THE BIG RED YOU HAVEN’T MET YET & Italy You’ve Never Heard Of — plus Whites That Drink Like Reds

A Wine Club Allocation Built Around Your Feedback!

This month, I went back to something you told us you love: big, bold, full-bodied wines. From the feedback received from our members, one thing came through clearly: you love rich, powerful reds. So this month, instead of simply giving you another familiar Cabernet or big Spanish red, I went looking for wines that deliver the body, structure, richness and depth you enjoy—while introducing you to grapes, regions and wineries you may not have discovered before.

And because I wanted the whites to follow the same philosophy, we selected full-bodied, textured whites that can satisfy a red-wine drinker.

This month's philosophy:

You like big wines. Let me introduce you to some you haven't met yet, and if you have, then it’s worth revisiting. 

 YOUR WINE CLUB ALLOCATION

 2-Bottle MIXED MEMBERS

Your two bottles are:

Viticcio Toscana Rosso — Super TuscanPazo de Monterrey Godello

A perfect introduction to the theme: one bold, structured red and one rich, textured white that drinks more like a red.

 4-Bottle MEMBERS

Your allocation includes:

Pazo de Monterrey GodelloLa Caparanera AglianicoViticcio Toscana Rosso — Super TuscanClaudeval White Blend

This selection gives you both sides of this month's theme: big, structured reds + whites with serious body and texture.

RED PACK MEMBERS

Your allocation includes:

Viticcio Toscana Rosso — Super TuscanLa Caparanera AglianicoLyrarakis LiatikoBodegas y Viñedos Luna Beberide Mencía

This is “The Big Red You Haven’t Met Yet” collection.

Four different expressions of powerful, structured reds—spanning Tuscany, Southern Italy, Crete and Bierzo.

LA CAPARANERA AGLIANICO

Southern Italy | Aglianico

Often called “the Barolo of the South,” Aglianico is one of Italy's great indigenous red grapes. Expect dark cherry, blackberry, plum, herbs and spice, with firm tannins and lively acidity.

The goat on the label is a Cilentana Nera, a native black goat breed from the Cilento National Park in Campania. The name La Capranera literally means “the black goat” in Italian. The grapes for the wine are grown around the Capaccio-Paestum area, within the Cilento region, where these goats graze.

Even better, the goat is a symbol of the area's biodiversity. The Cilentana Nera breed was once close to extinction but has experienced a resurgence—paralleling the renewed attention being given to Campania's indigenous grape varieties.

“And that's exactly what makes this wine so special—it’s not just an Aglianico; it's a wine that represents the landscape it comes from.” 

Think: Cabernet structure + Italian acidity + dark, savory fruit.

It's a perfect example of a big red you may not have met yet.

Serve: 60–65°FPair with: Steak, braised beef, sausage, grilled meats and aged cheeses.

VITICCIO TOSCANA ROSSO

Tuscany | Sangiovese • Cabernet Sauvignon • Merlot

The rebel of Tuscany.The Super Tuscan movement is one of the most fascinating stories in modern Italian wine. Producers began experimenting with grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot alongside—or sometimes instead of—traditional Tuscan varieties. Some of these wines were so outside the existing rules that they initially had to be labeled simply vino da tavola, or “table wine.” Eventually, the wine world caught up.

Today, “Super Tuscan” isn't a formal classification. It's a nickname for wines that break from traditional Tuscan formulas to create something different.

Viticcio has been making wine in Greve in Chianti since 1964, and today farms vineyards across Chianti Classico and Maremma. The estate combines traditional Tuscan winemaking with a modern approach to the land and its vineyards.

This blend brings together:

Sangiovese → acidity, cherry & savory characterCabernet Sauvignon → dark fruit, tannin & structureMerlot → plum, roundness & richness

Think: Tuscany meets Bordeaux.

Serve: 60–65°FPair with: Steak, bistecca, burgers, braised meats, meat sauces and aged cheeses.

LYRARAKIS LIATIKO

Crete, Greece | Liatiko

One of the most fun wines in the collection. Greece has one of the world's oldest wine cultures, with wine playing an important role in ancient Greek society, trade, celebrations and mythology. And Crete takes that history even further, with evidence of winemaking on the island dating back thousands of years. Yet many American wine drinkers still know very little about Greek wine. That's exactly why I chose this bottle. 

Liatiko is an indigenous Cretan grape, and the Lyrarakis family has made it their mission to preserve and revive forgotten Cretan varieties.The winery was founded in 1966 by brothers Manolis and Sotiris Lyrarakis, and the family has played an important role in bringing indigenous grapes such as Liatiko, Dafni and Plyto back into the spotlight.This Liatiko shows dark cherry, wild berries, herbs and spice, with fresh acidity and silky tannins. If this is not part of your pack and you would like to try it, make sure to reach to the team to order you an extra bottle!

Think:

Pinot Noir meets Nebbiolo—with a Mediterranean soul.

Serve: 58–62°FPair with: Lamb, roasted pork, grilled vegetables, Mediterranean dishes and aged cheeses.

LUNA BEBERIDE MENCÍA

Bierzo, Spain | Mencía

Mencía is one of Spain's most exciting lesser-known grapes, particularly associated with the mountainous Bierzo region. Luna Beberide was founded in 1987, and the family has built its reputation around expressing the local character of Bierzo, particularly through Mencía and Godello. This fuller expression offers black cherry, blackberry, plum, violet, mineral notes and spice, with fresh acidity and silky tannins.

If this is not part of your pack and you would like to try it, make sure to reach to the team to order you an extra bottle!

Think: Syrah meets Cabernet—with a Spanish personality.

Serve: 58–62°FPair with: Steak, lamb, burgers, grilled meats, charcuterie and Spanish cheeses.

PAZO DE MONTERREY GODELLO

Monterrei, Galicia | Godello

A white for the red-wine drinker. Godello is one of Spain's great white varieties, producing wines with weight, texture and depth while retaining beautiful acidity. Pazo de Monterrey comes from the Monterrei region of Galicia, where vineyards sit at elevations of roughly 600–800 meters.

The winery's focus is on allowing Godello to express the character of the region rather than overwhelming it with oak.Expect pear, citrus, white fruit and floral notes, with a textured palate and refreshing acidity.

Think: White Burgundy meets Spanish minerality.

This is exactly what I mean by “Whites That Drink Like Reds.”

Serve: 48–54°FPair with: Roast chicken, pork, creamy dishes, richer fish and soft cheeses.

CLAUDEVAL WHITE BLEND

France | Chenin Blanc • Sauvignon Blanc • Grenache Blanc • Vermentino

Four grapes come together to create a white with far more texture and weight than your typical Sauvignon Blanc.

Chenin Blanc → structure & acidityGrenache Blanc → body & richnessVermentino → freshness & Mediterranean characterSauvignon Blanc → citrus & aromatic lift

Expect citrus, pear, stone fruit, herbs and mineral notes, with a richer, fuller palate.

Think:White Rhône meets richer Loire.

Another perfect example of a white designed to appeal to the red-wine drinker.

Serve: 50–55°FPair with: Roast chicken, pork, roasted vegetables, creamy sauces and cheese.

One last note

One of the most valuable pieces of feedback I received was a request for more educational content with every allocation. We want you to know why you're drinking the wine—not just what it tastes like. I hope you enjoy this information!

NEXT MONTH: VOLCANIC WINES!

Next month's Wine Club takes us to VOLCANIC WINES.

We're going to explore vineyards shaped by lava, ash, volcanic soils and ancient eruptions—and discover how some of the world's most dramatic landscapes create incredibly distinctive wines. Get ready to taste the volcano funk!

Until then… keep discovering and I hope you enjoy these selections!

Cheers! 

Mary

A note about the map: some feedback asked for maps. This is a CHATGPT generated MAP but I verified it as well for accuracy and is based on the wines we are having in the club in relation to their regions. I am no cartographer and neither good at maps so I think this is the best way to educate about the regions in relation to the wines and where they are located in the regions. If you prefer, I can just include regular maps of each region but i thought that might be too much so I was just trying to keep all in one for clarity and accessibility.