Date: 30 September 2014
Wine: COS 2011 Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Cuisine: New American

Wine List: I always love an impromptu get-together with a best friend, which is how this Wine List Pick began. The Gander’s long wine list is loaded with excellent selections from $32 to $4,200. Values are squeezed in at all price levels, but some bottles seem a bit rich for what they are. Those under $60 tend to be quite obscure, but shy away from them at your own risk. Just chat with wine dude and co-manager Jordan Lari to suit something to your mood.

Pick: It was an early evening, light bite following an epic professional tasting. An easy-going, quaffable red wine was in the cards (after a refreshing beer, naturally). I was craving Pinot Noir, but the price points weren’t to my value-oriented mood. As I finished that importer tasting with Italian wines, Cerasuolo – a blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato grapes – popped into my mind. Sure enough, there was one on this smartly diverse wine list, and it was one from a producer I truly adore: COS. Bingo! No further thought or searching required.