LOW ROAD WHITE

2023 Chateau St. Martin Picpoul de Pinet, $16

We love this “starter” wine. Pour this for everyone as soon as they come in the door. Then you can figure out what to serve for the rest of the evening. This is the third time we are using this Picpoul (2017 and 2021 previously.) If you still have a bottle of the 2021, try them side by side (and sheesh, step up your game!).

2023 Morra Roero Arneis, $18.05 

Those of you that attended the annual TASTE! Fundraiser for school may remember the most popular white at the party. If not, please let me introduce you. Arneis is a food-friendly, medium-bodied grape that would work perfectly for a holiday meal. If only we had one coming up….

LOW ROAD RED

2023 Polvanera Primitivo, $16.13 

It is said that Zinfandel is a descendant of Primitivo (molti anni fa). And much like California Zinfandel, red wines from Puglia (the heel of the Italian boot) tend to be bigger, riper, and generally have higher alcohol than other areas. But that trend is starting to change in both places. Brighter Primitivio (and Zin) with less alcohol and more acid is easier to find every year and here is a good example. It has a nice heavy bottle so bring it to a holiday party. You fancy.  California Wine drinkers will love it and they will think it is High Road. And if you don’t want to be a poser and want a real High Road Red from Puglia, check out the Nero di Troia!

2022 Invincible Vinho Tinto, $17.10

Portuguese blends go with everything.  This one is a “field blend.” Grapes include Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz picked and put into “lagares” together.  Lagares are traditional open vats made of stone or stainless steel used for stomping grapes manually. This one gets 90 points from Decanter.

HIGH ROAD WHITE

2023 Christophe Pichon Viognier, $21.25

The most popular High Road white wine from the TASTE! Fundraiser. This is a true family business, Christophe runs the winery with his wife and six kids (five too many!)  The wine is 100% Viognier. It is very floral as Viognier should be, but 70% of it is oaked, giving it more elegance and body. Suitable for a winter lunch or dinner. Or heck, leftovers even.

2023 St. Michael Eppan “Schulthaus” Pinot Bianco, $26.62

We last used this wine in the 2013 vintage. It was our introduction to Alto Adige, a region at the base of the Alps around Germany, Austria, and Italy. Expect two things from Alto Adige – very confusing labels and excellent white wines. If you are curious about the label, Kellereigenossenschaft is a wine cooperative. Weissburgunder is Pinot Blanc (or Pinot Bianco), and Schulthaus refers to an old wine school in the area. Bonus points for reading that aloud. This wine is a classic, clean, delicious high-altitude Italian white wine. 91 points from James Suckling.  

HIGH ROAD RED

2022 Vignoble Edmond Latour Gigondas, $32.13

Vignoble Edmond Latour is the estate. Gigondas is the region in Southern France that neighbors Chateauneuf du Pape and Vacqueyras. The area produces the most classic GSM (Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre) blends in the world. Let it breathe and enjoy it with some red meat, something heavy, or by itself.

2016 Castel del Monte “Puer Apuliae” Nero di Troia Riserva, $38.14

If you haven’t heard of Nero di Troia, maybe it’s because the grape was known as Uva di Troia (Grape of Troia) until recently. And if you haven’t heard of Uva di Troia, maybe it’s because it was a low-yielding grape that was all but forgotten, even in Puglia. There are plenty of Low Road versions of the grape, but this Riserva is the real deal. It’s oaked and aged to calm the tannins. Surprisingly, it only comes out at only 13.5% ABV.  91-92 Points. This will be on our table for Thanksgiving dinner. Gobble, gobble.