After all, it’s possible I singlehandedly keep some wineries in business …
Last year, I ran down some wine recommendations in this post for stocking up across the nation. Today, we focus on Austin and natural wine. What is natural wine? Low intervention, often but not always organic and/or biodynamically farmed, often but not always lower alcohol and/or low sugar. There’s not one defining characteristic for natural wine and it’s not regulated, so depending on what’s important to you, you may have to do a little producer research. Often but not always wine labeled “natural” is American; most European wines that are imported and not made specifically for the American market are usually natural by way of history.
Wine Club addition*:
Bufalina Wine – $75, 3 bottles/month … I’m on my second month and thrilled with the bottles so far. All come with a producer card that’s really convenient for storing with the bottle so you always know what you’re drinking and why! Bonus: 10% off all the wine in their wine shop because you’re a wine club member.
(*don’t worry about my health or wealth, I have also subtracted)
New-to-Me places for natural wine:
Meteor Cafe – I picked up a hard-to-find St. Reginald wine here (the older brother line of Marigny made by the same winemaker I’m a wee bit obsessed with also from Willamette) during the pandemic, and need to go back. Their natural wine selection is killer. They also offer a wine club but I haven’t tried it.
Sunrise Mini-Mart – in a very old-school Austin way, one of the best places to get natural wine is a convenience store on Anderson Lane. I’ve talked about it before but never been, and finally went out exploring. It’s a trip, and a lot of fun if you like picking through randomness looking for gems. It could be overwhelming if you’re not in an exploratory mood, though. Don’t miss the AB Liquors next door, which despite an inauspicious name is a cute, clean liquor store with the trendiest boozes. I picked up a fabulous Indian gin (who knew?) they recommended for $24.
Austin Winery – okay, obviously I have long loved Austin Winery but there was a short period where I didn’t love what I was drinking there … kids, I’m back. My current fave is the Green Grapes can, a blend of grüner veltliner and picpoul that couldn’t be more perfect for lake sipping. But recently, along with their own lineup, they have further built out their Collective, the subset of winemakers they are mentoring or pet projects the core winemakers are making. I love anything Elliott Family (EFW) and have a bottle of Soto I can’t wait to try. So, not new, but not not new.
Not Austin-related, but I can’t post on wine without posting on Balanza, my friends’ Willamette winery that just makes the best wine. The 2020 Porch Swing rosé of pinot is divine.