WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

This month, we’re celebrating the “Almost Famous.” Wines that might come from a region you’ve never heard of. Wines that are produced with grapes we can’t quite pronounce. Wines that are made with so much love that you can almost taste it. While these wines don’t really have anything in common with Cameron Crowe’s cult classic film from 2000, they’re genuinely fantastic. And they don’t have price tag of their A-list neighbors. We’ll cheers to that.

We hope you savor this month’s lineup. Can’t wait to hear what you think.

The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2021 Stadt Krems Kremstal

Grape: Riesling
Region: Kremstal, Austria
Retail: $22
Pronunciation: “REESE-ling”

The area of Kremstal is wedged between the regions of Wachau and Kamptal, amidst the most noble winemaking in northern Austria. While Gruner Veltliner reigns king of the grape varietals in the area, Riesling from here is the underdog. It just doesn’t get as much well-deserved attention as its competition. This Riesling is produced by Stadt Krems, a winery started in the 1400s to help fund the local hospital — they’ve been making wine ever since. This is a decidedly dry example, not to be confused with any blue-bottled nonsense. Trust us :)

Drinking & pairing ideas: Try this one with a BLT with the ripest end-of-summer tomatoes you can find.

2022 Clos des Fous 'Pour Ma Gueule' Rosé

Grape: Cinsault
Region: Itata, Chile
Retail: $15
Pronunciation: “sahn-SO”

While the big Bordeaux varietals up north get almost all the chatter, there’s some delicious winemaking happening in the Itata region of southern Chile that you don’t want to miss. Enter: this absurdly good rosé. It’s made in part by winemaker Pedro Parra, who has a Master’s degree in Precision Agriculture and a PhD for his work with terroir. Clearly a real dummy (kidding!) who can make a mean bottle of wine.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Grilled salmon with dilly, herby butter and a super crunchy lettuce salad drenched in lemon juice.

2020 Domaine André Berthet-Rayne La Huppe Perchée

Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Carignan
Region: Côtes-du-Rhône, France
Retail: $21
Pronunciation: “KARE-ig-nyon”

As if French isn’t confusing enough, Cairanne (KYAR-ahn) is the name of the place and Carignan (KARE-ig-nyon) is the name of the grape. Cairanne “the place” was elevated from the more generic appellation of Côtes-du-Rhône Villages to its own “Cru” in 2016, owing to its consistently drool-worthy nature (that’s obviously the official description). While the better-known wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape can cost hundreds of dollars, this biodynamically and organically-farmed Cairanne outclasses itself.

Drinking & pairing ideas: If you have some lingering garden goodies (specifically stuff like eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and tomatoes), today’s the day! Cook up some comfy ratatouille, pull out some salty French cheeses, and pour a heavy glass of this delight.

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

2020 Plaimont Les Cépages Préservés

Grapes: Gros Manseng, Petit Courbu, Arrufiac
Region: Gascogne, France
Retail: $20
Pronunciation: “GROH mahn-SAHN-g” “ah-roo-fee-ahk”

This area was formerly known as the Côtes de Saint Mont, and since gaining AOC status in 2011 (basically, the wine world’s way of saying “We officially SEE you!”), they’ve single-handedly revived a host of historic grape varieties from Manseng Noir to Arrufiac. Now their region is back, baby — on the enological map, that is. And it’s making them one of France's most exciting "new" producers.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Seafood paella with shrimp, mussels, clams, and whatever else you want to squeeze in there.

2022 Vignerons Ardechois Rosé

Grapes: Grenache + Caldoc
Region: Ardeche, France
Retail: $18

Outside the boundaries of the Côtes du Rhône, the Vignerons Ardechois are doing incredible things. The co-op built a winery in 1967 with a mission to sustain generations long traditions of farming responsibly, with respect to each other as winemakers and to the next generation winemakers.

Drinking & pairing ideas: A lunchtime Niçoise salad on a sunny day.

2021 Casa Aurora La Nave Villa de Albarez

Grapes: Mostly Mencía, with a little Garnacha Tintorera + Palomino
Region: Castilla y León, Spain
Retail: $20
Pronunciation: “men-SEE-ah” (or “men-THEE-ah” if you’re feeling Spanish)

This old vine wine isn’t technically from the crowd-favorite region of Bierzo, since these vines sit way up in the far reaches of the region, but Castilla y León doesn’t bring anything to scoff at. This region is home to several prestigious wine-producing nooks, including Ribera del Duero and Toro, and it’s known for its robust red wines. During the Middle Ages, monasteries played a big ol’ role in refining winemaking techniques and preserving grape varieties. Thanks, monks.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Your first hearty stew of the season with some crusty, aggressively-buttered bread.

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.