WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

This month, we’re bringing you a very European holiday season with wines to keep you cozy by the fire (or cozy even without a fire). So even if there are grapes you’ve never heard of, or sweetness you might not normally crack open, these are wines that will wrap you up in happiness and maybe give you a little dose of wanderlust. We can’t wait for you to take this journey with us.

The holidays always get us a bit misty-eyed and reflective. 2023 means we’re headed into our third year(!) of this wine club that we started in early pandemic days. We couldn’t have dreamed it would still be going strong, and that we’d get to be part of such a cool community. Thank you, as always, for being part of Halfseas, for drinking the wine we pick out ever month with so much gusto, and for making this wine club so damn fun. We adore you.

Cheers, and happiest holidays to you and your loved ones.

The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

NV Mary Taylor Veneto Frizzante

Grapes: Glera, Garganega
Region: Veneto, Italy
Retail: $16
Pronunciation: “gar-gah-NAY-gah” “frizz-ONT-tay”

Kicking things off is this very festive quaffer coming to us from the foothills of the Italian Alps. In the vineyard, wild flowers sprout up between the rows of grapes, making the grounds utterly dreamy. You probably know the Glera grape (even if not by name) as the star in Prosecco, and you might have encountered Garganega in Soave wines. Together, they make soft, bubbly magic in this bottle — frizzante has lighter carbonation than traditional sparkling wines (called “spumante” in Italian).

And a quick refresher that “NV” stands for “non-vintage”. This is super typical to see with sparkling wine, and it means that the grapes that went into this bottle were harvested in multiple years (aka vintages). When there’s a defined vintage (like 2019, 2020, etc.) it means that all the grapes were picked in the same year. The more you know.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Sparkling wine is a lover — it pairs well with basically everything, or with nothing at all. But consider opening this right before friends + family arrive. Nothing gets the holiday spirit going like having a cold glass of bubbly handed to you when you walk in the door, as you discreetly bee-line over to the appetizers (you have our full support).

2020 Le Berger Bois d'Arlene Mediterranee

Grape: Serine
Region: Vacqueyras, Rhône Valley, France
Retail: $24
Pronunciation: “vock-kay-ROSS”

We’re still happy-sweating that we got this gem of a find into our club this month. Serine is a cool grape bringing some Syrah vibes, and we hardly ever see showcased on its own. The Bois d'Arlene winery sits next to a castle built in 1840, nestled between a quiet grove of oak trees, almond trees, and a charming little pond that’s home to ducks, birds, and frogs. The old barn was dug out to build the cellar below ground, where the wines can stay cool all year long. The château is owned by Arlène Libby and Norge Larson, who live in Seattle part time!

Drinking & pairing ideas: This wine is just made for cozy winter meals — we’re especially fantasizing about slow-cooked pork in a rich mole sauce, wrapped up in tamales or warm tortillas. Or if you want to keep it simple, pair it with your favorite chocolate. It’ll be a hit either way.

2019 Cérvoles Colors Negre

Grapes: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
Region: Costers del Segre, Catalonia, Spain
Retail: $18

Tomàs Cusiné is all about “mountain viticulture”. When he started out as a young, feisty winemaker in the 1990s, he was on the hunt for space where he could really run with the terroir and meticulously plant his vines based on the nuanced microclimate of the land. When he stumbled across the Cérvoles estate, nestled in the foothills of the Les Garrigues mountains just east of Barcelona, it was a dream come true. Since then, he’s really blown this thing out of the water. Tomás is one of the most famous and well-respected winemakers in the Catalonia region and runs four wineries. You’ll see why he’s had so much success when you taste this bottle.

Drinking & pairing ideas: A rib roast loaded with rosemary, garlic, and all the rooty vegetables. Extra delicious points for a balsamic glaze or drizzle.

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

2021 Vietti Moscato d'Asti

Grape: Muscat Blanc
Region: Asti, Piedmont, Italy
Retail: $20
Pronunciation: “MUSS-kaht”

Muscat is so underrated. Hailing from Greece and among the oldest wine grapes in the world, you’ll see it made in a bunch of different styles — from dry (aka not sweet) and still to sweet and sparkling. If you’ve ever turned your nose up at Moscato, now’s your chance for redemption :) The Vietti family has been making wine here in the Barolo region since the late 1800s, and the views from their vineyard are so ridiculously pretty it feels like they must have been photoshopped (alas, they’re not).

Drinking & pairing ideas: Muscat is a fun little chameleon that can spice up even the most intense charcuterie board, or its slight sparkle will be a total banger alongside a creamy or fruity dessert. And if you’re holiday-d out and just looking for a low-key night with takeout, this would be so good with your favorite Asian food.

2021 Vignerons d'Estezargues “Cuvée des Galets”

Grapes: Carignan, Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache Noir
Region: Rhône Valley, France
Retail: $14
Pronunciation: “coo-VAY”

Next up is this perfectly ready-to-drink red from a tiny co-op in the Rhône Valley, close to Avignon. Co-ops are pretty common in Europe, where local grape growers band together and contribute small quantities of grapes so the whole group can produce more wine than any of the members could independently make or sell. The Vignerons d'Estezargues co-op focuses on making delicious, natural wine from indigenous grapes, and we’re just over the moon that you get to taste this bottle.

Drinking & pairing ideas: A roast chicken. Or if you’re in the mood for stowing away this wine for a few months until the spring, it would be a stunner with grilled artichokes.

Broadbent Rainwater Madeira

Grape: Tinta Negra Mole
Region: Madeira, Portugal
Retail: $22
Pronunciation: “mah-DEER-uh”

We just didn’t feel right about closing this month out without a stunning dessert wine, and couldn’t think of a better candidate than this, a fortified wine from the lovely, volcanic Portuguese island of Madeira. Madeira has a very cool history, including being the go-to drink for our founding fathers. Seriously! Thomas Jefferson and George Washington couldn’t get enough of the stuff. After the Declaration of Independence was signed, the whole club toasted with Madeira. Go in with an open mind, and we know you’ll see what all the fuss is about. And feel free to savor this bottle in small quantities if that’s more your jam — Madeira basically keeps forever (we lovingly call it pirate booze), so you can enjoy it many nights over.

Drinking & pairing ideas: This dessert wine is a deceptively good partner for all sorts of foods. So yes, try it with a nutty cake (or holiday cookie box) after dinner, but also give it a shot with some creamy, salty sheep or goat cheese, paté, or smoked meat.

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.