From Volcanoes to Champagne: Wine Wednesday Highlights + SHL Blanc Drop
Today at dVIN Labs
Volcanic Wines with John Szabo MS 🌋
Yesterday’s Wine Wednesday was a blast — quite literally — as I sat down with Master Sommelier John Szabo, one of the world’s top authorities on volcanic wines. We went from the slopes of Etna to the cliffs of Santorini and even hopped over to the Canary Islands. Here are a few gems from our chat:
🔥 Volcanic soils aren’t always “poor” — they can be mineral-rich, but vines still have to work hard because the nutrients aren’t easy to grab. That struggle is exactly what helps make these wines so concentrated and expressive.
🌋 Every volcano tells its own story — Etna gives you smoky reds, Santorini offers briny, sea-kissed whites, and the Canary Islands bring bright acidity with a tropical twist.
🍷 These wines age like champions — the natural acidity and structure mean many volcanic wines will keep evolving beautifully for years.
If you missed it, pour yourself something volcanic and catch the replay — it’s one of my favorite conversations yet.
📺 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5BaM22FqfU&t=346s
🥂 Next Week on Wine Wednesday – Champagne with Garth Hodgdon!
Summer might be winding down, but there’s never a wrong time for Champagne. Next Wednesday, Jana and Dave are teaming up with Champagne evangelist Garth Hodgdon (@garth_hodgdon) — founder of Cage Imports and Champagne Happy Hour, and former U.S. Ambassador for Krug.
From crisp Blanc de Blancs to bold Pinot-forward blends, we’ll explore why Champagne belongs in your glass year-round. Plus: the latest from dVIN Labs and a Bacchus-powered look at Champagne’s market magic.
📅 Wednesday, August 20 – 5:30pm CET
📍 Live on X + YouTube
Sign up now to join the stream and sip along: https://lu.ma/WWchampagne
🍷 This Week’s Drop: Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2022 Blanc
Fresh off yesterday’s volcanic wine deep-dive with John Szabo MS, we’re shifting from fire to finesse with Thursday’s Club dVIN members-only drop: the 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc.
As Rodolfo teased when he popped into Wine Wednesday yesterday, this isn’t just any white Bordeaux—it’s one of the most acclaimed whites in France, almost pure Sauvignon Blanc, balancing instant drinkability with serious aging potential. The 2022 vintage? Two 98-point scores, one 97, and praise as “one of the whites of the vintage.” Think honeyed grapefruit, crushed stone, lemon zest, and a red wine-like structure that will keep it electric for years.
Bacchus AI calls it “one of the best in the estate’s history” and flags it as both a drinking and trading play.
Drops like this are why being in Club dVIN matters—early access, rare bottles, and a direct line to the stories and people behind them. If you want in on future allocations and private member events, now’s the time.
👉 Explore more at clubdvin.com or reach out to us directly.
Cheers!
Jana
dVIN Labs co-founder