Drink the Bottles

  Acclaimed California winemaker returns to Toulouse Vineyard with a limited inaugural Pinot Noir available now by allocation   HEALDSBURG, Calif. (September 1, 2026) – After more than thirty harvests crafting acclaimed Pinot Noir and Chardonnay across California's leading coastal wine regions, winemaker James MacPhail is once again making wines under his own family name with the debut of MacPhail Family Wines.   The inaugural release begins with Toulouse Vineyard in Anderson Valley – the first Pinot Noir vineyard James worked with when he launched MacPhail Family Wines in 2002 and the site that helped shape his career. Only 150 cases of the 2024 Toulouse Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir were produced. Priced at $70 per bottle, the wine is available by allocation now, with wine shipping beginning on October 6.   James reacquired the MacPhail Family Wines brand in 2024 with the goal of returning it to its original roots. Beginning again with Toulouse Vineyard reco...

  An Evening with Dave Specter and the Story Behind One of Oregon's Most Personal Winery Experiences One of the best parts of what we do at Drink The Bottles is connecting with the people behind the wines. While nothing quite replaces standing in a vineyard with a glass in hand, virtual tastings have become one of our favorite ways to discover exceptional wineries from across the country. What began as a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into something much more. Today, virtual tastings allow wine lovers to connect directly with winery owners and winemakers from the comfort of their own homes, often creating conversations that are every bit as personal as an in-person visit. There is something special about gathering friends around the table, opening the same bottles, and sharing an evening with the person who crafted them. That was exactly our experience during a recent one-hour virtual tasting with Bells Up Winery co-owner and winemaker Dave Specter. By the time...

  Underground Cellar Delivered More Than We Expected: Our First Mystery Red Wine Purchase One of the best parts of being a wine enthusiast is discovering bottles you may never have picked up on your own. Whether it's an unfamiliar producer, a hidden gem from a renowned region, or a wine that simply wasn't on your radar, there's something exciting about expanding your palate through new experiences. That's one of the reasons Underground Cellar immediately caught our attention. Before we begin, we'd like to be transparent with our readers. Underground Cellar recently partnered with Drink The Bottles and provided us with a promotional code that covered the cost of this order in exchange for editorial and social media coverage. Although we did not purchase this shipment out of pocket, the collection we selected retailed for $29 per bottle —a total of $174 for six bottles—and our experience reflects exactly what a customer would have received through the same promotion...

Five generations. Historic vineyards. A family committed to preserving Napa Valley. And three wines that tell a remarkable story.  But this story is not only about the wines. Some wineries make exceptional wine.  A select few become part of the history of the place they call home.  Ghost Block Estate Wines belongs to that rare group. When three bottles from Ghost Block arrived at Drink The Bottles—the 2019 BW9 Red Blend , the 2022 Ghost Block Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon , and the 2024 Elizabeth Rose Pinot Noir —I knew I was receiving something special.  But what I didn't expect was the story behind the labels. Because before there was a bottle of wine, there was a family. Before there was a vineyard, there was a commitment to the land.  And before Napa Valley became one of the most celebrated wine regions in the world, families like the Pelissas were quietly planting roots, farming the soil, and helping shape the future of California wine.  The wines are...

  A Taste of Sonoma History in Every Glass When many people hear the word Zinfandel, they immediately think of a sweeter, easy-drinking wine style that became popular decades ago. But true California Zinfandel has a much deeper story — one rooted in history, old vineyards, and winemakers who have worked for generations to preserve some of the country’s most treasured vines. The 2021 Old Vine Zinfandel from Dry Creek Vineyard is a perfect example of why this grape deserves more attention. This is not simply a fruit-forward California red. It is a wine built around heritage, balance, and the character that can only come from vines that have stood the test of time. Located in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, Dry Creek Vineyard has long been recognized for its commitment to Zinfandel and the preservation of old vine vineyards. In fact, the winery is credited with first coining the term “Old Vine Zinfandel” in 1987 when it wanted to highlight the unique character of its historic viney...