Blue Moon 2026 (May 31)

Offer date: New Moon, May 16
Orders due: May 24
Pickup: Full Moon, May 31
(Actually available Saturday, May 30th, since the partner retailers are closed on Sunday)

The Blue Moon, a second full moon in a given month, only comes around every so often (only once in 2026).

It’s a rarity.

So for this month’s Full Moon Wine Club, we decided to lean into that theme with something appropriately uncommon: rare grapes that most people have never experienced before.

These are the kinds of bottles that remind us just how vast and fascinating the wine world really is — wines that surprise you, challenge expectations, and often become the bottles people can’t stop talking about after dinner.

From ancient Georgian varieties thriving in New York’s Finger Lakes to nearly forgotten grapes from Greece and Sardinia, this month’s selections celebrate wines that exist outside the mainstream. And because a Blue Moon deserves a little extra magic, we’ve also included two bonus wines: one of the world’s original sparkling wines from Limoux in southern France, and a beautifully savory, alpine-inspired red from California made by one of the country’s most adventurous small producers.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery — Rkatsiteli Finger Lakes 2025

Few wineries changed American wine history as profoundly as Dr. Konstantin Frank. A Ukrainian immigrant and viticulture scientist, Dr. Frank arrived in the Finger Lakes in the 1950s, convinced that Vitis vinifera grapes could survive the cold climate of upstate New York — a radical idea at the time. He proved everyone wrong, essentially launching the modern Finger Lakes wine industry. While the winery is famous for Riesling, it has also become a leading champion of Eastern European grape varieties, including Rkatsiteli.

Rkatsiteli is one of the oldest known grape varieties in the world, originating in Georgia thousands of years ago. The grape thrives in cooler climates and naturally produces wines with vivid acidity and structure. This bottling is bright, energetic, and quietly exotic, with aromas of yellow apple, quince, citrus peel, chamomile, and subtle savory herbs. On the palate, it’s crisp and mineral-driven, with enough texture to make it fascinating at the table.

This is an outstanding food wine. Pair it with grilled shrimp, hummus and Mediterranean spreads, roast chicken with lemon and herbs, sushi, or spicy Thai dishes. The acidity cuts beautifully through rich foods while the subtle earthy character makes it surprisingly versatile.

Jolie-Laide — Melon de Bourgogne Chalone 2024

Jolie-Laide has quietly become one of California’s most beloved cult wineries among sommeliers and wine geeks. Founded by winemaker Scott Schultz, the project focuses on unusual grape varieties, low-intervention winemaking, and vineyards that express freshness rather than power. The name “Jolie-Laide” roughly translates from French as “pretty-ugly,” a nod to wines that may not fit conventional standards but possess captivating character and individuality.

Melon de Bourgogne is best known as the grape behind Muscadet in France’s Loire Valley, where it produces lean, saline white wines traditionally paired with oysters and shellfish. Seeing it in California is extremely unusual, and Chalone — with its limestone soils and dramatic elevation — gives the grape a distinctive edge. This wine is all about tension and subtlety: citrus blossom, green pear, wet stone, sea spray, and a delicate leesy texture that adds complexity without heaviness.

This wine absolutely begs for seafood. Oysters are the classic pairing, but it also shines with grilled white fish, crab cakes, ceviche, sushi, or simple roast chicken with fresh herbs. Serve it very cold at first, then let it warm slightly in the glass as the layers begin to unfold.

Rouvalis Winery — Tsigello 2024

Greek wine remains one of the most exciting frontiers in the wine world, filled with indigenous grape varieties found almost nowhere else on earth. Rouvalis Winery, located in the mountainous Aigialeia region of the northern Peloponnese, has become known for preserving and elevating these native grapes. The winery combines modern precision with a deep respect for Greece’s ancient wine traditions.

Tsigello is exceptionally rare, even within Greece itself. The grape naturally produces wines with high acidity, vivid aromatics, and moderate alcohol — qualities that feel remarkably fresh and modern. This bottling bursts with sour cherry, cranberry, wild herbs, crushed flowers, and earthy spice. It’s lighter-bodied but intensely flavorful, with a lifted, energetic personality that almost drinks like a cross between Pinot Noir and an alpine red.

This is a dream wine for grilled foods and Mediterranean cooking. Pair it with lamb skewers, grilled sausages, mushroom dishes, tomato-based pastas, roasted vegetables, or charcuterie. Slightly chilling the bottle before serving brings even more vibrancy to the wine.

Pala — Monica di Sardegna Oltreluna 2022

Sardinia often feels like its own wine universe, isolated from mainland Italy and filled with grapes rarely seen elsewhere. Pala is one of the island’s benchmark family wineries, producing wines that capture Sardinia’s rugged landscapes, Mediterranean herbs, and sun-soaked coastal climate. While Cannonau gets most of the attention internationally, Monica is one of the island’s quiet treasures.

Monica is believed to have ancient Spanish roots and tends to produce softer, more approachable wines than many southern Italian reds. Oltreluna is supple and expressive, offering aromas of ripe plum, black cherry, dried herbs, violets, and hints of cocoa and spice. The palate is silky and medium-bodied, with enough freshness to keep everything lively and food-friendly.

This is the kind of red that thrives at a relaxed dinner table. Pair it with grilled pork, wood-fired pizza, tomato braises, roasted eggplant, burgers, or pecorino cheese. It’s wonderfully versatile — flavorful enough to satisfy red wine lovers while remaining smooth and easygoing.

Bonus Bubbly: Cuvée François — Blanquette de Limoux Brut NV

Long before Champagne became the world’s most famous sparkling wine, monks in the town of Limoux in southern France were already producing bottle-fermented sparkling wines. Blanquette de Limoux is widely considered one of the oldest sparkling wine traditions in the world, dating back to the 1500s. Unlike Champagne, which relies heavily on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Blanquette centers around the rare Mauzac grape.

This sparkling wine is fresh, lively, and delightfully old-school, showing green apple, lemon zest, white flowers, and subtle notes of baked bread and herbs. The bubbles are energetic but not aggressive, making the wine feel joyful and easy to drink.

Enjoy it as an aperitif, with salty snacks, fried foods, soft cheeses, seafood, or brunch dishes. It’s also an outstanding “celebration without occasion” wine — exactly the kind of bottle a Blue Moon calls for.

Bonus Special Red: Jolie-Laide — Mondeuse Rancho Coda Vineyard Sonoma County 2021

Mondeuse is a rare alpine grape originally from the Savoie region of eastern France, near the Alps. Historically overshadowed by more famous French grapes, it has recently developed a cult following among sommeliers for its combination of dark fruit, peppery spice, and electric freshness. Jolie-Laide has become one of the few California producers exploring the grape seriously, and this bottling shows just how compelling it can be.

The wine is intensely aromatic and savory, with blackberry, cracked pepper, violets, smoked herbs, and a distinctive stony minerality. Despite the dark fruit profile, the wine remains energetic and lifted rather than heavy. It feels simultaneously rustic and refined — the kind of red that evolves beautifully over the course of an evening.

This is a phenomenal pairing for grilled meats, duck, wild mushrooms, smoky barbecue, or alpine cheeses. If Syrah and Cabernet Franc had a mysterious mountain cousin, it might taste something like this.

This offer is closed (May 24, 2026). Thank you for your interest.