Grape Collective

11/05/2025

From Medical Research to Making Wine Magic ✨🍷
Meet Elizabeth Vianna, the brilliant winemaker behind Chimney Rock in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District. Her journey? Anything but ordinary.
After working in developmental neurobiology research at Cornell Medical School, Elizabeth had a life-changing moment at a Christie’s wine auction. One sip of a 1985 Sociando-Mallet changed everything. She traded the lab for the vineyard, studied at UC Davis, and never looked back. Read the column by
Today, she’s both Winemaker and General Manager at Chimney Rock, crafting stunning Cabernets and the breathtaking Elevage Blanc—a Sauvignon Blanc/Gris blend that’s built to last.
Her advice for wine lovers? 🍇 Be adventurous—try different regions. Elizabeth’s favorite part of winemaking? Learning the ever-changing relationship between vineyard and wine, and the creative art of blending.
Read her full Q&A on our site (link in bio) where she shares wisdom on becoming a winemaker, Chimney Rock’s sustainability practices, and why no two days in the cellar are ever the same.

11/03/2025

Exciting news from Grape Collective Montclair! 🍷. Ari Bildner (right), a Montclair native and former Grape Collective team member, is acquiring Grape Collective Montclair. Our Grape Collective Upper West Side location in Manhattan and the digital publication GrapeCollective.com will remain under current ownership.

Under Ari’s leadership, Grape Collective Montclair will maintain the ethos of supporting artisanal winemakers and using storytelling as a tool to bring customers closer to the vision of the producers. The store will maintain its warm, neighborhood spirit while inspiring people to discover new and interesting wines.

With an extensive background in both craft beer and many parts of the wine industry, Ari has gained expertise from managing wine stores across New Jersey, including CoolVines, Wine Dad’s, and Grape Collective. He is also the Beverage Director at Hilltown in Egremont, MA, a neo-neopolitan, upscale casual restaurant that features a unique southern Italian wine list and beverage program. As a Grape Collective team member, he gained firsthand experience in helping local Montclair customers discover new favorites.

I’m excited the store is in the hands of local ownership and led by someone who shares the values that are so core to the Grape Collective idea. Stop by to meet Ari and toast to new beginnings! 🍷

Christopher Barnes

11/02/2025

What Do Consumers Ask Winemakers Most Often? Chimney Rock Winery Has Some Answers
" I recently tried the Le Petit Cheval, (Cheval Blanc’s white blend) and it was fascinating to see the stylistic similarities to our own Elevage Blanc, which is inspired by the white wines of Bordeaux." Read the column by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher

We had our first Chimney Rock wine in the late ’80s when a member of our little wine group in Miami brought its elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. From then on, we’d buy it as a classic splurge. The winery was founded in 1981 when a Pepsi executive, Hack Wilson, and his wife, Stella, purchased 180 acre...

11/01/2025

Kitties love Grape Collective too! 😺

10/30/2025

From Forgotten Backwater to Wine Revolution 🍷
Two hours south of Barcelona lies one of Spain’s most spectacular secrets: Priorat. This tiny region of just 1,800 hectares sat abandoned for most of the 20th century—until a small group of visionary winemakers arrived in 1989 with an audacious dream.
Their secret weapon? Llicorella—dark, glittery slate soil that forces vine roots to plunge 10-12 meters deep, creating wines so mineral-driven, it’s like “licking a rock” 🪨
We sat down with Xavier Peñas of , who left Barcelona to return home and bet everything on this dramatic landscape of terraced vineyards and steep mountain slopes. His story—and his wines—prove that sometimes the most unforgiving terrain produces the most unforgettable results.
Today, Priorat stands as one of only two Spanish regions with the prestigious DOCa classification, producing just 50,000 bottles of pure, concentrated terroir in their cellars.
Read the full interview on GrapeCollective.com (link in bio) to discover why this once-forgotten region is now producing some of the world’s most sought-after wines.

10/28/2025

🍷✨ Had the privilege of meeting Mike Hinds of Franchere Wine Company alongside the amazing team, and let me tell you – the wines are captivating.

Mike’s journey started in Chicago wine shops, where a single bottle of Vouvray sparked an obsession that would bring him back to his native Oregon. His question still resonates: “What is this? Why is this so magical with my food?” That curiosity led him to viticulture classes, cellar work at Illahe Vineyards, and eventually to creating his own wines.
Named after his great-great grandfather Gabriel Franchère, who arrived in Oregon in 1811, Franchere honors both history and place. Gabriel’s words about the future Portland – describing “a smiling and enchanting prospect to the observer who loved the beauties of simple nature” – perfectly capture what you taste in every glass.
The wines? Fresh, savory, balanced, and unmistakably Willamette Valley. Mike hand-farms 15% of production and sources the rest from organic, biodynamic, and sustainably-farmed vineyards. Native fermentations, neutral vessels, no adjustments – just pure expression of Oregon terroir. 🌲These are wines with soul.

10/20/2025

“What’s Money?” 💰🍷
When someone in the chat asked this question during a recent Wine Writers Symposium panel, it cut right to the heart of what legendary wine journalists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher wanted to explore: How do wine communicators actually make a living in 2025?
The answer? There’s no single path—and that’s the point.
In this fascinating roundtable (featuring André Hueston Mack Dan Petroski and moderated by Felicity Carter), Dottie and the panelists reveal:
✨ Why authenticity is your greatest asset (“You ARE the product”)
💬 How answering every DM for 17 years built a wine empire
📱 The surprising tools top communicators use (SuperPhone, personal emails, even Reddit)
🎯 Why focusing on being known for ONE thing beats throwing paint at the wall
🍸 How one winemaker built a following for 15 years without posting a single selfie
🍷”I got into wine by watching old episodes of Frasier, and 18 months later, I was the sommelier at the French Laundry. So, in that 18 months, what happened? I think that’s what they want to hear. ”
Whether you dream of writing about wine, already work in the industry, or just love understanding how creators build sustainable careers, this is essential reading.
Read the full discussion at Grape Collective (link in bio)
“I always used to say, marry somebody rich if you want to be a wine writer.” — Felicity Carter .felicity (before explaining why that’s no longer the only option)

10/18/2025

"I got into wine by watching old episodes of Frasier, and 18 months later, I was the sommelier at the French Laundry. So, in that 18 months, what happened? I think that’s what they want to hear." André Hueston Mack - Read the column by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher

It’s tough out there for the little folks. The Urban Grape, a pioneering wine shop in Boston that did so much for its community, suddenly closed its doors, soon after its DC branch was shuttered. Coco Noir Wine Shop & Bar, in downtown Oakland, has posted pleas for donations to support “daily ope...

10/17/2025

🍷 Tonight’s the Night! 🍷
Join us for a special tasting of Aslina Cabernet Sauvignon at our Montclair location!
📍 Grape Collective Montclair
🕔 TODAY, 5-7 PM
Discover the bold, elegant flavors of this exceptional Cabernet. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or just looking for the perfect way to kick off your weekend, we’d love to see you there!
Walk-ins welcome. See you tonight! 🥂

10/14/2025

The Numbers Don’t Lie 🍷
Women lead just 17% of California wineries—but produce 32% of the state’s top-rated Chardonnays.
The feature by Lucia Albino Gilbert and John C. Gilbert dives deep into this remarkable finding from the Robb Report’s “50 Greatest California Chardonnays of the 21st Century” and examines what it means for the industry.
They spoke with four exceptional winemakers whose wines appeared on both the Robb Report and Wine Spectator/Wine Enthusiast Top 100 lists:
🔹 Geneviève Janssen (Robert Mondavi)
🔹 Chantal Forthun (Flowers Winery) 🔹 Katie Vogt (Pahlmeyer)
🔹 Heidi von der Mehden (Merry Edwards)
Their insights on the 2014 and 2021 dream vintages, navigating industry challenges, and creating world-class wines are both inspiring and illuminating.
“Talent, intuition, and connection to the vineyard are what define a great winemaker—no matter the gender.” —Geneviève Janssen
Read the full story on GrapeCollective.com (link in bio)

10/14/2025

The Numbers Don't Lie 🍷
Women lead just 17% of California wineries—but produce 32% of the state's top-rated Chardonnays.
Our new feature dives deep into this remarkable finding from the Robb Report's "50 Greatest California Chardonnays of the 21st Century" and examines what it means for the industry.
Lucia Albino Gilbert and John C. Gilbert spoke with four exceptional winemakers whose wines appeared on both the Robb Report and Wine Spectator/Wine Enthusiast Top 100 lists:
🔹 Geneviève Janssen (Robert Mondavi)
🔹 Chantal Forthun (Flowers Winery)
🔹 Katie Vogt (Pahlmeyer)
🔹 Heidi von der Mehden (Merry Edwards)
Their insights on the 2014 and 2021 dream vintages, navigating industry challenges, and creating world-class wines are both inspiring and illuminating.
"Talent, intuition, and connection to the vineyard are what define a great winemaker—no matter the gender." —Geneviève Janssen
Read the full story on GrapeCollective.com

https://www.grapecollective.com/women-winemakers-receive-greater-acclaim-for-top-rated-california-wines-not-only-chardonnay/

Précis. “The 50 Greatest California Chardonnays of the 21st Century so far,” a recent Robb Report, provided an unexpected opportunity to illuminate lead women winemakers who produce top wines. In this article we share the findings from two studies. In our first study, we examined the extent to ...

10/10/2025

“This is World-Class Wine” – Discover Bibich Syrah from Croatia

Today at our Montclair NJ location from 4.30 to 6.30 we are tasting Syrah from Croatia – wines from a legendary winery that left Anthony Bourdain utterly speechless.
When Anthony Met Alen
You may remember the unforgettable moment from Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” (Season 8, Episode: “Croatian Coast”) when he visited the stunning Bibich Winery in Northern Dalmatia. After experiencing a spectacular 12-course meal paired with Alen Bibich’s wines, Bourdain exclaimed:
“This is world-class food; this is world-class wine. If you haven’t been here yet, you are a f*ing idiot!”
And after his first sip of Bibich wine, he asked in amazement: “Why, oh why, is there so much amazing wine in this country?”
Meet the Winemaker
Alen Bibich represents the 16th generation of his family making wine in the village of Plastovo, near Skradin. His family’s viticultural history spans over 500 years. After much of the estate was destroyed during the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990s, Alen painstakingly restored his grandfather’s vineyards and revolutionized Croatian winemaking. He became the first Croatian winemaker to export to the United States, and his passionate approach to both indigenous varieties and international grapes like Syrah has earned him recognition as one of Croatia’s premier winemakers.
The Wines
We’ll be tasting Bibich’s stunning organically-farmed Syrah from Dalmatia, grown on ancient karst limestone soils. These wines showcase what happens when old-world Mediterranean terroir meets passionate, modern winemaking – hand-harvested grapes, natural fermentation, minimal intervention, and unfined, unfiltered bottling that lets the wine speak for itself.
Expect elegant expressions with notes of black cherry, wild herbs, white pepper, and that distinctive minerality that comes from 38-year-old vines grown on Croatian limestone.