Weekly Saturday Tastings through June 10th

Saturday, May 27th
Raats Family Wines
with special guest Cellarmaster Bruwer Raats

Saturday, May 27th
1:00 - 3:00

We get to feature one of our favorite South African Wineries this weekend, and to make it even better we will be joined by the winery owner himself! Rising gracefully from the vineyards in Polkadraai Hills Stellenbosch, Raats Family Wines stand in celebration of the unique dolomite granite soil of this tiny ward. Founded in 2000 by visionary winemaker Bruwer Raats, in partnership with his cousin Gavin Bruwer Slabbert, Raats Family Wines specialize in Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc and has been crafting soil-driven wines of exceptional quality ever since. Over the decades, Raats Family Wines have been instrumental in discovering areas were Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc are best suited, endeavoring to identify specific soil types that influence the variety and nurture vineyards, both old and young, with the utmost attention to detail, to produce outstanding wines. This has earned the winery a rather stellar reputation internationally as a New World leader in the production of these focused varietals, regularly receiving glowing write-ups in all the major wine press. In 2017, Bruwer and Gavin muscled their way into the history books when an unprecedented eight wines from the Raats stable received the coveted 5-star rating in the Platter Guide, South Africa’s most definitive wine reference guide. In addition, Raats Family Wines also walked away with the title of Winery of the Year.

“The difference for us is that everything we do we try to resonate the quality in our wine and that eventually becomes our marketing angle. We do it small, we do it fantastically and we do it so differently to anybody else. The end result is wine that is rare, unique, small and different to anyone else.”
~ Bruwer Raats.

Raats Family 'Original' Unwooded Chenin Blanc
Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2021

Raats Family 'Old Vine' Chenin Blanc
Polkadraai Hills, South Africa, 2021

Raats Family 'Jasper' Red Blend
Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Merlot
Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2020

Raats Family Cabernet Franc
Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2019

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Saturday, June 3rd
New Zealand Wines
of Huia Vineyards and Hunky Dory Wines

Saturday, June 3rd
1:00 - 3:00

Claire and Mike Allan arrived in Marlborough, New Zealand in 1990, and quickly fell in love with the emerging wine region. "We were completely blown away by the region. It seemed to have the brightest sunshine, the most intensely flavoured wines, be stunningly beautiful and have an endless supply of the freshest produce." They started Huia Vineyards in 1996, and produce some of the most elegant wines of the region. The Allan family are strong believers in a natural approach to winemaking. They have endeavored to become more and more in tune with the environment around them. Working in harmony with the countryside that helps them make their wine. Sheep wander through the vines and chickens free roam to provide eggs. Bees pollinate the wildflowers that grow throughout the property and provide beautiful honey, olive trees are planted on the borders and make delicious olive oil, and of course their vineyards make world class wine. Since then they have also started a second, more valued oriented label called Hunky Dory, which produces classic New Zealand wines for a more everyday budget. But they didn't compromise, as the Hunky Dory wines are made with the same commitment to organic practices in the vineyard and winery. We will taste two wines from both labels, and will be joined by Warren Oster from Advintage Distributors for this great tasting.

Hunky Dory Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, New Zealand, 2022

Huia Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, New Zealand, 2022

Hunky Dory 'Tangle'
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, and Pinot Gris
Marlborough, New Zealand, 2021

Huia Pinot Noir
Marlborough, New Zealand, 2017

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Saturday, June 10th
Argentine Wines from the Zuccardi Family

Saturday, June 10th
1:00 - 3:00

Sebastián Zuccardi grew up in a family that had a strong visionary and innovative spirit. Since 1963, when his grandfather planted the first hectares of grapevines in Maipú, Mendoza, the Zuccardi family has not stopped growing and developing. It has become a leader in Argentine wine production. From his father, José Alberto Zuccardi, Sebastián inherited the determination and desire to constantly strive for excellence. Today, Sebastián, third generation of the family, finds himself leading a young team of agricultural engineers and enologists, who are in charge of producing the highest quality wines in the Uco Valley. On his initiative, the winery has had a research and development area since 2008, dedicated to studying the terroir and the diverse variables that affect wine quality. The goal, in Sebastián’s own words, is “not to strive for perfect wines, but wines that express the place, the region.” We hope you can join us to taste through a selection of our favorites from the incredible wines produced by this groundbreaking family.

Zuccardi 'Serie A' Torrontés
Argentina, 2022

Zuccardi 'Poligonos del Valle De Uco' Semillon
Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina, 2021

Zuccardi 'Serie A' Bonarda
Santa Rosa, Mendoza, Argentina, 2021

Zuccardi 'Q' Cabernet Sauvignon
Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina, 2020