- SWURL
- Posts
- Colorado Wine, Fini Pizza and Winemaking in Pompeii
Colorado Wine, Fini Pizza and Winemaking in Pompeii
In this weeks round up, we’re sharing an interview we just released with Aquila Cellars, a winery we’ve been fans of for a while. Colorado might not be the first place you think of for wine but that’s exactly why it’s worth a closer look.
On the events side, there’s quite a lot happening: Ace’s Pizza teams up with Win Son and SuperVinoBros for Detroit-style Lu Rou pies and a killer wine list; China Wine Club takes over Cellar 36; we’re throwing a party with St. Jardim at Fini Pizza in Amagansett; and Page Break returns with Hinge for a love-story-inspired dinner by Edy’s Grocer, with wine pairings curated by us.
Plus: our weekly cartoon by Cerise Zelenetz, a wine book worth reading, and a few other finds, like the bottle stoppers we can’t live without.
Thank you for reading! Have a great weekend!
Why Colorado Wine Deserves Your Attention
When you think of Colorado, wine probably isn’t the first, or even tenth, thing that comes to mind. More likely it’s the Rocky Mountains, Patagonia-wearing craft beer fanatics or the tie-dyed Deadheads. But Aquila Cellars wants to change that, making bright, high-altitude wines that deserve far more attention than they’ve received.
Ancient Winemaking Rises From The Ashes Of Pompeii
For the first time in almost two thousand years, since a wee little volcanic eruption, wine production is returning to Pompeii. A new partnership between the Archaeological Park and a local winery will revive vineyards on historic plots, use traditional Roman methods, including aging in amphorae, and produce both red and white wines again.
Ace’s Pizza x Win Son x SuperVinoBros
Ace’s Pizza continues the next installment of their Summer Series featuring our favorite bakery, Win Son. Expect Detroit-style Lu Rou pies, Win Son wings, frozen cocktails, $5 Buds, and an exciting wine list from SuperVinoBros. The event kicks off at 4PM and goes late.
Date: Friday, August 1st
Time: 4.00pm - late
Location: Ace’s Pizza, 637 Driggs Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Additional Information: here.
China Wine Club @ Cellar 36
China Wine Club, importer of Chinese wine producers to New York, is curating a special by-the-glass list this Saturday, August 2nd at Cellar 36, a favorite Lower Manhattan wine bar, and always a fun night when Fernando and Nodar are behind the bar. DJ set by Zoë Mowat.
Date: Saturday, August 2nd
Time: 4.00pm - late
Location: Cellar 36, 36 Market Street, Manhattan, New York
Additional Information: here
SWURL x St. Jardim @ Fini Pizza Amagansett
We’ve been working on this one for a while and are excited to head out east this Saturday, August 2nd for a party at Fini Pizza in Amagansett. James Juke will be on the decks (never disappoints), and we’ll be pouring a special by-the-glass lineup plus a very special bottle list, as always.
Date: Saturday, August 2nd
Time: 4.00pm - late
Location: Fini Pizza, 237 Main St, Amagansett, NY 11930
Additional Information: here
Pagebreak: No Ordinary Love (with Hinge)
Page Break returns with a special edition of DAY BREAK in partnership with Hinge, celebrating No Ordinary Love: an anthology of real love stories from couples who met on the app, penned by a standout group of contemporary writers. Hosted at the cozy Happier Apartment above Happier Grocery, the night features a 5-course tasting menu from Edy Massih (Edy’s Grocer), with wine pairings curated by yours truly. A portion of proceeds will benefit Crisis Text Line.
Date: Sunday, August 10th
Time: 4.00pm - late
Location: 365apartment, above Happier Grocery, 365 Canal St, New York, New York 10013
Additional Information: here
Cecily & Eric Huang of Pecking House
Break up the dog days of summer with the dog day at Cecily, as they say! Eric Huang of the beloved Pecking House is teaming up with Cecily to throw a one-day dog event on August 17th from 3-8pm. They’ve got a few dogs already listed like The Hot Doug which consists of Duck and armagnac sausage with foie gras and truffle mayo. Not to mention Cecily also has a wine list that has tons of hidden gems.
“This winemaker really captures the essence of the volcanic landscape.”
Other News & Other Stuff & Other Reads
Two more weeks of Nudibranch's lunch pop-up series: On Sundays (8/3 and 8/10), they’re serving ultra-refreshing naengmyun made with slushy machine broth, alongside banchan and desserts from Bahn by Lauren ($35 set). Reservations can be made here!
Industry Portfolio Tasting: Wine importer, Stelle Wine Co. is hosting a portfolio tasting on September 8th from 11:30am to 1:30pm on the rooftop at The Malin SoHo. Expect food by Pave, beer from Threes Brewing, and music by Alex Delany. Check their Instagram for more details.
New restaurant opening: From the team behind Libertine comes Chateau Royale, which opened this past week in a restored Greenwich Village carriage house. Split between an elegant upstairs dining room and a moody downstairs bar, the two-story space channels mid-century opulence with a menu of reimagined French classics and table side cocktails.
Hiring: Entre Nous, the Fort Greene wine bar where we recently hosted an event, is looking for a server. Apply here!
Wine book recommendation: We just started Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch and it’s well worth a read. First published in 1988, the book follows Lynch, one of the most respected American wine importers, as he travels through France meeting producers and reflecting on what makes wine worth drinking.
A wine you should be drinking: Stefano Zoli’s Verdicchio di Matelica 2024. Don’t judge the screw cap; this one’s bright, textural, with citrus and stone-fruit notes and beautifully balanced.
Upcoming SWURL event: Next Friday, Aug 8, we’re taking over the by‑the‑glass list at Fradei, sibling spot to Entre Nous, in partnership with importer Soil Expedition. It’ll be a full Swiss wine takeover, featuring $16–19 pours you’d rarely, if ever, see by the glass (and if you did, they’d be closer to $30–35). More details coming early next week on our Instagram and next weeks newsletter.
The wine accessory we can’t live without: these beautifully designed bottle stoppers by Fort Standard’s Gregory Buntain for Areaware.