WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

This month, we’re raising a glass to family. The one we have, the one we’ve chosen, and everyone in between. Wine — more so than most businesses — is usually a family business. Especially in Europe, it’s rare to find a winemaker who didn’t learn it from their parents, who learned it from their parents, who learned it from their parents. There’s something super special about getting to taste this lineage and this love in a bottle, and we’re so excited that our February lineup is chock-full of family wines.

We can’t wait to hear what you think.

The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2020 Meinklang Burgenland White

Grapes: Gruner Veltliner, Welschriesling, Muscat Blanc
Region: Burgenland, Austria
Retail: $17
Pronunciation: “grew-ner velt-lee-ner”

If you came to one of our Halfseas tastings last summer, you might remember the hard-to-forget wines from the family-run Meinklang farm in Austria. Their stuff is so good, we couldn’t resist sharing this special bottle with you this month. South of Vienna and along the Hungarian border, the Michlits family runs the show. Each family member specializes in a different part of the organic farming duties, and they cultivate multiple types of crops and raise an Angus & Aubrac cattle herd. The cows bestow nutritious fertilizer for productive soil in the vineyards.

Drinking & pairing ideas: We strongly recommend fish and chips from your favorite pub — don’t forget the homemade tartar sauce!

2019 Joseph Olivier Mavit

Grape: Grenache
Region: Languedoc, France
Retail: $16
Pronunciation: “long-eh-dock roo-see-yohn”

Olivier was 40 years old and minding his own business, working as a printer, when his winemaker grandfather Joseph gifted him the vineyard. It took Olivier some time to figure out what to do with this life wrench, but in the end, he decided to get back to his roots (heh) and learn his family’s passion. And wow, has he learned it. Aside from making delicious wines like this juicy Grenache, Olivier is all about sustainable agriculture, and works hard to not overburden the vines or the land.

Drinking & pairing ideas: This bottle is made for the cold spell we’re having in Seattle. Try it with something comforting like braised pork, ratatouille, or Indian takeout.

2019 Fattoria San Lorenzo Vigneto di Gino Rosso Piceno

Grapes: Montepulciano, Sangiovese
Region: Marche, Italy
Retail: $20

This third-generation winery is nestled in the charming town of Montecarotto (which also hosts an annual psychedelic trance festival, so, don’t think it’s boring just because it’s historic!). Natalino is the winemaker who learned the craft from his father Gino, who learned it from his father Enrico, and he’s laser-focused on keeping things as natural as possible. He rejects wine trends and fertilizes the vineyard soil with moss and almonds.

Drinking & pairing ideas: This will be just as delicious with spaghetti and meatballs as it will be with some cured salami and salty cheese as you’re cooking said spaghetti and meatballs. Just try to save some wine for the meal, because it will be heavenly.

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

Cleto Chiarli Brut de Noir Rosé

Grapes: Lambrusco Grasparossa, Pinot Noir
Region: Romagna, Italy
Retail: $17

It was a long-standing tradition in Modena, Italy that vineyard workers would reward themselves by making wine from the extra juices that ran off the grapes getting carted off to wineries. The Chiarli family has been making wine in this region since 1860, and made this bubbly bottle to pay homage to that tradition.

Drinking & pairing ideas: We love sparkling rosé anytime. This would be a perfect aperitif — when you’re just winding down and ready to welcome in the evening slowness. Or if you’re looking for a delightful dinner partner, might we suggest a pepperoni pizza?

2019 De Stefani Naturalmente Pinot Grigio Bianco

Grape: Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto, Italy
Retail: $22

The De Stefani family has also been making wine since the late 1800s on their land that’s now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Alessandro is the current fourth-generation winemaker who’s bringing us this refreshing orange wine. Orange wine is white wine made like red wine — basically, white grapes are pressed and then sit on their grape skins and seeds. If they were red grapes, this is the stage where the juice would turn its dark color, but because the skins of white grapes don’t have as much pigment, the wine hangs at a beautiful orange hue. Orange wine is a treat for anyone, but can be especially fun for red wine lovers who might normally not give white wines a chance (shame!).

Drinking & pairing ideas: This would be excellent with a simple lemon-roasted chicken or a big ol’ bowl of clams and chorizo. Obviously, there must be some crusty bread on the menu.

2020 Torremorón Tempranillo Ribera del Duero

Grape: Tempranillo
Region: Castilla y León, Spain
Retail: $19
Pronunciation: “temp-rah-NEE-yo”

Last in the lineup is this Tempranillo coming to us from the world-class Ribera del Duero region. Small but mighty, the village of Quintanamanvirgo has a population of 94 people. Yes, you read that right. 94 people in the whole place. Unlike the other wines this month, this isn’t a family-run operation — instead, Torremorón is a co-op of the local grape growers and winemakers, and the whole town works at the bodega. So while they might not be family by blood, they’re certainly family by choice. And we’ll raise a glass to that any day.

Drinking & pairing ideas: We can’t stop fantasizing about popping open this bottle alongside some grilled lamb skewers with an herby salsa verde over garlicky rice.

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.