Price supports rarely benefit small farmers.
Happy New Year
That’s it. Finito, Basta… however you want to express it, the crazy holiday season is once again history. This year, we enjoyed old friends and made some new ones, shared delicious wines and spirits because-yay!- tastings are once more something we can do, and generally had a pretty great time. We were especially honored to not only advise on purchases but to share some awesome dogs and even some wonderful chocolates with you.
With the new year come new plans. But instead of boring you with diet and exercise pledges, I’ll share some of what we’re planning to drink this year.
Organic-it’s here to stay. And while we’ve been selling organic, biodynamic, and other low intervention wines from the beginning, I’m now concentrating even more on how the wines we carry are made. You don’t want to drink chemicals? We think that’s a great idea.
Greek-it may be Greek to you, but it’s also some delicious wine! Think about it-many of the Old World vineyard areas were originally planted thousands of years ago by the Greeks. And they have all those fascinating native grapes. We’ve been enjoying Assyrtiko and the occasional Moschofilero for years, but this year we’ll be bring in some reds, too. Get ready for Xinomavro, Aghioritiko, and lots of bold flavor.
House Wine- An idea that originated in small bistros and trattorias, where good but inexpensive wine or wines that complemented the cusine but did not break the bank were served, ‘house wine’ is also a great idea for consumers at home. Don’t know how to pick one? No worries! Stop by and tell us what things you usually like to cook, and we’ll help you lay in a supply of tasty but affordable juice. When your guests ask you what it is, tell them, ‘Oh, just our House Wine’.
Port-there is just nothing like a nice glass of port, especially on a chilly evening. I’ll be indulging in a nice bottle of aged tawny and pairing it with a good book on cold January nights. (Since tawny lasts several weeks in the fridge, I might be drinking it in February, too.) Once the weather breaks, I’ll switch to white port cut with tonic and plenty of lemon.
Gin-we continue to find new and exciting gins. Gins from Lebanon, South Africa, and Gibraltar. Gins flavored with green tea, lavender, or bergamot. Gins distilled from honey, oats, or even grapes. And pssst-we’re exploring having our very own gin, replicating one we loved from Montenegro that isn’t brought into the US.
Whiskey-speaking of things that are ours and ours alone, we have a TERRIFIC private barrel pick planned to spring. Stay tuned.
Sicily-this one is perennial. If I ever decided to become an expat, I’d move to Sicily. It has everything: history, amazing beaches, two (or three, depending on who’s counting them) active volcanoes, amazing food, AND wine that could literally steal your heart. I’m always looking for more great Sicilian wines, and generally find them, too. So don’t be surprised when we recommend Feudo Montoni, Tornatore, or Tenuta di Castellaro. You should try them!
2021 is a wrap, but hopefully 2022 will bring better times and at least a touch more normalcy. We’ll keep looking for delicious things to share with you. Meanwhile, it is my sincere desire that we continue to be the type of store that makes people want to share chocolate, dogs, and conversation. Happy New Year!