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.