Grilling, from Provence to the USA
Day 5: A discounted collection featuring wines from Southern France, Burgundy, Sicily, Tuscany, and Veneto
by Anthony Lynch
THIS WEEKEND ONLY! Take 30% off this collection of ultimate grilling wines.
Click to apply this promo code to your order
Click to apply: GRILL30 Valid through Monday, April 29thPromo code terms
When I was growing up in the southern French countryside not far from the town of Bandol, my family grilled often. We always used wood fires, most often made from sarments, grapevine cuttings from winter’s pruning, cured and cut into neat bundles that could quickly be ignited with a match and some crumpled up newspaper. The sarments burned hot and fast, leaving a perfect bed of coals once the flame died down. We savored the opportunity to gather outdoors, keen to enjoy the magical light of the Provençal sky at dusk. When local vigneron friends invited us over, they often made their fires right in the dirt by the side of a vineyard, the fragrant smoke wafting up into the olive trees and cypresses before disappearing into the sunset. On all occasions, there was cold rosé on hand for the adults to refresh their palates while something delicious sizzled away over the coals.
Nowadays, I perpetuate this tradition in the backyard of my East Bay home. I grill lamb chops, whole fish, and olive oil-brushed vegetables just as if I were in Provence, but I have expanded my repertoire to embrace what is available locally, with other creations inspired by the diverse cultures that call the Bay Area home. A refreshing glass of rosé or white is essential during the process, and a thoughtfully selected bottle (or two) always accompanies my rustic feast when it’s time to dig in.
The wines below, available at a discount this weekend only, would be excellent candidates for any grillade. Whether you’re looking to recreate childhood memories around the fire or simply planning your next backyard barbecue, you’ll want to make sure the ice chest is loaded before you fire up the grill.
Grilling, from Provence to the USA
Day 5: A discounted collection featuring wines from Southern France, Burgundy, Sicily, Tuscany, and Veneto
by Anthony Lynch
THIS WEEKEND ONLY! Take 30% off this collection of ultimate grilling wines.
Click to apply this promo code to your order
Click to apply: GRILL30 Valid through Monday, April 29thPromo code terms
Wines In The Collection
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
From the classic aromas of graphite, black fruit, and roasted spice, to the total finesse of its tannins, this is Côte-Rôtie at its best.
Vigneti Vecchio Italy | Sicily
Aromas of wildflowers, saffron, beeswax, and Mediterranean herbs. Rich, fleshy, and focused, all at just 12% alcohol.
Domaine Leon Barral France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Earthy, meaty, savory, juicy, and powerful, it is a glassful of joyful, soulful goodness.
Mas Champart France | Languedoc-Roussillon
These ancient hillside vines yield very little, giving an intensely concentrated juice with great acidity and a textured finish. Open it alongside seafood or as an apéritif.
Grottafumata Italy | Sicily
Grottafumata means “smoky caves” and that's exactly what I think about when I swish this around. Grown in volcanic soils, it's a perfect balance between smoky tannins and Sicilian grapes.
Masseria del Pino Italy | Sicily
A rosé made via ancient methods from ashy soils high on Mount Etna.
Domaine Robert-Denogent France | Burgundy
Classy, pure, and precise Chardonnay, evoking freshly crushed apples, crushed stones, and citrus zest.
France | Northern Rhône
From the classic aromas of graphite, black fruit, and roasted spice, to the total finesse of its tannins, this is Côte-Rôtie at its best.
Italy | Sicily
Aromas of wildflowers, saffron, beeswax, and Mediterranean herbs. Rich, fleshy, and focused, all at just 12% alcohol.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Earthy, meaty, savory, juicy, and powerful, it is a glassful of joyful, soulful goodness.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
These ancient hillside vines yield very little, giving an intensely concentrated juice with great acidity and a textured finish. Open it alongside seafood or as an apéritif.
Italy | Sicily
Grottafumata means “smoky caves” and that's exactly what I think about when I swish this around. Grown in volcanic soils, it's a perfect balance between smoky tannins and Sicilian grapes.
Italy | Sicily
A rosé made via ancient methods from ashy soils high on Mount Etna.
France | Burgundy
Classy, pure, and precise Chardonnay, evoking freshly crushed apples, crushed stones, and citrus zest.
More Collections
This Season’s Staples
It might seem counterintuitive to put the words understated and Sancerre in the same sentence, but the description is befitting of Domaine Roger Neveu, where simply beautiful standards are produced from a family whose agricultural roots date back to the 1600s…
Carlotto’s Alto Adige Specialties
Michela Carlotto and her father, Ferruccio, farm a tiny estate of several hectares in the Alto Adige town of Ora, south of Bolzano. The specialty of this village is Lagrein, a red grape native to the region, and these folks have it down. They produce a single Lagrein Riserva bottling, aged in large oak casks, and you will be hard-pressed to find a Lagrein with this much finess…
Four Bottles That Have Blown Me Away Lately
Getting to taste our imports all the time is a little like how I imagine it feels to have season courtside tickets to the Warriors. You are unbelievably privileged to routinely behold world-class talent, and yet, no matter how impressive these NBA stars are, after thirty games, you probably take their level for granted a little bit. After half a season, it might take a transcendent Steph Curry performance to get you out of your seat and remind you how extraordinary this spectacle is…
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.