WWMD: Luli wines

What would Margaret drink?

Margaret Pearman is a certified sommelier under the Court of Master Sommeliers and is responsible for curating the award-winning wine list at Charlie’s Coastal Bistro. Here is her sipping suggestion for July:

Luli wines

During service I am often summoned to the table to aid in the wine selection process. Often the diner asks how I became a sommelier. More often they ask how to pronounce “sommelier” and whether I have watched the movie. When I ventured into the world of wine at 24, I quickly figured out I needed some credentials for anyone to take me seriously. I chose to pursue the Court of Master Sommelier’s training, as it focuses on setting the “global standard of excellence for beverage service within the hospitality industry with integrity, exemplary knowledge and humility.” There are four levels of certification: Introductory, Certified, Advanced and Master. After completing the second-level examination, I was content with my working knowledge of wine, which I knew would grow sufficiently as I practiced it in my everyday life. 

A sommelier’s job is not pretentious. I always offer guidance based on the diners’ preferences, curiosity and budget. But a sommelier’s world can be so much more than the four walls of a restaurant. Sara Floyd is remarkable not only as the tenth female to attain the title of Master Sommelier but as a successful importer (Swirl Wine Group), co-creator of Luli wines and mother of fraternal boy twins. The Luli wine label represents a triple-threat relationship between Santa Lucia Highland wine grower (Mark) and winemaker (Jeff) Pisoni; two brothers who grew up in the region in a family infamous for their high-quality grapes. Luli wines are handcrafted wines from sustainable vineyards at affordable prices meant to be shared with family and friends. Purity of fruit coupled with low intervention make for an entire lineup of incredible wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Luli wines are readily available in our area, as Sara moved to Charleston in recent years and is a frequent visitor.

Luli wines focus almost exclusively on vineyards from the Santa Lucia Highlands. The wine is of exceptional quality and comes at a comfortable price.