All In-Store Saturday Tastings are from 2 to 6 pm except as noted
Toasting love is always a wonderful way to celebrate those in your life. Whether you celebrate with a spouse, family or friends wine and love surrounds us during February. We celebrate Valentine’s Day with "Wines of Love" to add an irresistibly romantic sparkle to any occasion.
Many people celebrate the love they have for their partner by giving thoughtful gifts or arranging special meals. This is the best time to experiment with delicious Italian wines. When you eat in Italy, wine is always on the table, and with 20 different Italian wine regions there is a huge assortment to choose from.
Italian white wines are so much more than just Pinot Grigio; although that is the main white grape commonly associated with Italy. Italy is surrounded by water, so what better wines to pair with seafood than Italian. Try a Vermentino from Sardinia, which is the close cousin to a Sauvignon Blanc, or a Cortese di Gavi from northern Italy near Piemonte that is a light-bodied and crisp wine, with refreshing zest and minerality. Pecorino from Abruzzo should not be overlooked, this is a fuller bodied white wine that has the ability to age and has lush tropical fruit that will stand up to roasted chicken, pork, and even sausage. Pecornio is also known as a cheese from the same region, which is named after the sheep that cover the Gran Sasso mountains.
Italian red wines offer a huge variety from fresh cherries and spice, medium to full-bodied, age for 20 plus years, dry, sweet or sparkling, you can get it all in Italy. Whether it is Chianti, bright cherry and tobacco spice (Sangiovese grape), Barolo from an expressive aromatic beginning to the well-developed finish of mocha, cherry and rich black licorice (Nebbiolo grape), a Barbaresco, slightly more floral nose than a Barolo with an earthy and subtle fruit finish, or an Amarone from Veneto, a slightly sweeter style with loads of ripe fruit. Lambrusco is a delicious, slightly fruity wine that pairs fabulous with a charcuterie board.
With Italy being home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, you are sure to find something new to fall in love with. By volume, Italy, closely followed by Spain and France, is the world’s largest wine producer. It contributes approximately 1.3 million gallons per year, which represents about one third of global production.
The best way to make sense of Italian white or red wines is to simply begin tasting them. These wines offer versatility, good value, and unlimited pairing options. To quote Sophia Loren, “I would much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size zero.” Wine, food, and love form a symbiotic experience that is meant to be enjoyed.
We have been in business at this location since 1985, providing the best selection of wine in the western suburbs. Our store has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, and has been a past “Wine Store of the Year” selection. We pride ourselves on friendly and knowledgeable service, whether you are selecting an inexpensive wine for a simple dinner, purchasing select wine as an investment, or choosing wines for a special event.