OUR LATEST LIBATIONS

The La Posta family of wines is expanding!

Three new wines have joined La Posta veterans Paulucci, Pizzella, Armando, and Cocina Blend. To differentiate between these seven wines, we have established 2 lines within the La Posta portfolio: Single Vineyard and Cocina.  La Posta Single Vineyard remains Argentina's first grower-designated line of wines and are crafted from the fruit of some of Ed y Nick's favorite growers in Mendoza.  La Posta Cocina (pronounced ‘koh-see-nah' and meaning "kitchen" in Spanish) is a line of wine blends from these same growers and a few who hope to join the group.

“We wanted to more distinctly separate the Cocina wines from the grower-designated wines, not only to experiment with marrying the flavors of several individual growers, but to also offer Argentine wine lovers a delicious everyday wine at a great price”, said Ed Lehrman, VC co-founder.

New to the Single Vineyard line is La Posta Pinot Noir, Glorieta Vineyard ($17). The Cocina line welcomes La Posta Cocina Malbec ($15), a blend of Malbecs, and La Posta Cocina Blanco de Blancos ($15), a blend of Chardonnay, Torrontes, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Packaging changes will also help to distinguish the two lines as pictured above. (The new Cocina Blend label will roll out with the '09 vintage). All La Posta wines will also be moving to screw cap closures over the next several months. Click here to read more about all La Posta wines.

Your new summer sake are about to arrive!

Rihaku Origin of  Purity is a unique addition to the VC ginjo line-up as it is our first sake made with Omachi rice. Discovered in 1859, Omachi is the only pure rice strain that has been grown consistently in Japan . This is quite an impressive feat as Omachi is one of the tallest sake rices which makes it incredibly difficult to harvest and susceptible to damage by typhoons and strong storms. We're lucky that Rihaku has found one of the best Omachi growers in Japan. This genshu (undiluted sake) is as pure as it gets and is a must for any sake lover!

Takatenjin Soul of the Sensei is a special Junmai Daiginjo brewed in memory of former Takatenjin Master Toji Shokichi Hase, one of the four famous toji known as the "Four Guardians of Heaven” of the prestigious Noto Toji Guild. The brewery continues its former sensei's traditions with this clean, dry and rich brew which is considered one of Japan's most highly regarded sake. Pick up a bottle and toast this terrific toji with your sake-loving friends.

BUDINI: A BRAND NEW LOOK,
A BRAND NEW WINE

This summer, a brand new Budini enters the market. We are excited to announce that Vine Connections has recently acquired the brand in order to shepherd it in a new direction. “We had an opportunity to assume tighter control of Budini's high-quality production and craft the wine with a more sustainable and socially responsible producer. Budini wines will now be made at a second winery of Dominio del Plata, operated under their same strict ISO 22000 standards. We are very excited about this new phase of Budini,” commented Ed Lehrman, co-founder. VC also teamed up with a young winemaker, Jose Lovaglio, who brings a family history of great Argentine wine production to the brand.

Sustainability.
The Budini Chardonnay and Malbec will be sourced from sustainably-farmed, high elevation vineyards located in Mendoza. “We are committed to only sourcing fruit for the Budini wines from sustainably farmed vineyards. Our dedicated vineyard team is incredibly passionate about sustainable agriculture and will ensure that all vines are tended with an eye toward minimizing negative environmental impact and health risks for workers,” adds Jose. Long-term soil health is a priority, so extensive cover crops are used to help keep the desert soils viable and to prevent erosion.

Social Responsibility.
The winery seeks to be one of the most socially responsible in Argentina. One of the winery's top priorities is promoting the well-being of current and future generations of employees, their families, and the community. Employee training, competitive compensation, job creation, local business support and active community involvement are some ways the winery supports these groups.

Scholarship.
Looking toward future generations, we support the Dominio del Plata Scholarship Foundation to provide educational opportunities to winery worker families throughout Argentina. A portion of all Budini sales will be donated to this organization to continue the excellent work they have already begun.

And the name? “We wanted to keep the name that a lot of wine lovers already know, but we wanted to capture the new meaning in it. As we considered this, we were struck that the letters lined up with the core feeling of the brand: Built Upon Dreams of Individuals Not Institutions. This is a wine that resonates with deep commitments by individuals, not some corporate wine program,” says VC co-founder Nick Ramkowsky.

The newly-packaged Budini will first be available for direct import from Argentina starting July 1st. The wine is expected to reach VC's California and New Jersey warehouses by late July. Please contact your VC sales rep for specific pricing.

VINE CONNECTIONS:
AN IMPORTER TO TRUST

We are excited to announce that Vine Connections has again been recognized as an “Importer you can Trust”. Details Magazine's Anniversary Issue said: “For the wines of Argentina, an endorsement from this company promises powerful yet easy-drinking reds that the country does best”.

Also, in 2009, Vine Connections was the only Argentine wine importer listed in Slate Magazine’s Pocket Guide of “Wine Importers You Can Trust”. Click here to download a press flyer illustrating both of these gracious salutes.

We don't take these commendations lightly. We have always felt that the best way to find quality wine is to count on credible importers who can do the work for you. We have worked hard to ensure that each and every bottle we import is consistently impressive, and we'd like to extend a very heartfelt thanks to Details Magazine and Slate Magazine for taking notice.

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