Responsible Indulgence—August 2025
Pressed For Thought
August is a time of reflection for me, as I head out for harvest. It is a little like gearing up for returning to school. It marks a shift in my work from the shop to the winery. When I think that I opened the shop nearly eighteen years ago, I am still amazed. It has been a journey. It has not always been easy, but it has always been challenging, gratifying, and mostly, very fun. I am fortunate to have a job that allows me to learn, to research, to travel, to interact with like-minded people, and to share their stories.
Most recently, it occurred to me that I am now writing my own story, and it is very much intertwined with those stories that I have been sharing all these years. I was inspired to try making my own wine by the winemaking that I witnessed and, of course, motivated to elevate my experience as a retailer and truly own my profession in the wine world. I am headed into my next harvest, now ten years since I made that first barrel of Grenache.
I have learned how to make wine. (How about that? Yes, mind blown!) What I am also continuing to learn is how crucial the farmers are to the success of our wines. Good wine starts with good fruit. If you have good fruit, you don’t need to fuss with the wine, just make honest, minimally treated wines. (Think about the roasted tomato sauce you made from last week’s bounty of tomatoes; simple, easy, and so damn good.) Responsible, ethical growers work so much harder to maintain the health of their crops and sustain their farms. It is much harder when you respect the earth and the climate, work in harmony with it, as crazy as that sounds. By refusing to spray chemical, pesticides, and herbicides, pests and weeds are harder to keep at bay, and without fertilizers, crops are reliant upon the nutrients in the soils, which may result in smaller yields. Smaller yields means less money, which makes financial sustainability even more difficult; as if farming weren’t hard enough. My growers harvest all of the grapes by hand. By choosing to harvest by hand the grapes are treated more gently, their is a careful selection process, and yes, they are more expensive.
Responsible farming is more labor intensive and therefore more expensive. Yes, this practice is more prevalent in Europe, but keep in mind that both the EU and individual countries subsidize agriculture, for us this means that vineyards get support to keep wine affordable. It is a different culture. Here in the US, we have to support responsible agriculture—organic, at least in practice, means the earth is healthier and the wine we put in our bodies is free of harmful chemicals.
I am grateful for your support & invite you to join the choir—tell two friends today about our wine club, so we can keep fighting the good wine fight!
Cheers, Maria
The August Line Up!!
August Wine Notes
August is a month of abundance of farm fresh vegetables, and I for one, cannot get enough corn and tomatoes, fresh melon, radishes that are so crisp and peppery, stunning hearty greens to sauté, green beans for endless salad nicoise, and the most beautiful potatoes and beets, carrots, cukes, and much, much more. I thought about the summer bounty when selected wines that want to be met with soft, round fruit, good acidity, and earth flavors that gesture to the soil and its richness. I also have the grill on my mind, because it is just too hot to get the oven cranked up. I love the char of the grill.
I recently made some lamb kebobs with scallions, lathered in New York Shuk BBQ sauce (yes, it is available in the Gourmet!), made with lots of harissa and loaded with flavor! The char on the scallions gave my kabobs so much flavor and character, I paired it with Syrah of course!! Have fun pairing your recipes with the wines, and please share your success with us. Post in on IG and tag us! @newportwinenchz
A quick shout out to my staff who helps me do all the things! Lianna, Zach, Amanda & Matt—I cannot do any of this without you!! I am especially grateful to Lianna Pannagio & to Matt Rose for these beautiful and compelling wine notes!! They are ready to help you select the perfect wine for any occasion & have the wine club ready for pick up!!
Value Wines
2022 Granito Pais
On the label of this red is a beautiful flower from the native Chilean plant Bollén. This was the flower that greeted the Italian settlers of the area who planted the Pais vineyards in the Itata Valley of Chile as a reminder to their home. The flower shows an example of how something that has age and has struggled to grow through tough conditions can still produce something beautiful like the wine in the bottle. With a nose of light red berries and earthiness from the oak barrels it's aged in you get the flavor of smoke and cranberry, with hints of lemon from the acidity. Pull out your grille, grille some meats and veggies maybe add in a nice pasta salad as a side with a glass of this and you've got yourself the perfect summer pairing! Lianna
2021 Verizet Macon-Lugny
This Chardonnay from the Macon-Lugny region of France is a wonderful white you can enjoy any day of this week! Unlike most Chardonnay's that have an either over oaked or buttery flavor this beautiful example is neither. It has a wonderful floral nose with hints of jasmine and honeysuckle and a flavor profile to match with some citrus characteristics added in. It does have that buttery mouthfeel of a chardonnay but that only leaves you wanting more! Grab a pair of chopsticks, some Chinese take-out and a great movie for this wine and enjoy! Lianna
Dom. La Manarine CDR Rosè, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah
This is a fantastic bang for your buck, and a quality Rosè from the Côtes du Rhône. Domaine La Manarine blend 60 percent Grenache, with 40 percent Mourvèdre and 20 percent Syrah and cool ferments it in cement tanks with native yeasts. The result is a youthful, bright rosé with notes of strawberry, cherry, dusty thyme and a hint of rose petal. Enjoy on its own, with your favorite salad or with roast lamb! Matt
2022 William Cole Albamar Cabernet Sauvignon
Moving towards fall, as the nights are getting cooler, we need a wine on hand for those particular evenings. One that is still light enough for summer time but also heavy enough to warm up your soul when you start feeling the crisp chill of fall weather creep in. This Albamar Cabernet Sauvignon by William Cole is that wine. It has a nice dark ruby color with baking spice and bitter chocolate on the nose. There is a smooth texture from aging in French oak for a year and flavors of toasted vanilla leftover from the barrels. You also can get hints of black fruits such as currants, cherry and blackberries. Make yourself some warm comfort food and cuddle up watching your favorite show or reading your favorite book with this wine! Lianna
Sferra Bianco, Cortese di Gavi
Perfect summer sipper! This Cortese di Gavi varietal from Piedmont Italy showcases a wonderful example of a well done bio dynamically grown grape and well executed wine making with little intervention to show off the wonderful flavors of the terroir! It has a very citrus forward flavor with a pineapple juice finish. It would be perfect for drinking outside on your porch and watching the people of Newport go by. It is people watching season after all! Lianna
Les Pentes Hauts Baigneux
Select Wines
2023 Castello Conti Spanna Colline Novaresi, Nebbiolo
This Nebbiolo from the southern Ghemme appellation of Italy is a classic example of Nebbiolo from the Piedmont region. It is very light in color, almost translucent, but rich in aromas and flavor! It has a nose of cherry, oak and baking spices with the flavor profile to match. It has a rich tobacco flavor leftover from the oak barrels and a nice fruitiness to it that would make this wine an easy every day drinker and good to have with or without food! Pair this earthy wine with some earthy flavors like a mushroom pasta or a nice cut of gamey meat, and add in some great conversation and you've got the makings for a perfect evening.
2024 Chateau Pradeaux CDP Rosè, Mourvedre & Cinsault
From the prestigious Chateaux Pradeaux in St. Cyr-Sur-Mer in Provence comes this delightful, Cotes du Provence Rosè from the 2024 vintage. This rosè is a blend of Mourvèdre and Cinsault, is medium bodied and displays beautiful notes of cherry, strawberry, grapefruit, salinity and a hint of white pepper. This is THE perfect wine to enjoy while lounging at the pool, relaxing at the beach, or enjoying with a nice, light seafood dinner. Matt
2021 Owen Roe Sinister Hand, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault
This Rhone Style blend by Owen Roe is easily one of my favorites. Not only because like most GSM blends (grenache/syrah/mourvedre) it is absolutely delicious, with flavors of dark plum and ripe cherry, but also because the label, and the story behind it, make this bottle worth saving to share with friends so you too can tell the story and enjoy its lushness! Owen Roe refers to an irish legend from back in the 11th Cetury of two families, the O'reilly's and O'Neill's, who were fighting over land. To settle the score they decided to have a rowing competition. Whichever team was to touch land first would be the ruler of the land. One of the families, the O'Neill's, was so far behind, that one of the crew members took his own sword, cut off his hand, and threw it to shore solidifying the win for his family and securing the future title name of this beautiful vibrant red you are now drinking! Lianna
2022 Domaine Sylvain Bailey Beaucharme Quincy, Sauvignon Blanc
The Upper Loire Valley is famous for its distinctive and delicious Sauvignon Blancs and this example by Domaine Sylvain Bailly "Beaucharme" is no exception. With a subtle minerality on the nose indicative of this regions limestone soils and a hint of fresh flowers and tropical fruits you know you are in for a treat! With flavors of citrus, grapefruit, honey and slate this wine is as complex as it is straightforward and that juxtaposition is showcased beautifully through this Sauvignon Blanc. Grab some shellfish to highlight its salinity or some pork to round out its intricacy and you will be as happy as a clam in high water (which would also be delicious with this wine!) Lianna
2021 Lirac by Roger Sabon, 70% Grenache/10% Syrah/10% Mourvedre/10% Carignan
Rhone River blends are some of my favorite wines and Lirac by Roger Sabon is a perfect example why. With vineyards that sit across the river from Chateauneuf-du-Pape you know you are in for a treat with these wines! On the nose it immediately gives me a sense of nostalgia, with a scent only someone from Rhode Island will understand, party pizza, Caserta's preferably. I was instantly so excited to drink this wine and dive into this glass of something that feels so special and rare, which this wine is. It has a nice taste of dark fruits, baking spices, cocoa, and tobacco. Grab some smoked meats, BBQ sauce and cornbread and start up your grille for those end of summer nights then pair it with this wine. You are guaranteed for a satisfying evening with that pair! Lianna
2022 Guerila, Pinella
If you're looking for a crisp, fresh, delicious white wine look no further. This Pinella made by Guerila from the Vipavska Dolina region of Slovenia is the exact wine you need to round out your summer! With a crispness from the stainless steel it's aged in, this biodynamically cultivated wine has notes of green apple, honey and minerals. It would be perfectly paired with any array of mild cheeses and cured meats for those ideal summer sunset picnics, or even would be great with a nice citrusy shrimp scampi! Grab this bottle and create a pairing worthy of its bold flavors or enjoy it on its own you won't go wrong either way! Lianna
Collector Wines
2024 Sainte-Magdeleine, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, & Cinsault
Drinking a glass of this beautiful 2024 Rosé by Sainte-Magdeleine makes me long for the Provençal coastline and a swim in the Mediterranean. With flavors that are reminiscent of the floral air and salty sea of the area in which this wine is made you are basically transported there with every sip! And how lucky are you that that is your truth!? Enjoy this wine with a Niçoise salad, bouillabaisse or some ratatouille to really take yourself to the French Mediterranean and enjoy the finer things in life, as the French do! À votre santé! Lianna
2023 Tipsy Rose Syrah
This 100% Syrah from Wild Diamond Vineyard in Lake County, and it is one of my favorites from the 2023 vintage. I love the volcanic soils of this vineyard because their low nutrient stresses the vines and gives them character. In that way, I suppose, vines are a lot like people, the challenges give us more character and makes us stronger!
I picked this fruit at 23 Brix, hoping to preserve the acidity. I love Syrah, but it is important to maintain the acidity or it will come off as a fruit bomb without balance. All that flavor is great, but without the bright acid to counter that fruit, the wine would be exhausting like a one-sided conversation with someone who never takes a breath or asks a question! As sugar levels (measured in Brix) goes up, acids go down and Ph goes up. Finding that balance when you pick is one of the hardest parts of this whole endeavor. Seeking that Goldilocks of all elements!
I don’t know if I have found that, you will have to be the judge. That said, I was happy with my Syrah last year. I love the brambly fruit of the grape and the smokey, earthiness along with the grapefruit and blood orange, all of which makes it so ideally suited for grilling. Yes, I know, there are a few Rhone varietals on the August list, but what can I say, they are ideal for this time of year. Grilling calls for full flavor, but summer warmth requires a lighter bodied wine, and Rhone varietals are exactly that! So get that grilled fired up & enjoy this with those lamb kebabs!
