Holiday Entertaining

Culinary Pioneer Contributing Expert Sande Friedman

Master Merchant of Liquid Intelligence

In 2019, the Di Bruno Bottle Shop team set out to reinvent the signature label wine project. We felt that rather than buying juice and putting our name on it, it would be more fulfilling to go out and work hands-on with our favorite producers – picking, crushing, and blending - to create rotating small batch wines, exclusive to our stores, and celebrate the collaboration on the label. So, we did.

Our partnerships are exclusively with producers near and dear to our team. Previous wines have included a Barbera/Zinfandel blend with La Clarine Farm, rosé of Carmine with Wayvine Winery, old vine Pinot Gris from Maloof wines, and a Cabernet Franc rosé blend with Galen Glen Winery.

DB5 Our 5th release was produced with our friend/ Philly native Tom Caruso at Pray Tell Wines in Oregon. It’s 100% Willamette Valley Dolcetto, a varietal native to Piedmont, Italy and not often seen grown in the states, sourced from the organically farmed-Jubilee Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA.

DB Bottle Shop Manager Chris Liu worked with Tom hand-sorting the Dolcetto into two different fermenters, one 50% whole cluster grapes and the other entirely destemmed. They wanted to capture the spice and characteristics of stem inclusion without adding more intensity to the tannin profile, as Dolcetto can be a tannic grape. A shortened maceration period preserved freshness, maintaining ripe fruit aromas and elegant structure.

DB5 is a gorgeously structured red, medium bodied with black fruits, tart blueberry, a hint of violet and a fresh crack of black pepper. Juicy grippy tannins and a hint of pencil shaving show right up front, and as you sip it mellows into a plummy end palate that is simultaneously dry yet lively. It’s a structured wine to enjoy with a holiday meal, yet casual enough to enjoy with weeknight pizza or cheese for dinner.

GEOMETRY OF PASTA GNOCCHI MAKING KIT

Strike the golden ratio of potato to pasta in every noodle! These tasty little nuggets have been enjoyed in Italy since the Roman era. Known for its dumpling-like consistency and perfectly fluffy square shape, creating the ultimate gnocchi noodle is a bit of a nuanced skill. Thanks to Chef Jacob Kenedy’s recipes and Caz Hildebrand illustrations, you’ll have a step-by-step guide (and example) of gnocchi perfection. Available online only.

TRUFF

These mouthwatering truffle-infused products strike the balance between pour-it-on bar condiment and delicately drizzled touch of luxury. Offering hot sauce, oil, mayonnaise and pasta sauces, they make an excellent holiday gift, reminding all who try them that truffles always make everything better.

SCHALLER & WEBER PÂTÉS & SPREADS

Schaller & Weber pâte and spreads all have deep European roots and with each new style, they preserve the old-world style with just a slight modern inflection. They focus on all-natural ingredients in the pâtés for superior tastes and textures anyone can enjoy. This commitment to quality has earned Schaller & Weber pâtés and spreads awards around the world.