Vajra's Got Sand Soil is important in vineyards. You probably know this. In reading about wine, over and over, you'll find mention of rocks, chalks, loams, clays, and gravels, sands and marls, alluvium and colluvium, beds and deposits... the permutations of soil on Earth are seemingly infinite, and the arrangement of soil components in vineyard sites has long been the subject of human interest. Clay and limestone, especially when together, have tons of cred. Deep gravel beds

This week we've got four old faves; Each made from organically grown grapes and each is a crowd-pleasing value. You don't need to spend more than $20 to get a well-made wine. Gorgo Custoza 2018 A blend of Trebbiano Toscano, Garganega, Cortese and Friuliano, fermented and raised in stainless steel, this is refreshment in a bottle. It has many fans and it begs the question: why drink expensive industrial Pinot Grigio when you can get an organic Custoza like this for a song? Clo

The Thanksgiving table can be tough on wine. There are so many flavors to contend with, no single bottle will marry beautifully with all of them. Lets check out four wines that actually have a shot at going well with everything, wines that were chosen for their freshness and versatility. There are many other wines we will recommend for Thanksgiving, and we will be very happy to discuss your options (never count Champagne out!). Jean Becker Alsace Riesling 2016 In Massachusett

When we choose any wine, we look for something distinctive. When we choose a wine in a large bottle, we feel even more invested. If you're gonna commit to a large format (1.5 liters or larger), it should be something that has the potential to really knock your socks off. It's the perfect time of year to stock up on a few nice magnums. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, a perfect opportunity to share a big bottle. A couple of the gems below are noteworthy candidates for

When Pinot Noir is made into fresh and elegant styles, it is one of the best options for pairing wine with a crowded table. When it comes to Thanksgiving, that is exactly what you've got, and Pinot is one of the most widely recommended wines for the yearly feast. We'll look at four classic Pinots, each one a perfect refreshment for the Thanksgiving table. Francoise et Denis Clair Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes-de-Beaune 2017 One of our go-to Pinots at Craft and Cru, this beautiful Pi

Literally the highest. Chianti, that is. Azienda Agricola I Fabbri has vineyards higher than anyone else in Chianti Classico, up to 680 meters, but there's more to know about them than unique geographical factoids. Since 1620, the Grassi family has grown vines in Lamole, and today Susanna Grassi continues the family tradition at I Fabbri, crafting some of the most beautiful and honest wines in Tuscany. There are few wineries we love more than I Fabbri. Their wines are pure jo

Trere Lona Bona 2017 The outlier in the lineup, in that this will be the only wine not from Tuscany, Trere is in Romagna, the northernmost zone of Sangiovese production in Italy. Their Lona Bona is a fresh and fruity sipper, an easy and uncomplicated expression of Sangiovese. It is full of tart berry nuances and is the perfect complement to a cheesy pizza or a charcuterie platter. I Fabbri Chianti Classico 'Lamole' 2017 There are few other wineries in the world that excite us

Let us bask in the pleasures of tasting Barolo and Barbaresco. For many, these two storied regions represent the pinnacle of Italian wine, taking Nebbiolo to great heights with powerful wines that age positively for decades and make a case for this grape as one of the world's most delicious. The vineyards of Barolo and Barbaresco spread out over large steep hills, the various contours of which have been studied and differentiated, named and mapped, celebrated and canonized. A

Chardonnay, the white grape of Burgundy, is a household name, and is typically associated with a rich, bold and oaky style of wine, but across Burgundy there are many styles of Chardonnay. We'll just scratch the surface, but you'll score big time if you taste these; we've got some special bottles here. Gueguen Bourgogne 'Cotes Salines' 2018 It's not hard to find this wine, but we'd argue its a rather rare bird. How many other $15 estate-grown (on Kimmeridgian limestone no les

Rum is a generic term for the spirit, and it can be applied to distillates made from a variety of sugar types—including molasses, demerara sugar, raw sugar, beet sugar, honey or sugarcane juice. Within the Caribbean, each island or production area has a unique style. These styles can, more or less, be grouped by the language traditionally spoken: English, French, and Spanish. English-speaking areas are known for darker rums with a fuller taste that retain a greater amount of

What kind of view? Well if you're visiting Castello la Leccia (do it!), you will have a spectacular view of the Chianti Classico region from a high hill (the vineyards of the estate are between 300 and 500 meters), but maybe we're talking about a different sort of view, a view of a sustainable future in one of the world's most heavily marketed and sales-driven wine regions. Chianti Classico is home to many of our favorite Sangiovese wines and we're believers in the region, bu

We are so happy, so very pleased indeed, that we'll be opening special treats for you this Saturday, October 12, from 2pm to 6pm. Every year we'll show our appreciation for you, our dear customers and friends, with a special tasting, one might say a "grand" tasting, where we'll pour a few wines from our personal stocks next to a smorgasbord of exciting current releases. Everything will not be open at once, so you may not get to taste everything, but we will try to spread the

Domaine Alain Michelot As undervalued as Burgundy gets, if you ask us, at Craft and Cru, a bottle of Elodie Michelot's 2016 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er cru Les St. Georges is a treasure for any cellar. It's a wine that will develop positively for decades, representing one of the world's most venerable terroirs, the great Les St. Georges vineyard of Nuits-Saint-Georges. There are no grand crus in Nuits, but premier crus like Les Vaucrains and Les Cailles would have a shot at promo

And thank goodness. These are wines you want to be able to find and afford. Burgundy has a reputation for not only exorbitant prices, but also exasperating scarcity. It doesn't matter if you have the cash, some Burgundy will not be available. These rare birds are special wines, no doubt, but one must account for hype and assure oneself that there are excellent alternatives aplenty, because the truth is on our side: Burgundy is for everyone! We have quite a few wonderful wines

Today, one could say that Hofgut Falkenstein is off the beaten path, but in 1981, when Erich Weber began to piece together his small estate, the vineyards of Niedermennig and Krettnach were genuinely obscure. The relative insignificance of these villages in the 1980s allowed Erich to buy up old-vine parcels in several of Germany's finest vineyard sites. His foresight was significant, as today the wines of Falkenstein sell out with alacrity and worldwide plaudits are innumerab

I have, for a few months now, been dithering over a disparaging screed leveled at the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. Why? Because I find the hype surrounding the region to be misleading. It is a region that should be quite attractive to the devotee of fine terroir-driven wine, but way too much Brunello is over-extracted, over-oaked and over-priced. Between high pricing and lack of balance, I often think of Brunello as one of Italy's least interesting wines. Imagine, as a wine m

Something a little different, each and every one, we're pretty sure we'll got something for everybody here. Another rather random selection this week, we promise we'll go back to school with you soon. You can look forward to in depth and educational tastings focused on Sancerre, Riesling, Chablis, Piedmont... we've got many journeys in mind. Can't wait to take you with us! Hild Elbling Sekt Brut I'd like to think I know a thing or two about German wine, but before encounterin

This week we have four inexpensive gems to feature; In their respective categories, it'll be hard to find wines to beat these little tigers. Fierce competitors we believe these bottles to be, and tough to find a better value for the money. Domaine Gueguen Chablis 2018 Yes, this is estate-grown Chablis from one of the region's most experienced winemakers for for a song. Frederic Gueguen began working in the vineyards of Chablis at the age of 12, and after finishing a degree in

Toss out those cheaply flavored and artificially colored cordials. You know, the ones that are used so infrequently that the cap has crusted over with sugar, and now requires industrial tools to open. Replace them with some sweet and sassy liqueurs; great for sipping solo, spicing up your favorite cocktails, or even adding depth to pastries and desserts. Here are a few recommendations so tasty, the bottle will be gone before you know it. Bertina Elderflower, Finland Neithe

The Concept We love putting food and wine together, but we're a bit wary of much fuss over pairings. The idea of a "perfect pairing" comes from reality; great synergy between food and beverage is achievable, but incredible pairings exist in a rather rarefied realm. Unless you're working closely with a well-stocked cellar and talented chef, mind-blowing pairings might be few and far between. At Craft and Cru, we try to keep it simple. You'll hear us say "drink what you like" a