Perchance to Dream: 
Travel Through the Treasures of Venice Online

https://www.wsj.com/articles/byways-of-
la-serenissima-the-venice-you-probably-dont-know-11596279600

Your Travel Veneto Vicariously Wine
(Just arrived in shop!)

Brett says: "Fresh and viscous floral stone fruit from  the classical Veneto grape of Friulano 
and balanced floral finish coming from the high elevation varietal in the blend. The weight is similar 
to Viognier making this wine a crowd pleaser. The Cabernet and Merlot Blend is glorious.
All in all, these wines, for the clean quality, should cost double the price." 
Certified Organic, Biodynamic and Vegan. 
$15.99 for the White or Red
You are probably familiar with the Prosecco from Alla Costiera.
Another amazing value at $16.99.

Read about the family here: https://www.piedmontwineimports.com/alla-costier

Your Discuss it Over OR Pair with the Pasta - Wine

92 Points Wine Enthusiast
LA Times: http://www.selvapiana.it/los-angeles-times-recommened-selvapiana-rufina-2013/

A blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has alluring,
earthy aromas of new leather, tobacco and ripe black-skinned berry. On the smooth palate,
fresh acidity brightens juicy raspberry, Marasca cherry, orange zest, star anise and eucalyptus. Polished tannins lend elegant support. 
$21 Cellar Potential: Drink through 2025.
*************************
Also Consider Cala Civetta Toscana 2018 $14.99

New York Times Says Cling to COLUMBO

NYT suggests that we take a step back to find comfort in troubled times.
Before there was cable TV with omnipresent gratuitous and graphic sex and violence,
unremittant misogyny, stupid story lines and blood, blood, blood, there was Columbo!
In this David vs. Goliath show, Columbo, a poorly paid, stogie smoking LA detective
wearing a cheap rain coat, takes down the rich and famous every week without violence,
DNA, CCTV, smart phones, or GPS, just good old fashioned smarts.

While the Columbo character was said to be of Italian Heritage,
and Peter Falk played the part to perfection, Falk's heritage was from Poland and Russia 
on his father's side and from Hungary and Poland on his mother's side.

Your Sink into The Comfort Zone and Watch it With Wine:
We chose this bottle as it is made in the colder, northern climate of Piedmonte.
So whether you celebrate Peter Falk, the actor with real-life Northern European roots,
or Peter Falk as the character of Italian Heritage, Colombo,

It works!

Teaching Moment: Freisa is a love it or leave it grape, but you,
if you dare to step outside your comfort zone, (and I know you will) should try it!
Wine Folly says: Freisa Wines have deep color. The aromas are lightly fruity,
with sour, wild red berries and then deeply herbaceous with notes of sage, green olive,
earth, tar, and bitter green almond. On the palate, the wine has zippy acidity
and astringent bitterness with chalky and grippy tannins. Several producers
will actually leave a touch of residual sugar in the wine to complement its astringency.
Explore this grape. All in all, Freisa is a rare treat.

La Casaccia Monfiorenza Monferrato Freisa 2018 
The organic Freisa grapes by the Rava Family in the Montferrato region.
are hand-picked and selected individually to produce this medium structured wine,
fruity when young and good for medium aging. Tannins play well with barbecue.
More on the winery: https://www.piedmontwineimports.com/la-casaccia
*** Try it With a Little Chill. $14.99 @MetroWines ***

More on Columbo: A scene from "Any Old Port in a Storm"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3g3TARlQfU

100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Alto Adige, 13% ALC

Lis Neris Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Why is this the Summer Big Red?
John Kerr of The Ashevilles  School of Wine @MetroWines says:
"This is an Italian Cabernet made with very little oak so the wine retains
the bold rich flavor experience from Cabernet but, because of low oak,
the fruit shines through. Low in tannins, this wine will not conflict
with barbecue sauce even one with a touch of the sweet."

The Cabernet Sauvignon of Lis Neris winery is an elegant and precise wine,
which matures for six months in oak barrels and then for a short period in glass, before being ready for consumption. At sight, it shows a beautiful
intense ruby red color. On the nose, it develops pleasing hints of cherry
and ripe red fruit, while on the palate it comes fresh and balanced,
with delicate tannins and a persistent final. It is excellent if drunk in combination
with pasta with ragout, white meat and medium-aged cheeses.

Lis Neris winery is one of the most interesting realities of Friuli Venezia Giulia,
which has continued its success for four generations. Owner, Alvaro Pecorari,
has continued his paternal tradition by producing exceptional white wines,
trying to exalt the characteristics of the different vines and the territory at their best. The perfect conditions of the land, favored by the proximity to the Adriatic Sea
and the winds of Bora, have allowed him to produce exceptional, harmonious
and balanced wines avoiding any form of weeding and placing Lis Neris
as the authentic excellence of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

$23 (red tag)
Personal Note: You know how you have a comfort level doing business with friends? It's like that with Lis Neris. This is a really nice, competent, dedicated family that we and, hence, you can trust. And with everything going on, we need trust!

Heat Buster even in Moscow. Read on.....

A blend of Trebbiano 80%, Malvasia di Candia 2019 Tuscany
Winemaking: Vinified in flower must bringing aromas and flavors 
of pear, quince, yeast, melon, citrus. Aging in steel and bottled in May after the harvest.
Soil typical of the Apennines, limey-clay loam, rich in shale and sandstone. 
Spontaneous fermentation in cement without adding of yeast,
enzymes and other winemaking additives. No clarification and filtering. Biodynamic.

Meanwhile, back in Italy......
Clad in masks, an adventurous group including a reality TV star,
sets off to find the perfect Italian Villa: 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-travel-restrictions-lifted-
one-reality-star-set-out-to-find-an-instagram-friendly-home-in-italy-11594833350

*** Put a Chill on It ***
It's HOT out there. Some red varietals benefit from a slightly higher chill.
https://metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/put-a-chill-on-it

*** Schiava ***

Teaching Moment: Schiava is a light-bodied red wine (like Pinot Noir) with aromas
of cotton candy, strawberry, bubblegum, and lemonhead candy. The wine is delicate
and light in color. On the palate, the flavors are quite subtle. Producers in Alto Adige
will often make a DRY style. The alcohol levels are slightly lighter
because the grape grows predominantly in a cooler climate.

Alois Lageder's great grandfather founded the winery over 150 years ago in Alto Adige, Northeast Italy. In 1934, the family acquired the Lowengang estate in Magre and continued adding other prime Alto Adige vineyards. Now in its fifth generation, the company is led
by Alois Lageder. His brother-in-law Luis von Dellemann, is the winemaker.
Color: Ruby-red with a purple shimmer. Aroma: Subtly pronounced, fresh, fruity,
floral (violet), white pepper. Flavor: Light to medium bodied, well-balanced, soft, dry. 

*** 12% alc. $15.99 ***

*** Ruche ***

Teaching Moment: Ruchè is a varietal of Piedmont in Italy that has risen
from virtual obscurity as a little-known, dark-skinned variety to having its own appellation, 
Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato. Its origins are disputed, with some claiming
Ruchè as indigenous to the region, while others claim it has Burgundian roots.

Ruchè wines can be characterized by their lightness in color and complex aromas,
somewhat like the lauded Nebbiolo of the region. The similarities continue
with Ruchè having fine but forceful tannins and good acidity to stimulate the palate.

Ruchè is a very unique wine from the Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato 
that exhibits roses, pepper, black cherries, and cinnamon, with moderately high tannin.

Forbes Magazine on Ruchè and Surroundings
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tmullen/2018/08/13/why-
bright-light-ruche-grapes-may-transform-the-monferrat-of-italy/#276566b338d3

13.5% alc. $23

A blend of Trebbiano 80%, Malvasia di Candia 2019 Tuscany
Winemaking: Vinified in flower must bringing aromas and flavors 
of pear, quince, yeast, melon, citrus. Aging in steel and bottled in May after the harvest.
Soil typical of the Apennines, limey-clay loam, rich in shale and sandstone. 
Spontaneous fermentation in cement without adding of yeast,
enzymes and other winemaking additives. No clarification and filtering. Biodynamic.

Meanwhile, back in Italy......
Clad in masks, an adventurous group including a reality TV star,
sets off to find the perfect Italian Villa: 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-travel-restrictions-lifted-
one-reality-star-set-out-to-find-an-instagram-friendly-home-in-italy-11594833350

THE GARRUBBO GUIDE is a handbook to the delicious importance
of Italian food, wine, and culture. It can be a kitchen reference or a travel companion.
It is a guide to the adventure of Italian food and culture through the last 3,000 years.
LA GUIDA GARRUBBO covers everything you need to know about the most popular
Italian foods, from bread and olive oil, to prosciutto and mozzarella, to panini, pizza,
and pasta, all the way to gelato, espresso, and sambuca!
The comprehensive chapter on wine simplifies the elaborate world of Italian wine.
The book contains an extensive Italian food glossary, a detailed table of pasta shapes,
as well as sample menus from Italy’s 20 regional cuisines and the Italian “food rules,”
and a bit of history, grammar, and geography.

Your Read it With Wine

Winemaker says: Made from a selection of Nero d’Avola grapes cultivated
on the high hills. It expresses the primary aromas, without excess from
the ripening process. Different age barriques provide soft and elegant tannins,
with subtle hints of wood. Its name comes from the Sicilian word for love, “L’ Amore.” 

James Suckling says 92 Points: I love the sweet, floral and mulberry nose
of this succulent Nero d’Avola. The gentle tannins creep up on you at the finish,
making it even more delicious. Good length and food compatibility.

Decanter says 92 Points: Tasca d’Almerita is an aristocratic and historically important
Sicilian producer. Lamùri is a pretty, medium-bodied version of Nero d’Avola from a cool,
high-altitude site. Intriguing spice and ripe cherry aromas and fresh finish.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate says 90 Points: Here is another excellent value
wine from Sicily. The 2016 Sicilia Nero d’Avola Lamùri Tenuta Regaleali
(aged in barrique for 12 months) shows a lot of varietal authenticity with dried cherry aromas
followed by black olive, caper and toasted pistachio nut. All those aromas take you straight
to Sicily in heart and mind. This vintage takes a little longer to open and swing into action. 

Vivino says $17.99
wine.com says $18.99, on sale from $20!

*** We say $14.99 ***

From The MetroWines "How Can This Be" Department
Wine Retailer Report says: At the start of the Covid-19 crisis, e-commerce retailer wine.com
saw its sales roar into overdrive, and that growth has continued unabated. After experiencing
a 47% increase in sales to nearly $200m in the 12 months through April, wine.com’s
trailing 12-month figures for May jumped by 65% to $222m.

How can this be? Week after week, including today, we post their prices
which are almost always $1 to $3 a bottle higher, sometimes more.
Friends don't let friends get ripped off at wine.com!

New York City (CNN) — Dante, 104-year-old bar and restaurant in NYC, is on fire. 
The original Caffe Dante opened in Greenwich Village in 1915,  frequented
by the Italian immigrants from the neighborhood. The historic café was reopened
in 2015 by its current owners, Australians Linden Pride and Natalie Hudson.
Only a few years later, Dante is receiving accolades on a global scale. 
Last fall, Dante was named #9 on the prestigious 50 World's Best Bars List 
and Tales of the Cocktail Foundation named Dante World's Best Bar
and Best American Restaurant Bar at the 2019 Spirited Awards.

More cocktails than wine served at Dante, but we do share
Noilly Prat and Doulin Rouge Vermouth as well as Peychaud Bitters!

*** YEAH, WE DO COCKTAILS TOO! ***

We also have Angostura Bitters for the Perfect Manhattan!
https://mrbostondrinks.com/recipes/manhattan

**************************

But What We Really DO is Wine!
And if we, especially Brett, were advising Dante,
we would say put this one on the Wine List Pronto.

This ruby-red wine shows a deep aroma of spices and red fruit.
Gentle yet persistent flavors of red and black fruits on the palate.

The wine is 100% Spanna, the local name for Nebbiolo in the Alto Piemonte.
The grapes come exclusively from the Colline Novaresi DOC,
a growing area characterized by old vines and high altitudes. 

In order to protect the older clones of Spanna, Vallana only replaces
their vines with genetically identical selections when replanting is necessary.
As with all of Vallana’s wines, the process begins with intense selection.
After a 24 hour cold soak, the must is moved to cement tanks for fermentation.
Each fermenting vessel carefully bubbles under a watchful eye
and decisions about pumping or stirring vary based on the evolution of each batch.
Colline Novaresi is aged for 6 months in large oak casks before being bottled.

Live La Dolce Vita for $23
Who said living vicariously ain't like the real thing?