WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

For us, January is all about finding balance. Especially this year, after a brutal couple years living through a pandemic most of us thought would only last a couple months. We’re tired, but hopeful. Optimistic about reaching a new normal that’s more…normal, but also learning to find happiness in life’s little pleasures. Resilient, but so f***ing ready to move on from all of this :)

This month’s lineup brings cheer, it brings surprises, and it brings some seriously delicious wine that’s been oh-so-lovingly curated for you.

Three-bottle members, you get to sample a fully-red list of cozy wines, including a head-to-head of two bottles made from the same grape. For you six-bottle members, you get to layer in a group of white wines that are perfect for cold grey days, and will also tide you over to sunnier ones.

We can’t wait for you to try these treasures, and we hope they help contribute to a more balanced start to your 2022.

The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2020 Vera de Estenas Bobal

Grape: Bobal
Region: Utiel-Requena, Spain
Retail: $15
Pronunciation: “bo-BALL”

If this is the first time you’re tasting a wine from the up-and-coming Spanish region of Utiel-Requena, or the first time you’re tasting the Bobal grape, let’s raise a glass to hidden gems. Because it’s not a widely-known grape, you can get some stellar Bobal for a really great price, including this lovely bottle from winemaker Félix Martínez, whose Bobal vines are over 100 years old.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Cozy sweatpants and paella with chicken or rabbit, or a hearty lamb stew. This bottle is one to help you soak in the cold winter weather.

2020 Ciello Rosso Nero d’Avola

Grape: Nero d’Avola
Region: Sicily, Italy
Retail: $15
Pronunciation: “nair-oh DAHV-oh-lah”

Coming to you from western Sicily, we have this Nero d’Avola from Cantina Rallo, where they’ve been making wine since the 1860s. Before the Vesco family took over in 1996 and revolutionized the winemaking and viticulture, they were almost exclusively making Marsala (don’t judge — Marsala can be delicious! But that’s a story for another day.). This wine is vegan, and if you’re surprised to hear that wine exists that’s not vegan, it’s usually due to the fining process, where winemakers add a binding agent like egg whites or protein from milk, animals (think gelatin), or fish bladder. These binding agents float around attracting unwanted stuff like colloids (proteins or tannins that might make the wine a little too intense), which in turn helps reduce some haziness in the wine. As such, wines that don’t go through the fining process might have a little natural hazy quality to them, which is meant to be embraced.

Drinking & pairing ideas: The time is nigh to make some chicken or eggplant parmesan, a cold lettuce salad with green goddess dressing, and soak it all up with some crusty bread and this bright wine.

2020 Feudo di Santa Tresa Purato Nero d'Avola

Grape: Nero d’Avola
Region: Sicily, Italy
Retail: $14
Pronunciation: “nair-oh DAHV-oh-lah”

For a fun side-by-side tasting, might we recommend trying the bottle above with this beauty from southern Sicily? Both are from the same grape — Nero d’Avola (translates to the “black grape of Avola”) — and both are organic and made with minimal intervention from the winemaker. For even more feel-good vibes, the packaging for this wine is super eco-friendly; the labels are made with recycled paper and vegetable dyes, the cartons are made from recycled paper, and the bottles are 85% recycled glass.

Drinking & pairing ideas: We suggest leaning into the smokiness from this delightful wine. Try it with a simple tomato-y pasta with herbs (maybe thyme or rosemary) and smoked mozzarella, or some grilled pork tenderloin with crushed fennel seeds. Or hell, why not live a little and have both?

6-BOTTLE MEMBERS ALSO GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2020 Skouras Salto Wild Ferment Assyrtiko

Grape: Assyrtiko
Region: Péloponnèse, Greece
Retail: $22
Pronunciation: “ah-SEER-tee-koh”

We’re honored to get to include this bottle of sunshine made by George Skouras, one of the pioneers of Greek wine. In the 80s, George earned his oenology (“ee-nology” — the study of wine) degree from Dijon in Burgundy, then headed back to his native Greece and started making wine in his garage. Years later, a lot has changed (he’s even been President of the Greek Wine Federation), but his wines are better than ever.

Drinking & pairing ideas: This would be awesome with some roasted lemony fish, or if you’re up for a cooking challenge (or some killer takeout :) ), definitely try it with seafood risotto.

2020 La Comarcal Delmoro Blanco

Grapes: Merseguera, Chardonnay
Region: Valencia, Spain
Retail: $23
Pronunciation: “mehr-seh-GEH-ra”

Coming to you from the laid-back beach town of Valencia is this fun wine from best friends Javi Revert and Victor Marqués, who are rising stars in the Spanish winemaking scene. They’re also obsessed with finding the perfect piece of land for each vine — they call themselves “traveling winemakers” because they’ll explore the land to understand the uniqueness of every square inch. This wine screams youth and freedom and life, and brings such a carefree attitude that we can’t help but get swept up, and know you’ll love it too.

Drinking & pairing ideas: If you’re already on the paella bandwagon from the first wine in our lineup this month, why not keep that train running with seafood paella to pair with this wine? Brothy, steamed clams would be an excellent runner-up.

2018 Noelia Ricci Bro Forli Bianco

Grape: Trebbiano
Region: Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Retail: $23
Pronunciation: “treh-bee-AH-no”

This estate was in the same hands from 1626 to 1941 — an impressive 300+ year run — before it was taken over by an Italian entrepreneur, unfortunately just in time for WWII. During a tumultuous, devastating decade, it was occupied by the Germans and attacked by the Polish while it housed refugees in the cellars. Once it was all over, Kropidius Giuseppe Ricci (that same Italian entrepreneur) came back to restore the winery and get it back to its peaceful state — producing wines that make us reminisce about sunny ocean breezes.

Drinking & pairing ideas: If we could conjure up a plate of butter and sage pasta to go with this bottle, we’d be all over it. It would also be a lovely weekend brunch wine, with fried eggs over herby white beans and sourdough toast (and sardines if you’re into it). Don’t forget a slice of citrusy almond cake for brunch dessert. That’s a thing, right?.

Looking for past lineups? We got you.

REMINDERS

• As always, our food suggestions are just starting points. Wine is nostalgic and we’re big fans of making what you like, drinking what you like, and not giving a damn if they “go” together.

• Email us at info@halfseaswine.com to buy more single bottles or a 12-bottle case with special pricing.

• Come see us at Halfseas, your charming little neighborhood wine shop tucked inside Brimmer & Heeltap. Open Wednesday through Sunday 12 - 9pm.

• Wine pairs best with friends. Tell your friends.