Grape Collective

11/19/2025

🥂 Tired of defaulting to “VC” every holiday season?
Wine legends Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher are here to change your bubbly game. In their latest column, they share why it’s time to venture beyond V***e Clicquot—not because it’s bad, but because there’s a whole world of sparkling wine waiting to wow your guests.
From a $20 California gem that pairs perfectly with mac ‘n cheese 🧀 to a profound $120 late-disgorged masterpiece, from New York’s Finger Lakes to Italy’s Piedmont, they’ve tasted dozens of sparklers to bring you the best.
The secret? It’s not about finding one specific bottle—it’s about understanding what to look for wherever you shop.
✨ Want to know what “Brut Nature” means and why it matters?
🍾 Curious about American sparkling wine houses that rival Champagne?
💎 Ready to discover why “expensive” sometimes means something special?
Read their full guide - Link in bio!

Alternative shorter version if needed:
Beyond the Bubbles 🥂
Why settle for the same old sparkler? Wine experts Dorothy J. Gaiter & John Brecher tasted dozens of bubblies to help you find something special this season—from $20 gems to $120 treasures.
The best part? You don’t need to find their exact picks. Learn what to look for and discover amazing sparklers wherever you shop.
Read the full column (link in bio) and give your guests something to talk about! ✨

11/18/2025

🍇✨ A Biodynamic Beauty in Penedès
The Grape Collective team including cameraman extraordinaire and Super Producer at with Joan Cusiné, exploring one of Catalonia’s most inspiring family wineries! Since 1790, this estate has been crafting magic just 30km from Barcelona, and today they’re leading the charge in organic (since 2002) and biodynamic viticulture (since 2012).

Walking through vineyards tended by their own flock of sheep 🐑, surrounded by buzzing bee hives 🐝, and tasting wines and Cavas that truly express the terroir—this is winemaking with soul. Joan’s passion for the land is infectious.

From their expressive still wines to their exceptional Cava (they’re one of only 14 “Elaborador Integral” producers controlling every step from vine to bottle), Parés Baltà proves that farming in harmony with nature creates something extraordinary, even at scale.

And yes, attempted to saber a bottle… let’s just say his enthusiasm exceeded his ex*****on. We all learned that sabering is best left to the professionals. 🍾😅

Salut to Joan and the entire Parés Baltà family for an unforgettable visit!

11/17/2025

🍇 Priorat Magic with Jordi at Gratavinum 🍷
What a day in the wild and rugged heart of Priorat! The Grape Collective team with and had the privilege of spending time at with winemaker Jordi Fernández, where passion for biodynamic winemaking meets the dramatic beauty of Priorat.
Standing among century-old Garnacha and Carinyena vines, their roots diving deep into the famous llicorella slate soils, Jordi shared his philosophy: “It’s about respecting what nature gives us.” 🌿
The commitment here is real – biodynamic since 2014, no irrigation, native yeasts, and minimal intervention. These vines literally struggle for survival in the rocky terrain, and that struggle translates into wines of incredible depth and minerality.
Tasted their Silvestris the elegant Rocaforts Vi de Paratge, and the stunning 2πr – each bottle tells the story of this unique terroir. The transparency and lift in these wines? Chef’s kiss 👨‍🍳💋
Fun fact: The town of Gratallops has just 250 people but 25 wineries – that’s one winery for every 10 inhabitants! This is wine country at its most authentic.
Massive thanks to Jordi for opening the doors to your beautiful world. This is the Priorat we dream about. 🙏✨

11/14/2025

🎬🍇 MOST FESTIVAL DOUBLE FEATURE! 🍇🎬
We’re thrilled to announce that TWO Grape Collective short films are screening at the 13th edition of MOST - the International Wine Film Festival in Penedès this weekend!
MOST celebrates the culture of wine and rural life through the power of cinema. We’re deeply grateful to the festival organizers for including our films in this prestigious lineup and giving us the opportunity to share our stories with fellow wine lovers and cinephiles in the heart of Catalunya’s wine country.
🎥 “PALMENTO”
📅 Saturday, November 15th
⏰ 19:00
📍 Auditori del Local d’Esquerres, Avinyonet del Penedès
🎥 “NOAH’S VINES”
📅 Sunday, November 16th⏰ 12:30 (Double “Collita” Session)
📍 Vinseum, Vilafranca del Penedès
Even better? Some of our amazing team will be there! Come meet:
✨ Director Christopher Barnes
✨ Super Producer Jason E Borrows
✨ Benedict Summerscale
✨ Designer and Soundman Piers Parlett
Two exceptional films, two incredible venues, one unforgettable weekend celebrating wine, culture, and storytelling.
Come join us 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

11/12/2025

527 years of winemaking. 21 generations. One family’s unwavering commitment to place.
Meet Pepe Raventós who’s honoring his family’s legacy while revolutionizing Spanish sparkling wine. In 1872, his ancestor created the first Spanish méthode champenoise—laying the foundation for Cava. But in 2012, Pepe made the bold decision to leave the Cava D.O., believing mass production had diluted the true expression of Penedès.
Now he’s championing indigenous varieties like Xarel·lo—which he provocatively claims belongs “on top of the white grape pyramid”—and reviving Sumoll, the “Catalan Nebbiolo.” His biodynamic approach on ancient limestone soils (fossilized seabed from 20 million years ago) creates sparkling wines that rival Champagne, but with their own distinct mineral identity.
“The more diversity there is in the system, the more unique will be the grapes,” says Pepe, who’s working to create a new appellation where valleys, villages, and vineyards—not brands—are the protagonists.
Read the full conversation about tradition, terroir, and the future of Penedès at the link in bio. special thanks to soundman extraordinaire (pictured)

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)