Bodegas Parra Jiménez, located in the high-desert plateaus of La Mancha, is a pioneer in organic and biodynamic viticulture established by the Parra family in 1993. Since exporting their first certified organic wines in 1996, the family expanded the Cuesta Colorá estate into a self-sustaining ecosystem that now holds Sohiscert organic and Demeter biodynamic certifications for wine, garlic, and Manchego cheese. Winemaking is currently led by Pablo Parra, who joined in 2017 after studying at the University of Ribera del Duero and mentoring under Juan Antonio Ponce. Pablo has modernized the estate’s portfolio with innovative natural wine styles—including orange wines, pet-nats, and amphorae-aged selections—while maintaining the family's commitment to concentrated, well-structured expressions of their unique terroir. This easy-drinking red would be happy with a slight chill, and isn't the least bit fussy about pairing.

Plaisance Penavayre is a family run affair for over four generations, currently helmed by Marc Penavayre and his son Thibaut. Organic since 2011, the Penavayre family employs biodynamic practices in the vineyard and focuses on the local grape varieties of Fronton. This blend is largely composed negrette, the star of the region, with the balance being syrah and cabernet franc. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged in concrete tanks, bottled unfiltered, and unfined. "Le Rouge" bursts from the glass with loads of black pepper, violets, berries, and even some earthiness. Loads of pure brambly fruit here. There's some weight here but a slight chill would not be out of the question. Perfect for meat on the grill or some flavorful curried lentils, this is a wine that doesn't bite back all that hard so be careful not to gulp it down too quickly!

The brothers Sanz (Xabi, Iñaki & Mikel) of Vina Zorzal come from a successful winemaking family in Navarra, Spain. Their father & grandfather did quite well with Bodegas Correlana, which was a benchmark regional operation. But the brothers had a different vision for their winery, shifting the focus from commercial to artisanal. They take a low-intervention, environmentally friendly approach to viticulture, focusing on single vineyards and making wines that express the terroir of their 40 hectare corner of Navarra. Viña Zorzal grows plenty of garnacha (a staple grape for the region) but they made their name on this graciano. Medium-bodied with deep, dark cherry and raspberry fruit, fine tannins and a hint of earth and spice, it will pair up nicely with grilled veggies and meats, especially lamb but you could also do a classic manchego & chorizo combo or even some spicy pasta. Now we're hungry!

Domaine de l'Olivette has been in the same family for over 200 years, making it one of the oldest wine estates in Bandol (Provence). It began as a farmhouse surrounded by wheat fields, fruit orchards and olive groves and slowly transformed over time into a 50 hectare estate that made its definitive move into vine growing and winemaking around 1930. The land is located about 6 miles off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the town of Castellet where the vines adorn the restanques (ancient stone terraces) built into the hillsides. Current owner Jean-Luc Dumotier farms the vineyards organically and let's the terroir shine in the winemaking process. So fitting then that we're offering his "Terroirs" Rouge this month; a blend of grenache, mourvedre and syrah fermented and aged in stainless steel. This is a pure, red fruit-driven wine with notes of herbs and spices and soft tannins. Time to open the grill! This wine would love various meat and veg combinations on a warm spring day.

The Guy family has owned this vineyard since 1868, and Florence, the current owner, is the fifth generation. She took over the domaine from her father and converted the winery to organics in 2008. A new environmental balance gradually emerged in the 140-hectare property (including 50 ha of vineyards) with insects, butterflies, birds, vines, orchards, medicinal plants, fields, and scrublands, turning the Chateau Coujan into an oasis of biodiversity. Florence is in charge of a team that works very hard to manage all that land, including her daughter, and her boyfriend who is the chef de cave, as well as pruning and tractor driving teams. The property has a lot of wildlife, including as many as 70 peacocks, their mascot. "Les Terrasses" is a blend of hand-harvested, de-stemmed syrah, grenache, and pinot noir grown in clay and limestone soils. The art on the label should give you a cue on application for this wine. Don't think too hard about it.

"In harmony with nature, we want to create wines rich in character and typical of the region every year." This guiding principle has guided Albert Gesellmann for years. The conversion was completed with the 2015 vintage and the first certified organic wines went on sale. The focus here is on Burgenland's indigenous red varieties, zweigelt and blaufränkisch, showcased here in a fresh, vibrant style that is easy to love. "zb" is the German equivalent of "i.e.", meaning, for example, which is perfect, as this juicy red is exemplary of Gesellmann's style and makes a great point of entry into Austria's red wine heartland. March is baerlauchsuppe season, so go find some wild garlic and welcome the spring!

Las Pizarras is an exploration of the rugged landscape of Catalayud, in the heart of the Aragon countryside, and its patchwork of untrained bush vine garnacha. The name "Las Pizarras" refers to the slate soils, which can range from black to red to blue to white, depending on the parcel. While the goal at Las Pizarras is to articulate the different voices of garnacha, "Fabla #506" is a traditional blend named after the local Aragon language (and the number of the tank from which this wine was bottled). It's a classic Spanish countryside red, full of vim and vigor, best suited to manchego and jamon, and just as comfortable with pizza and burgers.

A quick glance at the entertaining Duckman website informs you that “The original João Pato ("Pato", the family name = Duck) lived between 1920 to 1984 and was reborn in 2018 as Duckman spirit. In truth, the winemaker here is Maria Pato, daughter of the esteemed winemaker Luis Pato, but her wines are far more experimental and wild in nature than those of her father. “Baga Duck” is a classic red that is unexpectedly light on its feet, clocking in at 12% abv. Some bright cherry fruit and a hint of funk, this is a versatile medium bodied red that has nice light tannins, good minerality, a wisp of smokiness and herbs. Have this one with a sausage or two or three.

Exquisitely fruity, silken textured, dry Spätburgunder from the sunny Pfalz. Hand-harvested from estate-owned sites composed of sandstone, muschelkalk and loess; tank-fermented and aged in large, neutral (3+yrs old) French oak barrels.

“Cono 4” is a wine we’ve been selling here at Streetcar here and there for nearly our entire existence and has always been an excellent value. Named after Don Primitivo Quiles who founded the winery in the early 20th century, the grape named primitivo is nowhere to be found on the property (look to Italy for that). Here the specialty is monastrell (more commonly known as mourvedre in the Rhone, and elsewhere) a grape that needs a lot of sun and heat which is plentiful in Alicante. Aged in giant “conos” aka huge conical oak tanks, this is a full bodied wine that is hoping to cozy up to a nice steak dinner. Nothing fancy here, but this is simply a delicious treat that is consistently enjoyable vintage after vintage.

Casa de Saima is a very old estate in Portugal’s Bairrada region, a couple hours north of Lisboa. Saima is really the story of Graça Maria da Silva Miranda. Graça’s husband produced a little bit of wine for consumption and minimal local sales, but he primarily sold his fruit to the co-op. When they split in the late 1980’s, Graça decided to bottle all of her own wine, making her one of the first women in Bairrada to do so. Sadly, Graça passed away in early 2022. Today, her son Diogo Silva and son-in-law Paulo Cêpa continue Graça’s work of honoring the ancient winemaking traditions. The most notable example of this is the treading of the hand-harvested fruit in stone lagares, where open-air fermentation with native yeasts occurs before the wine is transported to 100 year old casks for a year of aging. When we visited Graça in Portugal in 2020, she brought us for lunch to a local haunt where the menu began and ended with roasted pork.

Hailing originally from Schonberg in Germany, the Yung family fled their home in the early 19th century to escape the Napoleonic Wars. They settled in Algeria, and in 1859 the first Yung planted vines they would tend for the next hundred years, three generations honing their skill. In 1962, the family moved once again, this time to Bordeaux, where young Charles truly began his own journey in the vines.Now with 153 hectares of vineyards, the family has certainly amassed some significant know-how over their years in Bordeaux and North Africa. Their bottling from Château Haut-Mondain showcases quality that is practically silly at its price: truly classic claret from chalky clay hillsides in the Entre-Deux-Mers. Charles has now stepped into an advisory role, as his sons Jean Christophe and Rodolphe have taken over the management of the operation.

Is Lantignié the eleventh cru of Beaujolais? Perhaps not officially just yet, but a movement has been going on to elevate this distinctive terroir to cru status. One of Lantignié’s many champions is Cosima Bassouls, the young winemaker at Chateau des Vergers, whose family property dates back to 1604! The property is less than a kilometer from Morgon, sporting soils of schist and granite. Cosima is dedicated to organic viticulture, even going so far as to believing that farming organically should be required in order to qualify for the Lantignié designation. So it should come as no surprise that she farms using biodynamic principles, ferments using native yeast, and only uses minimal sulfur at bottling as needed. We think this dedication to the land shines through in this wine which may initially show a little funk, but let it breathe a bit, and the fruit will sing.

A very, very good cabernet.

50% Grenache and 50% Syrah; half of the grapes for the blend are de-classified Laudun Village and half are just outside the appellation.The terroir of Laudun distinguishes Pélaquié from other southern Rhône appellations. The wines from this side of the river typically have higher acidity, with soils made lighter by sand mixed with clay and limestone. The sandy soils and cooler microclimate are also extremely important for the cultivation of Syrah and Viognier, which produce their finest wines in the cooler regions of the northern Rhône, 50-70 miles to the north.

Varietals: Field Blend (Prokupac, Blaufrankisch, Zacinjak, Vranac, Crna tamjanika, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay Riesling)Appellation: Rogljevo-Rajac, Negotin Valley, Timok Region, SerbiaFarming: Practicing Organic: viticulture with no irrigation and no herbicide.Tasting Notes: Stara Kupaža is a deliciously drinkable red wine that contains 11 grape varieties. Thanks to the diverse blend, the wine displays a wide array of aromatics of red fruits, cherries, herbal notes and chocolate. On the palate, it is packed with dark fruit and richness, yet with a body that is so light on its feet and a pleasurable lift, thanks to the blend of red and white grapes together. A truly fantastic and enjoyable blend to mark this special region.Learn more about this unique wine here.

New importer San Pelayo Imports offers two sentences on the back label of this wine that are more compelling than anything we could come up with: "Valutille de Abajo is a village of 85 inhabitants that boasts fifteen wineries and over 400 hectares of centenary vineyards. It is in this village that the sister and brother team of Elena and Marcos 'Polo' Garcia Alba farm grapes and make wine, as many generations of their family have before them." This is the Bierzo that we've been trying to find for years now -- as lithe and effortless as Beaujolais, though truly demonstrative of its mountainside origin, giving real verve and grit. Assembled from several parcels of very old (125+ years) vines of mostly mencia with small amounts of alicante bouschet, trousseau, and palomino, made in the classic Joven style. Best served with grilled lamb, wild mushrooms (especially morels and chanterelles), and aged cheeses.

Founded in 2006, Sedella Vinos is owned and run by Lauren Rosillo, an innovative, young Spanish winemaker who worked on projects in Rioja, Rueda and La Mancha before falling in love with the Axarquia region in Malaga. There he found a 2.5-hectare ancient vineyard located in Sedella, a quaint town of 400 people, with slate-strewn soil that he could not allow to pass him by. From here a single bottling of about 400 cases of red wine is produced, a blend of centenarian (100+ years old) romé, jaén (mencia) and garnacha, bearing the Sierras de Malaga appellation. To work these sky-high vineyards (2461 feet), Rosillo uses Roman plows and draft horses rather than tractors to avoid compressing the soil (and to avoid falling to his death -- at its steepest, the slopes are at a 45% grade). Try this unique southern Spanish red with roasted lamb, chorizo, or a simple meal of jamon, manchego, fresh bread, and olives.

The Morcos family originally planted their vines in the 1930’s and third generation Matias Marcos makes Luna Duna at the family winery. The vines are located in Eastern Mendoza in the subregion of Alto Verde, San Martin. Some of Mendoza’s oldest vines come from the East, an area that is often overlooked. The vines are farmed with no pesticides and fermentation is natural. This extremely chillable red is a blend of criolla chica (a.k.a. pais, mission) and criolla blanca.

STRAWBERRIES

Chelti is a family-owned and operated winery nestled in the Caucasus mountains of Georgia. Georgi Mirianashvili, who left his banking career and the capital city of Tbilisi behind back in 2001, and moved to Shilda, the village of his wine-loving ancestors, to pursue winemaking. Mostly traditional in his approach, Georgi’s many of Georgi’s wines are aged in qvevri, however other wines will see oak or stainless steel. The grapes are all hand-picked, and wild yeast fermented. Not only is the farming sustainable, but the winery is planning on transitioning entirely to solar power in the near future. This particular bottling is 100% saperavi, which is a teinturier grape that has both red skins AND red flesh. Be sure to behold the incredibly deep dark color in your glass before you sip.

Domaine Gardiés is a family winery covering about 30 hectares in the Roussillon, centered around the hilly, old Pyrenean hamlets of Vingrau and Tautavel. Jean Gardiés took over the family domaine in the early nineties and has slowly increased the amount of his production. Mas Las Cabes is a vineyard located near the village of Espira de l'Agly, a little closer to the once famous vineyards of Rivesaltes, and further, to the Mediterranean. They make a red and a white, the latter coming from vineyards of slightly higher elevation. The red is a blend of 60% syrah, 30% grenache, and 10% carignan, made with a long, traditional fermentation in concrete tanks before 1/3 is graduated to neutral barrels for 8 months. It's a deep, saturated red with soul and polish, fit for grilled sausages, ratatouille, or (of course) cassoulet.

50% Syrah, 40% Cinsault, 10% MourvèdreThis wine showcases a dark garnet-purple hue, presenting a visually appealing character. On the nose, it offers a fragrant bouquet filled with a medley of red fruits such as blackberry, cherry, raspberry, and red currant, all complemented by intriguing spicy notes. On the palate, the wine opens with a lively acidity that gracefully transitions into a soft tannin structure. It features juicy flavors of bright red fruits, pomegranate, and a hint of cinnamon spice. The finish is velvety, echoing the fruity and spicy elements, with subtle touches of sandalwood and pepper. In terms of body, this wine is light to medium-bodied, making it an ideal choice for casual drinking, particularly during warmer seasons. - T Edward

After her father, Alain Maurel, retired in 2010, Stephanie Ramé and her husband Olivier took over the operations of Maison Ventenac, located in the tiny Cabardès wine region of Southern France. Since then, they’ve been modernizing the winery and converting the vineyard to organic farming. “L'intrus” (the intruder) is pure cabernet franc, a native of the Loire Valley, a far cooler climate than the one they enjoy in Cabardès. One might think the variety would suffer in this sun-drenched southern clime, but the classic structure of the variety remains, even if the fruit is a bit stockier. Treat the intruder as a guest and invite them to share a hearty stew or classic onion soup.

Alta Alella is a family run project started in 1991 by enologist Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets and his wife Cristina Guillen on the site of an existing century-old estate within the Alella, which is the smallest DO in Spain. AA is the closest winery to Barcelona, located within the agricultural area of a natural park known as the “Serralada de Marina’. The vines are grown on Sauló soil which is one of the most important elements that determines the character of the wines. Josep and Cristina's daughters Mireia and Georgina are now leading the winery, with its 60 hectares of organically-farmed vineyards and full range of still whites, reds, and Cavas. "Merla" is a sumptuous, mouth-coating take on mataró (aka monastrell, mourvèdre) that would love a good paella.

40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 5% Carignan

Jean-Marie Rimbert is a true son of the soil; born and raised on his family's farm in Provence, he trained as an agriculturist before embarking on a now 40 year career as a winemaker. After spending 15 years working at various estates, he struck out on his own and founded Domaine Rimbert in 1996. It was during this very first and very challenging harvest that his son Marceau was born and this wine is named in tribute to him. It's a blend of old vine red grapes that are gently extracted to produce what Jean-Marie calls “the best quality-price-pleasure ratio”. Expect plenty of red and black fruits along with a touch of earth and spice. A truly enjoyable table red that needs a light chill to fully express itself. Try it with burgers or a hearty bean stew.

2024 has been a great year for Slovenian wine here at Streetcar! This is thanks in large part to our friends at Hangtime Wines who consistently introduce us to the latest and greatest wines from the region. One such great producer is Sanctum: a family operation based in the Lipoglav region of northeast Slovenia. The Podkubovšek family practices environmentally friendly and sustainable viticulture on their hilly vineyards (45˚ slopes!), hand-harvesting grapes and taking a low-intervention approach to winemaking. They make a range of wines including some skin-contact whites that we’re fans of, but this “Pollinator” co-ferment is just the kind of fun we’re looking for during the holiday season. Comprised mainly of Pinot Noir, “Pollinator” gets a lift in brightness thanks to additions of Sylvaner and Pinot Gris. Strawberry, cherry, fresh chopped herbs and thirst quenching acidity combine for quite a good time. Serve with a chill.

Varietal: SyrahVine Age: Planted in early 2000sTerroir: From the lieu-dit "Sote-Mirandes" in Espira de l'Agly, volcanic, basaltic soils.Viticulture: Organic (certified), biodynamic methods, yields around 20 hl/ha.Vinification: 100% whole clusters (crushed), ambient yeast fermentation, infusion, aged for 24-36 months in used barrels, no fining or filtration, bottled by gravity in accordance with the phase of the moon.

Size: 2 ha (4.94 ac)Varieties: Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Carignan NoirVine Age: Planted between 1940 and 1960Terroir: Schist and marl topsoil over a limestone bedrock, surrounded by a truffle ground, in the "Terres Noires" of Espira de l'AglyViticulture: Organic (certified), biodynamic methods. Yields are around 20 hl/ha here.Vinification: 100% whole clusters (crushed), ambient yeast fermentation, infusion. Aged for 20 months in used barrels. No chaptalization, acidification, fining, or filtration. Bottled by gravity in accordance with the phase of the moon.

Hacienda La Lomita is a 16-year-old wine producer in the Guadalupe Valley of Baja California in northwestern Mexico. While we're just seeing wines from this part of the world for the first time, vineyards were planted all over Mexico by the Spanish upon their arrival five centuries ago. The current wave is a led by a slew of quality-minded, small-scale producers who have introduced current techniques and sensibility to the area. In 2012, La Lomita was one of the first to receive organic certification. They are known for having placed a wine at Napa's famous French Laundry that comes from a special plot of 60-year-old grenache. This pure cabernet comes from a couple of mid-valley, northwestern-facing vineyards at about 1,000 feet above sea level. While it resonates with its siblings to the north, we find this surprisingly lighter-weight cab to have a distinctive identity. Try replacing your Modelo with this generous red for your next Taco Tuesday.

Celler Comunica is the project of Pep Aguilar and Patri Morillo, two viticulturists who have worked with vines throughout the Mediterranean. After many years, they settled in the D.O. Montsant, just across the border from Priorat, where Pep and Patri are challenging our preconceptions of a region known for oaky, high alcohol wines with their nonconformist approach. The estate comprises seven hectares of old Garnacha and Carignan vines, and a little chunk of Syrah, all planted on a soil of decomposed granitic sands shot with myriad types of slate. “Vi del Mas” is about as glou glou as 14% alcohol gets. This wine is great for summer nights on the porch, catching up with old or new friends. If it’s hot out, don’t be afraid to chill this for an hour before you open it. Versatile with or without food, was fantastic with a flavorful Vietnamese salad with lots of herbs, spice, and fish sauce!

“Achados e Perdidos” means “Lost and Found” in Portuguese….. This particular wine is the result of a bottle shared among friends. One friend bought a bottle of his grandfather’s tinto to share with two more friends whom he knew to be in search of old vines to work with. The grandfather in question wasn’t selling wine, just making it for himself and the extended family, all of whom had moved away from the agrarian life for jobs in the city. The winemaking duo were sufficiently impressed, most of all by the detail shared by the grandson…”it’s a field-blend.” They asked for a visit and upon their arrival the vineyard’s site, 3/4 of the way up the terraces Volta de Andrea, they found the future of their most interesting project in the Douro valley to date. - Village Wine Imports

Reuilly is a small but historically significant appellation in the Centre Loire that sits quietly on its own more or less halfway between Touraine and Sancerre. Like Sancerre (and Pouilly, Menetou, etc..), sauvignon blanc is the cash crop here, while pinot noir satisfies the need for red wines to go with the region's legendary cuisine. The reds have rarely achieved enough richness or panache to travel this far, though with the insatiable demand for pinot noir, and the rising global temperatures, things are changing for Reuilly. Domaine de la Pagerie is a recently established humble estate of about 12 hectares of vineyards acquired in 2017. They quickly worked to rehabilitate the vineyards and have just received organic certification. This is a classic light-bodied pinot noir that would bring a festive air to roast chicken dinner.

89% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc, 5% merlot