From the Winery:

The French expression Pied à Terre means “foot to earth.” We have always believed that the farmer’s footprint is the best fertilizer: great wine can only be made from exceptional grapes. So our emphasis begins in the vineyard, where attention to detail and exhaustive care lays the foundation for extraordinary wines. This commitment extends to crafting wines free from manipulation so that they can authentically express their origin and vintage. Every step in the winemaking process reflects a deep respect for the grape, the land, and the timeless tradition of crafting wines that truly speak to their roots.

In the world of wine, where shady practices proliferate behind closed doors, we stay true to a black-and-white commitment: no compromises. The goal is clear: to steer away from mass production and create wines of unparalleled individuality. Inside the cellar, we adopt a fastidiously clean approach, ensuring a pristine environment where every wine is shepherded with minimal intervention and absolute insistence that each vintage has its own story to tell. Every step in the winemaking process reflects a deep respect for the grape, the land, and the timeless tradition of crafting wines that truly speak to their roots.

We taste barrel-by-barrel and create hundreds of blends until we find a combination that resonates to our core. That’s when we know the wine is good enough to put in a bottle. It has to be delicious, but that’s not enough. A wine has to have soul. We even believe (as few others do) that certain vintages shouldn’t be created at all. For example, when California’s 2011 and 2020 vintages yielded grapes that didn’t meet our standards, we chose not to make a single bottle of wine.



Richard Luftig founded Pied à Terre to address a frustration that had gnawed at him for over 25 years as a wine buyer for top New York restaurants. Having worked his way from a busboy to overseeing wine collections worth millions of dollars as wine director at several of Manhattan’s toniest addresses, he was convinced that it ought to be possible to find a truly high-quality California Cabernet for less than $150. But they simply did not seem to exist. So he took matters into his own hands and set out to produce one himself.

Richard's journey in the world of wine began humbly, working as a busboy in Brooklyn at the young age of thirteen. When food legend Lidia Bastianich took a chance on Richard, appointing him as the Wine Director at her renowned New York establishment, Felidia Ristorante, Richard's understanding and passion for wine truly flourished. He remains deeply thankful to Lidia for her faith in him, even when he doubted his own qualifications and felt he “didn’t know enough.” This sense of perpetual curiosity profoundly influenced his perspective on the wine industry: he is committed to studying daily as he believes there's always more to learn and discover, and he considers the term "wine expert" to be meaningless.

Drawing from his decades-long career in the wine industry, Richard's vision of exceptional wine is deeply rooted. He sought wines that were made by artisanal producers who committed to organic or biodynamic farming practices as they understood that great wine can only be made from great grapes, while also avoiding jiggery pokery in the cellar. For Richard, a remarkable wine must authentically express the grape variety, vintage, and a sense of place. That is the wine he wanted to drink and that is the wine that he strives to make!



Our Cabernet Sauvignon is meticulously sourced from three distinguished vineyards in Sonoma County, each of which contributes unique elements to the final blend. Two of these vineyards are nestled in the esteemed Dry Creek Valley—Nimble Vineyard and Aunt Cathy’s Vineyard—while the third, Grable Vineyards, lies a bit further to the east in Knight's Valley.

Aunt Cathy's Vineyard offers luscious, ripe red fruit flavors, imbuing the wine with intense juiciness. Nimble Vineyard contributes structural depth, enhancing the wine's complexity and aging potential. Finally, Grable Vineyards imparts a delicacy that provides a suavely textured finishing touch.

To ensure the utmost quality, we employ a rigorous selection process, often making multiple passes through the vineyards to handpick only the most balanced and phenolically mature berries. We are committed to harvesting fruit at optimal ripeness, avoiding any over-ripe or raisined berries. Deep engagement with the latest developments in viticulture and viniculture is integral to our work.

This wine evokes authentic, old-school California Cabernet—think wines from the 1980’s. Brooding aromas of sour cherry and cassis gain intrigue from subtle notes of graphite and thyme. The mouthfeel is very persistent, supple yet elegant, balanced with excellent natural acidity and balanced tannins. The wine is in its sweet spot now.

Place your order online for same-day pick up in-store.

For all orders over $50, we offer free local delivery within a 10 mile radius of each respective Shop in Morris and West Hartford.

We ship wine to many states. UPS Ground is our preferred third party carrier.