Welcome to our newest series, The Somm Set. Each month we’ll be sitting down with a guest sommelier and uncovering their guilty pleasures, cellar staples, and everything in between! Follow as they hand-select their favorites from our warehouse, giving you the inside scoop on cellar must-haves!

This month on The Somm Set, we’re excited to feature Tonya Pitts, Sommelier. Join us as we explore everything from her love of Champagne and her passion for the wine industry.

Tonya's Secret Stash
Read Our Interview With Tonya Pitts
The Somm Set Home
 

This week from Tonya Pitts:

When I was presented the opportunity to play in Benchmark Wine Group's Cellar, I was ecstatic to share some of the most eclectic wines from premier cellars around the globe. These next wines are going to be old favorites that have been slumbering in the cellar. Personally, I cannot fathom a better reason to "awaken the sleeper." Yes, that was a Dune reference! Immediately, I thought what would be the most memorable to share with everyone because it's all about that connection to each other and the land. Is there a wine here that no one has tasted with some cellar maturity? What does that even look like in our current landscape of calamity post-COVID19?

First, let us venture to my home and one of the loves of my life, California. The California of small production blue-chip brands who were and are the salt of the earth. These are the oldies, but the goodies, the true pioneers, some that have revitalized themselves, and others have started all over again with a different idea of their vision. I am confident you will find my selections intriguing, indulgent, curious, and eye-opening. I humbly ask that you consider mature wines for your collection as it will round out your selections and educate your palate one wine at a time in all its shapes and forms. Consider primary fruit on younger wines versus secondary and tertiary fruit on the older ones that convey these phenomenal vineyard sites' longevity and breadth. In these next editions, we will travel through some of my very favorite places on this precious planet: Sonoma, Sonoma Coast, Napa, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Italy, Spain, and Australia. I know it's more than a swallow; it's a party. Let's go!!!

Check out all the wines mentioned below!