K&L In-Store Tastings: Ata Rangi Vertical, Burgundy Greats

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!

This wonderful lineup from dynamic JVS imports features three of Scotland's most exciting distilleries. Enjoy small-batch expressions from these three independently owned producers with Keeper of the Quaich and all-around spirits guru, Sam Filmus.

Founded in 1980 by Clive Paton, Ata Rangi Vineyards has firmly established itself as a beacon of winemaking in Martinborough, at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island. The name Ata Rangi, elegantly interpreted as "dawn sky" or "new beginning" in Te Reo Māori, is a tribute to the land and embodies the essence of their winemaking philosophy — harmonizing with the rhythm of seasons to craft wines that encapsulate their unique Martinborough terroir.

As a family-owned organic winery, Ata Rangi is particularly renowned for its Pinot Noir, producing distinct expressions that hold claim to international acclamation. We invite you on a tasting journey to discover the remarkable creations of Ata Rangi.

Join us for an elevated wine tasting journey set amid the heart of Burgundy, focused on the region's esteemed white wine communes - Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault, and Puligny-Montrachet. Renowned for their extraordinary white wines, these great communes contribute significantly to the global reputation that Burgundy enjoys.

Each wine in our lineup has been meticulously crafted by stellar producers such as Domaine Etienne Sauzet, Domaine Bachelet-Monnot, Domaine Latour-Giraud, and Maison Henri Boillot. Striking a delightful harmony between experienced winemaking practices and deep respect for the uniqueness of their respective terroirs, these wines magnificently express the quintessence of Burgundy. The grand conclusion of our tasting features an exceptional Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru from Domaine Henri Boillot.

The classic bar staple is a must-have for anyone looking to create the ultimate home bar. The producer reveals the secret to Campari's enduring success: "For over 150 years, Campari, the quintessential aperitif, has been characterized by a unique and unmistakable recipe. The inimitable Campari recipe, which serves as the basis for numerous cocktails globally, has remained unchanged since its inception and is a carefully guarded secret, handed down through generations. Campari is the culmination of infusing herbs, aromatic plants, and fruit in alcohol and water; the latter two are the only known elements of the recipe. Many have speculated about the number of ingredients: some suggest there are 20 or 60, while others propose the ingredient list reaches up to 80."

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.