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Delivery options are available Tuesday through Saturday for case purchases. The delivery charge is $10-$20 for most of the greater Asheville area and goes directly to Robert's son Galen, who's making our deliveries.

AWM Gift Cards make great gifts all year and it's super quick and easy to purchase them online. We can mail them for you or hold them for pickup at the shop.

You may have recently noticed a significant increase in our South African section. That's thanks to our old friend Andy Wooglar of Elephants Corner Wines. In the past, Andy was the guiding force behind Rickety Bridge Winery, and recently, Andy started his own import company to bring the best of South Africa to North Carolina.

I'm personally thrilled with Andy's new portfolio, and I'm even more thrilled to announce our first (of many) evening tasting events with Andy. He'll be presenting a selection of his new imports, providing us with a solid introduction to the wines of South Africa.

Reservations are required for this seated tasting; light snacks will be served.

Join us for another evening of great food, friends, and wine featuring the best in red, white, and pink AWM Hand-Picked Selections from Europe. As usual, Chef Steven Goff will be on hand to dazzle us with more of his culinary creations.

Best to everyone for a safe, happy, and healthy week!

Cheers,

Larry

We've sold oceans of Vinho Verde over the years -- it's one of our favorite summer porch-sippers. To make the cut and find a spot on our shelf, a Vinho Verde must be light, zippy, and fresh with just a slight hint of spritz. Of course, it also needs to be value-driven and friendly to the wallet. Vicinus Vinho Verde checks all those boxes; the bonus is that it's a full liter of fresh, zippy, porch-sipping goodness.

Quinta da Raza is located in the sub-region of Celorico de Basto in the southeast corner of the Vinho Verde DOC. The family's history in local viticulture dates back to the early 17th century, and until recent years, the family sold their full harvest to local cooperatives.

The Quinta da Raza vineyards feature a unique combination of granite, schist, and clay not often found in the Vinho Verde DOC. The higher-than-average vineyard elevation and proximity to the Tamaga River create the perfect microclimate to ensure proper ripeness.

In your glass, you'll love the fresh, citrusy zip and zing that greets the palate, providing the perfect antidote to any hot summer day. Lemon, lime, tangerine, peach, and fruit blossoms all dance on the palate, finishing with a clean lively dryness that begs for another sip.

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

Here's another fabulous value-driven wine from local Asheville importer Kate Stamps.-- buying this wine supports two local businesses!

Gateway Douro is an easy-drinking blend of 50% Touriga Franca, 30% Tinta Roriz, and 20% Touriga Nacional from the region in Portugal, famous for Port wines.

Grapes for Gateway Douro are harvested from vineyards along the picturesque Douro River. The Marão mountain range to the east shelters the vineyards from coastal influences, producing the hot, dry summers and cold winters of a Mediterranean climate. The area features Portugal's most notable wine classification: Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC). While the region is primarily associated with Port wine production, Douro produces just as much table wine as it does fortified wine. These non-fortified wines, Douro appellated wines, are rapidly rising in popularity thanks to outstanding quality and super reasonable prices.

This bargain red is super juicy and pleasing in your glass, with loads of soft berry flavors leading to a perfectly dry and silky finish. It goes with just about anything, from pasta and pizza to steaks and chops!

Regular AWM Price - $15.99

If you're not familiar with Teroldego, you're not alone. It's another one of the seemingly bazillion Italian grapes that fly well under the radar for most wine-lovers.

Teroldego is grown exclusively in the Province of Trentino, located in the northeastern corner of Italy. It thrives in gently rolling hills and plains north of Trento and is made into the region's most prized red wine.

Teroldego is a deeply shaded red wine grape grown exclusively in northern Italy's mountainous Trentino wine region, where it is the main dark-skinned variety. The grape produces intensely pigmented red wines with soft, generous fruit in a style that has become a trademark for Trentino's vignerons. It is soft and needs minimal aging, usually being drunk within three to four years after bottling, though reserve-level wines hold well and improve in the cellar up to 10 years.

Cousins Carlo and Matteo Moser are the third generation to manage the family estate. Carlo handles the business and sales duties at the property, while Matteo manages viticulture and winemaking. While fully respectful of the estate's long history of tradition and culture, they have been instrumental in introducing and implementing modern concepts in viticulture and winemaking.

After a swirl or two in your glass, you're greeted with aromas of fresh red fruits, leading to a palate of red plum, cherry, and red currant. You'll enjoy hints of blueberry and a touch of balsamic through the middle palate, finishing with soft, earthy tannins.

I find this to be a super-versatile red that would be at home with a wide variety of food pairings. Enjoy this with lighter red meats from the pan or grill, roasted birds, savory stews, and soups. 

Regular AWM Price - $26.99

Txakoli -- sounds like "choccoli" and rhymes with broccoli.

If you enjoy a glass or two of Vinho Verde in the summer or any time of the year, you'll adore Txakoli. Think of Txakoli as your "Sunday Best" Vinho Verde -- doubling-up everything you love about Vinho Verde into a super-satisfying citrusy glass of sunshine!

The Basque Country in Spain is an incredible land of culture and cuisine; however, it's not a particularly prolific wine-producing region, and viticulture here is no easy task. The region is strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean at the Bay of Biscay, resulting in above-average rainfall, excessive summer humidity, and very cool autumn temperatures. It's a terrific climate for growing mold and mildew and maybe not so great for most viticulture.

Txakoli is made from the local Hondarribi grape, a varietal only found in the Basque that's uniquely suited to the local climate. Hondarribi vines are mainly cultivated as pergolas, often high enough for vineyard workers to walk underneath. The pergolas are labor intensive, and while they add to the production cost of Txakoli, they allow for proper ventilation to avoid mold and mildew growth.

Each year, a very limited amount of Txakoli arrives here in the States. Actually, it's a wonder that any arrives here at all. To start with, there isn't a lot made since less than 1000 hectares of Hondarribi are planted in the region. The main reason is that the fervently nationalistic Basques love their Txakoli and love draining glasses of Txakoli in pincho bars, the local version of a tapas bar. With most of the local population enjoying a glass of Txakoli in one hand and a pincho in the other, you can see why there isn't a lot of Txakoli left for export!

The Ander Rezabal Aizpiarte winery cultivates 22 hectares of Hondarribi vines near the seaside resort of Zarautz. The estate's vineyards loom directly above the coast, which drops steeply into the sea here, as is often the case in the Basque Country. 

In your glass, Rezabal is classic Txakoli -- light, lean, very fresh, mineral-driven, and featuring a powerful beam of citrus and orchard fruits. This is hands-down the best Txakoli I've tasted in years!

Enjoy this gorgeous white with shellfish, white-fleshed fish, and cool summer salads.

Regular AWM Price - $24.99

There's plenty of confusion connected to Montepulciano. The name represents a famous city in Tuscany, a grape grown all across central Italy, and a wine-producing region on Italy's Adriatic coast. The city of Montepulciano in Tuscany is noted for the production of world-famous dry reds, including Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Chianti, Rosso di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino, and desert wines like Vin Santo di Montepulciano.

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is an entirely different entity and refers to both the grape's name and the region in Italy's central Adriatic Coast where the wine is produced. It's the only place in Italy where you'll find the grape's name and geographic region to be the same.

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is the ultimate Tuesday-Night-Wine from Italy. It checks all of the proper Tuesday-Night boxes -- it's super-versatile food-wise, entry-level bottles are a terrific value, and of course, it's super-tasty! I'm delighted to add yet another terrific insider best-buy to our growing selection of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

Cantine Dragani is a family-owned estate in Abruzzo with a history in viticulture dating back to the early 1700s. They're members of one of the region's most significant production and export cooperatives, and they've played a major part in raising the quality and popularity of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo worldwide.

In your glass, the Dragani Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is smooth and uncomplicated; however, it's far from simple! There are lovely layers of spice and tobacco leaf that wrap around the supple plummy fruit. Notes of dark cherry take over the mid-palate and finish with pleasingly dry, dusty tannins.

Of course, this bargain red will pair like a dream with pasta, pizza, and red sauce; however, it's a terrific all-purpose red that will also do nicely with grilled white meats, burgers, stews, and ragouts.

I bet you can guess what wine Hammond and I had this weekend on Pizza night!

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

This year, especially this summer, Rosé from Europe has been an exercise in better late than never. Typically, most European Rosé arrives in late March or early April -- this year, not so much. Since all of my orders of Rosé have arrived later in the year, I prefer to look at it this way -- instead of running out early, there'll be plenty of great Rosés to last through the winter!

Bodegas Breca, a personal project of Spanish Importer Jorge Ordóñez, was founded in the village of Mundobriga in 2005. The estate's vineyards are nestled in the high-altitude valleys between the Sierra de Pardos and the Sierra de Peña Blanca Mountains.

Importer Jorge Ordóñez at Bodegas Breca

Image courtesy of orge Ordóñez

The estate farms 265 hectares of old-vine Garnacha vineyards situated high on the hillsides, from 950m to 1000m above sea level. The vineyards were planted between 1925 and 1968, and production is split between Red and Rosé.

In your glass, you'll find this lively Spanish Pink similar to Rosé from the south of France. It's all about fresh strawberry and red berry on the nose and palate, and a perfect balance of brightness keeps the finish dry and clean.

From the wine press:

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

Ser Passo Toscana Rosso

If you're like me, there are certain occasions when I just want to enjoy pure pleasure in the glass. I'm not looking to think or analyze; I want to sip something that puts a smile on my face.

I taste wine for a living and definitely gravitate towards certain regions and styles; however, when I'm looking for a purely-pleasurable, hedonistic glass of smooth, sexy red, Ser Passo from Cantine Barbanera is the ticket.

Altero Barbanera and his wife Maria established the family's primary estate in 1938 in the Tuscan commune of Cetona. Fourth-generation brothers Marco and Paolo Barbanera now run the family business and continue to expand the family's vineyard holdings.

In your glass, this blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot is velvety smooth, introducing notes of toasty cherry and red berry on the nose. The palate is a melange of chocolate-covered cherries and mocha, with hints of vanilla and baking spice. The super smooth tannins are truly a pleasure all through the cherry-cola finish.

Is this the most complex red in the shop? Nope.

Is this one of the most hedonistic, pleasurable reds in the shop? Yep.

Pair this with flip-flops and put on some Buffet, Led Zep, Mahler, or anything else that makes you happy.

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

First-time visitors to the Piemonte in Italy are usually keen on the hunt for the region's famous reds: Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera. It can come as quite a surprise that the area also sports a wide variety of tasty whites. Arneis from the Roero DOCG is one of those delicious off-the-radar whites you need to explore.

Roero is a small wine-producing region touching on the north-western border of Barbaresco. The sandy, siliceous soil of the region's gently rolling hills distinctly differs from surrounding neighbors. Some feel it's perfectly suited to the production of white wine, Arneis, in particular.

Hundreds of millennia in the past, this region formed part of an ancient sea known as the Golfo Padano, depositing remnants of shellfish and sea creatures rich in minerals. It's not uncommon for one to easily find shells while walking through the vineyards!

In your glass, you'll quickly realize gorgeous Arneis is a bargain for the quality. If you're already an Arneis fan, you'll enjoy that you can snag this one for 5 or 6 bucks less a bottle than the ones regularly available. If you're not familiar with Arneis, this is an excellent opportunity to add this to the "grapes I've tasted" checklist.

Aromas of stone fruit, especially pear and yellow plum, greet on the nose leading to a palate rich in pear, plum, peach, and subtle hints of lemon, lime, and a whisper of ginger. A beautiful salty minerality balances the abundant fruit, keeping the palate fresh and clean throughout the lengthy finish. I love the tightrope balance of ripe fruit and salty minerality!

Once again, this super versatile white will pair very nicely with seafood, poultry, and hard cheeses. It will make a fantastic starter wine for your next gathering or dinner party.

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

I love how British wine critic John Livingstone-Learmonth describes the wines of Domaine Martin: "A Domaine I have known since the 1970s -- genuine, hearty wines with real local stamp." 

The wines of Domaine Martin exude regional typicity and are textbook examples of Côtes du Rhône terroir. They're also a perfect model of the local-global way I prefer to do business. A unique combination of small, independent entities works together to bring the wines of Domaine Martin to my shop. When you purchase these wines, you're supporting a family-owned winery, an independent broker in Europe who helps me find wine, a North Carolina-based independent importer and distributor, and of course, the AWM.

In 1905, Jules Martin established Domain Martin with the purchase of five acres of vineyards in the Plan de Dieu. Today Jules' great-grandchildren David and Eric manage over 70 hectares of vineyards, with exceptional plots in Rasteau, Cairanne, and Plan de Dieu. All the Domaine's red wines mature in oak barrels, providing unprecedented suppleness after a very short time in bottle.

Eric and David Martin may look like grape growers and winemakers; however, they seem more like magicians. Like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, they have the uncanny ability to coax fresh and lifted wines out of the region's punishingly hot environment. The real magic is in the glass, where their wines show beautiful balance and brightness at very reasonable alcohol levels.

If you love Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas and are hunting a bargain, the Plan de Dieu is the place for you. Sandwiched between Châteauneuf and Gigondas, the Plan de Dieu enjoys the same stone and pebble-laden soil and microclimate as its more famous neighbors. The stony soil absorbs and holds the daytime heat, radiating it through the night to help produce the wine's smooth, warm-fruited nature. The ever-present Mistral winds cool the vines during the punishingly hot days, keeping the wines lifted and fresh.

In the glass, it's all about textbook Rhône. A quick swirl and sniff will immediately take you right back to your last trip to the South of France and the beguiling aroma of garrigue -- the enchanting blend of culinary herbs that grows practically everywhere. The palate opens with dark red fruit and blackberry notes leading to a ripe palate of dark red fruits, blackberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, and baking spice. Ripe tannins sail through the lengthy finish thanks to the aging in large wood vessels.

This is one that will shine with some air. Pull the cork early or splash it into a decanter to fully unlock the flavor and complexity.

Pair this with practically anything from the grill, especially lamb chops!

Regular AWM Price - $19.99

Throughout the summer, Hammond and I have been enjoying the terrific new Chenin Blanc arrivals from the Loire Valley in France and the wine regions of South Africa. Chenin Blanc's wide variety of styles makes it a wine for all four seasons; however, the light, crisp, unoaked style of Chenin is the perfect thirst-quencher on a hot summer day.

The Touraine AOC may be most noted for Sauvignon Blanc; however, world-class Chenin Blanc is also produced here. The Gibault Domaine has some exceptional Chenin vineyards planted on the flint-rich soils of Loire et Cher. This classic terroir provides unique layers of minerality to balance Chenin's rich, vibrant fruit.

In your glass, this vividly aromatic white is packed with notes of honeysuckle, orchard fruit, and citrus peel, leading to a fresh, crisp palate of stone fruit and golden apple. I love the balance of the vibrant fruit and minerality -- the freshness keeps you coming back for another sip.

Insider note -- scroll down to read more about this property and their Touraine Sauvignon Blanc

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

A few weeks back, I introduced the new vintage of the Château Saintongey Bordeaux Blanc, and it was an instant customer and staff favorite. I'm delighted to report that its Bordeaux Rouge sibling just arrived, and it's also a stunning best buy!

The vines of Château Saintongey are planted on 37 acres at the top of the Haut Benauge valley southeast of Bordeaux, opening onto the Château Haut Mondain heights. The terroir at the Château is particularly suited for viticulture thanks to the vineyard's heavy clay and limestone soil composition.

The estate's old-vine holdings (aged well over 25 years) of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle have been lovingly cared for since 1993 by the Yung family. Christophe Yung currently manages the estate, and he represents the fourth generation of family vignerons.

The Château Saintongey Bordeaux Rouge is the perfect Tuesday Night summertime Bordeaux. It features all of the typicity and nuance you'd expect from Bordeaux but in a lighter, softer framework. In the glass, you're greeted with aromas of red cherry and plum, leading to a super-smooth palate of plummy red berry.

This delicious medium-bodied, value-driven Red Bordeaux is a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. It's perfect for immediate enjoyment and will develop nicely and hold in the cellar for two-three years.

Regular AWM Price - $14.99

The blend of 70% Sémillonand 30% Sauvignon Blanc opens to aromas of tropical fruits, fresh herbs, fig, and orange zest leading to a juicy and penetrating palate. The Semillon provides plenty of body while the Sauvignon Blanc provides a zippy counterpoint of citrus and minerality.

Château Saintongey Bordeaux Blanc is a classic white for all of your seafood and poultry creations and would also pair nicely with lighter pork dishes.

Regular AWM Price - $14.99

Domaine de Petit Roubié is a benchmark producer of Picpoul Pinet and one of the region's pioneers of growing organic wine. The Domaine's 80 hectares of vineyards are located in the heart of Languedoc, in Occitanie, and are divided between municipalities of Pinet, Florensac, Marseillan, Castelnau de Guers, and Mèze.

The Domaine's owners, Olivier and Floriane Azan embarked on their agricultural adventure in the late 1970s with apple orchards just outside Montpellier. They moved to viticulture in 1981 with the purchase of Château Petit Roubié and the estate's original 15 hectares of vines.

By the mid-1990s, the Azan family had converted the Domaine to organic wine growing, making Petit Roubié the first organic Picpoul de Pinet producer. The family's vineyard holdings include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tannat, Carignan, and Sauvignon Blanc; however, their focus is always firmly on Picpoul.

This vivid, zippy white perfectly reflects its maritime proximity in your glass with notes of sea breeze, lemony citrus, green apple, and white flowers on the nose. Hints of peach and exotic fruit meet delicate salinity ride through the palate finishing with gorgeous, lemony minerality.

Picpoul is like liquid sunshine in the bottle, and it's the ultimate thirst-quencher on a hot summer day. Pair with all of your seafood creations, especially shellfish.

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

Syrah from the Northern Rhône generally gets all of the love and attention in the wine press; however, I've always felt there's something quite special about Syrah from the Southern Rhône. Syrah from Occitanie and the Southern Rhône is generally softer and more generous in fruit while maintaining the richness and depth of the varietal.

Syrah and Grenache are the two main work-horse grapes in Costières-de-Nîmes, and you'll find nearly an infinite number of ways the local vignerons blend these two grapes in their Cuvées. Syrah-centric blends are all about blue fruit notes with hints of roasted herbs and olive tapenade. Blends that feature Grenache lean towards peppery, red fruit notes that also feature hints of spice and garrigue.

Domaine du Prince is a blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenach. The Syrah provides lovely density and depth of fruit, and the Grenache delivers a pleasant finishing lift. In your glass, notes of crushed dark berries and hints of roasted herbs on the nose invite you to a super-plush palate of black raspberry and blueberry. The extra-soft tannins on the finish make this a great Syrah for summer sipping, while it's also perfect when you want a fuller-bodied red to pair with your lighter summer fare.

Regular AWM Price - $14.99

The Abruzzo wine region is located on the eastern Adriatic coast of central Italy, just south of the Marche and north of Molise. Although there is a smattering of white and rosé produced here, the region is most famous for Montepulciano. After Sangiovese, Montepulciano is the second most planted grape in Italy, and it's widely loved and consumed in cantinas and cafes throughout the country.

We tend to focus on the small, independent domains and estates when searching out new wines for the shop; however, big isn't always bad, so we don't immediately dismiss well-managed cooperatives and, occasionally, some of the bigger companies. Savin Bio-Postumia Vini is a perfect example of a large winemaking enterprise that does things the right way.

Savin Bio-Postumia Vini is based in the Veneto; however, they source fruit and make wines in a significant variety of Italy's wine regions. It starts to get interesting when you discover that the company was established in 1925 and continues to be owned and operated by the Savin family. Even more interesting is the Savin family's dedication to organic farming methodology and clean winemaking techniques. Their conversion to organic farming began in the late 1990s, and today, all of their property is certified Bio.

In your glass, you'll find a lot of wine for such a low price! Earthy red berry and cherry aromas greet you leading to a plush and plummy palate of dark red fruits. The finish is clean and soft, with just enough tannin and freshness to maintain a lovely balance to the fruit.

Barbarossa Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is an easy-drinking style of Montepulciano and will be right at home with all of your red sauce dishes. It will also pair beautifully with grilled chicken, chops, and lighter cuts of beef from the grill. It's an incredibly food-friendly red; however, it is perfect to bust out when friends pop over to hang out on the patio or deck.

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

Château Saint Nabor is located on the right bank of the Rhône River in the small medieval village of Cornillon in the Cèze Valley. Winegrowers here produce wines within the Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages appellations; however, many vignerons elect to use the IGP du Gard and IGP Pays d'Oc designations so they can blend non-AOC-compliant grapes into their cuvées. This estated does precisely that with the addition of Tempranillo to this outstanding Rosé.

The vineyards and winery at Château Saint Nabor represent several hundred years of winegrowing history, and the Castor family has been at the helm here for the last six generations. Patriarch Gérard Castor was recently joined by his sons, Jérémie and Raphaël, 6th generation vignerons working the family estate.

Jérémie and Raphaël Castor each earned advanced degrees in viticulture and enology and gathered additional experience during stages in wineries abroad. This wealth of valuable experience provides the perfect marriage of cutting-edge techniques and methodology to the estate's rich history of tradition.

Along with the Pink Bird, Château Saint Nabor's perfect Pink thirst-quencher is one of my top French Rosé picks of the year. It's beautifully aromatic, and aromas of red berry, strawberry, peach, and white flowers jump from the glass. The zippy freshness on the palate is balanced with just the right amount of delicate red fruit notes, all lingering nicely through the finish.

This pink-pleaser is undoubtedly a first-rate choice for the porch, pool, and patio; however, it'll be right at home with all of your casual summer fare, and would be a perfect way to extinguish the flames of your spiciest BBQ.

Regular AWM Price - $18.99

Hammond and I love Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé; however, we turn to the Touraine for outstanding quality and value in Sauvignon Blanc for everyday enjoyment. Touraine Sauvignon Blanc shares many of the nuances of its famous neighbors to the east without sharing the higher price tag.

The AOP Touraine is an appellation d'origine protégée located in the center of France's Loire Valley. The vineyards of the Touraine AOP surround the city of Tours and feature some of France's most breathtakingly beautiful picture-postcard scenery. Vignoble Gibault's best Sauvignon Blanc vineyards are planted here, on the ancient terraces of the Cher River. The soil on the banks of the Cher is a mixture of flint and shell-rich clay, perfect for Sauvignon Blanc.

Vignoble Gibault has been a family-run estate for three generations. Original owners Patrick and Chantal Gibault gradually accumulated just over 30 hectares of vines in the Touraine AOP. Anne-Sophie and Benoit Lagarde recently purchased the Domaine, and they continue to work the estate sustainably with the intent to certify organic in the near future.

In your glass, you'll be delighted to find this delicious Sauvignon Blanc from Touraine drinks more like one of its renowned neighbors to the east. The balance of fruit and minerality is simply stunning! Notes of lemon zest, orchard fruit, white flowers, and just a whisper of ruby-red grapefruit treat the palate through to the fresh, lengthy finish.

Don't miss this one if you're a Sauvignon Blanc fan!

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

Not a whole lot beats enjoying a glass of Amarone when next to a roaring fireplace while watching the snow come down outside. Amarone isn't exactly at the top of my list as a summertime sipper, so instead, Hammond and I actively enjoy the lighter expressions of Corvina from the Valpolicella DOC all through the summer months.

In Valpolicella, over the last 15 or 20 years, the winemaking trend over the previous 15 or 20 years has mainly skewed towards big, rich extracted reds. Dig deeper into the classic producers of the region. You'll find they also make lighter, brighter wines, perfect for summer foods and incredibly suitable for sipping on the patio and porch. The bonus -- they feature the same sexy, silky, soft fruit. The Guerrieri Rizzardi Valpolicella Classico is a soft and pretty red that you'll love all summer long!

The Guerrieri Rizzardi family vineyards are located in the Valpolicella Classico DOC, near the village of Negrar. Vineyards dot the gently rolling hills and valleys of the region and share the hectares with olive and cherry trees. Younger vine holdings not used in the estate's Amarone production are selected for their Valpolicella Classico. The 2020 blend is a Cuvée of Corvina, Corvione, Merlot, Coratina and Rondinella.

If you're looking for smooth, supple red fruit that's super-soft on the palate, you're pulling the right cork! Aromas of red fruit framed by notes of spice and pepper greet on the nose, leading to a gorgeous, silky palate of red cherry, plum, and dark berry that finishes with hints of savory herbs.

I find this Valpolicella Classico to be super versatile for all summer pairings, and it would do particularly well with grilled chicken, white meats, tuna, and salmon.

Regular AWM Price - $17.99

In 1939, 87 wine-growing families formed the Les Vignerons de Calvisson cooperative and began sharing resources to improve the quality and promote the region's wines. Today, the cooperative's vineyards span over 1500 hectares between Nîmes and the Mediterranean Coast.

The Bouix family is a member of the Les Vignerons de Calvisson cooperative and fifth-generation winegrowers in Calvisson. In addition to providing fruit to the village co-op, they own and harvest their own vineyards in the villages of Nages and Solorgues, just outside of Nîmes. Haut de Mourier comes from the family's 12 hectares of Viognier located in Les Mouriers, a tiny hamlet on the hillsides of Solorgues and Nages.

Vineyards looking towards the village of Calvisson, Occitanie,

Viognier is a full-bodied white wine noted and prized for its vivid aromatics and its superb freshness balanced with a ripe, round density of fruit. It's often found in white Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape blends and is the main grape in the highly-prized Condrieu in the Northern Rhône.

Haut de Morier is a texbook example of Viognier from Languedoc. It opens in your glass with aromas of stone fruit and flowers, notably apricot, peach, violet, and honeysuckle. The palate is rich and dense, yet it retains the varietal's hallmark acidity. It's a rich and superbly satisfying white that pairs like a dream with spicy summer foods, Asian dishes, and of course, it's also a great all-around thirst-quencher.

Regular AWM Price - $14.99

The vineyards in and around the village of Saumur in the Loire Valley are located in one of the best places on the planet to grow Chenin Blanc. Saumur also happens to be well-known in the mountains of Western North Carolina -- it's Asheville's Sister City in France.

The Saumur AOC extends across 1400 hectares through 9 communes of Vienne, including Domaine Saint Landor. The clay-limestone subsoil, white tufa soils, and a temperate micro-climate create perfect conditions for world-class Chenin.

Domaine Saint Landor began in 2007 when Jean François Georget transitioned from selling fruit to local vignerons to making wine at the Domaine. Over the years, sons Thomas and Antoine and Thomas' wife Maude joined to make the Domaine truly a family affair.

The Domaine is fortunate to have 23 hectares of prime vineyard holdings in some of the Loire's most prestigious terroirs. They have worked for the last several years to transition fully to organic farming and winemaking, and they received their official BIO certification from the EU last year.

Domaine Saint Landon Saumur Blanc is made with 100% Chenin Blanc and is a dry, crisp, mineral-driven, unoaked expression of the grape. Think Chablis meets Sancerre, and you're getting the picture. In your glass, you'll note aromas of yellow apple, quince, and subtle floral notes on the nose, leading to a plate of orchard fruits framed by a zesty edge of citrus. The zip and minerality are in center stage, keeping the ripe fruit in perfect balance.

Hammond and I love this style of dry Loire Chenin with all of our summer poultry and pork dishes, and we also love it as a refreshing casual sipper on a balmy summer evening.

Insider Tip: We also stock the excellent sparkling wines from the Domaine!

Regular AWM Price - $19.99

The Le Rêveur Côtes du Rhône Rosé has been a foundation of the AWM Rosé department for 8 years. Year after year, it's hard to beat the quality-price ratio of this wine. Since Guillaume is also a Tavel winemaker, you know he also takes his Côtes du Rhône Rosé as seriously as its exalted sibling.

As I often opine, when you look at the entry-level wines produced by a quality-oriented Vigneron, the quality of their more expensive wine tends to filter on down to the entry-level. That's always the case with Guillaume Gonnet's wines. Although he's famous for Châteauneuf-du-Pape, he also has wonderful vineyard holdings in Rasteau, Lirac, Cairainn, Tavel, and Côtes du Rhône AOC.

The Le Rêveur Rosé says Côtes du Rhône on the label; however when it's in your glass, you'll swear it's Côtes de Provence AOC. Le Rêveur features all the best qualities of Côtes de Provence Rosé without the steeper price tag.

In the glass, this Rosé is superbly fresh and lifted, opening with notes of white flowers and red berries, leading to a vibrant palate bursting with strawberry and wild raspberry. The finish is clean, dry and zippy, leaving you longing for another sip.

Enjoy this terrific Rosé chilled, out on the deck or by the pool. It's an excellent match for all the foods of summer and will shine with spicy foods from the grill.

Looking for a best-buy, everyday Rosé? You just found it!

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

Australia is one of the world's largest wine-producing entities; however, you wouldn't know by the shelf space their wines currently occupy in bottle shops here and abroad. After the invasion of countless "critter wines," all adorned with cute, outback animals on the label, most wine-lovers went out of their way to avoid Australian wine.

It's been incredibly difficult for the Australian winegrowers to get over the stereotypical image of fuzzy animal labels and crappy over-manufactured wine in the bottle. Further contributing to the problem, the pandemic has been more difficult for Australian vignerons since they largely depend on long international shipping routes for many of their supplies -- especially French oak barrels. Adding to this pile-on of adversity, last year, the Chinese placed crippling tariffs on Australian wine, grinding exports to China to a screeching halt.

I'm happy to report that despite the hardship, Australia is coming back strong. A new wave of high-quality wines is arriving in the U.S., and many of these independent family-owned estates are entering the American market for the first time. Folks like Bob and Cherie Berton are helping to make this happen.

Berton Vineyards was established in 1996 by Bob and Cherie Berton when they purchased a block of land in High Eden, a subregion of the Barossa Valley, South Australia. Their idyllic property sits in the highest part of the Barossa, about 500 meters above sea level. The soil structure here is perfect for growing Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

From humble beginnings, Berton Vineyards has grown into one of the 20 largest Wineries in Australia. Their wines have received top reviews and accolades both domestically and internationally, and after a sip or two of their Meatal Label Cab, it's easy to agree.

In your glass, this super-smooth Cab features aromas of black currant and blackberry jam with just a whisper of vanilla from aging in French oak. The palate presents tones of ripe blackberry and plum wrapped in ripe, velvety smooth tannins. It's well-balanced from the first sip all the way through the lengthy finish.

You'll love this one if you're a fan of smooth, easy-drinking Cabs like the Atom, Dead Canyon, Deloach, and Crosby. Pair this with grilled meats and poultry. It's also a terrific burger Cab, and its smooth-as-silk texture makes it an excellent porch-sipping Cab as well.

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

Château La Peyruche is located on the rolling hillsides of Langoiran, a municipality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux's Garonne River. The Château housing the winery was built in the late 14th century and has been continuously renovated since the mid-1800s.

The winery features state-of-the-art equipment; however, to the casual observer, visiting the rest of the property feels like a step back into the 1800s. The estate has a long history of polyculture, including vines, vegetable crops, fruit trees, and even cattle breeding. This rich biodiversity and the property's squeaky-clean farming methodology led to HEV (High Environmental Value) recognition -- paving the way for the La Peyruche wines to be officially BIO certified in 2021.

For the last ten or fifteen years, the prevalent style of White Bordeaux has leaned heavily towards crisp and fresh, with Sauvignon Blanc dominating the blend. That's great; however, many of us also love the old-school style of White Bordeaux -- rich and round with the blend driven by Semillion and oak influence.

For me, La Peyruche has done an excellent job of finding the middle ground between the two styles. The blend skews mainly towards Sauvignon Blanc, with only 10 percent Semillion added. Here's where it gets interesting -- a portion of the wine is fermented and aged in oak. This judicious amount of oak influence adds supple roundness and richness while maintaining lift and freshness, making this a terrific stand-in for the significantly more expensive whites from the Graves AOC.

La Peyruche winemaker David Sarry very aptly describes this elegant White Bordeaux with this tasting note:

I love how this wine develops complexity over time in the glass. For a real treat, taste, and then let it warm in the glass for five or ten minutes. You'll note that the acidity has rounded down and the subtle toasty nuance blend beautifully. Pair with poultry, white meats, and more decadent seafood dishes.

Regular AWM Price - $18.99

For most folks, wines from Washington State continue to fly under the radar. Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay get the most attention; however, some excellent red and white blends also come from the region, and most are parked in the best-buy price category.

Fruit for the Dead Canyon Red Blend is sourced entirely from the Mercer Family's "Estate Vineyards" in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The warm days and cool nights of late summer and the family's relentless attention to crop levels result in a beautifully balanced blend that features perfect ripeness with power and brightness.

In the glass, this velvety blend of 50% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Mourvedre opens with aromas of mocha, black and red berry compote. They combine with hints of baking spice and subtle smoky oak spice, framing the plush fruit.

The gorgeous red and blue fruit notes on the middle palate include plum, and blueberry jam, along with vanilla, and gentle oak spice, all nicely lingering through the lengthy finish. The palate is super silky, with perfectly ripe, powdery tannins, making this lush blend equally suitable for casual sipping or pairing with your favorite steak.

Don't miss this one if you love red blends from the West Coast. I source this through the same connections that bring us many of our fantastic deals from Europe, so the quality-price ratio with this one is off the charts.

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

The Abbey of Fontfroide was founded in 1093 and is located deep in the heart of Occitanie, protected by the gently rolling hills of Corbières. The Cistercian abbey that houses the winery is a jewel of Romanesque architecture and now represents the estate's perfect confluence of history, tradition, and modern winemaking technology.

In your glass, this vibrant blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Vermentino presents a golden yellow hue, leading to aromas of stone fruits, white flowers, and citrus. The two grapes in the blend play very nicely together, with the Chardonnay providing ripe roundness and the Vermentino providing zippy nerve. I love the freshness of this blend -- just right for a hot summer afternoon.

Insider note -- this venerable property also makes some fantastic red blends. Watch the newsletter for details.

Regular AWM Price - $21.99

After close to twenty years, I'm super excited to reintroduce the fantastic wines of Domaine de la Guintrandy to Western North Carolina. I had fond recollections of this property from years ago when I first moved here to work at the shop for my mentor Eberhard. Along with most AWM customers at the time, I was sorely disappointed when the wines became unavailable in North Carolina.

I was stunned to find that a new broker friend and associate in France was representing the wines from Guintrandy. For years, I've been dreaming about getting wines from this excellent producer back into the shop. It took over a year to pull the right strings and line up the planets; however, I'm now excited to report that this property is now part of the AWM Hand-Picked Selections family, and it will resume its proper place at the foundation of our French section.

Perhaps the best news is that along with this gorgeous best-buy CDR, they are also property owners in Rasteau and Cairanne. These wines are on the way as well. I'll be taking a deep dive into this property in a future newsletter, and this property will be on the itinerary for next year's AWM Customer Field Trip to France.

Once you get this GSM gem into your glass, I think you'll immediately share my enthusiasm. The gorgeous garnet color opens to a nose packed with bright cherry. The super-smooth and supple palate continues to entice with black cherry, red licorice, and savory garrigue. There's a purity of fruit here that's usually reserved only for more expensive bottlings.

Without a doubt, this one is up there with the Green Bird and Martin Plan de Dieu -- top quality at the best value.

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

Like Chardonnay, selecting Sauvignon Blanc for the shop is a tricky business. The multitude of styles and countries of origin seem endless, and while the Marlboro in New Zealand may be some folks' favorite, others will only drink Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire. If there is one Sauvignon Blanc that would make everyone happy, it would probably come from Chile. The Manta Sauvignon Blanc from Pablo Morandé at Casa Julia Estate is a great one to try.

Pablo Morandé is one of the founding fathers of winemaking in Chile, and his influence helped elevate Maule Valley's quality and reputation. Pablo is firmly rooted and represented in the history of Chilean wine production. He began his career as one of the lead winemakers at Concha y Toro -- a well-regarded Chilean vineyard famous for the critically acclaimed benchmark Concha y Toro Melchor.

Misty morning in Maule Valley vineyards

With Manta, Morandé has crafted a terrific Sauvignon Blanc that beautifully reflects the terroir of Chile's Maule Valley. The combination of gravel, laterite, and sandy loam soils contributes just the right amount of mineral underpinning to balance the famously rich and ripe fruit typical of Chilean wines. Tropical and citrus fruit notes lead the aromatics and palate with additional notes of fresh herbs that deftly steer clear of grassy notes.

Manta Sauvignon Blanc is another terrific wine that comes to us from our friend and former AWM staff member Kate Stamps of Rise over Run --so stock up on this one and support two local, independent businesses!

Regular AWM Price - $14.99

When I was presented with this wine, it was described to me as an example of "ethical wine" and "ethical viticulture." I was fascinated by the premise of ethical wine, so I decided to dig a little deeper to learn more.

Brothers Adrien and Thomas Novoa are the owners of Château Les Garelles and are members of a new movement in Bordeaux. The brothers are partners in a cooperative of thirty estates, committed to the premise of "ethical wine."

Brothers Adrien and Thomas Novoa

Château Les Garelles is located on Bordeaux's Right Bank in the Entre-Deux-Mers. While some terrific reds are produced in this region, white wines also shine here. The soil of clay-limestone and clay-sand, along with a subsoil of limestone and clay, is particularly well-suited for growing Sauvignon Blanc.

Thomas Novoa very nicely illustrates the estate's philosophy:

This lovely White Bordeaux from Les Garelles is a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Sauvignon Gris -- somewhat of an unusual blend for a White Bordeaux. In your glass, you'll find notes of white flowers and citrus on the nose leading to a clean palate featuring lemon, yellow fruits, and just a whisper of grapefruit. There's ample minerality to balance the zippy fruit, and the Sauvignon Gris adds a subtle tropical spin to the mix.

Pair with white-fleshed fish, shellfish, chicken and lighter pork dishes.

Regular AWM Price - $19.99

If you're a fan of crisp, fresh white wines, light spicy reds, and super-clean Rosé (especially during the hot summer months), wines from the Savoie will be your new favorites!

Tucked away in eastern France, nestled on the Swiss and Italian borders, the Savoie (pronounced sav-wah) is best known as one of Europe's favorite winter sports playgrounds. Wines produced in this Alpine region rarely make it out of the area. Historically, they were consumed mainly by the local population and the hordes of thirsty tourists annually drawn to the ski slopes. Local winemakers would joke that any wine that made it past Lyon was considered an export!

Over the last twenty years, wine importing pioneers like Kermit Lynch and Charles Neal successfully introduced wines from the Savoie to fans of crisp, clean whites and light and spicy reds. These wines were primarily available in small quantities and usually only found in major metropolitan areas. Until recently, the region was best known in France for exporting vines, not wine -- twenty to thirty million plants are grown annually by nurseries in the Savoie.

I'm happy to report that Kate Stamps, owner of Asheville's Rise over Run Imports and former AWM Staff Member, tops that list of wine importing pioneers. Over the last five years, Kate has provided Asheville with a superb collection of new wines imported directly from the Savoie. Her selections are gorgeous examples of small production, hand-crafted wines, and I believe they are the finest examples from the Savoie I've encountered during my career.

Last week, we featured some of these exciting new arrivals from the Rise over Run Savoie portfolio at our AWM Wine Dinner with Kate. These wines perfectly represent everything that excites me about the Savoie; they are wines with a crisp, super fresh balance of minerals and fruit that happen to be a bargain for the incredible quality.

These hand-picked selections are the heart of Kate's portfolio and the fruit of her trips to the Savoie. I'm thrilled to add these new vintages to our ever-growing Rise over Run Savoie section.

Apremont is a tiny dot of a wine region in the French Alps just south of Chambéry in the Savoie. The steep, stoney slopes and hillsides here feature marl and clay-limestone soils, ideal for viticulture.

Despite the region's steep slopes and higher altitudes, the climate here is remarkably suitable for vineyards. Southeastern exposure and the moderating influence of the Savoie's lakes and rivers combine to temper the region's microclimate, allowing grapes to ripen for both white and red wines. Jacquère is the star of the Savoie for white wine, while Gamay and Pinot Noir flourish in the cool Alpine climate producing light, fresh reds.

The wines from Domaine Blanc are about as close as you can get to buying your wine directly from the producer! Kate sources these gems directly from Willy Blanc, a winegrower and owner of the best wine shop in the Savoie. We're talking the epitome of Local-Global -- a local Asheville importer (Kate) sources wine from a small independent producer in France (Domaine Willy Blanc) and sells wine to a local independent wine shop (AWM). This is how we like to do business!

This crisp, fresh white is your perfect introduction to the Savoie. Notes of citrus, melon, and white-fleshed fruits all dance around a core of Alpine minerality, herbs, and floral notes. This superbly fashioned and super complex white is a natural for seafood, poultry, and casual enjoyment.

If you love Sauvignon Blanc, you'll love Domaine Blanc Apremont!

Regular AWM Price - $18.99

Willy's entire harvest of Gamay goes to making this spectacular Rosé, and we're glad it does! The gorgeous pink color opens to aromas of red berry and strawberry, leading to a wonderfully juicy palate of red raspberry and strawberry, with hints of currant and pomegranate.

Seriously, this wine is a knockout, and since only three hundred cases are produced, we're always beyond delighted to get some!

Regular AWM Price - $18.99

Insider note:

In addition to new vintage arrivals, Kate will be adding some exciting new wines and producers from the Savoie. Keep an eye out for a future newsletter featuring her latest additions.

The arrival of the Juvenal Les Garrigues completes the trio of wines I source from this wonderful property. It's rare to have all three of these in stock at the same time, and actually, this may be a first!

Like the Ribes du Vallat and La Terre du Petit Homme, Les Garrigues is produced with consulting winemaking legend, Philipe Camby. The blend features 80%Grenache and 20% Syrah, sourced from a variety of the family's best vineyard plots. These 30-50-year-old vines are located on slopes with southern exposure and are harvested manually to ensure perfect ripeness.

If you're a fan of the Ribes du Vallat or La Terre du Petit Homme, you'll love Les Garrigues. In the glass, you'll find that same deep red pomegranate color opening to complex aromas of dark cherry, blueberry, red and black currant, and lavender, with the fruit transferring beautifully from the nose to the palate. Black pepper, charcuterie, and plenty of garrigue lead the middle palate to a juicy finish filled with spice and dark fruit. There's just enough tannin for the dinner table; however, it also makes a great casual red-sipper.

Scroll down this email to read more about Château Juvenal Ribes du Vallat, La Terre du Petit Homme, and the lovely folks that make these stellar wines.

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

Chablis is likely the most famous and least understood white wine. When Julia Child first introduced Chablis to a thirsty American public in 1963, many fledgling West Coast wineries immediately usurped the name. They labeled decades worth of nearly undrinkable white wine with the name Chablis, tarnishing the reputation of the authentic wines from France. Thankfully, that all changed in the late 1980s when America rediscovered the true wines of Chablis!

The village of Chablis is the northernmost part of Burgundy AOC. Since Chablis is located more than 100 miles north of Dijon, it's actually closer to Champagne than Burgundy proper. Thanks to this location, vineyards in Chablis share the same unique Kimmeridgian soil type with Champagne. This distinctive geological formation is composed of decomposed clay, limestone, and tiny fossilized oyster shells. It extends from the Dorset village of Kimmeridge in southern England through Champagne and Chablis.

Although Chablis is a sub-region of Burgundy, the classification system there is somewhat different. Chardonnay is the only grape grown here, and there are four recognized growing regions in the AOC -- Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru.

Les Hauts de Milly is a second label produced for us by the outstanding and well-established artisanal Chablis producer Domaine Bernard Defaix. It all began with Bernard and Monique Defaix acquiring two hectares of prime Chablis vineyards in 1959. After decades of hard work and determination, the estate has grown to 27 hectares in Chablis and 6 hectares in Rully (Cote de Chalonnaise).

Since the late 1990s, the Domaine has been managed by Bernard and Monique's two sons, Sylvain and Didier Defaix. Didier manages the vineyards while Sylvain is in charge of vinification and the cellar. Helene Jaeger-Defaix, the wife of Didier, manages the day-to-day business of the domain and oversees the family's Rully vineyards.

The 2020 Chablis is grown in classic Kimmeridgian limestone and is raised in 100% stainless steel. In your glass, a beautiful nose of oyster shell, Meyer lemon, and white flowers greets you and continues to offer complexity as it warms. There is excellent tension of fruit on the palate that leans towards lemon-lime, salty mineral notes, and chalk, leading to a long, lifted finish.

Regular AWM Price - $29.99

Fuissé, Burgundy, France

The Macôn is all about Chardonnay, and for me, it’s the epicenter of affordable Chardonnay from Burgundy. The most famous Chardonnay from this region is Pouilly-Fuissé, produced in the area surrounding the two Macônnais villages of Pouilly and Fuissé.

There are other villages-designated wines named for their vineyard locations such as Mâcon-Chaintré, Mâcon-Fuissé, Mâcon-Vinzelles, and Mâcon-Charnay. Wines labeled Mâcon-Villages are regional wines from a broad area of the Mâcon and blended from village sites throughout the entire region.

The Paquet family settled in the Mâcon in the 1950s, securing vineyard property in the village of Fuissé. Their base of operation is Domaine De Fussiacus — named after the Roman governor who founded the village of Fuissé. The Paquet family’s vineyard holdings stretch over gentle south-east facing hills, featuring clay and limestone soils. The combination of organically farmed vineyards, hand harvesting, and natural yeast inoculation adds up to stellar quality Chardonnay.

After Jean-Paul passed management duties on to his son, Yannick became the third generation grower and winemaker at his family’s property. “Domaine des Granges” is an exclusive second label Yannick makes for our buying group. Yannick is a true fanatic for detail in the vineyard and winery, and his meticulous devotion to quality leads to outstanding results in the bottle.

In the glass, this wine will remind you of just how much you love White Burgundy. I love the quality and attention to detail of this Pouilly-Fuissé producer that drills directly down through their entire portfolio.

Thanks to the property’s higher elevation and the calcareous soil, there’s a beautiful lift and nerve in perfect balance with a creamy richness.

Golden apple and yellow fruits meet citrus and preserved lemon notes, all joining in a fresh and vibrant palate. This versatile Chardonnay is a delight on its own and will shine with roasted or grilled chicken, lighter pork dishes, and of course, seafood.

Chardonnay lover? Burgundy lover? Stock up on this outstanding value from a small family vigneron.

Regular AWM Price - $21.99

Marqués de Silvo Rioja Reserva

Marquis del Silvo is a private label project I sourced from one of my favorite European connections — the wife and husband team of Eva López and Ignacio Alonso. They have excellent relationships with top estates and vignerons throughout Spain, and their wines are always standout customer and staff favorites in our Spanish department. Since I source these directly, it eliminates a lot of "nickels" tacked on by middlemen. This way, I can offer them to email subscribers and locals at the best price!

Selecting a red wine from Spain's Rioja region can be a confusing task for the uninitiated; however, it makes a lot more sense when you realize it's all about oak.

Oak is one of the most essential and celebrated elements of wine production in Rioja. The use of oak in the aging process defines the style and character of the region's wine, and there's a slew of laws determining what you're allowed to do and how you'll represent it on the wine's label.

Armed with this information, one can easily navigate a Rioja label to zero in on your preferred style. Like earthy, old-school, old-world wines? You'll love the Reserva and Gran Reserva. Prefer a more modern style, juicy red in your glass? Go for the Joven, Consecha, or Crianza.

The Marques del Silvo Reserva is a classic example of a top-quality Reserva. Just released at the end of 2020, it spent thirty months in medium toast French and American oak barrels before spending an additional two years in bottle. This extra time in new and well-used oak barrels produced a wine with exceptional balance and complexity.

In the glass, you'll immediately notice layers of nuance and complexity that separate Reserva wines from the Crianza and Joven and many other Reservas! Aromas of vanilla, baking spice, cigar box, and mocha stimulate the senses. On the palate, expressive notes of earthy cherry, red currant, red licorice, dark chocolate, and mocha all melt into super-smooth tannins. The textbook Rioja finish is long and in harmony with the fruit and tannin.

This Reserva is a gem and indeed a bargain for its exceptional quality. There may be other inexpensive Reserva Riojas out there; however, I can guarantee that very few of those, if any, will even approach the quality of the Marques del Silvo at this price. If you're a Rioja fan, be sure to stock up on this one!

Regular AWM Price - $21.99

Nestled on the Atlantic coast of Southwestern France, Bordeaux is the largest wine-growing region in the country. If Bordeaux itself were a country, it would be the fifth-largest wine-growing entity globally. A recent count shows nearly nine thousand winegrowers have taken advantage of the region's excellent climate conditions and calcareous soil -- dating back as far back as the Roman Empire.

Close to 90 percent of the wines produced in Bordeaux are red, with Cabernet Sauvignon dominating the vineyards east of the Gironde River, and Merlot dominating to the west. While the wine press endlessly focuses on the high-ticket, famous names, most of the wine produced in Bordeaux is very reasonably priced and produced on small family estates. Château Petit Freylon is a perfect example.

Château Petit-Freylon is located in the Aquitaine village of Saint-Genis-du-Bois, a tiny hamlet on Bordeaux's right bank with less than 100 inhabitants. For generations, the estate has been producing Merlot and Cabernet-based Bordeaux blends, regularly earning medals at the prestigious Concours Agricole in Paris and the Concours de Bordeaux. Although the estate has recently made recent updates with new tanks, barrels, and vinification equipment, they strictly employ traditional production methods in the vineyard and winery.

In your glass, the 2018 Cuvée Sarah is a complex and warming blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. After a quick swirl, you're greeted with savory notes of spice, tobacco leaf, and earthy dark fruits on the nose, leading to a bright and lifted palate of dark red fruit and spiced plum. There's a remarkable amount of juicy red fruit on the palate that's deftly balanced by the perfect amount of oak treatment. Notes of cocoa, brown spice, and dark cherry dance through the clean, lengthy finish.

This classic Bordeaux drinks super-well and would pair like a dream with braised meats, stews and ragout, and lamb chops. Enjoy now and through 2024.

Regular AWM Price - $19.99

Vinho Verde -- Vinho Verde Rosé

If you enjoy sipping wine outdoors in the summer, chances are you've poured a glass or two of Vinho Verde. This cool, crisp porch-sipper is the perfect antidote to the heat of summer and the ideal addition to any pool party or beach gathering.

Vinho Verde doesn't refer to a grape — it refers to the region in northern Portugal that produces the spritzy thirst-quencher. The name literally translates to "green wine," however, locally, it means "young wine," indicating that the wine was bottled for market 5 or 6 months after harvest. This early bottling captures all of the tangy freshness and can retain just a touch of C02, providing that signature gentle spritz.

You'll find the Vinho Verde wine region in the northwest corner of Portugal, bordered by the Tras-os-Montes and Duoro wine regions to the east and the Lafões and Dão to the south. The Vinho Verde denomination is the largest DOC in Portugal, consisting of nine sub-regions, each placing its distinctive stamp of terroir on their Vinho Verde.

Gateway White is a traditional style of Vinho Verde, low in alcohol with a slight fizz and plenty of freshness. It's made from a blend of Trajadura, Loureiro, Arinto, and Azal, all sourced from the Amarante sub-region. The Gateway pink is a blend of Espadeiro and Touriga Nacional, also sourced entirely from Amarante.

In the glass, the fresh and tangy White Gateway has just a gentle hint of spritz that leads to a crisp, clean lemon-lime palate, finishing with a nice touch of white melon. The Rosé Gateway shares the same pleasant spritz and adds a hint of delicate red fruit to the palate. Both are pleasingly dry and make a great low alcohol alternative to an afternoon gin and tonic.

Pair these crisp Vinho Verdes with all of your late spring and summer fare, including cold soups, salads, chicken, and seafood. Both are especially food with shellfish, and the pink would do very nicely with salmon.

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

When asked to name the ultimate underdog of Italian white wine, my answer would undoubtedly be Pinot Bianco. Known as Pinot Blanc in France and Weissburgunder in Germany, the grape lives in the permanent shadow of its more famous sibling rival Pinot Grigio when grown in Italy.

Compared to Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco is generally more nuanced and delicately scented, presenting notes of pear, apple, lemon zest, and white flowers. Pinot Bianco features excellent zippy acidity yet still offers the alluring creamy texture found in most Pinot Grigio.

The Francesco family estate was founded in 1968 by Salamon Francesco, and their initial agricultural focus was mainly on corn, wheat, and soy. Slowly, the family branched out into viticulture, initially growing the rustic local variety of Raboso grapes. Over the next two decades, the family honed their skills in vineyard and winery, producing well-received regional, quaffable reds.

By the late 1980s, the family realized their estate was ideal for growing Glera, the primary grape used in Prosecco. Today, Gianluca Salamon runs the family estate, and he continues his father's commitment to organic farming, growing Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, and Pinot Nero, in addition to Glera.

Pulling the cork on a bottle of Nomalas Pinot Bianco is the perfect way to enjoy a warm, sunny spring or summer day. Extra added bonus -- there's just a whisper of fizz in the glass, making this crisp white even more enjoyable!

In your glass, you'll find the classic Pinot Bianco notes of pear, apple, and white flowers on the nose, leading to a palate of ripe pear and lemon framed by gorgeous minerality. At the core of the middle palate is a subtle but present creamy texture that's the perfect foil for the zip and verve. Pair this bargain of a white with a porch, pool, or patio, and feel free to enjoy a glass while you're firing up the grill!

Regular AWM Price - $12.99

In addition to the wines I source and arrange with my own contacts, I'm always on the lookout for personal projects and private-label bottlings from well-regarded importers. The Crosby Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect example!

New York importer T. Edward is the creator of the Crosby wines. It's the newest private-label project made for the importer, and it comes to us via Asheville's own Kate Stamps. For years, T. Edward has forged connections across the globe, creating exceptional opportunities for sourcing private label projects.

Crosby wines are crafted from declassified grapes sourced at various estates in top California AVAs. The source vineyards remain a secret since these same grapes find their way into much pricier brands. According to the folks at T. Edward, the Crosby line was created to "bring varietal and vintage correct expressions to wine lovers at reasonable prices." They have certainly succeeded in that quest!

Crosby Cabernet Sauvignon is a superbly refreshing style of California Cab. There's a ton of ripe red plum and blueberry fruit on the nose and palate; however, plenty of lift and acidity keep this medium-bodied Cab super clean through the supple finish. Tannins are present, but they're smooth and silky, making this a great everyday, easy-drinking Cab.

Regular AWM Price - $15.99

Choosing winemaking as a profession is a difficult way of life and a challenging way to make a living. Now imagine that you also have to completely reinvent how you make your wine and the type of wine you'll make. Félix Lorenzo Cachazo accepted that challenge and joined a small group of vignerons who would change winemaking in Rueda forever.

Bodegas Cachazo was established in 1946, and as with all of the wineries in Rueda at that time, they produced the "old wines" of Rueda. These Amontillados wines could be considered a distant relative of Sherry, sporting naturally high alcohol at 15%, and the classic notes of oxidation. Félix Lorenzo Cachazo started his career at the family's underground wine cellars and rapidly became known for the high quality of his Amontillados wines.

Fast forward to 1980, and what appeared to be the beginning of the end for winemaking in Rueda. The high-alcohol, sherry-like wines of the region were rapidly falling out of vogue, with demand shifting towards the lighter fresh wines made all across Europe.

In 1980, Félix Lorenzo led his family's winery through a complete conversion to modern winemaking. He joined seven other Bodegas in the region to form the beginning of the Rueda D.O. Of the eight Bodegas who saved winemaking in Rueda, only two remain -- Bodegas Félix Lorenzo Cachazo and Marques de Riscal.

Today, the winery remains a family affair. Félix Lorenzo and his wife Rita Heras continue to oversee all operations. Their daughter Ángela Lorenzo Heras was the first family member to graduate from enology school and is currently the lead winemaker. Their son Eduardo Lorenzo Heras is the business director and tirelessly promotes Rueda wines across the globe.

It's interesting to note that the "old wines" are making a comeback. The family produces a remarkable Amontillados called Dorado, a wine that Michelin-starred restaurants highly prize.

The grapes for this delicious Verdejo are sourced from the family's vineyard holdings across the Denomination of Origin Rueda, from young wire-trained vineyards with stony soil to 140-year-old bush vines that survived the phylloxera plague thanks to the sandy soil.

In your glass, you'll find notes of apple, pear, and white flowers on the nose leading to a zesty and zippy palate of white fruits, quince, and citrus. I love that the balance of crisp acidity and tangy fruit makes this a thirst-quencher for the porch and perfect for the table. Pair this benchmark Verdejo with all of your seafood creations, vegetarian dishes, and sushi.

Regular AWM Price - $16.99

I can't think of any other Garnacha from Spain that has garnered so much attention and so many accolades from AWM customers. It was an instant hit when I introduced the 2015 vintage and sold out almost immediately. The 2016 OGV was another fantastic Garnacha, and like the 2015 vintage, its quality/price ratio was off the charts. The 2018 vintage was another show-stopper, and best of all, it's back!

Calatayud is one of the largest D.O.s in the Aragón region of Spain. A combination of the region's high altitude and arid climate provides ideal conditions for producing some of Spain's finest Garnacha. The broad diurnal shift produces significantly cooler evening temperatures, allowing the grapes to reach full ripeness levels while still maintaining good lift and freshness. The red iron-rich soils are studded with layers of loose rock, sand, and gravel, and this soil combination does an outstanding job of preserving the region's precious moisture.

Bodegas Cooperativa Virgen de la Sierra has been making wine in the Calatayud for more than 100 years. Six hundred families take part in the Co-op, and over the years, the vineyard holdings have grown to more than 700 hectares. The land in this Co-op has been passed down in local families for generations, and there is an amazing sense of pride and quality that drives all aspects of production.

Co-op wines are often ignored by the wine press and snubbed by collectors in favor of estate-grown and bottled wines. I've learned over the years that while most estate wines are indeed quality-driven, so are carefully chosen Cooperative wines. In some cases, the Co-op is the local economy's driving force, and dozens if not hundreds of families depend on it for income. In most cases, well-made Co-op wine is a bargain when compared to estate wines of similar quality.

Bodega Cooperativa Virgen De La Sierra is a perfect example of a Co-op that does everything right. They balance an ideal blend of old-school tradition in the vineyards and the best of modern technology in the winery. There's no use of chemicals or pesticides on the vines, and there's a bare minimum of intervention at the winery. Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, and growers are paid based on their grapes' quality, not on quantity.

The Co-op at Virgen De La Sierra operates with a level of integrity far beyond the average Co-op; however, they have a secret weapon that genuinely defines their wine: the grapes are harvested from 70 to 100-year-old vines. These gnarled old vines produce a minuscule yield that is absolutely magnificent in density, nuance, and extraction.

When you get this one into your glass, you'll see why everyone is in love with this wine. On the nose, you're greeted with aromas of toasty blueberry and red berry compote. The real action starts on the palate — dark red berry, blueberry, baking spice, and vanilla mingle with hints of coffee and mocha on the finish. There's a lot going on with this wine, and as it gets a little air, it really starts to come alive. There's a ton of fruit; however, it's not a lollipop — the ample tannin allows one to enjoy this with a steak, yet it's smooth and supple enough to sip on the porch.

Regular AWM Price - $15.99

Torroxal Albariño 

As you travel west, leaving the dry interior of central Spain's Meseta Central, the parched, brown earth tones of the plateau fade away and turn lush and verdant. You've arrived in "Green Spain!"

The Rias Baixas region is located in Galicia, just above the Portuguese border on Spain's Atlantic coast. The area's direct proximity to the Atlantic Ocean keeps the climate cool and quite wet compared to most of Spain's other wine-growing regions. While it's not ideal for red wine production, it's the perfect climate for growing Albariño.

Carlos Gómez founded Adegas Valmiñor in 1997, and winemaker Cristina Mantilla has been making the wines since the very first vintage. She's one of the region's top oenologists and, over the last two decades, has been a tireless advocate for Albariño. In addition to Adegas Valmiñor, Cristina's consulting company, Mantivinos, works with many leading producers in Rias Baixas, notably Pazo San Mauro Palacio de Fefiñanes.

Albariño has surged in popularity, and over the last few years, it's helped put Rias Baixas back on the map for all white wine lovers. The grape can also claim dual citizenship since it's a significant player just over the border in Portugal -- known there as Alvarinho. Even sunny California has seen a considerable rise in the amount of Albariño plantings.

Albariño's newfound popularity has made it tough to find top-quality examples at a reasonable price. When we recently tasted the new vintage of Torroxal Albariño from Adegas Valmiñor, we were blown away by both the quality and very reasonable price -- we instantly knew we had found another winner!

In the glass, you'll find an explosion of tropical and exotic fruit on the nose, mingling with hints of salty ocean breeze on the nose. There's a gorgeous density of fruit on the palate, with notes of lemon, lime, and orange oil leading through the salty, mineral-tinged finish. It's easy to understand why Albariño is considered to be one of the world's best wines for shellfish and ocean fish!

Torroxal is by far the best buy in Albariño I have found in years. Don't miss this one if you're hunting for a crisp, unoaked, full-bodied white with that perfect hint of salty sea breeze!

Regular AWM Price - $19.99