Crush-worthy wines

February’s lineup is full of bottles that make your heart skip a beat without trying too hard. Think elegant, romantic, and effortlessly charming (no cheesy Valentine’s vibes here). Each wine in this lineup is a little love letter: chosen for that something irresistible — a texture you can’t stop thinking about, a perfume that pulls you back in, a finish that lingers like a good flirt. These are wines to fall for slowly, savoring every sip, whether you’re sharing the moment or keeping it all to yourself.

We can’t wait for you to taste these bottles.

The Halfseas Team

2022 Riofavara “Mizzica” Noto Bianco

Region
Noto, Eloro DOC – Sicily, Italy

Grape
Moscato di Noto

Retail
$25

The wine
Riofavara is a family estate in southeastern Sicily devoted to organic farming and the preservation of local varieties that speak clearly of place. The wine comes from vineyards around the town of Noto in the Eloro zone, where limestone and sandy soils sit only a few miles from the Mediterranean. Intense sun is tempered by constant sea breezes, giving the wine aromatic lift and a gentle saline edge. Made primarily from Moscato di Noto, it shows how fragrant grapes can still be dry, vibrant, and graceful.

Our love note
This one flirts the way Sicily does—warm, a little salty, impossible to ignore. It smells like walking past a courtyard of orange blossoms at dusk, all peach skin and sea air, and then it slips away clean before things get too serious, a wine that holds your hand just long enough to make you hope it calls tomorrow.

Pair it with
Oysters, crudo, citrus-bright salads, burrata with olive oil

2024 Vinco “Chill Ya Jolo” Ciliegiolo 

Region
Tuscany, Italy

Grape
Ciliegiolo (“chee-lee-AY-joh-loh”)

Retail
$25

The wine
Vinco is a tiny, playful project centered on low-intervention wines meant for chilling, sharing, and not overthinking. The fruit comes from the rolling hills of coastal Tuscany where clay and river stones lend softness and juicy freshness. Made from 100% Ciliegiolo, the cherry-scented relative of Sangiovese, the wine is fermented gently to keep its buoyant, everyday charm. 

Our love note
Think of the friend who turns into a crush without warning—easy laughter, red cherries staining your fingers, music turned up a touch too loud. Served cool, it’s playful and a little mischievous, the bottle that disappears while you’re busy telling stories you didn’t plan to share.

Pair it with
Caviar dip and Pringles, or anything garlicky and snack-forward.

2023 Division-Villages Gamay “Les Petits Fers”

Region
Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

Grape
Gamay

Retail
$28

The wine
Division-Villages is a Portland winery inspired by the spirit of Beaujolais and committed to regenerative farming across Oregon. The Gamay comes from sites throughout the Willamette Valley where volcanic and marine sediment soils bring cranberry brightness and a peppery lift. Gentle, often semi-carbonic fermentations keep the wine lively and transparent.

Our love note
This is the perfect first date in liquid form—violets tucked behind the ear, raspberries crushed on warm pavement, a softness that feels intentional. It doesn’t try to impress you with big gestures; it just listens, leans in, and suddenly you’re ordering another glass.

Pair it with
Mushroom risotto, roast salmon, and herb-driven dishes

François Montand Brut Rosé NV (6-bottle club exclusive)

Region
Jura, France

Grape
Pinot Noir

Retail
$26

The wine
François Montand crafts traditional-method sparkling wines in the foothills of the Jura, following Champagne technique. The cool alpine climate provides naturally high acidity and delicate red-fruit aromatics, while extended lees aging adds creamy texture and finesse.

Our love note
Fine bubbles like a nervous heartbeat, strawberries and cream delivered with French confidence. It arrives dressed up but never overdressed, the kind of charm that makes every table feel candle-lit even when it isn’t, and you tell yourself you’ll have one before you find yourself making toasts you didn’t rehearse.

Pair it with
Oysters, fried potatoes, goat cheese, and any celebratory moment.

2024 Rogue Vine Pipeño Tinto (6-bottle club exclusive)

Region
Guarilihue, Itata Valley, Chile

Grapes
País + Carignan

Retail
$28

The wine
Rogue Vine is a collective dedicated to reviving ancient País vineyards in rural Itata, some more than two centuries old. Pipeño is Chile’s traditional farmers’ wine, fermented simply to accompany everyday meals. From the granite soils of Guarilihue, cooled by Pacific influence, the wine carries savory freshnessand rustic honesty. The blend of País with a touch of Carignan is handled with minimal intervention to preserve its soulful character.

Our love note
A little wild around the edges,smelling of cranberries, woodsmoke, and late-night conversations, it’s the crush who shows up with muddy boots and perfect timing, reminding you that romance doesn’t need polishing to be real.

Pair it with
Garlicky clams, grilled mushrooms, chorizo, and anything touched by a gentle char.

2023 Cora Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (6-bottle club exclusive)

Region
Abruzzo, Italy

Grape
Montepulciano

Retail
$20

The wine
Cora is a small Abruzzese estate focused on clean, classic wines for the everyday table. Vineyards lie between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic Sea, where clay hills ripen fruit fully while maritime breezes preserve freshness. The Montepulciano is aged in stainless steel to keep its plum-driven purity and easygoing nature. 

Our love note
This one is steady, the love that meets you after a long day with an open door and something good on the stove— the feeling of borrowing a sweater that fits better than your own.

Pair it with
Red-sauce pasta + meatballs

Looking for past lineups? We got you.

REMINDERS

• As always, our food suggestions are just starting points. Wine is nostalgic and we’re big fans of making what you like, drinking what you like, and not giving a damn if they “go” together.

• Email us at info@halfseaswine.com to buy more single bottles or a 12-bottle case with special pricing.

• Wine pairs best with friends. Tell your friends.