WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

Well, we did it! We made it to full-blown summertime in Seattle. To celebrate, we’re continuing on our European wine tour — from Greece and Puglia to Germany and Austria, and now we’re heading over to (drumroll please) Spain! We’ve been dying to share this stunning lineup with you.

Spain brings some fun diversity of grapes and history with its Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, huge Pyrenees mountain range, amazing beaches, and wine so good that we’d be happy to spend our lives exploring it.

Spanish wine culture also has a special place in our hearts — even the table wine at the lowest-key sidewalk café tastes delicious, and time just moves a little slower there. It’s a good reminder to linger over a bottle you love with people you like even better, while soaking up this lovely Pacific Northwest weather.

Cheers,
The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2018 Bodegas Ontañón Akemi Rioja Blanco

Grape: Viura (aka Macabeo)
Region: Rioja, Spain
Retail: $21
Pronunciation: “ree-YO-ha”

First in our lineup is this special bottle of white Rioja, something we don’t see too often. This wine is the only one served at Kiro Sushi, a world-renowned sushi restaurant in Logroño, Spain. Owner and sushi master Félix Jiménez loved it so much that he decided it was the perfect pairing, and guests simply don’t need other options. That’s some serious commitment, but we get it. This is just so good.

Drinking & pairing ideas: It would be hard to not recommend opening this bottle with your favorite take out sushi for a picnic at your neighborhood park. But it would also be a very nice friend to garlicky grilled shrimp with a big ol’ salad full of all the delicious summer produce you can find.

2021 Rezabel Txakoli Rosé

Grape: Hondarribi-Beltza, Hondarrabi-Zuri
Region: Getariako Txakolina, Spain
Retail: $18
Pronunciation: “chalk-OH-lee”

The grapes are grown on a sunny hill perched next to the ocean in Zarautz, a surf town just west of San Sebastián on the Basque coast. Zarautz has the longest stretch of beach in Spain, nestled by sand dunes and a scenic mountain. It’s also known for ridiculously good seafood and pintxos (picture a little slice of bread with toppings of all sorts piled on top and held together with a toothpick). If you want to feel like you’re drinking your bottle of Txakoli like a local, slowly raise the bottle as you pour it into your glass to get the bubbles all excited and to look very suave. Or just book a trip to Zarautz.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Clams in a spicy chorizo broth with a fresh baguette you tear with your hands to soak up all the goodness. Serve a crispy, cold lettuce salad on the side with some freshly grated salty cheese and lemon vinaigrette and you’ll be golden.

2020 Bodegas Luzón Verde

Grape: Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre)
Region: Jumilla, Spain
Retail: $15
Pronunciation: “mo-nah-STRELL”

Next up, we have a bottle coming to you from Jumilla, a mountainous town in southeastern Spain. The Luzón bodega (winery) is one of the oldest in Jumilla and has been around since 1841 when Don José de Molina built it for his daughter. It’s been operated by women ever since, and we’re so happy you get to taste all the history and family love in this bottle.

Drinking & pairing ideas: This is perfect for a backyard BBQ — make some burgers with all the toppings or smoke some ribs for a mouthwatering pairing.

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

2019 Viña Zorzal Garnacha Blanca

Grape: Garnacha Blanca
Region: Navarra, Spain
Retail: $15
Pronunciation: “gar-NOTCH-ah blahn-kah”

Viña Zorzal is run by the Sanz family — Antonio and now his three sons. Their focus is on rescuing indigenous, forgotten grapes and bringing them back to life the way they were meant to shine, like they did with these 115-year-old Garnacha vines (Garnacha is a native grape that almost went extinct). Navarra is a medieval Basque kingdom that sits in the north end of Spain, just southeast of Bilbao. You’ve probably heard of its most famous village Pamplona, which hosts the annual running of the bulls festival.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Try it with your favorite Indian takeout, just make sure not to go too spicy to keep the pairing mellow.

2019 Bernabeleva Vinos de Madrid Camino de Navaherreros Tinto

Grape: Garnacha
Region: Vinos de Madrid, Spain
Retail: $20

Next we bring you a red beauty from the Bernabeleva winery just outside of Madrid, tucked away in the cool mountains in San Martín de Valdeiglesias. In 1923, a local doctor named Vincente Alvarez-Villamil bought the land for its magical forests, with bears carved out of giant rocks and all the promise in the world. His lifelong dream was to live on the land and make wine, but in 1936 the Spanish Civil War upended everything and devastated Vincente’s dream. In 2006, two of his great grandkids — Juan and Santiago — decided to see it through, and we get to enjoy all of those dreams in this delicious bottle they made.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Grill up some sausages, peppers, and onions. Sprinkle some feta and fresh herbs over the top, throw it all on a roll, and invite us over.

2020 Olivier Riviere Rayos Uva

Grapes: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano
Region: Rioja, Spain
Retail: $25
Pronunciation: “tem-prah-NEE-oh”

Olivier Rivière is a Frenchman from Bordeaux who’s making killer Spanish wine. Unconventional seems to be his calling, and his fresh, unique approach to winemaking is a standout in this region — which is saying a lot, considering Rioja is known around the world for its absurdly good Tempranillo, with grape vines that turn bright red in the fall. This bottle is ready to drink now but will age well, if you’re feeling inclined to add a bottle to your collection. It’s also been dubbed “the sexiest” wine in Rioja, so we’ll let you take that as you’d like :)

Drinking & pairing ideas: Taco night! Cook up your favorite meats, beans, rice, and any toppings your heart can imagine. Don’t forget the salsa.

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.