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
Kante Italy | Friuli
Dry, chalky, and just the right combination of fleshy and lean. Serious sparkling wine.
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.
André & Michel Quenard France | Savoie, Bugey, Hautes-Alpes
A wonderfully dry, fresh, sparkling wine from one of the most beautiful regions of France.
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
Don't miss this 2011 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 rosé Champagne from J. Lassalle is one of my favorite party tricks—festive, unexpectedly blush, and delicious.
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.
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto
Durella with a splash of Chardonnay—rich texture, laser-sharp acidity, and bone-dry finish.
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.
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 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.
Sommariva Italy | Veneto
Sommariva’s Prosecco is an obvious choice when looking for a wine for a celebration, or simply to enliven the senses.
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.
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
The Spécial Club represents an elite association of growers who abide by such strict standards of quality. Extremely limited quantities, maximum 3 bottles per purchase.
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.
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
If you’re looking for a Champagne to carry you from apéritif, through the main course, and into dessert, Fourny’s Rosé is the one.
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
If, like me, you gravitate toward drier Champagnes with laser focus, then you will love the wines of Veuve Fourny.
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.
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.
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
I think I'll replace my Christmas tree with a very large bottle of Champagne. ’Tis the season!
Italy | Friuli
Dry, chalky, and just the right combination of fleshy and lean. Serious sparkling wine.
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 | Savoie, Bugey, Hautes-Alpes
A wonderfully dry, fresh, sparkling wine from one of the most beautiful regions of France.
France | Champagne
Don't miss this 2011 Blanc de Blancs, a powerful yet refined tour de force from one of the region’s most consistent and talented growers.
France | Champagne
This rosé Champagne from J. Lassalle is one of my favorite party tricks—festive, unexpectedly blush, and delicious.
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.
Italy | Veneto
Durella with a splash of Chardonnay—rich texture, laser-sharp acidity, and bone-dry finish.
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 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
Evoking bright citrus as well as darker citrus—think hints of blood orange—the Vinothèque is among Veuve Fourny’s most elegant Champagnes.
Italy | Veneto
Sommariva’s Prosecco is an obvious choice when looking for a wine for a celebration, or simply to enliven the senses.
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
The Spécial Club represents an elite association of growers who abide by such strict standards of quality. Extremely limited quantities, maximum 3 bottles per purchase.
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
If you’re looking for a Champagne to carry you from apéritif, through the main course, and into dessert, Fourny’s Rosé is the one.
France | Champagne
If, like me, you gravitate toward drier Champagnes with laser focus, then you will love the wines of Veuve Fourny.
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 | Southern Rhône
A dry sparkler made exclusively from Clairette
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
I think I'll replace my Christmas tree with a very large bottle of Champagne. ’Tis the season!
More Collections
From the Cellar: Holiday Edition
We’ve done some digging of our own, and came up with a collection of perfectly cellared bottles that would make for epic companions to anyone’s grandest events. You’ll find whites and reds from numerous French and Italian regions dating back up to thirty-five years, with styles and price points for everyone…
The Kermit Lynch Holiday Gift Guide
When it comes to holiday shopping, the gift of wine is hard to beat— especially when it’s a thoughtfully chosen, hand-crafted bottle from one of our many talented growers in France or Italy. Beyond wine, we have an assortment of other goodies to stuff every stocking on your list, from artisanal olive oil to gift cards to ball caps. You’ll find these items and more in the Holiday Gift Shop—now open!
Annual Dessert Wine Sale
Gingerbread cookies, yule logs, pumpkin pies…Sauternes, Banyuls, Muscat…Whether you prefer your treats baked or fermented, no holiday meal is complete without the final flourish of dessert. Now through the end of December, 20% off per bottle!
Annual Sparkling Sale
With seasonal celebrations and feasts around the corner, now is the time to stock up on sparklers from Champagne and beyond. To kick off our annual sale, we’re shining the spotlight on the KLWM quartet of Champagne growers, each with a distinctive house style that exquisitely translates its unique terroir. Get to know all four, as well as a range of lively offerings from regions like the Loire, Alsace, Veneto, and Savoie…
Domaine Tempier: the Wine, the Family, the Exuberance
Domaine Tempier is a wine—it is also a family; exuberance and finesse are the traits common to both,” wrote Richard Olney back in 1984. What’s remarkable about this simple yet spot on-observation is how true it rang then, how true it rang forty years prior to that, when Tempier had just released its first wine, and how true it still rings today, forty years later.
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.
