Wine Down Thursday: Spring Fever
February 19, from 6 to 7:30pm
Sampler: $20/person

Did someone say 50° weather?! Time to toast this teasing taste of spring with three extraordinary wines. Come along as we travel the country—from the misty hills of Oregon, to the “Hart” of Michigan, and finally to the golden slopes of the Sierra Foothills. This week’s lineup features the 2022 Shiba Wichern Auxerrois from Havlin Vineyard, 2024 Wine Pirati Mariana, and 2023 Frenchtown Farms Meadowlark. Each winemaker stays rooted in tradition while spinning their own bold, distinctive style—proof that innovation and craftsmanship make the perfect blend.

Featured Wines:
2022 Shiba Wichern Havlin Auxerrois
Akiko Shiba, the soulful force behind Shiba Wichern, crafts wines that breathe the quiet poetry of Oregon’s hillsides. Her Auxerrois from Havlin Vineyard embodies both reverence for tradition and her guiding belief that “no detail is too small.” Each vintage, shaped by the rhythms of its own season, tells a slightly different story—an honest reflection of time and place. The 2022 Auxerrois lingers with the golden glow of dried apricot and the delicate fragrance of white peach, its 13 months in acacia lending a subtle whisper of spice and a graceful, savory finish that feels as serene as the landscape itself.

2024 Wine Pirati Mariana
Elise and Mimmo Musumeci, the dynamic duo behind the Wine Pirati project, are dedicated to crafting wines that honor West Michigan’s history and authenticity. The couple champions native yeast fermentation, with nothing added and nothing taken away. Mariana—named for the deepest trench in the ocean—is a deeply aromatic and intriguing blend of 60% Petite Pearl, 30% Riesling, and 10% other varieties. It celebrates the purity of both the grapes and the land they come from. This layered sparkling wine evokes fresh bramble and wild blackberries, carrying the tantalizing promise of spring.

2023 Frenchtown Farms Meadowlark
The husband-and-wife duo behind Frenchtown Farms channel the beauty of their landscape into terroir-driven, effortlessly drinkable wines. Tucked away in the tiny North Yuba AVA at the base of the Sierra Foothills, each wine is crafted with intention and heart. Aaron and Cara Mockrish once dreamed of starting a small farm in the Sierra Foothills—until one bottle of Clos Saron Black Pearl changed their course. They began learning under Gideon Beinstock, the producer of Clos Saron, and soon discovered that winemaking was their true calling. Frenchtown Farms may have started as an ode to Clos Saron, but Cara and Aaron quickly developed a voice all their own—distinctive, vibrant, and deeply expressive. The Meadowlark blends 40% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Petit Verdot, sourced entirely from the Naggiar Vineyard at 1,200 feet of elevation. Gorgeous black fruit is complemented by subtle herbaceous notes and lifted by a bright, singing acidity.