WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY: GRENACHE VARIATIONS

Meet the matriarch of a diverse grape family: Grenache (you might also know her as Garnacha or Garnatxa, she keeps things fun). Though often associated with France, Grenache is actually Spanish — thriving in dry, hot climates, and rocky soils. While some claim Grenache origins in Sardinia as Cannonau, Spain boasts the most diverse variations. Grenache's spicy notes make it a perfect match for flavorful dishes, especially herby or spicy bombs — its lower alcohol content can even cool down the heat of spicy foods.

2023 Bellula Rosé

Grapes: 40% Grenache 60% Syrah
Region: Languedoc, France
Retail: $20
Farming: Sustainable

Bellula aims at expressing all that the Languedoc has to share: passion, know-how, and joie de vivre. Handcrafted wines, to be enjoyed every day with or without food, for constant gratification. As striking in its pale color as it is in its fullness of flavor, Bellula’s sleek and sprightly qualities make it wildly refreshing. Inimitable Southern French aromas of wildflowers, wild red berries, and tea olive mingle with the peach, muskmelon, and thyme flavors on the light-bodied palate. It’s a subtle wine that will nevertheless transport you to the South of France.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Enjoy by itself and with any light or spicy dishes.

NV Bodegas Navarrsotillo, Gaupasa Skin Contact

Grape: Garnacha Blanca
Region: Navarra, Spain
Retail: $20
Farming: Organic / Biodynamic

Gaupasa is a Basque word for staying out until daybreak to maximize time spent with friends and family. This skin-contact Garnacha Blanca is meant to conjure the relaxed fun of those nights. With just 12 days of skin contact, this is a light and lovely introduction to orange wine. Fresh and aromatic, with notes of bruised yellow apple, tropical fruit, and savory herbs. This orange / skin-contact style wine is a symphony of flavors, evoking hints of ripe apricot, sun-kissed citrus, and a whisper of almond nuttiness. Navarrsotillo is a family-run winery with vineyards in Rioja and neighboring Navarra. Founded in 1995 by brothers Andrés and Ramón Serrano, Navarrsotillo marries long-tested farming tradition with technology, innovation, and eco-friendly farming techniques.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Miso butter poached salmon

Viña Zorzal Garnacha

Grape: Garnacha
Region: Navarra, Spain
Retail: $20
Farming: Organic

Viña Zorzal Wines, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary, is located in the heart of Navarra's Ribera Baja region, in the centuries-old village of Corella. Their garnacha vineyards are in four different villages with different quality factors — bush vines with different altitude, climates and soiIs. The wine is the result of a clear commitment to respect their tradition with local grapes such as Garnacha, and a concern for the environment through the use of organic production techniques. This is the product of two generations of the Sanz family's profound knowledge of what their land can produce. 2022 was a very warm vintage. Despite being a dry vintage, the few rainy days were very well'-distributed and the vineyard did not suffer so much water stress. The grapes were harvested earlier than ever to keep low pH and freshness.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Grilled meats

6-BOTTLE MEMBERS ALSO GET TO ENJOY THE PINOT FAMILY

Let's explore the Pinot Family! When grapevines mix and mingle, their seeds inherit traits from their parents, creating new grape varieties. Vine growers use a technique called "grafting" to keep things consistent, making genetic twins called clones. So, imagine Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Meunier hanging out, each with their own unique twist but still part of the same fruity family. Experts believe "Pinot" got its name from its clusters resembling pine cones and it's been impressing people since the 14th century, sharing its VIP status in the vine world with famous grape cousins. So, next time you sip on a glass of Pinot, you're tasting centuries of fruity history!

Joseph Cattin Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé

Grape: Pinot Noir
Region: Alsace, France
Retail: $26
Farming: Sustainable

The grapes are handpicked. Short maceration to extract the pale salmon color and gentle pressing of the grapes. Cattin is the largest family-owned and family-operated winery in Alsace and located in Voegtlinshoffen, a small village on the foothills of the Vosges Mountains at 1,091 feet in elevation. The Cattin family has been producing wine since 1720 and today the winery is managed by the 12th generation! The estate is composed of many small plots located in the Southern part of the Colmar region and a staggering 80% of their vineyard land is located on slopes. A broad menu of soils (clay, limestone, sandstone, ferruginous, marl...), combined with big time diurnal shifts, means an exceptional palate of aromas and flavors. Over the past several decades Crémants have become the house specialty and these are what initially caused us to bang their doors down.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Fresh spring flavors

2022 Torii Mor Pinot Blanc

Grape: Pinot Blanc
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Retail: $24
Farming: LIVE Certified

Pinot Blanc is the white grape mutation of Pinot Noir. It’s found mostly in Germany and Northern Italy where wines are refreshing, peachy, and dry.

Dr. Donald Olson moved to Oregon to pursue his vision. He purchased an older vineyard in the Willamette Valley, planted in 1972, and renamed it Olson Estate Vineyard. High in the Dundee Hills, the ten acres of old vines produce high-quality Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay year after year. Don was drawn to the close ties Pinot Noir has to the earth and its ability to express terroir. The name Torii Mor derives from the Torii gate in the property’s Japanese garden and the ancient Scandinavian word for earth. Together, the name is a nod to Pinot Noir’s expression of terroir and connection to the earth.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Seafood dishes

2022 Zorzal Terroir Unico

Grape: Pinot Noir
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Retail: $20

This hand harvested, single vineyard from Gualtallary is 100% Pinot Noir and is completely un-oaked to let the fruit-driven quality of the wine shine. Bright red fruits, predominantly raspberry, jump out of the glass with rich earthy notes reflecting the chalky soil. Founded in 2007, Zorzal is devoted to the production of luxury wines. In 2008, the winery completed production under contract, and in 2009, completed the first vintage on new state-of-the-art equipment. The highest winery in Mendoza, Zorzal sits on a 70 hectare parcel (175 acres) of prime land in the heard of one of the finest wine growing regions in the world: the Uco Valley, 130 miles south of the city of Mendoza. Zorzal is a collaboration of Argentine owners and operators and Canadian investors.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Fresh clam chowder at the beach

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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.

• Wine pairs best with friends. Tell your friends.