May Wine Club

Bora Tier

Pratsch Grüner Veltliner

Austria’s Everyday White, Done Right

There’s something endlessly satisfying about a Grüner Veltliner that knows exactly what it wants to be: fresh, lively, food-friendly, and uncomplicated in the best possible way. This bottle from the Pratsch family delivers all of that with a little extra charm.

The Pratsch estate is located in Austria’s Niederösterreich region, where Grüner Veltliner thrives in the cool climate and mineral-rich soils. The family has been farming organically for years, focusing on wines that feel energetic and expressive without losing their easygoing drinkability.

This wine opens with bright aromas of green apple, lemon zest, white pepper, and fresh herbs. On the palate, it’s crisp and clean with juicy citrus, pear, a touch of stone fruit, and the classic Grüner snap of peppery minerality on the finish. It’s refreshing without being too sharp and has just enough texture to keep things interesting.

If you’ve never spent much time with Austrian wine, this is a perfect introduction. It’s versatile, crowd-pleasing, and one of those bottles that seems to work with almost any occasion.

Pair With

• Schnitzel or roasted chicken

• Spring vegetables and asparagus

• Sushi or light seafood dishes

• Salty snacks and soft cheeses

Bonne Neige Brouilly

A Bright, Joyful Expression of Beaujolais

Brouilly is often considered one of the friendliest crus of Beaujolais, and Bonne Neige captures that easygoing spirit beautifully. This is the kind of red wine that reminds people why Gamay has such a devoted following: vibrant fruit, silky texture, and enough freshness to keep you coming back for another sip.

Produced in the rolling hills of Brouilly in Beaujolais, this wine leans into purity and drinkability rather than heaviness or extraction. The result is a red that feels energetic and alive while still offering plenty of depth.

In the glass, expect aromas of raspberry, cherry, violets, and a hint of spice. The palate is juicy and smooth with fresh red berries, soft tannins, and a subtle earthy undertone that gives the wine balance. There’s a brightness here that makes it especially versatile at the table, and it’s just as enjoyable with a slight chill.

This is a fantastic reminder that red wine doesn’t always need to be big or serious to be memorable.

Pair With

• Charcuterie and pâté

• Roast chicken or grilled pork

• Mushroom dishes

• Picnic food and casual dinners
  

La Mistral Tier

Domaine YoYo “Bateau Ivre”

Wild, Playful, and Full of Southern French Energy

Domaine YoYo has become something of a cult favorite in the natural wine world, and “Bateau Ivre” perfectly shows why. The wines are vibrant, a little untamed, and packed with personality — made with minimal intervention and a strong sense of place.

The estate is located in France’s Roussillon region near the Mediterranean, where old vines, sunshine, and rugged landscapes produce wines with both ripeness and energy. Winemaker Yannick Pelletier farms organically and works with native yeasts, low sulfur, and a hands-off philosophy in the cellar.

“Bateau Ivre,” which translates loosely to “drunken boat,” feels appropriately carefree and adventurous. Depending on the vintage, the blend can shift slightly, but the wine consistently delivers bright fruit, savory herbs, earthy spice, and a lively texture that keeps everything lifted.

Expect aromas of ripe berries, crushed herbs, black pepper, and a touch of funk in the best natural wine sense. The palate is juicy and energetic with soft tannins, refreshing acidity, and a rustic charm that makes the wine feel both serious and wildly drinkable at the same time.

This is a bottle for people who enjoy wines with texture, personality, and a little unpredictability.

Pair With

• Grilled sausages

• Mediterranean dishes with olives and herbs

• Smoky vegetables

• Hard cheeses and late-night convos Joostenberg Myburgh Bros. “Kaalgat Steen” Chenin Blanc

  A Wild, Skin-Contact Chenin with Serious Energy

  South Africa has quietly become one of the most exciting places in the world for Chenin Blanc, and Joostenberg’s “Kaalgat Steen” is a perfect example of why wine lovers are paying attention. This is not your typical polished white wine — it’s textured, savory, a little rustic, and packed with personality in the best way possible.

  The Myburgh brothers make this wine from an old dry-farmed bush vine vineyard in Paarl that has been farmed organically and increasingly with minimal intervention. The name “Kaalgat,” which loosely translates to “naked,” reflects the stripped-down philosophy behind the wine: native fermentations, skin contact, little to no sulfur, and as little manipulation as possible in the cellar.

  Unlike most Chenin Blancs, this wine spends time fermenting on its skins, giving it a golden-orange hue and a lightly tannic texture more similar to a red wine. The result is fresh and energetic but also layered and savory.

  Expect aromas of bruised apple, citrus peel, straw, ginger, and a subtle kombucha-like funk. The palate is lean and refreshing with orchard fruit, chalky minerality, gentle grip, and a dry finish that keeps pulling you back in for another sip.

  This is a fantastic bottle for anyone curious about skin-contact whites or natural wine styles without going completely off the deep end.

  Pair With

  • Roast chicken with herbs

  • Moroccan or Mediterranean dishes

  • Aged cheeses and olives

  • Spicy seafood or grilled shrimp
    

  Cristiano Guttarolo “Bianco Gia” 2023

  Salty, Sunny, and Deeply Southern Italian

  Cristiano Guttarolo has become one of the most exciting names in natural wine coming out of Puglia, making wines that feel vibrant, coastal, and unmistakably Mediterranean. “Bianco Gia” captures that spirit beautifully — fresh and breezy on one hand, but savory and textured underneath.

  Made primarily from Trebbiano and farmed organically near the Adriatic coast, this wine carries a distinct sea-breeze character that makes it incredibly refreshing. Guttarolo works with native yeasts and minimal intervention, allowing the fruit and terroir to speak clearly without heavy oak or manipulation.

  In the glass, the wine feels bright and alive with aromas of lemon peel, citrus blossom, almond, and fresh herbs. The palate is crisp but not simple, balancing juicy citrus fruit with saline minerality and a lightly savory edge that gives the wine depth and structure.

  There’s an easygoing drinkability here, but also enough texture and complexity to reward slower sipping. It’s the kind of wine that immediately makes you want seafood, sunshine, and a long outdoor meal.

  Pair With

  • Fresh oysters or grilled fish

  • Pasta with clams or lemon

  • Burrata and olive oil

  • Simple vegetable dishes and antipasti
    

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  This month's wine club is our very own and very talented photographer, Destiny Robb @allfunk