It’s that time of year for yankee swaps, last minute office gifts, or for finding a bottle to bring to a friends house for their holiday party. Whatever the reason or occasion wine can make gift giving quick, simple, and very rewarding. Who knows, maybe the bottle you give will be shared with you. Yes it sounds selfish but you never know. So moving forward with that thought you should always consider gifting a bottle that you would like to drink yourself. We are firm believers in this policy and only stock our shelves with wine we would like to share with friends and family. Read the rest of this entry »

A glass of Moscato d”asti is an excellent way to commemorate just about anything from a simple quiet evening at home to the most celebrated time of year “The Holidays”. With its affable nature of refreshing sweetness and a hint of sparkle Moscato d’Asti is delicious alongside sweet or savory, thanks to its low alcohol level and light profile. It’s a shoe-in with cured meats and cheese and of course desserts like apple pie, panettone, or gelato. Moscato d’Asti are an excellent value and a seriously fun way to begin or end your holiday celebrations.
We strongly urge you to pick up this week’s Friday Four Pack as an excellent gift or just for sharing with friends and family.

2010 Borgo Maragliano, “El Calie” Mosto d’Uva, Piedmont, Italy  $13

2010 Elio Perrone, “Sourgal” Moscato d’Asti DOC, Piedmont, Italy  $15

2010 Cascina del Santuario, Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Piedmomt, Italy  $17

2010 Scagliola, “Primo Bacio” Moscato d’Asti, Piedmont, Italy  $20

Regular retail purchase price for all four bottles  – $65

The “Friday Four Pack” price – $55

Wine is a journey: a road meant to be traveled with an open mind and a thirsty palate. Quite often some of the most rewarding experiences with wine come from the undiscovered or overlooked regions and producers who are on the edge of the boundaries we call winemaking. As an example, let’s take what is arguably the most famous winemaking region in the world, Burgundy, France and compare it with what is one of the smallest and least explored wine producing regions, Valle d’Aoste, Italy. While these two areas are separated by a good 400 miles or so, at the heart of it both these regions are quite similar. Both possess the combination of great ‘terroir” and talent: the two things most paramount when making great wine. When you drill a little deeper, you will find many common grapes like pinot noir, petit rouge, and gamay to name a few that both regions grow with great success. These varietals are renowned for making wines of exceptional quality…especially pinot noir. While these two regions share similar qualities when it comes to great wine, Aoste has a defined voice of its own. Which leads us to this: if you love a good Burgundy, it’s time to expand your horizons and embark on a new journey with wine to Valle d’Aoste. Read the rest of this entry »

Campania was rarely thought of as an important producer of wine until the late 60’s when a landmark Taurasi (a wine often dubbed “Barolo of the South”) was discovered. Since then Campania has been the benefactor of good press and a strong international following of its cult wine producers throughout the region. Campanian reds tend to be bold and complex and offer an experience unique from any other region in Italy. If you’re a fan of hearty red wines then Campania is an excellent place to find a new favorite. The whites are just as brilliant and a great place to start is with a good bottle of Greco di Tufo. Campanian wine is at its best when accompanied by food which is no surprise since this province is considered the birthplace of pizza and pasta. This week’s “Friday Four Pack”, “Campania in a Nutshell” is a quick tour through Campaniain wine country and the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with one of Italy’s most important viticultural and culinary contributors.

2007 Villa Raiano, Greco di Tufo DOCG, Campania, Italy $20

2008 Masseria Felicia, Falerno del Massico DOC, Campania, Italy $28

2006 i Pentri, Piedrirosso Beneventano IGT, Campania, Italy $24

2009 Cantina Giardino, Le Fole Campania Aglianico IGT, Campania, Italy $33

Regular retail purchase price for all four bottles – $105

The “Friday Four Pack” price – $85

For those of you who either didn’t get the memo or weren’t able to make it to this past Saturday’s Gargantuan tasting, have no fear: we are going to do it again…sort of. While we may not have 80 plus bottles to sample, we will have a great line up to taste you through. We will feature a dozen bottles ranging from great everyday reds and whites to some spectacular wines great for adding to your collection and (even better) for gifting. This is an excellent way to explore grapes and regions you may have never heard of , and it’s a great alternative to fighting your way through the crowds at the mall this weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s back! We did “Huge”, we did “Monumental”, we even did “Colossal”. In 2011 its “Gargantuan”! Our annual grand wine tasting is this Saturday, December 3rd, from 1 to 4pm at Tomasso. With over eighty wines to sample and peruse from every corner of Italy, this makes it an event not to be missed. There’s no better way to spend your Saturday afternoon, and this tasting makes for an ideal break from all the holiday shopping madness. For fifteen dollars you can spend a day tasting your way through the vineyards of Italy and taking your favorites home. As an added convenience this year, we will offer orders to be picked up at a later date to allow you to enjoy more time at the tasting and then pick up your purchase when best fits your schedule. Read the rest of this entry »

Ask a room full of people what their favorite region of Italy is, and the answer will most likely be Tuscany. Ask most people why and the answers will range from the scenic landscape to the almost too good to be true hospitality of the people in Tuscany, the food, and someone is certain to mention wine, in particular Chianti. Why Chianti? Well beyond its famous reputation is the hard earned respect of the world of wine lovers who simply can’t deny this wines amazing charm and character. A good Chianti Classico will provide an abundance of bright cherry flavors, dusty spices, and complex aromas of tobacco and leather and it makes an excellent companion for anything from grilled chicken or steak, to simple plates of cured meats and hard cheeses. We have put together four Chianti Classicos for this week’s “Friday Four Pack” that we feel best express what is so great about wine from Chianti. Pick up the “Classic Classico” four pack and taste your way through the rolling hills of Chianti.

2008 Isole e Olena, Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy $22

2008 Il Palagio Chianti Classico DOCG, Panzano-Tuscany, Italy $24

2009 Castellare di Castellina Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy $25

2008 Villa Pomona, Bandini Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy $29

Regular retail price for all four bottles – $100

The “Friday Four Pack” price is – $80

Earlier this year (in February), I was lucky enough to get to travel with one of our favorite importers. During our marathon of travel, we set out all over Italy visiting winemakers, exploring vineyards, checking out off-the-beaten-path artisans, and generally eating and drinking our way through the country. One of my favorite stops along the way was in Piedmont: the commune of Costigliole d’Asti in the heart of the “Barbera d’Asti” appellation at Cascina Roera. Here is the journal entry from that trip on my visit with Claudio and Piero of Cascina Roera.

After a brief stint in Barbaresco, we head a little further north in Piedmont to the Barbera d’Asti appellation and home to Cascina Roera. Cascina Roera was started by Claudio Rosso and Piero Nebbiolo. The two are a great compliment to one another. Piero is bursting with enthusiasm and passion and while Claudio is equally passionate, he is a counter balance to his partner’s exuberance. Read the rest of this entry »

Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it comes the eminent gathering of loved ones for feasting and catching up. With a mixed crowd, varied tastes, an array of classic family recipes and side dishes, choosing wines to pair with this holiday celebration can pose quite a challenge. To help everyone clear this hurdle, we have put together a list of our favorite wines for Thanksgiving. There is a wine for every taste and every budget. What exactly qualifies a wine as a “favorite” pick for Thanksgiving? The formula used was simple: the wine had to be one that we were planning on serving, it had to be a good value with broad appeal, and it needed to partner well with Turkey and the multitude of side dishes that grace the table. To satisfy your curiosity, here is a list of our top ten picks.

The ten on the list are all very good, but within this list there are a few we would like to discuss in more detail. Read the rest of this entry »