WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

This month, our lineup is coming at you with loads of whimsy. Our theme is Flora and Fauna, and we've handpicked six bottles with label designs as delicious as the wine. These vivacious wines are bursting with flavor, and they’re also crafted with love by winemakers who follow biodynamic and organic practices (we’ll get into what this all means). So, sip with confidence, knowing that you're supporting winemakers who champion sustainable techniques and try to keep the peace with Mother Nature.

Cheers,
The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2022 Mas de Valériole 'Vé' IGP Mediteranée Rosé

Grapes: Caladoc, Merlot, Marselan
Region: Provence, France
Retail: $22

Siblings Juliette and Maxime Valériole are the winemakers behind this captivating bottle. They grew up amidst vine-covered hills, where they inherited their passion from their family's generations of winemakers.

Legend has it that Juliette and Maxime were on a quest to capture the essence of the Mediterranean in a bottle, when they discovered a hidden vineyard oasis. It was as if they stumbled upon a secret garden, teeming with vibrant flora and the melodious songs of native birds. Inspired by the enchanting beauty that surrounded them, they crafted a rosé that embodies all this magic.

Drinking + pairing ideas: The most delectable late spring spread. Might we suggest a watermelon and feta salad with fresh mint, grilled shrimp skewers in a lemon and garlic marinade, and creamy goat cheese with charred peppers on a crostini.

2022 Bodega Krontiras Mikron Malbec

Grape: Malbec
Region: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
Retail: $22

Nestled in the breathtaking landscapes of Mendoza, the Krontiras family has been tending to their vineyards for generations. Mikron means "small" in Greek, and pays homage to the family's Greek heritage. The vineyards are located at the foothills of the majestic Andes Mountains, that bring in cool mountain breezes, abundant sunshine, and mineral-rich soils. And as you might guess, the wine is insanely good.

Drinking + pairing ideas: If you’ve been looking for an excuse to get a big ol’ ribeye to share, here you go. It would be so good grilled and topped with some chimichurri and crispy potatoes.

2021 Lovely Creatures Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Retail: $20

The Lovely Creatures name is an homage to two things — the eponymous album by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and the little critters in every vineyard that help create the perfect microclimate. The vineyard follows biodynamic practices, which can be a pretty divisive topic, but it basically just means that the winemakers are trying to grow grapes and take care of the land with a holistic approach to agriculture.
Biodynamic can sometimes get an eye roll because, along with the very well-intended approach, come some practices that inherently aren’t evidence based. For example, winemakers tend to rely on phases of the moon, or some bury cow horns filled with, well, cow poop. Ultimately, can you taste the difference between a biodynamic wine and one that’s not? If it’s delicious, does it even matter? We say no :)

Drinking + pairing ideas: A smoky BBQ spread with all the trimmings.

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

NV Alma 4 Almacita Brut

Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Valle de Uco, Argentina
Retail: $22

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.

Now’s probably a good time for a quick refresher that “NV” stands for “non-vintage” — super typical with sparkling wine, and meaning 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: Sushi takeout and a sunny evening at the park.

2021 Marco Felluga Friuli Bianco

Grape: Pinot Grigio, Friulano, Pinot Bianco
Region: Friuli, Italy
Retail: $20

Roberto Felluga is our winemaker here. His talent isn’t surprising — he’s a fourth generation winemaker in the Felluga family and learned the craft from his father and grandfather (who learned it from his father and grandfather). The family has been producing wines in Friuli-Venezia Giulia since the late 1800s. The vineyards are nestled in the rolling hills of Collio, where the unique microclimate and soil composition make the most lovely wine.

Drinking + pairing ideas: Oysters! :)

2020 Jaboulet Parallel 45 Côtes du Rhône Blanc

Grapes: Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Clairette, Marsanne, etc.
Region: Rhône Valley
Retail: $20

Last up, we have this total stunner from the Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné winery, which has been around since 1834. It’s named after the 45th parallel, which runs through the Rhône Valley, and celebrates the unique terroir of the region. Quick refresher: “terroir” refers to the entire environment where grapes are grown — the soil, the climate, the air and the breezes, the surrounding plants and animals, the sunshine and clouds. It all contributes. Skilled winemakers have deep respect for the terroir and try to capture it in a bottle.

Drinking + pairing ideas: A roasted chicken with bruschetta on the side (don’t forget the basil!), and a heavy drizzle of excellent olive oil.

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.