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Craft and Cru
\'kraft\: [to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity]
\'krü\: [a vineyard or group of vineyards, especially one of recognized quality ]
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John Paul Kaminga
Jun 24, 20211 min read
Alpine Refreshment: Petite Arvine
La Crotta di Vegneron is a collective of about 120 growers with small scattered plots around Chambave, in the Vallée d'Aoste (due to the...
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John Paul Kaminga
Jun 22, 20213 min read
Drinking Windows: Goldtropfchen
Apparently there are hundreds of wine to go windows across Italy. They were incorporated into buildings in the Middle Ages, when the...
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John Paul Kaminga
May 25, 20211 min read
Surprise! More Clos de la Roilette 2019!
Clos de la Roilette is an iconic Beaujolais and it has a rabid following. It is one of the few wines of the region that is allocated. I...
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John Paul Kaminga
May 19, 20212 min read
Return of the Jedi: Claré J.C. 2020
... did I say jedi? I think I meant nebi... nebbiolo... Vajra's Claré J.C. does seem to have some mind tricks up its sleeve... is it red,...
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John Paul Kaminga
May 15, 20212 min read
Chambolle Vibes: Digioia-Royer Bourgogne 2019
For the past couple weeks, anybody who has found themselves browsing Pinot Noir at Craft and Cru has probably found Gabby and I pointing...
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John Paul Kaminga
May 10, 20211 min read
Pure EVOO: The Return of Montenidoli Olive Oil
Can you imagine my joy when I found out that we would be able to get the 2020 vintage of Montenidoli olive oil? I hope so. Can I imagine...
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John Paul Kaminga
May 8, 20212 min read
Wines without Makeup: Filipa Pato
One of the most recommended winemakers at Craft and Cru, Filipa Pato is a mom making some of the world's most brilliant wines. We are...
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John Paul Kaminga
May 4, 20212 min read
Grenache: A Low ABV Wonder from 100+ Year-old Vine
Did you check out the virtual vineyard tour we mentioned a couple weeks ago? If you did, you may have noticed that the panelists kept...
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John Paul Kaminga
Apr 30, 20212 min read
François Chidaine, a Name to Know
I'm not alone in my extremely high estimation of François Chidaine. He is a master of his craft, dedicated to intensive organic and...
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John Paul Kaminga
Apr 27, 20212 min read
Umami Bomb: El Pedrosal Reserva 2009
This wine is a no-brainer. It is an incredible deal. Most of the reserva-level wines from Perez Pascuas are released early and cost $60+....
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John Paul Kaminga
Apr 23, 20212 min read
Pink: Fondrèche Ventoux Rosé
The vineyards at Domaine de Fondrèche were certified organic since 2009 but as of 2016 they left umbrella of certification as they sought...
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John Paul Kaminga
Mar 30, 20212 min read
Paris at Craft and Cru: Syrah of Light
I'll sometimes talk about contrapposto or chiaroscuro, terms borrowed from the world of visual arts, to describe the balance of a wine....
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John Paul Kaminga
Mar 26, 20212 min read
Toscana Rosso: Castello la Leccia Vivaio del Cavaliere
Chianti has been famous for a long time. Officially recognized in the 14th century by the Florentine Republic, and legally delimited by...
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John Paul Kaminga
Mar 24, 20211 min read
CheninCheninChenin: Jasnieres Sec
Jasnieres is an old wine region on the Loir river, a tributary to the more famous Loire river. Domaine de la Roche Bleue is a young...
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John Paul Kaminga
Mar 18, 20211 min read
Lovable Weirdos: Wirz Sequel
The Wirz Vineyard is a true California gem. It is own-rooted and old-vine (planted in the 1960s) Riesling (with a bit of Silvaner for...
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John Paul Kaminga
Mar 13, 20213 min read
Deals, Steals, Feels
We pride ourselves on a diverse and interesting selection, but some of our favorite bottles can be kinda (or very) pricey. We take value...
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John Paul Kaminga
Mar 3, 20213 min read
A True Favorite: Le Piane
One of the great wine estates in Piemonte, Le Piane is notable for so many reasons: sustainable and organic farming, a hands-off...
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John Paul Kaminga
Feb 19, 20212 min read
The Greatest Italian Red You've Never Heard of: Schioppettino
Most of you have never heard of Schioppettino, but it is a grape well worth knowing. A bold and spicy red with great aging potential,...
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John Paul Kaminga
Feb 12, 20211 min read
Riesling Alert System !!!ACTIVATED!!!
We have a Riesling emergency here folks! We just tasted two wines from one of our favorite Austrian wine estates, Josef & Phillip...
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John Paul Kaminga
Feb 11, 20212 min read
The Boring Blend: Triennes 2017
OK OK, I know I should probably stop calling the Cab/Syrah blend "boring"... We featured a Q&A with Diana Snowden Seysses this summer (if...
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