On-the-Go — Windy City Wine Guy | Michael Bottigliero

On a bit of an Italian #wine kick and here’s a great under $15 value for you: 2015 La Quercia Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Made from organically grown grapes, unoaked, it delivers tart cherry, berries, licorice, hint of leather strap. Acidity is good and it fits perfectly with food- pizza, pasta, pecorino cheese, salumi.
The Montepulciano grape hails from central Italy and makes dark colored reds with good tannins which can be made to consume young or with age. There are many other producers who make excellent values with this grape.
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#sommlife #winetasting #montepulciano #abruzzo #italianwine #chicagosommelier #sommelier #wineunder15 #bottles #valuewine #haveaglass #haveabottle #bottlesnation #mypicks #organicwine #redwine

Had to get some bubbly after the @EltonJohn concert and went to one of my fav #RiverNorth spots @Pops_For_Champagne. I’m going to have to chat with them about their scarce amounts of @Franciacorta, but I did find this @BisolProsecco #Jeio Superiore. One of the best producers as the Bisol family has tended to its vineyards dive the 16th century spanning 21 generations. You can expect dry, ripe fruit, with a minerality streak. #CinCin! .
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#sommlife #prosecco #popsforchampagne #champagnebar #chicagobars #rivernorthbars #champagne #sparklingwine #bubbly #bottles #prosecco #haveaglass #sommselect #sommelier #bisol #italianwine #toast #latenightchicago #enjoychicago #chicagofoodanddrink

I love popping an easy drinking #wine while I am cooking (prepping for #superfood salmon tacos), and the @MionettoProseccoUSA Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG Extra Dry from their Luxury Collection fits that bill. Crisp, light, full of peach, pear, citrus, with mineral hints. It has a bit more RS (residual sugar) at 18 g/l, but it doesn’t come off as sweet as the acidity balances well. The Glera grapes used to make this were grown exclusively in the Superiore portion of the Treviso province between the towns of Conegliano & Valdobbiadene and made in the Charmat method. Works extremely well with double/triple cream bloom rind cheeses. #Prosecco doesn’t get much better than this. .
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#sommlife #haveaglass #bottles #bottlesnation #sparklingwine #salmontacos #tacos #fishtacos #italianwine #vino #valdobbiadene #docg #aglassaday #winereview #wineguy #homecooking #homechef #luxurycollection #mionetto #extradry #cookingwithwine #glera #conegliano #treviso #valdobbiadene #charmat

They have #Wings?!!! Yes- @BeerChurchBrew uses their new wood burning pizza oven to bake chicken wings. I tried the Buffalo (sauce is very tasty with a good amount of spice) along with the BBQ/Teriyaki which is an interesting flavor combo- and it works. The Blue cheese needs to be thicker, so does the Ranch and tastier. And more celery & carrots. Other than that, can’t complain! Very good brews- tried a 12 oz tulip of Atlas Hugged Old Ale and it’s a high octane (11% ABV) sweet malty giant of a #beer. This is my new sports church- big screens are everywhere, and the atmosphere is off the charts, especially with @felixmaldonadoflex’s beautiful Graffiti Renaissance which makes me feel like I’m back in Miami’s Wynwood. This is a must stop in #NewBuffalo. .
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#buffalowings #craftbeer #bakedwings #chickenwings #bbqwings #beerandwings #swmichigan #harborcountry #harborcountrylife #sportsbar #graffiti #graffitiart #puremichigan #michiganeats #michiganfoodie #foodiechats #beerchurch #brewery #michiganbeer #michiganbrewery #brewpub #ale #oldale 🍗

It’s here- bring on the ‘Za at @BeerChurchBrew! You’re looking at Pizza Napoletana- Margherita, which fits the bill, and Prosciutto e Rucola, which only needed a drizzle of Lemon Oil for perfection. The oven is imported and ties the space together- great look, atmosphere. New Buffalo’s perfect sports bar & brewery. We’ll be talking beer & wings next! .
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#pizza #sommlife #pizzanapoletana #newbuffalo #swmichigan #harborcountry #puremichigan #foodiechats #michiganeats #michiganfood #michiganfoodie #michiana #bottleslife #pizzaguy #brewery #brewpub #michiganbeer #michiganbrewery

Grabbed some outrageous NY Strip from #Falatics Meat Market in Sawyer for the grill. Simple salt & pepper, made mashed potatoes with sour cream/bacon/cheddar, and string beans with bacon. Paired it up with 2011 @TamarackCellarsWine Sagemoor Vineyards Reserve- a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend with Merlot & Cabernet Franc. So perfect with steak- dark fruit with a bit of mushroom earthiness, acidic bite and smooth tannins. .
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#sommlife #winetasting #wawine #steak #NYStrip #chicagosommelier #sommelier #thickcut #wine #CabernetSauvignon #RedBlend #Reserve #mashedpotatoes #bacon #grill #readyforthegrill #sawyermichigan #SWMichigan #HarborCountry #PureMichigan #butcher #meat #meatmarket #shopmichigan #sagemoorvineyards

The @NorthShoreInn ‘Bleu Ring’ #Burger with added #Bacon. It’s 1/2 lb tasty patty on soft sesame seed bun with funky #bleucheese and an onion ring. The #fries are perfectly seasoned and delicious without ketchup. I ate it all and not just because I fasted for an outpatient surgery on my bicep. Pair it up with @NorthPierBrew Hustle Bob NE-Style IPA because it’s so aromatically pleasing with citrus & peppercorn which translates well to the full palate. .
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#sommlife #beertasting #beer #bleucheeseburger #michiganbeer #puremichigan #harborcountry #roadtocicerone #bentonharbor #swmichigan #northshoreinn #burgertime #craftbeer #ontap #tapbeer #beerreview #nestyleipa

Drank this in some snowy weather- it’s one of my all time favs (it’s aged in #wine barrels! And orange 🍊 peels). The @gooseisland #Sofie is a #Saison (albeit a little high at 6.5% ABV) fermented with wild yeasts. A #Champagne drinker’s #beer. Crisp, breast & doughy, with white pepper, floral notes, mounds of citrus. .
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#sommlife #craftbeer #beer #chicagobeer #roadtocicerone #bottles #bottlesnation #ale #drinkinwinter #letitsnow #gooseisland #beerbottle #nicepour #farmhouseale

Just picked up my @5rabbitbrewery Serie Loteria El Pirata bottles- Caribbean Rum Barrel Aged ‘Arroz Con Leche’ Imperial Rice Ale brewed with Vanilla Bean, Mexican Cinnamon, Condensed Milk, and Raisins coming in at 9% ABV, 48 IBU. Can’t wait to pop these babies open! .
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#5Rabbit #SerieLoteria #craftbeer #arrozconleche #barrelaged #barrelagedbeer #beer #chicagobeer #bedfordpark #southside #specialrelease #ale #cerveceria #brewery #chicagobrewery #bottlesnation #beerbottle #bottles #roadtocicerone #sommlife

Hit up @red_arrow_roadhouse for their Monday Rib Special (they were nice enough to have it on Tuesday since they were closed due to Monday’s weather ⛄️). $12.99 for a full slab ($8.99 half slab) with choice of potato (garlic mashed pictured) with slaw. I paired it up with @bellsbrewery #Hopslam. The ribs are good- very lightly smoked, fall off the bone (I like a little more tug- that’s Chicago style), and the sauce is tasty- has a higher vinegar content, but for me could be spicier.
They do this well, along with killer broasted chicken and many other dishes. .
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#ribs #bbq #bbqribs #babybackribs #redarrowroadhouse #swmichigan #harborcountry #puremichigan #mashedpotatoes #michiganeats #newbuffaloeats #foodiechats #michiganfoodie #chicagofoodie #chicagoeats #foodie #eatbbq #heartyfood #sommlife

Snuggle up to @BellsBrewery #HopSlam 2019 this winter. Patented high ABV (10.0%) with loads of hoppiness, but seems even more citrusy this season. Available at @red_arrow_roadhouse #Yum .
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#craftbeer #bellsbrewery #sommlife #roadtocicerone #tulipglass #redarrowroadhouse #beer #draftbeer #ontap #michiganbeer #swmichigan #harborcountry #puremichigan

Birthday Food for my little Niko! Dude loves Mac N Cheese and Hot Dog (made mine a chili dog) so I made the cheesiest ever- 3 lbs of cheese! Paired it up with @Ferghettina_Franciacorta #Milledi from little man’s birth year- 100% Chardonnay. All that crisp acidity matched this rich dish and the ligh fruit flavors (Fuji apple, pear, melon) worked with the chili. .
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#macandcheese #macncheese #hotdog #chilidog #birthdaydinner #homecooking #homemade #cheesy #cheesiest #cheese #perfectpairing #foodandwine #franciacorta @franciacorta #sparklingwine #chardonnay #sommlife #winefun

Went all German-Style on ya for #HomeCooking in the #BottlesNation Kitchen: Bratwurst sautéed and sliced atop a bed of Honeycrisp apple sauerkraut with bacon. Paired it up with a 2010 Eroica #Riesling- I love the older vintages as the slatey minerality becomes more enhanced while the limey acidity lingers. Just like I’m in Pfalz- #Prost! .
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#sommlife #bratwurst #honeycrisp #apples #bacon #betterwithbacon #sauerkraut #eroica @dr.loosen @chateaustemichelle #wine #winepairing #sommelier #germanfood #sausage #kitchen #homechef #bonappetit #recipes #brats #winedinner

Enjoying the #HazyPoppins from @MarzBrewing. VERY citrusy, with some sparkling sour tangerine in the flavor, but extremely enjoyable. I’ll revisit this beer- $8 for 500ml bottle. .
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#sommlife #beerlife #craftbeer #chicagobeer #beerbottle #marzbrewing #bridgeport #bridgeportchicago #drinkbeer #chicagobeer #glassofbeer #dipa #tangerinebeer

Windy City Wine Guy | Michael Bottigliero

Michael Bottigliero, a Chicago sommelier here to fit your wine needs including corporate events, training, in home wine tastings, bachelorette parties, beverage menu creation and wine cellar management.