Wine, Words, & Whimsy
Wine descriptions don’t have to be stuffy or staid.
By combining storytelling and wine knowledge with wit, personality, and pop culture, my weekly newsletters turn bottles into stories and take customers from curious readers into enthusiastic buyers, excited to try something new.
Candles for Mr. Cooper
You probably know Anderson Cooper as an award-winning broadcast journalist, trusted news anchor, deeply personal podcaster, and great-great-great-grandson of the American Gilded Age tycoon, Cornelius “the Commodore” Vanderbilt.
He may have even pinged your radar for his confetti-cannon-fueled Times Square hosting duties on New Year’s Eve with his good friend, Andy Cohen.
But did you know that the Silver Fox of CNN celebrates his birthday on June 3rd?
In honor of Mr. Cooper’s 59th birthday, as well as his recent final sign-off from 60 Minutes on CBS after twenty years as a contributing correspondent, we have chosen the following bottles to toast his uncompromising interviews, on-the-scene reporting, and his belief in rigorous journalistic standards and editorial independence.
Scythian Wine Co., Cucamonga Revolution, 2022, 750 ML $22.99
The Scythian Wine Co. creates natural wines from organic, dry-farmed, 100-year-old vines in Southern California’s Cucamonga Valley. This bottle is a bit of an oddity: a blend of 70% Zinfandel and 30% Palomino, the primary grape used in making sherry. It offers ripe, juicy fruit, which is to be expected from warm-climate Zinfandel, but is also balanced by fresh acid and salty minimality from its Spanish varietal. Dry, biodynamic, unfiltered, and without added sulfites; It’s the wine world equivalent of first-hand, empathetic, boots-on-the-ground reporting without editorial interference.
La Vie en Rose
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of construction paper, it was the age of tiny envelopes, it was the epoch of sweet tarts and conversation hearts, it was the epoch of sugar-free treats sent in from someone’s well-meaning nutritionist mom.
Yes, we’re talking about your elementary school Valentine’s Day celebration; the kind with the cardboard classroom mailbox covered in red paper. Remember that?
Was there anything more thrilling than the anticipation of taking home your own haul of miniature cards (…and perhaps a pack of Twizzlers and a heart-shaped eraser)?
Dropping your own carefully addressed missives into the mail slot—one for every single classmate—felt like a rite of passage.
Though we may be far from the days of our own Valentine classroom parties, we don’t have to lose that loving feeling. Simply choose one of the pink or red delights below for you for your holiday weekend –to sip solo or share with someone you love—and let the festivities begin.
(I would totally spring for a box of conversation hearts as well— for old time’s sake).
Meinklang, Prosa, Sparkling 2024, 750 ML $17.99
If you have spent time perusing our store shelves, you’ve most likely crossed paths with Meinklang’s easy-drinking, biodynamic Austrian wines. Prosa is their light and dry rosé with a slight sparkle that is perfectly suited for Valentine’s Day sipping. This Pet Nat will woo the senses with bold notes of wild strawberries and vibrant freshness. It is a cuvée of mostly Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch—with a smidgen of Saint-Laurent and Pinot Noir. The family-operated mixed farm is set in the middle of an Austrian National Park, close to the border of Hugary. The farmstead is Demeter-certified and functions as an organism, relying not only on its people, but on its herds of cows, plots of ancient grains, fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, wild herbs, and flower fields. They are all puzzle pieces in the unique and sustainable ecosystem which makes this wine delicious to drink and think about. It’s pink, pétillant, and perfect for your heart-themed holiday.
As You Wish
Hop in.
Today we’re taking you on a ride in a cinematic time machine.
Look up at the big screen: there are castles, royalty, heroic swordsmen, The Cliffs of Insanity, shrieking eels, and even a six-fingered man.
Most of all, though, there is true love.
Yes, we’re talking about the 1987 romantic comedy, The Princess Bride, whose lead actor, Cary Elwes— the poor and perfect Farm Boy, Westley, as well as the masked rogue, The Dread Pirate Roberts—celebrated a birthday earlier this week.
Under the direction of Rob Reiner (who also helmed This Is Spinal Tap and When Harry Met Sally), The Princess Bride continues to gift us with memorable quotes, unforgettable characters, and peals of laughter each time it is viewed.
To properly honor the film, which was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, we propose the following wines to sip in the moment and fully capture the storybook story of it all.
What?! You haven’t ever seen The Princess Bride? INCONCEIVABLE!
If that is, indeed, the case, this weekend might be the perfect time to curl up in a warm blanket and remedy that without delay.
Domaine du Chapitre, Mon Bon Plaisir, 2022, 750 ML $14.99
Hello. My name is Mon Bon Plasir. You desire a light-bodied Rhône style wine? Prepare to buy.
Frédéric Dorthe runs his family estate on the right bank of the Rhône in the rural French village of Saint-Marcel d'Ardèche. Due to long-standing contracts to sell most of his fruit, the Domaine has long flown under the radar. On the upside, this allows him to make small amounts of honest, highly drinkable wines and sell them for a song. Mon Bon Plaisir is a classic red GSM, a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. It gives mouthwatering red berry aromas with a touch of peppery spice and dark minerals on the palate. Lighter in body than most of its Southern Rhône counterparts, it has vibrant acidity and mellow tannins. Now, if only there was a six-fingered man on the label…