February 27, 2026 | blend it & send it

Blend It & Send It

Sometimes we feel called to defend blends. Because there seems to be an aura of suspicion when the varietal listing begins to surpass two to three grapes. “What are they trying to hide in there?”

And the simple truth is the goal isn’t necessarily deception but harmony and a sense of completion. The finest bottles of Bordeaux, arguably some of the most regaled wines in the world, are rarely a single grape singing a solo. More often than not you're experiencing a duet or trio of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and merlot. And sometimes, the decision to blend grapes is purely economic or driven by the harsh realities of harvest. If a vineyard loses a significant proportion of chardonnay you can certainly bet that the winemaker is throwing the riesling that survived into a tank. They have families to support and bills to pay, as we all do. Sometimes the romance of winemaking allows us to forget the economic realities of agriculture.

So we give grace. The 'kitchen sink' cuvee may be a stylistic choice or driven by pragmatism. Either way, if it's balanced, harmonious, and (perhaps most importantly) delicious, we're happy to pour.

The Lineup: Fuhrgassl-Huber Wiener Gemischter-Satz DAC Ried Gollin 1ÖTW 2021; Lightwell Survey ‘The Way It Was Before’ Shenandoah Valley 2023; Claus Preisinger ‘Puszta Libre!’ Neusiedlersee 2023
    
Read on to learn more about what we're sampling, then stop by on Friday from 4-7pm to try them yourself!

Fuhrgassl-Huber Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC Ried Gollin 1ÖTW 2021

Lightwell Survey 'The Way It Was Before' Shenandoah Valley 2023

Claus Preisinger 'Puszta Libre!' Neusiedlersee 2023