Happy 4th of July weekend! Our new podcast with reVolver Podcasts has launched, “Wine & Film, A Perfect Pairing!”

We are so excited to be a part of this incredible company and to have an opportunity to talk about two of our favorite things together every week. Subscribe to our weekly podcast here.

Our show this week discusses two films, one released this weekend, “The Legend of Tarzan” with Alexander Skarsgård (best known for his bad boy role in HBO’s “True Blood,” and a personal favorite of mine as I always thought Sookie should have ended up with him instead of Bill….) and “Free State of Jones” with Matthew McConaughey that opened last week.

Gary’s review from KXAS/NBC DFW for each featured here and here.

And we paired wines for your holiday weekend barbecue and celebrations. A few favorites included were Numanthia, a hearty red wine from the Toro region of Spain, produced from 100+ year old vines in rock filled soils from the Tinta da Toro grape variety; Pinot Noir from favorites Vision Cellars and our friend Mac McDonald, Adelsheim from Willamette Valley, OR, a stellar Rose of Pinot Noir from Stoller, also in Willamette Valley and perfect for pairing or simply enjoying, a a clean, refreshing and light Sauvignon Blanc from Cuvaison. A few more notes on each below.

We hope you will join us next week as we continue on this journey of wine and film together. Cheers!

Bold, powerful Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect pairing with your grilled steaks, lamb or barbecue favorites. One we love is from KATA winery. A relatively new winery from David Beckstoffer, son of vintner Andy Beckstoffer. The 2013 release has about 500, an ideal size for the brand. Filled with violets, blackberry, licorice and spice the layered blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Petit Sirah, from 10 rows of vines dating back over 60 years, is fresh, elegant and well integrated, while maintaining a robust, masculine palate. With an artisan touch, KATA 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon shows the quality of the vineyard while showcasing the ideal vintage. Available via allocation through their website.

Vision Cellars Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, from our buddy Mac McDonald, blending fruit from Las Alturas, Gary’s and Rosella’s Vineyards. These are easily considered some of the finest vines in the world, which Mac melds into a refined Pinot Noir filled with layers of black and blue berry, earth, wet stone and cedar with a great balance of acid and tannin.  $40, available via the Vision Cellars website.

One of my favorites from the Toro region of Spain is Numanthia. Numanthia winery coaxes freshness out of the bold Tinta da Toro variety, ensuring acidity remains intact while expertly using winery tools, like extended periods of time aging in neutral or partially neutral oak, to soften the wine. Termes, their most approachable wine upon release, is filled with black cherry, plum and woody herbs notes. $40, available at Spec’s.

One of my favorite summertime wines is Stoller Rose of Pinot Noir. Year in and year out, may be my favorite go-to Rose…and lucky for me, every year their production gets a little bit bigger so I have an opportunity to get my hands on a few more bottles than the previous years. Beautiful and fresh, filled with juicy notes of watermelon, ruby red grapefruit and ripe berry. $20, via their website.

Domaine Ott was founded over 100 years ago in Provence by Marcel Ott, who at the time was determined to make post-phyloxera vineyards in the Southern French region appealing and worthy of the incredible history the region, once inhabited by the Romans, held. Their estate vineyards are sustainably farmed in 3 distinct areas, two in Cotes de Provence and one in Bandol, each distinct and each representing the terroir surrounding those vineyards and each of the highest quality. Beautiful, delicate and incredibly elegant. The two above photos are both from their Le Clos Mireille Estate. Domaine Ott Les Domanier Rose 2013 is from the negotiant or buyer/seller portion of the company, sourcing some of the highest quality, old vines in Provence to produce a non-estate Rose meeting the same quality standards of all of their wines. Grenache based with Cinsaut and Syrah. $50, available at select Central Market stores.