Skip to main content

8 Second Labels From Top Wineries You Should Pay Attention To

A lot of wineries have a sibling operation and in many cases, the lesser-known one is where real deals can be found.

The general second wine concept was born abroad, in places like France where there are established hierarchies for wine. If a blend couldn’t make the cut for, say, Grand Vin status, it could enter the market as something else, at a lower tier.

wine glasses barrel
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In the United States, a second label has become a savvy way for wineries to increase awareness. Sometimes, a smaller, high-end producer will start an entry-level label that focuses on larger-production wines. They function like business cards and gateway drugs, introducing consumers to the brand and hoping they’ll someday take the plunge into some of the label’s higher-end material.

Recommended Videos

Other times, the second label is so obscure you’d never know it was related. Wineries do this as a side business, often operating the second label on a larger scale with the hopes of grocery store and large retail placements. The cheaper cost of the wine cuts into profits, but America loves a reasonably priced wine and if a producer makes enough of it, there are profits to be had.

Alternatively, more established names will start a reserve or higher-end operation as their second label. It can be to showcase their best juice or experiment with new varieties, styles, blends, or appellations. Sometimes, an established name will look to an emerging part of the wine map and start a new operation there, under a different name. In this case, they’re often only related in terms of prestige and legacy, but sometimes the two labels — as physically far away as they may be from each other — will share a winemaker, or at least a specific winemaking philosophy.

Regardless of the exact nature of the alternative label, they tend to spoil the wine enthusiast. Here are a few to put on your radar:

Cloudline

Cloudline
Image used with permission by copyright holder

An entry-level effort from the famed Drouhin family of France and Domaine Drouhin Oregon in the Dundee Hill, Cloudline is a purveyor of drinkable $20 Pinot Noirs.

Delamotte and Laurent-Perrier

Delamotte and Laurent-Perrier
Image used with permission by copyright holder

These Champagne producers are directly related to Salon, responsible for what many believe to be some of the best bubbles on the planet. And the work from Delamotte and Laurent-Perrier comes in at much, much more reasonable price points.

Overture

Overture
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Overture is the alt-brand to storied California producer Opus One. It’s a less expensive way to experience real Napa Valley knowhow.

Résonance

Résonance
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Résonance is the first operation outside of France for négociant Louis Jadot. While the wines aren’t cheap, they offer learned New World riffs on two varieties the family is very familiar with in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Guidalberto

Guidalberto
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s not easy to get your hands on a premier super Tuscan like Sassicaia. Play it safe and opt for its other label, Guidalberto.

Jayson

Jayson
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Second label Jayson is from respected and longstanding California vintner Jayson Pahlmeyer and worth seeking out for full-bodied but balanced reds.

Caravan

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Caravan is the offshoot of Darioush and offers relative steals from northern California.

Guild

Guild
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Another Oregon operation that delivers quality at a very reasonable price, made by a talented trio of winemakers from Helioterra, Grochau Cellars, and Vincent Wine Co.

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Gin goes with everything! From strawberries to carrot
The Connaught

As an avowed gin lover, one of the things I enjoy about the spirit is its ability to mix with a wide range of ingredients. It can do some much more than a Gin & Tonic, as depending on the botanicals used in a particular gin it can be combined with everything from herbal lushness to bracing bitterness to fruity sweetness.

A balanced gin like Fords is a great choice for mixing as it isn't overly sharp or bitter, but still has enough interest to add depth to any drink you make with it. These recipes from bartenders around the world show just how diverse gin drinks can be, combining ingredients from strawberries and coconut to carrot and grapefruit.

Read more
The best gin drinks: Our 5 favorites
The best gin cocktails for you to make at home
Gin cocktail

When it comes to spirits, there are none as unique as gin. When distilled, gin doesn’t have much flavor, save for the ingredients it’s made with. It’s not all that different from vodka. It’s the addition of juniper berries and various herbs and botanicals either in the distillation process itself (or a second distillation), through vapor infusion (the herbs and botanicals are hung in a basket in the still), or through maceration (adding the flavors to an already distilled gin) that give the gin its distinct, memorable aromas and flavors.

If you’ve ever had gin (or even sniffed it), you know the most potent ingredient is juniper berries. They are what gives gin its patented pine tree aroma and flavor. Other common ingredients include orris root, angelica root, orange peel, and licorice.
Our 5 favorite gin drinks

Read more
Give your gimlet a herbal twist with this vodka cocktail
Ghost Hill Organic Vodka

The Gimlet is one of those cocktails that is so simple and such a classic that it's easily overlooked. Whilst I lean toward a Gin Gimlet (and I have strong feelings like it should be made with fresh lime juice and sugar syrup rather than a pre-made lime cordial), you can also experiment with different spirits such as the also popular Vodka Gimlet.

The simple recipe is ripe for experimentation though, and especially when you are working with vodka, you have a lot of leeway to incorporate other ingredients to add more interest and unique personality to your drink. This recipe from Ghost Hill Organic Vodka showcases the smooth and clean notes of the spirit while also allowing space for the other ingredients to shine -- not only lime juice and simple syrup, but also the addition of sage leaves for a more herbal note.

Read more