Pioneers of the modern Greek wine movement, Gaia Estate (pronounced Yay-ya) was founded by Leon Karatsalos and winemaker Yiannis Paraskevopoulos in 1994. Their objective is simple: they want to showcase what the indigenous grapes of Greece have to offer by integrating traditional viticultural methods with innovative techniques. The estate is named after “Mother Earth” in honor of the unique terroir that gives birth to their beautiful wines. In fact, Gaia’s logo depicts an ammonite fossil, symbolizing how the evolution of their wines came from the depths of ancient seas. The Gaia ‘Monograph’ is a lighter-bodied, youthful, fruit-forward rendition of Assyrtiko, Greece’s flagship white variety. The wine offers honeysuckle aromas plus lemon, lime, and pineapple; the finish quenches your thirst with saline minerality and electric acidity. James Taylor’s “Gaia” is an essential pairing for this lovely white.
Portlandia was the result of a 1999 road trip. Damian Davis embarked on the cross-country journey from Florida to the Pacific Northwest to claim his new job in the tech industry. During his trek, he decided to stop in the Willamette Valley; it was harvest, which prompted him to stop for a wine tasting. He loaded his car with so much wine that he barely made it to his new home. It took several years, but the wine world had a hold on him, and he left his tech job in 2008 to establish Portlandia. Seeking to celebrate what Willamette Valley does best, Portlandia focuses on Pinot Noir and other cool-climate grapes. Always wanting to be innovative, Davis took the Pinot Noir grape in a new direction. Harvested at night and when underripe so there is underdeveloped color, the grapes are pressed very gently to avoid the red pigment from the skins, creating a ‘Blanc de Noir’ style wine. Ripe cherry still perseveres, rounded out by lemon zest, baked apple, pear, and ginger. Listen to “Portland Oregon” by Loretta Lynn and Jack Black while imbibing.
Curicó Valley, about two hours south of Santago, is wine production mainstay in Chile. Cabernets and Sauvignon Blancs are the most popular varieties there, while only about 5% of total vines is devoted to Pinot Noir. However, since Curicó Valley is a cool-climate region, it is an ideal growing site for the thin-skinned grape, producing expressive, earthy, crunchy red-berry-driven wines with moderate tannins. The region's diverse soils are derived from limestone and volcanic rock from the Andes and are considered fertile for winegrowing. Founder Vicente Aresti Astica saw the potential and began farming there in 1951. Now his daughters are the force behind Viña Aresti, focusing on passionate, innovative winemaking. This Pinot Noir Reserva expresses the best of Curicó Valley, showcasing strawberry, dried cherry, cranberry, plus a hint of white pepper and dried herbs. Imbibe while appreciating the song “Aresti” by Gegio.
In 1959, 19 farmers came together to found the Colonnara estate, forming a cooperative in Marche, which is in central east Italy. At that time, there were not many wineries in Marche, and now Colonnara is regarded as one of the best cooperatives in the country and has grown to over 100 families. The estate is located in the city of Cupramontana, which is named after Cupra, the pagan goddess of fertility and love. In fact, each October, there is a wine festival in Marche for Cupra, celebrating the end of the harvest. They absolutely love their wine there; regulations for Rosso Piceno stipulate that it is a blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese (this one is 50-50). The Colonnara has aromatics of dark plums and dried herbs, which the palate expresses crunchy red fruits, chocolate, leather, balsamic, and allspice. Fresh acidity is balanced by soft tannins, culminating in a pleasant finish. Sip a glass while enjoying the classical guitar melodies of Piceno’s “Danza non Danza.”
Château de la Bonnelière ‘Rive Gauche’ Chinon – Chinon, FR (Platinum)
In 1976, Pierre Plouzeau bought the family property Château de la Bonnelière, which is situated on the Left Bank of the Vienne River; he then renovated the castle and replanted the vineyards. In 1989, a modern winery was born, and the wine ‘Chinon Château de la Bonneliére’ put them on the map. Son Marc took the helm in 1999, and now the vines, well over 30 years old, are farmed organically. Cab Francs from Chinon can be extremely floral on the nose (some say all they smell is red rose), but the ‘Rive Gauche’ is bright, fruit-forward, and approachable. Plouzeau believes in letting the grapes shine on their own, so he employs a minimal intervention philosophy. What emerges are tart red fruits like raspberry, cherry, and plum, which are met with layers of fresh mint, anise, spices, and an earthy undertone. Enjoy a glass while listening to the incredibly melodic French tune “Rive Gauche” by Alain Souchon.
Torre Raone was established in 1997 when current winemaker Dante di Tizio’s father, Luciano, fell in love at first sight with estate. At the time, the property consisted of an abandoned stable, 30 acres of vines, and then other plots of land devoted to olive groves, wheat, peaches, plums, and apricots. Over nearly 30 years, area has been devoted solely to winegrowing although there are still olive groves at the foot of the Tower. Depicted on the label, the Torre Raone (Raone Tower) is an 11th century Norman watchtower that was built as a defensive bulwark against the Byzantines. Now in ruins, it stands over the estate as a historical landmark. The winery is also near the Gran Sasso National Park, so beauty abounds in the region. This elegant hand-harvested Montepulciano is a celebration of organic viticulture. Traits of raspberry, blackberry, black cherry, plum, blueberry, violet, and spicy herbs are matched with velvety tannins. Essential music for this wine is Leo Pari’s song “Montepulciano.”
Considered good luck, ladybugs are also natural predators that feed on tiny insects like aphids and mites that are harmful to plants and crops. The ladybug is the symbol of Predator wines, a line that believes in sustainable viticultural practices, like natural predation, which eliminates the need for synthetic pesticides. Their motto is “What is good for the vine is good for the wine,” potentially leading you to think from the adorable label that this Old Vine Zin is a more delicate offering. Alas, this is not the case. Old vines concentrate the jammy flavors, making it abundant in black fruits, and the Predator Zin comes in at a hefty 15%, and. When first tasted, black cherry, blackberry, and dark plum emerge, transforming to nutmeg, cardamom, and black pepper, with a culminating smoky finish. Imbibe alongside the powerful, perfect song “Predator,” which was written by Alanis Morrisette for the Broadway show Jagged Little Pill.
The mission at Ride & Ridden wines is to “produce appellation-driven wines that consistently transcend the expectations of their price points. We are able to do this thanks to our unique access to a rarefied tier of wine growing partners. We make wine honestly, source the best wines we can find, and employ a minimalist approach to growing, blending, and bottling. We touch every price point, creating wines of precision, power, elegance, and zero pretentiousness. All of this defines our mission: democratizing deliciousness.” And they do it artfully as well. Co-founders David Green, a juggernaut in the wine industry, and Steven Wrubel, photographer and lover of wine, have enlisted Maayan Koschitzky as winemaker (his pedigree is astonishing as well). The unique label for this Cabernet Sauvignon, shot by Wrubel, depicts a real cowboy in action and tells you everything you need to know about this Cab: it is action-packed with notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, shaved cocoa, tobacco, and worn leather. You will want to savor it while humming along to Bon Jovi’s “Ride, Cowboy, Ride.”
Jan 1, 2026 at 8:29 AM
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