THE STORIES that inspired OUR WINES

Every Siren Song Wine was inspired by a journey or an adventure. Our winemaker, Kevin, grew up in San Diego, and has lived in Spain, France, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He’s run with the bulls in Pamplona, crewed aboard yachts in the Mediterranean, and had a summer job picking oranges in Valencia. Holly, our Chief Siren, and Kevin have traveled the world together and regularly take our wine club members on culinary/wine tours to Burgundy and Provence. We hope that our “Siren Song” stories inspire you, too.

ADAGIO

Dolcetto

On a road trip from Venice to Marseille we had a “small accident” in Alba – the heart of Italy’s Piemonte region. Yes, I admit it; I was driving too fast in a small car.  Luckily, with a few days to kill awaiting repairs, we were introduced to Dolcetto – Italy’s gift to pasta lovers.  The rest of the story is a very happy one.

Dolcetto is what Piemontesi choose to drink “a tutto pasto,” or “with the meal.” Following local custom, we drank it while sampling agnolotti - stuffed pasta with veal and wild mushroom filling.  Oh, man.

The Adagio (“slow down” in Italian) is my tribute to that happy accident.  It’s fresh and aromatic with violets and berry fruit mingled with almond overtones.  It has a beautiful color and structure.  Buon appetito!

auberge

Syrah/Grenache

We went with friends to a cooking school in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. It’s a gorgeous village in the Bouches-du-Rhône region. Van Gough lived and painted there. The student kitchen was in an “auberge” (rustic farmhouse/inn). Ah, the siren song of Provence. While we experimented with making gigot d’agneau rôti à la provençale (roasted herbed leg of lamb), we quaffed our way through dozens of local wines. They were full-bodied and served with local olives, farm cheese, and fois gras. Heaven. The Auberge is a homage to this experience and the France that I hold dear. I love its depth and feral personality. À votre santé!

beijo

Syrah/Merlot

I learned to samba in Rio one evening with friends. The evening was humid and the wine and cachaça were flowing, as the entire restaurant got up to dance. Everybody including kids, grandparents, and the wait staff participated.

Ah, the siren song of Brazil. Kissing is a big thing in Brazil and the locals freely offer três beijos (”three kisses”) when they greet you or say goodbye - even if they just met you.

An older woman must have liked my dancing because she gave me four. So sweet. The “Beijo” is a homage to this experience, the samba, and the bossa nova that I love. It’s a blend of estate grown grapes with a beautiful nose and lots of personality.  Saude!

cezanne

Sauvignon Blanc

I ran with the bulls in Pamplona the summer I turned nineteen. A French friend, JJ, from Aix-en-Provence was my partner in crime.

“La fiesta de San Fermín” is seven days and seven nights of food and wine. Full tilt boogie. You wake early every morning to join the “machos” in the street and test your courage against bulls that are as big as a Volkswagen.

Thankfully, we spent two weeks recovering in Aix at JJ’s family’s estate. It was once owned by the Cezanne family. He painted many of his works there.

JJ’s father introduced me to Sancerre, his favorite wine, and cheese from Abbaye de Citeaux. Heaven. The “Cézanne” is tribute to Aix and my love of Sauvignon Blanc. Vive la France and à votre santé!

dix-neuf

Riesling

I Eurailed across the continent with my college buddy, “Miami,” in the summer of ’76. From Paris to Amsterdam then to Zurich, Rome, Corfu, and to Oktoberfest in Munich. When you’re that young and free it’s pure adventure. Steely Dan had it right with “Hey Nineteen…” Our trip ended in Strasbourg, France to visit friends at the university. We were broke, but our friends treated us to a local dish “raclette” – French cheese heated by a candle then scraped over potatoes, cornichons, and baguette. Oh, mama. We paired it with a local Riesling that was perfumed and lively. Heaven. Our “Dix-Neuf” (French for “19”) is a tribute to that road trip and to being 19…Cin Cin!

emile

Pinot Noir

My love affair with Pinot Noir started in Ann Arbor at age 20. I was befriended by a linguistics professor and she was very kind to educate my inexperienced palate with Santenay, Beaune, and Pommard.

As a suitable snack, her specialty was escargot drowned in butter, garlic, and parsley served with a petite baguette. Oh, mama. On weekends, we listened to Stanley Turrentine and I learned to make coq au vin and boeuf bourguignon in her kitchen.

More wine sampling ensued, of course. A little for the stew…a little for the chef. You get the picture. This wine is a nod to my early wine education and my soft spot for Pinot. Bon appetit!

jolie

Cabernet Franc/Merlot/Malbec

Paris is surely the center of the known universe. It cast its spell on me years ago and I’ve never been quite the same. I was lucky enough to live and work there and I spent countless hours strolling through the Marais, Montmartre, and the Champs-Élysées captivated by their beauty. Oh, and I sampled my share of vin rouge.

Cole Porter and George Gershwin wrote music for Paris, I’ve made wine. The Jolie (“beautiful”) is my tribute to the city that I love. It’s made in the French tradition using small vats and oak aging for 18 months. It’s distinctly aromatic with supple notes of black cherry, violets, and smoky chocolate. Vive la Paris!

la bomba

Petit Verdot/Grenache

I picked oranges in Valencia, Spain during my 19th summer. Oh man, it was hot. I was a broke student at the University of Salamanca and living with some friends there. Valencia is the home of paella, Spain’s gift to the culinary world. Lucky for me, I learned how to make it with rabbit, Moroccan saffron, and bomba rice. We paired it with big Spanish wines made from Petit Verdot and Monstrell – pure heaven. “La Bomba” is a tribute to my early culinary education and the vino tintos that I love.  ¡Salud!

LA CONTESSA FRANCESCA

Estate Syrah

I opened a bottle of Tuscan Syrah the night I proposed to my wife. It thought it would pair well with the diamond ring that I was about to present. The connection was the ring’s history. It was originally owned by an Italian countess from Panzano in the 19th century.

We were both feeling deeply romantic and happy that evening. The wine did the trick. She said yes. I guess the countess’s ring didn’t hurt either...

“La Contessa” is my tribute to that wine and to that memory. This is our estate Syrah and it has a beautiful nose, perfect weight, and delightful intensity. Cin Cin!

la vie est belle

Grenache Rosé

I once lost a bet and had to take three friends to lunch at Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes. It’s an exquisite village sitting on a cliff above the Med. Picasso lived and sculpted there.

As we worked our way through the menu, I was introduced to several versions of local rosé. All were fruity and voluptuous. Pure bliss.

Four hours and several bottles later, my friend Serge looked at me, raised a glass, and drunkenly said “Hey, Kev - la vie est belle, non?” (“life is good, right?”). Very good indeed. The “La Vie” is my tribute to that moment and to my lovable Parisian friend. À votre santé!

le fleurt

Pinot Noir Rosé

The French know how to flirt. In fact, both men and women consider "la seduction" to be one of the most enjoyable things in life.

A lingering glance or an amorous comment is perfectly natural on the streets of Paris. A writer once said, "Americans consider the sidewalk an anonymous backstage space, whereas for the French it is the stage itself.

" The "Fleurt" is my tribute to two cultural pastimes in France: wine and flirting. Now, uncork a bottle and go flirt with someone. Here's to "la seduction" and à votre santé!

madame h

Viognier

I first sampled Viognier with Holly at a highway stop outside Avignon. It was late, we were starving, and the restaurant’s parking lot was jammed with semis.

The menu had one fixed dinner offering: tapenade, grilled dorade, and crème brûlée. French truckers eat well. Just as we started, the chef came to our table, chatted, and poured us a slightly chilled Viognier from a vineyard in Condrieu.

Time stood still, as an aura of cosmic joy engulfed our table. We wanted to bear hug him and proclaim that Viognier is surely the most precious resource in the south of France. This wine is a nod to that accidental dining moment. We hope you enjoy it. À votre santé!

matisse

Estate Chardonnay

I first heard the siren song of white wines while living in the French village of St-Germain-en-Laye. On our many trips to the Côte d’Or, we experienced the wines of Corton Charlemagne and Meursault in their full lusciousness.

It’s been a love affair ever since. The Matisse is an expression of my life in France and of the white wines that I love. It’s made in the Burgundian tradition using barrel fermentation and “bâtonnage” (stirring the lees). It’s full-bodied and has an elegant finish. À votre santé!

muse

Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier Sparkling (méthode champenoise)

I’ve always loved the legend of the French monk who, upon tasting his accidentally created sparkling wine, shouted out his window, “Come quickly, I’m drinking the stars.”

He was on to something. I have a major jones for bubbly. It says “celebration” and “romance” to me like no other wine. I also love how it punctuates the memorable moments in our life.

The Muse is my tribute to the monk and his fortunate “aha!” moment. Now, pop a bottle and go find something to celebrate!

musique

White Blend

I love jazz. My father was a jazz musician and he introduced me to Miles and Coltrane at an early age. My mother loved big bands and Sinatra. It seems that there was always music playing in our house.

In college, I worked for Eclipse Jazz in Ann Arbor staging concerts for Ella, Dizzy, Miles, Jobim, and even Rahsaan Roland Kirk. It was a sentimental education. My love for jazz continues today and I often find myself at Seattle’s Jazz Alley still discovering great music in a very special setting.

“Musique” is my tribute to jazz. It’s an ensemble of sexy white varietals: Roussanne, Chardonnay, and Muscat.  It’s wonderfully aromatic - wild flowers, clementines, honeydew, pear, and just a touch of oak. It’s lively on the palette and has a beautiful finish.  Pour a glass and put on some Miles.

a night in madrid

Tempranillo/Garnacha

I fell in love with my wife a second time over a glass of Rioja one memorable night in Madrid. En amor, as the Spanish say.

It may have been the pairing with delicious tapas. No doubt the candles and gypsy music added to the romantic mood. It’s hard to say exactly, but we were so taken by that wine and it whispered its siren song. 

The “Madrid” is my personal expression of that wine, the Spain that I hold dear in my heart, and that special night. It’s a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha. I love its elegance and complexity – I hope you do, too. ¡Salud!

piazza

Sangiovese/Nebbbiolo

There’s a piazza in the Tuscan village of Mercatale where we were introduced to Italy. You know, the one you dream about. The air was clear and fragrant. The afternoon sunlight an inspiration. And, of course, there was the food and wine.

There in “piazza nostra” (our piazza) we sampled Tuscany in all its glory. Farm cheeses, melon, prosciutto, and ten versions of pasta. Our favorite: pappardelle al ragu cinghiale (pasta with wild boar sauce).

We paired it with a wine from the famed Tignanello vineyards once owned by the Medici’s. Pure heaven. The “Piazza” is my tribute to the Tuscany that we love. Cin Cin!

raving beauty

Cabernet Sauvignon

I first heard the siren song of France while living in the village of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. On our many visits to France’s most famous appellations, we experienced the wines of Pauillac and Margaux in all their full-bodied elegance.

Lunching along the Dordogne with a glass of local wine and fois gras spread on a crusty baguette is a memory I’ll never truly forget. It’s been a love affair ever since.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is an expression of my life in France and of the cabs that I love. I call it “Raving Beauty” to remind me of the allure and charm that I experienced there. Vive la France and à votre santé!

rodin

Chardonnay

I first heard the siren song of white Burgundy while visiting Musée Rodin in Paris in 1976. The museum is housed in the beautiful Hôtel Biron – an estate with Rodin’s sculptures scattered around its beautiful gardens. We sipped Montrachet in the garden café engrossed by “The Burghers of Calais,” “The Kiss,” and, of course, “The Thinker.” Such breathtaking beauty.

This Chardonnay is an expression of that memory, my life in France, and the Burgundies that I love. I hope you enjoy it.

the vale

Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz

I learned to party Aussie style while visiting the Hunter Valley in 1995. My mate, Gus, took me to his family’s winery in the Hunter Valley named “Terrace Vale” for a weekend of food, mischief, and winemaking.

We also worked the tasting room and set a record for selling wine. As a bonus, Alain, the winemaker, introduced us to a vintage Shiraz/Cabernet blend that was so stunningly delicious that I’ll never forget it.

This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah (what the Aussies call “Shiraz”) is an expression of that memory, my life in Australia, and the wines that I love. I hope you enjoy it.

viaggio

Primitivo

I sailed from Corfu to Brindisi as a deckhand on a luxury yacht when I was 20. The village is in Italy’s “heel” on the Adriatic and is home to fabulous seafood and rustic wines.

It was the first time I drank Primitivo and it was served with “cozze racante” (mussels au gratin with pecorino). Oh, mama.

The wine was dark and thickly textured. I loved its restrained intensity. I never forgot that moment. Our “Viaggio” (“journey”) is a tribute to my wild days sailing and knocking about Southern Europe.

It reminds me to seek adventure and that “always the journey, never the destination.” Cin Cin!

vincent

Petit Verdot/Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon

Holly and I once sipped an exquisite Bordeaux about a block from where Vincent Van Gogh painted in St. Rémy. It was a languid summer evening full of music and stars.

Ah, the siren song of France. I’ve always loved all things Van Gogh – his art, his passion, and yes, his tragic story.

We sipped the wine in Place Favier that night and whispered sweet words to each other. Such a beautiful, romantic memory.

“This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you, Vincent.” Enjoy the wine!

zelda

Zinfandel

I first heard the siren song of Zinfandel while growing up in California. Actually, it was my father who I need to thank. He loved Zinfandels of all styles and he introduced me to their subtle complexities and chameleon-like nature.

Being a terrific chef, he loved to pair Zin’s with dishes like smoked oysters, pot-au-feu, and big, juicy porterhouse steaks. I was his willing accomplice.

This Zin is an expression of my youth in California, my eccentric father, and the wines that we both love. I call it “Zelda” to capture its exuberance and whimsical beauty. I hope you enjoy it!

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Available Wednesday - Sunday 12-8pm

Private Events for more than 20 guests

Children are welcome at Siren Song,
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