For this summer wine list, I have selected 20 exceptional wines from smaller, family-owned producers. Each bottle offers a distinctive sense of place, shaped by its terroir, growing conditions, and the story behind the winery. The list opens with the only larger family-owned producer included here, Champagne Taittinger, whose timely FIFA World Cup 2026 edition cuvée makes a fitting start.
Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne FIFA World Cup 2026 edition ($55)
An exciting energetic Champagne with aromas of citrus, honey and brioche, Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne FIFA World Cup 2026 edition ($55) is a blend of four different vintage years with grapes sourced from forty vineyards. The cuvée has a refined character due to the large proportion of Chardonnay in the blend, for which Taittinger is known. The Brut Reserve is aged on its lees a minimum of three years in the maison’s iconic crayères, the UNESCO Heritage Site chalk quarries. Taittinger was the official Champagne sponsor of the World Cup, and fourth-generation Clovis Taittinger toured the World Cup venues presenting his family’s Champagne this July.
Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé ($35)
From the Pouilly Fuissé appellation in the Mâconnais just south of the Burgundy region, Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé ($35) shows lovely citrusy fruit flavors with hints of toasted nuts. It’s made from 100% Chardonnay with a judicious use of oak—i.e. it’s not oaky. I tasted through the Louis Jadot portfolio with young winemaker, Frédéric Barnier and was especially taken with the personality of this Pouilly-Fuissé, which is a good aperitif wine with hors d’oeuvres.
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis “Sainte Claire” ($33)
Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis “Sainte Claire” ($33) is from a single vineyard with thirty-year-old vines grown in Kimmeridgian soil–the best quality Chablis soil to produce exceptional wines with distinctive minerality. With lovely tropical fruit aromas and apricot and clementine notes, this 100% Chardonnay, fermented with indigenous yeasts, from Burgundy’s Chablis appellation has with a bright citrusy finish and only 12.5% alcohol, which makes it light and refreshing.
Far Mountain Myrna Chardonnay 2022 ($50)
Hailing from the Moon Mountain District of Sonoma, Far Mountain Myrna Chardonnay 2022 ($50) is highly expressive with lovely white floral aromas and hints of mint, chalk, and flint on the finish. With its Chardonnay grapes dry-farmed in the rugged terrain of the Mayacamas mountains, “Myrna’s” fruit shows purity, precision and intense minerality which reflects its extraordinary terroir. Winemaker Rodrigo Soto is one of the leading biodynamic practitioners, who worked in Chile before starting Far Mountain with his wife Mai Errazuriz.
Loimer Gluegglich Rosé ($24)
Made from mostly the Austrian grape Zweigelt, along with St. Laurant and Pinot Noir, Loimer Gluegglich Rosé ($24) possesses a unique bouquet of violets, apple, cherry, and blackberry along with refreshing acidity. The Loimer winery in Austria follows the biodynamic principles and agricultural calendar of Rudolf Steiner, and the rosé is made with spontaneous fermentation and bottled with no fining or filtering and at low alcohol at 10.5%. I found this dark pink Austrian rosé full of personality and was amused by the pairing recommendations: “Serve with French cuisine, fruit tarts and cookies.”
The Hilt 2023 Estate Chardonnay ($50)
The Hilt 2023 Estate Chardonnay ($50) has an eye-opening flavor with generous fruit notes (peach, nectarine, mango) along with hints of vanilla and a sea salt minerality. Located in the Sta. Rita Hills Valley AVA in Santa Barbara County, the Hilt Estate sits thirteen unobstructed miles from the ocean. The cold maritime climate with its whipping winds, especially in the northern facing vineyards, creates challenging conditions for the grape vines, causing them to extend their roots deep into the soil to find nutrients to survive. Talented winemaker Matt Dees makes extraordinary wines from these struggling vines.
Enrico Serafino Oudeis Alta Langa DOC ($37)
Made from 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay, Enrico Serafino Oudeis Alta Langa DOC ($37) is an elegant and complex sparkling wines from Italy’s Alta Langa DOCG, a high-elevation appellation in the southern part of Piedmont. The region is celebrated for its méthode Champenoise or traditional-method sparkling wine. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, “Oudeis” is aged a minimum of three years on its lees bringing refinement and fine bubbles. The historic family-owned winery, Erico Serafino has been at the forefront of traditional-method sparkling wine production in Piedmont since the late 19th century cultivating their grapes on steep, challenging hillsides.
Bouchaine 2024 Alsatian Blend ($50)
With grapes grown at the 100-acre estate vineyard in Carneros in Napa Valley’s southern border overlooking the San Francisco Bay, Bouchaine 2024 Alsatian Blend ($50) combines “mineral driven Pinot Gris, floral Gewurztraminer, plush Pinot Blanc and linear Riesling,” as winemaker Chris Kajani describes, telling me this new wine is very small production at 450 cases. Her vinification method is interesting and experimental: the Pinot Blanc goes into a concrete egg, the Riesling and Gewurztraminer into amphora, and the Pinot Blanc into neutral oak barrels—all these Alsace grapes create a delicious vivid flavor. Alsatian food is the ideal match, think choucroute, tarte flambé and coq au Riesling.
Neverstill Chenin Blanc 2024 ($35)
With tropical notes aromas of honeydew melon and passionfruit, Neverstill Chenin Blanc 2024 ($35) is crisp and taut on the palate with a grapefruit on its finish. Founder of Neverstill, a small production house, Christy Counts sources her cool-climate grapes at a Finger Lakes estate on western Seneca Lake and is committed to showcasing upstate New York terroir. This refreshing Chenin Blanc has lower alcohol at 11.8% and very little residual sugar. Only 140 cases were produced.
Chateau Minuty Rose Et Or ($37)
From Côtes de Provence located on the Saint-Tropez Peninsula, Chateau Minuty Rose Et Or ($37) is a splendid cuvée. Made from the classic Provencal grape blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Rolle grown at Chateau Minuty’s three historic terroirs, “Rose Et Or” has an irresistible flavor of citrus and wild herbs and a refreshing saline finish. This cuvée has been a favorite of mine for decades. Pairing suggestions: oysters, Madagascar prawns, and Bouillabaisse.
Garofoli “Aelya” Verdicchio di Matelica DOC ($21)
Working with a grape grower in the Esino River valley of the Apennines in central Italy’s Marche region, the Garofoli Family has just released their new delightful Garofoli “Aelya” Verdicchio di Matelica DOC ($21) which has a different personality than the Jesi region Verdicchio that they’ve been making for generations. Aelya is the Roman word for sunshine encompassing femininity and warmth, and this Verdicchio is bright, welcoming, and well-priced, thanks to Dalla Terra, the importer of small Italian family-run brands.
Idlewild Flora & Fauna White ($30)
Idlewild Flora & Fauna White ($30) has intense floral (orange blossom) and citrus aromas with a distinctive wet stone minerality. Owned by David Drummond and farmed by Sam Bilboa, Idlewild is unique in that the vineyards in the hills of Sonoma and Mendocino County are planted to a wild spectrum of 40 different Northern Italian varieties. Grapes are stomped by foot. Idlewild also makes an excellent medium bodied Nebbiolo from its Lost Hill Ranch Vineyard in Yorkville Highlands.
Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay ($43)
With grapes grown in the Caneros region of Sonoma County, a cool area with maritime winds blowing in from the San Pablo Bay, Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay ($43) has mouthwatering spiced pear, mandarin and nectarine notes, bright acidity, and a creamy layered texture. With its first single vineyard Chardonnay made in 1974, Chateau St. Jean, part of the prestigious Foley Family of Wines, is clearly the expert in producing elegant and intensely aromatic Chardonnay from its cool-climate grapes. The winery’s pairing suggestions are also elegantly upper crust: Asian pair salad, halibut and lemon beurre blanc, toasted almond cake.
Tenuta Tascante’s 2025 Buonora Etna DOC ($32)
Made from 100% Carricante, a white indigenous Sicilian grape, Tenuta Tascante’s 2025 Buonora Etna DOC ($32) has characteristic complex fruity and savory flavors along with strong minerality, which derives from the grapes grown in volcanic soil– and in this case on the northern slopes of the Mount Etna volcano. The Italian expression buon’ora, means the “good hour” or daybreak. The Tasca D’Almerita family owns Tenuta Tascante and four other beautiful estates and has been making great wines in Sicily for eight generations.
Miguel Torres la Causa Pais 2024 ($24)
From the from Itata Valley, a cool-climate wine region in the southern end of Chile, Miguel Torres la Causa Pais 2024 ($24) is made from an indigenous variety País, sourced from vineyards with dry-farmed bush vines that are more than 100 years old. Structured and possessing typical rustic tannins that come from heritage vines, it has intense aromas of wild red berries and herbs and an extremely long finish.
Domaine de Vernus Morgon 2021 ($25)
Domaine de Vernus Morgon 2021 ($25), a 100% Gamay red wine from Beaujolais, has a beguiling bouquet of ripe cherries with an overlay of smokey notes. Located in the prestigious Morgon cru village, Domaine de Vernus has 65 years ago vines, which brings beautiful concentration to its wines. Winemaker Guillaume Rouget, whose family has an estate in Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits, brings Burgundy knowhow to his wines; he learned from his father Emmanuel Roget and his famous great uncle Henri Jayer. With more than 300 soil types, the Beaujolais region has been awarded the UNESCO Global Geopark label for its remarkable geological history.
Manor Estate NV Brut Sparkling ($25)
From the McClaren Vale region near Adelaide in South Australia, Manor Estate NV Brut Sparkling ($25) has subtle flavors of apple, pear and citrus, is dry and refreshing and possesses persistent bubbles. Though made in Charmat method, it has the finesse of a sparkling wine that has been aged. Vintner and founder of Manor Estate Wines, Peter Cap, who produces a series called Wine Secrets, is known in Australia for his sparkling wines, which have recently been imported to the US. Wine Enthusiast has already singled out this brut sparkler. Pair it with “shrimp on the barbie.”
PARAGRAPH ($38)
PARAGRAPH ($38) is a new alcohol-removed wine made from Tempranillo sourced from high-altitude Castilla vineyards with 30-to-50-year-old vines under the guidance of Familia Muga, one of Spain’s most revered producers. Made in partnership with founder Steve Arora, an American wine enthusiast, Duncan Shouler—the former chief winemaker at Giesen where he pioneered a successful 0% Sauvignon Blanc—and Muga, this 100% Spanish Tempranillo is dry and low in sugar (1g/100ml).
NEOMO Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 ($50)
A blend of organic grapes sourced in Napa Valley’s Calistoga and Rutherford AVAs, NEOMO Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 ($50) is vibrant with blackberry, cassis and dark cherry flavors and notes of spice and cigar box on the finish. The year 2023 was an excellent vintage in Napa Valley and also the debut vintage of NEOMO, made in collaboration between Jess Giacomelli—winemaker for Beckstoffer Vineyards in Rutherford and Copper Bear Wines—and Evan Abrams, a celebrated New York-based sommelier. This reasonable-priced Cab has a fresh uplift and works perfectly with summer BBQ.
BloodRoot Pétillant Naturel 2023 ($48)
Composed of 100% Trousseau Gris –a grape variety most associated with France’s Jura region, BloodRoot Pétillant Naturel 2023 ($48) from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma has inviting aromas of white peach and honeysuckle with a limestone minerality. It’s a delightful, refreshing lightly sparkling pét-nat made in the ancestral method, involving putting still fermenting wine into the bottle, sealing it under crown cap to trap the carbon dioxide and create bubbles, and releasing it nonfiltered. BloodRoot is a wine brand conceived by Noah and Kelly Dorrance of Reeve Wines in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley.
