Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend

It's Columbus Day Weekend (also Indigenous Peoples Day). We're celebrating with some wonderful Italian reds, some new to the store, some perennial favorites.

One of the new ones is Intre from Natale Verga. It's a blend of grapes from different parts of Italy, yielding bright fruit notes of cherry and raspberry on the nose and the palate. It's almost Pinot-esque, making it a wonderful wine to pair with anything from cheese and crackers to pasta dishes, to burgers or chops. It's Andy's Staff Pick for fall. It's now one of the selections to taste at the Wine Attic at the back of the store, and it's also featured at the fall display near the info desk at the front of the store.

Look for the elegant bottle with the fall leaves on it.

One of my favorite Italian reds is the Carpineto Dogajolo, a Tuscan blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Every time I open a bottle I'm delighted by this wine. It's smooth and balanced and flavorful without being too tannic or too light. It goes with everything from salad to pizza to stew and even brownies if you're so inclined. It has a screw top which makes life so easy, and it has a beatuful label of fall leaves with gold accents.

There are actually several Italian wines on tap at the Wine Attic at the back of the store in addition to the Intre, all of them from Tuscany in Italy, so you're guaranteed deliciousness. There's the Verga Governo, a lovely fruity yet dry blend; the Capala Toscana, a hearty Sangiovese/Cabernet/Merlot blend; the iVeroni Achillea Vermentino, a light-bodied dry white with aromatic notes that's a winner-winner with a chicken dinner! (Vincitore vincitore cena di pollo!)

Cheers!