Friuli-Venezia Giulia | medium-bodied; red fruit with herbaceous and mineral notes| excellent food-pairing wine; delicious with tomato-based or spicy dishes, meat in general, and perfect when matched with venison
Cabernet Franc
Darioush Signature
Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley | plums, sandalwood, and vivid berry flavors with subtle minerality; lush finish of raspberry liqueur and plum compote with silky tannins | wonderful with food; especially good with tomato sauces; pair with steak, lamb, porkchops, veal, sausage, or meatballs
Cabernet Sauvignon
DAOU
Paso Robles | currant, black cherry, cedar, &
eucalyptus | delicious as a cocktail wine or paired with steak, lamb,
and mushrooms
Frank Family Vineyards
Napa Valley | black cherry, cocoa,
hazelnut, baked plums, and cloves | pairs well with steak, short ribs,
portobello mushrooms, and lamb
- Nick's Favorites
Peju
Rutherford | black cherry, dark fruit, and cocoa powder with notes of anise, clove, and tobacco| wonderful as a cocktail wine or paired with red meat dishes
Shafer “One Point Five”
Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District, Napa Valley | elegant and silky with lush, vivid, abundant fruit and cashmere-like soft tannins | wonderful as a cocktail wine; or enjoyed with red meat – especially game
DeLille Cellars “Four Flags”
Red Mountain | vibrant red and dark fruit with a unique savory quality; delicately textured tannins | pair with beef short ribs, venison, lamb, or earthy vegetables
Central Italy
Tenuta di Nozzole
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | Toscana |
macerated cherries & fresh fruit with soft tannins| pairs well with
steak, red sauces, olive oil, and beans
San Felice “Il Grigio”
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG |
Toscana | sweet violets and spicy tobacco leaf; full-bodied and
round with smooth, ripe tannins harmoniously integrated with
the acidity | perfect with meat dishes, game, red sauces, and cheese
- Nick's Favorites
Villa Medoro
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC | Abruzzo | no oak; bright red and black cherry
with smooth tannins, leather, and spice | pair with red sauce,
sausage, and bolognese sauce
- Nick's Favorites
Banfi “Poggio alle Mura”
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG | Sangiovese | Toscana | violets, sweet ripe red fruit & berries, as well as cigar box and spices | perfect pairing for ossobuco; pairs well with red meat, game, red sauce, and aged cheese
Ruffino “Yellow Label”
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG | complex wine characterized by cherry and violet notes with hints of tobacco, white pepper, and flint | enjoy with your favorite Italian dishes such as risotto or pasta Bolognese or with grilled meats and roasted vegetables for a classic Tuscan meal
Chardonnay
Stemmari Chardonnay
Sicilia | Tart & Fresh | slightly
ripened peach & pear with notes of yellow flowers | enjoy with
antipasti, shellfish, and fried appetizers
- Nick's Favorites
Ferrari-Carano
Sonoma County | citrus, peach, orange blossom,
vanilla, and graham cracker | pairs well with butter and cream
sauces, basil, & nuts
Mayacamas Vineyards
Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley | lime zest, wet
slate, fresh vanilla, and lemon candy | pair this big wine with rich
fish such as salmon, creamy pasta dishes, pork, and white meat
Far Niente
Napa Valley | citrus-honeysuckle perfume with white fig, gardenia, and warm toasted oak | pairs well with white fish in butter sauce, fettuccine alfredo, prosciutto, and olives
Frank Family Vineyards
Carneros, Napa Valley| full-bodied with citrus and white peach, succulent stone fruit flavors and buttery pastry dough| pairs exceptionally with rich seafood; or with buttery sauces such as scampi or fettuccine alfredo
Pio Cesare “Piodilei”
Langhe DOC | a layered an beautiful wine; cooked apples, pineapple, hints of vanilla and cream|pair with branzino, veal chops, butternut squash ravioli, scallops, lobster, and roast chicken
Italian White Wines
Stemmari Chardonnay
Sicilia | Tart & Fresh | slightly
ripened peach & pear with notes of yellow flowers | enjoy with
antipasti, shellfish, and fried appetizers
- Nick's Favorites
Planeta “Cometa”
Fiano | Sicilia Menfi DOC | an outstanding
wine; full, aromatic, and mineral with notes of chamomile, hay,
ripe apricots, thyme, mango, and pomelo | absolutely excellent with
grilled fish and shrimp
- Nick's Favorites
Venica & Venica “Jesera”
Pinot Grigio DOC Collio | Skin Contact Wine | brilliant copper color, notes of white flowers,
ginger, pink pepper, pear, and apple | pairs especially well with
charcuterie, grilled fish, and risotto
- Nick's Favorites
Occhipinti “SP68” Bianco
60% Zibibbo, 40% Albanello |Sicilia | featured on “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy”| Biodynamic| Skin-Contact Wine; fermented with indigenous yeasts | dry; floral and aromatic | excellent with shellfish, delicate pastas, and fish
- Nick's Favorites
Pietradolce “Sant’Andrea” Bianco
100% Carricante | Mt. Etna, Sicilia | 120 year old vines; alluring aromas of lychee, Spanish broom, white peach, creamy pear, and wet stone balanced with bright acidity | pairs well with cheese, vegetables, and steak-like fishes such as tuna, swordfish, & mahi mahi
- Nick's Favorites
Andrian Pinot Grigio
Alto Adige | crisp and refreshing; a fruity bouquet with fresh notes of honeydew melons | wonderful aperitif and very versatile for the dinner table; try with risotto, shrimp, salmon, mushrooms, or fish
Villa Mathilde Falanghina
Campania | like a Sauvignon Blanc: intense, floral, and fruity with notes of tropical fruit and ripe peach; dry, fresh, crisp, and light-bodied| combines very well with mussels, fresh pasta & shrimp
Castello di Titignano “Rigogoli”
Umbria | Viognier & Grechetto di Todi | medium-bodied, oak aged, dry white wine | peach, almond, and sweet spice | pair with simply cooked fish, scallops, chicken, or mushrooms; goes with anything in a butter white wine sauce
I Custodi “Aedes” Etna Bianco
Carricante | Sicilia | delicious and natural white wine from famed wine guru Salvo Foti; white fruit, yellow apple skin crunch, green olives, mineral finish | pairs superbly with pork, chicken, or anything from the sea
Villa Mathilde Greco di Tufo DOCG
similar to Chablis; rich, complex, and fresh; white peach, apricot, citrus, and sweet almond| pair with a seafood pasta dish
Banfi “Principessa Gavia”
Gavi DOGG | Cortese di Gavi | lime, citrus, and golden apple blend into an intense and fresh aroma; soft acidity | particularly good with appetizers, salads, and fish
Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio
Friuli | crème brûlée, and custard are perfectly balanced with citrus, white flowers, apricot, melon, and peach | pair with fish, shellfish, risotto, and baked vegetables
Elena Walch Gewürztraminer
Alto Adige DOC | dry; characterful and elegant with charming notes of lychee, flowers, and spices | wonderful as a aperitif, with spicy dishes, or with dishes based on fish and shellfish such as cioppino
- Nick's Favorites
Pio Cesare “Piodilei”
Langhe DOC | a layered an beautiful wine; cooked apples, pineapple, hints of vanilla and cream|pair with branzino, veal chops, butternut squash ravioli, scallops, lobster, and roast chicken
Bruno Giacosa
Roero Arneis DOCG | Piemonte | a richer and rounder Arneis with medium to full body; lemon, apricot, and spicy pear; some cooked apple, too | really delicious; pairs amazingly with beef carpaccio, zucchini, and eggplant dishes
Merlot
Frank Family
Napa Valley | fresh plums, blackberries, pomegranate, coffee, cedar, and baking spices; very elegant and structured with a soft finish| pairs well with most foods; especially red sauces, veal, pork, cheese, and cream
Markham Vineyards
Napa Valley Merlot | California | aromas of plum jam and coffee; juicy black cherry flavor with a rich chocolatey character| pairs well with steak, gorgonzola, rosemary, cheesy pasta dishes, and roast chicken | 325 mL Half Bottle
Northeast Italy
MASI “Costasera”
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG | Vegan| baked fruit, plums and cherries, with hints of coffee and cocoa | excellent as an after-dinner wine; or to go with red meat, game, or richly flavored dishes; very good with gorgonzola
Dario Prinčič “Rosso”
Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon | Friuli-Venezia Giulia | very fresh natural wine with a dynamic minerality: arctic berries, graphite, earth, and vegetable notes with spicy and balsamic overtones | try with red meat and red sauce
Tenuta Luisa Cabernet Franc
Friuli-Venezia Giulia | medium-bodied; red fruit with herbaceous and mineral notes| excellent food-pairing wine; delicious with tomato-based or spicy dishes, meat in general, and perfect when matched with venison
Zenato
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG | bay leaf & cured cherries | pairs well with braised beef short ribs, wild boar, venison, and steak
SCAIA Corvina
Veneto IGT | floral and fruity; cherries, plums, and woodland berries; intense and with a good body despite its young, fresh lightness | delicious in warm weather; wonderful with risottos, sausage, beans, and both red meat and chicken dishes
Northwest Italy
Marchese Incisa “Valmorena”
Barbera d’Asti Superiore | Piemonte | violet, plum, maraschino cherry, date, fig, white pepper, and chocolate | versatile and medium-bodied, goes wonderfully with appetizers, sage & butter sauces, white and red meats, and cheeses
Prunotto “Vigna Colonnello”
Barolo DOCG Riserva Bussia | produced from one single prized hectare in the Monforte d’Alba area; rose petals, raspberries, and pomegranate with spicy and balsamic notes; supple tannins with a long, dense finish | pairs best with osso buco, steak, veal chop, and dishes made with egg pasta
Michele Chiarlo “Reyna”
Barbaresco DOCG | Piemonte | complex and elegant with notes of small red fruits, rose petals, and tea leaves; fine tannins with a long, balanced finish | accompanies risotto, veal, or lamb
Ca’Rome’ Barbaresco
Barbaresco Chiaramanti DOCG | Piemonte | intense garnet red. Complex aromas with hints of licorice. Velvety and full-flavored | Large format; 1.5L Magnum
Pio Cesare “Fides” Barbera
Barbera d’ Alba Superiore | Piemonte | blackberry, plum, black cherry, tobacco and mineral notes
Tenuta L’Illuminata “Sant’Anna” Barolo
Barolo DOCG | black-skinned berries, cherry, cedar, underbrush, star anise, and toasted hazelnuts
G.D. Vajra Nebbiolo Langhe DOC
Piemonte | varietal truth, purity of aromatics, and depth with notes of rose, violet, fresh berries, red and dark fruit, lavender, and mint | this elegant wine pairs very well with meat, risotto, and cheese
Pinot Noir
Stemmari Pinot Noir
Sicilia | blackberries, wild strawberries,
cherries, and spice | pairs well with pasta with meat sauce, red meat,
and cheeses
Merry Edwards
Sonoma Coast | bing cherry with licorice, forest floor, rose petal, vanilla, and baking spices | enjoy with mushrooms or other vegetarian dishes; delicious with salmon or pork
- Nick's Favorites
Swick
Willamette Valley | medium bodied and fresh; perfectly balanced notes of dark cherry, mushrooms, and forest floor with a raspberry, plum, and espresso palate | a very food-friendly wine; pair with pasta, cheese, meats, fish, goes well with everything
Red Blends
DAOU “Pessimist”
Paso Robles | blue and red fruit, purple
flowers, vanilla, and buttered toast | pairs well with grilled meats
and pasta with red sauce
DAOU “Bodyguard”
Paso Robles | Petit Verdot & Petite Sirah | blueberry cobbler, cherry pipe tobacco, dark chocolate, and espresso | pairs with red meat such as short ribs or bolognese sauce
Planeta “Burdese”
Sicilia DOC | Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc | a powerful, structured red with rich fruit flavors of cherry, rosemary, cocoa | delicious as a cocktail wine and with rich meat or cheese dishes
Riesling
Labor Wines Riesling
Willamette Valley| a dry Riesling with a round mouthfeel; a stone fruit profile with notes of citrus, green apple, and hints of tropical fruits and fresh herbs | a wonderful food pairing wine; match with salmon, shrimp, crab, pork, or creamy sauces
Rose
DAOU Rosé
Rosé of Grenache| Paso Robles | fresh strawberry, peach, cherry, hibiscus, and honey| enjoy with salads, salmon or light appetizers
Southern Italy/ Islands
Stemmari Nero d’Avola
Sicilia | currant, wild strawberries,
and pomegranate | pairs well with risotto, cheese pastas, eggplant, &
lamb
Stemmari Pinot Noir
Sicilia | blackberries, wild strawberries,
cherries, and spice | pairs well with pasta with meat sauce, red meat,
and cheeses
COS “Nero di Lupo”
Nero d’Avola | Sicilia | made in amphorae (large terra cotta pots) | pure expression of Nero d’Avola; round and delicious; with bright red cherry fruit, Mediterranean scrub, orange zest, and sunbaked earth | pairs best with eggplant or rich, “meaty” meats such as steak, meatballs, lasagna, Bolognese, and lamb
Pietradolce “Barbagalli”
Nerello Mascalese | Mt Etna, Sicilia DOC | gorgeous red with elegant aromas of blue flowers, crushed mint, wild berries, and wet stone | pairs extremely well with steak and lamb; yet is versatile enough to go with most dishes, including seafood
- Nick's Favorites
Occhipinti “SP68” Rosso
70% Frappato, 30% Nero d’Avola | Sicilia | featured on “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy”| Biodynamic| red berries; with minerals and a hint of licorice | break the “rules” with this wine: try it chilled with fish or with eggplant
Tormaresca Torcicoda Primitivo
Primitivo (Zinfandel) | Salento IGT, Puglia | dense, creamy, dark-berry aromas lifted by violet, graphite, and potpourri spice on the nose; warm baking spice tones | pair with pasta, duck, lamb, and other richly flavored dishes
Punica “Montessu”
Isola dei Nuraghi IGT | Sardegna | Carignano | intense aromas and flavors of black fruit and oak; full-bodied with velvety texture and balanced tannins | pair with rich pork or lamb dishes
Pietradolce “Archinieri” Etna Rosso
Etna Rosso DOC | Nerello Mascalese | Mt. Etna, Sicilia | ripe and fruity on the nose, with distinct spicy and balsamic nuances | pairs well with eggplant dishes and with red meats
Planeta Frappato
Vittoria DOC | Sicilia |a light red with notes of red fruit, rose, and candied violet, with an elegant smokey tone | excellent food pairing wine; this light red can pair with red meat, vegetable dishes, and also with fish; also lovely when chilled
Sparkling
Marchesi Incisa “Felice”
Moscato d’Asti DOCG | Piemonte |
elegantly sweet with light effervescence; light and clean finish;
notes of peaches, white flowers, grapefruit, and sage | perfect to
start or end the meal; delicious as an aperitif or with dessert
- Nick's Favorites
Rosa Regale
Brachetto d’ Acqui | Piemonte | Unique & Festive
| sparkling sweet red wine with strawberry, raspberry, and rose |
delicious aperitif or pairs well with spicy foods, pork, bitter greens,
cheese, desserts, and chocolate | 187mL
Berlucchi ’61 Nature, 2012
Franciacorta DOCG | Lombardia |
Zero-Dosage | 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir | bone dry with
ripe yellow fruit and candied citrus that melt into fragrant pan
brioche; richly flavored with a full body and vibrant acidity|
delicious throughout a meal; pairs perfectly with antipasto and main
courses of fish, chicken, and veal
Moët & Chandon Impérial Reserve Brut
Champagne, France | dried pineapple, biscuit, salted almond, white peach | pair with rich or fried food
Chandon Brut
Brut Sparkling | Napa Valley | apple, pear, and citrus flavors with a hint of spice; finish is soft and dry | pair with Caesar salad or calamari | 187mL
Col di Luna “Flora” Prosecco
Prosecco Brut | Veneto | a truly dry Prosecco with notes of granny smith apples, asian pear, and fresh cut garden flowers | fermented with native yeasts and low in sulfites | pairs well with all kinds of foods, especially appetizers and light dishes
Super Tuscans
Antinori “Tignanello”
Toscana| The original Super-Tuscan! |
Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, & Cabernet Franc | ripe red
fruits with fresh blackberry and wild berries; vanilla, dark
chocolate, and light spice | pairs with herbed meats and mushrooms,
and rich tomato-based dishes such as lasagna
- Nick's Favorites
Tenuta Guado al Tasso “Il Bruciato”
Toscana | Merlot,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, & Petit Verdot |
dark fresh fruit, spices, and tobacco | pairs exceptionally well with
wild boar, short ribs, and other rich braised dishes
- Nick's Favorites
Tenuta Sette Ponti “Crognolo”
Toscana | Sangiovese & Merlot | ripe cherry and berries well blended with spicy notes| pairs well with braised meats, game, and aged cheeses
Tenuta San Guido “Sassicaia”
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC | Toscana | Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc | black fruit and spice flavors | perfect wine to go with rich meaty dishes of lamb, braised meats, pasta bolognese, or creamy risottos
- Nick's Favorites
Santa Cristina “Fattoria Le Maestrelle”
Toscana | Merlot, Sangiovese & Syrah | ripe red fruit well integrated with notes of juniper berries, mint, vanilla and coffee | pairs wonderfully with red meats and red sauces
Zinfandel
Frank Family Vineyards
Napa Valley | elegant, complex layers of crushed clove, fresh blackberry, and creamy mocha | perfect with roasted meats, chicken, and pork