SOLISTE
CLAUDE KOEBERLE, NEWPORT BEACH
Based in Sonoma County, Soliste is a passion play by partners Donald Plumley and Burgundy-born Claude Koeberle. Koeberle’s decades as a chef and his French roots inform the exquisite wines now served at the nation’s most acclaimed restaurants. Look for pinot noir, rosé of pinot noir, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc. soliste.com
AETHER WINE COMPANY
JEFF FINK, TUSTIN
Longtime winemaker for Tantara Winery, Fink now crafts wine under his own label, Aether. His strong connections with envied Santa Barbara County vineyards allow him access to grapes for the outstanding pinot noirs he deems “the union of chemistry and poetry.” There’s also a refined chardonnay from Edna Valley’s Wolff Vineyard. aetherwines.com
FORMAGLINI
DAVID DE LANCELLOTTI, SANTA ANA
Grower de Lancellotti farms his vineyards in Oregon’s famed Willamette Valley for wines released under the Formaglini name, in honor of his paternal grandmother from La Quercia, Italy. Current releases include pinot noir and a blend of pinot and the lesser-known Italian varietal, Lagrein. formaglinivineyards.com
PENVILLE
PATTON PENHALLEGON & MICHAEL VILLAS, NEWPORT BEACH
These two sommeliers met on the job at Mozza, where they connected over a shared love for the same wine producers. Enviable connections to Santa Ynez’s legendary Stolpman Vineyards and white-hot producers Dragonette Cellars led them to their first vintage in 2014, with plans to add some exciting blends from this year’s harvest. penvillewine.com.us
THE ARCHITECT
WINE EXCHANGE, SANTA ANA
Top-notch wine merchant Wine Exchange now wholesales chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon under its own label, The Architect. With restaurants in mind, partners Kyle Meyer and Tristen Beamon utilize their experience and connections, without having an actual estate, to produce “outstanding quality at an excellent price.” Taste their wines at Rosine’s and The Winery. winex.com
SLAY
DAVID SLAY, STANTON
Park Ave and Il Garage chef-partner Slay doesn’t stop with an insightful wine list; he also offers proprietary wines blended in concert with superb California vintners under his Slay label. Current hits include an alluring Santa Rita Hills pinot noir and a seamless Lake County zinfandel blend. parkavedining.com
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