K&L Newsletter: Our Buyer's Top Rhône Picks

Few wines in all my buying categories bring me as much joy as the humble Côtes du Rhône. From reds to whites, these wines offer some of the best daily drinking at prices that still defy the market. Each of the producers featured here are small, family-run estates, and what they put in the glass for the cost simply transcends everything else in the category. Many are certified sustainable and/or organic, emphasizing care in both vineyard and cellar.

While the reds are what the region is best known for, let’s not overlook the whites. Often round and richly textured, these wines show beautiful stone fruit aromas, making them perfect for food pairings while remaining approachable and balanced. So raise a glass to the humble Rhône and its remarkable ability to deliver joy in every sip.

• Rendezvous: Our Newest Private Label
• Mas de Sainte Croix: Authentic Valréas, Thoughtfully Crafted
• Domaine Benedetti: Southern Rhône Purity Since 1930
• Domaine de Verquière: Four Generations of Southern Rhône Charm
• Font de Courtedune: Old Vines, Whole Clusters, Pure Expression
• Raise that Glass
• Collectible Rhône Standouts

Welcome to "Rendez-Vous," our newest K&L private label. This latest addition to our lineup fulfills the promise K&L has always strived to deliver: exceptional quality wines that reflect the authenticity of their place, producer, and varieties - all at a price that makes sense.

This inaugural release comes from our longtime friends in the Southern Rhône, Dauvergne et Ranvier. While they farm excellent holdings throughout the region, this particular blend is sourced from the more prestigious Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation. A step above standard Côtes du Rhône, these higher-ranked sites produce fruit at lower yields, resulting in greater concentration and character. Read More On the Trail

In 2002, Jacques Coipel left the petrol industry to pursue wine, purchasing vineyards in the Côtes du Rhône Villages cru of Valréas. Set at roughly 1,200 feet on soils of clay, limestone, and gravel, the estate benefits from cooling northern winds that lend freshness and clarity to the wines. Reds show vibrant red fruit and lift, while the whites carry crisp orchard tones and natural energy.

Jacques’ son Julien trained in Switzerland and New Zealand, including time at Te Mata, before returning home in 2010. His lighter, more precise touch in the cellar focuses on purity and transparency. Together, father and son craft wines that clearly express the distinctive terroir of Valréas. Read More On the Trail

Founded in 1930 by Italian émigré Nicolas Benedetti, Domaine Benedetti has deep roots in the Southern Rhône. The estate transitioned to organic farming in 2000 and today encompasses 4 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 10 hectares in Côtes du Rhône. Now led by Christian Benedetti, the domaine is guided by a minimalist philosophy in the cellar, resulting in wines that emphasize purity, balance, and honest expression of place. Read More On the Trail

Passed down through four generations and now managed by Thibaut Chamfort, Domaine de Verquière has been certified organic since 2014. Their Côtes-du-Rhône, a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah grown on chalky clay soils dotted with large pebbles, is one of my favorite everyday reds from the South of France. Read More On the Trail

Directly next door to Château Rayas, the wines of Font de Courtedune remain one of the Southern Rhône’s best-kept secrets. Vigneron Caroline Charrier views herself as a steward of the land, farming gently and crafting her wines with whole-cluster fermentation and native yeasts to preserve purity and site expression. Read More On the Trail

From bright, approachable reds to charming, layered whites, these Côtes-du-Rhône wines showcase the diversity, quality, and value of this remarkable region. Family estates, old vines, and thoughtful vineyard practices come together in wines that deliver pleasure in every glass—proof that the Rhône can be both humble and extraordinary.

Thursday, February 19^th – Isle of Harris: Island Spirits (San Francisco)
Thursday, February 19^th – Public Trust Spirits: Montagave Tequila (Culver City)
Friday, February 20^th – Greece Wine Tasting (All Stores)
Saturday, February 21^st – Domestic (Napa) Wine Tasting (All Stores)
Saturday, February 21^st – KIN A-Peel Banana Liqueur (Culver City)
Sunday, February 22^nd – Ghia Non-Alcoholic Aperitifs & Cocktails (Culver City)
Wednesday, February 25^th – Experimental Pilsners (San Francisco & Redwood City)
Thursday, February 26^th – High West Whiskey (San Francisco)
Thursday, February 26^th – Matíari Tequila: A Story of Firsts (Culver City)
Friday, February 27^th – Italy: Wines of Tuscany Tasting (All Locations)
Saturday, February 28^th – Spain/Portugal Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Saturday, February 28^th – Saint Rhum: Drink Like a Sinner, Feel Like a Saint (Culver City)
Sunday, March 1^st – Vermouth: LAIE Vermut Tasting (San Francisco)
Thursday, March 5^th – Wine Club Tasting (All Locations)
Friday, March 6^th – Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Tasting (San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood)
Friday, March 6^th – Braida & Barbera: A Legacy That Changed Piedmont (Culver City)
Saturday, March 7^th – Craft Spirits Co-operative (Culver City)
Sunday, March 8^th – Saint Rhum: Drink Like a Sinner, Feel Like a Saint (Culver City)
Thursday, March 12^th – Blind Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Friday, March 13^th – Grower Champagne Tasting (All Locations)
Saturday, March 14^th – Bordeaux Tasting (All Locations)
Tuesday, March 17^th – Happy Hour Beer for St. Patrick's Day (San Francisco & Redwood City)
Thursday, March 19^th – Tablas Creek Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Friday, March 20^th – Islands of Italy: Sicily & Sardinia (All Locations)
Saturday, March 21^st – Loire Wine Tasting (All Locations)

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