One of our oldest employees and Bordeaux specialists, Ralph Sands, has been here almost as long as the business itself. Over those past four decades, he’s amassed quite a few stories. Recently, he shared this one, taking us back to the beginning of K&L and the special wine that helped shape the company.
Shop By:
Variety
- Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends (3577)
- Pinot Noir (2142)
- Chardonnay (1072)
- Other White Wines (662)
- Shiraz/Syrah (636)
- Rhone Blends (599)
- Other Red Wines (553)
- Merlot (528)
- Nebbiolo (303)
- Malt (282)
- Zinfandel (267)
- Sauvignon Blanc (244)
- Riesling (228)
- Cordial (205)
- Sangiovese (205)
- Semillon (179)
- Other Distilled Spirits (165)
- Bourbon (160)
- Tequila (152)
- Tempranillo (140)
- Rum (138)
- Gin (130)
- Grenache (127)
- Mezcal (111)
- Cabernet Franc (106)
- Vodka (92)
- Chenin Blanc (72)
- Rye (65)
- Gamay (59)
- Cognac (51)
- Malbec (51)
- Petite Sirah (46)
- Brandy (33)
- Irish (33)
- Pinot Gris (33)
- Gruner Veltliner (30)
- Viognier (28)
- Armagnac (24)
- Marsanne (24)
- Scotch (23)
- Barbera (20)
- Grappa (17)
- Mourvedre (17)
- Gewurztraminer (16)
- Eau de Vie (15)
- Melon de Bourgogne (15)
- Pinot Blanc (14)
- Carignane (13)
- Calvados (11)
- ANY Varietal (7)
- Dolcetto (7)
- Lagrein (3)
- Pineau d'Aunis (2)
- Canadian (1)
- Pommeau (1)
- View More »
Country
- United States (6731)
- France (4653)
- Italy (976)
- Spain (348)
- Mexico (286)
- Scotland (251)
- Germany (236)
- Portugal (199)
- Other International (193)
- Australia (158)
- Japan (92)
- Austria (89)
- New Zealand (89)
- Argentina (66)
- Chile (51)
- South Africa (45)
- Ireland (38)
- Greece (26)
- England (24)
- Canada (22)
- Caribbean (14)
- Hungary (13)
- Georgia (12)
- Israel (11)
- Jamaica (11)
- Lebanon (11)
- Slovenia (10)
- Brazil (9)
- Denmark (9)
- Barbados (6)
- Croatia (6)
- ANY (5)
- Guyana (5)
- Netherlands (5)
- Sweden (5)
- Switzerland (5)
- Venezuela (4)
- Guatemala (2)
- India (2)
- U.S. Virgin Islands (2)
- Dominican Republic (1)
- Iceland (1)
- Panama (1)
- Poland (1)
- Russia (1)
- Taiwan (1)
- View More »
Sub-Region
- California (5376)
- Bordeaux (1823)
- Burgundy (1083)
- Rhone (655)
- Washington (404)
- Oregon (356)
- Piedmont (336)
- Champagne (318)
- Tuscany (289)
- Loire (145)
- Port (134)
- Kentucky (117)
- Chablis (105)
- Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (101)
- Rioja (97)
- South Australia (86)
- Languedoc-Roussillon (74)
- Provence (68)
- Alsace (64)
- Sherry (49)
- Beaujolais (48)
- Sicily (45)
- Veneto (44)
- Ribera del Duero (42)
- New York (37)
- Savoie/Jura (37)
- Penedes (27)
- Trentino-Alto Adige (26)
- Western Australia (26)
- Campania (25)
- Nahe (25)
- Victoria (23)
- Friuli-Venezia-Giulia (19)
- Priorato (17)
- Southwest France (17)
- Umbria (16)
- Rheingau (13)
- Lombardy (11)
- Madeira (11)
- Pfalz (11)
- Rias Baixas (10)
- Abruzzo (9)
- Rheinhessen (8)
- Marche (7)
- Sardinia (7)
- Emilia Romagna (6)
- New South Wales (5)
- Navarra (3)
- Puglia (3)
- ANY (2)
- View More »
Specific Appelation
- Napa Valley (2206)
- Sonoma County (789)
- Santa Maria/Santa Barbara (436)
- Alexander Valley/Russian River (434)
- Saint Emilion (324)
- Chateauneuf du Pape (302)
- Pauillac (279)
- Paso Robles (249)
- Pessac-Leognan/Graves (223)
- Barolo (212)
- Saint Julien (210)
- Margaux (192)
- Pomerol (185)
- Gevrey Chambertin (182)
- Sauternes (139)
- Anderson Valley/Mendocino (131)
- Saint Estephe (122)
- Santa Cruz Mountains (119)
- Santa Lucia Highlands (118)
- Puligny Montrachet (109)
- Super Tuscan (99)
- Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage (97)
- Nuits Saint Georges (93)
- Brunello di Montalcino (90)
- Chassagne Montrachet (76)
- Corton (74)
- Carneros (71)
- Vosne Romanee (70)
- Cote Rotie (66)
- Monterey/Carmel Valley (61)
- Barbaresco (58)
- Chambolle Musigny (52)
- Volnay (42)
- Chianti (40)
- Barossa Valley (37)
- Vougeot (37)
- Central Valley/Lodi (35)
- Sierra Foothills/El Dorado (35)
- Meursault (32)
- Margaret River (26)
- McLaren Vale (25)
- Gigondas (24)
- Yarra Valley (10)
- ANY (9)
- Lake County (7)
- Adelaide Hills (5)
- Rasteau (5)
- Hunter Valley (4)
- Eden Valley (2)
- Langhorne Creek (2)
- Livermore (2)
- Blewitt Springs (1)
- Clare Valley (1)
- Coonawarra (1)
- Heathcote (1)
- View More »
Price Range
- Under $10 (647)
- $10 - $25 (2679)
- $25 - $50 (4257)
- $50 - $75 (1972)
- $75 - $100 (1265)
- Over $100 (4135)
-
Vintage
- 2016 (2027)
- 2017 (1758)
- 2015 (1312)
- 2018 (841)
- 2014 (781)
- 2012 (727)
- 2013 (672)
- 2010 (561)
- 2009 (489)
- 2011 (408)
- 2005 (338)
- 2007 (276)
- 2008 (237)
- 2006 (221)
- 2004 (179)
- 2003 (154)
- 2001 (129)
- 2000 (115)
- 2002 (93)
- 1997 (71)
- 1995 (60)
- 1996 (56)
- 1998 (56)
- 1999 (53)
- 1982 (50)
- 1990 (39)
- 1989 (28)
- 1991 (26)
- 1994 (26)
- 1988 (21)
- 1992 (21)
- 2019 (21)
- 1985 (18)
- 1983 (17)
- 1993 (16)
- 1977 (14)
- 1986 (14)
- 1970 (13)
- 1978 (12)
- 1979 (12)
- 1971 (11)
- 1987 (9)
- 1981 (8)
- 1980 (6)
- 1963 (5)
- 1975 (5)
- 1976 (5)
- 1969 (4)
- 1966 (3)
- 1984 (3)
- 1947 (2)
- 1949 (2)
- 1959 (2)
- 1967 (2)
- 1968 (2)
- 1974 (2)
- 1934 (1)
- 1937 (1)
- 1945 (1)
- 1957 (1)
- 1961 (1)
- 1964 (1)
- 1973 (1)
- View More »
Product Type
- Wine - Red (9179)
- Wine - White (2097)
- Distilled Spirits (1730)
- Beer (637)
- Wine - Sparkling (474)
- Wine - Dessert (362)
- Wine - Rose (170)
- Sake (58)
- Glassware (56)
- Other (52)
- Wine Accessories - Misc (44)
- Soda (40)
- Food (11)
- Oil (10)
- ANY Product Type (9)
- Coffee (7)
- Corkscrews (7)
- Wine - Misc. (6)
- Events - Tastings and Dinners (3)
- Books (2)
- Shipping (1)
- View More »
Special Designation
- New / Back in stock (864)
- Wine Club (83)
- In Stock: Not Pre-Arrival (12910)
- Pre-Arrival (2045)
- Direct Buy (2796)
- Top Pick (731)
- Inventory Clearance (762)
- Organic (549)
- Auction (622)
- Auction Lots Without Bids (235)
- Insider's Advantage (704)
- Old and Rare (2829)
- OWC (559)
Bottle Size
- 750ml Wine (11791)
- 375ml Wine (605)
- 1.5L Wine (522)
- 750ml Champagne (368)
- 6x750mL and the OWC (364)
- 6x750 without the OWC (334)
- 500ml Wine (298)
- 12x750mL and the OWC (102)
- 3L Wine (78)
- 12x750 without the OWC (76)
- 1.5L Champagne (61)
- 375ml Champagne (54)
- 3x750mL and the OWC (41)
- Miscellaneous Container (30)
- 3x1500 without the OWC (25)
- 6x1500mL and the OWC (24)
- 3x1500mL and the OWC (23)
- Glassware Small 6-pack (22)
- 6L Wine (17)
- Glassware Decanter (17)
- Glassware Small 4-pack (17)
- Leverpull (14)
- 6x1500 without the OWC (12)
- 3L Champagne (9)
- No Ship Container Specified (8)
- 3x750 without the OWC (6)
- Tote Bag (6)
- 200ml Champagne (5)
- 6L Champagne (4)
- 187ml Champagne (2)
- 1x6000mL and the OWC (2)
- 5L Wine (2)
- 6x375mL and the OWC (2)
- 9L Champagne (2)
- Wooden Empty Box (2)
- 3x375mL and the OWC (1)
- Any Container Type (1)
- Champagne Gift 6-Pack (1)
- Coravin (1)
- Tickets and Certificates (1)
- View More »
Wine Review Scores
Inventory Location
- Main Warehouse (8676)
- Hollywood (3999)
- Redwood City (5208)
- San Francisco (5443)
- Special Order (1449)
View More Choices »
K&L Email Alerts
Sign up to receive custom alerts, new arrivals and the latest happenings from K&L Wines
K&L Wine Merchants - Thousands of rare and collectable wines including French wines, Italian wines, California wines, old and rare, red wines, white wines, fine wines, wine clubs... the most comprehensive list of wines online. K and L Wine Merchants
New Arrivals - Last 7 Days
Top Picks
Auctions
Best Sellers
K&L Web Features
-
Coming Soon
View items that are on order and due to arrive shortly. -
Local Events
See what’s happening nearby, and join us for special tastings and dinners. -
Waiting Lists
Get on a waiting list for out-of-stock items, or enter "keywords" and get an email when a matching item comes into our inventory. -
Insider's Advantage
Exclusive savings on Inventory Clearance items for members of our Insider's Advantage email list. -
Top 10 Selections
Our top selections this month. -
Email Alerts
Sign up for email alerts in your preferred categories. -
Electronic Newsletter
In-depth features from our staff on the latest fine wines and spirits (PDF). -
Vintage Reports
Extensive notes from our buying trips.
September 17, 2019 - Kate Soto
As tried-and-true Californians, we couldn’t be prouder of the beautiful wines being produced by the Golden State these days. Check out our weekly newsletter for a handful of the Domestic Buyer’s favorite picks, and learn about some of the producers who are defining the current Golden Era.
Agave Spirits bring people together in a way not too many other spirits can. From harvesting, to producing, and consuming, every facet is laced with cultivating relationships. Mezcal and other agave spirits are that farm-to-table restaurant where you eat at a communal setting, smiling next to strangers as you share stories, while the chef is continuously serving up dishes and discussing the ingredients with you. Fathers pass down traditions and techniques, mezcaleros sell to friends and neighbors, and if there’s ever a celebration, you can bet your bottom dollar that the good stuff is getting brought out; it’s part of the romance, the mystique, and if you’ll forgive the pun, the spirit of the plant itself.
-
Hurry on over! From 12-4pm today we have Sofía Gonzalez & Eric Aracli in our SF store to taste and discuss the 2017 Château de L'Ou "Grenache Rhapsody" Cotes Catalanes Rouge. They will engage customers in an educational and entertaining discussion of French grenache, and you’ll get a chance to learn more about garnacha/grenache wines from both France and Spain.
-
Chardonnay, Cab, and Zin, Oh My! The Golden State's Greats https://t.co/2AszXN4g54 -
K&L's 9th annual Champagne Summit is now officially in the books! Read all about the wines, not to mention the tacos, on today's blog from Gary: https://t.co/VCPTdCCt1w https://t.co/TZwqNUVHjF
-
2017 Château d’Yquem (WA 97-99, JS 98-99) released today! We have first-tranche allocations now availabile: https://t.co/Yr41eCxt6K https://t.co/ORLeXoTCDT
