Wine of the Month Club

Each month our staff will choose two to three wines exclusively for our club members. They will vary from country, style, and varietal. An extensive information sheet will accompany the wines including: menu ideas, serving suggestions, history of the grape, vineyard and region, recent accolades and other interesting facts. The monthly cost will be approximately between $25.00 and $35.00.


The wine will be available for pick-up in the store at the first of every month. Delivery is available in Anderson Township for a $4.00 fee. Outside of Anderson Township within the 275 belt, delivery is available for $8.00.

The Wine of the Month Club makes the perfect gift for:
Father's Day - Mother's Day - Anniversary - Wedding - Birthday - Christmas - Valentine's Day 

This Month's Selections

For this month we have chosen wines from the far reaches of Italy. Every wine in Italy is a regional wine, which means that the grape varietal is indicative to that certain area of the country and each area has its own distinctive terroir and character. Virtually every part of Italy is planted with grapevines. Many of the wineries in Italy have a very small production, and only in the past 10 years have we been able to see these wines on our shelves in the United States. 

Sartelli Vardicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2000 $10.99

The Sartarelli Estate is located in the Marche region of central Italy, on the eastern side of the Apennines. The region has a long Adriatic coastline with the majority of the vineyards situated inland, in the zones sheltered from the mountains. The climate is strongly influenced by the vicinity of the warm Adriatic Sea, and is generally mild and ideally suited to viticulture. The top grape varieties are Verdicchio for white and Sangiovese and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo for reds. The region has 11 DOC's, the most important of which are the two Verdicchio denominations (Verdicchio di jesi and Verdicchio di Matelica). The region has acquired a reputation for the quality and value of its wine in the recent years, in the wake of the modernization of both vineyard management and winemaking techniques.

The vineyards of Sartarelli are exclusively planted to the Verdiccio grape…it's the only wine they produce and total production on the Classico is 5,000 cases. They do also make small lots of reserve Verdicchio. The clay soil and southern exposure of the vineyards is a key feature to the main characteristics of the wine: intense aromas, with richness and a medium body on the palate. The wine sees no oak and is crisp with floral aromas, green apple flavors, and a long, lush finish. Verdicchio is sometimes billed as the Sauvigion Blanc of Italy.

To quote the Italian Wine Press Gambero Rosso: "The astounding thing about Sartarelli wines is the elegance and finesse they display despite the alcohol levels comparable to those of full-bodied reds. But whether it's due to the exposure of the vineyards, the late harvest of the grapes or a seemingly unfailing Vinification method, this estate seems always to turn out good wines. Our hats off to Patrizio Chiacchierini and his wife Donatella Sertarelli who, by reducing yields, harvesting sequentially throughout September and October and constantly perfecting their cellar technique, continuing to bring forth such gems."

Planeta "La Segreta" Rosso 2000 $15.99

Planeta is one of the most astounding phenomena on the Italian wine scene. In just six short years of existence this Sicilian estate has become not just famous, but one of the leading players. They have managed to rack up the following accolades:

First winery from Sicily to get into the Wine Spectator "Top 100"
"Winery of the Year" in 1999 from Gambero Rosso 90 point ratings for both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate "Best Red Wine Under $15" Wine Enthusiast December, 2000 (La Segreta Rosso 1999)

The formula is apparently no more than enthusiasm plus professional competence, and the winery's three bright, enterprising creators, Allesio, Francesca, and Santi Planeta have a combined age of about 85 years. These three aces were bound and determined to burnish the tarnished image of Sicilian wine, and set out in 1985 to replant the existing vineyards on the family's 300-year-old estate, and eventually produce world-class wines. Only a decade later in 1995, the first bottles of finished wine appeared from the winery. In 1996, this winemaking team made an executive decision to declassify all of their red wine and sell it off in bulk because they felt the vintage was not up to par. The wine world could do well with more like them.

Conditions for agriculture in Sicily are nearly perfect. The island has a climate with Mediterranean temperatures and record-breaking hours of sunshine. To top that off, the terroir of Sicily varies from lava-based terrain to clay and calcareous-based soils - both of which are excellent habitats for grape growing. Because of the soil and the heat of the region, the grapes generally become very ripe, and produce wines with good extraction and higher alcohol levels.

This is the new release of Planeta Rosso. "La Segreta" means "the secret" in Italian, and the blend of the wine changes from vintage to vintage. The 2000 bottling is composed of 45% Nero d'Avola, 45% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvigion. Nero d'Avola is a traditional grape to Sicily, and is widely planted throughout the region. Its closest relative is said to be the Syrah grape, and takes on a similar spicy characteristic. The wine is supple and mouth filling, with flavors of raspberries, currants, and ripe fruit. The wine sees no oak to preserve the freshness of the fruit, and can pair with a large range of dishes from grilled meats to pasta.

Archives of past months...
November 2001 | March 2002 | May 2002 | June 2002 | July 2002
August 2002 | November 2002 | December 2002 | January 2003

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