Page 28 - Italian-American Herald - December 2024

28 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | DECEMBER 2024 ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
Feeling festive? How about
celebrating the holidays
with a Philly wine walk?
By Natalie
Pantaleo
Readers may
recall in my last
column, I promised
to check out some
of Philly’s wine bars
that are getting great
reviews, especially those recommended on
www.theinfatuation.com, and to report back.
So, with my fun-loving, city-savvy cousin,
Christian, who was game for the walking and
drinking tour, we charted a plan to visit three
restaurants noted for their wines by the glass
and to indulge in a small plate or two at each.
My thinking is this could be a fun thing to
do with friends or family during the holidays
while taking in the seasonal decorations,
pop-ups like nearby Tinseltown, and maybe
even some snowfl akes along the stroll from
stop to stop.
Its also a great excuse to walk around a
lovely part of town, known affectionately
as the “Gayborhood” (even comes up on
OpenTable as such), and we visited some
fantastic spots that live up to the praise.
Our fi rst stop, Tria Café Wash West
(1137 Spruce St., 215-629-9200, www.
triaphilly.com) offered cozy candlelit nooks
or more lively sidewalk tables, weather
permitting. Our server Maryn said the
wine list changes seasonally. Christian and I
enjoyed a refreshing Bordeaux Rose: Caves
de Rauzan 2023 Fleur that went down rather
easily accompanying a yummy artichoke
hummus with feta and grilled focaccia
appetizer. Tria’s staff are welcoming, and the
wine list has a sense of humor.
Next we hit Vedge (1221 Locust St.,
215-320-7500, www.vedgerestaurant.com).
Some of you may remember the longstanding
restaurant, Deux Cheminees, that formerly
occupied this building. Vedge does it justice
as an exquisite vegan restaurant where I’m
sure carnivores can fi nd something satisfying.
First and foremost, however, we were there
for the wine. Ahem. That was until the
signature cocktail menu caught our eyes.
We couldn’t help but deviate from our
initial mission once the knowledgeable
bartenders, Brian and Yvette, showed us a
copy of the restaurant cocktail book released
on Nov. 19, 2024, “The Vedge Bar Book.” Too
tempting to pass up, I had an outstanding
smoked, spicy Mezcal concoction called
Mango No. 5 that was so deliciously satiating,
I could have (and should have) called it a
night after that.
Christian had an equally compelling gin
martini variation with lion’s mane mushroom
called Underdark. He described it as a cold,
dirty martini with a just a hint of fungi.
Many of the cocktail recipes are created and
handcrafted by the resident bartenders and
included in the book, which also contains
a holiday section. Still, the wines are a focal
point with a very diverse selection of which
the bartenders can describe fl uently.
After the mezcal, a little fresh air
was welcome as we walked from Vedge
to Superfolie (1602 Spruce St., www.
superfoliephl.com). At this little French
gem, it felt as though we were walking into
a best-kept secret. The bartenders seemed
to be on a laboratory mission muddling
and mixing quietly behind the intimate bar.
Though headache-wise, going from wine to
a mixed drink and back to wine wasn’t the
smartest choice, the Tempranillo was smooth
and complemented the duck charcuterie.
Christian enjoyed a Grenache Rose. I must
admit, I had stopped taking notes by that
point so I can’t share the vineyards or names.
Suffi ce it to say, there’s probably not a “bad”
wine on the list.
Our little wine stroll was really enjoyable
and quite practical even for those who aren’t
walkers. I loved the experience of sampling a
variety of small plates and spirits at different
restaurants with short reprieves between to
take in the vibrancy of the city. And, as far
as restaurant choices go, each outdid the
last. I can imagine doing the same mini-tour
during December and January with a festive
backdrop and brisker air.
(It’s worth noting that each of these
establishments offers mocktails and alcohol-
free spirit options so non-drinkers can also
enjoy a holiday wine walk, too.) IAH
Natalie Pantaleo is a marketing
communications consultant, brand strategist,
and consummate storyteller based in the
greater Philadelphia area. In addition to being
a published features writer, Natalie is the
author of “Lying Down with Dogs,” a novella
globally released by The Awakened Press in
September 2022.
I loved the
experience of
sampling a variety
of small plates and
spirits at different
restaurants.
D’ANJOLELL
MEMORIAL HOMES AND CREMATORY
ROBERT D’ANJOLELL, SR. PRESIDENT
ASTON • BROOMALL • FRAZER
610.356.4200 • DANJOLELL.COM
The Nacchia
family: Jim sr,
Paulette, Jim jr,
and Paul
Upstate DE
(302) 442-4260
Downstate DE
(302) 644-1888
PA (610) 430-7750
www.homewatchcaregivers.com
Serving Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania
Licensed, Insured & Bonded
www.marcheseopticians.com
713 Montgomery Ave
Narberth, PA 19072
610-668-3848
3517 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, PA 19073
610-356-6781