K&L In-Store Tastings: Aussie Icons, Wine Club, Tasting 101

Greetings K&L friends!

The rosters are set for this weekend's in-store tastings, so please mark your calendars for an evening (or two) of fascinating and fun exploration with your fellow wine lovers and our K&L staff. Read below for more details on this week's themes.

In addition to our weekend tastings, we regularly host or participate in other Special Tasting Events and Dinners. Also, don't forget, you can always explore in more depth on K&L's On the Trail blog with buyer/winemaker interviews, special reports, and more—straight from the vineyards!

K&L Wine Club Members - join us on the first Thursday of each month to taste a selection from all 6 of our wine clubs and pick up your current club shipment. This event is complimentary for our wine club members and their guests!

Join us at K&L for a captivating evening of wine discovery and learning. This unique event seamlessly blends an informative Tasting 101 session with an exhilarating blind tasting challenge. As you taste, learn about winemaking techniques, wine terminologies, and try to identify the grape variety, region, and vintage—all happening simultaneously. Guided by our knowledgeable staff, this event is suitable for everyone—from beginners to seasoned wine lovers looking to refine their palates.

Guests are encouraged to arrive at the beginning of their selected hour to keep the tasting both mysterious and fun!

Join us to explore the exciting frontier of Australian winemaking. From classic Barossa Valley Shiraz to elegant cool-climate Pinot, the wines in our Saturday lineup epitomize the incredible talent on the Australian wine scene. Leave any preconceived notions at the door; the New Wave of Australian wine is fresh and thrilling.

“Ramo de Rosas" (bouquet of roses in Spanish) refers to the traditional practice of placing a bouquet of roses in the oven during agave roasting. This practice serves as an offering to the Virgin of the Rosary, the patron saint of Santiago Matatlan, recognized as the capital of mezcal production (Santiago Matatlan is located in Oaxaca). The "Ramo de Rosas" is double-distilled in small copper pots, a typical method in this region.

K&L is thrilled to be hosting an exclusive dinner with legendary New Zealand winemaker Helen Masters, the driving force behind Ata Rangi, New Zealand's most prestigious producer of Pinot Noir. Serving as winemaker since 2003, Helen has ushered this tiny Martinborough producer to global acclaim. In 2010 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir, along with Felton Road, was honored with the inaugural Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa, or 'Grand Cru of New Zealand,' the only two recipients of said honor.

Helen's dedication to excellence has earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious title of 'Winemaker of the Year' by Gourmet Traveler WINE in 2019. Beyond her accolades, Helen is an active member of the global wine community, working to promote New Zealand wines, sustainable viticulture practices, and women in wine.

Please join us for an intimate dinner where Helen will taste guests on a lineup of Ata Rangi vintages, as well as premiere their new line of acclaimed single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, which dinner guests will get first access to. This dinner is welcoming to fans of the estate, as well as those curious or interested in learning more about New Zealand Pinot Noir. We can’t think of a better person than Helen to bestow some New Zealand wisdom.

Tasting will feature the following wines:

• 2018 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough JS96, SK97
• 2019 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough JS98, DC97, VN97
• 2020 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough JS98, NV96, JR17/20, DC94
• 2020 Ata Rangi "McCrone Vineyard" Pinot Noir Martinborough JS97
• 2020 Ata Rangi "Kotinga Vineyard" Pinot Noir Martinborough JS96
• 2020 Ata Rangi "Masters Vineyard" Pinot Noir Martinborough JS97, DC95

Lineup subject to change. Tickets inclusive of dinner, tasting, & gratuity. Please specify any allergies or dietary restrictions when making your reservation. We cannot accommodate requests or changes submitted after 9/14.

A group of our favorite artisanal grower/producers will be flying in from France to present their wines exclusively to K&L guests. Producers include Aspasie, Coutelas, Alexandre Le Brun, Baron Fuente, Boulard Bauquaire, Damien Hugot, Franck Bonville, Petiau, and Derot-Delugny. This is a rare opportunity to engage with the people that grow the grapes and make the wine, and to learn more about their approach to Champagne. We will also have many of the big-name producers on hand to present their selections. From the big houses we will have representatives from Pol Roger, Laurent-Perrier, Billecart-Salmon, Moët & Chandon, Krug, Bollinger, Drappier and more. This is a perfect way to sample bubblies for the upcoming holiday season. For $150 per person plus tax, you will be able to sample more than 50 champagnes.