The art of blending brings different grape varieties together to create a wine with its own distinctive character, each contributing something to the finished bottle, from aromatic lift and vibrant fruit to depth, texture, and structure. October’s Red Reserve Club explores that idea through two American reds from the 2023 vintage: Rappahannock Cellars Meritage from Virginia and Brown Estate Chaos Theory from Sonoma County, California.
The Meritage draws on the classic Bordeaux tradition, combining Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Merlot in a blend that connects European inspiration with Virginia’s growing wine identity.
Chaos Theory embraces the creative freedom of a proprietary red blend, inviting discovery through a wine whose personality is defined by the whole rather than a single grape.
Tasted together, these selections offer an opportunity to explore how region, grape selection, and a winemaker’s vision shape the finished wine. They also remind us that blending is both a thoughtful craft and an act of creativity, bringing distinct elements into harmony and giving us two compelling wines to explore around the autumn table.
Club members can sample all four bottle club selections and pick up their wines at the pick up event on Tuesday, October 13thth, 2026 or at Curio for the remainder of October.