Just checked again... the weather forecasts are still calling for 2-5 inches plus ice from Thursday evening through Saturday morning. Ugh. There is a likelihood we will have limited hours as a result. 

Yesterday we offered a six pack of French goodies... you can click here to check it out.  But if Italian wines are more your thing, we've got you covered as well! Rich and I had some fun putting this one together. We're off the beaten track here, but man oh man are the wines delicious!

Two bottles of each wine plus a fancy carrying bag emblazoned with both store's name and logo. Food pairings galore.

All for just $109.99. Ready? Here we go!

Binzamanna Cannonau di Sardegna Rentiles 2019

Oh, you’ve had Cannonau before… it’s the Sardinian variety of Grenache (France) and Garnacha (Spain). And really, you’ve always been drinking Cannonau, as research indicates the grape originated on the island! So what do we have?

Cannonau loves the heat, as it is late-ripening, and thrives throughout Sardinia, resulting in potent (15% alc) wines rich in dark, spicy fruit. At Binzamanna, the vines sit at 1,000 feet in elevation and are grown in limestone soil. These two elements combine to offer a cooler microclimate that extends the growing season and adds a certain freshness to the wine. For you wine geeks, NO, the wine is not similar to Gredos in Spain, the kind of Garnacha that slinks towards Pinot Noir in style. This baby remains full, strong and finely tannic. Oh, and hedonistic. Did I mention that? Bring on the snow!

What to eat? Roasted suckling pig is a traditional choice, but not easily obtained here. How ‘bout lamb with artichokes and olives? Click on the picture for a recipe.

Vegni e Medaglini Ciliegiolo 2019

Throwing you all sorts of curveballs today! And why not? If you’re snowed in, you can play internet sleuth to find out more about these grapes! Ciliegiolo gets its name from an Italian word for “cherry”, whose color and aroma it mimics. Historically, it has been used as a blending grape in Chianti and other parts of Tuscany for the freshness and liveliness it brings to otherwise heavy wines. In the past 20 years, the demand for ready-to-drink wines has brought more attention to Coliegiolo and we’re starting to see 100% varietal wines.

One whiff of this baby and you’ll understand the namesake reference. Coupled with delicate floral notes and just the right amount of tannins, this is a dream table wine. From fish to fowl, veggies to veal, is there anything this little gem can’t pair with? I guess we’ll never know, because you’ll run out of the wine before you run out of options!

Ok... that was a little lazy... you know what I would do for this? Some version of the classic local dish Pappardelle al Ragù di Cinghiale. Cinghiale is the name for the wild boar that roam the region. Doubtful you've got access to any so... you can certainly use pork shoulder, but if you can fnid pork shank or pork cheeks, you'll thank me later. click on the pic for a recipe.

Marramiero Dama Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2019

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is misunderstood and underappreciated. Often confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Sangiovese based wines from Tuscany), and considered by many as nothing more than fruity pizza friendly wines, its time we all paid this grape more attention. Montepulciano is actually the second most widely planted red grape in Italy behind Sangiovese. It’s grown all along the Adriatic coast and offers a wide breadth of styles. Half of Italy is drinking Montepulciano on a regular basis and it’s not all with pizza! Yet in the US we are guilty of thinking of it as the cheap by the glass option at our local Italian restaurant. Spend a little extra on a great bottle of Montepulciano (or not much at all in this case) and you get a serious bottle of red.

This medium-bodied wine offers subtle herbal aromas that give way to bright currant and raspberry fruit along with a hint of orange peel and anise. The snappy tannins and bright acidity make this a natural match for… ok… fine… I’m still going to recommend pairing with pizza! Why not? But plan ahead… you may need to make your own, so shop for the ingredients now.


Or reply. The wine will be available tomorrow in Chapel Hill. Friday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.