K&L In-Store Tastings: Italian Discoveries, Stellar Sancerre

Greetings K&L friends!

The rosters are set for this weekend's in-store tastings, so please mark your calendars for an evening (or two) of fascinating and fun exploration with your fellow wine lovers and our K&L staff. Read below for more details on this week's themes.

In addition to our weekend tastings, we regularly host or participate in other Special Tasting Events and Dinners. Also, don't forget, you can always explore in more depth on K&L's On the Trail blog with buyer/winemaker interviews, special reports, and more—straight from the vineyards!

Nestled in the foothills of the Palisades, within the heart of Napa Valley, Amici Cellars (pronounced ah-ME-chee) is a family-owned winery that cherishes not just its own Napa roots, but also the diverse winemaking landscape of Sonoma County.

Under the careful stewardship of acclaimed winemakers, Tony Biagi and Matt Courtney, and strengthened by profound relationships with premium growers, Amici Cellars crafts Napa and Sonoma wines with distinct character. They offer elegance, complexity, and expressivity, capturing the essence of both celebrated wine regions.

Master Distiller Matt Weese, formerly a winemaker from Dry Creek Valley, maintains a sharp focus on the distillation and blending processes. His meticulous attention to detail during blending enhances the flavor complexity and depth of Lost Republic whiskies. By using premium air-dried white oak barrels, as opposed to the more common kiln-dried oak barrels, he heightens the quality and distinctiveness of the whiskey. The distillery also utilizes larger copper pot stills for better control over product consistency while still preserving a craft approach.

Komé Collective offers a portfolio of expertly curated craft Japanese sake and spirits, sourced from 22 different prefectures in Japan. They import sake and spirits that span experiences rooted in tradition, all the way up to the forefront of innovation. On Thursday, Sept 26th, they will be sharing sake from seven different prefectures. They will have a selection of limited-quantity, seasonal namazake for our traditionalists, and Daiginjos for sake enthusiasts who appreciate a higher-polished style.

Discover the diverse land of Italy, a true paradise for wine lovers, in this week's Friday tasting. Our journey stretches from the sparkling flavors of Emilia-Romagna down to the robust and rich textures of Piedmont.

Italian wine is about the expression of terroir, and each wine we are featuring has a unique story to tell. Whether you favor the sparkling rosé, the fruity Trebbiano, the mineral-laden Etna Bianco, or you sway towards the deep, full-bodied Barolo, this selection has something for everyone.

Sancerre, a small appellation located in the Eastern Loire Valley, has long been the gold-standard region for Sauvignon Blanc; join us for this week's Saturday tasting to see what all the fuss is about. Quality in Sancerre is at an all-time high, and this selection is a must-try for any Sauvignon Blanc lover, or for anyone who loves tangy, dry, refreshing whites with incredible depth of flavor.

When winemaker Samantha Sheehan landed in Napa, she made a name for herself with top-notch wines. But it was a chance encounter with a neighbor’s basket of just-picked Seville oranges that sparked something magical. By tossing the hand-cut citrus, seeds, rind, and all, into freshly-harvested Chardonnay, Sam created a California twist on the classic aperitif — zippy, juicy, and oh-so-refreshing. What started as a small batch for friends quickly grew, and with the addition of her partner Michael’s packaging design, MOMMENPOP — a citrus aperitif made from wine — was born.

Balcones Distilling has gained acclaim in the spirits industry, winning numerous awards for its innovative whiskey, including gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. These accolades underscore Balcones' leadership in the craft whiskey movement and its commitment to pushing American whiskey boundaries. The distillery is known for its bold approach, using unconventional ingredients like blue corn and novel aging techniques, as well as Texas-grown components that enhance the spirit. This regional authenticity and craftsmanship have created a loyal following among whiskey enthusiasts who appreciate unique flavors.

A group of our favorite artisanal grower/producers will be flying in from France to present their wines exclusively to K&L guests. Producers include Aspasie, Coutelas, Alexandre Le Brun, Baron Fuente, Boulard Bauquaire, Damien Hugot, Franck Bonville, Petiau, and Derot-Delugny. This is a rare opportunity to engage with the people that grow the grapes and make the wine, and to learn more about their approach to Champagne. We will also have many of the big-name producers on hand to present their selections. From the big houses we will have representatives from Pol Roger, Laurent-Perrier, Billecart-Salmon, Moët & Chandon, Krug, Bollinger, Drappier and more. This is a perfect way to sample bubblies for the upcoming holiday season. For $150 per person plus tax, you will be able to sample more than 50 champagnes, paired with catered hors d’oeuvres.

We strongly encourage using ride share or public transportation for this event as parking is extremely limited.