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Harry & David has been producing and selling wine since 2012. The team who oversees the wines is always thinking of ways to bring customers more varietals and choices for you to send as gifts or to yourself (that cellar isn’t going to restock itself). The latest advancement is a new online wine shopping experience as well as the introduction of three new wine brands, creating a deeper range of gift options for the food and wine lover.
The aptly named Wine Shop marks yet another milestone for the Medford, Oregon-based brand, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2024. Harry & David’s new online shop coincides with the rollout of three new brands: Liv & Lil, WYNY Wine Co., and Freehaven Cellars. As with Harry & David Vineyards and Appella wines, the grapes are sourced from Pacific Northwest vineyards.
Why launch the Wine Shop?
For generations, receiving a Harry & David package has sparked joy. Whether a fruit basket or a gourmet selection, there’s something exciting about receiving this gift that keeps on giving, with healthy snacks and delicious treats from dips and spreads to fruit, cookies, chocolates, and nuts. And, of course, wine.
READ MORE: Thoughtful Gifts for Thoughtful Eaters
“Gifting is Harry & David’s foundation, and when wine was introduced to the brand, it became a valuable extension to gift giving,” says Sierra Castellano, the Senior Director of Merchandising for Harry & David.
The new wine shop, and the latest Harry & David™ wine brands, are meant to improve the shopping and gifting experience. The online shop is designed to provide knowledge about the wine and other featured gifts, as in a new WYNY Wine Co. Gift Basket, which features a bottle each of Syrah and a red blend with gourmet sweet and savory snacks, including cheeses, organic flatbread, crackers, milk chocolate-covered cherries, and Moose Munch® Premium Popcorn.
Three new wine labels
The new wine brands from Harry & David represent a subtle yet helpful expansion that provides options for a variety of consumers. “Some people prefer light wines with slight acidity, some prefer bold, fruit-forward wines,” Castellano says. “That’s why we offer multiple lines to choose from.”
Let’s take a close-up look at the three new brands.
Liv & Lil
Liv & Lil
This approachable, affordable line of wines is aimed at wine fans who appreciate easy-drinking, lighter varietals. Castellano notes the colorful, slightly edgy branding on the labels, adding that Liv & Lil was “designed for a night in with friends.” The brand is launching with a white blend, a rosé, and, of course, bubbles, with plans to add a red in the future. The rosé is already earning attention: It won a gold medal at the 2024 Oregon Wine Awards and attained a 91 rating in the process.
WYNY Wine Co.
WYNY Wine Co.
This brand features a whimsical name that reads like an FM radio station, while its wines represent a bold step for Harry & David. WYNY varietals include Syrah, a red blend, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The WYNY wines should appeal to more adventurous drinkers who appreciate affordable wines with character.
Freehaven Cellars
Freehaven Cellars
The most upscale of the three new labels, Freehaven Cellars, showcases traditional, sophisticated wines with bold, familiar flavors. The red varietals are classic Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a Bordeaux blend (so-called because the wines feature many of the grapes used in Bordeaux, France, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot).
Familiar yet new wines from Harry & David
Joining the three new brands in the wine shop are Harry & David’s existing and popular wines, including an extension of the Appella line. Already available in a range of gift baskets and configurations, these wines will take on new life in the Wine Shop. Let’s break these down as well:
Harry & David Vineyards: These wines cover the gamut of popular styles, offering high-quality and tremendous value for an affordable price. The varietals are crafted to represent their respective characteristics and are ready to drink on arrival or perfect for storing for a few years to add a bit of age. There’s a rosé and a sparkling rosé, as well as Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and sparkling white wine. The reds are Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Royal Crest Red blend.
Harry & David Vineyards Reserve: Perfect for executive gifting, Harry & David’s Reserve line is a showcase of U.S. West Coast winemaking with intense flavors, ripe fruit, and reds — Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon — aged in French oak.
READ MORE: What Exactly Is Reserve Wine?
Lucca & Sons Cellars: This brand is offered as a more traditional label and in a colorful, “fun” option, and both are affordable, approachable wines with broad appeal. The traditional line features a white (Chardonnay) and two reds (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot), while the “fun” line, packaged with brightly colored labels, is available as a white blend, rosé, and sparkling wine.
Appella: Opulent wines that are available in luxury-line gifts and put at center stage, the reds, with the artfully designed label, are designed for discerning drinkers. The deep, dark fruit and complex flavors make the Cabernet Sauvignon excellent for aging and food pairings (more on that below). The Appella Barrel Select Series, from Washington State, is a wine of grand stature and will be released in spring / summer of 2025, so keep an eye out for when it hits the Wine Shop in the near future.
Recommended food pairings with Harry & David wines
The new Harry & David Wine Shop encourages exploration and offers opportunities for creative gift giving, with bottles of wine to enhance the “wow” factor. Even better, these wines can be enjoyed with their snack counterparts in a gift basket or paired with casual and elevated meals.
Harry & David’s Sierra Castellano provides a few pairings to try along with a selection of the new wines:
Wine: WYNY Wine Co. Red Blend
Pairing: Red meat, such as steaks or burgers, and cheeses including aged cheddar or gouda.
READ MORE: A Complete Guide to Pairing Food With Wine
Wine: Liv & Lil Rosé
Pairing: A cheese such as dry Monterey Jack or mild Gorgonzola; salty meats such as prosciutto or dried coppa; and grilled white fish, such as halibut or Chilean seabass.
Wine: Freehaven Cellars Pinot Noir
Pairing: A Pacific Northwest Pinot Noir always pairs well with grilled or smoked salmon. This pinot also complements feta or creamy goat cheese, soft brie, and Gruyère.
What’s next from Harry & David wines?
You would think that after a launch like this, Castellano and her team would want to raise a glass for their hard work, but apparently they’re on the brink of uncorking more wine. Be on the lookout for a new low-calorie red wine that’s in the works and tentatively slated for release in 2025.
Castellano suggests planning ahead to purchase the Appella Barrel Select Series red when it’s released in 2025. The grapes were sourced from Quintessence Vineyards located in the picturesque red mountains of the Columbia Valley. The fruit “stood out,” says Castellano, "so we decided to bottle it, acknowledging the vineyard because the quality was so great."
AUTHOR
Richard Martin is a writer, editor, and strategist who specializes in food, drink, and travel. He is the co-founder and editor of Appetito, the new online publication about Italian food and drink, and the co-author of the cookbook series Preserved, from publisher Hardie Grant NA.