July 2025 Bottle Club Selections
The following wines are a part of our monthly Bottle Club! The following selections are provided to members for the month of July. Please visit the bottle club page if you’d like to find out more and join the club for yourself or chat with us about it the next time you visit us!
High Altitude Wines
This month the wines are all shaped by high-altitude vineyards. Altitude affects wine in powerful ways: cooler temperatures slow ripening, preserving acidity and aromatic complexity. Sunlight at elevation intensifies color and tannin while winds reduce disease pressure, leading to healthier, lower-yielding vines and concentrated flavors.
Ruca Malen Capítulo 2: Corte de Blancas 2022 – Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
From the foothills of the Andes at elevations between 1,000 and 1,200 meters, this blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillón offers piercing freshness. Ruca Malen’s vineyards in the Uco Valley benefit from intense sun and wide diurnal shifts, locking in vibrant acidity and aromatic purity.
Tasting notes: Citrus blossom, passionfruit, green herbs, and a subtle waxy texture from the Semillón.
Pair it with: Grilled shrimp, citrus-marinated chicken, or goat cheese salad.
Unique fact: The name “Capítulo 2” marks a new chapter in the winery’s exploration of expressive micro-terroirs.
Brega 2018 – Calatayud, Aragón, Spain
Brega is crafted from old-vine Garnacha grown at nearly 1,000 meters above sea level in the rugged Sierra de Pardos. The high elevation slows ripening and concentrates flavor, especially in these low-yielding, dry-farmed vines.
Tasting notes: Dark cherry, dried herbs, licorice, and hints of baking spice with serious structure.
Pair it with: Lamb tagine, wild mushroom risotto, or manchego and jamón.
Unique fact: These bush-trained vines are over 80 years old, rooted in rocky schist soils that stress the vines and intensify flavor.
Alaya Tierra 2022 – Almansa, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Alaya Tierra comes from Garnacha Tintorera grown at 1,000 meters in the Almansa DO. The variety—known for its deeply colored flesh—yields wines of dark intensity, while the high elevation keeps the profile surprisingly fresh.
Tasting notes: Blackberry liqueur, dark chocolate, fig, and toasted spice. Full-bodied and powerful, but with lifting acidity.
Pair it with: Short ribs, grilled lamb, or blue cheese.
Unique fact: Garnacha Tintorera (also known as Alicante Bouschet) is one of the few red grapes with pigmented pulp, giving this wine its almost opaque color.
Morca Godina Garnacha 2021 – Campo de Borja, Aragón, Spain
This Garnacha is grown at 700–900 meters in Campo de Borja, known as the “Empire of Garnacha.” Old vines and high elevation create balance between ripeness and finesse.
Tasting notes: Juicy raspberry, violet, peppery spice, and a silky texture.
Pair it with: Roast pork, paella, or grilled vegetables.
Unique fact: The grapes come from vines over 30 years old, farmed organically in limestone-rich soils.
Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Jardín de Hormigas Meteora 2021 – Gualtallary, Uco Valley, Argentina
Grown at 1,200–1,400 meters in the calcareous soils of Gualtallary, this Malbec is a study in altitude and elegance. The terroir yields a mineral-driven, lifted expression far from the stereotype of lush Mendoza Malbec.
Tasting notes: Red currant, wild herbs, graphite, and fine tannins.
Pair it with: Chargrilled steak, lentil stew, or roasted eggplant.
Unique fact: Altos Las Hormigas is one of the pioneers in redefining Malbec through precise sub-regional terroir expression.
Cottanera Etna Bianco DOC 2023 – Etna, Sicily, Italy
From volcanic slopes at 700–800 meters on Mount Etna’s northern side, this Carricante-based white is shaped by lava stone, elevation, and sea breeze.
Tasting notes: Lemon zest, wild herbs, saline minerality, and a vibrant, dry finish.
Pair it with: Crudo, seared scallops, or lemon-herb chicken.
Unique fact: Cottanera was among the first modern producers to invest in quality winemaking on Etna’s northern face.
Terre Nere Etna Rosso Bellacolonna 2022 – Etna, Sicily, Italy
Bellacolonna is a single-vineyard wine from young Nerello Mascalese vines at around 750 meters. Volcanic soil and elevation yield a fragrant, transparent red.
Tasting notes: Sour cherry, crushed rose petals, smoke, and stony tannins.
Pair it with: Charred octopus, porcini pasta, or roast game bird.
Unique fact: This site lies within the Calderara Sottana contrada but is vinified separately for its distinctive profile.
Muri-Gries Pinot Grigio 2022 – Alto Adige, Italy
From the cool slopes of Alto Adige at 500+ meters, this Pinot Grigio comes from vineyards along the Adige River valley, framed by the Alps.
Tasting notes: Green apple, pear, flinty minerality, and a clean, dry finish.
Pair it with: Fresh salads, grilled trout, or marinated vegetables.
Unique fact: The Muri-Gries monastery dates to the 11th century and still houses Augustinian monks—who also make wine.
Muri-Gries St. Magdalener Classico Lagrein 2022 – Alto Adige, Italy
Lagrein from hillside vineyards at 300–400 meters brings a balance of Alpine freshness and dark fruit depth.
Tasting notes: Plum, violet, clove, and supple tannins with a cool, herbal edge.
Pair it with: Sausage with lentils, mushroom pizza, or duck breast.
Unique fact: St. Magdalener is traditionally a blend of Schiava and Lagrein; this bottling focuses on the darker, more structured Lagrein.
Murgo Etna Rosso 2022 – Etna, Sicily, Italy
Another Nerello Mascalese grown at 750 meters on Etna’s eastern slopes, this is a classic expression of the volcano’s power and grace.
Tasting notes: Bright cherry, iron, wild strawberry, and smoky undertones.
Pair it with: Charcuterie, pasta alla norma, or grilled lamb.
Unique fact: Murgo was among the first to produce sparkling wine on Etna, and remains family-run since 1860.
Bodegas Avancia Godello Blanco 2021 – Valdeorras, Galicia, Spain
From terraced vineyards over 600 meters in Galicia’s Valdeorras region, this old-vine Godello sees partial oak aging for texture.
Tasting notes: Ripe pear, lemon curd, hazelnut, and wet stone.
Pair it with: Roasted chicken, creamy risotto, or crab cakes.
Unique fact: These Godello vines are up to 100 years old—rare for white grapes—and planted on slate soils that preserve precision and nerve.
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Bianco Calderara Sottana 2022 – Etna, Sicily, Italy
From one of Etna’s most iconic white wine crus at 600–700 meters, this Carricante-based wine reflects old vines and rocky, basalt soils.
Tasting notes: White peach, fennel, crushed rocks, and citrus oil.
Pair it with: Pan-seared halibut, fennel gratin, or shrimp and grits.
Unique fact: Calderara Sottana is known for its black volcanic stones—”calderara” refers to the cauldron-like heat these stones absorb and radiate.
El Coto de Rioja Imaz Gran Reserva 2018 – Rioja Alta, Spain
Sourced from vineyards in Rioja Alta at 500–800 meters, where cool air from the Cantabrian Mountains helps retain acidity in Tempranillo.
Tasting notes: Dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, and clove, with a silky, long finish from extended aging.
Pair it with: Grilled lamb chops, manchego, or mushroom risotto.
Unique fact: Aged over 24 months in American oak and another 3+ years in bottle before release, this Gran Reserva represents traditional Rioja at its most elegant.