August 2026 Bottle Club
This month’s collection takes you from the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna to the limestone hills of Bourgogne, the Grand Cru vineyards of Alsace, and the legendary villages of Bordeaux and Piemonte. These are bottles for backyard dinners, weekend barbecues, or simply enjoying a quiet evening on the patio.
Enjoy opening something you’ve never had before, invite a few friends over, or build a meal around one of these bottles. Wine is always at its best when it’s shared.
Cheers!
Michelle
Tenuta San Vito Chardonnay Amantiglio 2024
Toscana, Italia
Tenuta San Vito has been farming organically in the hills southwest of Florence for decades, producing wines that are fresh, vibrant, and full of life. This Chardonnay is bright with citrus, green apple, and delicate floral notes.
Enjoy well chilled with grilled chicken, seafood, fresh salads, or creamy pasta. It’s also a wonderful aperitif on a warm summer evening.
Château du Basty Lantignié Blanc 2023
Beaujolais, France
White Beaujolais is one of France’s hidden gems. Made from Chardonnay grown on Beaujolais’ famous granite soils, this wine is crisp, lively, and wonderfully refreshing. Château du Basty has been family owned for generations and is known for expressive, terroir driven wines.
Pair with roasted chicken, grilled shrimp, goat cheese, or a simple picnic featuring fresh bread and charcuterie.
Cottanera Etna Bianco 2023
Sicilia, Italia
The vineyards of Cottanera sit on the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna, where mineral rich soils give Carricante incredible freshness and energy. This is one of Italy’s most exciting white wines.
Serve with oysters, grilled fish, scallops, lemon risotto, or anything with fresh herbs and citrus. If you’ve never experienced volcanic wines before, this is a great introduction.
Dirler Cadé Pinot Gris Kessler Grand Cru 2019
Alsace, France
Dirler Cadé is one of Alsace’s historic family estates, and the Kessler Grand Cru vineyard has produced exceptional wines for centuries. After several years of bottle age, this Pinot Gris has developed beautiful richness while remaining wonderfully balanced.
Pair with roast pork, turkey, mushroom dishes, lobster, or creamy cheeses. This is also an excellent choice for early fall meals.
Meyer-Fonné Gewurztraminer Kaefferkopf Grand Cru 2021
Alsace, France
Kaefferkopf is one of Alsace’s most celebrated Grand Cru vineyards and is especially famous for Gewurztraminer. Expect fragrant aromas of rose petals, lychee, baking spices, and tropical fruit.
This wine loves bold flavors. Try it with Thai curry, Indian cuisine, Moroccan dishes, washed rind cheeses (cheeses whose rinds are regularly washed with brine or wine to encourage a strong aroma and creamy texture), or even spicy barbecue. It’s also fantastic with fruit based desserts.
Domaine Françoise et Denis Clair Saint-Aubin Blanc 2023
Bourgogne, France
Saint-Aubin sits beside some of Bourgogne’s most famous villages, yet still offers remarkable value. Domaine Françoise et Denis Clair consistently produces elegant Chardonnay with beautiful minerality and precision.
Serve with roasted chicken, crab cakes, grilled halibut, lobster, or a simple roast chicken with herbs. Sometimes the best pairing is keeping things simple.
Château du Basty Morgon 2023
Beaujolais, France
Morgon is one of Beaujolais’ most celebrated crus and is known for producing Gamay with both freshness and surprising depth. Old vines give this wine concentration while preserving its vibrant red fruit.
Slightly chill the bottle for about 20 minutes before serving. It pairs beautifully with grilled burgers, roast chicken, salmon, mushroom dishes, or a charcuterie board.
Baron de Ley Finca Museum Reserva 2021
Cigales, Spain
Made from old vine Tempranillo, this Reserva is rich, polished, and deeply satisfying. The Cigales region has quietly become one of Spain’s most exciting sources for age worthy reds.
Enjoy with grilled steak, lamb, smoked meats, Manchego cheese, or slow cooked barbecue. Decanting for 30 minutes allows the wine to fully open.
Sottimano Langhe Nebbiolo 2022
Piemonte, Italia
Sottimano is one of Piemonte’s benchmark producers, and this Langhe Nebbiolo offers many of the qualities that make Barbaresco famous. Fragrant cherry, rose petals, and earthy complexity make it endlessly food friendly.
Pair with mushroom risotto, braised short ribs, pasta with truffles, roasted duck, or aged Parmesan. A short decant before serving brings out even more aromatics.
Fattoria Uccelliera Ginepraia Rosso Toscana 2021
Toscana, Italia
Named after the juniper bushes that surround the vineyards, Ginepraia combines classic Toscana character with generous fruit and silky texture. It is both approachable now and structured enough to age.
Enjoy with grilled pork, pasta with Bolognese, wood fired pizza, roasted vegetables, or an assortment of aged cheeses.
Garage Wine Co. Sauzal Vineyard 2021
Maule Valley, Chile
Garage Wine Co. began as a tiny passion project in an actual garage and continues to work with small family growers and old dry farmed vineyards. The result is authentic, handcrafted wine with tremendous character.
This wine belongs on the grill table. Pair it with tri tip, smoked brisket, grilled sausages, or hearty vegetarian dishes featuring roasted eggplant or lentils.
Château Brio de Cantenac Brown Margaux 2016
Bordeaux, France
Produced by the renowned Château Cantenac Brown, this wine showcases the elegance that has made Margaux famous. After a decade of aging, it is entering a beautiful stage of maturity with layers of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, and refined tannins.
Open the bottle about an hour before dinner and serve alongside roast lamb, beef tenderloin, duck, wild mushrooms, or aged cheeses. This is a wonderful bottle to share with friends over a leisurely meal.