When my wife and I honeymooned in Tuscany, I was still in the early days of discovering a passion for wine. At the time, we lived in San Francisco, which meant frequent weekend trips to Napa. Our wine consumption was almost entirely California-based, mostly from the northern part of the state.

Italian wine, on the other hand, was unfamiliar territory. My only prior experience with “Italian” wine was the infamous jug at Olive Garden during the brief period I spent there as a server. The experience itself was entertaining, but the wine I could no sooner forget.

Fortunately, we had someone looking out for us. Before our trip, my mom—who worked as an event planner and guide for top-tier authors—introduced us to Dario Castagno, the definitive voice on Tuscan travel and the head of one of the region’s most respected tour companies. Dario not only showed us the heart of Tuscany but also opened my eyes to the world of Italian wine in a way no one else could (as an aside, if you’re traveling to Tuscany anytime soon and are interested in an incredible and hilarious local guide, hit me up and I’ll connect you).

Our first tasting took place at a remote cottage nestled in the hills, miles from the nearest road, home, or business. We met the current proprietor, whose family members had lovingly cared for the home and surrounding land for centuries. After a brief taste, he invited us down to the basement, where remnants of winemaking practices from the 1700s still remained. The depth of history was incredible, and it was clear that wine for him was as much about legacy and stewardship as it was about what was in the glass. But what was in the glass was incredible.

We tasted through a flight of Chianti, and I learned about the key distinctions between Chianti, Classico, Classico Riserva, and the broader categories of Sangiovese. The wines were expressive, balanced, and shockingly undervalued. The winemaker explained why so much of what makes it to the U.S. isn’t always representative: when you have something truly exceptional, would you send it away? Tariffs aside, the Italians know what they have, and often, they keep the best for themselves. I can’t say I blame them.

Among the three, the Chianti Classico stood out as my favorite. It was smooth, well-structured, and had just the right amount of edge. Naturally, I asked to buy a few bottles. When the winemaker told me the price, I nearly fell over. Just 12 euros!

That moment sparked a lifelong appreciation for Italian wines that still shapes my palate today. And though my regional tastes have evolved a bit (I prefer Nebbiolo to Sangiovese), the memory of that experience has stuck with me.

So when I first met the team from On on the Hill and saw an opportunity to bring incredible Piemonte wines into the Melier portfolio, it was a no-brainer, and we decided to feature three of their flagship wines in our most recent Founder’s Club shipment.

• Marcalberto Brut Nature 2020 Alta Langa DOCG
  Marcalberto 2020 Brut Nature is a bone-dry, sulfite-free sparkling wine from the Alta Langa DOCG region. It offers pure flavors with notes of toasted bread and citrus, accompanied by vibrant minerality.

• Cascina Vano "Canova" 2021 Barbaresco DOCG
  Elegant and powerful, this single-cru Barbaresco is 100% Nebbiolo from the Canova MGA in Neive. Aged 24 months in Slavonian oak, it shows a garnet color, floral notes, wild berries, spice, and just the right touch of grip. Silky on the palate with a long, gently bitter finish.

• Barbaglia 2019 Boca DOC
  A rare gem from Alto Piemonte, this Boca is bold, structured, and built to age. Made from Nebbiolo with a splash of Vespolina, it delivers wild berries, spice, and that signature volcanic minerality.

If you’re a fan of Italian wines or just Italian-curious, sign up for our Founder’s Club by Thursday July 24 and get $50 off your first shipment when you use code OOTH50 at checkout, and we’ll rush order your shipment of these three wines to add to your collection.

I look forward to sharing our expanding wine world with you,

Greg McBeth
Melier Co-Founder

As it turns out, curiosity and social pressure are a powerful combination. "Guests kept asking me wine questions at the restaurant. And I didn't want to look stupid," Christophe recalls. So he went to wine school, graduated in 1983, and never looked back.

Wine, for Christophe, is more than flavor. It's geography, geology, sociology, and history. "Wine is addictive," he says, "not just to drink but to know." It’s an ongoing education that never ends, because wine is a mirror to the world. To study wine is to study civilization itself.

Christophe’s thirst for knowledge led him to become an MOF (Meilleur Ouvrier de France), a government-bestowed honor reserved for the top wine experts in a country that views its wines as a source of national pride. "You don’t just serve wine, you pass on the legacy. You carry the weight of centuries of tradition" says Christophe. “And with that legacy comes a duty to train the next generation with mentorship, discipline, and preservation of the craft.”

But legacy doesn’t mean stagnation, and Christophe moved to the U.S. on a whim—first to Philadelphia, then to Mandalay Bay, where he went from buying wine by the case to buying it by the pallet. "Vegas gives you everything. When you move that kind volume, you get the cherries off the cake." The level of access was unparalleled and immediately hooked Christophe. What some restaurants in Europe would consider a rare allocation, Mandalay could acquire in bulk. The scale was mind-boggling, and so was the responsibility.

Managing a program across 15 restaurants in a 6,000-room property was a masterclass in both logistics and psychology. "Even if you know everything there is to know about wine, that’s only 5% of the job. The other 95% is psychology. Knowing what your guest needs, how to read them, how to tell the story."

"It’s easy to lose yourself in a place like that," he admits. "The challenge isn’t just knowing wine. It’s operations. It’s people. It’s staying grounded when you have everything you could want your fingertips. At the end of the day France taught me how to love the craft. Vegas taught me how to work. But eventually the allure of Sonoma wine country called.” And in Moon Mountain, Christophe found something singular.

Although they lie adjacent and are often co-mingled in popular culture, "Sonoma is not Napa” Christophe states emphatically. “We sit in Valley of the Moon. Volcanic soil. Extreme elevation. And more personality in one vineyard block than in entire appellations elsewhere." Moon Hollow Winery, where Christophe now works alongside the vineyard and winemaking team, sits in the heart of Moon Mountain, one of the newest AVAs in the country. The area is wild, raw, and unfiltered. Think rocky soils, wide day-night temperature swings, and vines that fight to survive. That struggle creates wines with power and precision. Mountain fruit, Christophe explains, is different. “It has more grip, more structure, more edge.”

Moon Hollow’s flagship wine is its Cabernet Sauvignon, but the lineup also includes Syrah, Grenache, and a strikingly fresh Sauvignon Blanc grown in decomposed volcanic ash. The Moon Hollow White, in particular, is a revelation for those used to drinking their Napa counterparts: lean, mineral-driven, and wildly expressive.

Building out Moon Hollow’s red wine lineup was not without its challenges. "We originally wanted a GSM blend," Christophe explains. "But our Grenache and Syrah didn’t play well together. Syrah is the fighter. Grenache is the hugger. The personalities were too distinct to be forced into harmony. So now we bottle them separately, and the results are spectacular”.

As for winemaking? "We don’t force anything. We let the vineyard speak," he says. "The goal isn’t to make a flashy wine. The goal is to bottle a postcard of this place." That means working with nature, not against it. Sometimes that means changing the blend. Sometimes that means changing your mind.”

Moon Mountain wines aren’t just delicious. They carry the scent of an ancient lava flow that predates homo sapiens, and fingerprints of a team that strives to cultivate the best possible outputs from the land. And Christophe? He’s still learning. Still mentoring. Still obsessed. "A great wine is amazing on one day. An exceptional wine is amazing every day," he says.

His advice to wine lovers? Don’t try to outsmart nature. Be humble enough to listen to the land, to the vines, to the seasons. And when you're visiting wine country, don’t pack your day too tight. Good wines and good moments need space to breathe. He puts it simply: “There’s beauty in restraint. The most unforgettable wines and days are the ones that leave you wanting just a little more.”

Celebrate the holiday and get 20% on any order of 2+ bottles from Moon Hollow Winery. Shop now and use code MOONHOLLOW20 at checkout. Offer available now through through July 12.

Rhodes grew up in Santa Rosa, surrounded by the very vineyards he now cruises through with his clients. After an injury ended his trucking career, he took a job with Sonoma Sterling and quietly embedded himself in the luxury Napa Valley transportation business. He studied the systems, the pricing, the service philosophy—everything. “I copied the system,” he admits, “but made it my own.”

But building a business wasn’t as smooth as a Napa Cab. Rhodes describes navigating the Transportation Charter Permit process as “government email hell.” Even after getting licensed, they hit another wall when Google’s algorithm dropped them from search. “No calls. No bookings. We had to take out a loan and rebuild everything,” he recalls. “Once we got past Google, the dough started rolling in.”

SONA Concierge is now known for its precision and polish. Every vehicle is a 2022 model year or newer, with clients choosing between executive and luxury setups. And for those looking to turn wine tasting into a full-blown event? There’s a 45-passenger party bus with mood lighting, a fog machine, bathrooms, and two poles for dancing.

But Rhodes isn’t just selling flash. He obsesses over the details: fresh refreshments between stops, spotless interiors, and drivers trained to anticipate client needs. The goal is simple: make sure guests don’t have to lift a finger, unless it’s to take a sip from a wine glass.

He’s also seen his fair share of rookie mistakes upon visiting wine country. The biggest? “People plan their whole day and forget to schedule lunch,” he says. “By stop three, they’re hangry, tipsy, and begging for Taco Bell – only to regret it later (we’ve been there too). His fix: include a lunch break, stay hydrated, and limit tastings to three per day. “Anything more and you’re just drinking,” he laughs.

Anthony’s also noticed a shift in what guests are looking for in a wine trip to Sonoma and Napa Valleys. More and more, repeat visitors are asking for experiences beyond wine: hikes, cheese tours, coastal drives—even visits to Calistoga’s Old Faithful Geyser. “Wine country has more to offer than just wine,” he says. “You’ll realize once you’ve seen ten vineyards… they start to look the same.”

As he scales the business, Anthony is forging relationships with wineries, hotels, and partners like Melier. His long-term vision for SONA isn’t just limited to Sonoma or Napa either. West Coast wine country extends from Temecula, CA to Walla Walla, WA, and “Sky’s the limit,” he says. “We’re just getting started.”

So if you're looking to explore wine country on your terms—and maybe with a fog machine and cold beer in tow—SONA Concierge is the right move.

Interested in booking a trip to wine country? Contact Melier’s wine travel concierge and we’ll build your personalized itinerary and coordinate transportation with Anthony’s team to ensure you get to enjoy the perfect wine country experience.

Insiders Exclusive: Book through Melier’s wine travel concierge and mention “SONA” to get $50 off your trip. Offer good through 2025 for Melier Insiders only.

Brice Cutrer Jones was no stranger to winemaking when he founded Emeritus. Having established Sonoma-Cutrer in 1973, he played a pivotal role in showcasing California’s potential for world-class Chardonnay. But his passion for Pinot Noir, a grape notoriously challenging to develop yet uniquely rewarding when done well, led him to launch a new venture. In 1999, Brice acquired Hallberg Ranch, a ridgetop property in the cool, foggy Green Valley, followed by Pinot Hill. These vineyards became the foundation for Emeritus’s mission to craft America’s finest Pinot Noir.

Today, Mari Jones, Brice’s daughter, carries forward her father’s legacy as president of Emeritus. With a deep connection to the land and a commitment to sustainability, Mari has guided Emeritus into a new era, balancing tradition with modern winemaking. The winery remains a family affair, supported by a tight-knit team of long-time collaborators from their days working at Sonoma-Cutrer.

Emeritus owns two estate vineyards, Hallberg Ranch and Pinot Hill, which form the heart of its winemaking. Located in the Green Valley sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley, these sites benefit from a cool, coastal-influenced climate, with foggy mornings and sunny afternoons that nurture slow-ripening Pinot Noir.

What sets Emeritus apart is its commitment to dry farming—a practice adopted fully at Hallberg Ranch since 2011 and Pinot Hill since 2013. By forgoing irrigation, the winery relies on natural rainfall, forcing vines to dig deep for water and nutrients. This results in smaller yields, concentrated flavors, and lower-alcohol wines. The decision to dry-farm has also saved an estimated 400 million gallons of water.

Emeritus’s dedication to the land extends beyond dry farming. Certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and a participant in the Sonoma County Climate Adaptation Program, the winery has achieved carbon-negative status at both vineyards. Sustainability is woven into every aspect of operations, from composting over 40 tons of natural materials annually to employing 20 vineyard sheep as natural lawnmowers. Owl boxes, wildflower plantings, and insectaries promote biodiversity and create a thriving ecosystem that naturally supports the vineyards’ health.

Ok, let’s talk about the wine. Emeritus, winemaking is guided by a philosophy of minimal intervention and site-driven elegance. Under Keith Hammond’s direction, the process begins with night harvesting to preserve grape freshness. Native yeast fermentation, a hands-off approach, allows the grapes’ natural flavors to shine. Gentle punch-downs extract color and tannins without overpowering the wine’s delicacy.

The wines are aged in French oak barrels and bottled naturally. The resultant Pinot Noir balances intensity with finesse to create wines that are expressive, structured, and true to their origins. We may be a little biased, but for our money there are few wineries in the Russian River Valley who make quality Pinot Noir as consistently as Emeritus Vineyards.

Emeritus produces vineyard-specific Pinot Noir from Hallberg Ranch and Pinot Hill, each reflecting the unique characteristics of its site. Hallberg Ranch Pinot Noir, grown on rolling hills with varied exposures, often showcases bright red fruit, floral notes, and a silky texture, underpinned by minerality from the Goldridge soil. Pinot Hill, with its steeper slopes, yields wines with darker fruit, spice, and a more robust structure. Both are marked by lower alcohol levels and vibrant acidity that complement the cool-climate terroir.

Recent vintages, such as the 2021 Hallberg Ranch Pinot Noir, have garnered praise for their depth and elegance, with critics noting their balance of fruit, earth, and refined tannins. These wines are not only delicious but also age-worthy, evolving gracefully over time. And, unlike with some limited-production wineries, Emeritus wines can be found at a number of premier establishments throughout the country (including our personal favorite, Prime Steakhouse at the Bellagio in Las Vegas).

In 2024, Emeritus celebrated 25 years of crafting estate-grown Pinot Noir, a testament to its enduring commitment to quality and innovation. From Brice Jones’s founding vision to Mari Jones’s leadership, the winery has remained steadfast in its pursuit of excellence. Its milestones—carbon negativity, water conservation, and biodiversity initiatives—set a standard for sustainable winemaking, while its wines continue to captivate enthusiasts and critics alike.

Emeritus Vineyards welcomes visitors to experience its story firsthand at their beautiful property in Sebastopol, California. Tastings at the winery offer a chance to explore the distinct personalities of their portfolio Pinot Noirs, paired with insights into the winery’s sustainable practices and winemaking philosophy.

You can shop Emeritus wines here. For more information about Emeritus, or to book a visit to the winery, contact our wine travel concierge.

My journey with Melier began with a simple frustration: I’d frequently discover extraordinary wines that were recommended by friends, only to find them absent from Google searches, store shelves, and restaurant wine lists. I knew if I could get these wines into people’s hands, without necessarily requiring a long (and increasingly expensive) trip to wine country, they’d develop the same appreciation that I did.

This idea began rattling around in my head in 2019, and by 2020 it had reached a fever pitch that I could no longer ignore. Timing, they say, is everything, and mine was impeccable: launching an experiential wine business during a global pandemic. But serendipity apparently counts too, and I got some through a chance encounter with longtime vintner Dan Zepponi. Dan is the CEO of Two Estates (parent of Cuvaison Winery and Brandlin Estate) with more than 40 years of wine industry experience, and was the industry yin to my consumer-focused yang. Together, we saw an opportunity not just to sell wine, but to share the stories, passion, and craftsmanship behind each bottle—a mission that increasingly resonates with today’s wine consumers who crave authenticity over assembly-line vintages.

Dan’s first priority after taking the CEO job at Cuvaison was to refocus the winery around premium: products, people, experience. He saw, correctly, that the increasing focus (and spend) on premium wines reflects a broader and enduring shift in consumer tastes. Wine drinkers are no longer content with simply picking the generic bottles from the shelf; and if given that choice at a restaurant, they often opt for no wine at all. And the traditional tasting room, while charming, isn’t always accessible. Dan realized, even before COVID, that a winery’s over-reliance on it would be a death knell in a world with more options and higher expectations than ever.

We set out to bridge that gap by bringing the tasting room experience to you through virtual or in-person private tastings, restaurant and business collaborations, personal connections and wine communities in your city, and winery perks when you do have the opportunity to make the trek to wine country. Our extended team of ambassadors, private partners, and industry pros are all working behind the scenes — all geared towards helping you capture the magic of the perfect bottle.

As a subscriber to this publication, you’ll get a brutally honest look into a hidden world of wine, peeling back the curtain to reveal the people, stories, and truths behind the industry. Expect an insider’s look at what makes wine tick—from no-nonsense takes on useful wine knowledge and industry trends, to candid conversations with vintners and experts who live and breathe this craft. Plus, we’ll be rolling out a suite of benefits to community members: think first dibs on rare bottles, invites to private tastings, and insider perks that make you feel like part of the winery family.

Cheers to drinking well.