Gina Fugina, the founder and president of Able Beverage, created the label in memory of her mentor Steve Miles after his long battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. She’d worked as operations manager for eight years at his namesake Steve Miles Selections. “Steve was a light, a mentor, and a friend,” Fugina says. Steve was always the life of every party! Steve Miles founded Steve Miles Selections in 2006 with an eye to bringing unexpected Spanish bottles to the U.S. All the wines represented were over-achievers in their category, great value, with an outstanding expression of their region/terroir. In his 12 years at the helm, the company grew from a small shop importing just a couple of brands to one that worked with dozens of vineyards and had distribution in more than 30 states. Through all of that time, Miles never lost his sense of humor or his love of wine. He always said: “You can sell wine if you can’t drink it!” Though he passed in 2018, Fugina hopes his legacy lives on with every glass of pALS Cava, as wine lovers embrace Steve Miles’ fight, too. Combining his passion for Iberia with his effervescent personality, Cava was a fitting choice. The collection includes two wines, a rosé brut with rich fruit and floral notes of rose and lily, as well as a vibrant brut that “bounces on the tongue, with flavors of lemon, green pear, honeysuckle and brioche with a slightly spicy finish,” according to Wine Enthusiast’s 87-point review. “Since his diagnosis, a couple of years prior, his great battle began. This project is a continuation of his battle,” Fugina explains. “My hope is that his battle will continue as we launch this project and that through every bottle of pALS sold we will add a drop of hope to all people affected by ALS disease.” Find the wines at DrinkCava.com.
My hope is that his battle will continue as we launch this project and that through every bottle of pALS sold we will add a drop of hope to all people affected by ALS disease. July Issue 2022 v Food & Beverage Magazine | Page 36
