Discover the

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Wine Region 

Though Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a small wine region, it's far from homogenous. Stretching from the Adriatic up toward mountaintops of the Julian Alps on the Slovenian border, the rolling hills are a unique environment for grape growing. It's a relatively mild climate with a long, sunny growing season that allows the grapes to ripen slowly while retaining good acidity…read more

10 Sparkling Wines to Drink in Spring, according to a Sommelier

[A dreamy shade of stewed rhubarb, Festejar! Rosé is straight-up electric. It's an unexpected wine from Auvergne, France, that checks all the spring wine boxes. Patrick Bouju of Domaine La Bohemeworks with the small plots of old vine gamay, syrah, and cabernet franc with horses, producing minimal intervention, natural wines that are a delight to drink. Festejar! Rosé is no exception.

This pét-nat is primarily gamay, giving way to notes of ripe cherry and strawberry with undertones of cranberry sauce and raspberry jam. The full fruit flavors of juicy and tart pair with warming notes of nutmeg and herbaceous hints of spearmint. The acidity isn't overly mouth-puckering but is more reminiscent of a sour red gummy bear, while the body is full (for a rosé) and everything you want it to be as a sip washes over your palate. Festejar! Rosé is kind of like the brambly hedge meets the beach.

The saturated bubbles have the energy to carry you right into spring and summer with pep while holding more weight than many sparkling wines. Its fuller body means you can easily pair it with heavier dishes like a seared pork chop, grilled salmon with green goddess sauce, or pavlova with the first strawberries of the season. It's vibrant and sparks a bit of curiosity while being easygoing, making it one of the best sparkling wines to drink in spring…read more ]

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Slovenian Wine:

Central Europe's

Hidden Gem

Perhaps one of the oldest and most overlooked wine countries in the world, the hilly vineyards of Slovenia produce some spectacular wines from indigenous grapes with intriguing personalities. The powerhouse of orange wine, Slovenia makes brilliantly textured and grippy skin-contact wines from a series of aromatic white grapes. Is this an endorsed ad by the Slovenian wine board? No. Should it be? Probably…read more

13 Best Spots to Drink Wine in Paris

[Giclette is a sweet and casual little nook in the 11th with a smart selection of bottles, glass pours, and bistro snacks. A creation of Guillaume Dupré, the vibe is fun and friendly with a hot list of wines to choose from, including some real gems that rotate through the tap, like Brand Bros., Judith Beck, and more. You can grab a glass of effervescent bubbles on tap for as little as €6, or look to the surprisingly extensive bottle collection, where you'll find names like L'Anglore, Anne Paillet, and Sylvain Bock. For a small corkage fee, sip your bottle of choice on-site.

Consider ordering some tip-top snacks from duo Karori Endo and Mika Inaba while you're here. Their refreshing little set includes inari, maki, oysters, a selection of cheeses, and luxurious charcuterie…read more ]

[Black Estate is splayed across the lush, rolling hills of North Canterbury on New Zealand's South Island. The original site was planted in 1993 by Russell and Kumiko Black. It changed hands in 2007 and is now owned and operated by Pen Naish, her partner, Nicholas Brown, and a helpful crowd of extended family. The three distinct vineyards, Home Vineyard, Damsteep Vineyard, and Netherwood Vineyard, make up just over 50 acres of vines combined.

The clay and limestone-based soils are planted with chardonnay, pinot noir, chenin blanc, cabernet franc, sauvignon blanc, and riesling. Black Estate's vineyards are farmed biodynamically following the initial conversion to organic practices. Besides just growing the grapes and making wine, Black Estate also offers an on-site restaurant, tours, and a tasting experience for guests.

Black Estate wines radiate with vibrancy and depth. The energy that goes into the holistically farmed land is reflected in the quality of the fruit, which is maintained through careful considerations during the winemaking process. The results are lively wines that express the grape's personality through a filter of the regional terroir. The cool climate keeps the natural acidity tight while an intuitive approach to the winemaking process gives the wines buoyant, concentrated flavor profiles…read more ]