**AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY, NOT IN-STORE**

For my friend Jennifer,

Kelley Fox wines are special. With dual degrees in Biochemistry and Biophysics, she was on-track to attain her doctorate in Biochemistry but left her studies to pursue her deep-itch calling, winemaking. My colleague, friend, and global Wine Director of Zuma, Jennifer Wagoner, turned me onto Kelley Fox last year. On a buyer's whim, in need of a cool domestic white, I bought Fox’s Champagne-like "Willamette Blanc," a remarkable still wine made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. When I told Jen that I added it to our program, her eyes lit up like fat Christmas bulbs, followed by her lovingly animated “Kelley Fox manifesto.” Knowing Wagoner’s expert palate, I knew the rest of the Fox wines had to be good. Eager to try more of these handcrafted Oregon gems, I contacted the supplier, and fittingly, the reply was, “Sorry, out of stock.”  

This vermouth popped-up just last week, and with less than 4,000 bottles produced, it’s typical Kelley Fox: rare and limited. With a base of Pinot Noir, Fox leans on an expert distiller and vineyard manager (Lynsee Sardell and Stephanie Sprinkle) for foolproof deliciousness. Made from 35 organically farmed botanicals, this vermouth is an ode to the exotic beauty of the Oregon Wild: wormwood, rose, elderflower, angelica, chamomile, mugwort, hyssop, and lemon balm, are a few of the magical perks. “Every time I open a bottle, I finish it, no matter how much I resolve to put on the brakes. It is by far the most delicious and nourishing vermouth I have ever tasted, and I drink Vergano just about every weekend,” says Fox.

At 15.5% alcohol by volume, this is a super-charged yet delicate, botanical expression of Oregon Pinot Noir. Drink it like a fine wine, with a friendly chill or at cellar temperature. If you can’t finish it, then store it, up to a week, in the refrigerator. But, according to Fox and Wagoner, you shouldn’t have that problem.

Happy Vermouthing!
Allegra A