WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

We once read a cheesy sign in a quirky restaurant bathroom that said “Some people don’t know that there are angels whose only job is to make sure you don’t get too bored and fall asleep and miss your life.”

This time of year brings some whiplash. One day, it’s blue skies and sun and all of us very optimistic Seattleites are outside in shorts and sandals (even if it’s not quite that warm), and then the next day it’s pouring rain and cold enough to use up the last of our firewood. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, but there’s something exciting about picnicking at sunset one evening and ducking into a cozy pub the next. It keeps us on our toes.

Our lineup this month brings a little of that spirit — we have some whimsical white wines, and some beautifully captivating, more passionate reds. And of course, some bubbles.

Let’s raise a glass to this month’s whiplash weather, and to this month’s wine picks. Here’s to making sure you don’t get too bored and fall asleep and miss all the fun stuff :)

- The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2020 Adaras Almansa Lluvia Blanco

Grapes: Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Castilla La Mancha
Retail: $12
Pronunciation: “vair-DEH-ho”

Before delving into winemaking, José Ángel Martínez was an agriculture engineer. He slowly started getting interested in grape vines and going down the rabbit hole, and suddenly found himself making killer wines up in the El Mugrón mountains in Almansa. This bottle is a collaboration with Raúl Pérez, another extraordinary winemaker with a quite extraordinary beard.

Drinking & pairing ideas: This would be dreamy with a sunny spring afternoon and a spread of ice cold oysters, fresh crab with lots of lemon, and gazpacho.

2021 Ovum Big Salt White

Grapes: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Early Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Newberg, Oregon, USA
Retail: $20
Pronunciation: “guh-VURTS-trah-meen-er”

This bottle of sandy, sunny, perfect-day-at-the-beach is giving us some serious PNW pride. Married couple (and owners / winemakers) Ksenija Kostic and John House are on a mission to make stellar wines from grapes that thrive through all the ups and downs of Oregon weather — including intense wind, massive temperature shifts from morning to afternoon, and rocky soils. After tasting this wine, you’ll be rooting for them too.

Drinking & pairing ideas: You’d be very happy with this bottle and an ambitious order of Vietnamese or Thai takeout from your favorite spot.

2018 Clos Siguier Cahors

Grape: Malbec, Tannat
Region: Southwest France
Retail: $18
Pronunciation: “KAH-or” (so very French to trick us with a silent “h” and “s” in the same word)

Outside of Argentina, Cahors is the most famous region making Malbec. And Cahors is just magical, with windy little roads crawling up hills that loom with big ol’ Medieval castles. While its wines can sometimes be a little dramatic — dark, moody, intense — our winemaker Gilles Bley brings a bit of levity and love to this bottle. His family has been running the land for generations and his parents still live in the farm house.

Drinking & pairing ideas: A perfectly-cooked steak with herby, roasted potatoes, a crisp lettuce salad, and someone you really love. Or if you’re looking to stow away a bottle for your future self to enjoy with the aforementioned meal, this will only get better with time, like a . . . fine wine (sorry).

6-BOTTLE MEMBERS ALSO GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2018 Vins el Cep Kila Cava Brut

Grapes: Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada
Region: Barcelona, Spain
Retail: $15
Pronunciation: “shah-RELL-lo”

Maite Esteve is the badass winemaker from Vins el Cep. where they’ve been growing grapes since 1448. Maite is also one of the farmers, the company’s CFO, the label designer, the sales brain, the marketer, and on and on. Her serious skills shine through in this refreshing bottle of bubbles.

Drinking & pairing ideas: A weekend picnic with friends and fish and chips.

2018 Clos des Fous ‘Pour ma gueule’

Grapes: Cinsault, País, Carignan
Region: Maule, Chile
Retail: $19

This winery is run by four friends who consider themselves brothers — Pedro, Francois, Paco, and Albert. They were sick of hearing people (certainly not us!) say Chilean wines were boring, so the self-branded “crazy guys” decided to get together and shake things up by making some innovative, jaw-droppingly good wine.

Drinking & pairing ideas: We’re feeling a spicy sausage and red pepper pizza with this one.

2019 Accornero Bricco del Bosco Grignolino

Grape: Grignolino
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Retail: $17
Pronunciation: “green-yo-LEEN-oh”

Last up in our lineup is the feisty bottle of Grignolino, a name that comes from the word “grignole”, which means something along the lines of “teeth grating” because of the grape’s naturally intense acidity (this is what makes your teeth feel squeaky) and tannins (this is what makes your mouth feel cotton ball dry). When treated with love like this one from the Accornero family who’s been doing it since 1897, it all balances out beautifully. Think just the right amount of cowbell.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Something warm, hearty, and stewy — this will be your pal on one of these randomly cold spring days that make us itchy for summer. Maybe mushroom and butternut squash soup, or beef stew. Don’t forget the crusty bread slathered with salty butter.

Looking for past lineups? We got you.

REMINDERS

• As always, our food suggestions are just starting points. Wine is nostalgic and we’re big fans of making what you like, drinking what you like, and not giving a damn if they “go” together.

• Email us at info@halfseaswine.com to buy more single bottles or a 12-bottle case with special pricing.

• Come see us at Halfseas, your charming little neighborhood wine shop tucked inside Brimmer & Heeltap. Open Wednesday through Sunday 12 - 9pm.

• Wine pairs best with friends. Tell your friends.