Eastern Europe/Balkan

Keropatis is a term that locals use to describe light, short maceration reds. There’s an excellent mineral backbone to the wine, with black raspberry and plenty of freshness. A true summer red. Dionysis and Maria Papanikolopoulos refer to their winery as

Aromas of dark berries and delicate purple flowers, with beautiful salty seaside tang. Winemaker Jerome Charles Binda does not come from a wine background, but made the decision at age 45, after being convinced of the value in saving these ancient native

Chkhaveri is a pink-skinned grape capable of making rosé, white, orange, or red wine, depending on how dark or light the skins are. Crazy! This light red sees a short maceration in traditional qvevri and is aged in the same vessels for about a year. Gotsa

Bob is the name of winemaker Zsolt Sütó’s donkey, who also features on the label. Crafted in a Nouveau style, meaning light, young and fresh. Slightly effervescent, juicy and light. Chill it down and enjoy on the stoop.

This indigenous, nearly extinct grape is often compared to Pinot Noir, in part because of its sensitivity to disease. This makes it a fickle grape, but female winemaker Dorottya Bussay coaxes an ethereal style from the wine, with generous red fruit and fl

Domaine Zafeirakis - Limniona 2019

A very light co-ferment with juicy cranberries, mineral, a touch of wildness and bracing acidity. Tsitska is often blended with Tsolikouri, but in this case it’s co-fermented with the red Otskhanuri, giving a super light, chillable “red” wine.

Gotsa’s wines are at once elegant and assertive; complex yet refreshingly immediate. Bright minerality and high acidity are matched here with mulberry and raspberry. The wine is aged in qvevri, which adds an earthy backbone.

‘Egri Bikavér’ translates to ‘Bull’s Blood’, and is an ancient style of Hungarian red. This is a classic example, with a decidedly mineral edge, inky purple fruit flesh, and a medium to medium-plus body. This is Marcell Bukolyi’s first vintage making wine

Kadarka is a grape popular in Bulgaria and Romania, but rarely seen in the states. It used to be a significant player in Hungarian Bull’s Blood but is on the decline. The Heimann family is fiercely committed to bringing it back. This wine almost drinks li

The varietal hybrids just keep comin’. Strekov 1075 is one of the few Slovakian producers being imported to the US. Open top fermentation and no intervention lends a wildness to the wine which is balanced by concentrated blue and black berries, fresh thym

Agiorgitiko is the most widely planted red grape in Greece for good reason. Full bodied with excellent structure and bright, vibrant red berries and succulent plums. If you haven’t dove into the world of Greek red wines, this is the perfect entry point.