The Wine Goddess

10/31/2026

We have a spooooooky Halloween W**es of the Week lineup perfect for pairing with candy! Our white w**e option, the beautiful Malvasia Bianca from Birichino, is a lemony snicket of a w**e that reminds us of Sprees, Sweet Tarts, and the like! And red w**e lovers, rejoice! Since rich reds pair so wonderfully with chocolate, 3 out of the 4 w**es this week are big, bold reds! As always, you can taste the whole bunch TODAY from 3-5:00pm at our $5 W**es of the Week W**e Tasting!

Birichino Malvasia Bianca, 2024, Monterey, California $27

Birichino was founded in 2008 by masterminds Alex Krause and John Locke. Together, they have a combined 40+ years of w**emaking experience in California and beyond. For Birichino, they source fruit from small, family-owned and responsibly farmed vineyards throughout California’s Central Coast. Most of the vines were planted in the late nineteenth- and early 20th-century on cooler, more moderate sites, lending complexity, balance, and depth to w**es produced from their grapes. Alex and John use minimal intervention in the w**ery, preferring native yeast fermentations, the use of stainless steel or neutral oak for fermentation (so you taste only the grapes themselves not the vessel), and minimal racking, fining, and filtering.

Their Malvasia Bianca is an olfactory WONDERLAND, with notes of honeysuckle, orange blossom, and mandarin oranges. Pair with something citrusy and Asian-inspired!

https://www.w**egoddess.com/product/birichino-malvasia-bianca-2024-monterey-california/6876

BloodRoot Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023, Napa Valley, California $24.00

As stated on the back label, BloodRoot is a "collaboration of acclaimed w**emakers" in California. To ask exactly who are these secret, acclaimed w**emakers would get somewhat of a "could tell you but would have to kill you" type response. Normally, this cloak and dagger stuff bugs the crap out of me, but I have to tell you, in the case of BloodRoot, I BELIEVE. The w**es are so, so good, and supposedly made by w**eries that usually fetch 4-5 times the prices this anonymous collaboration charge for this serious juice. So I'll let the mystery be, and tell you to buy this label by the truckload.

The Napa Cab is everything you want in the genre, but at an affordable price. Look for oodles of black currants, black plums, cedar, and unsweetened chocolate on this full-bodied, Napa Cab.

https://www.w**egoddess.com/product/bloodroot-cabernet-sauvignon-2023-napa-valley-california/6026

Field Recordings "Fiction," 2024, Paso Robles, California $21

Can’t make up your mind about what kind of red w**e you want to drink tonight? Why not try ALL the grapes? The Field Recordings “Fiction” is a treasure trove of rich red grapes, ranging from Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon to a little Alicante Bouschet thrown in for color. (Fun fact: Alicante Bouschet is a “teinturier” grape, one of the few whose flesh on the inside is as red as its skins!) The “Fiction” is a sexy, velveteen blend that’s blue-fruited, spicy, and smooooth as the day is long. 21% Cinsault, 17% Lagrein, 16% Cabernet Franc, 13% Charbono, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Sangiovese, 6% Alicante Bouchet, 4% Zinfandel, 2% Grenache, and 2% Trousseau. (Whew!)

https://www.w**egoddess.com/product/field-recordings-fiction-2024-paso-robles-california/4463

Marietta Cellars "Christo" Red Blend, 2022, North Coast, California $24

Meg has a wee crush on dreamboat Scott Bilbro, second-generation owner and w**emaker of Marietta Cellars. Maybe it’s because she grew up in a town called Marietta?! Unlike Meaghan, Scott grew up in a w**ery, playing make-believe with w**e boxes and crates. He remembers watching his dad tinker with w**e blends until he found the perfect combination to pair with whatever the family was eating from the garden that night. Scott and his veteran crew farm over 400 acres of land, doing much of the farming by hand and operating as sustainably as possible. The "Christo" is part of Marietta’s “Family Series” line featuring blends of fruit grown from their vineyards in Sonoma, McDowell and Hopland Valleys, and the Yorkville Highlands. This is a deep, intense w**e that as big and bold as a w**e can get without being fortified. Look for notes of blueberry compote, violet, and cocoa nibs.

https://www.w**egoddess.com/product/marietta-cellars-christo-red-blend-2022-north-coast-california/33

10/30/2026

W**e for CANDY!! -

Spooky season is here! i love this time of year. Not only is it parachute pants season (PPS®), but it's also perfect power walk weather. I listen to my murder podcasts, and walk up and down streets and alleys, marveling at the ON POINT Halloween decor. E-town, you knocked it out of the park this ye...

10/29/2026

Evanston, your Halloween decoration game is on POINT. Proud of you, Boo’s!

10/25/2026

We know you are all so sad to miss out on Fall Frosé...so we made a hot version!!
The Hot 'Fall Fro' is a toddy inspired by the old frozen bev: spiced wh***ey, apple c***r liqueur, lemon, and bitters.
Come grab one here or enjoy one to go while the kids go trick or treating.

10/24/2026

We’ve got a little bit of new and a little bit of old in this installment of W**es of the Week! For newbies, we’re rocking a super tasty little Crémant d’Alsace that will bring joy to any day—occasion or not!—and a cheap and cheerful Pinot Noir from Chile, of all places! For oldies-but-goodies, we want to remind everyone how delicious our tried-and-true w**es can be! Chateau Campuget’s Vermentino won our hearts when we scouted the estate for our now twice successful WG Adventure to the Southern Rhone Valley and France. Since we were JUST THERE, and we already miss France SO much, we thought it would be a fun w**e for the lineup. We’ve also recently brought back Isaac Fernández’s “Finca la Mata” Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero and it is *singing*! Meg is back in the country and will be pouring sips of all four at our $5 W**es of the Week Tasting TODAY from 3-5:00!

Sophie Schall Crémant d'Alsace Extra Brut, NV, Alsace, France—Organic $24

Sophia Schall was born in Burgundy, and she studied oenology in Dijon. In 2013 she made her first trip to South Africa and her life changed forever. Not only did she fall in love with the w**e and terroir, she also fell in love with her now husband, Julien Schall! Today, they split their time between Alsace and South Africa, chasing the harvests as it were!

This Champagne-style sparkler made from 100% Pinot Blanc is dry and fresh with notes of orchard fruit, brioche, and minerality. It's a perfect aperitif or celebration "toasting" w**e, but it would also pair beautifully with oysters, sushi, fresh, tangy cheeses like chèvre, or roasted chicken.

https://www.w**egoddess.com/product/sophie-schall-cr-mant-d-alsace-extra-brut-nv-alsace-france-organic/RZJ64QNL4X6BREYFTBUXPYAS

Château de Campuget Vermentino "1753," 2025, Rhône Valley, France--Sustainable, Vegan $2025

Château de Campuget is so passionate about the Vermentino grape, that rumor has it they absconded to Sardinia (the native home of the grape) to bring back vine cuttings for their own vineyards. You know we love a white w**e grape from Italy, and we are simply smitten by how the Frenchies at Campuget have treated this Vermentino. It's dry, elegant, and complex, with notes of mandarin orange, tropical fruits, orange blossom and a lovely, lingering salinity. Pair with seafood!

https://www.w**egoddess.com/product/ch-teau-de-campuget-vermentino-1753-2025-rh-ne-valley-france-sustainable-vegan/7157

Clos des Fous Pinot Noir "Pour Ma Gu**le," 2025, Itata Valley, Chile—Organic $18.99

Earlier this week we sat down with Brian Ravitsky of Brazos W**e Imports, and after he charmed us with delicious w**e after delicious w**e, we confessed that we had been dreading the appointment when we found out that all of his w**es were from South America. But he is changing our minds and heart by the pour! We taste a lot of w**e around these parts, and we find that most South American w**es, at least the stuff we get imported to the U.S., is too green and baked for our particular palates. Cue Clos des Fous! Founded by four friends in 2008, the Clos des Fous label seeks to change the reputation of Chilean w**e as being, well, too green and too baked! They work with grapes grown in extreme terroirs, managing vineyards in Malleco, Guarilihue, Alto Cahapoal, and Western Aconcagua. They practice minimal intervention in the fields and in the w**ery, making delicious, precise w**es from Pinot Noir, Cinsault, Pais, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Riesling at their w**ery in Cauquenes.

We were struck silly by how delicious the "Pour Ma Guele" Pinot is, especially at such an affordable price point! It's dry, lighter-bodied, and fruit-forward with lots of red fruit, spice, and dusty earthy notes.

https://www.w**egoddess.com/product/clos-des-fous-pinot-noir-pour-ma-gueule-itata-valley-chile-organic/7B3OLANISNENQLWK37Q3C4ME

Isaac Fernández Ribera del Duero "Finca La Mata," 2023, Castilla y Léon, Spain $24

Isaac Fernández is one of Spain's most exciting w**emakers, producing some of the best w**es out of Ribera del Duero for over 40 years. This w**e is rich and satisfying in every way without being gloppy. Look for notes of black cherry, pomegranate, and cedar plank.

https://www.w**egoddess.com/product/isaac-fern-ndez-ribera-del-duero-finca-la-mata-2023-castilla-y-l-on-spain/FRYQM6EHTAN7D546V6HQX7AS

10/23/2026

We Went to France! Again! -

I snapped the picture above last week in sunny Provence, in the world's sweetest town of L'isle-Sur0La-Sorgue.  (You need to go there.) It depcts the town's garbage cans. Because, Provence, it is decorated by pails of lavender and other plantlife hanging jauntily on a weathered, shabby chic  fenc...

10/22/2026

Alas, we’ve come to our third and final “What We Did in France Last Week.” Our Adventurers left Avignon and headed south to Bandol, with a stop in Aix-en-Provence for lunch and a l’il peaksy at Cezanne’s house and studio. The next day, we were back in the cutie pie seaside town of Cassis with a visit to Clos Sainte Magdeleine, among the most physically beautiful w**eries on record, directly overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Here, the lovely Camille took us on a tour of the stunningly beautiful vineyards and cellar, followed by a tasting of their much-lauded Cassis w**es. Happy as clams with a bottle of Cassis Blanc as parting gifts, we rolled down the hill into the picture perfect town center, where Meg and I lead the hungry among us to our fave Cassis lunch spot and the dish we’d been dreaming of since June, the Turbot on Risotto—washed down with Cassis Blanc, bien sur.

Next day we lounged poolside before our final group dinner at Domaine Bunan, one of Bandol’s finest estates. We were again hosted by the ever-charming Laurent Bunan, and his lovely son, Alexandre, and treated to a tour, tasting, and a fantastic feast of Boeuf en Daube, a savory Procençal dish of braised beef cheeks on creamy polenta, which was oh so perfect with the Mourvedre-based Bandol rouge, and affirmation that God loves us and wants to see us happy.

The next morning, we bid our wonderful group a truly fond adieu and went our separate ways. Meg and I headed back to Paris, just in time for the big Saturday protests. We did see lots of protesters on our way to Au Pied de Cochon, Julia Child’s favorite French Onion Soup spot. After dinner, we walked back to our hotel among the smoke bombs and fireworks and a soupçon of tear gas. Granted, we had a bottle of Cote Rotie in us, but as we la-dee-da’d our way across the Pont Neuf, we marveled that the French were civilized even when rioting. Among the youth dressed in black, there were also families with strollers and kids on shoulders while fires raged in the distance. Anyway, Vive la France! Merci pour tout!

Clos Sainte Magdeleine Michael Corso Selections Domaines Bunan Maverick Beverage Company - Illinois **egoddessadventures

10/22/2026

We will be closing early TONIGHT (Thursday, 10/22) for a private event. W**e Bar will wrap up at 6pm and retail sales will end at 7pm. Thanks for your understanding!

10/21/2026

What we did in France last week, part deux! With 74 degree temps and sunny skies, we took the group to the world’s CUTEST Provençal town, L’isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, perfectly situated on a crystal clear, shallow river snaking through town. This was our shopping day, and Diana insisted everyone make a mecca to her favorite artsy bric-a-brac shop, Côte Parc. SO many flea market finds, and the art extends INTO THE RIVER BEYOND THE STORE for crying out loud!  If I weren’t so blind and have to sticker the choc-o-block shelves of rusty curios, I’d ask for a job!
 
Then, it was off to the Costières de Nîmes for a barn-burner of an evening with w**emaker Franck-lin Dalle (aka Flin) of Château de Campuget. What a great night! First, Flin took us on a tour of his estate vineyards, where he grows the usual Southern Rhône suspects (Grenache, Syrah), but also grapes from far-flung locales such as Greece and Georgia (as in the ex-Union Soviet; not Marietta). The bric-a-brac theme carried into the Campuget Château—an art-directed emporium of Provençal farmhouse chic mixed with gorgeous modern lighting and furnishings. Diana really, really wants to buy it, so look for my future Go Fund Me and dig deep, people, but until then, everyone should book a stay at Château de Campuget—also a hotel and restaurant, where Flin’s talented sister, Matilde, rules the kitchen with an iron fist.  She also tends a glorious garden for the freshest herbs, peppers, and eggplant you’ll ever put in your mouth.
 
Flin is right out of a Bond movie for International Man of Intrigue, and his w**es are BOSS, and you should drink them.  He was so generous with his time and knowledge, and patiently fielded all our nerdy questions. After a formal w**e tasting, he poured each w**e with dinner, while helping serve Matilde’s delicious cuisine—and even jumped behind the DJ table in between courses. Meg and I don’t mean to brag, but do the w**emakers on YOUR w**e tours spin vinyl during your private w**e dinners at their ancestral homes which also happen to be the coolest Château in France? I think not! Campuget for life!! Campuget Dreyfus Ashby & Co. Maverick Beverage Company - Illinois

10/19/2026

What we did in France last week, Part 1! Our motley crew of W**e Goddess Adventurers met up in Avignon at the world’s most beautiful hotel in the shadow of the famed Palais des Papes, christened the tour with some Champers (natch), then feasted on a welcome dinner at one of our fave Avignon restaurants, Le Moutardier du Pape. Next morning we were up bright and early (for winos), and made our way to Gigondas, to the legendary Domaine Raspail-Äy estate, where we were greeted by w**emaker Christophe Äy—and one of the best vineyard dogs on record, Suzette. We were blown away by the Domaine Raspail-Äy Gigondas, of which we got to taste three vintages: the current 2023, and barrel samples from the 2024 and 2025—which Christophe attained by parkour-ing from the tops of one ginormous barrel to the next. Oh! And did we mention we also got to taste a brand-new cuvée, a 100% Grenache called Pontillard (swoon!), AND the very first vintage of WHITE Gigondas, like, ever, to boot? What a treat!

Then, it was off to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where we were treated to a gorgeous. family-style lunch, tour, and tasting by the inimitable Anne-Charlotte Mélia-Bachas of Château de la Font du Loup. What. A. Goddess!! Anne-Charlotte is a total BOSS, and one of only a handful of female owner/w**emakers in the appellation. We were all enthralled by her depth of wisdom, humor, and passion, not to mention her glorious lineup of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, coaxed with love and affection from the estate’s sandy soils.

Of course, no visit to Châteauneuf-du-Pape would be complete without a visit to the ruins of the Castle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the 14th century summer home of the Pope when the papacy was seated in Avignon. We said a little prayer for good harvests, current and future, for one of our favorite w**es on the planet, Shootanoofy Doopie Poopie!

.ay Michael Corso Selections Maverick Beverage Company - Illinois Château de la Font du Loup Steve Sullivan Meaghan Fritz Le Moutardier du Pape