Wine Down Thursday: Zesty, Lively Whites
Thursday, January 29, from 6 to 7:30 PM
Sampler: $20 per person

When we talk about wines as being "refreshing," we're really talking about one thing: Acidity! Often called the "backbone" of wine, acidity is what brings a wine to life—giving it energy, vibrancy, and that mouth-watering appeal. For our Wine Down Thursday, we're leaning into the brightness with three wines that define the "high acid" style. We've selected bottles from three different regions: Austria's Wachau Valley, France's Loire Valley, and our very own backyard—Michigan's Old Mission Peninsula—to showcase how cool climates and specific soils can turn a white wine into a high-tension work of art. If you love wine that "zings" and leaves the palate feeling brand new, this is the tasting for you!

Featured Wines:
2022 Tegernseerhof Dürnstein Riesling Federspiel
Martin Mittelbach is a fifth-generation winegrower at Tegernseerhof, a winery which dates back to 1176. Grown on steep, stony river terraces, this wine is bone-dry and laser-focused. You'll find intense aromas of lime zest, white peach, and wet slate. The acidity here is crystalline and precise, providing a "nervy" energy that carries a long, saline finish. It's a sophisticated, intellectual white that perfectly captures the cool-climate power of Austrian Riesling.

2023 Domaine de L’Estang Coteaux du Giennois
If you love Sancerre, this should be your new favorite "secret" bottle. Located just north of Sancerre in the Loire Valley, the Coteaux du Giennois produces Sauvignon Blanc with incredible character and value. Bertrand Graillot uses organic farming and flinty soils to create a wine that is zesty and herbal, but with a surprising weight from extended time on the lees. Expect bright grapefruit and gooseberry notes backed by a distinct "gunflint" minerality and a punchy, refreshing finish.

2024 Stranger Wine Company Pinot Blanc
Local talent alert! Stranger Wine Company is producing some of the most exciting minimal-intervention wines in Michigan right now. This Pinot Blanc is sourced from the 1-acre Prairie School Vineyard, one of the best sites for Pinot Blanc in the state. While Pinot Blanc is known to be "softer," the 2024 retains beautiful, humming acidity thanks to the cool breezes of the Grand Traverse Bay. Fresh and bright on the nose, while the palate is rich and dry, it's the best of both worlds. A wonderful wine that demonstrates Michigan's ability to produce truly world-class wines.

Wine Down Thursday: Rediscovering Spain
Thursday, January 15, from 6 to 7:30 PM
Sampler: $20 per person

Spain is world-renowned for barrel-aged Tempranillo and Cava, but a quiet revolution is unfolding in the country's hidden corners. For our Wine Down Thursday, we're rediscovering Spain—through ancient vines reclaimed from obscurity, vineyards planted at breathtaking elevations untouched by modern convention, and winemakers who favor patience over intervention. From the northwestern plateaus of León near the Asturian mountains to the sun-drenched Mediterranean shores of Mallorca and the high-altitude slopes of Rioja Alta between 1,300 and 2,000 feet, these three bottles offer a masterclass in Spanish terroir and innovation. Join us and discover why these are the wines our staff can't stop pouring.

Featured Wines:
2024 Pardevalles Albarín
Pardevalles is known for reviving rare native grapes, especially Prieto Picudo and Albarín Blanco in Tierra de León. Albarín Blanco, an indigenous white from León, had almost disappeared before the estate committed to replanting and championing it over the past two decades. Today, Pardevalles farms significant holdings on high‑altitude, rocky alluvial soils between roughly 2,500 and 2,700 feet, which contribute to the wine’s freshness and tension. The 2024 Albarín offers lifted aromatics of lime zest, starfruit, yellow apple, and elderflower, layered with herbal notes and a subtle leesy, toasty nuance, while the palate is dry, with an earthy mineral streak that drives a long, precise finish

2024 Mesquida Mora Sincronia Negre
Bàrbara Mesquida Mora practices regenerative agriculture, interplanting her vineyards with fruit trees, medicinal plants, and cover crops. In 2007, she earned one of Spain's first Demeter biodynamic certifications. Founded in 2002 on a historic estate inherited from her mother, Bàrbara’s vineyards form a "mosaic" of varieties. For her Sincronía Negre, she masterfully blends native Mallorcan grapes—Callet, Fogoneu, and Mantonegro—with Syrah, Merlot, and Pinot Noir to craft an elegant, energetic wine showing fresh red fruit, wet earth, subtle gaminess, and Mediterranean herbs.

2023 Berta Valgañón Maturana Tinta
Berta Valgañón is a rising star in Rioja Alta, crafting wines from organic and regenerative estate vineyards, some with vines over 100 years old planted by her great-grandparents. This wine is 100% Maturana Tinta, a rare native variety with historic roots in Rioja that nearly vanished after the 19th-century phylloxera epidemic. Its revival gained momentum around 2007, driven by its talent for retaining fresh acidity amid rising temperatures. Berta ferments in concrete to preserve purity and vibrancy. Elegant tannins and bright acidity define this sophisticated, terroir-driven red, revealing a modern facet of Rioja.

New to plants? Not sure if you’re watering too much—or not enough? This beginner-friendly Plant parenthood 101 hosted by The Planted Life workshop is the perfect way to build your confidence and grow your plant skills. We’ll cover the essentials: lighting, watering, soil, and how to spot common issues. Then we’ll roll up our sleeves and mix up a custom potting blend before potting a houseplant to take home.

You’ll leave with:

• A new plant you’ve potted yourself

• A simple, no-fluff care guide

• Hands-on knowledge you can actually use

• And the confidence to bring new (or more!) plants into your space

PURCHASE TICKETS

Wine Down Thursday: Discovering Georgia
Thursday, January 8, from 6 to 7:30 PM
Sampler: $20 per person

What better way to kick off the 2026 tasting season than with a journey to the birthplace of wine — Georgia. This Wine Down Thursday tasting features three remarkable expressions that capture the heart and history of Georgian winemaking. Two wines hail from the famed Kakheti region, where the ancient qvevri tradition continues to shape wines of striking depth and texture. The third comes from Imereti, a cooler, western region known for its balanced freshness and nuanced complexity. Together, these bottles showcase indigenous varieties that define Georgia’s vinous soul: the aromatic and honeyed Kisi, the crisp and mineral Mtsvane, and the lively, fruit-driven Dzelshavi. Each wine tells a story of centuries-old craftsmanship, rugged landscapes, and unbroken tradition. This tasting is an invitation to discover wines that are both timeless and thrillingly contemporary—authentic expressions from the world’s first winemaking culture.

Featured Wines:
2019 Tchotiashvilli “Ilia’s 3rd Vintage” Kisi Mtsvane
2020 Tchotiashivili Kisi
2022 Archil Guniava Dzelshavi