What’s really in your wine? Besides grapes, that is.

The answer may surprise you. I’ve toured many wineries and seen part of the process first hand, but never really understood what a difference there is, between mass-produced wine and clean-crafted wine.

That is, until my friend Nicole Niebuhr, introduced me to Scout and Cellar. She became a consultant for the clean-crafted wine club, after learning some shocking facts about mass produced wines.

Did you know a glazed doughnut has roughly the same amount of sugar as an average glass of wine? Not to mention all of the chemicals in most mass produced wines. When you consider that, it makes you rethink what you drink.

Which is why Scout & Cellar founder and CEO, Sara Shadonix, left the corporate world to become a sommelier. During her research, she determined her wine headaches were likely caused by all of those chemicals in mass produced wine. Shadonix began searching for a healthier option for wine lovers, like herself, and decided that would be her niche-selling clean crafted wine. (Photos below courtesy: Scout & Cellar.)

The Texas native discovered several organic wineries, that use a clean process-no chemicals, pesticides, or added sugars. Shadonix was so impressed with the quality and taste, in 2017 she launched Scout & Cellar, the first clean crafted wine club. It was a risky move that’s more than paid off for the entrepreneur, who made $20 million in sales the first year. What began with only 50 wine consultants, led by her, has grown to a team of 65 employees and over 8,000 consultants. All are fully committed to providing clean crafted wines, going beyond organic.

“We’re on a mission to disrupt the wine industry.” -Scout & Cellar

Scout & Cellar is headquartered in Texas, which seems like an unlikely location, but the wines are sourced all over the world. One of Nicole’s favorite’s is a French sparkling rose from the Languedoc region. She dropped off a bottle on my porch recently, to celebrate spring.

After my first sip, I was hooked. The unique name, Soleil.Vent.Ame. translates to Sun.Wind.Soul. No wonder I liked it so much! Perfect on its own, or paired with my favorite Quince & Apple charcuterie spreads.

The only down side to popular small batch wines like this one is, they sell out fast, which happened a lot during lockdown. Winemakers have been working overtime to keep up with demand, while maintaining their commitment to a clean crafted process from grape to glass.

Fortunately, Scout & Cellar has a nice selection of other vineyards. Choose from a light Italian white, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, or a bold California red. Spritzers and wine sampler packs are popular too, offering you a great way to try a variety of wines. Those fly off the shelves. Don’t waste any time placing your order. Once they’re gone, that’s it. You’ll just have to wait for the next small batch to be made.

Scout & Cellar has even rebranded White Zin, with the release of Fieldhouse 301 White Zinfandel, and the catchy slogan, “This ain’t your grandmother’s White Zin.” My grandma was a scotch drinker, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I’ll give it try. They claim their new White Zin will be a game changer for the wine industry. Unlike traditional White Zin’s, not overly sweet, just a fresh, fruity flavor. So far their predictions have been spot on. Wine consultants say the wine practically sells itself.

According to Nicole, one of the most common misconceptions about clean-crafted wine is, that eliminating sugar, means you sacrifice taste. She says that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“In fact, the clean process, means the wines are fresher and really delicious.”

Apparently, she’s not the only one who’s sold on Scout & Cellar. Wine sales have skyrocketed, since she became a consultant. Although you can purchase the wine direct, most people prefer memberships for the value. The Minnesota native says, growing up in a farming community makes her appreciate the company’s core values even more.

“I love that their packaging is sustainable and organic is so important. I’ve always been committed to clean living. Cutting out the chemicals is better for people and the planet. It’s something I feel really good about.”

I’ll drink to that. Or as they say in Texas, Cheers, Y’all!

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Contact Nicole Niebuhr or Scout & Cellar to learn more about clean crafted wines