The wines that stood out to me most in February were all produced in the States. In fact, most of the wine I drank in February came from within these borders—not something I set out to do, but at the top of the year I said I was going to drink more American wine. Manifesting. It works even when you don’t, folks.
Wine is alive here in Boston, more now than ever, I’m told. It took me a while to come around to Boston, and I think I’ll always feel a little ungrounded here being six hours away from the place I still consider “home.” But it’s grown on me, and I feel incredibly lucky to be doing what I do in this city. Bearing witness to the history this city is making humbles me in a way. Dare I say it, but I’m not sure I would feel as comfortable as I do paving my own path in hospitality if I was in a bigger market like New York. I don’t know if I’d have the guts to throw my hat into the ever-expanding ring, but Boston is just big enough for me to feel a sense of comfort and for that I am grateful.
The inaugural Femme Fête (Boston’s first female-focused wine festival founded by Haley Fortier) and all her offsite events were invigorating, and I left each a little overwhelmed. There is so much one can do in this industry, and not knowing what you want to pay attention to next can bewilder one (that one being me). Community is not hard to come by in a city like this where year after year it seems programs expand and spaces open their doors. What’s daunting is deciding that you want have some part in it and then deciding, yes, I’ll go. This is a reminder to my future self to just do it, even if you have to do it alone.
Wines I <3 from this winter
On a free Thursday evening I booked a seat at Brassica’s new marble bar. Frank Cornelissen’s “Susucaru” was on offer by the glass, and I jumped, having never tasted it. It was good, but glass number two fit my fancy more. An Aligoté from Swick Wines in Oregon, and thus began my month of American wine. Textured and salty. Honestly it kinda went perfectly with the brown butter donut I split with none other than my tipsy self.
The next Thursday a friend and I walked all around my neighborhood. We popped into a bottle shop and talked through recent things we each tasted at our respective jobs. She said Barbichette’s “Le Blanc” was selling like hotcakes at her work, so I scooped one up. That night I wished I had scooped up two or three. Not far off from that Aligoté. Can’t a girl savor a crisp, salty, mouthwatering white without getting stereotyped for it???!
The following weekend I was in DC visiting my sister. You can read about it here. After practically publicly bullying her into patronizing her local wine shop, she took me in to pick out a bottle. A row of Broc Cellars’ Cabernet Sauvignon sat on the end of the shelf, and I knew it’d be better to pick something a liiiittle familiar to share with my little sister. As an eldest sibling, I live for a teachable moment. We drank it while throwing clothes around her bedroom (in classic getting-ready fashion) before dinner. At said dinner it was hard to land on something so I asked our server to talk me through the glass pours from Virginia! I was sold on Early Mountain’s “Foothills” for round one, and round two never happened because we just kept yapping and ran out of time for a second glass.
Sometimes it’s an interaction with a guest at the bar or biting into a juicy smashburger and mixing ketchup and aioli with a fistful of fries at the end of a shift that remind me why I love doing what I do. At the end of February it was Femme Fête. A few days before the big event I got to meet Martha Stoumen at an industry tasting where I learned so much not only about her wines but the process at large. The wines from Deirdre Heekin at La Garagista up in Vermont were hands down my favorite tastes of the afternoon, and Osa Major’s Syrah and Pinot Noir took a close second. Outside of wine—Carriage House’s ciders and the Forbidden Takju from Hana Makgeolli. Can’t wait for next year.
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I love the La Garagista wines! Favorite from the lineup?
I am so happy that you are in Boston. I think it is the perfect location for you both.