What has wine done for me lately?
A lot of things! Since I got my WSET-2 from American Wine SchoolI started working a few hours a week at Underdog Wine Co. in Kansas City, Mo. (P.S., was recently named one of the top 50 wine stores in the US according to wine enthusiast!) and I’ve been writing some freelance articles for SOMM TV online magazine (which, if you like wine or food, is a must-watch streaming service!). It has been AMAZING.
And, here at FBG, they also sent me some new wines to try, and let me tell you, that new job doesn’t suck.
Read on to learn about some of the bottles I tried that made me feel like a heart-eyed smiley face emoji with every sip.
Wine Folly Wine Club through Wine Access
I have loved wine madness for a long time, so trying a shipment from the Wine Folly Wine Club through Wine Access It was a no-brainer when we got the offer.
Every two months, the wine club will send you four bottles with an educational focus in mind (cost is $120, plus tax and shipping for each shipment). We focus on warm-climate wines, with super-tasty, not-easy-to-find bottles from producers in Spain, South Africa, California, and Australia. In addition to the bottles, it came with detailed tasting notes and basic information about how a warm climate influences a wine and which varieties thrive in higher temperatures.
How were the wines you ask? SO GOOD. I invited some friends over to try them all (always a good time), and while we each had our favorite, there weren’t any that we didn’t like or didn’t want to drink. And it’s always fun to try things side by side to see the differences between varieties and regions. (Don’t want to open all four bottles at once? You could do it one bottle one night at a time, or consider investing in a Coravinso you don’t have to uncork the whole bottle.)
I’m a wine nerd at heart, so I really enjoyed the educational component of the Wine Folly Wine Club, but Wine Access also has other interesting clubs at a variety of other price points and themes, including Sunset Mag Wine. Club that features West Coast wines and the Michelin Guide prepared in conjunction with sommeliers from Michelin-starred restaurants. (See all clubs here.) Wine Access also sells wines by the bottle. – with a beautiful collection from around the world that you don’t exactly find every day in the supermarket.
Literally anything from Unico Zelo
Apparently, there is no Unique Zelo Wine from Australia which I don’t love.
Because in the last few months I have had Sea foam: A deliciously salty and fruity Pet Nat made with Fiano and Vermentino.
The perfectly balanced River sand (Fiano) that’s a fabulous blend of lemon, nectarine and roasted almonds:
esotericwhich is a small blend of Fiano, Zibbibo, Moscato Giallo, Gewurtztraminer and Greco that has skin contact (orange wine) and tastes of mango, nectarine and spices with a lot of minerality (never mind the kitchen reindeer in the background ):
I can not forget cool AF Nor, which tastes as fun as its name. A blend of Nero d’Avola and Zibibbo, she is light, fresh and juicy like… well, you know.
And I love them ALL. truffle dog is next on my list to try, but let’s be honest: if I see a bottle of Unico Zelo that I haven’t tried yet, I buy it. (And, at $25 to $35 a bottle, they definitely feel special, but not so special that I save them for the birth of a child or another important event).
Adobe Road Winery
Last but not least, two wines. Adobe Road Winery He sent me, they are not playing.
Founded by former professional racing driver Kevin Buckler and his wife Debra Buckler in 2002, Adobe Road Winery sources its grapes from some of the most historic and finest family-owned vineyards in Cali’s Sonoma and Napa counties.
To be honest, I don’t drink much Cali Chard regularly, but the 2019 Petaluma Gap Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyards, Roberts Road ($31), it was just lovely. With ripe peaches and nectarine, plus plenty of acid for bright freshness, it’s oaky, but not too oaky. Think baking spices and a creamy bite that’s full-bodied but not too heavy.
Then there is COAL, who is not, shall we say, shy. A dark, inky blend of 48 percent Petite Sirah, 26 percent Malbec, 22 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 4 percent Petit Verdot, the bottle design itself is as heavy as its mouthfeel (in Seriously, you could use this bottle as a weight in a pinch.) ). You get aromas of black cherries, licorice and rich toasted oak that lead to flavors of ripe plum and crushed blackberries with a bit of violet and lots of tannins thrown in that give you an incredibly long finish. Again, it’s not a shy wine and it’s not something I would drink every night (especially at $85 a bottle), but it’s definitely delicious for those times when you’re in the mood for something that’s really going to come after you.
What wines have you been drinking lately that are giving you good vibes? Share that love in the comments! —Jenna
