Thursday February 2nd, 2023
This Week: In honor of Black History Month, we turn our gaze to the Black-owned & operated wineries, distilleries and breweries represented in our store. It's a frigid start to February, so we suggest sipping on a robust red wine or warming whiskey.
Happy Groundhog Day
Whether you subscribe to Pennsylvania Dutch superstitions or not, we can all agree some warm sunshine would feel amazing after this week. We're all about the power of positive thoughts over here — and what's more optimistic than enjoying some rosé or a refreshing margarita? C'mon, lets collectively conjure an early Spring!
Black-Owned/Black-Made
WINES
From crisp and refreshing Pinot Gris to rich and spicy Zinfandel, you can enjoy your favorite style of wine while celebrating Black History Month. There are over 11,000 wineries in the United States of America, but less than 1% are Black-owned or have a Black Winemaker. We encourage you to try something new and delicious. Cheers to a changing industry!
Black-Owned/Black-Made
SPIRITS
This category has blossomed, but our favorite you ask? Local distillery Du Nord, of course! Their spirits sales support their Du Nord Foundation which helps to fight racial inequalities and builds economic justice, helping entrepreneurs and business leaders of color. Du Nord wants you to "Do Good While Drinking Better".
Black-Owned/Black-Made
BEER
Of the 8,500 breweries in this country, only about 60 are Black-owned. Brewer Chris Gandsy brews all Brooklyn Beer on-site, and serves it up with a side of biscuits, the Carolina-style recipe coming from his 93 year old grandmother. Gansy seeks to create unity and equity in his community, and to do it over a well-made beer.
Featured Distillery
Uncle Nearest
Owner and CEO Fawn Weaver created Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskeys to build on the legacy of the many who taught Jack Daniels how to make whiskey. Nathan "Nearest" Green started distilling whiskey for a reverend while still a slave, and continued right through abolition on the Call Farm in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Many believe he is the man who perfected the "Lincoln County Process" which requires whiskey to be filtered through maple charcoal prior to aging. And while Uncle Nearest is no longer with us, his great-great-granddaughter is a master distiller in the company, blending whiskey for a new generation.
This Just In: New Cocktail Garnishes!
Cocktail Garnish Co. Dehydrated Garnishes are made by former bartenders in White Plains, NY. These versatile garnishes add a unique look and class to your cocktails. Since they are dehydrated they also last up to a year! Varieties include; lemon, lime, navel orange, blood orange, pineapple and grapefruit. They are great to have on hand for those last minute, unplanned cocktails made at home. No need to run to the store for an orange to garnish your Old Fashioned. 
New Wines In The Store
2019 Raventos i Blanc Cava Brut Rose de Nit
2021 Ovum Off the Grid Riesling 
2022 Scribe Rose
2020 Bodega Menade Verdejo
Friday Tasting Table
Join Joel from The Wine Company
for our FREE Friday Wine Tasting!
Friday, February 3rd, 4 - 8 p.m.
Get 10% off any of the
wines you taste.
Staff Picks: What to Drink This Week
Things our staff thinks you should drink!

2021 Le Marie Barbera Pinerolese DOC - $21.99
Just to the west of Asti in Piedmont lies the relatively unknown DOC of Pinerolese at the foot of the Alps, just on the other side of the French border. Le Marie is a small, family-run farm and winery in Barge, which sits at the base of Monte Viso and Monte Bracco and the steep, terraced vineyards sit between 400-450M above sea level, some of which were planted in the 1930s and survived WWII. The newest generation of the Raviolo family is taking the helm and we couldn't be more pleased to represent the wines here. The Barbera is new to the shop and full of bright red berry fruit and lush, velvety tannins with just enough acidity to leave you wanting another sip. Alpine wine at its finest!
-Angie
2020 Leah Jorgensen Cabernet Franc, Southern Oregon - $33.99
When Leah Jorgensen began making her own wine in 2011, she set out to celebrate Loire Valley styled wines in southern Oregon. The lynch pin grape in this endeavor is the oft ignored Cabernet Franc grape. I would argue that, while she is honoring her passion for French wine, she has created a wholly unique expression of her favorite grape that manages to avoid the vegetal greenness present in some Loire examples and also avoid the overripeness often apparent in Napa examples that strip Cab Franc of its earthier side.
The result is a sturdy, dependable wine with a rich, silky character. In addition to its balanced profile and general stylistic accessibility, this bottle shows well on its own and plays
well with a number of different foods. Try with grilled meats and meaty vegetarian dishes, especially eggplant.
-Dave

2021 Azul y Garanza Naturaleza Salvaje Clarete - $35.99
This delicious organically farmed wine is a blend of 50% Garnacha and 50% Garnacha Blanca from Bardenas Reales, a desert region in Navarra, Spain. The grapes undergo wild yeast fermentation in concrete tanks followed by six months aging in amphora preserving the purity of the wine. It looks like a dark rose in the glass but the palate delivers a medium bodied wine. Aromatically it has pretty notes of hibiscus and pomegranate and the palate shows wild strawberry fruit and rose petal with notes of mineral. This unique nuanced Spanish Garnacha would be a great pairing with grilled pork sausages or pan seared salmon but it is very quaffable on its own. A must try for the Grenache lover who is looking for a new take on one of the greatest red varietals. 
-Rob

Utepils Minnator (4-pack) - $12.99
Bold and brawny like the mythical creature it's named for, Minnator from Utepils is a doppelbock that's ready to get you through the winter. The full-bodied malt makes for a smooth, roasty ride. This beer is a great example of Utepils doing what they do best: making European beer styles well. If you're tired of overhopped IPAs, not ready for sours yet, and want to stay a bit lighter than a stout, Minnator is a great option that supports an excellent local brewery.
-Nick
VERY IMPORTANT: Furry Friends Who Visited This Week
Cheers everyone!
-The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits