Sheltered: Sip fine wine, Save on shipping & Support a family Business
This week we are focusing on wineries rising to the challenge and making it easier for you to enjoy their wines at home. Without question, it is rough on all small, family wineries that have been developing clubs, events and direct sales programs to suddenly be forced to close their doors.
But some are seizing the opportunity to make new friends and to keep the family business afloat. And make your days sheltered in place much more tolerable.
You gotta love what Trentadue Winery is doing. Located in Alexander Valley with a highly regarded estate vineyard, Trentadue is best known for Zins, Petite Syrah and the house red blend, La Storia. Arguably, this is one of the most underrated wineries.
This week, Trentadue announced a super six bottle deal with $1 shipping. The price for this 6 bottle pack is $171 for non-members and $133 for members. Also, you can order any case of their wine for a flat $5 shipping fee. That’s terrific. And the winery is even making personal home deliveries to its Sonoma County neighbors.
Trentadue Home Wine Tasting 6-Pack
California Champagne
2017 La Storia Cuvee 32
2018 Shoestring Sangiovese
2017 Victorian House Zinfandel
2017 La Storia Cabernet Sauvignon
2017 Heart’s Desire Petite Sirah
That sets the bar high, but here are some others you need to explore for yourself.
Terre Rouge and Easton in Amador County
It’s no secret that Terre Rouge is one of the best names for bigtime Syrah, and other rhone red and whites. Easton is the label for Barbera and Zinfandel. The Ascent Syrah was recently rated 100 points by a respected writer.
But here’s the “stay at home” deal details.
First, the winery is offering 25% off ALL Easton and Terre Rouge Wines (excluding library wines), when you order 12 bottles or more. Feel free to mix and match them however you would like to create your own custom case. When you buy a case and use promo code “CODE19” you pay flat shipping of only $12.
Even more impressive, Terre Rouge has put together some specially priced 3 bottle, 4 bottle, and 6 bottle packs where shipping is included such as:
ZinFull Trio $110 (normally $125)
Home But Not Alone 4-Pack $119.19
Stay Home, Get Rhôned 6-Pack $165 (normally $211)
Social Distanced Terroir 6-Pack $150 (normally $188)
Goosecross Cellars, Yountville
Showing the way for its Napa Valley neighbors, Goosecross, known for its Sauvignon Blanc and several high-end, high quality Cabernets, is offering this option: shipping is $1 on orders of any 3 bottles and you can select from the entire roster of wine.
You may be unfamiliar with Goosecross mainly because it has been so successful with its wine club and sells almst every bottle direct.
Eden Rift Vineyards
Just when this winery was about to break out of the pack, it had to close its tasting room. The March preview of its rare Old Vine Zinfandel was cancelled. But that didn’t stop Christian Pillsbury and winemaker Cory Waller. They created a virtual tasting video of the 2018 Dickinson Block Zinfandel. I suspect the Zin would have been sold out during the preview event. But now you can get it online.
This is a rare Zin made from 2 acre planted in 1906 Head pruned, the vines are still producing rich, velvery smooth Zin.
Normally selling for $45, the Zin is offered at 15% off and includes ground shipping with orders of 6 or more bottles until 4/15 with code: STAYIN
Also, look over the other wines. I think Eden Rift’s Pinot Noirs are right up there with the very best. The 2017 “Terraces” Pinot is a real standout.
Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos
With two very popular tasting rooms in Silicon Valley and another in Carmel contributing to an amazingly successful wine club, Testarossa responded to the closures by offering deep discounts and free shipping.
Some 25 years ago Ron and Diane Jensen launched Testarossa from their garage in Sunnyvale. Today they make 9 differnet single vineyard Chardonnays and 5 distinct vineyard Pinot Noirs. The 2017 Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir is a collector’s item.
My friends at Connoisseurs Guide voted Testarossa the Winery of the Year in 2019, so feel confident about any wine in the lineup. They placed the Diana Chardonnay and Niclaire Pinot Noir in the top ten wines of the year.
The deal: Members: 30% off 4+ bottles; 35% off a reorder by April 30th
Non-Members: 15% off 4+ bottles; 20% off a reorder by April 30th
Shipping included.
Greenwood Ridge, Mendocino
A special for shut-in Zin lovers:
2018 Greenwood Ridge Zinfandel, Mendocino Estate
Sale price is $17 a bottle, $204 a case.
(regular price $29 a bottle.)
Byington Vineyards
This just came in from Byington:
Free Shipping with Minimum Order
“We are offering free shipping for all orders $75 and over. Check out our online store at Byington.wine. Enjoy some Byington wine to tide you over. We have a range of prices from our Blanc ($18) to Merlot ($33) to Pinot ($47) – described above – to Italian Sangiovese ($61).”
What I love about Byington is their ongoing support of the community. On May 5th, for example, they had scheduled a Teacher Appreciation event.
And, of course the wines are excellent. My fav is the Santa Cruz Cabernet.
Norm Roby's Unfiltered Guide to Savvy Wine Shopping 