Today is #NationalRedWineDay! We have had the privilege of working with Melissa Byczek on several projects at her mid-century home. Melissa is a dear client and friend of ours as well as a Director and Independent Wine Consultant at Scout & Cellar.

Scout & Cellar is a fast-growing winery that offers Clean-Crafted wines sourced from boutique wineries around the world. In this blog, we are sharing our Q&A with Melissa featuring her wine recommendations from Scout & Cellar, her home renovation, and so much more!

Why did you decide to renovate your home?

Funny story, we actually purchased our home in October of 2019 and planned to use it as a weekend/summer escape from the city. At that time we updated the flooring, the kitchen island and cabinets, and painted the entire house inside and out. Fast-forward to the spring of 2020 and we knew it was time to make the full-time move. Once we were using the house full time, we needed to update bathrooms, closets, pantries, and outdoor spaces that we had grown to really love in our short time in our house.

What do you love most about your mid-century home renovation?

This is a great question since I originally never would have chosen our house as a full time residence, but now I'm totally in love with it! If I had to pick one thing I love the most, it would be that we've maintained the cool-California, one-story living vibe while slowly making the house feel totally brand new at the same time. Plus, we have a really great outdoor set up! We are so lucky to have found Chris and his team, especially his lovely wife Mary, who has helped us come up with a vision that is congruent with the original construction of the home but brings it up to today's living standards.

What tips do you have for hosting a great night?

Pretty simple: have more food and wine on hand than you think you need! You can always save extra food and wine, but having to leave your guests to get more, or having the night end early because there's no more, is a real buzzkill. Also, music! The right music sets the tone and fills the room so I always love to have some good playlists ready to go.

What is your favorite Scout & Cellar red wine?

This is sort of a trick question as our inventory is ever-changing due to the nature of clean-crafted wine. Once a vintage is sold out, it doesn't come back until the next vintage, and that may taste different due to conditions in the soil and weather, and because clean-crafted wine is completely unaltered, unlike most mass-produced wines. That being said, my current favorite is definitely the 2020 Fieldhouse 301 Red Wine from California. This is a really smooth, medium bodied red that is perfect for summer.

Can you suggest a few other wine options and your favorite thing about each one?

Some of my other current favorite wines are:

• 2019 Viente Malbec from Chile. This is a deliciously jammy red that is balanced with a subtly dry finish and is a little more nuanced than the Fieldhouse Red Wine.

• 2020 Dove Hunt Dog Sauvignon Blanc from California. This is the perfect Sauv Blanc as it is slightly fruity, refreshing and minerally, and it even brought home a gold medal in the largest blind taste test in all of North America, The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, this year.

• 2020 Gallivant Rosé from California. This is my favorite rosé we currently carry. It's light, refreshing, fruity and balanced with a minerally yet dry finish. Sure to be a crowd pleaser!

How did you get started with Scout & Cellar?

A friend introduced me to Scout & Cellar in the spring of 2020 and I was floored to learn there was a way to incorporate wine into a clean-lifestyle. Clean-Crafted means zero chemicals, pesticides or added sugars can be found in our wine, which is a far cry from most mass-produced wines that can have up to 250 additives. After trying several wines, I knew I wanted to be involved as more than just a consumer, and the rest is history.

Do you host local wine tasting events so that customers can try the wine?

Absolutely! All of my wine tastings are private, invite only events, but I'm happy to work with anyone to host their event! For example, if you'd like to host a wine tasting, we'd decide on a date and send invites to your friends/family. The day of, I'll bring the wine and educational materials, and you and your guests can try several wines that night.

What is the process of ordering wine through you?

Ordering wine through me is as simple as clicking on my personal link and ordering through that. For a more tailored wine-buying experience, though, I like to get to know what wines you normally like, including the flavor profiles and price points, and provide personalized recommendations from there. Think of it like matchmaking for wine, and the matchmaking gets better the better I get to know you. Plus, we have a satisfaction guarantee, so if you're unhappy with a wine for any reason, you can get a credit back, no questions asked. It's pretty awesome!