Seehof Weissburgunder
Importer: Vom Boden
Distributor: Potomac Selections Inc.
Regular: $19.99
SALE: $15.99

Rheinhessen is the largest winegrowing region in Germany, and its rolling hills on the left bank of the Rhine River initially became famous as a source for simple blending or table wines. Today though, Rheinhessen calls to mind the likes of Klaus Peter and Julia Keller – truly great wines from truly great producers that should be taken seriously. The past few decades have led to a Renaissance of sorts, and even entry level wines from the area are standing out.

Growers and winemakers in the Rheinhessen have a colorful palette with which to work. Winemaker Florian Fauth of Seehof is one such artist, and his 2020 Weissburgunder Trocken paints a vibrant portrait of springtime.

Known elsewhere in the world as Pinot Blanc, Weissburgunder is versatile and easy to ripen. In Rheinhessen, the calcium rich limestone soil of contributes to a style of Weissburgunder that is round and juicy, but light and tart. The Seehof Weissburgunder is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, making this wine uninhibited and unabashedly fresh. Showing prominent aromas of ripe pear, peach, nectarine, lemon zest, fresh ginger, and bergamot, the soft and gentle mouthfeel combined with a pleasant zing of acidity and persistent minerality make for a sprightly palate. Coming in at 13% ABV, this ebullient wine should be kept chilled to enjoy on the porch, with pickled beets and robiola cheese, or as a refresher while you plant your herb garden.
-Lauren Loeffler
Donnafugata Lighea
Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners
Distributor: Monsieur Touton Selections
Regular: $24.99
SALE: $19.99

Spring is finally around the corner and that means it's time to stuff our noses full of pollen, bring out our light jackets from storage, and drink fun and aromatic white wines from Italy. Why spend dozens if not more than dozens of dollars buying fancy floral bouquets when you can get the pleasant aromas of orange blossoms, cedar, bergamot, and lychee in a bottle that you can drink, and that has alcohol included in the price. Donnafugata’s “Lighea” has you covered.

Made from Zibibbo or Muscat of Alexandria, this wine is a bright straw yellow with greenish hues, has a wonderful floral nose mixed with zippy acidity and a mineral finish. Recommended pairings are arugula salads, fresh fruit, ignoring text messages, and taking a nap before noon.
-Andrew Thorp
Hiruzta Txakolina
Importer: Monsieur Touton Selections
Distributor: Monsieur Touton Selections
Regular: $19.99
SALE: $15.99

As warmth and sunshine enter back into our lives it is time to get back to those bright refreshing wines that we enjoy amongst the new buds and blooms after our exits from hibernation. Txakolina from the Basque region in Spain is possibly my favorite wine in this category and Hiruzta Txakolina is a beautiful example of wine from the region. This wine is from D.O. Getariako Txakolina, which is nestled between the Bay of Biscay and the Pyrenees Mountains in the Basque region of Spain near the French border.

Hiruzta Txakolina is made of 100% Hondurrabi Zuri grapes harvested from the 17 hectare vineyard that surrounds their winery at the foothills of the Jaizkibel Mountains. A subtle effervescence accompanies this wine, which is typical of the white wine of the area, the nose is lively with citrus, apple, pear, as well as a beautiful white flower and orange blossom component. On the palate there is bright acidity, citrus (lime and grapefruit), medium ripe stone fruit, and crushed stone. This wine is a perfect match for seafood served with a little heat (awesome with steamed crabs), also a great match for green spring vegetables and salads, but also a surprisingly nice accompaniment for mushrooms especially in the Basque fashion with a raw egg yolk. Throw some Txakolina in the ice box and enjoy the weather and food of the season. Cheers!!! 
-Matthew Supik
Tement Sauvignon Blanc
Importer: Bowler Wine
Distributor: International Cellars
Regular: $27.99
SALE: $21.99

It is fascinating to watch the Wine Source shelves subtly shift and fluctuate based on the ebb and flow of customer interest. The shelf space given to various categories and styles is constantly contracting and expanding. In the last few years Austria is has provided an interesting example. It’s been nice to field requests for their delicious native reds, (Blaufrankisch, Zweigelt, St. Laurent) and now as the weather turns, spring-friendly Austrian whites such as Riesling and Gruner Veltliner. 

Just a couple of weeks ago we tasted a fresh Sauvignon Blanc that served as reminder that Austria makes incredible wine from international varieties as well as their lesser-known native grapes. As Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre becomes increasingly expensive, people will look to the few regions of the world that rival Sancerre in quality. Enter Austria!

In the far south of Austria on the Slovenian border lies the region of Styria (or Steiremark). For at least the last couple of decades a handful of producers here have been utilizing the unique climate to produce some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a grape that I love- but it can be a bit much. (Sauvignon comes from “sauvage” in French meaning wild or savage!) The refreshing green notes in Sauvignon Blanc can tend toward aggressive grassiness, especially when the grapes are underripe. However, Styria’s land-locked yet almost Mediterranean climate aids ripening without heading into full-blown Napa richness, so that rather than grassy flavors the green notes show more herbal and vegetal. This creates a beautiful savory tension that complements Sauvignon’s natural crisp stoniness (just as in Gruner Veltliner!). 

Maryland’s distributor of Tement noted that this wine is all about “what it doesn’t show”. The Tement wines beautifully refine and restrain, winnow and shape a savage grape. The nose subtly gives stone, lemon curd, cream, buttercups, dandelion, orange pith, fresh yellow apple, marzipan, and fresh dough. The palate has a beautiful interplay between richness and acid, zipping between stone, lemon zest, candied lemon, and back to stone. Throw in barely ripe salted white peach and melon with chervil and mint and you have a deliciously refreshing and quintessentially Austrian spring wine for a great price.
Word to the wise: we also have their dry Muscat 😉

-Kasimir Bujak
Domaine de la Combe Muscadet
Importer: Terres Blanches Wine Merchants
Distributor: International Cellars
Regular: $16.99
SALE: $12.99

My current “let’s have dinner outside tonight” choice-Domaine de la Combe’s Muscadet Sèvre et Maine- has retained a prominent hold on me since I first tasted it about two months ago. Part of this may have been a desperate wish for bright sun and an end to bulky winter coats, but as I taste it again I am ecstatic to be in a more weather appropriate time to gush about it.

The Muscadet, or Melon de Bourgogne, variety has the dual quality of structure gained from lees aging and acidity derived from grapes with cold weather tolerance. Not only does this wine have a five-generation tradition of the vignerons working exclusively with Muscadet in its most prominent region, but the versatility is also seemingly endless. 
In line with most Loire Valley Muscadet, the notes of lemon, pear and a smidge of ocean-like brine will pair easily with oysters, mussels, salmon and plenty other delicious, edible sea creatures. Yet, this bottle happily compliments plenty of other jubilant and refreshing summer dishes. A salad with lemon vinaigrette, yes! A plate of fresh bloomy rind chevres or bries, of course! Even just paired with later sunsets (thank you daylight savings) and patio deck chairs that leave odd indents on your legs, it’s an easy wine to drink, share and enjoy.
-Callie Cinque
Trenel Cuvee Rochebonne Beaujolais
Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners
Distributor: Breakthru Beverage
Regular: $16.99
SALE: $12.99

One of my favorite new wines to freshly hit the shelves at The Wine Source is the 2020 Trenel Beaujolais " Cuvee Rochebonne" I think Beaujolais is a great wine to have on-hand during weather transitions. It's not too light for cooler days when we tend to eat heartier dishes, and not too heavy for warmer days when we tend to eat lighter cuisine. You can even give it a slight chill if you wish.

This wine features bright cherry and plum fruit with refreshingly balanced acidity. Pair this with roasts, soups or chili on cooler days. Try with salads or chicken dishes on slightly warmer days. At $ 12.99 sale-price at The Wine Source, I recommend you grab a few bottles and get busy finding your own "fresh" food pairings. Cheers.
-Dan Zetlmeisl

Editor's note: This wine is so fresh that its shipment hasn't even arrived! We expect supply to be in store shortly. If you'd like a notification when the Trenel Beaujolais Rochebonne is in stock and ready, please email us and we'll let you know when it hits!
Ameztoi Stimatum
Importer: De Maison Selections
Distributor: Free Run Wine Merchants
Regular: $24.99
SALE: $19.99

Many people looking for the freshest, zippiest whites have come across a white wine from Spain’s rising star Basque region, Getariako Txakolina. This small area is a favorite of those that have discovered the wine’s high saline minerality, citrusy acid, and very light, natural sparkle of trapped CO2. While the whites (deservedly) get massive praise from critics and everyday drinkers alike, there is a teensy, tiny bit of red wine that is produced in this region that absolutely cannot be overlooked.

Red Txakoli is about as rare as it is delicious (fyi it’s super rare) and the Ameztoi Stimatum epitomizes the freshie style that’s so fun for the early spring. The wine is made from Handarrabi Beltza vines that are up to 180 years old! These gnarled vines produce fruit with immense concentration, yet the resultant wine has a profound lightness to it. This is because you can find that same touch of CO2 that is the calling cards of the white Txakoli, paired with a backbone of high acidity through the bone-dry finish. The nose and palate bring fresh watermelon, mango, blackberry, and cherry, while bell pepper and minty basil keep the fruit balanced. I’d recommend drinking this with a slight chill on it and paired with fresh, summer fare. I enjoyed it with Cajun fish tacos and a pineapple salsa…definitely a do-over.
-Jake Groenke
Willakenzie Pinot Meunier
Distributor: Republic National Distributing Company
Regular: $24.99
SALE: $19.99

Though the weather continues to teeter wildly between extremes, Spring has already sprung in my soul. The time for sweaters and slippers has ended, soon to be replaced with polo shirts, flip flops, and whatever pairs of shorts I can still manage to squeeze into after a long winter. As rosé season is just around the corner, it’s time for the wines to start getting lighter and brighter in preparation. As such, Willakenzie’s Pinot Meunier is my preferred wine to tide me over in this transitional period.
Pinot Meunier is easily overlooked. One of Pinot Noir’s many cousins, Meunier rarely is seen outside of its contribution to Champagne wines (where, even there, it typically comprises only a small part of the blend).

Meunier shares many characteristics with Pinot Noir, but it tends to create an even paler, more limpid and brilliant wine. Red cherry and herbs still contribute heavily to the profile of this wine, but Willakenzie’s Meunier expresses wild strawberry and rhubarb as well. Willakenzie Estate is varietally correct, affordable, and, most importantly of all, astonishingly beautiful and delicious! This wine is juicy and complex, while still maintaining a refined delicacy to the palate. If you like a light and limber red wine, Willakenzie’s Meunier is a hidden gem that is sure to delight!
 -Andrew Sayers