K&L Newsletter: Kick off Your New Year with a Taste of Italy

Italian wine offers something few wine cultures can: an unmatched combination of history, place, and everyday pleasure. From the sunlit hills of Tuscany to the fog-shrouded vineyards of Barolo, Italy’s greatest wines are rooted in native grapes, centuries of tradition, and a deep connection to food and local life. At the same time, Italy remains one of the world’s best sources of value, producing honest, character-driven wines that deliver far more quality than their price suggests. In this issue, we explore the power and prestige of Tuscany, the depth and longevity of Barolo, and the joy of discovering Italian wines that prove you don’t need to spend a fortune to drink beautifully.

• Critically Acclaimed Chianti Classico Under $20
• Discovery Series
• 2021 Brunello: A Return to Classicism
• Sassicaia 2022 + Conterno 2019 Monfortino Pre-Arrival
• Tignanello + Cervaro
• Raineri Direct Import Barolo
• Saturday Tasting (All Stores): Nebbiolo & the Hills That Made It

Few names in Tuscany embody the soul of Sangiovese like Fèlsina. From their benchmark Chianti Classico to the profound Riserva and legendary Rancia vineyard, this estate delivers wines that combine authenticity, elegance, and longevity in every vintage. The 2022 release once again proves why Fèlsina is considered a standard-bearer for Chianti Classico. Read More On the Trail

The K&L Discovery Series is a curated collection of wines selected by our expert buying team to spotlight what we believe are the hidden gems, overlooked vintages, and exceptional expressions worth discovering in today’s wine world. The aim of this exclusive collection is to showcase wines that are both quintessential and exemplary representations of their region and/or vintage— and are brought to life through labels designed to educate and inspire discovery. Each bottle in the series is the product of K&L’s 49 years of deep, trusted relationships with wineries and growers, crafted in collaboration with partners we know and respect. Each wine in this series must rise above its peers, often outperforming bottles at multiples of the price. Only those that meet this high bar make it into the lineup.

The 2021 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino is being celebrated as a radiant return to classicism, offering a vibrant energy and serious structure that distinguishes it from the opulent heat of recent years. These wines are marked by "al dente" fruit profiles—think crisp sour cherry and blood orange—supported by electric acidity and fine-grained, chalky tannins that promise exceptional longevity. Read More On the Trail

Sassicaia and Monfortino occupy a singular place in the history of Italian wine because they reshaped how the world understood Italy’s potential for greatness. Sassicaia, born in Bolgheri, shattered rigid appellation rules by proving that Cabernet-based wines from Tuscany could rival the finest Bordeaux, helping to launch the Super Tuscan movement and usher Italy into a modern, international era of fine wine. Monfortino, Giacomo Conterno’s legendary Barolo Riserva, represents the opposite but equally powerful force: an uncompromising commitment to tradition, terroir, and long aging, elevating Nebbiolo and Barolo to a benchmark of classical excellence. Together, Sassicaia and Monfortino define the dual soul of Italian wine—innovation alongside tradition—and established Italy as a country capable of producing wines of profound identity, longevity, and global significance.

Two of Antinori’s most important wines have arrived, each representing a defining expression of modern Italian winemaking. The 2023 Cervaro della Sala remains the reference point for ambitious Italian whites, combining precision, texture, and aging potential in a way few wines in the world can match. Alongside it, the 2022 Tignanello reasserts why this historic vineyard site continues to set the standard for Super Tuscan reds, delivering depth, balance, and unmistakable Tuscan character. Together, these releases capture the breadth of Antinori’s vision and the enduring relevance of two true benchmarks.

Perno is a fascinating cru in Monforte. It sits on a ridge that catches the wind, often producing wines that are more austere and “intellectual” than their neighbors. Raineri’s take is stunning. It opens with notes of wild mint, iron, and crushed rose petals. On the palate, it is tense and vertical, with fine-grained tannins that grip but don’t punish. This is Barolo for purists—elegant, savory, and precise. A wine that will evolve beautifully for decades. Read More On the Trail

Barolo’s history is shaped by a shared commitment to Nebbiolo grown on steep hillsides, long aging traditions, and the distinct identities of its communes, all codified when the region earned DOCG status in 1980 as one of Italy’s earliest protected appellations. The producers in this tasting reflect that lineage through vineyards rooted in sites like Bussia and Castelletto, areas long recognized for their calcareous soils and exposure, while approaches to fermentation, maceration length, and aging vessels reveal how Barolo has evolved since the 19th century without abandoning its foundations. Taken together, these wines trace how individual estates contribute to Barolo’s broader narrative, where geography, regulation, and generational continuity shape expression more than any single stylistic trend.

Wednesday, January 28^th – Dark Matter: A Stout Study (San Francisco & Redwood City)
Thursday, January 29^th – Jettywave: Crafted Along the California Coastline (Redwood City)
Thursday, January 29^th – Sylva: Non-Alcoholic Aged Spirits (Culver City)
Thursday, January 29^th – Bird Snapper Non-Alcoholic RTDs (San Francisco)
Thursday, January 29^th – The Wines of Anna Maria Abbona (Hollywood)
Friday, January 30^th – Sonoma County Tasting (All Stores)
Saturday, January 31^st – Casa Azul Tequila: Nature and Tradition (Culver City)
Saturday, January 31^st – Nebbiolo & the Hills That Made It (All Stores)
Sunday, February 1^st – Margarita-Focused Tasting with Real del Valle Tequila (Culver City)
Thursday, February 5^th – Wine Club Pickup (All Stores)
Friday, February 6^th – Burgundy (All Stores)
Saturday, February 7^th – Loco Tequila: Born of Heritage (Culver City)
Saturday, February 7^th – Northern Rhône (All Stores)
Saturday, February 7^th – Knob Creek with Garrison Hearst (San Francisco)
Sunday, February 8^th – Craft Spirits Cooperative: Flor De Luna Distillery (Culver City)
Sunday, February 8^th – Prohibition to Port Barrels: High West Whiskey (Redwood City)
Thursday, February 12^th – Blind Tastings at K&L! (All Stores)
Friday, February 13^th – Burgundy (All Stores)
Saturday, February 14^th – Rosé Champagne (All Stores)
Sunday, February 15^th – Bird Snapper Non-Alcoholic RTDs (San Francisco)
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 (All Stores)

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