Updated Menu

In case you've just found us, here is our current cheese and charcuterie menu as of December 2016, and after that, a typical tasting sheet, which changes at least weekly.  Cheers!

GROTTO FINE WINE

ARTISAN CHEESES & SALAMES

All plates comes with crackers, olives & Marcona almonds

$5 per item

~~~~~GOAT MILK CHEESES~~~~~

GRUMPY GOAT – bold, creamy, robust, semi-firm

PURPLE HAZE – sprinkled with tender buds of lavender and fennel pollen, soft

TRUFFLE TREMOR - earthy truffles, bloomy rind, soft

CANA DE CABRA –  full-flavored, creamy, hints of citrus & mushrooms, semi-firm

~~~~~SHEEP MILK CHEESES~~~~~

P’TIT BASQUE – French Pyrenees, earthy, nutty flavor, medium-firm

DANTE – creamy, buttery, nutty, with a lemon note finish, firm

~~~~~COW MILK CHEESES~~~~~

BARBER’S 1833 RESERVE CHEDDAR – aged 2 years, complex flavor, firm

COTSWOLD CHEDDAR – chives & onions, buttery, semi-firm

PARMIGIANO- REGGIANO – Italian, sharp, semi-firm2

RED DRAGON – English cheddar with mustard seeds & Welsh ale, semi-firm

ST. STEPHEN’S TRIPLE CRÈME – Brie-style, buttery, piquant, soft

TOMA PIEMONTESE – Italian, full-flavored, sweet, creamy, semi-firm

~~~~~SALAMES~~~~~

CHORIZO – Iberico, Dry-cured, slightly spicy

TOSCANO – Tuscan, fennel

WILD BOAR – smoked over applewood

SAUCISSON SEC – Herbes de Provence

MOLISANA – black peppercorn, garlic, Italian style

PROSCIUTTO- La Quercia Americano

White Wines

2014 Sacred Hill Chardonnay       

A chardonnay from one of New Zealand best properties, this version is light and fruit-driven, with pear, melon, and pineapple, and the finish is lingering.  The wine is simple, easy to drink and seamless.     Glass  $9  RBP $24

2015 Zestos Malvar         

From Spain, Malvar is indigenous to the Iberian peninsula, the wine is full, with stone fruit and peach flavors, with a tiny touch of alluring sweetness, but it is dry.   Glass $7  RBP $13

2016 Indaba Chenin Blanc        

This is a fantastic value wine, it’s crisp and clean, with fresh tropical fruit flavors.  Light, dry, delicious.  Glass $5 RBP $10

2013 Marcus Molitor Riesling   

Mosel wine from Germany, it’s made at the stunning Haus Klosterberg winery.  Floral, with rich fruit flavors, a bit of lemon, with just a touch of sweetness.  Very smooth.                 Glass $8  RBP $16

Red Wines

2013 Lucky Rock Pinot Noir

From Sonoma County, this wine is medium, with abundant aromas of black cherries and earth; it’s a pure expression of this varietal,.  On the palate, it’s rich and deep, and has a long lasting satisfying finish.    Glass $0 RBP $22

2013 G5 Garnacha                  

From the Torres family of Spain, who have been making wine since 1870, this medium red is fruity, with a solid cherry core, balanced acidity and smooth on the finish.  Glass $7  RBP $13

                                                2013 Southern Belle     

From Spain, this is a blended wine that’s big, soft, elegant, and intensely fruity.  It has a rich mouthfeel, and has a long finish that carries on the intense fruit.  Good with all cheeses.        Glass $10 RBP $22           

                                     2011 Brancaia Chianti      

This is a Chianti Classico Riserva. "Beautiful flavors of dried cherry, lemon and dried chili peppers. Full body with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Delicious. Gorgeous Chianti Classico." Wine Spectator, 93 points. Glass $14 RPB $40 

Theo's Peanut Butter Cups

Now at our shop, dark or milk chocolate peanut butter cups.  Yum !

Chocolate, Yes, Thank You

Theo Chocolates are now sold at Grotto Fine Wine

We have 10 Different Bars, 8 Darks and 2 Milks.

Trust us, this is THE BEST CHOCOLATE money can buy !!


Theo is the first organic bean-to-bar chocolate company in the USA, located in beautiful Seattle, where you may think it rains a lot, but we spent a nice little spell there and it never did !

$4.50 per bar.

Live Original Music is Back ! SAVE THE DATE - NOVEMBER 1 - TUESDAY EVENING @ 7 PM

Hey everyone -

Most musicians who have performed at the Grotto have remarked how they love our little room.  

It's only 900 square feet, but all that wood and glass just lends itself to great listening.

So Tuesday November 1 @ 7 pm, The Coteries have agreed to do a little "house concert" for us.

Here are some links to their music - have a listen, and you'll see why we're excited about this event ! 

Cheers!

(You probably have to highlight these links before they will take you there)

Website: http://www.thecoteries.com/

New EP: https://thecoteries.bandcamp.com/album/reason-in-the-road

I'm Travelin' On (original): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNy_M6iy57g

Ain't No Time (original): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIG2lxEftFc

EPK: http://www.reverbnation.com/rpk/TheCoteries

Wines for the All Red Tasting July 7

Hello

In case you've never made it to a tasting at the Grotto, we put a table packed full of cheeses and charcuterie for you to enjoy with your vino, and we go down the list, pouring the wines, providing some info on the producer, etc.  Takes about an hour and 15 minutes, depending on how many people come, and then you can carry out some, if you'd like.

Sparkling:  Clos du Nouys Vouvray Brut (Loire Valley, France)


Dauvergne Ranvier Luberon Gourmand   (France)    $14

Giovanni Rosso Barbera  (Italy)    $20

Triennes St. Auiguste  (France)   $18

Valenti "Norma" Etna Rosso  (Italy)  $18

Vino Lauria Nero d'Alvola  (Italy)  $16

Salviano Turlo  (Italy)   $16

Le Pigeoulet Vaucluse (France) $16

Cheers !

A diffferent kind of wine club

So we were thinking about wine clubs.  We're going to start one. Here's how it will work.

Each month you will get 6 wines, 3 reds, 3 whites, for $99.  These premium wines will be

some of our favorites, and some new items we've discovered for you to try.

Info and food pairing will accompany your box, and if you can't pick them up because of our limited

hours, we will deliver them in the local Florence area for just $10.


Want In On It?  


Send us an email : grottofinewine@gmail.com, and we'll get you signed up.

The July Box

Le Monde Ribolla Gialla (Italian white)              Vajra Rosso (Italian red)
Columna Albarino (Spanish white)                       de Restia Ribera del Duero (Spanish red)
Matetic Sauvignon Blanc (Chilean white)            Jettlyn Mon Coeur (Paso Robles red blend)

Coravin

We are now a Coravin retailer.

We are selling Model 8, and it is $299, same price as on the internet but you save the shipping.

Our supplier of the device delivers on Fridays, so while we have our personal one in the shop, if you'd like to get one it takes a couple of days.

Cheers !

Here's Our Take on the 2016 Wine Market

Simply put, consumers have never had more choices.

Even your local drug store carries Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and not too shabby California Cab.

But today's artisan wine producers are really stepping up their game, and there's really no reason to even consider buying the not-so-interesting wines from the big factories.

So what's hot?

Everything.  Try a bottle of Kerner, or Schiava, two little known Italian grapes (white and red, respectively) grown in the Alto Adige.  

Pinot Noir from New Zealand is also outside the everyday quaff and most are quite enjoyable.

White French blends from all over are inexpensive and excellent.

Cru Beaujolais wine - Fleurie and Morgon - these gamay-based wines are so wonderful !

Big Red? Go to Spain.

Enjoy the journey...................................

Tasting Sheet for the Week of March 16, 2016

White Wines

2015 Chat Peuch Haut Rose’

From France, this sensational Rose is very pale in color and made of Grenache and Cinsault in the Languedoc region.  It’s rich and lush but also shows the minerality of the clay and limestone soils.   Elegant.  RP $20

2014 Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc

This is a neat little wine produced by Mason Cellars, and it scored in as #40 on the Spectator Top 100 of 2015. Long stainless fermentation, this wine has the typical grapefruit nose, but it explodes with exotic flavors of guava and lime peel.  Mouthwatering.  RP $12

2015 Little James Basket Press

This wine from St. Cosme is 75% Viognier and 25% Sauvignon, a bit of an unconventional blend, and shows deep tropical fruit flavors and has a long finish.  It’s a solid value that is truly a wine for everyone.   RP $12

2013 Roblar Chardonnay

An easy drinking California Chard that was raised up in stainless steel but you’d think it was oaked, it is so juicy. It’s medium bodied with a nice core of apples and pears; Lodi.  RP $12

Red Wines

2013 Hope Estate Shiraz Basalt Block

From Hunter Valley in New South Wales, these guys use a combination of fermentations to yield a medium bodied, spicy and earthy Shiraz that is complex and satisfying.  RP $18

2013 Primus “The Blend”

This wine is produced by Agustin Huneeus, whose wines include Quintessa & Faust from Napa, 3-digit price tags.  This 20 buck bottle from his Chilean property (he’s Chilean) is full bodied, the texture is layered with flavors and it finishes with a lasting swirl. 

2013 Root 1 Cabernet Sauvignon

Staying with the theme of “the blend”, and offering you a chance to side by side taste, here’s a value Cabernet that’s full bodied and has good fruit flavors, with some mocha, smooth tannins and a long finish.  RP $12

2012 Marietta Christo

Full bodied red from California, this wine is opaque.  It’s almost black, smells like fresh berries and lavender, is ripe and full flavored with a long finish.  This deep, chewy wine is killer, friends!  RP $22

Tasting Sheet for Week of March 9, 2015

White Wines

2014 Matteo Correggia Arneis

Arneis means rascal in Italian; perhaps this grape was so named because it fit.  Nevertheless, it has a pale sunshine color, it’s a tad floral, light and crisp on the palate with good acidity.  Elegant.  RP $18

2014 Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc

This is a neat little wine produced by Mason Cellars, and it scored in as #40 on the Spectator Top 100 of 2015. Long stainless fermentation, this wine has the typical grapefruit nose, but it explodes with exotic flavors of guava and lime peel.  Mouthwatering.  RP $12

2014 Mayu Pedro Ximenez

Only wine geeks know Pedro.   PX is mostly used to make sherries, but in Chile they use it to make a nifty little white wine.  It’s totally refreshing with an interesting tartness that just isn’t found elsewhere.   RP $14

2013 Chateau de Fontenille Blanc

And right here is an aromatic white from a small but splendid property in Entre-Deux-Mers.  Made with 4 white grapes, it’s all peaches, baby, on the nose and the palate.  RP $12

Red Wines

2013 Hope Estate Shiraz Basalt Block

From Hunter Valley in New South Wales, these guys use a combination of fermentations to yield a medium bodied, spicy and earthy Shiraz that is complex and satisfying.  RP $18

2013 Primus “The Blend”

This wine is produced by Agustin Huneeus, whose wines include Quintessa & Faust from Napa, 3-digit price tags.  This 20 buck bottle from his Chilean property (he’s Chilean) is full bodied, the texture is layered with flavors and it finishes with a lasting swirl. 

2013 Root 1 Cabernet Sauvignon

Staying with the theme of “the blend”, and offering you a chance to side by side taste, here’s a value Cabernet that’s full bodied and has good fruit flavors, with some mocha, smooth tannins and a long finish.  RP $12

2013 Peirano Petite Sirah

Full bodied red from Lodi, this wine has received some pretty impressive scores.  But you be the judge.  It’s almost black, smells like fresh baked pie, and has this mysteriously seductive palate…….. RP $15

In Case You Just Found Us

Usually every few months we post what the Grotto is doing, since we have new folks come in weekly, having just moved here or discovered Florence has this type place.

So we're a wine bar and a retail shop combined, every day we're open you can come in, do a wine flight, have some cheese and charcuterie with your vino if you'd like.  Usually we have good stock on the wines you'll taste and you can take one or some with you.

It's relaxed, and we do our best to make you feel welcomed.
Many of the wines you'll see aren't the same as you'll see elsewhere - same with the cheeses & meats.  Folks who come in are looking for different things to try.  

We're in our 4th year as our second act of the Grotto (we committed to three, but are keeping on), in our retirement years, so we're open Wednesday thru Friday, beginning at 4:30 pm.

If you'd like to get email from us, (we have sales) send us a mail at grottofinewine@gmail.com.

Hope to see you soon !  Cheers !

The Top 100 Wines of 2015

Hey everyone - the list has been out more than a month, we suppose, and the Wine Spectator produces one every January.

It's always fun to see if there's more than 2 or 3 wines on it that are available in markets other than NYC & SF.

So this year, there's a bunch available in SC, (our list of wine suppliers is not too shabby) but one surprise is #55 Il Fauno.  Naturally, as these things usually go, it's the 2010, which was sold out before the list was published, of course.

But this Tuscan producer, owned by the iconic Jackson family in California, has been consistently making this awesome wine for years.  We've still got a few 2007 bottles.  The percentage of merlot changes a bit from year to year, but the quality is always first rate.  As is the 2011, the current release, it's blended with both cab varietels for a soft, smooth, delicious wine.

Stop in and taste this wonderful wine ! $25/bottle

Also making a great showing at #47 is the 2014 Brocard Chablis St. Claire, a little $22 gem.  
You go, Jean-Marc, 91 points!

Chardonnay 3 Pack Special

Greetings from the Southside


The 3-pack of Cali Chards is as follows:

2011 Aquinas Napa Unoaked (Reg price $20)

2011 Navarro Mendocino (Reg price $24)

2012 Balletto Russian River (Reg price $25)

Three very different wines, obviously there's the unoaked, the Navarro is nice and oaky, and the Balletto is partially oaked.

Save 25% off the reg $69 price, offer good until the supply runs out.

That comes to $51.75.  Nice.  



Let us quote you a price on the wines you love; our prices are often lower than Whole Wine and Total Foods !