Hello from the Caviste:

It that time of the year that we all are thinking about our summer plans. Whether it is for a long weekend get-away or that stack of summer reads, we know there is a bottle of wine that can accompany the mood.

This summer we'd like to show off some of our favorite writers on wine who share the same philosophies and approach to wine as we do.

We have been re-reading wine adventures books that continue to inspire us and remind us why we all share the same passion for small producer wines. One of them is Neal Rosenthal's Reflections of a Wine Merchant. Rosenthal is one of our favorite importers, and he takes us on an intimate tour of how he met and befriended many of the small producers his company still carries today, and ones you still see on our shelves. An excellent writer, an astute and humble observer of life, and passionate about telling the stories of these talented producer gems. Of course, we recommend ordering this book from our local favorite bookseller, Bookmarks here in Winston-Salem, but you can order this book from any bookseller.

To accompany your reading, be sure to come in and stock up on wines and conservas before our annual summer holiday closure:

We have a few more events before we close for two weeks: Tuesday Tasting, June 11, 4:30-6:30, will feature lovely German/Austrian summer whites. Our annual-ish Fête du Rosé is on Wednesday, June 12, with just a few seats left. We also have an exciting French buffet-style dinner on Thursday, June 27.

Cheers!

CLOSED JULY 1 - JULY 15

Tuesday Tasting

German & Austrian Summer Whites
Tuesday June 11, 4:30-6:30pm
*$5 fee, waived with bottle purchase

We are crazy about this part of the world and their wines. Many of the whites are DRY, and for any of you Sauvignon Blanc/Pinot Grigio/non-oaky Chardonnay drinkers out there looking for an alternative, these whites are true hidden gems that will serve you well all through the summer months - by the pool, with a salad, with your friends.

What we'll be tasting:

Darting | Gewürztraminer | Pfalz, Germany
This estate has a history of grape growing since 1780, but began selling under their own label in 1989. They have a highly respected vine nursery, selling their grafted vines throughout the country. Helmut Darting studied with Müller-Catoir, following the same discipline of minimal-intervention techniques. $21

Bürklin-Wolf | Estate Riesling Trocken | Pfalz, Germany
One of the oldest biodynamic estates, now run by a female winemaker. They are part of what is known colloquially as the "Three B's of the Pfalz," three famous estates in the region: Basserman-Jordan, von Buhl, and Bürklin-Wolf. This Riesling is one of our favorites, it is DRY and a great accompaniment to any of the lighter-fare summer dishes. $25

Strub | Silvaner | Rheinhessen, Germany
In a region most recently known for high-yielding, innocuous varieties like Sylvaner and Müller-Thurgau that have tainted the reputation of German wine as a whole, Walter Strub and his son Sebastian are crafting transparent, pure expressions of their varietals on slopes along the Rhine River in Nierstein. The Strub family has been making wine in Germany’s Rheinhessen region since 1710, Walter Strub is the 11th generation. $22

Bründlmayer | Gruner Veltliner "L+T" | Kamptal, Austria
One of the most classic, elegant producers, situated in Langenlois, some 70km north-west of Vienna, upstream along the Danube in the Lower Austrian Kamp Valley. The wooded hills of the Waldviertel protect the vineyards from the cold north-westerly winds. During the day, the sun warms the stony terraces, while at night the fresh, fragrant forest air drifts through the Kamp Valley into the Langenloiser Arena. $23

- Featured Wines -

Chillable Reds

A bonus - two chillable reds that are instantly drinkable in grilling weather.