This week we’re featuring two summer duos, one from California and one from Italy. Jordan Kivelstadt and Sam Baron run one of our go-to West Coast wineries, Kivelstadt Cellars in Sonoma, California. Jordan and Sam work diligently with organic practices to create unique, uncomplicated wines that challenge the preconceived notions of ‘Californian Style’ i.e. big, bold, audacious, loud. We appreciate the restrained style in Kivelstadt - soft, gentle, fun, uncomplicated. Kivelstadt is helping pave a new, distinct, seemingly ‘effortless’ Californian style (in quotes, because let’s be honest, winemaking is definitely not effortless, it’s extremely laborious!). Kivelstadt’s winemaking philosophy falls into step with other California wineries that we admire so much like Donkey & Goat, Poe Wines, Birichino, Broc Cellars, Les Lunes, Matthiason, and Scribe.

We also appreciate Kivelstadt’s nod to single varietal wines like the Syrah and Pinot Blanc from their KC Labs line. The more natural approach at Kivelstadt further highlights the dark fruit in their Syrah bottling and the tropical notes in their Pinot Blanc. Both wines are unfiltered and unfined, showing off their natural sediment in bottle, although they do run mostly clear as you can witness from their clear bottles. When translucent bottles are used for bottling this usually means that the wine is meant to be enjoyed ‘now,’ and not aged in your wine cabinet/cellar, as the clear bottling exposes the wine to more sunlight than a dark glassed bottle. Enjoy KC Labs Syrah with the buttery Pyrénées sheep and goat’s milk cheese Chebris to bring out the peppery characteristics in the red wine. Pair KC Labs Pinot Blanc with Flory’s Truckle to highlight the pineapple notes in the fruity cheddar and brighten the acidity in this delightful white wine.

The Piedmont Guy imports all family-owned, (you guessed it) Piedmontese wines into the US. For their newest project, Ercole (Hercules), the importers worked with a handful of winemakers in the appellation of Monferrato to create screw-capped, liters of Italian joy. Similar to Kivelstadt, but halfway around the world, Ercole shows off a single varietal grape in a very distinct, uncomplicated way. The grape Barbera, which experts say originated in the hills of Monferrato, is known for its high acidity and notes of sour cherry and Ercole Rosso displays these qualities in full. Pair the bursting red cherry notes of Ercole Barbera Rosso with hearty slices of Jamòn Serrano. With a bit of Jamón you’ll need some Manchego, and a salty, aromatic white wine to pair is the Ercole Bianco liter, which is a blend of three different grapes: Cortese (80%), Chardonnay (15%) and Sauvignon Blanc (5%). This mineral-driven white, grown atop sandy soils, is from the indigenous Italian grape Cortese (the white grape in all Gavi). Cortese was first documented in 1614, when the Castle of Casale Monferrato recorded the grape in its ledger. Blended into the Cortese is a touch of Chardonnay for roundness and Sauvignon Blanc for that extra snap of acidity. 

Experience these balanced, uncomplicated summer wine duos on your next summer picnic or beach day!