Building Community: Trail Marker, Deux Punx, and Itri

The warm glow of Edison bulbs lit up District One, casting golden light across its deep green walls and creating a space that felt both intimate and alive. Owned by RWC member Sid Molina, the venue transformed into the perfect setting for Roosevelt Wine Club’s first tasting event with winemakers. The evening carried a quiet energy of anticipation, as guests gathered to celebrate the intersection of craft, community, and connection.

It was an evening of milestones: our first event outside Roosevelt Golf Course, our first collaboration with winemakers, and our first tasting guided by a sommelier. Trail Marker Wine Co., Deux Punx, and Itri brought more than their wines—they brought a sense of belonging. Their presence felt like an invitation to take our place within the larger wine community, a shared celebration of the craft we’ve long admired.

That night, it became more than a venue—it became a space where wine connected stories, people, and a growing sense of community.

A Tasting Guided by Stories

With the stage set, we embarked on an evening of discovery, guided by the wines and the stories behind them. For the first time, we invited a sommelier, Billy Galanko, to lead us. Billy brought a reverence for the people behind the bottles, weaving narratives of vineyards and winemaking into every pour. He spoke of the craft and care behind each wine, encouraging us to taste not just the flavors but the intention within them.

We began with Trail Marker’s 2023 Kid Sister Kerner, a crisp and lively wine that mirrored the energy of the early evening. Its high acidity and notes of lime zest and acacia flowers set a bright, refreshing tone—a perfect way to open the night.

Next came Deux Punx’s 2023 White Blend, a floral and citrus-forward pairing of Chardonnay and Muscat. Its light body and approachable nature invited easy conversation, offering a moment of simplicity amid the anticipation.

The effervescent Trail Marker’s 2023 Pétillant Naturel of Blaufränkisch quickly became a highlight. Its hazy peach hue and playful bubbles embodied the vibrancy of the gathering, with aromas of Albion strawberries and crushed pink peppercorn giving way to flavors of ruby red grapefruit and cantaloupe agua fresca. The Pét-Nat seemed to amplify the room’s energy, its lively character mirroring the moments unfolding around it.

The lineup deepened with Deux Punx’s 2023 Orange Chardonnay, a bold, skin-contact wine whose orange hue and textured layers of dried citrus and apricot sparked curiosity and conversation.

As we transitioned to reds, Trail Marker’s 2022 Zweigelt offered a bridge. With its dark, translucent purple hue and flavors of sour cherry and steeped tea leaves, it struck a balance between high acidity and soft tannins, carrying the room into the evening’s richer moments.

Itri Cellars’ Chilled Red, Chapter One brought a playful energy to the table. Juicy and jammy, it embodied the kind of unpretentious joy that makes wine feel like a shared language.

Finally, Deux Punx’s 2022 Old Vine Zinfandel closed the night with a sense of reflection. From vines planted in the 1800s, it carried the weight of history, its notes of leather and red fruit grounding us as the room began to quiet.

Embraced by Community

The wines told their stories, but the people who gathered told ours. Friends and strangers alike came together, filling the space with warmth and connection. As glasses clinked and conversations sparked, it became clear: this wasn’t just about wine. It was about belonging.

Partnering with winemakers for the first time felt like a significant step forward for RWC—a recognition of what we’ve quietly built over the last few months. And seeing so many people show up reflected the club’s growing place in Los Angeles, a city often defined by its sprawl but brought closer through shared moments like this.

Being embraced by both the winemaking world and the local community reminded us of wine’s power to bring people together, to spark conversation and deepen bonds.

More Than the Glasses We Shared

What made this night special wasn’t the sommelier’s expert guidance or the honor of working with winemakers. It was the balance between those milestones and the organic rhythm of Roosevelt Wine Club. Bottles were opened and poured with ease, laughter punctuated the stillness, and by the end of the night, the structure had dissolved into something more spontaneous, more intimate.

Wine has always been the medium, not the message. It’s what brings us together, but the real magic happens in the connections forged over a shared glass. That’s what we saw on this night—a community that continues to grow, not just in size but in meaning.

This event was more than a tasting. It was a reminder of why we gather: to celebrate the craft of winemaking, yes, but also to celebrate each other. In a world that often feels disconnected, Roosevelt Wine Club has become a place where people come to be seen, heard, and embraced.

The wines were unforgettable. The stories they carried were profound. But the people—they’re what made the night truly special.

Building community, one glass at a time.