Kid Sister 2023 Kerner Mokelumne Glen Vyrd, Lodi

The Wine

Kid Sister is the second label for Trail Marker Wines, but the wines get first-label levels of care and attention. We find wines made from the Kerner grape to sell very well once we can get someone to taste them, so if you're reading this from the comfort of your couch and wondering if you should order this oddly-named grape, you'll find this helpful to know: people who love this wine tend to enjoy crisp, aromatic and refreshing white wines with good complexiy and a hint of minerality and saline!

What it's like: Aromas of apricots, citrus and the ocean. Flavors evoke dried flowers, lemongrass and a hint of petrol. A light-bodied wine with just 13% ABV. Only 49 cases produced.

The Winery

The small and dedicated crew behind these wines (husband-wife team of Drew Huffine and Emily Virgil, below) think of themselves as purists, sourcing fruit from small and responsibly farmed vineyards from Mendocino to Santa Ynez Valley to Lodi. They resonate with growers whose passions reflect their own approach and minimalist winemaking style.

As a rule, their wines are typified by high acid and low alcohol, well-balanced expressions of their vineyard origins. These are exactly the type of sustainable, family-owned operators we prefer on our shelves!