLUB

We are particularly excited about tonight's wine club release: we've got some real fun ones for you all.

Internationally we're starting with bubbles from Quintas das Bagueras in Bairrada, Portugal. This sparkling is Brut Nature: meaning it is DRY DRY DRY! Granny smith apple, a subtle toastiness, good acidity and minerality born of clay soil makes this the perfect wine to pair with some fatty pork (we just happen to have braised pork empandas at the moment, FYI).

Then we're moving on to organically farmed tempranillo from Rioja. Bodegas Vina Ijalba is the producer, the wine is full of cherry fruit, spice and a hint of mountain herbs. Acidity makes it a food friendly little wine that we would recommend with some lamb (our lamb chops with cherry/hazelnut gremolata, per chance?)

Domestically, we are starting off with the Birichino Malvasia Bianca: for those of you who love torrontes, you're gonna love this grape. Made from organically grown grapes in the Santa Lucia Mountains, the nose of this wine hits you with sweet honeysuckle and makes you think you're about to drink a sweet viognier but then you taste and are pleasently rewarded with a relatively dry and balanced wine perfect for summer. Pair this wine with nothing but a good conversation or some indulgent triple cream cheese. You won't be mad about it. (Also: don't you just love the label?)

Lastly we have the 2012 Burbank Ranch Sangiovese from Paso Robles. This organically farmed estate wine posesses some of the California fruit for which Paso is famous but is balanced by the black pepper and red cherry acidity of Sangiovese. This wine is big enough for your ribeye off the grill and should probably be popped after the sun goes down.