January Wine Club 2026! – Alpine Wines

Wow. It is a new year, and we are suddenly thrust into 2026! Here at Jet Wine Club, we think apres-New Year’s Eve should be celebrated a bit like apres-ski. Instead of going right into New Year's resolutions, we’ll feed the healthy appetite gained from the hard work that the holidays require. As long as we are exercising our creative license, let’s make this a post-Alpine ski experience. That means we need Alpine wines, and that is what I am bringing to this (mixed-metaphor) party.

Get your tickets now to our January 21st tasting called Off-Piste: An Alpine Wine Tasting.

I am not a downhill skier; I am a passionate cross-country skier. Mind, I did not say *good*, but passionate. My husband grew up skiing in the Rockies and can’t seem to reconcile my fear of steep slopes with his facility on them – even on edgeless skis. So we often find ourselves on a trail that is way too hard, with me on my butt, crying that I’ll never be able to make it down. Eventually, I’ll make it through the trail and do a few more that are also a bit too difficult. But that means that I deserve an amazing apres-ski, so I persevere. This is exactly what happened the one and only time I went skiing in the Alps, in the small town of Megeve. Fortunately, Megeve is a wonderland of food (raw oysters! raclette!) and drinks (Savoie!). Not only that, our Italian friends who invited us to visit them there bring carloads of food and wine from Piemonte. Is it any wonder I have such great associations with post-Alpine skiing – even if the skiing often terrifies me?

But here I am on ski-less feet, with two Alpine wines to tell you about and for you to take home. Alpine wines are pretty self-explanatory; they come from the Alps.

Wohlmuth Sudsteiermark Sauvignon Blanc Phyllit 2024

Weingut Wohlmuth is a multi-generation family-run operation. The estate, which sits amidst the mountains in Kitzeck im Sausal, is over 200 years old. The Sausal range is part of the Central Eastern Alps and, more fun to say, the Austroalpine Superunit. This location in Steiermark is the highest-elevation wine region in Austria, AND – with slopes at up to 90% incline – one of the steepest in Europe. Wohlmuth’s grapes are grown between 400m-600m – which definitely enhances the aromatics. The organically-grown grapes are hand-harvested from their very steep slopes, and the wine is made with minimal intervention. 

The result is a really good and interesting wine. It is immediately apparent that it is Sauvignon Blanc, with tell-tale acidity and subtle hints of grass and green pepper. From there, though, the Wohlmuth departs from the typical. The nose has sweet and tangy clementine pith plus some lupine dust and verbena. Lest you wonder about “lupine dust,” that is my way of describing the wind-blown aromas of a field of wildflowers.  The hint of green pepper on the palate is surpassed by celery and nettle and an ephemeral tropical note (mango?) that intensifies as the wine warms. A day’s skin-contact and 7 months on the lees give this wine great texture and complexity. The body has a bit of heft, and it has a notably long finish. This is, indeed, a “Winter White”.

I would devour this apres-ski. No food needed, but the slight salinity in the wine makes a charcuterie board pretty tempting. If I’m being honest, I would probably eat a whole sleeve of saltines, too. And ski you can! Kitzeck im Sausal has so many mountains! Beyond the Sausal and the Alpine foothills immediately nearby in Graz, the high Alps are a couple of hours away.

Ansitz Waldgries St. Magdalener Classico Südtirol DOC 2023

Here is another multi-generation family-run operation! While the estate Waldgries Manor dates back to the 13th century, the current, 3-generation family has operated the estate for a century. Similar to Weingut Wohlmuth, the Ansitz Waldgries estate sits at a high altitude (but lower, at 250m) with steep slopes in the town of St. Magdalener (Santa Maddalena). 

Our wine takes its name from that town: the “St. Magdalener Classico”.  The town also has an eponymous DOC under the Italian spelling. Christian Plattner, owner and winemaker, focuses on indigenous grapes of the Sudtirol region, and two of these comprise the “Classico”; the wine is mostly Schiava Gentile (as required for the Santa Maddalena DOC), with a bit of Lagrein. Schiava Gentile is also known as Trollinger or Vernasch, and probably originates from this part of Italy. Both Schiava and Lagrein produce lighter-bodied wines, whose aromatics are heightened by the rocky soils and sunny skies of the mountainous region. This wine has a light-medium body with ample, pure fruit. Cherries, raspberries, and pomegranates are heightened with a hint of smoke and a touch of peppery spice.  The finish is long, smooth, and crisp.

This is another wine perfect for apres-ski. Ansitz Waldgries is just outside the Sudtirol capital of Bolzano, with alpine skiing to the north in the Alps, or in the Dolomites sub-range to the east. The “Classico” is perfect for Bolzano’s specialty – speck.

Alpine Wines and Patatnik 

Thinking about these wines – and imagining them with food apres-ski – I can’t help but think of Patatnik. When my husband and I adopted kids from Bulgaria, we looked into Bulgarian cuisine and found a great “mountain” recipe: patatnik. It is traditional to the Rhodope mountains and would be perfect with both of these wines.

Like many traditional recipes, it varies strongly according to personal taste and region. The one I prefer is pretty simple, and reminds me of German potato pancakes with mint added; the addition of that mint creates a lively, lovely dish. The cheese is optional, and I opt out. It is basically shredded potato, shredded onion, eggs, butter, mint, salt, and pepper. Pro Tip: really squeeze those grated potatoes!

Send me pics!!! Cheers to 2026!

-Jill Weber

Enjoy your January Wine Club selections with our Alpine playlist!