A handy trick I’ve learned from the old man is to make an overnight stop in Paris at the start of my tasting trips. It’s a way to refuel after the grueling eleven-hour flight from SFO, allowing for a night of recovery before long days of nonstop wine tasting and endless hours behind the wheel of a rental car. The added bonus is an opportunity to enjoy an evening in the City of Light, exploring its exciting dining scene for my own pleasure and, of course, the chance of discovering a new wine to share with all of you back across the pond.
     Believe it or not, it can be hard to find a great place to eat and drink in what might be the gastronomical capital of the world. Tourist traps abound, and many of the hip locals’ spots I’ve sought out for simple, ingredient-driven cuisine deceive in their wine offerings. The same collection of “natural wines” seems to be on repeat in many such establishments, showcasing cloudy glasses emanating funky aromas yet little sense of place or identity—surely not what the progenitors of natural wine had in mind.
     My quest for real terroir and character led me before a colorful tile tabletop in the cozy, warmly lit dining room of Le Tagine, down the small rue de Crussol in the bustling 11th arrondissement. The place came highly recommended by Jean Foillard, so I at least knew I could count on getting a good glass of wine. The list is concise, and Foillard’s irresistible Morgon is a staple, as are Loire quaffers from Catherine and Pierre Breton.
     The friendly French-Moroccan proprietor changes the menu seasonally, and takes great care in sourcing the best ingredients from artisans across France. Her classic menu features an assortment of sizzling-hot tagines and ethereal couscous dishes, with other offerings such as the pigeon pastilla, its flaky pastry crust dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar, well worth filling up on. Don’t miss the delicate chicken tagine with olives and preserved lemon, or if you’re feeling hungry, go for the falling-off-the-bone leg of suckling lamb, served with tender vegetables in a fragrant broth made to pour over some of the fluffiest couscous you’ll ever taste. To pair, I ordered the Patrimonio “Morta Maio” from the Arena family in Corsica, a red whose earthy Mediterranean nuances tangoed enticingly with the north African spices on my plate.
     Remember to generously spoon the bright, tangy house-made harissa over everything you order. You might even buy a jar to bring back home, but be sure to keep it cool, just as you would with a fine wine. You wouldn't want it fermenting in your luggage and exploding like a spicy pet-nat all over your clothes . . . not that I would know anything about this.

Use code SPARKLING20 to take 20% off all Champagne & Sparkling Wine, in store and online, now through the end of the year.

By nature, wine is a time capsule—the embodiment of a year’s triumphs and trials, bottled and released for the world to uncork or cellar. An evolution follows, whether in glass or in bottle, all harkening back to the same theme: wine both defines, and is defined by, moments.
     With this in mind, we’ve assembled six domaines whose remarkable wines deliver an enduring quality, vintage after vintage, best described as timeless. From Bandol to Barolo, Châteauneuf-du-Pape to Chianti, these French and Italian cuvées are the perfect way to celebrate, whether you’re planning gatherings to close out the year or anticipating occasions to come in the new one (and beyond). Here’s to creating new memories with these classic expressions of terroir and energy. May you enjoy every moment.

Being the conscientious wine professional I am, I keep extensive notes on wines I’ve drunk, wines I love, and wines I can’t wait to try. This list, of course, is very useful in my day-to-day work. But recently I found myself looking it over with another goal in mind: assembling my wish list for the holidays. And that’s what this holiday sampler is—twelve cheer-inspiring bottles that I’m looking forward to enjoying, giving, or sharing with family and friends this December.
     Included you’ll find Marco Tintero’s Moscato, a festive apéritif that doubles as dessert; Sommariva’s over-delivering rosato to pop the cork on anytime a celebratory sparkler is called for; and a bone-dry Petit Chablis from the Savary family for sipping alongside oysters. Warming up after a day spent in the snow? Open Clos La Coutale’s hearty Cahors. Hunting for a present for an old friend? Grab Castagnoli’s Chianti Classico—it’s ready to drink tonight. And, when it’s time to tuck into your holiday roast, there’s Domaine Jolivet’s real-deal northern Rhône Syrah. Now we’re ready to start celebrating!

It’s hard to believe, but we launched our first wine club nearly fifteen years ago. The Adventures Club featured two bottles selected with an eye toward value, coming in at just $39 a month. Our aim was simple: choose the most interesting and delicious selections in the portfolio so that our club members could focus on enjoying wine with food, family, and friends. Author and gourmand Jim Harrison wrote that “good wine resonates so broadly it draws in the world that surrounds us.” We agree. Whether it’s a sturdy Côtes-du-Rhône or an ethereal Burgundy, pulling a cork and sharing wine with others has the remarkable effect of luring you back into the adventure of the present moment. While much has changed in the intervening decade and a half, wine’s ability to bring us together remains as vital as ever. And the Adventures Club still costs just 39 bucks.
     Today we have five wine clubs, offering more opportunities for happiness than ever before, with membership options for lovers of white or red wine, collectors and novices alike, and you can mix and match multiple clubs for the perfect custom experience. Each shipment contains a bulletin that vividly illustrates the story of the wines you’ll receive, bringing to life the people and places in France and Italy that have inspired us for over fifty years. Membership comes with some tantalizing perks, too, and there’s no minimum commitment. You can switch clubs, cancel, or suspend your membership at any time.

JOIN NOW and take 50% off your first club package, through December 31.

To join, visit our retail shop, shop.kermitlynch.com/club, or call 510-524-1524.

Use promo code NEWMEMBER2024 at sign-up.

Join by Wednesday, December 18, and receive your first package the first week of January.

→ 15% off all non-club orders

→ Early sale access

→ Member-only promotions, discounts, and samplers

THE ADVENTURES CLUB

TWO BOTTLES MONTHLY,
USUALLY ONE WHITE AND ONE RED

The Original. Get to know our best values from France and Italy.

$39 + tax and shipping

CLUB BIANCO

TWO WHITE WINES PER MONTH

Discover white wines, and the occasional sparkler, hailing from France and Italy’s most pedigreed terroirs.

$89 + tax and shipping

CLUB GOURMAND

12 BOTTLES EVERY OTHER MONTH

A mixed case sure to quench your thirst and enhance your best meals. Six red wines with a balance of whites, rosés, sparklers, and the occasional dessert wine, all at 20% off. Often includes a mini-theme of 3 to 4 bottles. Recent mini-themes include Syrah, the wines of Grange Saint-Sauveur, and 2022 Beaujolais.

$249–$299 (after discount) + tax. Shipping included

Orders ship in February, April, June, August, October, and December

CLUB CHEVALIER

6 BOTTLES EVERY OTHER MONTH

Six themed shipments per year, featuring wines of all styles, including rare and sometimes aged selections. Recent themes include the French Mediterranean, Italy’s Regional Pastas, Winter Feast, and Terroir of the Wind.

$249 + tax. Shipping included

Orders ship in January, March, May, July, September, and November

CLUB ROUGE

TWO RED WINES PER MONTH

Delve into the top wines and appellations of France and Italy. Wines for drinking now, or later.

$69 + tax and shipping

Surrounding the 625-mile-long Loire River, the Loire Valley is so vast and diverse that it is really more a collection of wine regions than a single one, and this is especially true when it comes to the cultivation of its most beloved white grapes. If the western Loire is home to Melon de Bourgogne and the eastern Loire is the realm of Sauvignon Blanc, between these two lies the land of Chenin Blanc, arguably the region’s noblest grape.