Annual Sparkling Wine Sale!
by Jane Augustine
© Gail Skoff
While we all have our own memories with sparkling wine––be it a coming-of-age tale, a life-changing bottle, or a festive celebration––there’s always something intriguing in our imports with which to create new ones. So without further ado, and with no shortage of expressions to describe these offerings: mousseux, pétillant, frizzante, or spumante . . . dive into our selections.
© Gail Skoff
While we all have our own memories with sparkling wine––be it a coming-of-age tale, a life-changing bottle, or a festive celebration––there’s always something intriguing in our imports with which to create new ones. So without further ado, and with no shortage of expressions to describe these offerings: mousseux, pétillant, frizzante, or spumante . . . dive into our selections.
Annual Sparkling Wine Sale!
by Jane Augustine
My gateway into sparkling wine was something bubbly from California that my friends and I used to pass around in a circle. It was low-priced and low in alcohol, high in both sugar and carbonation, but it made us feel alive with agency and sophistication. That’s the power of bubbles, I guess. Luckily for me, my palate evolved and was further awakened years later when Kermit offered me a position in our office in Burgundy. There, colleagues and I could order Champagne straight from the domaines of Lassalle, Fourny, and Bara, so often that their wines became our house apéritifs. Gone were the days of sweet swill, welcome were those of fine and balanced grower Champagne.
There was one small drawback to living in Beaune: the selection of sparkling wines from regions outside of Champagne and Burgundy, let alone other countries, was limited. But the post also bestowed upon us the privileged generosity, especially around the holidays, of growers from every region in France and Italy who regaled us with end-of-year gifts—often, magnums of something home-grown and sparkling. How fortunate we were, in such a small town, to fill our cellars with artisanal frizzante like Davide Vignato’s Primo Incontro from the Veneto, or Moretto’s savory Pignoletto from Emilia-Romagna. We even earned a reputation among friends and locals for opening the most interesting apéritifs with aromatic appeal: exotic sparklers made from a cornucopia of grapes, like Boxler’s Crémant d’Alsace, and delicate Proseccos from Sommariva and Gregoletto. Racy Chenin beauties from the Loire like Thierry Germain’s Saumur “Bulles de Roche” and Champalou’s Vouvray Brut were the antidote to Burgundy’s jaded palates, welcome diversions from an abundance of Chardonnay-based sparklers.
While we all have our own memories with sparkling wine––be it a coming-of-age tale, a life-changing bottle, or a festive celebration––there’s always something intriguing in our imports with which to create new ones. So without further ado, and with no shortage of expressions to describe these offerings: mousseux, pétillant, frizzante, or spumante . . . dive into our selections and discover what the many regions across France and Italy have to offer.
Wines In The Collection
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a Champagne of luxury, from its decadent golden tinge to the fine, persistent bead that playfully caresses the palate.
La Marca di San Michele Italy | Le Marche
The wine’s salinity finds balance with a delightfully tart note of lemon rind.
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
Don’t miss this Blanc de Blancs, a powerful yet refined tour de force from one of the region's most consistent and talented growers.
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a Champagne of luxury, from its decadent golden tinge to the fine, persistent bead that playfully caresses the palate.
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto
Durella with a splash of Chardonnay—rich texture, laser-sharp acidity, and bone-dry finish.
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
Evoking bright citrus as well as darker citrus—think hints of blood orange—the Vinothèque is among Veuve Fourny’s most elegant Champagnes.
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a Champagne of luxury, from its decadent golden tinge to the fine, persistent bead that playfully caresses the palate.
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
This blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir is a sleek, elegant Champagne that has roundness along with the astonishing freshness and finesse that are characteristic of all Fourny wines.
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
The Spécial Club represents an elite association of growers who abide by such strict standards of quality, and the pedigree is evident with this 2012 release.
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
That telltale Fourny freshness and finesse complement a nutty richness that is the result of the terroir, the stellar élevage, and five years’ aging on its lees.
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
This is the bottle to pop at your next celebratory meal; a white truffle risotto would make an excellent pairing as would ripe soft cheeses.
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
I think I'll replace my Christmas tree with a very large bottle of Champagne. ’Tis the season!
France | Champagne
This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a Champagne of luxury, from its decadent golden tinge to the fine, persistent bead that playfully caresses the palate.
Italy | Le Marche
The wine’s salinity finds balance with a delightfully tart note of lemon rind.
France | Champagne
Don’t miss this Blanc de Blancs, a powerful yet refined tour de force from one of the region's most consistent and talented growers.
France | Champagne
This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a Champagne of luxury, from its decadent golden tinge to the fine, persistent bead that playfully caresses the palate.
Italy | Veneto
Durella with a splash of Chardonnay—rich texture, laser-sharp acidity, and bone-dry finish.
France | Champagne
Evoking bright citrus as well as darker citrus—think hints of blood orange—the Vinothèque is among Veuve Fourny’s most elegant Champagnes.
France | Champagne
This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a Champagne of luxury, from its decadent golden tinge to the fine, persistent bead that playfully caresses the palate.
France | Champagne
This blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir is a sleek, elegant Champagne that has roundness along with the astonishing freshness and finesse that are characteristic of all Fourny wines.
France | Champagne
The Spécial Club represents an elite association of growers who abide by such strict standards of quality, and the pedigree is evident with this 2012 release.
France | Champagne
That telltale Fourny freshness and finesse complement a nutty richness that is the result of the terroir, the stellar élevage, and five years’ aging on its lees.
France | Champagne
This is the bottle to pop at your next celebratory meal; a white truffle risotto would make an excellent pairing as would ripe soft cheeses.
France | Champagne
I think I'll replace my Christmas tree with a very large bottle of Champagne. ’Tis the season!
More Collections
A Standout Trilogy from the Loire
The soils at Domaine de Reuilly rest on the prized Kimmeridgian limestone, a geological chain that runs through nearby Sancerre as well as Chablis and southern Champagne. This limestone is characterized by its high content of marine fossils dating back 150 million years and is known for producing exceptional wines across several appellations…
Nothing Taken Out
You have probably heard us applaud many of our vignerons for bottling unfiltered. Kermit even earned a reputation for importing wines that had not been subject to filtration, going so far as to request a special unfiltered bottling for the US from many producers following years of comparative tastings with domaines such as Tempier and Vieux Télégraphe…
Kermit’s Best Bargains
For five decades, Kermit has sought out France and Italy’s highest-quality selections at all price levels, so we can imbibe thoughtfully crafted wines without breaking the bank. Budget-friendly yet reliably delicious…
A Classic, Vibrant Vintage from Famille Savary
Certain wine estates are all about the story: centuries of family production, obscure heirloom grape varieties, perilous vertical vineyards, radical production methods... With Domaine Savary, forget the fluff and romantic backstory. Focus instead on what’s in your glass: delicious, vibrant, classic wines that place this among the most consistent, reliable Chablis to be found…
Arretxea in Irouléguy
Oh, how far Irouléguy, the hidden gem of French Basque country, has come! Once upon a time, not so long ago, a local joke went something like this: “How do you say vinegar in Basque? Irouléguy!” Vines covered hardly any ground, and you could count the growers on a single hand. Enter the Riouspeyrous family…
New Arrivals
Here is a collection of recent arrivals. Every week, we’ll be adding a dozen or more new arrivals, so check back often for your favorite classics or new discoveries!
The Carpe Vinum Collection
An ever-changing offering of wines that are just about to sell out; one last opportunity to seize a range of selections before they disappear from our shelves forever.
50th Anniversary Merchandise
When the esteemed French wine artist Michel Tolmer created beautiful artwork for our 50th anniversary, we knew right away that we had to feature it on a few select items of merch. After spending maybe a little too much time researching the options, we landed on a classy, leather-strap cap, a comfortable t-shirt made from 100% cotton, and a tote made with incredibly sturdy, fair-trade, and organic cotton by a certified B corp that invests in the livelihoods of women and farmers of India, featuring three wine sleeves and two other compartments for all of your other needs!
Recent Wine Club Selections
Our five wine clubs feature our best values from France and Italy as well as complex and cellar-worthy wines.