Hey guys!
This week we’re looking ahead to a trip to one of France’s most exciting wine regions, sharing three of my favorite jambon beurres in New York, and recapping a BYOB Chinese dinner with Moritz and Jasmin Kissinger-Bähr. Enjoy!
Back to Jura: Le Nez Dans Le Vert 👃 🟢
It’s that time of year again, Le Nez Dans Le Vert is back, bringing the Jura wine world together in Arbois and Poligny for a full celebration of the region. Winemakers, importers, and wine lovers all descend on the region, and the energy is pretty special. I made it out last year and had an incredible experience, here are a few takeaways from that trip, and what I’m most looking forward to this time around:
Pictured: Arbois
Blind Tasting Galore
Each year, after the first day of the fair wraps, everyone gathers for a communal lunch organized by the fair. Alongside it is a blind tasting game where you can pick up a bottle, red or white, for around $20, labeled only with a number. It turns into this collective moment of tasting, guessing, and comparing notes with the people around you, trying to figure out what’s in the glass and which bottle stands out.
Pictured: Blind Tasting at Le Nez Dans Le Vert
At the end of the meal, just as everyone is heading out, they release the key revealing all the producers. It’s a simple idea, but it makes for one of the most memorable parts of the weekend, something I haven’t stopped thinking about since last year.
Bistrot Des Claquets
This is one of the most popular watering holes in the Jura. Located in Arbois, Les Claquets is where a lot of the pregames and afterparties naturally end up. The best part is the wine list, it’s basically a lineup of Jura heavyweights. Think Bruyère-Houillon next to Labet next to Les Bottes Rouges next to L’Octavin and more, all sitting there at prices that almost feel like mistakes. A must-stop when you’re in town.
Pictured: Bistrot Des Claquets
New Discoveries
The most fun I had last year, and what I’m most excited for again, is discovering new Jura winemakers. Beyond the names we all know and love, there were so many under-the-radar producers pouring incredible wines. It stuck with me enough that I made a point to seek a lot of them out over the past year while traveling through Europe. Hoping for another round of discoveries this time.
Pictured: La Grange 476, Thomas Popy, Allante & Boulanger
These fairs, whether in the Loire, Jura, or elsewhere, are one of the best ways to connect with the wine community. If you’ve ever thought about going, it’s absolutely worth it.
New York City’s Best Jambon Beurres 🐷 🧈
The jambon beurre has really become my favorite kind of sandwich. At its core, it’s just sliced ham, great butter, and a fresh baguette, but there’s something about that simplicity that’s perfect every time. It’s saved me, and I’m sure a lot of you, more times than I can count while traveling, and lately I’ve been on a mission to find the best versions in New York City. Here are a few that stood out:
Pavé (Midtown📍)
This one currently holds my top spot. Pavé is run by Jin Ahn, also behind the wildly popular Noreetuh, and they’re putting out not just some of the best jambon beurres in the city, but a full lineup of excellent French pastries.
Image by Pavé
The sandwich itself is dialed in: paper-thin ham, a generous swipe of butter, and fresh bread that holds everything together, finished with just a touch of mustard and cornichons. Definitely worth the trip, even if it means heading up to Midtown.
La Bicyclette Bakery (Williamsburg📍)
This one came highly recommended by a few friends, but I only just made it over recently, mostly because I don’t live in Brooklyn and they tend to close early. La Bicyclette has a few locations, but I stopped by the Williamsburg shop, which I believe was the original.
This version was really solid. A slightly thinner baguette and a lighter touch on the butter, but the ham was excellent. There’s some Comté on it as well, which worked perfectly.
Frenchette Bakery (Tribeca📍)
This one is another extremely strong contender. The Frenchette team knows how to make bread and source great products, so it’s no surprise this lands so well. I’d argue this is one of the more refined takes in the city.
The bread has that perfect balance of crunch and chew, the butter is rich, and the ham brings it all together. It’s a clean, classic execution.
Image by Frenchette Bakery
All this talk is making me extremely hungry. If you think I missed any jambon-beurres, let me know!
Producer Highlight ⭐
One of our favorite parts of wine is the discovery: we’re constantly being put on to new regions, producers, and cuvées from our friends. We’ll never be able to try EVERY wine, but we want to take a moment to mention some producers that excite us!
Kissinger-Bähr 🍷
Location: Rheinhessen, Germany 📍
Pictured: Rheinhessen. Image by Wine Tourism
In the limestone-rich heart of Germany’s Rheinhessen, Moritz and Jasmin Kissinger-Bähr are reshaping expectations of the region. Farming a small footprint, their work feels both rooted and forward-looking, part of a broader movement redefining what this historically overlooked area can be. As temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, places that once struggled to fully ripen grapes are now entering a kind of sweet spot, making Rheinhessen an increasingly compelling place to grow and drink from.
Jasmin and Mortiz Kissinger-Bähr
Though Moritz comes from a multi-generational winemaking family, the estate today feels entirely its own. Alongside a small holding dedicated to Riesling, the focus is largely on Chardonnay, Weissburgunder, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir, varieties that have historically seen little attention in the region.
Pictured: Mortiz Kissinger Bottles. Image by Stuido Wino
The style is what sets them apart: serious but playful at the same time. With only a handful of vintages released, the wines have already taken on a kind of cult following, placing Kissinger-Bähr at the center of a new wave in the Rheinhessen that’s just beginning to take shape.
Pictured: Moritz Kissinger-Bähr
I’ve been a fan of Moritz and Jasmin’s wines for a while, so when an invite came through from the Vom Boden team to join them for dinner, it was an easy yes. We ended up at Wu’s Wonton King, the classic NYC BYOB spot, working through the full lineup over a long, lively meal. Was an absolute pleasure to spend the time with Mortiz and Jasmin.
In Other News 📰 🍷
Savagnin Power Launch: Our friends at Jura Wine just launched Savagnin Power, a mix of vintage guide, newsletter, and bottle database dedicated to all things Jura. Perfect timing with Le Nez Dans Le Vert happening this weekend! 🇫🇷
Drinking Glue Reads: A friend recently put us onto a new project called Drinking Glue, where Julie Heard and Ariela Rose spotlight the artists behind wine labels, from illustrators to photographers and designers. Their first feature with Delphine Chauvin, who created labels for the late Julie Balagny, is a great read. 🎨
Maffrei Wine Dinner: Next Friday at Lilia, brothers Andrea and Stefano Mascarello of Maffrei Wines are hosting a special dinner. They’re some of the most exciting young voices in the region right now, and it’s a real treat to have them in New York! 🇮🇹
Wine Club Updates 🍷 📦
March’s shipment is heading out this week! We have a really fun theme with an even better line-up of bottles, so hope you enjoy. If you have any questions or run into any issues, feel free to reach out to [email protected] and they’ll get you sorted quickly.
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That’s it for today! Can’t wait to fill you guys in on all the Jura madness this week. Until then, thank so much for reading, and as always, drink responsibly! 🥂