Classic Membership - Mix of Red/White

One of our favorite cuvées year after year, 2022 is a wholly unique expression for the Frey Pinot Noir. Beginining with faint notes of ripe cherry, and more pronounced strawberry notes, the palate is assertive yet bright, with lush red fruit, and a delicate mineral finish.

A cool-climate Pinot like this is going to be hard to beat next to a plate of sausage and sauerkraut, although it will shine beside more delicate preparations like Chicken à la Blanquette, or even a fish dish like Cod with Parsley sauce.

Chenin Blanc is often thought to be one of the great "terroir revealing" grapes of the world, and it's original home is along the chill banks of the Loire River. The Vin de Lune opens with steely mineral notes intermingled with light orchard fruit, while the palate is brisk, with great fruit presence on the palate, and a long, mineral finish.

Most whites from the Loire will be exceptional matches for any form of raw seafood, be it oysters on the half shell, crab cocktail, or ceviche, but the Vin de Lune has enough "oomph," to pair with heftier poultry preparations like roast chicken or even Thanksgiving turkey.

This Sauvignon Blanc from Anjou tastes totally different than a Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, just as an example. Tense mineral notes are the first thing you'll notice on the nose, with a touch of gunsmoke, while the palate incorporates a subtle flinty note that complements the vibrant acidity and amplifies the crisp flavors of green apple and citrus in the wine.

There are few more consistently-excellent pairings than Loire whites with seafood, and this wine will play especially well beside fish. A cod filet with a throwback parsley sauce, salmon sorrel, and trout amandine are all excellent ideas, and vegetarians can enjoy it beside practically anything.

A beautiful example of the virtues of blending white grapes, the Zodiac takes three lesser-known French whites, and turns them into something spectacular. This wine opens with strong mineral elements, along with citrus, and light orchard fruits. The palate is brisk with a clean finish, and lovely fruit weight.

A perfect aperitif wine, the Zodiac is going to go well with light appetizers, or seafood entrées. Enjoy with a creamy brie, grilled scallops with chili butter, or a simply sautéed salmon with garlic spinach.

If there's a word that most typifies Austrian reds, it might just be, "elegance." The nose on the Cool. begins with appealing, ripe plums and violets, while the palate opens with a lovely, weighted richness, and a silky-smooth palate with a long, harmonious finish.

A very food-friendly red, this wine will play with classic red pairings or even some richer white ones. It will be fabulous beside a plate of grilled salmon with a deeply-flavored beurre blanc, blackened chicken, or a pork chop with mustard sauce.

Viognier is well-known for its effusive nose of yellow flowers and honeysuckle, but this Viognier from Domaine Arsac brings something else to the party. With just a touch of smoky minerality, the yellow flowers are still there, but pleasantly muted. The palate is brisk, with ripe orchard fruit, and a crisp, almost-smoky mineral finish.

A Viognier of this variety is perfectly suited to well-spiced foods: think spicy curry ramen, a piquant green thai curry, or jambalaya.