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About Free Run Wine Merchants

Free Run Wine Merchants is a boutique importer and distributor specializing in authentic, responsibly-grown and artisan-crafted wines. Founded in 2008, our expanding portfolio includes sherry, spirits, beer, and cider with an emphasis on organic, sustainable, biodynamic, and minimal intervention production.

We are dedicated to supporting the historical, independent, and family artisans who enrich our experience and better our lives. We partner with independent restaurants and retailers throughout the mid-Atlantic to preserve and celebrate real cultural value in the world of wine.

Headquartered in Richmond VA and Baltimore MD
Serving DC, VA & MD
804.562.5887
info@freerunwinemerchants.com

"Wine is like a human, living and growing, develop "Wine is like a human, living and growing, developing to its peak. After, soon or later, it starts to get older loosing its energy and power. Wine has to be understood and loved, just like a human being.”  -  Aleksander Rashkovich (owner of Vino Budimir)

We have certainly fallen in love with the wines from @vino_budimir located in the Župa region, in the central part of Serbia. The Estate dates back 130 years (documents found in the Monastery on their property pinpoint wine production dating back that far) but the history of the site dates back to the Middle Ages during the (now disintegrated) Serbian Empire.

 A true renaissance is taking place in the region and Budimir is focused on showcasing the unique character of the indigenous varieties of the region. With their vines planted on picturesque hills with the distinct terroir, incredible soil diversity and within an extraordinarily favourable microclimate, they are making wines that express a true sense of place.   

An everyday favorite for our team is their Pro-Cou-Patz , which is 100% Prokupac fermented with native yeast and bottled unfined/unfiltered.  DM us to find out where you can snag a bottle of this delightfully unique red.
CURRENT WINE CRUSH ALERT! Our team has spent the m CURRENT WINE CRUSH ALERT! Our team has spent the morning chattering about this 2018 Chateau de Fleys Chablis.  As our DC/NoVA Sales Manager Mike Musgrove put it "This Wine Rocks! Beautiful pear, yellow apple, and white peach fruit mingle with flinty minerality and wet stone.  Fruit first, then minerality pops its head up, then fruit again, then stone -- this pattern went on literally for minutes until it slowly faded with a mineral fresh finish.  It was such an enjoyable experience I had to repeat it over and over again until the bottle was gone!"  This is definitely an entry level Chablis that drinks more like Premier Cru. 

The history of Chateau de Fleys begins in 1868 when Julien Philippon moved to Fleys to work as a lumberjack.  After arriving in Chablis, little by little he bought woods, land and vines which still make up almost the entire estate today. On the advice of an old winegrower in the area he was the first to plant their specific clone of Chardonnay on its own rootstock in 1936, this vine still produces fruit and makes up the 1er Cru "Les Monts de Milieu Vielles Vignes".

Since then the estate has been passed down from father to child. The mainstay of the "Château de Fleys" estate is actually a hunting lodge dating from the end of the 17th century, having belonged to the lord of Pathenay, squire of Louis XIV.  Today it is Julien's great-grandchildren who run the estate (Béatrice, Benoît and Olivier), with the utmost respect to the traditions laid down before them but with some upgrades, like their HVE certification for sustainability. 

DM us to find out where you can find a bottle on a retail shelf near you!
After a year of incalculable challenges and weeks After a year of incalculable challenges and weeks of a holiday diet... nothing eases the mind, belly and soul like the comforting crackle of a warm fire and soothing spiciness of your favorite digestivo.

Antica Torino Rosso Vermouth, simply poured neat or on ice... a perfect welcome to the New Year and farewell to days we're all happy to say bye to. So long 2020, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. - Love, John Paul
Is it 2021 yet??! This Year's celebrations certain Is it 2021 yet??! This Year's celebrations certainly feel and look different.  @sophisticated_imbiber wanted to share some final thoughts/last bottle of 2020 with us, which is also a reminder that we still have Grower Champagne to help us celebrate. 

"Waris Larmandier Racines de Trois NV- Sure, Champagne is ideal for celebrating, but it also lifts spirits when you're down! Plus, no need to worry about your friends taking it all to the face in one sip this year!" 

CHEERS TO THAT.

Hope you all enjoy your entire bottle of (grower) Champagne with either yourself or a loved one this New Years Eve!!
Whew! We are still knee deep in the aftermath of H Whew! We are still knee deep in the aftermath of Holiday celebrations (some of us are still knee deep in toys everywhere too cc: 📸@cr__abi ). Between the back to back long weekends and endless zoom chats, its important to take a moment for yourself and kick back and relax before we enter 2021. What better way than popping some bubbly on New Years Eve - Eve! 

This distinct 2018 Brut Rosé Reserva Cava from @avinyocava screams everyday self-care. The Esteve family farm dates back multiple generations in Penedès. They are making wines produced from organically certified, estate-grown grapes with extended lees-aging in bottle. All the Avinyó cavas are single-vintage and disgorged on-demand for refrigerated transport to the States! A rarity in the world of Cava. 

Cheers to already counting down to 2021!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! All week long Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! All week long we want to keep sharing some of our favorite wines we are enjoying this season. Hope everyone is getting a moment to relax and connect with loved ones (in whatever way we can) today. @darcylryan wanted to share one of her new/old favorite wines with us.....

"A few years ago we asked Isabella from ArPePe if she could recommend another producer in Valtellina so we could better represent the region. She turned us onto the beautiful wines of La Perla. This Nebbiolo is 2013 and dang it is singing! Rose petals, tart cherries and a hint of leather and tobacco - this ole girl is just settling in and hitting her stride. Kind of like me 😂. I highly recommend you check this wine out if you like Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir. One of the best little known values in our book as far as I'm concerned."

Cheers!!!
Our Virginia warehouse manager Ron shared what he' Our Virginia warehouse manager Ron shared what he's *already* drinking this Holiday (let's be honest, he has 100% earned it).

"Our Christmas eve tradition always involves tree trimming paired with sparkling rosè."

During 1951 in the traditional village of Rully, within the heart of Burgundy and not far from Champagne, Mr Lucien Vitteaut and his wife Maria opened Maison Vitteaut-Alberti and mastered the art of Crémant de Bourgogne (which at the time was simply known as Vin Mousseux). 

Through their meticulous standards and excellent quality, Vitteaut-Alberti contributed to the creation of the legal AOC name Crémant de Bourgogne in 1975.

Cheers to those innovators (like Vitteaut-Alberti) who came before us and a huge shout out to our warehouse crews who are OUR unsung heroes this year!
Continuing along with our team wine picks, @jenmin Continuing along with our team wine picks, @jenminke shared one of her choices to pair with Christmas dinner. 

"Christmas dinner at the Minke's is fresh pasta with Bolognese so this Grignolino with its fresh, gentle earthiness will pair beautifully. It's been a long year and we deserve something special."

La Miraja is nestled within the original castle of Castagnole Monferrato, constructed in the 11th century and retrofitted to serve as a cellar in the 1400s. It is here that 7th generation vigneron Eugenio Gatti devotes his life’s work to producing 840 transcendent cases of wine each year.  Talk about small production special!

DM us to find a bottle on a retail shelf near you!
Is it time for some Holiday cheer yet?! Over the n Is it time for some Holiday cheer yet?! Over the next week-ish we will be sharing some of what our wonderful team members have chosen to drink this Holiday season in the hopes that it sparks some joy or tintilates your palates as we round out 2020.

First up is Ian @sophisticated_imbiber (who looks radiant in every picture we've ever seen of him). One of his top choices this year is @fieldrecordingswine 2018 'Shell Creek Vineyard' Chenin Blanc from Paso Robles Highlands.  In his words.....

"The holidays and seafood are synonymous for me, particularly oysters, and this cute little boo face is the deal Nancy with that briny yum-yum perfect pairing! There's plenty of acid on board to swing with all sorts of protein though!"

Field Recordings is winemaker Andrew Jones' personal catalog of sites unknown or under-appreciated. He has stepped foot in almost every vineyard in Central  Coast, California which gives him the rare opportunity to produce small lots of soulful wine from these unique vineyards.  Shell Creek was planted in 1972 by the Sinton family who have been  farming this land for 6 generations.

DM us to find out where you can snag a bottle for your next festivities!
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