Wine Club: Ancestral Wines

Wine tells the story of where it is from. In one sense, this means the origin of the grapes shapes their attributes, which in turn deliver the aromas, flavors, and textures into the wine. What often gets forgotten is the connection between the people that make the wine and the land where the grapes grow. In some places, that connection, and the traditions born from it, stretch back centuries. With this Wine Club release, we want to celebrate the ancestral element of two wines.

First, we head to the town of Huelva in Andalusia, Spain, which sits northwest of Jerez. Shipping documents show that the area has been exporting wine since at least 1502! The ancient variety used to make this white imparts a polished structure and texture, with a freshness that will quench your thirst on these midsummer days.

With the second bottle, we highlight our beloved Pipeño! This one hails from the Itata Valley of Chile, a place dear to our hearts. A combination of Cinsault, País and Carignan, this smoky, spicy, and juicy red has excellent tannins, making it a great pairing for meats and veggies fresh off the grill!

Pipeño is perhaps the most ancestral style of wine in Chile. Generally made with at least some País - the very first grape brought to South America - Pipeño means “from the Pipa.” A Pipa is a large, open air tank that growers use to make the wine quickly, so they have something tasty to quench their thirst while harvesting other crops. It’s only been recently that anyone put Pipeño into bottles so that the rest of the world could indulge in this ancient style!

Wine Club is available at both locations. Come give us a visit and taste the Ancestral Wines!