Upper Glass

Nothing like a cozy Cab on a chilly night 🍷❄️ Love this pick 👌🏼
•
Château Fontanes, Les Traverses Rouge
•
Region: Pays d’Oc IGP - Languedoc-Roussillon
Country: France
•
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
•
Full bodied & soulful. Full of thyme & blackberries and so smooth. Perfectly herbaceous Cabernet Sauvignon. Get yourself to a steak pronto.
•
•

Nestled in Back Bay at 161 Berkeley Street, you’ll find Grill 23. For the past 40 years it has secured its standing as Boston’s premier steak house. Their commitment to providing exceptional dining experiences, marked by the flawless service they provide and the welcoming atmosphere they create, make them go-to space if you’re looking to celebrate or just enjoy a little steak frites at the bar.
•
On any given night you’ll find Wine Director, Hugo Bensimon, at the helm. He oversees one of the most extensive wine lists in the city. Specially selected, highly allocated, and incredibly rare. That’s how we’d describe many of the wines in his book.
•
This month we were lucky enough to steal his attention away for just a bit. The four wines he chose for you this month are quite special. What a perfect way to end 2023. Happy New Year everyone!
•
•

There’s a nip the air, you need Bordeaux in your glass 🍷✨
•
Château Les Graves de Viaud, Origine Côtes de Bourg
•
Region: Côtes de Bourg AOP - Bordeaux
•
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
•
Full bodied & bold. Earthy and bloody with perfect structure. Meaty, sophisticated Bordeaux with an edge. Exactly what we want this winter.
•

One of the coziest Cab Francs we know 🍷✨ from
•
Domaine des Coutures, L'Épanouie Saumur Champigny
•
Region: Saumur Champigny AOP - Loire Valley, France
Grape: Cabernet Franc
•
Medium bodied & femme. Fresh leather and ripe cherries with sticky tannins. The perfect bistro wine. Perky acidity and just a little floral. This wine can flirt.
•

How does an importer decide who to work with? Dan gave us a little insight into how he does things 🍇
•
Well, I can't reveal all my secrets 😉, but it takes a lot of leg work, vetting and keeping my ear to the ground. I attend a couple international trade fairs each year in France and Italy, where I spend an inordinate amount of time sorting through the small independent producers that may be there, and networking to find out who is doing the good work.
•
I also try to attend smaller, regional fairs, when possible, but time can be constricting. It may be surprising, but it isn't totally uncommon to find a grand old producer who is still at the top of their game becoming available for new representation.
•
In this case networking with current partners can be quite useful. But my favorite technique is to visit the wine-centric businesses in the cities where I travel and see what they are into.
•
•

One of our absolute favorites from 🍷✨
•
Château de Durette, 'Les Charmes' Morgon
•
Region: Morgon AOP - Beaujolais
Country: France
Grape: Gamay
•
Medium bodied & bright. Soft and smooth with hints of cinnamon. Lovely Morgon with fantastic minerality and sublte tannins with just enough stick.
•

We asked Dan from how he decided to become an importer. Here’s what he had to say…
•
The friend who began educating me on the ways of gastronomy knew a couple guys who had just started distributing/importing and said I should give being a Wine Salesman a try. I was 24 and it seemed like a completely foreign concept to me.
•
All the "Wine Guys" that called on our restaurant were far older than I was, but I said the heck with it and reached out. They hired me as their first employee and I helped build their little company into what was at the time, the up-and-coming boutique wine wholesaler of note.
•
During my stint there they took me on a buying trip to France. We attended VinExpo Bordeaux, this was 1998. It was my first real experience traveling in Europe and I was immediately addicted to the idea of traveling there to find new and beautiful things to bring back and share with the community of food and wine lovers, restaurateurs, and retailers, I had become a part of. I just immediately knew that I had to keep finding ways to do this.
•
•

Absolutely flawless Grüner✨ Love this pick from 👌🏼
•
Weinrieder, Ried Schneiderberg Grüner Veltliner
•
Region: Niederösterreich, Austria
Grape: Grüner Veltliner
•
Light & chic. Pithy with a clean, dry finish. Pithy WIth A Clean Dry Finish. Fresh, sophisticated Grüner that makes us want to cozy up to some mashed potatoes.
•
•

Every month we showcase Boston restaurants and the wonderful wines they feature across the city. This November with decided to pull the curtain back on the importing business and tell you all about the time, energy, and devotion it requires to build and maintain an entire portfolio.
•
Our friend Dan Hirschkop has been importing wine to Massachusetts for years. Here he is pictured with his partner and fellow Upper Glass curator, Chef/Somm Deborah Hansen!
•
He came up with through Boston restaurant scene but decided to go into business for himself. His company boasts a unique selection of French, Italian, and Austrian wines that offer incredible value. Dan’s wines are textbook expressions of their regions, and they are some of our all-time favorites.
•
This month, we’re diving into France and showing you the very best of what he has to offer. His wines are seriously impressive.
•

Super seductive Garnacha Blanca✨ We have to thank .t for this one 👏🏼👏🏼
•
Viños Pinol, Raig de Raim Blanco
•
Region: Terra Alta DO - Catalonia, Spain
Grape: Garnacha Blanca
•
Medium bodied & sultry. Rainier cherries, Asian pear, fresh pineapple. Subtle and briny with a lovely lingering finish.
•
Pair it with AT’s Fried Cod Cheeks.
•
•

We could go for a little bite 🦞✨
•
📷
•

Perfect day for a chillable red, love this one .t 🍷🇿🇦
•
Opstal Estate, Cinsault
•
Region: Slanghoek, South Africa
Grape: Cinsault
•
Light bodied & incredibly vivacious. Smoky red plums, brilliant acidity. Soft, smoky cranberry with a fun pop of acid. The chillable red of our dreams.
•
Have to pair it with AT’s Smoky Chicken Wings.
•
•

Who needs a night out ?✨
•
📷
•

Seriously beautiful Frappato, love this one .t 🍷👌🏼
•
Cantina Horus, Sole E Terra Frappato
•
Region: Vittoria DOC - Sicily, Italy
Grape: Frappato
•
Baked strawberry, perfectly balanced tannins. Dried cherries & strawberry candy. Wonderfully dry, perfectly textured, way too easy to drink.
•
AT’s Soy Glazed Pork Belly is what you need with this.
•
•

So ready for dinner 🎣🦪
•
📷
•

Never saying no to Lambrusco 🍇😎 Loved this pick .t 👌🏼
•
Cantina Settecani, Loviù Dry Lambrusco 
•
Region: Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC - Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Grape: Lambrusco Grasparossa
•
Medium bodied & so spunky. Fresh tarragon, soft bubbles, great texture. This red sparkler is the perfect fall red. Dry and herby with lovely balanced bubbles.
•
It’s going to pair perfectly with All That’s Stuffed Sweet Peppers.
•
•

There are few places that garnered the affection and patronage of industry workers the way Eastern Standard did. Many of us have been awaiting the return of Garrett Harker’s restaurants. The first to open its doors was All That Fish & Oyster.
•
Located in Fenway at 771 Beacon Street, it welcomes a steady stream of anxious diners ready for all it has to offer. This month we spoke with Ashley Thacker, the Atlanta transplant in charge of the wine list at All That. She put together a fun and approachable selection of amazing wine for us to enjoy alongside the fresh seafood and spicy-smoky-sweet fare that fills the menu.
•
We’re talking Seafood Chowder with coconut, hominy, & lime, Roast Duck Salad, Charred Hamachi Collar… Our mouth is watering just thinking about it. We hope you enjoy Ashley’s picks and we really hope you get yourself over to All That asap!
•
•

If you say Pipeño we reach for a glass 🍷 Absolutely love this one 🇨🇱✨
•
Catalina Ugarte, Pipeño
•
Region: Valle del Itata - Sur, Chile
Grape: Pais
•
Black currant & molasses with a little friendly funk. It’s warming and balanced with just enough stick. Can it be fall now?
•

doors open at 4pm 😈🍷
•

Is this one of our favorite wines ever? Yes. Do we love that chose it for you? Also yes 😎
•
Montemelino, Bianco
•
Region: Umbria IGT - Umbria, Italy
Grapes: Trebbiano Toscano, Trebbiano Spoletino, Grechetto
•
Silky Soft, Full of Ginger & Jonagolds. Brilliant acidity, so soft and smooth you don't want to stop sipping. We're in love.
•

There’s a seat waiting for you ✨ Doors are open 12-12🍷😎
•

•

This bottle is full of sunshine, just like ✨
•
Vigna San Lorenzo, Col Tamarie Prosecco
•
Region: Veneto IGT - Veneto, Italy
Grapes: Glera, Boschera, Perera
•
Clean & Dry, Think Lemon Pith. The freshest frizzante. It's like running through a field of sunflowers.
•

Nowhere else to be on a Friday night 💋✨
•

Need a funky, crunchy red? You need this 🍷 Love this pick ✨
•
Weninger Ponzichter MMXVIII
•
Region: Burgenland, Austria
Grapes: Blaufrankisch, Pinot Noir
•
Worn leather, black pepper, fantastic acidity. Bright & vibrant with just a little friendly funk. A perfect red to start the night.
•

Rebel Rebel isn't just a wine bar. It's an inclusive space run by people who understand the transformative power of wine in bringing people together. Their commitment to diversity isn't a token gesture – it's deeply woven into the fabric of the establishment's ethos.
•
Owner Lauren Friel and her staff are a reflection of this dedication, representing a range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Her intentional hiring ensures that the team is equipped to provide patrons with a genuine experience while breaking down barriers that are often present in traditional wine spaces.
•
This month, our friend GM & Beverage Director, Hannah Carrol, chose four wines for you that perfectly exemplify the style of Rebel Rebel. Casual, natty, and totally delicious. Her bright and vivacious attitude she brings to her job is perfectly mirrored in her choices as we make our way into fall. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
•
•

THIS is what you wanna drink tonight! 🫐✨ Love this pick 👌🏼
•
RAS, Source Decay
•
Region: Whiting, Maine
100% Wild Blueberries
•
Deep, dark, & seductive. Lovers of Lambrusco perk up, this blueberry bubbly is full of balsamic & black olives. Absolutely delicious 👌🏼✨
•

Is it 5 o’clock yet? sounds like a fabulous Tuesday night plan✨
•

Exactly what you need for the holiday weekend 🇵🇹✨ Such a fun wine 👌🏼
•

Costa do Sol, Vinho Verde
•
Region: Vinho Verde DO - Minho, Portugal
Grapes: Loureiro, Trajadura
•
Light, fresh, & zippy. Effervescent, full of lime zest and honedew melon. The perfect Vinho Verde.
•

Start the weekend off right ✨
•
•

picked one of our favorite South African reds this month! is simply the best 🍷✨
•
HER Wines, Shiraz
•
Region: Western Cape, South Africa
Grape: Shiraz
•
Full bodied, smooth, & juicy. Plummy Shiraz full of worn leather and black currants. We dare you not to love it. Pair with CK’s Jerk Roasted Duck
•

Hope everyone has a comfy Sunday! will be open tomorrow 8am-3pm 🧡☀️
•

TGIF time for a cocktail ✨
•

Starting off with a little bubbles, love this pick ✨
•
Boschendal, Methode Cap Classique
•
Region: Western Cape, South Africa
Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinotage
•
Bright, toasty, & so refreshing. Lovely lemon, orange peel, and toasted almonds. This sparkler is too good.
•

In Dorchester’s Upham Corner you’ll find a group of people committed to changing the landscape of the Boston restaurant industry. In celebration of the African diaspora the team at Comfort Kitchen have set out to bring “global comfort food” to our city.
•
They are intent on upholding the principles of social justice and inclusivity in every aspect of their operations. They recognize the historically marginalized and underrepresented contributions of BIPOC communities to the food and beverage culture, particularly in the winemaking industry. Their mission is to actively promote and celebrate the diverse talents and labor of BIPOC individuals, ensuring they receive the recognition and equitable compensation they deserve.
•
This month GM and Beverage Director, Kyisha Davenport, chose four wines that represent this ethos. We hope you enjoy the wine, but we sincerely encourage you to visit the space and support the incredible work that the Comfort Kitchen crew are doing.
•
•

If you’re not letting pair her favorite sake you are missing out!!
•

picked a perfectly briny Grillo from 🤌🏼💋
•
Valle dell'Acate, Zagra Grillo
Sicilia DOC - Sicily, Italy
Grape: Grillo
•
Briny, sharp, made for cheese. Bracing acidity with a nutty finish. Time to break out your cheese boards!
•
Tonino's Roasted Squid Salad
•

Is it dinner time yet?✨
•
📷
•

Love a little mid-week Montepulciano, lovely pick from ✨
•

La Valentina, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC - Abruzzo, Italy
Grape: Nebbiolo
•
Ripe plum, black cherry, dark chocolate. Lush & spicy. This cocoa-filled Montepulciano is absolutely lovely.
•
Tonino's Roasted Mushroom Lumache
•

We are so ready for a slice✨
•
📷
•

Quite possibly the prettiest white wine we’ve ever had✨
•
Cantine Gulino, Pretiosa
•
Terre Siciliane IGT - Sicily, Italy
Grape: Albanello
•
Tomato leaf, silky smooth, so luxe. This wine is a romantic walk through the garden after a rainshower. Enough said.
•
Pair with Tonino's Eggplant Caponata
•