WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

This month, we’re bringing you two different wines from Mendoza, Argentina. You 6-bottlers actually get three Argentinian wines, plus a wildly fun one from Arizona. Yes, that Arizona.

Anyway, the coolest part of it is that none of these wines are Malbec. As it goes in most regions, the popular grapes tend to overshadow the other grapes that might be a little more shy. A little more rare. May we be so bold as to say, a little more interesting (usually)?

Mendoza is snuggled in the mountains in the heart of Argentina, close to the Chilean border. With its high-and-dry climate, Mendoza produces close to 80% of the country’s wine. Mendoza also has hundreds of wineries along La Ruta del Vino (The Wine Route), a 1,243-mile-long stretch that has something for everyone: tiny hole-in-the-wall family restaurants, fancy dining with celebrity chefs, tastings with garage winemakers in their garages, internationally-renowned wineries with perfectly-manicured grounds, little bed & breakfasts, five-star luxury hotels, and more. Excuse us while we book a trip to Argentina.

We hope you love this month’s wines as much as we do, and that they accompany you on some thrilling summer adventures with people you adore. As always, thank you for being part of our club.

The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2015 Alma 4 Blanc de Blanc

Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Retail: $22/ bottle or $224 / case of 12

Four Argentinian friends met in high school when they were 17 years old, and decided to make wine together. Mauricio, Agustín, Marcela, and Sebastián released their first batch of 300 bottles two years later when they were 19. Don’t ask us what we were doing when we were 19 — certainly not vinifying wine 4,000ft above sea level. 20 years later, they’re still making wine together (two of them even married each other) high up in the Uco Valley mountains.

Drinking & pairing ideas: While we’re not the first to suggest sparkling wine with fried chicken, why mess with a delicious thing? The salty, crispy, juiciness of the chicken is so happy with the bright, fresh, bubbly goodness. This would also pair well with a picnic blanket and a sunny evening, so don’t worry if you’re not in the mood for fried chicken.

2020 Vigne Surrau Limizzani Vermentino di Gallura

Grape: Vermentino
Region: Sardinia, Italy
Retail: $17 / bottle or $173 / case of 12

Sardinia sits almost smack middle of the Mediterranean Sea, with hundreds and hundreds of miles of beautiful, rugged coastline. Here, tucked away in the windy Northeast corner of the island, the Demuro family has been making wine for generations with a focus on the very special Vermentino di Gallura. Getting to enjoy this wine makes us feel like we hit a streak of good karma.

Drinking & pairing ideas: This wine is hankering for some grilled fish tacos with citrus salsa.

2020 Via Revolucionaria La Criolla Grande

Grape: Criolla Grande (aka Mission / Pais)
Region: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Retail: $15 / bottle or $153 / case of 12
Pronunciation: “kree-ol-la grahn-day”

Matias Michelini loves soccer, wine, and breaking the rules. Think of him as a well-respected bad boy who’s also a nerdy perfectionist. He’s constantly experimenting with funky, unique grapes or finding new ways to make wine with traditional grapes. Enter Criolla Grande — it’s typically used for rosé, but Matias makes it shine here as an absurdly delicious and juicy red.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Try this lighter-bodied wine with teriyaki salmon and charred shishito peppers over a bowl of rice. Serve chilled for the best time.

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

2018 Weingut Ziereisen Heugumber Gutedel Baden

Grape: Chasselas
Region: Baden, Germany
Retail: $18 / bottle or $176 / case of 12
Pronunciation: “SHAH-seh-la”

People go nuts for this easy-to-love wine, coming to us from married couple Hanspeter and Edel Ziereisen who describe their wines as “muscular — not sumo wrestlers but decathletes; smooth, elegant, strong, and athletic.” Their operation sits in a tiny historic German town in the Baden-Württemberg region, right between Alsace and Switzerland.

Drinking & pairing ideas: This would be (wein)gut with pasta and clams, or a fresh salad loaded with crunchy lettuce and creamy green goddess dressing.

2020 Livverá Bequignol

Grape: Bequignol
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Retail: $24 / bottle or $245 / case of 12
Pronunciation: “beck-ing-YOL”

We’d never heard of the Bordeaux-born Bequignol grape before trying this exceedingly lovely, kind of wild wine. But once we did, we wondered how we ever lived without it. Even the winemaker Germán Masera says you should drink two bottles a day. Germán is an exceptional winemaker who does his craft (with a little help from his three toddlers) in the stunning Tupungato mountains in Mendoza, where the days get lots of sun and the nights get very cold. Gamay lovers, this one’s for you.

Drinking & pairing ideas: We’re thinking grilled lamb kabobs with peppers and onions, with hot pita and garlicky yogurt sauce. Serve slightly cold.

2018 Caduceus Merkin Vineyards Chupacabra

Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Region: Willcox, Arizona, USA
Retail: $25 / bottle or $255 / case of 12

And so we’ve arrived at a surprising, thrilling end: our Arizona red. The high-elevation vineyards sit in the Southeast corner of the state, in the Sulphur Springs Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges. A single day here can see temperature fluctuations of more than 50 degrees. Merkin Vineyards is owned and run by Grammy-winning singer and US Army Veteran Maynard James Keenan, and if a celebrity-owned winery makes that one skeptical eyebrow of yours shoot up, this is the wine to open your mind. Maynard is a passionate winemaker who’s on a mission to help bring recognition to the Arizonan wine industry.

Drinking & pairing ideas: This is a summer barbecue wine that would make you happy with some pork ribs, grilled brisket, or a backyard burger. Or a little bit of everything.

Looking for June’s lineup? 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.