White Wines with Skin Contact

WINE #1

2023 Kleinlerer Wines
Chenin Blanc
Clarksburg, California

Kleinlerer Wines was founded by Sagie Kleinlerer out of his lifelong passion for food and wine. As an unabashed wine geek with unbounded curiosity, Sagie honed his palate through extensive travels and amassed a collection of thousands of beautiful and interesting wines from around the world. He believes there is still much work to be done to make great wine less intimidating and more approachable.

Over the past decade, Sagie has worked in wineries across Northern California, including Napa and Sonoma, and earned his WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and certification as a sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers. Now, he produces wines that he enjoys and loves to share with friends and loved ones. Kleinlerer Wines are crafted for passionate people who celebrate wine, good food, and special moments, or simply enjoy opening a good bottle on a weeknight. The wines are complex, sophisticated, and interesting, yet fun and unpretentious, meant to be enjoyed with joy and laughter.

Vibrant aromas of pineapple, guava, and ripe citrus, alongside delicate floral undertones and a hint of honeyed sweetness.

WINE #2

2022 Lightwell Survey Colorwave
Vidal Blanc, Petit Manseng
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Launched in 2015, this innovative winery crafts small-batch reds, whites, and unique blends, all bursting with character. Their focus? Experimentation and exploration, aiming for a bullseye but happily landing "slightly off center" with surprising and delightful results. Partnered with Early Mountain Vineyards for their first harvest, Lightwell Survey continues to delve into both traditional and uncharted territories, pushing the boundaries of Virginia winemaking.

This unconventional blend (44% Vidal Blanc, 33% Petit Manseng, 19% Chambourcin, 4% Traminette) is anything but shy! Vibrant aromas of juicy red fruit and a bouquet of colorful flowers explode from the glass. A subtle tannic grip adds a touch of textural intrigue, keeping the wine lively and engaging. This is a fun wine to pair with a wide array of dishes.

WINE #3

2021 Camuna Cellars That’s Us
Cayuga, Vidal Blanc
Outer Coastal Plains, New Jersey

Philadelphia's Camuna Cellars, helmed by Eli Silins, ferments not just wine but cider, cyser, and mead. This Kosher winery, born from experimentation, uses local east coast grapes (mainly hybrids) to craft sustainable, minimal-intervention beverages. True to its name (a riff on "commune"), Camuna brings people together through unique libations certified Kosher for Passover.

The Cayuga in this wine spent 7 days macerating whole cluster, then was blended with the Vidal and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The cornucopia of aromas offered by this wine and its textural richness make it a bold, ripe, and very interesting wine. Pair with a wide range of dishes for some culinary fun!