Gather 'round the Thanksgiving table! It's the Harvest Club! (Nov 2021)
Harvest Club - November 2021
November’s Harvest Club is all about the cool-climate coastal vineyards of California, and the relatively unknown yet magnificent winegrowing regions of the Czech Republic! Bur first, let’s hit the beach! Tyler and Rachel Eck’s Dunites Wine Co. love to harvest from incredible sights along the central coast. Namely the Spanish Springs and Bassi Vineyards, both of which are less than 1.5 miles from the water! These two sights yield unbelievable expressions of Syrah and Pinot Noir respectively. Some of our favorites, elegant and approachable, definitely food friendly.
After we hang along the coast, we’ll take a stroll inland to the Los Olivos District to visit with Press Gang Cellars again and our central coast “Rhone Ranger”, winemaker Kyle Knapp! Kyle and his wife Savanna have produced an absolutely delicious white blend that we’re sure will excite you!
Now, how about some adventure?! Destination, Eastern Europe! The land within the Czech Republic has a long history in regards to winemaking, stretching as far back as the 2nd century in what is now present day Moravia. We have fallen in love with two producers Petr Korab and Jaroslav Osička. Both of which are consistently setting the bar high in Moravia, and have been turning heads around the wine world for quite some time. All of these selections will go wonderfully with your Thanksgiving sides and turkey, in your glass at a party, or alongside your loved one curled up on the couch watching your favorite movie! Cheers
Tag along for the adventure, as we continue to explore and push the boundaries of the winemaking world!
Featured Wines
Aromas of juicy blackberry, red plum, violets, peppercorn, as well as wild sage and thyme. The palate is elegant with soft, fine-grained tannins, fresh acidity, and a distinct salinity that we believe comes from the proximity of the vineyard to the ocean.
Try it with: Hard cheeses, bacon burgers, Moroccan tajine, or roasted leg of lamb!
Dunites Wine Co. | 2020 Pinot Noir | Bassi Vineyard, SLO Coast, CA, Organic Farming Practices
This Pinot is delicate in stature but has an intensity of aromas and flavors that grasps your attention. Raspberry and forest floor are framed by underlying smokey, spicey aromas that hint at the inclusion of stems. On the palate, the wine is surprisingly juicy with a silky texture that gives way to subtle tannins on the finish. This is a wine that leads you to repeatedly smell your glass and reach for another taste.
Try it with: Herb crackers, goat cheese, and salami, or try it with garlic shrimp, scallops, and baked salmon!
This wine is elegant and refined with a viscous and silky mouthfeel. A floral nose with notes of white blossom and citrus leaf.
Try it with: Roasted squash, Asian dishes with a bit of spice, rich seafood, and of course your helping of delicious turkey breast!
Petr Korab | 2019 "Unfiltered" Neuburger | Moravia, Czech Republic, Biodynamic
100% Neuburger, a variety that is most revered by Moravian winemakers. It gives such varied expressions and lovely complexity. Fuller bodied yet with an amazing freshness, texture and weight.
Try it with: Seared scallops, grilled shrimp, and lime marinated cod fish tacos!
Petr Korab | 2019 "Karmazin" Blaufrankisch | Moravia, Czech Republic, Biodynamic
Full of ripe, dark cherries, spices, and violet flowers, with a refreshing high toned core and medium weight. Easy drinking, yet complex.
Try it with: Your favorite gourmet pizza, pork chops, duck breast, or carnitas!
Jaroslav Osička | 2020 Ryšák | Moravia, Czech Republic, Biodynamic
Full, fresh, juicy, with red and fall fruit flavors. A nice bit of structure. Great during warm, or cool months
Try it with: BBQ pork ribs, roast chicken, grilled sun-chokes, and all of the Thanksgiving fare!
DUNITES WINE CO. 
PRESS GANG CELLARS 
PETR KORAB 
JAROSLAV OSICKA 
PETR KORAB
About the Producers:
Dunites Wine Co. | San Luis Obispo County, CA | @dunites
Dunites was founded in 2015 by Tyler and Rachel Eck to highlight the unique vineyards of the SLO Coast. Small lot wines are crafted using old world techniques to focus on the vineyards, most of which are farmed using biodynamic or organic inputs. The resulting cool-climate wines reflect the diverse soil sand maritime influences of their sites. The name is inspired by an eclectic group of 1930s metropolitan refugees known as the Dunites who settled in the beach dunes of San Luis Obispo County to live and express themselves freely outside of the cultural norms of the time.
Press Gang Cellars | Santa Barbara County, CA | @pressgang
Since 2010, Kyle and Savanna Knapp have been creating small batches of exciting wines from interesting Santa Barbara County vineyards. Press Gang fruit is hand picked, hand sorted and fermented with native yeast. Growing up in Lompoc, CA Kyle was always surrounded by winemaking but he was truly hooked after working his first harvest in 2005. Like many of us working in wine, he fell in love with the arduous and rewarding work. Since that first harvest he has worked with Beckman Vineyards in Ballard Canyon, spent time honing his craft in Australia, and for the last 6 years has held the position of head winemaker for Stolpman Vineyards. Inspired by the song “Press Gang” by The Murder City Devils, he knew, that he wanted to create something different, against the grain so to speak, to represent his winemaking style. Kyle’s focus has been on Grenache, Syrah, and Roussanne, all sourced from top vineyards in Ballard Canyon, Santa Ynez Valley and Sta. Rita Hills AVAs. His wines are made in extremely limited quantities and beautifully capture the terroir and character of the region.
Petr Koráb | Moravia, Czech Republic | @zivahora.cz
Petr Koráb studied to become an attorney, but shortly after moving to Prague to practice he
realized what he really wanted was to spend his time in the vineyard his grandfather had
planted in 1934. “I love living with a vineyard, animals, around nature. But the main engine for
me is endless learning.”
Petr cultivates nearly 4 hectares of vineyards; some vines are 84 years old. New plantings are
on limestone subsoil. Varieties selected are typical of the region. The first vintage of KORÁB -
živá hora (live hill) was 2006. It began with cultivation of grapes in old vineyards; fermentation
has always been spontaneous with an authentic mindset. Gradually, the vineyards were
converted to organic cultivation and supplemented this with biodynamic philosophy. Petr
discovered how he farmed affected the wines in the cellar. If he started with fruit that was clean
and healthy the wine needs little in the cellar. This allows him to operate in the cellar by,
“controlled doing nothing”, as he describes.
Petr Koráb is trying to find an authentic way. Not only new ways but also time tested old ways
forgotten in today's consumer lifestyle. The ultimate goal is to bottle living wine not "marred" by
additives.
Jaroslav Osička | Moravia, Czech Republic | @jaroslavosicka
Jaroslav Osicka is a small family winery based in Velké Bílovice near the borders of Austria and Slovakia. Jaroslav is a teacher at a local wine making school and has worked with the constant intention of encouraging biodiversity. Vineyards have been farmed organically (plant extract sprays, BIO sprays, etc.) since the late 80’s. There is no use of systemic treatments, herbicides or pesticides. They mainly use biological-based sprays such as silica, baking powder, plant extracts, horsetail, etc. Fertilizer is organic and natural minerals. Natural cover crop of native vegetation is encouraged in all or every other row. Vineyard work is manual and yields are not allowed to exceed 40/hl per hectare.
Wines are fermented spontaneously with yeasts from the vineyard and are in longer contact with the grapes skin. The wines are aging in wooden barrels without preservation with sulphur dioxide. Bottling proceeds without filtration and sulfur if used at all is added only before bottling.
Because of their approach in the vineyards, fermentation can be conducted with or without the grape skins and be bottled without filtration. Long elevage wines stabilize naturally over the course of 12 to 36 months. The final product is authentic wine. No artificial amendments are needed. The wines reflect the natural taste of the grapes and the mineral elegance of the soil.
Harvest Club $180/month
We offer four monthly wine club subscriptions covering a range of interests and budgets. Our offerings include high quality, hand-selected wines at each level, including the option to customize. Perks include huge savings with each selection and 10% off anytime you shop. Not a members? Join today.