Transparency is key in what we drink and eat. People want products made with all natural ingredients and no additives that taste great, says KLYR Rum Distiller Lexi Close. Hand-crafted in Pennsylvania, KLYR is the vision of three friends who wanted a clean tasting rum with zero grams of sugar, zero grams of carbohydrates and fewer calories. KLYR rum is distilled 12 times and filtered 18 times with pure reverse osmosis water. Close discusses KLYR Rum and its RTD canned cocktails....

Champagne Palmer was established in 1947 by seven grower families passionate about quality and sharing a vision to create a Grande Marque. Based in Montagne de Reims, Champagne Palmer encompasses 500 acres of Premier and Grand Cru vineyards throughout 40 crus. Champagne Palmer’s elegance and richness are enhanced by consistent blending and longer sur lie aging says Oenologist and Managing Director Rémi Vervier, who discusses a few cuvées. www.champagnepalmer.com. U.S. Importer:...

The Kautz family settled in California in 1926 from Germany to farm, eventually expanding into grape growing in the Lodi and Sierra Foothills appellations. Their Ironstone Vineyards located in Calaveras County is considered “the Queen of the Sierras” for its volcanic soils, optimum growing conditions and many grape varieties cultivated from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel. The family is recognized for its many innovations in the region....

The Murúa of Bodegas Muriel is a venerable Rioja family. José Murúa founded his winery in 1926 in Elciego (Rioja Alavesa), an area known for exceptional terroir. His elegant, complex Rioja Reservas gained renowned. Bodegas Muriel, a compound of “ Murúa” and “Elciego,” is now run by 2nd and 3rd generations, Julian Murúa and son Javier Murúa Ganguitia. In the 2000s the family expanded, acquiring Conde de los Andes (Rioja Alta) and Luis Alegre (Rioja Alavesa). Importer:...

Founded in 1880 as California’s 29th bonded winery, Geyser Peak has been at the forefront of quality wine production. Since 2020, the Kreps family of Quintessential have been stewards of this storied brand, continuing to reach for winemaking peaks. Geyser Peak sources its grapes from some of Northern California’s best vineyards for their AVA-specific and California- appellated wines which are acclaimed for being consistently fresh and over-delivering on quality. www.geyserpeakwinery.com The...

"Quintessential" means “the best of its kind.” For Steve Sr. and Dennis Kreps, it meant focusing on small, family-owned wineries to establish Quintessential in 2003. Based in Napa, this family owned/operated import, marketing and sales company represents independent multi-generational winemaking families around the world. That’s currently 30 families and 41 wineries in 11 countries. The cofounders share the company’s quintessential milestones over the last 20 years....

Who wants to “go on a roadie and crack open some bonzer wines in the arvo.” That’s Australian lingo for “Let’s take a road trip and open some fantastic wines in the afternoon,” says Pia Merrick, Lead White Winemaker for Australia’s Barramundi Wines. Merrick shares a few Barramundi “ridgy-didge beauts” (Aussie-speak for genuinely good wines): Weekender White blend, Trailblazer Red Blend, Barramundi Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz. Available in the U.S. www.barramundiwines.com The Connected Table...

Founded in 1843, Santi Winery is in the foothills of the Lissini Mountains in Valpolicella, east of Verona. Mountain breezes and calcareous soil rich in clay and sea sediment contribute to producing this region’s iconic red wines made from native Corvina, Rondinella and Corvivone grapes. Santi produces classic Veronese wines- Valpolicella Superiore, Ripasso and Amarone della Valpolicella - under the direction of Oenologist Cristian Ridolfi. www.cantinasanti.com www.frederickwildman.com The...

Founded in 1731, Bouchard Père & Fils is one of the oldest and most diverse wine estates in Burgundy with 130 hectares of vineyards in prestige appellations of both the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuit, mostly Premiers and Grands Crus. Its 15th century château in Beaune houses the largest private collection of old burgundies, including a Meursault Charmes 1846. Technical Director Frédéric Weber discusses its history and six Premiers and Grands Crus selections. Instagram...

How do bats and bees impact biodiversity in the vineyards? “Bees are important pollinators; bats and other insects provide natural pest control,” says Marie-Catherine Dufour, Technical Director, Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB). She shares new research on how bats and bees are natural allies for improving biodiversity in the vineyards and discusses Bordeaux’s impressive drive to accomplish new benchmarks in sustainability including reduction of carbon emissions by 54% by 2030....

The Lurton family has deep roots in southern Bordeaux. Patriarch André Lurton dedicated his life to making wine for nearly 70 years. Vignobles André Lurton, led by his son Jacques with seven family members, comprises seven family-owned estates, with four in AOC Pessac-Léognan, including Château de Cruzeau. Jacques Lurton reminisces about his father, how he discovered Château de Cruzeau and why its whites and reds embody the terroir and typicity of Pessac-Léognan wines. www.andrelurton.com...

Château Carbonnieux is one of the oldest and largest estates in Bordeaux, founded in the 13th century by a Brotherhood of Benedictine monks. The estate is a Grand Cru Classé de Graves whose notable visitors have included U.S. Ambassador Thomas Jefferson in 1787. Owned by the Perrin family since 1956, Marc Perrin discusses this historic estate and its location in AOC Pessac-Léognan in the north of Graves. Marc’s grandfather, Anthony Perrin, helped establish this AOC in 1987....

Château de Respide in AOC Graves dates to 1630 with many family owners, including the aunt of artist, Henri de Toulouse-Latrec, a frequent visitor. Raised nearby in southwest France, Pierre-Edouard Chatin and his wife, Amélie, a winemaker, acquired Château de Respide in 2021. They were impressed by Graves’ signature gravelly soils, ideal for producing both white and red wines. The Chatins and their three children are the new generation of family wine producers in the region....

Nine generations of the Perromat family, including current owners Xavier and Caroline Perromat, have overseen winemaking at Château de Cérons. The 17th century estate is close to the Garonne River in a corner of AOC Graves known for its exceptional wines, notably Sémillon/Sauvignon Bordeaux whites, due to the “Gravas de Bordeaux” soil, says Caroline Perromat. A former nurse who cares about a healthy community and land, Caroline discusses the estate’s organic conversion....

Here’s a perfect pairing: Garda DOC wines and Piave DOP cheeses, both from northern Italy. Garda DOC produces crisp, refreshing sparkling and still wines around Lake Garda between Lombardy and the Veneto. They pair beautifully with the savory-sweet flavors of Piave DOP, artisan hard-aged, pasteurized cow’s milk cheeses from Belluno, a mountain region in the Veneto. After all: what grows together goes together! Enjoy! It’s from Europe. www.gardapiavepairings.us (Campaign supported by the...

Nino Negri is a wine estate in Italy’s Valtellina DOCG, recognized as one of the most challenging regions to grow grapes due to its rugged terrain in the Lombardy Alps. Steep terraced vineyards require hand-harvesting and airlifting harvested grapes by helicopter! DOCG Valtellina wines must contain at least 90% Chiavennasca, local dialect for Nebbiolo. Winemaker Danilo Drocco discusses the terroir and Nino Negri’s Vigne di Montagna single vineyard wines. www.ninonegri.it...

Joe Kysela grew up in the wine business meeting vintners' families and learning about sales and marketing while traveling with his father, Fran Kysela, founder of Kysela Pére & Fils, a leading importer of fine wines, spirits, sakes and ciders. The experience and close relationships formed primed him for joining the family business. Joe shares his thoughts on why education, delivering an authentic story and true-to-type wines are essential for connecting with the new generation of wine...

The Siegel family has made an impact in Chile, from its skylines to its grapevines. Alberto Siegel Sr.’s grandfather was a renowned architect who built many important buildings in Santiago. Alberto’s father, Don Germán, was a viticulturalist. In 1980, father and son cofounded Viña Siegel in Colchagua Valley to grow grapes. They started bottling their own wines in 1997. Siegel Family Wines produces critically acclaimed estate blend to single vineyard wines U.S. Importer Kysela Pere &...

Les Crus Faugères in Languedoc Roussillon has a central and historic role in AOC Faugères (est. 1982). Since 1959 it has been the only cooperative winery in the area, managing 2,223 acres of vines- nearly half of the vineyards and wine production in Faugères. Jérôme d’Hurlaborde, Commercial Director, Les Crus Faugères Mas Olivier, discusses AOC Faugères' ideal Mediterranean terroir and schist soils which produce expressive Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre wines. US importer: Kysela Pére &...

Chenin, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage are some of the well-known grapes grown in South Africa, including Swartland on the Western Cape, where Riebeek Cellars started in 1941 as a passion project for a community of farmers working collectively, and now well into their 3rd & 4th generations. This inland area's dry conditions produce hearty grapes with exquisite ripe fruit shares Riebeek Cellars Export Director Kara Van Zyl, who discusses terroir and selections. US importer: Kysela Pére &...

Thorn-Clarke represents the union of two families and six generations of grape growing in Australia’s Barossa valley. The Thorn family were some of the earliest settlers in the region and have been growing grapes since the 1870s. Their first bottled vintage was a 1998 Shiraz. Today, the family has 600 acres of vineyards in the Barossa Valley. Sam Clarke, co-proprietor and son of cofounders, Cheryl Thorn and David Clarke, discusses the estate’s history and wines. US importer: Kysela Pere &...

Located in Monferrato in Italy’s southern Piemonte, Azienda Agricola Rinaldi Vini produces world-class Moscato d’Asti, a crisp, aromatic lower alcohol wine, ideal as an aperitif or paired with savory and spicy foods. Andrea Rinaldi, son of founder, Oreste Rinaldi, discusses the versatility of Moscato wines and Rinaldi Vini new releases: Follie Pink Rosato, a refreshing rosé, and Panta Rei, a Barbera/Cabernet Sauvignon blend. U.S. importer: Kysela Pére & Fils. www.kysela.com...

After a long career in vineyard management, Clay Shannon established his namesake winery on California’s North Coast in 1996. He chose remote Lake County for its red soil, high elevation and ideal growing conditions. Today, Shannon Family Wines has 2000 acres, half under vine, the rest preserved. Shannon produces a range of reds and whites including its signature Shannon label, Ovis, a premium single vineyard estate red, and Buck Shack, bourbon barrel aged wines....

Bodegas Fillaboa is a family-owned estate winery in Galicia, Spain with roots dating to the 19th century. Housed in a 15th century Romanesque castle near the border between Spain and Portugal, Fillaboa produces some of the rarest and highest quality estate-grown wines in D.O Rías Baixas. Fillaboa winemaker, Isabel Salgado, discusses the estate’s history, terroir of Rías Baixas, and ageing potential of Albariño wines. Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners www.foliowine.com...