Elena Walch, now joined by her daughters Julia and Karoline, is leading the Alto Adige quality revolution. The Walch family has been making exceptional wines in Nothern Italy for five generations and the results have never been better. The 2023 is so easy to drink, yet layered and nuanced. Orchard and citrus fruits, lemongrass, sage and a touch of mineral saltiness on the finish make this one of the best Pinot Grigios on our shelves.

Honig’s entire winemaking team is made up of women! The head winemaker, Ashley Egelhoff, previously worked at the lauded Joseph Phelps Vineyards and continues her track record of crafting exceptional Napa Valley wines from sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon. Despite the prime location of the estate in Rutherford, Honig still offers excellent Napa expressions at remarkably affordable prices. The 2023 boasts loads of fresh pomelo, honeydew melon, pear, lime, crushed rock, and bright gooseberry, with notes of magnolia wafting from the glass. Medium acidity keeps things fresh and light, playing off the rounded stone and orchard fruits. The result is a pleasingly soft texture. This is our go-to for an easy-drinking white that can satisfy any palate. Pair with almost anything from shellfish to summer salads to charcuterie- the choices are endless!   

Winemaking legend, Dr. Laura Catena, collaborated with Luis Reginato to make this incredible Argentine Chardonnay. Laura is a fourth-generation vintner, physician and author. She combines a formidable intellect with passionate winemaking and is often referred to as “the face of Argentine wine” for her role in promoting Mendoza and Argentine Malbec. This high-altitude chardonnay has an enticing bouquet of quince, cantaloupe and marzipan. Bright, lemony acidity on the palate gives way to subtle oak and merengue pie, leading to a lingering finish of mandarin orange and crushed gravel. This wine showcases some of the best qualities of cool climate chardonnay with New World ripeness, body and texture.   

Claire Mulholland, a native daughter of Central Otago, has amassed experience working in the world’s great pinot producing regions, including Oregon and Burgundy. The delicate nature of pinot noir paired with the intensity of fruit from Central Otago on New Zealand’s South Island allows her to bring her considerable winemaking chops to bear, creating a benchmark wine for the region and a truly world class expression of this beloved variety. Aromas of blue fruit, deep red berries, a slightly wild, gamey quality and a hint of driftwood make this medium bodied beauty an absolute delight. Better yet – the vineyard is owned by Chicago’s own Sauvage family!   

Elizabeth Vianna, one of the few Latina winemakers in Napa Valley, is at the helm of this stellar Stags Leap District property. She’s been making elegant, balanced, low intervention wines for 20 years, and this polished, plush cabernet is a prime example. It's full-bodied, putting Elizabeth’s signature style on display, oozing aromas of rich red plums, cassis, blackberries, and cedar. Well-integrated oak provides accents of vanilla and spice that linger on the long juicy finish. It is the definition of outstanding Napa cabernet.