Wine By Kari

Wine By Kari Drinking wine, visiting wineries, and learning one sip at a time.
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Fun Fact: Named as an homage to the classic film editing cut, Coppola’s "Cinema" blend combines the structure of Alexand...
21/08/2026

Fun Fact: Named as an homage to the classic film editing cut, Coppola’s "Cinema" blend combines the structure of Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with lush Zinfandel from their estate vineyards and Petit Verdot for deep color and spice.

Which varietal do you think shines most in Sonoma red blends?

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA DIRECTOR'S CUT CINEMA
Vintage: 2021
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot
Region: Sonoma County, California, USA
ABV: 15.0%

🥂 The Vibe: A movie night in with a hearty steak dinner or rich pasta, cozying up on a chilly evening.
🍒 The Profile: Black cherry, ripe cassis, dark plum, and toasted oak spice.
⏳ The Finish: Bold, velvety, and long with smooth, polished tannins.

Thoughts: I held off posting this bottle from last year while waiting for Coppola to update their site with the exact blend percentages! While they haven't posted the official numbers for '21 yet, the Cab-and-Zin core is unmistakable - packing a bold 15% ABV that still manages to feel silky and balanced. It's always a reliable classic when you want a rich California red blend!

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Fun Fact: Fermenting in terracotta clay is an ancient method that softens Malvasia Bianca’s naturally explosive floral a...
08/08/2026

Fun Fact: Fermenting in terracotta clay is an ancient method that softens Malvasia Bianca’s naturally explosive floral aromatics while adding a rich, crushed-stone minerality and incredible texture without any oak flavor!

Have you ever tried a wine aged in amphora?

RUNE MALVASIA BIANCA
Vintage: 2022
Varieties: 100% Malvasia Bianca
Region: Willcox, Arizona (Fruit from Rhumb Line & Pillsbury Vineyards)
ABV: 12.5%

🥂 The Vibe: Sitting on a sunlit patio on a warm afternoon with great conversation and a fresh mezze board.
🍬 The Profile: Fruity saltwater taffy, sweet honeysuckle, vibrant kiwi, and tropical fruit.
⏳ The Finish: Clean, bright, and refreshing with a lingering mineral edge.

Thoughts: I drank this bottle back in March and completely forgot to give it its well-deserved grid spotlight! Rune nailed the balance on this one - using their Italian clay Amphora to temper the big aromatics into something beautifully textured and balanced. With only 155 cases made, it’s a total local gem!

Rune Wines

Fun Fact: “Blanc de Noirs” means “white from black”. It’s a white wine made from red (black-skinned) grapes! Because gra...
05/08/2026

Fun Fact: “Blanc de Noirs” means “white from black”. It’s a white wine made from red (black-skinned) grapes! Because grape juice is clear, removing the skins immediately after pressing keeps the wine pale and crisp while retaining subtle red fruit aromatics.

Wine of the Month: BLANC DE NOIRS
Vintage: NV
Region: France
ABV: 13%
Varieties: 40% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, 20% Merlot, 10% Carignan
Notes: White peach, white strawberry, red apple, lemon peel, white flowers
Personality: Soft and fresh
Pairing: Fresh summer dishes

COOPER’S HAWK August 2026 tasting notes! Favorite this month? The Blanc de Noirs and brought one home! It hits that sweet spot of high-acid brightness, crisp lemon peel, and pure mineral freshness from the South of France without any heavy oak or cloying sweetness. If you love bone-dry, high-acid European whites (like Chablis or sleek Vinho Verde), this light, skin-free red grape expression will easily steal the line-up. We also enjoyed brunch before the tasting. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco with a side of cran and enjoyed with a delicious breakfast pizza. 👉 Swipe to see!

🍷Prosecco - Light, crisp, and bubbly to open the flight
🍷Cooper’s Hawk White - Easy-drinking, classic house white
🍷Blanc de Noirs - Pale, bright, and citrusy; red grapes vinified like a white wine
🍷Rosé - Minimal skin contact bringing out soft blush color and ripe summer berries
🍷Merlot - Smooth, dark cherry and soft tannins
🍷Cabernet Sauvignon - Pure California sunshine with rich black fruit and structure
🍷Carménère - Chilean blend bringing herbal depth and savory spice alongside Cab
🍷Swapped the Watermelon Paloma with Camille Magnificent. A beautiful Super Tuscan by Emily Wines MS ❤️

Cooper's Hawk

No regrets, just full plates and incredible flavors! 🍽✨We stopped by ZuZu over the weekend for Arizona Chef’s Week, and ...
02/08/2026

No regrets, just full plates and incredible flavors! 🍽✨

We stopped by ZuZu over the weekend for Arizona Chef’s Week, and let’s just say… moderation wasn’t on the menu! 😅 Every drink was top-tier and every course hit the spot. Thanks ZuZu!

Running July 31 through August 9, Arizona Chef’s Week brings special 3-course prix-fixe menus to 70+ local favorites.

👉 Swipe through for the food & cocktail showcase + the official menu. Which dish are you trying first?

Hotel Valley Ho

Fun Fact: Every single bottle of Louis Jadot features the iconic head of Bacchus (the Roman god of wine) on the label, a...
29/07/2026

Fun Fact: Every single bottle of Louis Jadot features the iconic head of Bacchus (the Roman god of wine) on the label, a signature emblem that has remained completely unchanged since the historic house was founded in 1859.

I know some of you run far away from heavy, buttery California Chardonnays, but have you ever tried a crisp, completely unoaked French white Burgundy? Tell me your thoughts on unoaked styles below! 🥂

LOUIS JADOT MÂCON-VILLAGES CHARDONNAY
Vintage: 2024
Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Mâconnais, Burgundy, France
ABV: 12.5%

✨ The Vibe: Elegant, clean, and completely unpretentious. This is classic French patio gold that brings all the high-acid freshness without any heavy oak weighing it down.
🍏 The Profile: Beautifully bright and mineral-forward. The nose opens with delicate white flowers, crisp green apple, and fresh lemon curd, resting on a distinct, chalky mineral undertone. On the palate, the limestone subsoils give it a gorgeous, clean-cut precision and a light, effortless mouthfeel.
⏳ The Finish: Sharp, lively, and incredibly refreshing. It wraps up with a mouth-watering zip of citrus rind and a clear, focused stony finish that instantly primes your palate for another sip.

Thoughts: If you love high-acidity, crisp white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Vermentino but want to explore Burgundy, this 2024 Mâcon-Villages is the ultimate gateway bottle! Because it is vinified entirely in stainless steel with zero oak contact, it completely preserves the pure, vibrant energy of the Chardonnay grape. It is dry, bright, and an absolute steal for the price point. Perfect for pairing with summer salads, goat cheese, or light seafood on a hot afternoon. 🌵🥂

lovejadot

Fun Fact: While we use the word “Spumante” to describe any Italian sparkling wine, it literally translates to “foaming.”...
27/07/2026

Fun Fact: While we use the word “Spumante” to describe any Italian sparkling wine, it literally translates to “foaming.” Unlike lighter frizzante wines (which have gentle, soft bubbles), a true Spumante is bottled under high pressure, usually between 5 to 6 atmospheres. That is the exact same intense, energetic bubble pressure you find in a bottle of Champagne!

Are you a fan of bright, tropical bubbles, or do you prefer your sparkling wines to be more lean, minerally, and citrus-focused? 🥂 Let me know in the comments!

BOTTAIA WINERY SPUMANTE
Vintage: 2023
Varieties: Fiano, Pecorino, Vermentino
Region: Temecula Valley, California, USA
ABV: 13.0%

🥂 The Vibe: Elegant, celebratory, and effortlessly bright. This is your go-to bottle for a lively patio brunch or pairing with fresh, light fare on a sunny day.
🍍 The Profile: Fresh pineapple, bright lemon zest, ripe melon, and a lively, delicate texture.
⏳ The Finish: Completely crisp, clean, and beautifully refreshing.

Thoughts: This is such a beautifully crafted, sunny expression of California-grown Italian varieties! The wine is delicate and incredibly effervescent, showcasing an elegant stream of lively bubbles right out of the gate. On the palate, the crisp acidity balances out the lush, sunny fruit flavors beautifully, making it an absolute joy to drink. It’s sophisticated enough for a special celebration but easygoing enough to crack open on a warm afternoon as a refreshing aperitif.

BOTTAIA Winery ※ (BOH•TAH•YA)

Fun Fact: This wine is made using méthode ancestrale (the oldest way to make sparkling wine!) where the wine is bottled ...
24/07/2026

Fun Fact: This wine is made using méthode ancestrale (the oldest way to make sparkling wine!) where the wine is bottled before its primary fermentation even finishes to trap those natural, playful bubbles. Nathalie and Rémi Larroque make this sustainably in Gaillac, one of France’s oldest wine regions, and only produce about 3,000 bottles a year!

Have you jumped on the Pét-Nat train yet, or do you stick to traditional method sparklers? 🥂 Let me know in the comments!

MARY TAYLOR WINES ‘GAILLACOISE’ PETILLANT NATUREL
Vintage: 2022
Varieties: 100% Mauzac
Region: Gaillac, Southwest France
ABV: 11.0%

🥂 The Vibe: The ultimate patio happy hour pour. Casual, vibrant, un-stuffy, and basically summer in a glass.
🍏 The Profile: Dusty green apple skins, lemon zest, faint lacy wild honey, and crunchy texture.
⏳ The Finish: Bone-dry, lean, and beautifully lip-smacking.

Thoughts: If you live for high-acid, brilliant structural tension, do not sleep on this bottle. I spotted it on the menu at Postino and couldn’t resist. Because it skips the heavy, ye**ty brioche notes of a traditional Champagne, you get something beautifully rustic, lean, and ultra-crisp. It is light-bodied, incredibly refreshing, and has just the right amount of natural energy without being overly funky. It’s an absolute dream alongside a massive bruschetta board—the snappy acidity cuts right through rich cheeses and savory toppings perfectly.

Mary Taylor
Postino

Fun Fact: Growing crisp Sauvignon Blanc in Cochise County means farming in a true “high-desert” paradox. The vines sit a...
20/07/2026

Fun Fact: Growing crisp Sauvignon Blanc in Cochise County means farming in a true “high-desert” paradox. The vines sit at a massive elevation of over 4,000 feet, where the blinding daytime desert sun ripes the tropical fruit flavors, but the dramatic 30-to-40-degree temperature drop at night freezes the grapes’ sugar production, locking in that razor-sharp, lip-smacking acidity we live for!

I’m always chasing that high-acid citrus ‘zip’ in a summer white wine. What is your absolute go-to bottle when the summer heat hits? Drop your recommendations below! 🥂☀️

OAK CREEK VINEYARDS SAUVIGNON BLANC
Vintage: 2022
Varieties: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, USA
ABV: 13.5%

✨ The Vibe: Pure summer in a glass. This is the ultimate, crisp patio-sipper designed to completely beat the desert heat.
🍋 The Profile: Incredibly bright and highly aromatic. The nose opens up with an intense burst of fresh grapefruit, zesty key lime, and gooseberry, backed by a subtle hint of green grass and light spice. On the palate, it delivers a beautifully round mouthfeel without losing an ounce of its signature crispness.
⏳ The Finish: Clean, vibrant, and incredibly refreshing. The mouth-watering acidity leaves a lingering kiss of tart citrus that begs you to take another sip.

Thoughts: Re-visiting this 2022 vintage is such a spectacular reminder of how well-crafted Arizona white wines can age while keeping their vibrant energy! Sometimes older Sauvignon Blancs can lose their edge, but this bottling from Oak Creek is still laser-focused, beautifully dry, and packed with that gorgeous citrus “zip” I crave when the desert temperature spikes. It is a stunning reflection of Cochise County fruit.🌵🥂

Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery
Oak Creek Vineyards and Winery

Fun Fact: Pitagora is the Italian name for the legendary Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras (think a² + b² =...
13/07/2026

Fun Fact: Pitagora is the Italian name for the legendary Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras (think a² + b² = c²). When Francis Ford Coppola’s grandfather, Agostino, was a child growing up in Southern Italy, he used to play among the ancient Greek ruins where Pythagoras once ran his school. That same passionate curiosity inspired this unique, mathematically balanced red blend.

COPPOLA PITAGORA
Vintage: 2021
Varieties: 47.3% Syrah, 29.6% Petit Verdot, 20.3% Malbec, 1.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.3% Other
Region: Sonoma County, California, USA
ABV: 15%

✨ The Vibe: A rich, comforting, and savory weekend red that is built for grilling season.
🍷 The Profile: This vintage is heavily dominated by Syrah, and it shows beautifully. The nose opens with intense wild berry jam, cocoa powder, light baking spices, and a gorgeous hint of violets. On the palate, it is incredibly lush and juicy, packed with black cherry, blackberry bramble, and a touch of warm clove.
✨ The Finish: Long, smooth, and deeply satisfying. The 18 months in French oak give it a velvety texture, leaving a lingering kiss of dark fruit and sweet spice.

Thoughts: This blend changes with every single vintage. For instance, the 2020 had Cabernet Sauvignon, Negroamaro, and Petit Verdot. I have been drinking these since the 2012 vintage, though they do not produce it every year. Personally, I am obsessed with the 2021 being so Syrah-forward. It paired perfectly with Friday night burgers. Does anyone want to guess what that 1.3% ‘Other’ is? Let me hear your wildest theories below! 🍷🤣

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Fun Fact: Syrah is a true chameleon grape. In cooler climates, it leans heavily into savory, wild notes like cracked bla...
10/07/2026

Fun Fact: Syrah is a true chameleon grape. In cooler climates, it leans heavily into savory, wild notes like cracked black pepper and olive tapenade. But when grown in high-intensity sunshine, like Australia or our high-altitude Arizona deserts, it develops a much plusher, darker berry profile while still keeping that signature, beautiful peppery kick.

When it comes to Syrah, do you prefer the savory, smoky Old World style, or do you love a bold, fruit-forward expression? Let me hear your thoughts below! 👇

CARLSON CREEK SYRAH
Vintage: 2021
Varieties: 100% Syrah
Region: Willcox, Arizona, USA
ABV: 13.6%

🍷 The Vibe: Bold, approachable, and perfect for a relaxed mid-week dinner.
🍒 The Profile: Fresh cut cherry wood, hibiscus, and red plum on the nose, leading to bright strawberry licorice, A.K.A. Twizzlers, on the palate.
⏳ The Finish: Balanced and smooth with light tannins.

Thoughts: This bottle is a spectacular reminder of why Arizona Syrah deserves a permanent spot in your cellar. Coming from the high-elevation soils of Willcox, it brings an incredible balance of rich fruit and a beautiful pop of natural acidity that keeps it so lively in the glass. It is a fantastic option for mid-week casual dining, especially if you are throwing some gourmet burgers or wood-fired pizza on the patio. 217 cases produced.

Exciting side note: Carlson Creek is actually releasing a brand-new vintage of their Syrah and Sangiovese today 👏I can’t wait to try these two tonight!! 🍷✨🍷✨
Carlson Creek Vineyard

Find this wine on the Scottsdale Wine Trail!
Scottsdale Wine Trail

Dirección

Carr. Transpeninsular SJC-CSL. Km. 18.4. Lomas De Tule SJC. San Jose Del Cabo
San José Del Cabo
23407

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