Check out our monthly “Staff Picks” wines, where we choose 12 of our current favorite wines, specially chosen to pair well with seasonal dishes and that present good value for the price. Save 10% on any purchases, or put together a mixed-or-matched case of 12 bottles for a 20% discount.

 

                           

 

 

 

September Staff Picks

Saverio Faro Grillo, Sicily, Italy (Tim)

Sicilian white wines typically present great value, and this wine is no exception. Grillo is the grape in this fresh, crisp white wine with citrus fruit and mineral tones and lots of acidity. This would be a great alternative to Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoy this as Sicilians do with freshly prepared seafood or a simple pasta preparation tossed with roasted eggplant and olive oil.

$13.99

Mills Club $12.59

Case Price $11.19

Zenato 2023 San Benedetto Lugana, Italy (Pat)

Zenato is a historic estate with 95 hectares of vineyards in Lugana and in Valpolicella’s classic zone. Made from Trebbiano di Lugana grown between Peschiera and Desenzano on the southern shores of Lake Garda, this rich white wine sees only stainless steel. Full-bodied and complex with notes of apple, pear and vanilla, this is excellent as an aperitif or paired with creamy pasta. Super long finish!

$19.99

Mills Club $17.99

Case Price $15.99

Schaller 2022 Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy, France (Jen)

Laurent Schaller and his son Camille Schaller cultivate 18 hectares of vines, mostly in Chablis. This is their Bourgogne Blanc, made from 100% Chardonnay fermented and aged in stainless steel from vineyards just outside the Chablis AOC in Auxerre. We were wowed by the freshness of this wine, bright with green apple and mineral notes and an appealing acidity, excellent to pair with seafood, oysters, crab, or lobster.

$26.99

Mills Club: $24.29

Case Price: $21.59

Ancient Oak 2019 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California (Aron)

This is a project led by famed winemaker Greg LaFollette, who specializes in small-production, handmade wines. Ancient Oak faced devastating loss in the 2019 Tubbs Fire and had to completely replant the vineyards, rebuild their home, barns and repurchase all equipment. They are still in the rebuilding process but their absolute first priority was replanting the vines – after the debris was cleared they lived in campers while bringing the vineyard back to life. This example of their pre-fire work is a French oak barrel-fermented luxurious Chardonnay showing pear, peach, cashews, brioche and marzipan cream notes with a rich mouthfeel. This would be a wonderful match with grilled salmon, scallops or roast chicken.

$44.99

Mills Club: $40.49

Case Price: $35.99                                                                                                                                                

                                                       

G.D. Vajra 2023 Moscato d’Asti, Italy  (Andres)

Aldo and Milena Vajra along with their three children Giuseppe, Francesca, and Isidoro run this historic operation currently. They are heralded Nebbiolo producers, known for their lovely Barolo and Langhe versions, but there is a wine for every occasion.  This frizzante, lower alcohol wine with natural sweetness and a floral backbone is an ideal wine for a special luncheon or served alongside a lemon meringue, rhubarb, peach or apple pie.

$24.99

Mills Club $22.49

Case $19.99

Inazio Urruzola Txakolina Rosè, Spain (Jerry)

We’ve carried both the white and Rosè from this Basque estate. From the wine growing region of Txakolina, this Rosè is made from 50% each indigenous grapes HondarrAbi Zuri and HandarrAbi Beltza, a thirst-quenching wine showing fresh strawberry and crispy, crunchy mineral notes, an excellent pairing with seafood, shellfish or salads.

$20.99

Mills Club: $18.89

Case Price: $16.79

Michael Gindl Michi’s Farm Amber Wine Blend, Austria (Jerry)

From the Weinviertel region of Austria, this natural orange wine is crafted from Gruner Veltliner, Silvaner, Welchriesling and Chardonnay grapes. Michael Gindl, an up-and-coming star on the Austrian winemaking scene, took over the family estate when he was just 20 years old in 2002. He tends to 30 Scottish Highland cattle that provide all the manure needed to fertilize his vines, while 20 Breton dwarf sheep graze the property. This example of his work displays pretty orange blossom, papaya and lemon rind notes, the perfect wine for a late summer picnic or paired with fish or spicy Thai or Vietnamese food.

$25.99

Mills Club: $23.39

Case Price: $20.79                                                                        ORGANIC and BIODYNAMIC

Cesari 2020 Justo, Veneto, Italy (Aron)

Back in stock after a prolonged absence, this blend of Corvina and Merlot by Amarone producer Gerardo Cesari is made in the “appassimento” style, meaning the grapes are dried for about 20 days (the “just right” or “justo” amount of time) before fermentation.  Loaded with ripe cherry fruit notes and a smooth, velvety mouthfeel, this wine would pair nicely with Sopressa, the Veneto’s most prized salami and an aged Asiago cheese, or grilled or stewed meats.

$10.00

Mills Club: $9.00

Case Price: $8.00                                                                           

 

Contrade 2022 Negroamaro, Puglia, Italy (Jen)

Masseria li Veli is a historic cellar in the Puglia region, where a small group of local farmers pool their  grapes from 85 acres of vineyards to make this delightful, great-value red. Negroamaro (translates to “black bitter”) is an indigenous grape of Puglia, with an almost-black peel color and resistance to drought, which is important in the warm, sometimes parched Mediterranean climate of the peninsula. Notes of cherry and blueberry jam, cocoa, round with warming structure and smooth tannins make this a nice pairing with pasta tossed with roasted meat, or an aged Pecorino cheese.

$10.99

Mills Club Price: $9.89

Case Price: $8.79

Château Carbonneau 2022 Pur Jus, Bordeaux, France (Tim)

Chateau Carbonneau is a 4^th generation, family-run estate located 25 minutes east of Saint-Emilion.  This red named “Pur Jus”(Pure Juice!) is a combination of 90% Merlot and 10% Malbec, displaying aromas of violets and spice while pretty cherry fruit notes delight the palate. Medium-bodied and well-balanced, this can be paired with pizza, risotto with mushrooms, or barbecue.

$14.99

Mills Club Price: $13.49

Case Price: $11.99

Monte Volpe Lot 15 Primo Rosso, Mendocino County, California (Andres)

At first glance, one might think this robust red hails from Italy, but this Mendocino blend is only Italian in name: Monte Volpe (translates to mountain fox) Primo Rosso (first red).  This is comprised of Zinfandel, Primitivo, Carignan, Petite Sirah and Syrah, aged an average of 48 months in oak. Exhibiting rich, full flavors of blackberry jam, plum, spice and earth with a hefty dose of toasty oak, this is a nice bonfire sipper as we slip into the fall season, or could be a great pairing with barbecued or smoked meats.

$10.00

Mills Club: $9.00

Case Price: $8.00

Michael Broadbent’s 2021 “Architect” Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, California (Pat)

The Broadbent name may be more commonly associated with Port wines, but in 1996 Bartholomew Broadbent launched Broadbent Selections, a line of wines from family-owned vineyards around the World. Bartholomew named this wine “Architect” for his father Michael, who trained as an architect before turning his attention to wine, eventually becoming a Master of Wine. This is a medium-bodied Cab, comprised of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and 3% Malbec  aged in large oak barrels. Showing dark berry fruits, vanilla, cocoa and spice, finishing long and silky, this is a great wine to enjoy with grilled beef, stews, or chili!

$27.99

Mills Club $25.19

Case $22.39