CUCINA enoteca Irvine
chardonnay blend
2020 roederer estate ‘apple alley vineyard’
anderson valley, ca
3 oz | 8 / 6 oz | 16 / bottle | 50
founded in 1982 by the champagne house louis roederer, roederer estate is one of california’s premier sparkling wine producers. based in the cool-climate anderson valley, it’s one of few producers in the state to craft single-vineyard sparkling wines. the 2020 vintage of ‘apple alley vineyard’ yielded just under 600 cases. a rare, focused expression from the north coast. bright and crisp like a granny smith apple, it’s layered with subtle notes of baked pie crust. a delicious example of traditional-method winemaking done right.
pair with: squash blossoms
sauvignon blanc
2024 spottswoode
napa/sonoma, ca
3 oz | 8 / 6 oz | 16 / bottle | 50
spottswoode’s distinctive expression of sauvignon blanc is sourced from both their napa valley estate and select small parcels in sonoma. widely regarded as one of california’s best examples of the varietal, this wine brings together grapes from two of the state’s most prestigious growing regions. aromas of white flowers and ripe peach lead into a textured palate with a beautifully balanced, crisp finish.
pair with: weiser farms melon salad
cabernet/syrah blend
2022 cairjn blend no. 3
paso robles, ca
3 oz | 12 / 6 oz | 24 / bottle | 79
if you love big, bold, juicy reds, this one’s for you. winemaker andy neja of cairjn crafts his blend no. 3 as a vintage-specific expression, changing year to year. the 2022 vintage leans heavily on cabernet sauvignon and syrah, with a subtle touch of graciano and mourvèdre for depth and nuance. with only 115 cases produced, it’s a standout example of what a central coast red blend can and should be.
pair with: short rib mafaldine
CUCINA urbana
sandhi blanc de noir
santa rita hills
6oz | 18 / 9oz | 23 / bottle | 45
from the minds of winemaker sashi moorman and master sommelier raj parr, sandhi was formed. with shared passions they wanted to create “expressive wines that elevate food and enhance conversation”. with a “less is more” mentality, their wines are truly a representation of the dynamic place that is santa rita hills.
pairings: shrimp puttanesca
orixte sotelo albarino
monterey county and sonoma valley
6oz | 19 / 9oz | 25 / bottle | 58
with their tagline “california wines, spanish roots” they pay homage to the spanish missionaries that first introduced the culture of wine to the new territory in the early 1800’s. after the heavy influence of the french cultivars of the 1960s, orixte sotelo aspires to write a new chapter in california viticultural history by bringing spanish grape varieties that “capture a unique essence of california’s vast terroirs”.
pairings: hamachi crudo
sequoia grove cabernet sauvignon
napa valley
6oz | 25 / 9oz | 32 / bottle | 64
in the heart of rutherford, this certified napa green winery focuses on sustainable farming practices with minimal intervention in the vineyard. producing exceptional cabernet since 1979, they have a philosophy on creating a balanced wine allowing the opportunity for a wider range of food pairings.
pairings: short rib mafaldine
CUCINA enoteca Del Mar
chardonnay
2021 schramsberg brut
napa valley, ca
3 oz. | 9 / 6 oz. | 18 / bottle | 42
the first commercially produced chardonnay based brut sparkling wine, schramsberg grew in recognition in the early 70s. this blanc de blanc is dry and crisp with notes of granny smith apple, lemon lime and baked bread. enjoy with fresh seafood or by itself it is the perfect wine to start the evening with.
pairs with: octopus
vermentino
2024 cairjn
paso robles, ca
3 oz. | 8 / 6 oz. | 16 / bottle | 50
starting as a passion project this vermentino out of paso robles shines due to its excellent fruit and careful control of the winemakers at cairjn. with aromas of lime, daffodils and ocean spray and a plate filled with grapefruit, crisp melon and pear. this wine is best enjoyed on a warm summer day or night.
pairs with: branzino
cabernet franc
2020 foxen ‘7200’
santa maria valley, ca
3 oz. | 13 / 6 oz. | 25 / bottle 76
a phenomenal representation of what cab franc should be, the team at foxen knocked it out of the park with this release. a bouquet of red and black currant and bittersweet chocolate meet a full bodied and rich palate. best enjoyed with a nice cut of red meat, enjoy this wine as it opens up in your glass.
pairs with: bavette steak
CUCINA enoteca Newport Beach
2022 schramsburg blanc de blancs sparkling wine
north coast
3 oz | 8 / 6 oz | 16 / bottle | 39
every day, we should find a reason to celebrate. this wine will gladly help you with that. founded in 1862 and owned by the davies family, they constantly overdeliver on quality for the value. some might say this is the most consistent and delicious sparkling wine made in the usa, and the argument is valid. from the historical white house parties this was poured at to memories made at your backyard parties, sip, savor, and get a little bubbly.
2016 aleksander reserve red wine
paso robles
3 oz | 18 / 6 oz | 36 / bottle | 115
warm hugs and delicious wines are what greet you when you venture to paso robles to experience this exceptional winery. the respect they show the vineyard shines from the bottle, once you pull that cork. it’s a true sense of place wine that transports you back to that first moment you met this exceptional family. goran, sena, sasha, zeus and nina all have their hands on this beautifully balanced classic red wine coming from paso robles.
2018 stolpman ‘la croce’
sangiovese and syrah blend
ballard canyon
3 oz | 11 / 6 oz | 22 / bottle | 60
a little sangiovese and a little syrah, what a delightful combination. pete stolpman learned a great many things from his dad tom, most of which i probably can’t repeat here, but one thing is for sure, if they ripen together, they can probably go together. so in 2001 pete tried it out, and the wine was a delicious success. this 50/50 blend of sangiovese and syrah showcases the ability of both grapes to enhance the other.