Meet Spoon and Stable's New Wine Director
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 9:59AM
Claire Maxwell Photo Credit: Erin KincheloeToday, Soigne Hospitality Chef and Owner Gavin Kaysen announces Claire Maxwell as the new wine director at Spoon and Stable.
Claire has been a member of the Spoon and Stable team as a wine steward and server since 2019. She previously held positions at The Bachelor Farmer in Minneapolis, Chateau Saint Croix Winery in Wisconsin, and La Garagista Vineyard in Vermont where she worked closely with wine producer and James Beard Award winner Deidre Heekin to plant the first vines. Her intuitive knowledge about wine pairings comes from her time spent in Italy where she was originally introduced to regional wine and food culture as well as her dedication to studying French wines.
“Claire’s work ethic these past three years has been admirable. She not only has the skill set, but the grace, the determination, and the passion, and the fortitude to elevate the wine program at Spoon and Stable. I am grateful she accepted this new role and I look forward to helping her grow as a leader in our community,” says Kaysen.
Under her guidance, the wine list at Spoon and Stable will be slowly updated to reflect a broad spectrum of winemaking regions, underdogs of the wine world, adventurous pairing options, boutique and rare winemakers, and accessible favorites. The well-rounded offering will have an eye towards expansive geographic regions to pair well with the spectrum of flavors from the kitchen. Special additions will include vineyards with deep traditions, carefully considered growing practices, and thoughtful winemaking processes that allow the grape to express itself.
“I’m excited about lesser known winemakers in remote places whose winemaking processes allow a true expression of the grape. These winemakers show the same type of honesty and discipline I see in the Spoon and Stable cuisine,” says Claire. “I’m looking forward to adding these limited allocations and rare offerings for guests to explore alongside options that already have a place in people’s hearts.”
Starting in March, the expanded by-the-glass list will offer the most accessible way for guests to explore new regions and winemakers. Curated selections of limited stock bottles will be featured in a new section titled “For Your Consideration” section with half glass and full glass pours.
Some examples include:
Kitá Wines - Camp 4 Cabernet Sauvignon
Kita Wines and the Camp 4 vineyard are owned by the Santa Ynez Band of the Chumash Tribe. The vineyard is also planted on historic Chumashland, where Winemaker Tara Gomez makes wines in partnership with the land, soil, and climate. Though Kita Wines recently shuttered operations, Tara has emerged as an incredibly talented winemaker and will continue to make wine under her personal label, Camins 2 Dreams.
“This bright-eyed and alert bottle from Winemaker Tara Gomez has so much verve and life. It makes me think of late afternoon sunlight shifting back and forth through windy branches and crushing wild mint through a thicket of blackberries,” says Claire. “I can’t wait to see what Gomez does next. She has a long career ahead of her.”
Paolo Vodopivec - Vitovska Solo MM17
Vodopivec is devoted to working solely with the Vitovska grape, which is indigenous to the rugged limestone landscape of the Karst region in Northeast Italy and Southwest Slovenia where the biodynamically farmed estate is located.
“Since tasting this bottle, I think about the wine probably once a day. It whispers with mineral qualities like celery salt, pounded stone, and hints of quince or unripe melon,” says Claire.
Giacomo Fenocchio - “90dì” Barolo Bussia Riserva 2015
In making this bottle, the wine is left to macerate on the grape skins for an exceptionally long 90 days. This process, called submerged cap fermentation, is now very rare, but historically was the norm in Barolo. It is the most gentle way to extract tannins, structure, flavor, and color without also inviting astringency into the wine. It creates pronounced tannins that are fine, but assertive, like high-grit sandpaper, and a wine that is elegant, powerful, and supremely drinkable.
“Giacomo Fenocchio is teetering on the edge of stardom in Barolo. His wines are truly top tier, but fly just enough under the radar so they aren’t impossible to find, for now!,” says Claire.
Visit the Spoon and Stable website for access to the most recent wine list.
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