A Total Wine Professional (TWP) is the highest honor awarded to management and wine team members in our stores and Customer Care Center. To achieve TWP status, team members must devote months of intensive study and tasting on the most highly regarded wines, winemakers and winegrowing areas throughout the world. Each candidate must pass seven pre-tests and then seven challenging written exams. The exams cover seven different prestigious winegrowing areas, and candidates are awarded an Expert pin for passing each exam. After passing all seven exams with a score of 90% or above, candidates are presented with a TWP pin and black apron. TWPs are our most highly regarded and wine knowledgeable team members and are eager to share their knowledge with other team members and any guest in our store.
Chateau Clos Floridene Blanc Graves, 2011(WS-90)Tim Hong, Total Wine Professional, Springfield, VirginiaThis stellar wine boasts the prodigious efforts of Rock Star winemaker Denis Dubourdieu and the gravity of terroir in oenology. On the nose, aromas lead off with fresh peeled green mangoes and kiwi preserve eventually becoming more tropical with notes of pineapple and passionfruit. Though mostly Sauvignon Blanc, the delicate use of barrel aging gives this wine a lush and supple mouth-feel that complements the sweet and savory notes that emerge, all the while maintaining a minerality and salinity that is typical to the wines of Graves. Flavors of lemon curd, pie crust, dried herbs and meringue are found deep behind brighter flavors of pomelo and passionfruit, which all come together to make for a very food-friendly wine. This versatile wine will accompany anything from fresh seafood to roasted game birds.
Amici Sauvignon Blanc Napa Susan Anderson, Total Wine Professional, Atlanta, GeorgiaAmici (“friends” in Italian) is a small, family-owned winery in California’s famed Napa Valley. Focusing on Bordeaux varietals, we are very fortunate to sell their marvelous Sauvignon Blanc. Handcrafted by iconic winemaker Joel Aiken, it is delightfully dry and elegant with marvelous flavors of melon and peach balanced by clean minerality. Enjoy this beauty with friends or pair it with crab cakes and a citrus butter for an experience you will never forget.
Luquet St Veran Vers les Monts Michael Braun, Total Wine Professional, Ft. Lauderdale, FloridaScents of fresh pear, Jonagold apple and lemon zest burst from the glass in this light and airy wine. This is a lovely expression of carefully tended estate Chardonnay from Burgundy. Handcrafted by Patrick Luquet, it is so clean and pure that it seems to just magically disappear from the glass. You'll want to buy two at a time. Try this exceptionally balanced unoaked Chardonnay with saffron seared scallops and call me in the morning.
Olema Chardonnay Sonoma Will Templin, Total Wine Professional, Thousand Oaks, CaliforniaThis is a Chardonnay lover’s dream come true! It over-delivers for the price and is beautifully balanced. Iconic winemaker Joel Aiken crafts this delicious Chardonnay from terrific vineyard sites throughout Sonoma. Tree fruits such as apple and pear are complemented by a touch of citrus and oak that leads to a creamy finish. Enjoy at a summer picnic by itself or with appetizers, such as chicken and fish.
Vistamar Sepia Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, 2011 (W&S-91)Brittany Gardner , Total Wine Professional, Naples, FloridaDo you need an affordable Sauvignon Blanc to enjoy and serve this summer? No need to look any further than this beauty from the Casablanca Valley in Chile. Crisp, refreshing and surprisingly rich on the palate, it offers alluring aromas and flavors of grapefruit with a touch of minerality. This wine is great on its own but will also complement an array of light, white fish dishes.
Ropiteau ChardonnayThomas Thorne, Total Wine Professional, Raleigh, North CarolinaRopiteau Frères, famous in Burgundy for its opulent wines, has made a beauty of a Chardonnay from southern France. Its crisp acidity is a perfect complement to al fresco dining over the summer. From prosciutto and fresh melon to grilled chicken, this white has the richness to match any of your warm-weather plans. Toss in your picnic basket and you're all set!
River Road Chardonnay Sonoma Theo Snyder, Total Wine Professional, Sacramento, CaliforniaThis awesome value Sonoma Chardonnay delivers extremely high quality at a ridiculous price. Winemaker Joe Freeman has perfected the integration of oak, the enhancement of the essence of Gravestein apple in the fruit and a very smooth and creamy texture with just a touch of acidity. This is one of my favorite Chardonnays under $15 and is delicious vintage after vintage!
Wildhaven Pinot Gris Columbia ValleyEric Casteel, Total Wine Professional, Raleigh, North CarolinaThis lovely Pinot Gris hails from Washington’s Columbia Valley. Made by winemaker Hal Landvoigt, it features a warm-weather fruit profile of apricots and citrus as with an Italian Pinot Grigio but with the food-friendly acidity and weight of an Alsatian Pinot Gris. Pair this with seafood, salads or your back porch on a warm summer day.
