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The Spirited Gourmet's Fall Grand Tasting

This is the big one! Our largest wine tasting event of the year and one we look forward to all season.

We’re bringing together 6 incredible wine portfolios, 6 tables and 30 wines for one very special evening. Each table will feature five hand selected wines that we think deserve a place at your table this fall and into the holiday season. John, our Wine Director, has been working on this lineup for months, tasting, comparing and curating a collection that we are incredibly excited to finally share with you.

And because great wine deserves great cheese, we’ll also be pairing artisan cheeses throughout the tasting, with plenty of ideas for holiday entertaining, gifting and those long evenings around the table.

Come early, take your time, visit all six tables and find a few new favorites. 30 wines. Artisan cheese pairings. 6 incredible wine portfolio. And, as always, free, friendly and open to the public.

It’s our most anticipated wine event of the year and one of our favorite nights at the shop.

Come ready for a full evening. We can’t wait to share it with you.

FGT 2026 T1

Philippe Raimbault Pouilly-Fume - 750ml, 2023

Anne Amie Muller Thurgau - 750ml, 2025

Anne Amie Pinot Noir - 750ml, 2024

Santome Merlot/Raboso - 750ml, 2024

Matthieu Barret Cotes du Rhone - 750ml, 2024

FGT 2026 T2

Vajra Della Neve Sparkling Rosé - 750ml, NV

Vajra's NV Extra Brut Rosé N.S. Della Neve is incredibly characterful, sizzling out of the glass with leather, mesquite smoke, blackberry and white pepper. A blend of 50% Nebbiolo and 50% Pinot Noir, the structure of the former comes through loud and clear through bright acids and firm, powdery tannins. Sour berry fruit and mentholated herbs meet with salty stoniness in the mouth, elevated by a lively, fine mousse.

Hermann Ludes Mosel Riesling - 750ml, 2025

The “Hermann” – named after both the founder as well as his first-born son, the current proprietor along with his nephew Julian – is the “basic” wine. This is a curvier, lighter and more ephemeral-feeling wine – as if you don’t really even have to drink it, as if it will just saturate and then evaporate, leaving a pleasing sorta wine-tingle. The wine is layered, complex, richly textural… just sort of so-integrated that picking out the single layers is impossible. The wine smells of the perfume of fermentation, pears, quince, spice, flowers and rocks with a rustic spritzy energy. Just essential deliciousness.

Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat - 750ml, 2024

The Camins del Priorat is a regional blend produced with a slightly different blend each year, depending on the character of the year. A blend of Garnacha, Cariñena, Syrah, as well as small amounts of other grapes, this shows warm mulberry, plum and lingonberry fruit flavors and aromatics of cinnamon and dried lavender and sage, plus sweet paprika, graphite, mineral and cocoa powder accents. The expressive profile is aligned with fine, chalky tannins and bright, palate-cleansing acidity. Stylish and appealing, with good length through the finish.

Podere le Ripi Rosso di Montalcino - 750ml, 2022

Sogni e Follia, meaning "Dreams and Madness," is a testament to Sebastian’s innovative and passionate and uniquely wild approach to winemaking at Podere le Ripi. The vineyards are farmed biodynamically, with high-density planting on limestone soil. Sebastian’s philosophy revolves around respecting natural processes, using no chemicals and encouraging spontaneous fermentations. On the nose, it presents aromas of red cherries and subtle earthy notes. The palate reveals flavors of ripe red fruits, balanced by a touch of spice and a hint of minerality.

Domaine J.L. Chave Cotes du Rhone - 750ml, 2024

The Chave name needs no introduction. Jean-Louis and his wife Erin also make top notch negoce wines that they source from exceptional growers. It helps to be in the know! This blend of Grenache and Syrah has long been one of the best buys in Rhone wine.

FGT 2026 T3

Benanti Etna Bianco - 750ml, 2024

Carricante 100%, Etna’s noble autochthonous white grape variety. The wine has a pale yellow color, with bright greenish tints. The nose is intense and delicate with hints of apple. The palate is dry and mineral with pleasant acidity and salinity, persistent and harmonious. Light as a feather but full-flavored, this wine rocks!

Manincor der Keil Vernatsch - 750ml, 2023

From one of Alto Adige’s benchmark biodynamic estates, the 2023 Manincor “Keil” is a stunning and elegant expression of single-vineyard Vernatsch. The nose is wonderfully aromatic, with delicate notes of wild strawberry, sour cherry, and rose petal, accented by a hint of white pepper and crushed stone. On the palate, it’s light-bodied, fresh, and silky, with gentle tannins and a bright, mouthwatering acidity that makes it incredibly refreshing. The finish is clean, persistent, and savory.

Manincor la Contessa - 750ml, 2023

From one of Alto Adige’s most celebrated biodynamic estates, the 2023 Manincor “La Contessa” is a stunning and elegant expression of the classic Terlaner blend. A cuvée of Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, this wine showcases incredible purity and alpine freshness. The nose is bright and aromatic, with notes of crisp green apple, white peach, and chamomile, layered with hints of fresh mint and a distinct, stony minerality. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and beautifully textured, with a vibrant, energetic acidity that frames the pristine orchard fruit flavors. The finish is long, clean, and resonant, echoing with a saline, stony quality.

Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano 750ml, 2022

Named after the historic Medici property known as "Barco Reale" - meaning Royal Property - which was established in 1626. Today Sangiovese, Cabernet and Canaiolo grow in this ancient area that was a hunting preserve surrounded by walls over 30 miles long. Dusty and floral, this opens in the glass with a pretty blend of autumnal spices, cedar shavings, Tuscan dust and dried strawberries. It sweeps across the palate with ease, soft-textured and supple, while mineral-tinged red berry fruits slowly saturate toward the close. A web of fine tannins frames the experience as the wine finishes with hints of orange citrus and a tart cherry twang.

Fortemasso Barolo - 750ml, 2021

The desire to produce great wines in the renowned Langhe region led the Gussalli Beretta family to acquire, in 2013, a five-hectare property planted with Nebbiolo in the municipality of Monforte d’Alba in the Barolo DOCG area. Their project, the Fortemasso winery, is carried forward by a young, motivated team and guided by a clear production philosophy: expressing the contemporary soul of Barolo with wines that are elegant, flavorful and surprisingly fresh. Floral notes of rose and hints of cherry on the nose; harmonious palate with a savory finish. A fresh and versatile Barolo, perfectly interpreting Fortemasso’s conception of the Monforte zone.

Benanti Etna Rosso - 750ml, 2022

The Benanti Etna Rosso wafts up with a perfumed blend of rosy florals and hints of juniper berry. This is vividly fruit-focused, with a wave of ripe wild berries and sweet spices that flow across a stream of brisk acidity. It leaves a staining of primary concentration and mildly grippy tannins to resonate as violet inner florals slowly fade. While more extroverted than expected, this is a total pleasure to taste and maintains fantastic balance.

FGT 2026 T4

Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut - 750ml

Fine and seamless, with mouthwatering acidity well-meshed with a rich range of crème de cassis, poached apricot, gingerbread and almond extract flavors, plus accents of fleur de sel, Meyer lemon peel and star anise. Long and lively on the creamy finish.

Flowers Chardonnay - 750ml, 2022

This native-yeast-fermented Chardonnay is a swirl of golden sunshine in the glass, with aromas of tangy tangerine, orange blossom and sweet cinnamon on the nose. Bright and balanced, the palate has lovely precision and freshness. Rated 95 Points Wine Enthusiast.

Planet Oregon White Field Blend - 750ml, 2025

This wine is something new from the good people at Soter Vineyards. Eight grape varieties. Three Willamette Valley vineyards. All organically farmed. Totally delicious. The heart of the blend is Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc which create a bright, berry-toned foundation with floral lift. Grüner Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, Madeleine Angevine, Madeleine Sylvaner, and Siegerrebe all combine to flesh out the wine and give it richness and depth. Warm, bright, a little wild. Lush and layered on the palate with a crispness at the finish that pulls you right back in.

Failla Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - 750ml, 2023

Sweet spices, rose petal, mint and succulent cherry/plum notes all lift from the glass. Supple and beautifully layered throughout, the Sonoma Coast hits all the right notes. A final burst of fruit rushes across the palate on the refreshing, inviting wine.

Chevalier des Lascombes / Margaux - 750ml, 2022

The second wine of Château Lascombes, the 2022 Chevalier de Lascombes is beautifully textured and medium-bodied, offering bright cassis and darker, almost blue fruits, alongside spicy floral nuances. It has an elegant mouthfeel and a great finish.

FGT 2026 T5

Patricia Green Sauvignon Blanc - 750ml, 2025

This has high-toned and heavily fruited aromatics with a distinct limey/citrus tinge along with the hint of straw and minerals which is what ripe Sauvignon Blanc should have as its varietal typicity. The strength of the aromatics resounds in the glass as the wine is deeply fruited with citrus notes at the entry giving way to tropical fruit with extremely crisp acidity on the finish while still having enough palate weight that there is length and complexity.

Christophe Patrice Chablis - 750ml, 2024

This relatively young estate, founded in just 2011, is making prototype Chablis from their 30 hectares of vines. This one sees no oak and showcases the bright and mineralic side of Chardonnay. Look for notes of ripe citrus, green apple, flowers, and flinty minerality.

Day Vin de Days Rouge - 750ml, 2023

Crunchy, bright red fruit profile with high-toned aromas of red and black cherry, cran-raspberry and lavender. The palate is brambly, earthy and wild, with blackcap raspberries, clean mulch, black plum and sweet thyme drifting up from the glass.

Frasca Barbera d'Asti - 750ml, 2022

Nestled among the hills of Nizza Monferrato, Frasca produces their wines with a specific passion for combining elegance and a respect for tradition. The Frasca Family’s deep affection for Piemonte and its renowned wines fueled their decision to return to Italy, driven by the aspiration to craft elegant, terroir-driven wines in Nizza Monferrato. Their Barbera is produced without any oak aging to preserve the wine's natural fresh character and snappy red fruit notes. Bouquet rich in fruit, especially plums and cherries with hints of violet, cinnamon, cocoa and leather. In the mouth enveloping, dense, rich in soft but well-structured tannins; with the typical fine acidity of Barbera.

JB Neufeld Red Wine - 750ml, 2023

JB Neufeld has quietly become one of Washington’s most focused voices for site-specific Cabernet—and in Yakima Red, they bottle a broader vision of the valley. This is a Bordeaux inspired red blend where the nose is immediately expressive, offering aromas of blueberry, boysenberry, black cherry, and ripe plum layered with violet, lavender, crushed black stone, and dried herbs. Flavors of blackberry, black raspberry, and red currant unfold alongside notes of fresh mint, thyme, white pepper, cocoa, and graphite. The tannins are fine-grained and well integrated, supported by lively acidity that carries the wine through a long, savory finish marked by lingering black fruit, dried herbs, and mineral spice.

FGT 2026 T6

l'Austral Saumur Blanc - 750ml, 2023

In the heart of Puy-Notre-Dame, Saumur, L’Austral has brought a new perspective with Australian influence to Loire Valley wines. Pauline Mourrain and Laurent Troubat took over Chateau Tour Grise when the prior owners were looking to retire. Their "Octopus" Saumur Blanc is made from 100% Chenin Blanc and shows very pure, developing notes of pear, white flowers, and fresh lemon. The palate is lively, round, and fresh. Minerality carries the wine and makes it mouthwatering.

Stirm Calcite White - 750ml, 2025

The “Calcite” white blend is STiRM’s crisp, quaffable, everyday white that is infused with the distinctive minerality of the region’s soils. Named after the specific type of limestone found here, Calcite is a racy, mouthwatering blend made from several vineyard sites around San Benito County. This wine captures the unique terroir of warm days, cool nights, and mineral-rich earth that allow grapes to ripen fully while retaining vibrant freshness. It's completely dry, but generous with the fruit character, with flavors of ripe peaches and lemon zest and a texture a reminiscent of ocean water.

The Grenachista Rose - 750ml, 2025

This rosé has intense pink color shines with bright red glints, and aromas of raspberry and strawberry, touched by peppery notes. It’s an ode to the rosés of the Rhône valley village of Tavel, which are soaked on their skins for 24-48 hours, and are darker, deeper, and more complex than the Provençal style rosés. This gastronomic rosé is balanced and flavorful, with a long finish of caramel, and pairs with every part of the meal

Antoine Sunier Beaujolais Villages - 750ml, 2025

This cuvée is composed of grapes grown in Régnié plots of densely planted vines over 50 years old. Declassified to Beaujolais Villages to produce a serious, but juicy styled Gamay that will burst across the starting line in its youth and still age into a poised Cru-worthy wine after a few years in the bottle.

The Grenachista Red - 750ml, 2023

This Grenache Noir opens with a nose of strawberries and sour rhubarb that fades into red fruit and raspberries. A second nose of perfumey lavender and cracked white peppercorn and sweet jammy fruit is buoyed by bright acidity and soft supple tannins, for an easy-drinking red. The grapes are sourced from cooler-climate vineyards in the North Coast, in the northern reaches of the bay area, abundant in micro-climates, creating wines where sums are greater than the parts.

FGT 2026 Cheese T7

Cossanella / Alta Langa

Sweet, creamy and intense flavor with a toasted aroma. Written up in the NYT as one of Italy's best imported cheeses! A top seller here at The Spirited Gourmet, you just can't go wrong with this crowd pleasing wonder from Piedmont. Cow's Milk, Annatto Seed, and paprika make up this beautiful, soft ripened wheel.

Ossau Iraty / Onetik

Ossau Iraty has a distinctive appearance with a natural, brushed, and rustic rind. The interior of the cheese is firm and smooth, ranging from ivory to pale yellow. The flavor profile is rich and complex, featuring nutty, fruity, and sometimes floral notes.

Rupert / Woodlawn Creamery

Rupert is an Alpine-style cheese from Vermont made with raw cow's milk. Nutty, sweet, and salty, it's a highly versatile and accessible cheese that’s both sharp and sweet, with complexity and character that only increase over time.