Giampero Bea once told me “Bepi”, was like a second father to him and his influence in regards to maintaining traditions in their region as well as the classic varietals and wine making techniques were eternal. He was so adamant about their relationship that he asked me to move the photos of Giuseppe to be next to his wines as well. Never one to disappoint a great vigneron, we proceeded to re-arrange Italy so that Umbria would rest next to the Veneto on our shelves.This famly of Italian wine makers(which includes Bea and Radikon) is the main crux of what many of us compare to the “Gang of Four” in france, these are the people that changed our understanding of wine as industry and brought back our love for the art of the “vigneron”. That said, Quintarelli  did extend his domaine and was relentlessly experimental for a bit with more conventional winemaking but after combing the world  still felt that this type of production did not suite or compliment his terroir.My love for Quintarelli was also spawned by family, my late grandfather Sal revered the wines and gave me my first sips of Valpolicella and Amarone at Christmas dinners with his usual “Babe that’s what real wine tastse like.” affirmation. Lamb was our custom and these wines where the start of my palate at the ripe age of 9. My memory of these experiences has hepled me forge my love of wine and food as well and for all of that I thank you Bepi!

  Catherine & Dominique Derain have produced some or my favorite wines from Mercurey,so I thought I’d pop an 05 Saint-Aubin to see how the vintage is progressing, as it has seemed quite closed for a bit now but this wine has come around nicely.Very bright acid,tart red fruits and showing a good bit of tannin as you might expect of an 05.Stop in and grab one @ Terroir as we are currently the only purveyor of Derain wines on the west coast!

 This week’s recomandations:09 Sunier Regnie ,what can I say the vintage is pretty kick-ass in just about all forms of Beaujolais,If you have not heard of the appellation that’s OK come get to know it,by the glass or bring it home for$19

Julien Sunier has made wine in several countries(all of which have great surfing possibilities)and has settled down in the N.Rhone to produce some outstanding cru Beaujolais(Fleurie,Morgon and Regnie).This is our second vintage with the wines and they are stunning in 09 and showing some great development in the 08s which we still have a small stock of.

cheers!