A few weeks ago, during the Grand Opening Celebration at the Virginia Wine Collective, I had the chance to chat with Chris Tropeano about his brand, Present Company. So when I saw his posts about pop-ups this weekend, I wasted no time—I zipped over to the Collective on Saturday to taste the wines and spend a little more time talking with him. This also means I once again beat Matt to a brand-new wine release. I will absolutely take that win. Celebrate! 🍾
It was immediately clear that Chris has built a strong, supportive network around this project. The room was full of friends showing up for him, including his buddy Clayton, who was working the bar alongside him—pouring wines, chatting with guests, and keeping the vibe friendly and relaxed.
I started with the 2024 Pet Nat Chardonnay. Pet Nats have exploded in popularity recently, as more winemakers look to add sparkling wines to their portfolios without the multi-year commitment required by traditional methods. Pet Nat is fresh, approachable, and fun—and this one really delivers. It’s vibrant and airy, with an easy energy that makes you want another sip immediately. I enjoyed it enough to bring a bottle home to share with family over the holidays. This will be our welcome and starter wine when we gather.
The second wine currently available is the 2024 Carbonic-ish Petit Verdot. Carbonic maceration is an exciting technique for creating fruit-forward, expressive wines, and here Chris took a hybrid approach: 50% of the grapes were crushed, 50% left whole, and fermented together. This helps jump-start native yeast fermentation while still capturing that carbonic character. I liked this wine right away, but it really came into its own with a little time in the glass. As it opened up, more of the Petit Verdot character I adore began to shine—layered with freshness and energy from the carbonic style. I now wish I had bought a bottle to have at home, as it may be exciting with a slight chill on it.
Chris also gave me a preview taste of his still-settling 2025 Chenin Blanc Pet Nat, and I am already counting the days for this one. The Chenin comes from Beacon Tree Vineyard, which I know and love thanks to the Jake Cheninquisition. That high Chenin acidity absolutely sings in a Pet Nat format, and the brightness here is going to make this a standout.
I’m genuinely excited about what Chris is building with Present Company—and you should be too. Low intervention wines are super exciting as they present a very fresh take on the grapes and a unique style.
If you haven’t been to the Virginia Wine Collective lately, now is the perfect time to go. Spend a few minutes in Present Company while you’re there, taste through the lineup, and keep this brand on your radar. These wines are joyful, thoughtful, and full of promise—and I’m really glad I made the time to check them out. Present Company is the kind of company you’ll want to keep.
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