Thierry Rodriquez started his winemaking journey in Faugeres in the Languedoc in Southern France, years after exporting wines from the region. Since the winery's creation in 1998 he has adopted sustainable viticulture practices meticulously producing wines that reflect the beautiful terroir of the region. His Grenache Gris is a personal favorite of mine hailing from over 50 year old vines. The nose shows notes of pear, yuzu, and green herbs. A mineral backbone holds the opulent mid palate and helps create a lively finish. There is orange-tangerine fruit and notes of cardamom and persimmon. This special white wine will be a refreshing companion to the Apero course.

The Jouffreau family crafts well structured Malbec in South West France in Cahors. This is their flagship wine. Vines are planted on river terraces on a mixture of gravel and flint soils. While wines from Cahors are typically known for being rustic and tannic, almost aggressively so, this wine shows balance and nuance due to its unique terroir. The nose has aromas of red berry fruit and garrigue and the medium plus weighted body delivers notes of blackberry fruit and anise. Cahors is a classic pairing with cassoulet and this is the best one we have ever sold.

Lustau is widely considered one of the great sherry houses but they also make sneaky good Vermouth. Their Vermouth Rose is butterscotch and vanilla forward with notes of strawberry, orange blossom, and cardamom. This sweeter Vermouth would be a fun pairing with the Manjari Enrobed fruits. Serve chilled in a white wine glass.