The Flight - Portugal 4 - 8pm $16

No other country can match Portugal’s range of indigenous wine grape varieties, a rich palette for winemakers that goes back to the Bronze Age. Tartessians, Romans, and Phoenicians introduced winegrapes here, and viticulture eventually spread across Portugal’s diverse geography. Isolated from the rest of Europe, many unique wine varieties developed there as vines accustomed themselves to extremes in soil, weather and altitude. 

Now, in a small country with over 250 unique, indigenous wine grape varieties to choose from, it is not surprising that Portuguese winemakers usually draw from a variety of grape sources to create balanced, flavorful blends. The result is that Portugal is blessed with a treasure chest of unique and distinctive wines.

Portuguese blends, with their distinctive combinations and unique character, reward people seeking diversity. These wines, at their best, often from small but distinct regions, combine ancient winemaking wisdom with the latest scientific and technical knowledge to put the wonder and pleasure back in wine.

Altano Douro Branco 2023 $15 - (Malvasia Fina and  Viosinho) Crisp orchard fruits, a touch of citrus, and refreshing minerality.

Quinta do Infantado 2023 Infantado Junior Palhete $20 - 75% native red varieties/25% white varieties. From a single hectare of 40-year-old vines: a field blend of red and white varieties, planted at almost 2000 feet in elevation on a schistous, north-facing hillside in the Douro. The name of a legal category of Portuguese wine, "Palhete" is Portuguese for the British term "claret" (from the French "clairet" originally), historically applied to the pale red wines of Bordeaux wines going back to the 14th-15th centuries. 

Altano Douro Tinto 2022 $14 - (Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca) Altano reflects its Douro origins perfectly: generous aromas of wildflowers (rockrose and lavender); full-bodied structure with fresh and assertive fruit (plums and black cherries); spicy, peppery tones, all seamlessly held together.

Gota Wines Mirra Alentejo Red 2021 $17 - Fresh and juicy wine dominated by notes of black fruit with aromas of black olive and spices, truffle and leather with a structure of soft tannins that surround the fruit. 

Nicolau de Almeida 2021 Baixo Corgo Tinto $21 - The blend comprises Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, and Tinta Roriz. The aromatic profile is layered with notes of blackberries, elderberries, and blueberries, complemented by subtle hints of pepper and forest floor.

Bonus Wines

Quinta Várzea da Pedra Branca Resrva 2018 $27 - Nose of peach pit and apricot crumble, pecan pie, flint, artisanal apple sauce with cinnamon. There’s a soaring nuttyness too. The palate is full of minerality, pecans and peaches and pineapple and green apple, a raging torrent of acidity, and the finish that echoes with white fruits and baking spices.

Nicolau de Almeida, Mateus 2021 Cima Corgo Tinto $23 - Cima Corgo is a blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Sousão, and Tinta Amarela. The grapes come from the schist soils of mid-Douro region, which has an almost Mediterranean climate. This vintage presents a more elegant side, with juicy red berry fruit, and bright acidity. Medium-bodied, but well structured but it's plush tannins, notes of eucalyptus, white pepper and fresh herbs balance the dark fruit profile.

Bonus Bonus

Filipa Pato 2022 Nossa Calcario Baga $39 - 100% Baga from a selection of low-yielding centenary vineyards. Deep crimson. Deep-flavoured and subtle. And so appetising that for the first time in this massive tasting I,m tempted to swallow this! Tannins are like the most luxuriously polished soft leather.

We’ll have Marco from Lungarotti Estate in Italy’s Umbria region.

Lungarotti and Torgiano, the area that made Umbria famous for its wine. A long love story with the territory that spans many generations. Founded by Giorgio Lungarotti, pioneer of modern Italian oenology, the company today continues its path focused on quality production and sustainability, thanks to the commitment, passion and competence of the daughters Chiara and Teresa, supported by their mother Maria Grazia and by the sons of Teresa: Francesco and Gemma.

  Lungarotti Vermentino IGT Umbria  2022  $13                                               

  Lungarotti Torgiano Bianco DOC Torre di Giano Bianco 2022   $18

   Lungarotti Cadetto Rosso Umbria IGT 2022  $13                                 

    Lungarotti Torgiano Rosso DOC Rubesco 2020  $19                             

Lungarotti Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG 2018   “Vigna Montecchio”   $68                        

The Flight 4 - 8pm $16 for 5 pours with 3 additional pours available for purchase.

Cellar Jan Vidal Cava NV, Spain $14 - This wine spends 18 months aging to develop its flavors and has an exquisite fine bubble to it. Super fresh tart apple fruit and just a sublime finish. 

Asolo Prosecco Superiore N/V Gasparini, Italy $17 - Coming from the estate in giavera del montello north of treviso this asolo superiore is as sophisticated as they come. Soft bubbles and a fragrant nose of flowers apples and pears.

Ca de Medici Sobara Lambrusco, Italy $18 - The maceration of the grapes on the skins after pressing is very short and this gives this Lambrusco its typical bright pink color. It is characterized by delicate and floral aromas, like rose and violet, that timidly give way to a distant aroma of strawberry and pomegranate. 

Avinyo Cava Brut Reserva 2021, Spain $22 - It presents fresh aromas of green apple, citrus, and white flowers. On the palate, it's crisp and lively, with flavors of lemon zest and a delicate mineral note, all culminating in a refreshing, dry finish.

NV Vignoble de Jacques Rose Brut Cremate de Limoux “L”Inspire” Loire Valley, France $22 - 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc and 20% Pinot Noir. A subtle cherry color with a nice greedy raspberry nose. On the palate, red fruits are lightly present and Pinot noir brings all the fullness. The bubbles are delicate and the style is fresh, and vigorous.

Bonus Wines

Landmass Brut Rose NV Columbia Gorge, Oregon $26 - Sunshine in a bottle! Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Underwood Mountain. Fresh Hood strawberries, raspberry and lively acidity.

Domaine Franc Besson Dentelle Blanc de Noir Beaujolais, France $27 - 100% Gamay that comes from the Beaujolais region. 40-year-old vines are planted in a bedrock of granite. The fruit aromas are incredibly aromatic and driven by an array of mixed red berries. 

Billecart Salmon 1818 Champagne, France $45 - 37% Chardonnay, 30% Meunier and 30% Pinot Noir. White flesh fruits, plums and dried fruits. Refreshing with notes of citrus fruits and pepper.

The Rhône Valley is the second largest producer of AOC wines in France. The range of wines produced is as large as the region itself: about 70,000 hectares dedicated to the making of 388 million bottles from numerous different appellations.

The Rhône Valley was the result of an epic geological clash between the Massif Central and the Alps, creating a rift valley which was flooded by the Mediterranean. Today, the valley’s soils consist of four different types of rock: granite, sandy silica, limestone and clay. The bedrock plays an essential role in the way in which the growing vines are supplied with water, determining the varied aromas and flavors of Rhône wines.

The vineyards of the Rhône Valley run along the banks of the Rhône River in southeast France, which originates from the Rhône glacier in the Swiss Alps, flows 500 miles though Lake Geneva, Lyon, Avignon and then into the Mediterranean Sea. The sunny climate and Mistral wind from the Alps down to the Mediterranean has nurtured vines and winemaking in the region for over 2,000 years. Rhône Valley wines exhibit rich and concentrated flavors due to the regional soil diversity and warmth of the sun. The region offers beautiful rosés, whites and red blends, made from 20+ different grape varietals, notably Grenache and Syrah.

Friday Flight 4 - 8pm $12 for 5 pours with 3 additional wines for purchase.

Domaine de Fenouillet Beaumes-de-Venise Rose 2024 $16 - (60% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, and 10% Syrah) Vivid, spicy and bright red fruit with vibrant acidity.

Domaine Clavel Côtes du Rhône 2022 $14 - A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Marselan, this nose offers juicy ripe plums and currants with a slight candied edge. The palate is balanced and loaded with black cherry, saffron and a round stone and clay finish.

Domaine de Fenouillet Beaumes-de-Venise Rouge 2022 $15 - This cuvée is a blend of 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Carignan. Spicy red fruit, subtle tannins, and white pepper,

Chateau Pesquie Le Paradou Ventoux 2021 $16 - Made from 100% Grenache (75-year-old vines) and aged 7 months in concrete tank, it offers up a naked expression of Grenache with meaty black cherry, pepper, dried Provencal herbs and earth all soaring from the glass.

Paul Autard Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2022 $20 -  70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. Bright flavors of raspberry, strawberry, cherry, and red currant, all wonderfully complemented by lifted aromatic notes of lavender, classic Southern Rhône garrigue, and a dash of black pepper. 

Let's move to the Northern Rhône Valley for the bonus pours.

These 3 wines are all from Vincent Paris. Vincent Paris, whose first vintage was 1997, is as shy as his wines are bold. In his early 30's, he has retro sideburns, but not much else about this appellation's established star is "retro". Vincent's uncle is Robert Michel, one of Cornas' finest growers. He made his two first wines with his uncle and then, seeking autonomy, rented facilities for the vinification of his most recent wines. He is in the process of building his own winemaking facilities with a courtyard that holds his apricot plantation.

Vincent Paris Syrah VdP des Collines Rhodaniennes 2023 $23 - This Syrah comes from young vines in Crozes-Hermitage, but the wine gets classified as a “wine of the land” versus village level. Aromas of ripe blackberries and plums, complemented by subtle notes of black pepper, violets, and a hint of smoked meat.

Vincent Paris "Granit" Blanc 2023 $32 - Only 5% of wine made in Northern Rhône Valley is white. This wine is made of 66% Viognier, 34% Roussane. The vines are planted on North-facing slops in the Cornas appelation, a rarity, since Cornas is mostly known for its red wine production. The wine itself is unique and limited, and tops out at 200 cases produced annually. The Viognier offers orchard fruit flavors, while the sandy granite soils in the vineyard bring out the Roussane's super sharp minerality.

Vincent Paris Crozes-Hermitage 2022 $48 - Dry, low acidity, intense but polished tannin, and full body. The palate brims with black fruit, roast plum, vanilla, oak, pepper, black olive, licorice, and spice. Pure Syrah so try with something gamey or peppery.

di Lenardo Vineyards 2023 Friulano "TOH!", Friuli $14 - Friuli, located in northeastern Italy near the borders of Austria and Slovenia, is a prestigious wine region known for its high-quality white wines, especially from grapes like Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio.

Tenuta Le Velette 2019 Rosso Orvietano "Spicca" Umbria $16 - (100% Sangiovese) Umbria, often called the "green heart of Italy," is a central Italian wine region known for its rolling hills and historic towns. It produces both red and white wines, with standout varieties like Sagrantino from Montefalco and Grechetto from Orvieto.

Ippolito 2021 Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore "Liber Pater", Calabria $16 - (100% Gaglioppo) Calabria, located in the toe of Italy's boot, is a warm, sun-drenched wine region known for bold red wines made from native grapes like Gaglioppo. With a winemaking history dating back to ancient times, Calabria's rugged terrain and Mediterranean climate produce robust, rustic wines that reflect the region's heritage and natural beauty.

Fidora 2020 Monte Tabor Valpolicella, Veneto $19 - (Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella) Veneto, in northeastern Italy, is one of the country’s most important and diverse wine regions, known for producing both high-quality reds and whites. It’s famous for Prosecco, Amarone della Valpolicella, and Soave, offering everything from light, sparkling wines to rich, full-bodied reds. 

Musto Carmelitano 2020 Aglianico del Vulture "Rosso Maschitano" Basilicata $20 - (100$ Aglianico) Basilicata, a mountainous region in southern Italy, is known for its bold red wines, especially Aglianico del Vulture, grown on the slopes of an ancient volcano. Its high elevations and volcanic soils contribute to wines with depth, structure, and aging potential, making it a hidden gem among Italy’s wine regions.

Bonus Wines

Umani Ronchi Pecorino Terre di Chieti Vellodoro 2023, Marche $20 - (100% Pecorino) Marche, located on Italy’s Adriatic coast, is a picturesque wine region known for its crisp white Verdicchio and elegant reds like Rosso Conero. With a mix of coastal and mountainous terrain, Marche produces fresh, food-friendly wines that reflect its diverse landscape and rich winemaking tradition.

I Custodi 2022 Etna Rosso "Pistus", Sicily $27 (90% Nerello Mascalese and 10% Nerello Cappuccio) Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is a dynamic wine region known for its diverse climates and volcanic soils, particularly around Mount Etna. It produces a wide range of wines, including bold reds like Nero d’Avola and the elegant, mineral-driven Nerello Mascalese, as well as crisp whites like Grillo and Carricante. 

Bonus Bonus

COS 2021 Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico, Sicily $45 (Frappato di Vittoria 40%, Nero d’Avola 60%) I love Sicilian wines so I couldn't help myself and doubled up here. In 1980, they were the youngest wine producers in Italy. They received an old family winery from Giambattista Cilia’s father Giuseppe Cilia and the nearby vineyard of bush trained vines, a total of 3.60.40 hectares in the famed town of Bastonaca. On October 5, 1980 they harvested their first vintage and made 1,470 bottles. COS began its adventure that would one day lead to the transformation of Cerasuolo di Vittoria. Cerasuolo di Vittoria is Sicily’s only DOCG wine, made primarily from Nero d’Avola and Frappato grapes. It’s known for its vibrant ruby color, juicy red fruit flavors, and balanced structure, combining the richness of Nero d’Avola with the floral freshness of Frappato.

Friday Flight 4 - 8pm $12 for flight of 5 with 3 additional wines for purchase.

We’ll have Patricia Green Cellars here Wednesday, May 21st from 5 -7pm pouring. Details coming.

Join us on Saturday, the 19th, from 1–5 PM for an afternoon of great wine, delicious bites, and local charm! Your passport unlocks a curated flight of three 1oz pours at each of five fantastic locations (Vino, Montelupo, Pairings, Providore & Parallel) along with tasty snacks and a chance to win one of three amazing prize baskets.

On Tuesday, April 8th we'll have owner and winemaker, Anne Charlotte, from Font du Loup in the store pouring her wines. These wines are both scarce are dynamic so I'm thrilled and honored she is doing this event at Vino. PLEASE NOTE 5:30 - 7pm free.

Font du Loup Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2022 $25

Font du Loup Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2021 $20

Font du Loup Châteauneuf du Pape Les Demoiselles 2022 $41

Font du Loup Châteauneuf du Pape "La Fond du Loup" 2021 $59

Font du Loup Châteauneuf du Pape "Le Puy Rolland" 2022 $75

Font du Loup Châteauneuf du Pape "Legend" 2022 $95

For Friday's Flight let's taste some bold reds from our neighbors in Washington. With 1,000+ wineries specializing in everything from robust Cabernet Sauvignon to delicate Chardonnay and even late-harvest Riesling, it would seem difficult to generalize the common thread that unites Washington’s winemaking community. However, most winemakers and grape growers live and work in small towns that reflect the genuine, humble and hard-working communities of the American West. Tasting rooms are as likely to be in a converted old home as they are to be attached to a state-of-art winery, but they share one thing in common: authenticity.

As the nation’s second largest producer of wine, Washington has long held a stellar reputation for excellence as well as value. Among critics, the state’s wineries have garnered more praise than many other leading wine regions in the world—all while maintaining an affordable average cost per bottle.

The Flight - Washington State

Canas Feast Pinot Grigio 2023 $14 - Fresh tropical aromas of pineapple & heady notes kaffir lime leaves are accompanied by hints of grapefruit peel and a slatey undertone.

Gifford Hirlinger 2018 Stateline Red $17 - A blend of Cabernet, Tempranillo, Malbec and Merlot. It has a seductive nose of black fruits, toast and coffee. Currants and black cherries are wreathed in smoke, and the suppleness grows into a lengthy and satisfying finish.

Canas Feast Bricco Red 2022 $17 - Sangiovese (41%), Primitivo (27%), Barbera (19%), Nebbiolo (9%), Dolcetto (4%). Lifted red-fruited aromas of cherries, wild raspberries and licorice. 

Bookwalter Readers Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 $20 - Juicy and full up front with a mid-palate full of ripe sweet cherries, plums, and blueberry compote. well-structured tannins, moderate acidity and bright fruit together result in a wonderfully balanced wine.

Dunham Cellars Three Legged Red 2022 $22 - Notes of vanilla, coconut, cherry and berry are followed by ripe, plump cherry and raspberry flavors. The oak plays a prominent part in the show here and there's lots of enjoyment to be had here. Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah.

Bonus Wines

Gilbert Cellars Left Bank Horse Heaven Hills 2022 $24 - This blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 2% Carménère comes to life with a fleshy palate of dark fruit and subtle earthy notes.

Luke Merlot 2022 $25 - Dark red fruits, rounded tannins and an opulent, smooth finish. Fresh flavors of plum, cherry and blackberry dominate the mid-palate while earthy flavors of tobacco.

Dumas Station Cow Catcher Red 2020 $32 - This Merlot-based red blend scores with warm vanilla bean on the nose, dried blueberry and cherry fruit-roll flavors, and mouth-watering acidity.

We’ll have Chris Davis of Estelle Imports in the shop featuring some “top hits” from his Italian imports. I’ll post the lineup closer to the date. 5 - 7pm free.

2024 Collestefano Marche Bianco $19

2023 Casale Marchese Frascati Superiore $17

2022 Vallevo Montepulciano d'Abruzzo $14

2022 Reverdito Barbera d'Alba $19

2023 Ca La Bionda Valpolicella Classico $22

The Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is known as the cradle of the French language, as well as Le Jardin de la France, the Garden of France. The landscape of low hills is punctuated by grand châteaux of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, all connected by the slow-moving waterway that stretches into the heart of the country. 

Two thousand years of continuous viticulture has helped forge this reputation, but so has a region-wide effort to embrace sustainable viticulture and terroir-centric winemaking. Today, 30% of the valley’s vineyards are either farmed sustainably or organically—a figure that increases each year. This forward-thinking ethos has secured acclaim for present-day vintages, but more importantly, promises a bright future for the Loire’s wine industry.

While the region is France’s third largest wine-producing region by volume (and the largest for AOC-based white wine), the Loire Valley manages to provide incredible focus, consistency, and quality. Sommeliers and wine buyers have come to depend on the region’s 51 official appellations for a variety of refreshing sparkling wines, crystalline whites, playful rosés, profound reds, and long-lived sweet wines often tinged with noble rot. 

Brazilier Chenin Blanc 2023 $16 - 100% Chenin Blanc grown in the Coteaux du Venomois. Round and delicious, showing notes of white peach, almond, ripe pear.

Lame Delisle Boucard Bourgueil Vieilles Vignes 2021 $16 - Lamé-Delisle-Boucard’s “Vieilles Vignes” is pure Cabernet Franc exclusively from vines over 40 years of age in the commune of Ingrandes de Touraine—part from the sandy gravel terraces of the lieu-dit Louys, and part from hillside plantings in the clay-limestone of Mont Sigou.

Angélique Léon. Savigny-en-Véron, Chinon Rouge, AOC Chinon 2021 $19 - Angélique Leon moved to Savigny-en-Véron, in the Loire Valley, taking over her parents’ domain in 2002. She is basically a one women operation working the vines, harvesting and vinifying the wines in the cellar. The Estate is made up of 7 hectares of vines producing mainly red wines and a small quantity of rosé (5%). The single grape variety used is Cabernet Franc, average age of the vines is 30- 40 years old.

Domaine de la Pepiere "La Pepie" Cot 2023 $19 - This red country wine is produced on the slopes of the Pépière. These hillsides are exposed to the southwest on granite slopes where the rock (Clisson GRANITE) is flush in many places. 100% Côt.

Bernard Baudry, Chinon "Les Granges" 2023 $22 - From 35 to 40 year-old vines on gravel and sandy soils with a bit of clay near the Vienne river in organic agriculture. Hand harvested, fermented with wild yeasts, ages for 8 to 10 months in cement vats, minimal addition of SO2 only prior to bottling. This "basic" cuvée from Bernard and Matthieu Baudry has gotten more and more "serious" as the vines age, giving a wine that is delightful to drink young.

Bonus

Anne-Cécile Jadaud Vouvray Vouvray Sec Les Grives Soûles 2021 $27 - Anne-Cécile Jadaud and Tanguy Perrault work around eight hectares of organically-farmed vines spread across 15 small parcels near their home and winery in Chançay, in the northeastern portion of Vouvray. This dry iteration of Vouvray is named for the thrushes ('Les Grives') who get drunk ('Soûles') by eating ripe berries around harvest that have already begun to ferment slightly inside the grape.

Domaine Denizot,“Osmoze” Blanc, Sancerre 2023 $32 - In the heart of France's Loire Valley lies a lesser-known winery producing exceptional wines with a rich history and a promising future. Domaine Denizot, run by the passionate husband and wife team of Thibauld and Jennifer Denizot, has been crafting elegant and nuanced wines for six generations. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. This is one of the best Sancerres I've tasted in recent memory.

Domaine Denizot, Sancerre Rouge 2022 $39 - 100% Pinot Noir. This elegant expression of Pinot Noir showcases notes of fresh red fruit with some black pepper on the finish. 

Oregon Flight

Oregon Wine Country, particularly the Willamette Valley, is renowned for its unique terroir, which has been shaped by a combination of factors, including the region's cool climate, diverse soils, and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The area’s terroir is particularly ideal for growing Pinot Noir, which thrives in the valley’s volcanic soils and moderate rainfall. The landscape's distinctiveness is partly due to the Missoula Floods, which occurred around 15,000 years ago. These catastrophic floods, caused by the breaching of an ice dam, inundated much of the region and left behind a complex mix of soils, from gravel to silt, which contributes to the rich diversity in Oregon wines today. The interplay of these geological and climatic influences makes Oregon Wine Country dynamic and sought-after. Every time I drive through the Gorge I try and imagine the massive floods that carved it out and deposited all that diverse soil in the Valley.

J Scott Cellars Pinot Gris 2023 $16

Autre Monde Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 $16

Scenic Valley Farms Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 $21

Carlton Cellars ‘Seven Devils' Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton 2023 $23

J.K. Carriere Wines 'Clarion' Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2022 $25

Bonus Wines

Cameron Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2023 $26

Tim Malone Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2023 $26

Walter Scott Pinot Noir "Combe Verte" Willamette Valley 2023 $36

We’ll have Berlin from Julian Sinclair pouring wines from Mary Taylor Imports 5 - 7pm. I think these wines represent some of the best values coming out of Europe today. The wines are honest and of the place they come from.

Veneto Frizzante NV $14 - A blend of 30 year old Glera and Garganega from Italy's Veneto made by Sophia Brescia. Lighty sparkling with fresh notes of white flower and lemon.

Alice Berthier Coteaux du Giennois 2022 $24 - Made from 30-year-old vines, this wine embodies the best of the Loire. Gold in color, the wine has a perfumed yet vibrant nose of pear, white blossom and forest floor with curious cedar hints. Red apple, dried grass and summer field herbs show beautifully on the palate and crescendo into a long finish.

Clara Sala Bianco Sicily 2023 $19 - This is 100% Grillo grown on a single hectare in the Gorghi Tondi and Preola Lake Nature Reserve. Citrus, brine and white flower.

Christophe Avi Agenais Rose Southwest France 2023 $15 - This rosé from Christophe Avi, our source of Buzet wines, is made from his younger Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon vines. It offers nuanced notes of minerally orange blossom, wet stone, and lime leaf, with lots of grip.

Marine Descombe Beaujolais-Village Rouge 2022 $20 - A textbook blue stone Brouilly-style Beaujolais-Villages.

Clara Sala Rosso Sicily 2023 $19 - Translucent red with bright acidity, tension, and elegant fruit made from Nero D'Avola.

Southern Italy

The Flight

Ipollito Ciro Blanco Mare Chiaro 2023, Calabria $16 - 100% Greco Bianco from Calabria's Ciro Marina. At 160 years old, Ipollito is Calabria's oldest winery. It has been cultivated in Calabria since ancient times and it has evidently been imported with the other “Greek” vines from Greece. It has a medium-large, truncated-conical cluster, often with two wings, of medium compactness, a medium, sub-ovoid berry of golden yellow color, thick skin and a juicy pulp of simple taste.

Marchesi del Salento Salice Salentino, Puglia 2023 $13 - 100% Negroamaro from Salice Salentino. Native to Puglia (and rarely grown elsewhere), Negroamaro is by far this region’s most dominant grape, covering roughly 12,000 hectares (29,652 acres) of land throughout the region, but it is especially widespread on the Salento Peninsula. The grape is classically blended with Malvasia Nera but can also stand on its own.

Lupo Meraviglia Tre di Tre Puglia IGT Rosso 2022 $14 - A blend of Negroamaro, Aglianico and Primitivo, whose carefully selected and treated grapes come from terroirs located in the Salento area that are particularly suited for wine.

Fuso Calx Primitivo 2023, Puglia $19 - Dark ripe berries, baked red fruit, lifted spice, rhubarb + cherry pie on nose. A soft + supple palate - red cherries and vanilla notes mingle with dried cranberries and nutmeg.

Cantine Olivella Vesuvio Rosso "Lacreminero" 2022, Campania $19 - A thrilling red blend that brings together three native grapes that thrive on southern Italy’s rich volcanic soils. Piedirosso, with its delicate floral aromas and silky body; Aglianico, with notes of smoke and licorice and muscle; and Olivella, a rare red grape with blueberry notes and tons of saturated ruby color. 

Bonus Wines

Scala Ciro Marino DOC Ciró Rosso Classico, Calabria 2022 $20 - 100% Gaglioppo which a medium-sized, thick-skinned grape indigenous to Southern Italy and best known for the production of Ciro DOC. One of Italy’s oldest varieties, recent DNA studies have found that Gaglioppo is a natural crossing of Sangiovese and Mantonico.

Musto Carmelitano Aglianico del Vuture Rosso Matchitano, Basilicata 2020 $21 - 100% Aglianico from Vulture. Zesty and fruity, with tangy red berry flavors and aromas of violets, lavender and licorice. On the palate it is very rich, structured and sapid, rightly tannic and exuberant from a young age.

Maffini Kleos Paestum Cilento Aglianico DOP 2022, Campania $30 - 100% Aglianico. Roses and lavender that gives way to cloves, sweet smoke and crushed blackberries. It opens with a lovely inner sweetness, displaying vividly ripe wild berry fruits that are perfectly balanced by vibrant acidity and chalky mineral tones. 

Friday Flight 4 - 8pm $12 for a taste of 5 with 3 additional pours available for purchase.

Spain

To classify the wines of Spain under a single style or character would be impossible. This is a country of exceptional diversity, with vines planted across a huge range of climates and geographies. Vineyards stretch from the lush and rainy coasts of Green Spain to the extreme and arid plains of the Meseta, from the valleys carved by the Ebro River to the volcanic Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa.

The sheer number of grape varieties also widens the spectrum of Spanish wines. More than 200 grape varieties are grown here, from international favorites to the country’s many local specialties, like Tempranillo, Mencía, Albariño, and Verdejo. While local winemakers carry on the traditions passed down through Spain’s winemaking history, they also look to push their industry forward, experimenting with styles and increasingly focusing on organic viticulture.

As the third-largest country in Europe, Spain’s geography and climate are exceptionally diverse, comprising many distinctive regions making equally distinctive wines. It dominates the Iberian peninsula in southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, north Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains. One of the country’s most distinguishing geographical features, is the Meseta, a wide plateau that covers much of central Spain. 

Cellar Jan Vidal Cava NV $14 - The Penedés Valley in Catalonia lies just east of Barcelona and is one of my favorite regions not only for Cava but the dynamic still wines being produced today. This is a classic blend of Xarel-lo, Parellada and Macabeo aged 18 months producing a wine that's fresh and crisp on the palate, this cava is pale straw yellow in color with fine, persistent bubbles. Notes of quince, yellow apple, lime and almond.

Next we'll head south to Les Alcusses Valley located in Valencia. Pago Casa Gran is a small winery located about 500 ft in the valley growing Malvasia, Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell practicing organic viticulture. The Casa Benasal Tinto 2023 $15 is a blend of Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell.

A short drive south we arrive in Alicante we'll find Kiki & Juan in Requena. The Kiki & Juan Tinto 2023 $16 is a blend of Bobal, Tempranillo and Macabeo.

The next region, Rioja, needs no introduction, with more than 600 wineries, 14,800 winegrowers, and centuries of history. Rioja is Spain’s leading wine region. Not only was it the first Spanish region to be awarded Denominación de Origen (DO) status in 1925, but it was also the first to be elevated to the prestigious Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) status, in 1991.

Luberri Rioja 2023 "Orlegi" $17 100% Tempranillo.

The Luzador Tinto "Los Andreses" 2022 $18 is a blend of 75% Garnacha and 25% Tempranillo from Navarra. Navarra is just east of Rioja and was once a part of France and mostly planted to Garnacha. The vineyards of Navarra DO are located in the southern part of the region, between Pamplona and the plains.

Bonus WinesLadeiras do Xil 2022 Branco $25 comes from Valdedoras over in Galicia. Ladeiras do Xil is named for the hillsides along the Sil River (literally “slopes of the Sil”), which, along with the Miño River, is the lifeblood of the Ourense province, including the Valdeorras and Ribeira Sacra wine regions. This wine is made from 20 to 80 year old Godello vines.

Álvaro Palacios Priorat Les Camins del Priorat 2022 $26 - Back over to the east coast we'll visit Priorat. Alvaro Palacios put Priorat on the map with his bottling of L'Ermita in 1993 which goes for around $1,400 these days. Priorat's unique soil, Llicorella, is a brown slate that glimmers in the sun, The region produces powerful wines made from Carineña, Garnacha and Syrah.

Bonus Bonus

Bodegas Señorio Pecina Rioja Reserva 2016 $33. Elaborated from the finest grapes from their vineyards in San Vicente de la sonsierra, calcareous clay soil, the grapes are destemmed and crushed and fermented naturally with wild yeast in stainless steel tanks. It spends 3 years in used American oak and at least 18 months in bottle before release.

Friday Flight 4 - 8pm every Friday. $12 for a flight of 5 with an additional 3 wines for purchase.

We’ll have Emmeline from Terrisson Wines pouring some French imports here 5 - 7pm free. I tasted through these wines recently and they are all stunning.

Fabrice Larochette, Pouilly-Fuissé Les Robées 2023 $30

Fabrice Larochette, Mâcon-Fuissé La Grande Bruyère 2022 $24

Domaine Rière Cadène, Côtes du Roussillon Vin Augusta Blanc 2022 $20

Domaine Rière Cadène, Côtes de Roussillon Leidoner 2022 $23

Domaine Rière Cadène, Côtes du Roussillon Le Garbinet 2021 $18

We will be pouring 5 wines from Abruzzo 4 - 8pm for $12 a flight with 3 additional tastes for purchase.

Tucked along the eastern coast of Italy, Abruzzo is one of Europe’s greatest gems, home to breathtaking landscapes, delicious regional cuisine, and of course, characterful and stunning wines. Though Italy as a whole has long been known around the world for its winemaking prowess, it’s only in recent years that Abruzzo has captured the hearts of U.S. consumers, making it an exceptional discovery for many.

Abruzzo is a natural haven for grape growing, with over 32,000 hectares of vines planted across the region. Bright, sunny days, a large diurnal shift, and moderating influences from the Apennine Mountains to the north and the Adriatic Sea to the east make it the perfect place for grapes to thrive. 

Generally, Abruzzo’s landscape is divided into two areas. The inland, mountainous land is home to a continental climate, making up more than 65 percent of the region, while the coastal area has a strip of hilly land and a milder climate. Much of Abruzzo’s vines are found in this hilly, coastal area today.

Not to be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (a Sangiovese-based wine from Tuscany), the Montepulciano grape is indigenous to Abruzzo, and is an embodiment of the region itself. In fact, about 70 percent of new vineyards have been planted to Montepulciano. Known for creating appealingly rustic, solidly built wines with supple texture and pronounced fruit, Montepulciano has become the gateway grape for many U.S. consumers to get to know Abruzzo, particularly in its key DOC: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

Altavilla Pecorino IGT Abruzzo 2021 $13 Straw yellow color with green highlights. Bouquet of yellow fruits. Fresh, flinty, and elegant.

Il Nido Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2023 $13 Intense violet robe. Aromas of plum and ripe blackberry. Each sip delivers a mouthful of ripe berries, leather and black pepper with subtle hints of oregano, dried herbs and a touch of vanilla.

Umani Ronchi Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Podere 2023 $14 This has been a store favorite for a while so I thought it would be fun to add. Delicate aromas of plum and Morello cherry. Robust and full-bodied in the mouth, slightly tannin-rich with a dry and flavorful finish. 

Bricco Al Sole Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2022 $15 Intense ruby red. Nose: Intense aroma of dry fruits and flowers. Palate: Dry and savory with soft tannins.

Barone Cornacchia Montepulciano D'Abruzzo "Casanova" 2021 $19 Intense and complex bouquet with hints of plum, dried flowers, cherries, sage, and tobacco. Full-bodied with savory and mineral layers framed by firm tannins. The wine exhibits excellent balance and freshness, with flavors of ripe black cherry, dried red fruit, and cherries soaked in alcohol.

Bonus

I Fauri Passerina IGT Colline Teatrine 2022 $23 Have you ever tasted a wine made from Passerina? Me Neither. Passerina is both a rare local white grape that is found in the Italian region of Marche, and a DOC for wines of the same name. Passerina produces wines with a distinctive personality. These clean, fresh wines are dry and defined by aromas of flowers and delicate herbs. 

Torre de Beati Cerasuolo D'Abruzzo 2023 $25 - Cerasuolo D'Abruzzo is a DOC that was created in 1968. It's made from Montepulciano and tends to be on the darker side of rosato that I find to be more of a red. This deeply hued Cerasuolo dives into rich cherry and bramble berry tones on the nose and palate. It’s full in feel, yet well framed by teeming acidity and soft tannins.

Cornacchia Montepulciano Riserva "Vigne le Coste" 2018 $33 This exceptional Italian red wine is crafted from handpicked Montepulciano grapes, aged for 15 months in French and Slavonian oak barrels. Its intense aroma reveals hints of ripe black cherry, plum, and spice, while its full-bodied palate offers a balanced blend of rich fruit, velvety tannins, and a touch of oak complexity. 

We’ll be following up our Right Bank Bordeaux with some Cabernet-based wines from the Left Bank. 4 - 8pm this Friday $12.

Château de Cranne Bordeaux Blanc 2022 $19 This is based on the Sauvignon Gris grape variety that, today, is rarely even heard of in Bordeaux, although it was commonly grown generations ago. Sauvignon Gris is more about elegance and floral fruit aromas. The vines are planted in clay, gravel and chalk-based soils. The Lacoste family is in its 7th generation of winemaking in hills of Bordeaux. Bright straw yellow color. Notes of candied apricot, almond and white flowers. Rich and well balanced wine that gives a perfect mouthfeel. 

Château Lacoste-Garzac 2020 Rouge $13 This is a shop favorite so I thought it would be fun to add. Enjoy notes of black currants, flowers, cedar, cigar wrapper and cassis as they play together to enlighten your senses. Full-bodied, round, concentrated, lush, sweet, juicy cassis, blackberries, ripe tannins, with an elegant finish marked by the purity in the fruit used to craft this beautiful wine. Smooth and easy from start to finish.

A family estate since 1789 and bought in 1942 by Jean Darriet, a 6th generation winemaker, Château La Maroutine has been gradually restructured. Now the 8th generation is beginning to leave their imprint. Château La Maroutine Graves Rouge $14 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are blended into this cuvee opened on intense notes of ripe fruits, violet and leaf rolling beetle. The mouth is seducing with his intense and greedy texture with almond, hazelnuts notes, fine tension and smooth tannins.

Château Capdet Listrac-Medoc $19 This former Puy de Menjon estate became Château Capdet in the early 20th century, and is an archetypal, traditional Listrac wine: strongly colored, fruity, revealing fresh tannins, a dense texture and long finish, to which it adds great ageing potential.

It also significantly bears the mark given to wines by Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the gravelly hilltops of Fonréaud.

Château Côtes Blaignan Médoc $21 Since 1870, the Francisco family has produced consistently high-quality wine at Château Côtes de Blaignan, in one of the world’s most famous red wine regions – the Medoc Peninsula and appellation. The estate is situated 60 km north of Bordeaux in the district of Ordonnac. The wine has a deep color and a very fruity nose, with pronounced notes of blackcurrants and black cherries, accompanied by a hint of spice. The palate is full-bodied, revealing good structure and silky tannins.

Château de Cranne Bordeaux Rouge 2019 $22 A deep purplish red color with flashes of plum, revealing an impressive density and depth. A finely textured nose with aromas of jammy wild fruit blackcurrant, whortleberry and blackberry), with a Mediterranean density. The amplitude of the tannins is simply astonishing. 

Château Poitevin Médoc 2016 $24 Indulge your senses with the captivating aromas of blackberry, tobacco, and honey, as the intense nose of Chateau Poitevin Medoc envelops you in its complexity. Revel in the silky, round mouthfeel, complemented by velvety tannins and a perfect balance of acidity. Savor the finesse and power of this supple, fleshy wine that lingers on your palate with elegance and grace.

La Commanderie St Estephe 2019 $36 The vineyard of this estate is primarily situated on the highest ridge of Saint-Estèphe (between the vineyards of Cos d'Estournel and Chateau Lafite Rothschild), gently sloping towards the Gironde river, providing excellent exposure. This Cru Bourgeois was acquired in 1957 by Mr. Gabriel Meffre and has been managed by his son Claude since 1996, who also owns Château Plantey in Pauillac. The nose is fruity and offers power, a fine concentration. It reveals notes of cassis, wild strawberry, small notes of spices, cuben pepper, cloves, fleshy raspberry associated with fine hints of violet and liquorice. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/Acidulous frame, a good definition, suavity as well as a juicy/ripe fruit and a very fine tension. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/ripe raspberry, crushed small red berries, small notes of juicy blackberry associated with touches of violet, a racy minerality as well as hints of camphor, clove, very fine hints of nutmeg and ripe almond. Tannins are very discreetly marked.

During the month of February, Hungary celebrates its noble grape with a series of events. Lone Wolf Wines is bringing that celebration to Oregon with multiple events around Portland and John was kind enough to host one here at Vino.

Bodrog Bormuhely Dry Tokji 2022

Karoly Kolonics Hárslevelű Nimrod 2021

Fekete Bela Juhfark 2019

Heimann & Fiai Piros Siller 2022

Heimann Szekszard Kekfrankos 2021

Friday Flight 2/7 - South Africa with Emily Heins

The history of South African wine begins in 1655 when the first grapevines were planted near Cape Town by members of the Dutch East India Company. The first results weren’t encouraging but as more colonists arrived, they brought knowledge and a tradition of viticulture and winemaking. The wine industry grew throughout the 18th century, mainly producing sweet and fortified wines. Brandy, which necessitated the cultivation of white grapes, also became a major export.

South Africa is found at the southern tip of the African continent. The vineyards are almost all within a hundred miles of Cape Town, which lies at about 34 degrees South Latitude. While not very far south, the climate—described as mild Mediterranean—is suitable for wine growing for a couple of reasons. Areas near the coast are much cooler than those further inland due to the cold Benguela current that comes up from Antarctica. Inland regions are warmer but benefit from elevation. Coastal areas are wetter than further inland, where vineyards often need irrigation. But the country as a whole has had to deal with serious water shortages in recent years.

Opstal Estate "Sixpence" Blanc 2023 $14 - Opstal Estate is situated at the foot of the Slanghoek mountains in the heart of the breathtakingly beautiful Slanghoek Valley on the Breedekloof Wine Route. The valley forms part of the Breede River Valley with Worcester as the closest, large town. 60% Sauvignon Blanc / 40% Sémillon.

Opstal Estate "Sixpence" Cabernet Sauvignon/Merot 2022 $14 red berries, plum and hints of dark berry fruits, with a well-rounded finish.

Kumusha Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 $16 - Kumusha in the Zimbabwean Shona language translates to ‘your home’, ‘your roots’ or ‘your origin’. World Renowned Sommelier Tinashe Nyamudoka believes the best wines are representative of their region. Through a collaborative process with respect to the vine, the winemaker and the consumer, Tinashe is building a brand of wines that represent and honor their roots. Minimal intervention wine making and natural fermentation is aimed at letting the wine be free to do the talking of its origin. Red berries, plum and coffee.

Lubanzi Cinsault 2023 $17 - At the core of this wine project is a focus on giving back back to the families who live and work on South Africa's wine farms via the Pebbles Project in the form of health and education support. Energetic cherry, raspberry bush, blueberry compote, saddle, anise. Bright palate of chocolate cake and Luxardo cherries - fresh and enveloping.

Kumusha Carignan 2023 $22 - Kumusha Wines Carignan Wild Mutupo Slanghoek is a vibrant red bursting with juicy raspberries, wild cherries, and a hint of spicy pepper.

Bonus Wines

Longridge Cabernet Stellenbosch 2020 $24 - An elegant wine with classic aromas of rich cherry tobacco, cigar box and dark fruit, complemented by silky tannins, which are well structured and delicately smooth.

Kumushu Pinotage 2023 $25 - Kumusha Pinotage has depth, balance, and aromas of dark cherries and mulberries. Taking great care to gently extract the delicious purple fruit characteristics of the grapes, this minimal intervention wine explodes with flavors of berry, plum, coffee, and baking spice, and a savory finish. 

Nice Beverage "Leave it to me" Red $31 - Nice Beverage Co has been designed from the ground up to uplift and give space to emerging wine talents, especially those of women, black winemakers, and those traditionally excluded from winemaking spaces. Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault. Winemaker Kiara makes this wine for Nice Beverage Wine Co. Fruit drawn from the "exceedingly traditional but underrepresented" winemaking region of Paarl, in particular mature bush vine vineyards

VINO HOURS:

Tuesday 11:00 - 7:00 PM

Wednesday 11:00 - 7:00 PM

Thursday 11:00 - 7:00 PM

Friday 11:00 - 8:00 PM **Flights 4 - 8pm

Saturday 11:00 - 7:00 PM

Sunday 1:00 - 7:00 PM

Monday Closed