Interview on the Wines to Chill Your Summer

There are few things more refreshing than a deliciously crisp chilled wine on a hot summer day. Wine is one of those things that pairs well with all seasons and today I am going to introduce you to one of my favorite mail order wine services, Scout and Cellar.

How I Came Across Scout and Cellar

I was introduced to Scout and Cellar about a year ago by a friend (Nicole, who you will meet a little further down) through her post on Facebook and Instagram. I would see these beautiful pictures of her relaxing with wine glass in hand, touting the delicious clean crafted wine of Scout and Cellar. I found the concept of a “clean wine” interesting, but what really intrigued me was that I never had to leave my house to try it!

During the pandemic, I became a bit of a recluse, or hermit if you will. While I am a pretty loud and outgoing person and most would classify me as a grade A extravert, I struggle with going out into public when it is not absolutely necessary.  I do not love crowds of people, especially in a supermarket type environment where everyone is fighting over the last roll of toilet paper. With the pandemic, it gave me the excuse I was looking for to jump feet first into grocery pick up, which turned into an easy transition to straight to door wine drop off!

I found that I really love the wine and the experience of getting to try new varietals that I otherwise may have never explored. With this newfound love I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce you all to Nicole and her journey to bringing a better cleaner wine to my doorstep and hopefully yours.

The Interview

During an interview with Nicole Lewis, Executive Consultant for Scout and Cellar, I spent some time getting to know why she chose Scout and Cellar and her thoughts on clean crafted wines and beverages. Being a current Scout and Cellar member, I am already in love with their wine, but wanted to get  the inside scoop from one of their wine consultants.

Nicole is a rockstar in so many ways! Not only is she passionate about clean crafted wine, but she is also a mother, photographer, and book nerd (in the best way possible).  You can check her out on  her Instagram SippingBookworm and learn about the great new wine that is coming your way and what book she is pairing it with!

Let’s dive into the interview!

1. Why did you decide to join up with S&C?  

“As a lover of wine but also health conscious, S&C was a perfect match for me.  I started sharing these wines at the start of the pandemic.  As a photographer work was slow during that time and I was intrigued by the fact that I could share my love for wine while also earning an income.  Learning more about wine was something that interested me and I was excited to share this amazing wine with others.  It was a pleasure bringing fellow wine lovers together during a time of solidarity (Zoom tastings) while making new connections with others myself.  Now that things are getting back to normal I enjoy introducing others to this wine through in-person tastings as well!”

2. What are your top 3 favorites that you recommended readers try?

“My three favorite varietals are Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and with reds I go back and forth between Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon being my favorite.  

My current top three are our 2020 Dove Hunt Dog Rosé, 2020 Dove Hunt Dog Sauvignon Blanc and 2020 Veinte Pinot Noir.  We also have a label called Bookbinder’s Apprentice that is excellent and includes a Rosé and a white and red wine blend for $16 per bottle which is a phenomenal price for clean wine.”

3. What is your go to wine?  

“In the summer my go to is Sauvignon Blanc!  It’s such a crisp and refreshing wine and I love the earthiness and lemon notes.  I generally drink either our Dove Hunt Dog or Gallivant label.  Both are excellent!

During the cooler months I love Cabernet Sauvignon.  I enjoy our 2019 Conte de la Terre Cabernet Sauvignon and our Gallivant and The Resident label.

Scout & Cellar is always changing their offerings but has identified smaller-batch vineyards to help them keep an eye on what’s being produced to ensure a quality product.  If you love a certain bottle eventually the collection will become unavailable but no fear we are constantly creating new offerings and vintages.  One of my favorite things to do as a wine consultant is to help my customers find the perfect wines to match their taste preferences.”

4. What does clean crafted wine mean for our readers?  

“Wines that are grown naturally, without the use of synthetic pesticides and bottled consciously without added sugars or non-organic chemicals to modify texture, flavor, color or aroma. The result is wine that is natural, delicious and provides an all around better wine experience just like nature intended!

For a wine to be considered Clean-Crafted, it goes through two rounds of independent lab testing to guarantee that it’s free of yucky stuff like synthetic pesticides and chemical additives and has fewer than 100ppm of total sulfites. We also evaluate and review farming and production practices to confirm that they are, in fact, Clean-Crafted. “

5. Do you recommend any other companies for clean crafted or sustainable beverages for our readers to check out?  

“In regards to wine, Scout & Cellar is my favorite for taste and customer service.  If you are a beer lover I do recommend Dogfish Head, 90 Minute IPA.  This beer is clean of additives (including processing aids like carrageenan and isinglass) and transparent about their ingredients.”

It’s a Good Thing

For those of us that enjoy a good wine, why not try a wine that is crafted in the most natural way with no added sugars and all of that other yucky stuff?  If you are like me and find yourself in a rut drinking the same wine every time, maybe it is time to let Scout and Cellar pick out your next wine adventure.  Better yet, book a tasting with Nicole and get to know all about what clean crafted wine is all about and how delicious it will be on your picnic table this summer!

If you are interested in learning more, you can find Nicole on Instagram, Facebook, or purchase from her directly at Scout and Cellar.

For more Hackett Hill Farm, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook! If you found this post awesome and you love sustainable clean good for the environment kind of things, you may also like to check out our post on sustainable fashion here!

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