Morning, GVL – Kayla here. Last week, our team got to visit Lowes Foods + taste wines from their brand new Sunmill Direct wine program, where the company’s globe-trotting wine purveyors bring back their favorite wine labels from around the world to Lowes Foods stores in the Carolinas every ~2 months. 🌏 There’s no membership and no fees – just international wines that you won’t see in other grocery stores.

Here’s how Sunmill Direct works and why you should #TryThis.

Experience:

Sunmill Direct wine program at Lowes Foods

What we tried (with pricing):

We went to our closest Lowes Foods and met Community Manager Kaitlin, who was a super helpful host. She walked us through Lowes Foods’ Sunmill Wines section to show us this month’s featured wines.

To kick off the new program, Lowes Foods is currently featuring four wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France. We tried all four:

1. Tavel Rosé Domaine des Carabiners

Currently $19.99/bottle; $8/glass at select Lowes Foods Beer Dens ($4/glass on Wine Wednesday and Thirsty Thursday)
Deep pink wine with soft, fruity aroma + lingering taste; with well-balanced roundness and acidity. Great year-round.
Pairs well with everything from fish to spicy foods to dessert
See the vineyard’s website
Buy it from Lowes Foods

2. Cochon Volant Red 2018

Currently $14.99/bottle; $7/glass at select Lowes Foods Beer Dens ($3.5/glass on Wine Wednesday and Thirsty Thursday)
Deep red wine with glints of violet on the edges of the glass; offering fruity aromas with a hint of cherry. Notes of crushed raspberry and Burlat cherry for complex taste while well-balanced.
Pairs well with duck breast, roast pork, roast beef + lamb chops
See the vineyard’s website
Buy it from Lowes Foods

3. Red Lirac Domaine des Carabiniers

Currently $24.99/bottle
Deep, powerful red wine with smoky notes + aroma of strawberry and spices.
Pairs well with meat, charcuterie + soft cheeses
See the vineyard’s website
Buy it from Lowes Foods

4. Caizergues les Magnarelles

Currently $19.99/bottle
Ruby red wine with notes of cherries and red plums; offering complex flavor of spice + minerals with exciting freshness.
Pairs well with grilled meat + pasta
See the vineyard’s website
Buy it from Lowes Foods

You can get these by the bottle in the Sunmill Direct section or online, or some by the glass in select Beer Dens (half-priced on Wine Down Wednesdays + Thirsty Thursdays).

Bonus: These wines will stay on sale for the remainder of their run as featured Sunmill Direct wines – and there’s also a current 20% off 3 bottles promotion running, as well. Check your local deals to keep tabs on additional sales.

Don't miss:

Each Sunmill Direct flight is only available for a limited time + while bottles last. (Read: Don’t wait too long to stock up.) The program will change the region where the wines come from every ~2 months.

What we are still talking about:

Our personal favorite of the four bottles was the Cochon Volant, which translates to “flying pig.” Don’t be too impressed with our French – the label was a good clue.

How you can experience this:

Head to the Sunmill Wines section of your nearest Lowes Foods and ask an employee to *direct* you to the Sunmill Direct wines. And don’t forget to treat yourself to a half-priced glass of select wines at the Beer Den on Wednesdays + Thursdays.

Things to know if you go:

Experience: Sunmill Direct wines at Lowes Foods
Website: https://lowesfoods.com/en/Sunmill-Direct-Italian-Wines
Address: Find your nearest Lowes Foods here
Social: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Cheers, GVL. Ⓟ