There’s nothing like the feeling of enjoying a freshly opened bottle of chilled wine on a sunny afternoon. Bonus points if the bubbles are perfectly paired with the meal you’ve been thinking about all day. Thanks to beloved Minneapolis indie wine shop Henry & Son, the happiest of hours can be achieved effortlessly with its curated offering of delightful wines and spirits. Here, we chatted with owner Gretchen Skedsvold and her team of sommeliers and wine enthusiasts for the best bottles to enjoy all summer long.
Photography provided by Henry & Son
Henry & Son stands apart for its abundance of natural wine options. Where’s a good place to start for beginners venturing into the natural wine world?
Gretchen Skedsvold: Our under $20 shelf is a great place to start, as is joining our Frugal Wine Club — it’s $60 a month for three $20 bottles. And we just partnered with Table 22 to offer more amenities, including delivery!
What’s your go-to wine for versatility in food pairing?
GS: Orange wines and chillable reds pair well with a lot of different foods like vegetables, red and white meats, fish and a wide variety of cuisines, including Asian, Mexican and barbecue. A few favorites are: this red Txakoli (Txakoli, pronounced CHA-ko-lee, from the Basque region of Spain is known for crisp, dry, almost frizzante whites, but makes a great red wine, too), this liter of Grenache from Italy‘s Tuscan coast, and this lightly skin-fermented Ribolla Gialla from Slovenia.
Do you have a top pick for Fourth of July?
GS: The Fourth of July is the height of summer — pools are open, school is out, everything is in bloom. That means the rosé needs to flow! I recommend trying a rosé from every different country you can possibly find. But if you want to honor U.S. independence with an American-made rose, my personal favorite happens to be from California winemaker Arnot Roberts.
What’s the best wine for Father’s Day gifts?
GS: If your dad is a steakhouse lover, get him a big bold Cali Cab from Field Recordings. If he’s more of a Cab Franc guy, a bottle from Napa winemaker Steve Matthiasson is really special. And if he’s a collector, this unicorn from Clos Rougeard is a must for his cellar.
Which wine would you gift to host with the most?
GS: Bubbles! Every evening amongst friends should begin with a fabulous glass of bubbly. Champagne, Crémant, Sekt, Pétillant Naturel or any other sparkling wine, depending on your price point and desired bubble size. If you find a bubble you like, don’t be scared to buy a case to have on hand for the new neighbor or a saved date that slipped your mind.
Summer is the ultimate time for hosting outdoors. What do you recommend for outdoor barbecues and boat cruises around the lake?
GS: Liter bottles, wines in a can and bottles with an easy-to-open twist-off cap. Don’t be fooled by the twist off cap — all of the ones we sell are delicious. This Cinsault from France’s Rhone region and this California red blend both pair great with barbecues and come in a liter, so you get an extra glass for yourself or to share! A liter of Riesling from Brand in Germany is bright and cheery. Chenin in a can from cult Loire winemaker Jean-Pierre Robinot is refreshing and versatile, a canned red blend from Broc Cellars can be thrown on ice in your boat cooler and won’t weigh you down, or Cali Sauvignon Blanc from Bodkin is always a crowd pleaser.
What’s an unusual pairing that really works?
GS: Red wine and seafood. I learned this in Sicily. Pairing wine with the sauce or herbs and spices your protein is cooked in is almost more important than the protein itself. So, swordfish in agridolce sauce, lobster in spicy red sauce, spicy mussels and sausage, even spicy fish tacos or blackened (seared in spices) mahi mahi works well with this Sicilian red from Arianna Occhipinti (of Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy fame) or this California Zin blend from Martha Stoumen.
Which wines are most popular at Henry & Son?
GS: The La Boutanche wines, which are lower-alcohol wines from the U.S. and France, are easy drinking and highly popular.
If you could only drink one wine for the rest of your life, what would it be?
GS: Champagne
Lucas Skjordal: De Moor Bourgogne Aligoté
Lauren Rovegno: Grape Republic “Arancione”
Elle Waters: Weingut Beurer Rosé Trocken
David Ma: Domaine de la Pépière
David Conner: Eric Texier “Adèle”
