Nice: January 2026
At roca
Reserva Classic Penedès 2022
Macabeu, Xarel·lo
Penedes, Spain
The majority of Cava production is dominated by two major producers, so finding quality minded producers of the Spanish bubbles can be a bit more difficult than one would assume. Thankfully, most cava is at least palatable, but we look for the stuff that blows us away. Enter, Agustí Torello Roca, or AT Roca for short. A producer we have found recently that exceeded expectations.
If you haven’t noticed a major motif in our wine selection method, we’ll give you a little hint. Terroir driven wines. Actually a big hint. AT Roca is such a producer with the focus of revealing a sense of place in his wines. While not champagne, all of Cava is made in the Champagne Method. This wine is rested on its lees, or dead yeast cells, for 20 months before they disgorge and remove it off the lees. This gives it the bread-like and toasty quality that is present in Champagne, while remaining uniquely Cava.
After the removal of the lees, Agustí decides to not add any extra sugar to the wine, making it a brut nature. There is still enough body and texture that we couldn’t tell it was made without extra sugar. Excitement lies in the future of the Cava region and it makes us want to drink more. A lovely way to start 2026. Cheers!
Pairing: Pickle Brined Fried Chicken Sandwich
Fun fact: AT Roca ages the wine on the lees under cork and ferments in used barrels rather than stainless steel. Both of which are not typical to traditional cava production.
von winning
Royale 2023
Chardonnay
Pfalz, Germany
We have offered a myriad of Chardonnays since we started our wine club. Chardonnays from all over the world, ranging from Oregon, to Burgundy, and now to Germany. All of them with their own unique twist on the grape. Some more rich and creamy, some more lean and crunchy, and some yet to be tasted. Whenever someone says they don’t like Chardonnay, we get excited because that just means they haven’t tasted the right one. If any of the aforementioned styles haven’t fit your palate yet, we’re excited for you to try this one on for size.
Von Winning is a front runner of quality winemaking in the Pfalz. Typically known for nuanced and powerful rieslings, they also grow a few other grapes, with chardonnay being one of them. Bringing a riesling twist to this wine develops a racy acidity and crisp texture that somehow still has weight to it. A borderline enigma one might say. This ‘Royale’ is also fermented fully dry, or trocken, as the Germans say.
Von Winning’s winemaker Stephan Attmann’s philosophy is “not doing the wrong thing at the wrong time”. Easier said than done because one still needs the knowledge to acknowledge when the wrong time is. We are thankful for extraordinary winemakers who lean into their style and know the relationship of the terroir they cultivate. It makes for a pleasant experience. We hope your experience with this wine is as joyful as ours was.
Pairing: Sizzled Bratwurst with Mashed Potatoes
Fun fact: A bottle of Von Winning’s Ungeheuer Riesling was used to toast the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.
Guido Porro
Camilu 2022
Nebbiolo
Langhe, Italy
Seeing pictures of the vines from Langhe can give you the longing to uproot your life and move to the bucolic hillsides of Piedmont. Tight-knit communities, vine covered land, and an escape from the buzz of the city. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to do. What’s the next best thing? We think it’s drinking wine from the area. The Porro family has generations of winemaking knowledge that has culminated and been distilled into the bottle we have for you. Hopefully its transportation powers affect you.
Guido Porro is located right next door to another world class producer, Vietti. Meaning there isn’t much, if any, difference in grape quality. The Porro family actively makes sure their prices aren’t overwhelmingly expensive because they actually want people to drink their wine. For that, we are grateful.
Nebbiolo, while not the most grown grape in Piedmont, is by far the one thought to be of the highest quality. This Camilu contains grapes all coming from Barolo. Rather than turn it into Barolo, they decided to age this wine for a bit less time and release a “lower quality” Langhe Nebbiolo. We don’t think the quality is very low.
Bright red fruit flavors with firm, grainy tannins and an acid that stands strong and true throughout the whole sip are only a few descriptors of what this wine entails. We can’t wait for this wine to be drank by you. Drink up friends!
Pairing: Risotto with White Truffles
Fun fact: Guido Porro also runs a bed and breakfast.