Pauly’s Picks
As a wine buyer, I come across many off-the-beaten-path, closeouts, and just fun wines. I currently work at Mega-Bev in Standale, MI, where we carry a broad selection of wine. I love it when I find something unique, or with a great story, or just great bang for the buck! Below are a few that recently caught my attention for one reason or another.
Check back here often for my latest finds!
Varvaglione Salice Salentino
Puglia, IT, 2017
Oh, so many wines from Italy to try! Italy is the most prolific wine growing region in the world, being home to over 1,000 varietals! Yep, over 1,000 different kinds of grapes in Italy!
So, let’s talk about Salice Salentino - a little region in Puglia, or “the boot”. The predominate grape of this wine is Negra Amaro - a rich, red with dark fruit notes, plum, raisin that just screams for a hearty beef stew or braised short ribs.
This was brought in on a close-out price of $14.99/btl, but normally retails for $24, and there’s a limited supply at that price.
Juan Gil “Red Blend”
Jumilla, SP, 2020
This is a fun wine to try if you’re beginning to explore Spanish wines, especially if you’ve predominately only drink California reds.
This is a blend of Cab and Monastrell with a touch of Syrah. Rich, structured, with silky tannins on the finish. A “bigger” red, but doesn’t necessarily have to have food with it to enjoy.
This is the house red of Juan Gil, a winery producing stellar wine in Jumilla for over 100 years. Normally $19/btl, we are featuring this vintage at $13.99/btl, while supplies last.
