WINE CLUB | CHEESE CLUB

Welcome to your very refreshing summer vacation in Italy (just go with it — you know we’d buy you a plane ticket if we could). The native grape varieties we get to taste in this month’s lineup are somewhat rare and so good, and they turn us nerdy enough that you’re bound to learn something new. A little escapism and education? You’re quite welcome.

Compared to some of our other stops this summer, Italian wine might not seem very exotic, but let us assure you, there are many hidden gems in this country outside of old friends like Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, and Nebbiolo.

Thanks for coming along, trusting us, and as always, for being part of our community. Nothing better than drinking wine in the Seattle summer with people we love.

The Halfseas Team

ALL CLUB MEMBERS GET TO ENJOY THESE 3 BOTTLES:

2021 Tasca d'Almerita Sallier de La Tour Inzolia Sicilia

Grape: Inzolia
Region: Sicily, Italy
Retail: $18
Pronunciation: “een-SOH-lee-ah”

Kicking off the lineup this month, we’re taking you to Sicily for this brisk and charming white made from the ancient grape Inzolia by brothers Alberto and Giuseppe. They took over the family winery from their dad Lucio, who passed away last month.

Lucio was a renaissance man and a bit of a rebel. He kicked off his career on the Italian equestrian team and competed in the 1960 Olympics, then studied business and economics before shifting focus to his father’s wine business. Lucio’s father was a purist who only wanted to make wine from native grapes, but Lucio had other ideas. He secretly planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc vines and only convinced his dad to indulge after a blind tasting of his experimental wine. Bold.

Lucio ran the winery for more than 60 years and was beloved in the wine community for his innovative combinations of native ancient grapes with international varieties. He helped shift the perception of Sicilian wines and made global fans, including us. Rest in peace, Lucio.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Tempura’d fish and veggies with a citrusy side salad of spicy greens and salty, nutty shaved cheese.

2021 Librandi Ciro Rosato

Grape: Gaglioppo
Region: Calabria, Italy
Retail: $16
Pronunciation: “gah-L’YEE-YOHP-po”

Now we sweep down the end of the boot to Calabria and splash into this lovely rosé, made from Gaglioppo, the signature Calabrian grape. The winery is nestled in Cirò Marina, a beach town on the Ionian coastline. If the color of this wine doesn’t lure you in (it will), just picture the vineyards covering the rolling hills above the ocean, getting gently warmed by the sun, then cooled by the sea breeze. Picture yourself basking in the lazy energy with some afternoon snacks and asking for a glass of Sangiovese, but the charming restaurant owner instead pours you this glass of Gaglioppo that you fall in love with. Do we have you now? Molto bene.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Alright, garden gnomes, it’s time to harvest that eggplant! Or if your green thumb isn’t so prosperous, head to your favorite farmer’s market, because this wine is yearning to be poured chilled with some gooey fresh eggplant parmesan.

2019 Walter Massa 'Fuso' Barbera Piemonte

Grape: Barbera
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Retail: $21

Next we head North to Piedmont for a delicious, chuggable, chillable Barbera crafted by the famous Walter Massa as part of the super cool FUSO project by Portovino where winemakers share bottles of wine they typically save for locals, or “vino sfuso”.

Vino sfuso is usually kept in casks or barrels of neighborhood markets, and locals go in with their carafes for a fill — very much like getting a growler at your favorite brewery. It’s magical because it means you’re really paying for the wine, not the marketing or the label or the bottle. The practice has been a thing for hundreds of years, and likely started as a result of the plague that hit Florence in the 1600s. To create social distancing (ugghh yes we know, way too familiar), shop owners installed tiny wine windows so folks could walk up and get their containers filled up for dinner that night without needing to have close in-person contact. The practice has gone in and out of popularity over the years, but the windows started popping up again during COVID times. If there must be a global pandemic, at least there are wine windows.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Pasta with a no-recipe sauce made from the ripest tomatoes you can find, excellent olive oil, basil leaves you casually tear into uneven pieces, and plenty of parmesan. Have it slightly chilled on a weeknight over a slow dinner to spice up the work week — you deserve it.

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

NV Mario Lucchetti Brut Rosé

Grape: Lacrima di Morro d’Alba
Region: Le Marche, Italy
Retail: $17
Pronunciation: “LAH-kree-ma”

Let’s make our way to the Northeast with a visit to Le Marche for a delightful pink sparkling wine made in the same method as Prosecco (called the Charmat method). The Lacrima grape is native to Le Marche and has been harvested for wine since medieval times. The name literally translates to "tears", derived from how the grapes “weep” juice when they’re ripe and ready to go. Yeah, it’s both beautiful and kind of sad. But don’t let that dramatic Italian flair deter you! This wine is absurdly tasty and made with so much love by Mario Lucchetti and his wife, son, and daughter-in-law.

Now’s probably a good time for a quick refresher that “NV” stands for “non-vintage” — super typical with sparkling wine, and meaning that the grapes that went into this bottle were harvested in multiple years (aka vintages). When there’s a defined vintage (like 2019, 2020, etc.) it means that all the grapes were picked in the same year. The more you know.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Grab a cooler bag, pick up some fresh sandwiches with crusty bread loaded up with cured meats (think salami and cold cuts) and cheese, and take this out on a sunny weekend day adventure with you.

2020 Casale del Giglio Bellone Lazio

Grape: Bellone
Region: Lazio, Italy
Retail: $16
Pronunciation: “bell-LONE-ay”

We’re now crossing the Tyrrhenian sea and traveling over to Lazio to try the lusciously juicy, minerally Bellone grape. One of the OG influencers Pliny the Elder famously called this indigenous grape “fantastic”, and it’s been cool (and widely planted in this area close to Rome) ever since. The Casale del Giglio winery started in 1914, and the family ran an 11-store chain selling their own wine and olive oil. Over the years, they sold all of the shops except for one, which they converted into a wine bar that still operates in Lazio today. BFFs Paolo Tiefenthaler and Antonio Santarelli run the family winery and expertly turn this infamous grape into wine we just can’t get enough of.

Drinking & pairing ideas: Al pastor pork tacos with a big ol’ stone fruit and tomato salad sprinkled with queso fresco and lots of herbs.

2019 Argiolas Monica di Sardegna Perdera

Grapes: Monica di Sardegna, Carignano, Bovale Sardo
Region: Sardinia, Italy
Retail: $20
Pronunciation: “sar-DAYN-yuh”

Last up is this treat from Sardegna, predominantly made from the indigenous Monica grape, with a wee bit of Carignano and Bovale Sardo. Monica is somewhat of an elusive grape. Scholars can’t seem to figure out its origins, and argue about whether she’s Italian, Spanish, or Greek. Regardless, this bottle will make you a fan. Even though you’ve probably heard of this Italy island, it still ends up feeling like a well-kept secret with its absurdly turquoise water, white-sand beaches, and just the coolest vibes. So add it to your must-go list, or just…drink lots of Sardinian wine :)

Drinking & pairing ideas: This is a lovely red for grilled fish — think salmon or tuna with bursted tomatoes and green olives — and a loaf of focaccia or sourdough bread dragged through some vinegary olive oil. Serve chilled for a perfect summer meal and please invite us.

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.