Several years ago, as the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board started relaxing stringent sales laws, independent wine shops started opening up in the Philadelphia area featuring wines that are typically not available in the state-run Wine & Spirits stores. As a result, all sorts of unusual, independently produced, and off-the-beaten-track wines are available to the discriminating connoisseur with a taste for the rare and uncommon. In this class, we delved into some of the offerings from specialty shops that many wine consumers may not have even known about and which will delight your senses!
Price-wise, the wines ran from the low $20s to the low $30s plus tax, as usual. Most of the wines came from DiBruno Brothers on South 9th street, which has the best and widest selection, as well as Cork, and Vernick. Most of the wines are organic, biodynamic, natural, low-intervention or skin-contact. In my next class in the spring of 2026, we will further explore more wines of this type in depth.
Prima Piuma “Lino” Grignolino 2022
Origin/Classification: Piemonte
Denominazione di Origine Controlata (DOC)
Varietal: 100%
Grignolino
Production/Tasting Notes:
Organic; light to medium bodied; fresh, lively; abundant tannins (“grignolino”
means “pip” in Piemontese); bracing acidity; tangy.
Food Pairings:
"Finanziera" (Piedmont-style Veal Sweetbreads with Porcini Mushrooms);
pizza with red peppers and pepperoni; mushroom risotto
Alcohol: 13.5%
Kivel Stadt Cellars “Wayward Son” Skin
Fermented Pinot Grigio 2022
Origin: Clarksburg,
California
Varietal: 100% Pinot
Grigio
Production/Tasting Notes:
Five months aging in neutral oak; skin fermented in closed top fermenter using
natural yeast; 13 days maceration; malolactic fermentation; 6 months on the
lees; bottled without fining; on the nose notes of vermouth, orange blossom, snapdragon
flower, green tea; slight bitterness on the palate;
Food Pairings:
Alcohol: 11.65%
Broc Cellars “Love Red” Blend 2022
Origin: California (from
Paso Robles to Mendocino)
Varietals:
50% Carignan, 30% Syrah, 10% Valdiguie, 5% Mourvèdre, 5% Grenache
Production/Tasting Notes: Natural
(spontaneous) fermentation; native yeasts; sourced from organically farmed
vineyards; mix of destemmed and whole
cluster fruit; carbonic maceration in stainless steel; aged in a mix of neutral
French oak barriques and stainless steel; brambly raspberry, dried cranberry;
baking spices; cocoa; medium-bodied; may be chilled.
Food Pairings:
Indian samosas; Shaking Beef
Alcohol: 12%
Bodegas Penalba Lopez Finca Torremilanos
Montecastrillo Tempranillo 2023
Origin: Ribero del Duero
Denominacion de Origen (DO), Spain
Varietal: 90% Tempranillo;
10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Production/Tasting Notes:
Biodynamic grapes; 9 day fermentation;
native yeasts; aged 3-4 months in a mix of French and American oak
barrels; malolactic fermentation; fine tannins; fresh, juicy, fruit-driven;
dark cherry on the medium to full boded palate; lightly chalky; tight, slightly
rustic finish (90pts. James Sucking; 91+ points Wine Advocate)
Food Pairings: Tapas
– what else!!??
Alcohol:
14.5%
La Sapata Aligote’ 2024
Origin: Podgoria Sarica
Niculitel, Denumire de Origine Controlata (DOC), Danube Delta Region, Romania
Varietal: 100% Aligote’
Production/Tasting Notes:
Organic viticulture; sandy, loamy soils in hills and planes with terraces;
fermentation at 18 degrees with wild yeast; maturation in stainless steel; unfiltered;
floral, fragrant bouquet; full, fresh and slightly minerally on the palate
Food Pairings:
Appetizers; fish; white meat
Alcohol: 12%
Luis Pato Maria Gomes Vinho Branco 2023
Origin/Classification: Barraida
DOC, Portugal
Varietal: 100% Maria Gomes
(aka Fernao Pires)
Production/Tasting Notes: Very
aromatic, exotic scents on the nose; lemon, lime, orange zest; spicy; honey;
mineral.
Food Pairings:
Barbecued chicken with lemon and pepper; caramelized onion and feta tart; pork
stew with rosemary and lemon.
Alcohol: 12.5%%
Blicks Land Pinot Noir 2022
Origin: Wairau Valley,
Marlborough, New Zealand
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Production/Tasting Notes: Certified
organic; alluvial soils; wild yeasts; open-top fermenter; 20 days of maturation
(skin contact); 12 months aging n French oak barriques; concentrated aromas and
flavors of ripe cherries, and dark berry fruits; underlying earthy tones,
subtle spicy oak; silky palate; balanced acidity with fine tannins. (91 points,
Wine Enthusiast)
Food Pairings: Roast rack of lamb; coq au vin
Alcohol: 13%
Vina Skaramuca Plavac 2022
Origin: Peljesac
Peninsula; Dalmatian Coast; Croatia
Varietal: Plavac
Mali
Production/Tasting Notes: Slightly
raisinated; 8 day maceration; 6 months aging in stainless steel; dense, robust
aromas/flavors of black cherry, dark plum, coffee, pepper, smoke and spice;
chewy; mouth watering acidity; lingering finish.
Food Pairing: BBQ,
burgers, or čevapi, kebabs, steak, grilled squid or harder cheeses like
parmeggiano.
Alcohol: 13%
Barbichette “Oui Non” 2024
Origin: Seneca Lake, New
York
Varietals: Chardonnay,
Merlot, Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc
Production/Tasting Notes: Glacial
silt loam; spontaneous fermentation with autochthonous yeasts; Chardonnay and
merlot macerated together in whole clusters for 10+ days, slightly later picks
of pinot noir and seyval blanc macerated together for two weeks before being
pressed off; Chardonnay and merlot macerated together in whole clusters for 10+
days, slightly later picks of pinot noir and seyval blanc macerated together
for two weeks before being pressed off; no fining or filtration; notes of
muddled raspberry, fresh cranberry, maraschino liqueur; round, plush (?)
Food Pairings:
Alcohol: 11%
Chateau Kefraya “Breteches” 2022
Origin: Bekaa Valley,
Lebanon
Varietals: 40%
Cinsault, 30% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
Production/Tasting Notes: Stainless
steel maceration and fermentation; malolactic fermentation in concrete tanks; 10
months maturation in concrete tanks; 1-year bottle aging: spiced nose of
blackcurrant and cherry; silky tannins; abundant red fruit flavors.
Food Pairings: Beef,
lamb, venison, cured meat
Alcohol: 13%
Quinta do Infantado Rabigato 2022
Origin: Douro D.O.P.,
Portugal
Varietal: 100%
Rabigato
Production/Tasting Notes: Natural
yeast; vinification and aging in stainless steel tanks; 11 months on the lees,
lively, crisp with subtle floral aromas; pear, apple mineral notes.
Food Pairings:
Shellfish; light appetizers; lean fish
Alcohol: 12%
Teleda Dila-o Saperavi 2023
Origin: Kakheti Region, Georgia
Varietal: 100% Saperavi
Production/Tasting Notes:
Aged in qvevri (clay vessels buried in the ground) about 6 months after
20 days or so of fermenting on the skins; natural, unfiltered; aromas of sour
cherries, black plum and red berries; fresh acidity, firm tannins;
medium-bodied
Food Pairings:
Georgian food in Georgian restaurants in Philly
Alcohol: 12.5%
Philadelphia Bottles Shops
DiBruno Bros.
920 S. 9th St.
Vernick Wine
2029 Walnut St
Cork
253 S. 20th St.
Jet Wine Bar
1525 South St,
Bloomsday
414 S. 2nd St
Le Caveau
614 S. 7th St.
Sally Philadelphia
2229 Spruce St.
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