This month’s lineup is all about learning. Every bottle teaches a different lesson that helps explain why wines taste the way they do. We’ll explore ancient vineyard traditions in Greece, discover how geography shapes the wines of Rioja, learn how winemaking decisions influence style, challenge our expectations of California Cabernet Sauvignon, and compare Syrah from its birthplace in the Northern Rhône with the richer styles many people know from Australia.
Whether you’re new to wine or have been collecting bottles for years, there is always something new to learn. We hope these six wines help you see familiar grapes and regions through a different lens.
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Wine #1: Thymiopoulos Atma Assyrtiko 2025Â
- Varietal: 100% Assyrtiko
- Region: Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece
- Taste: Lemon, peach, herbs, wet stone, citrus zest
- Elevage: Stainless steel fermentation and aging to preserve freshness
- Serve: Well chilled
- Pairings: Grilled shrimp, oysters, Greek salad, roasted chickenÂ
Assyrtiko is one of Greece’s signature grapes, prized for its remarkable acidity and mineral character. Across Greece, many vineyards are still farmed using traditional methods, including the famous basket trained vines of Santorini that protect grapes from intense sun and wind. These historic practices continue to influence modern winemaking today. Thymiopoulos combines those traditions with thoughtful, low intervention winemaking to produce a wine that is vibrant, textured, and unmistakably Greek.
Wine #2: Sierra de Tolono Rioja Blanco 2025Â
- Varietal: 100% ViuraÂ
- Region: Rioja Alavesa, Spain
- Taste: Citrus, pear, white flowers, limestone minerality
- Elevage: Primarily neutral oak to preserve freshness and texture
- Serve: Well chilled
- Pairings: Grilled fish, Manchego, roast chicken, tapas lads
Rioja is often associated with American oak, but Sierra de Tolono tells a different story. Working in the higher elevation vineyards of Rioja Alavesa, Sandra Bravo focuses on expressing the vineyard rather than the barrel. Cooler temperatures, limestone soils, and mountain influences create wines with energy, freshness, and a distinctive mineral character. This wine reminds us that geography often has a greater influence on a wine than winemaking itself. One of the most important lessons in wine is understanding that every great bottle reflects where it was grown. Â
Wine #3: Christina Netzl Kühlbar Chillable Red 2025Â
- Varietal: 100% Zweigelt
- Region: Carnuntum, Austria
- Taste: Raspberry, cherry, cranberry, fresh herbs
- Elevage: Gentle extraction with minimal oak influence
- Serve: Slightly chilled
- Pairings: Charcuterie, pizza, grilled vegetables, burgersÂ
Not every red wine is meant to be rich and powerful. Christina Netzl created Kühlbar specifically to be fresh, lively, and enjoyable with a slight chill. Gentle extraction preserves bright fruit while keeping tannins soft and approachable – 60% is de-stemmed and direct pressed, 40% ferments as whole bunches with a short four day maceration. The result is a wine that is incredibly versatile with food and a great example of how winemaking decisions can completely shape the final style of a wine.Â
Wine #4: Sierra de Tolono Rioja Tinto 2024Â
- Varietal: 100% Tempranillo
- Region: Rioja Alavesa, Spain
- Taste: Red cherry, raspberry, herbs, crushed stone
- Elevage: Neutral oak with minimal intervention
- Serve: Cellar temperature
- Pairings: Lamb, grilled pork, mushrooms, ManchegoÂ
Our second wine from Sierra de Tolono reinforces one of wine’s most important ideas. Place matters. Although this wine is made from Tempranillo, it is the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa that define its personality. Higher elevations, limestone soils, and cooler growing conditions produce wines with elegance, freshness, and vibrant acidity rather than heavy extraction. Tasting both Rioja wines together shows how a region’s geography creates a recognizable sense of place across different grape varieties.Â
Wine #5: Doris Cabernet Sauvignon 2024Â
- Varietal: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
- Region: California
- Taste: Black cherry, plum, cassis, cedar
- Elevage: Restrained oak influence to preserve freshness
- Serve: Cellar temperature
- Pairings: Burgers, grilled steak, roast chicken, barbecueÂ
Many people think California Cabernet Sauvignon always means ripe fruit, high alcohol, and generous new oak. Doris offers a different perspective. Rather than overwhelming the palate with richness, this wine emphasizes balance, freshness, and drinkability. The oak plays a supporting role instead of dominating the wine, allowing Cabernet Sauvignon’s fruit and structure to shine through. It is a reminder that great producers often choose elegance over power.Â
Wine #6: Barruol Lynch Crozes-Hermitage “Tiercerolles” 2022Â
- Varietal: 100% Syrah
- Region: Northern Rhône, France
- Taste: Blackberry, violet, black pepper, olive, smoked meat
- Elevage: Traditional aging in French oak
- Serve: Cellar temperature
- Pairings: Lamb, duck, grilled sausage, mushroom dishesÂ
Northern Rhône is the birthplace of Syrah, and its wines are often very different from the Shiraz styles that made Australia famous. Instead of rich jammy fruit and sweet oak, Northern Rhône Syrah emphasizes pepper, savory herbs, floral aromas, and earthy complexity. Cooler temperatures and granite soils produce wines with freshness and structure that reward slow appreciation. This final lesson reminds us that climate and place can completely transform the personality of the same grape variety.Â