Even though I’m not a big drinker, I do enjoy a good glass of wine here and there. Over the years I have narrowed down what I like and what hits my stomach the best. However, when it comes to all of the different types of natural wines, I am not as knowledgeable. So many of the bottles look like foreign language to me (& many are)! Thankfully there are people like the owners of Milwaukee’s Nonfiction Natural Wine shop that can guide me and you if you are in the same boat.
Milwaukee’s Nonfiction Natural Wine Shop
If you find yourself in Milwaukee, do yourself a favor and visit this adorable wine shop in Bay View. It’s so warm, welcoming, and cozy for a wine shop.
On the night we went, my husband and I had the pleasure of meeting Bradley, one of the owners. To say he was friendly is an understatement. He is so approachable, helpful, and knowledgeable. Whether you know a lot about natural wines (like another gentleman that was in there with us) or just the bare bones like us, he will help you pick out whatever you are looking for.
Although Nonfiction Natural Wine sells pricier wine, they are picking the best natural and organic wines and only get so many bottles of each wine to sell. Natural producers tend to be smaller family farms, so there is only so much produced. We are supporting small businesses all around when we shop this way. I always think it makes the wine seem extra special too.
We ended up getting a bottle of Il Rosso (an Italian red) made by Danilo Marcucci from the Della Staffa winery in Umbria. We learned that Danilo is a leader in the natural wine world and helps many small producers change their conventional methods to natural ones.
Make It A Dinner Date
Nonfiction is going to be moving locations in the beginning of the year, but it’s walking distance from their current location. My husband and I will definitely be going back sometime. When we go, we plan to make it a date and have dinner at Strange Town which is right there as well. A sustainable, organic, Farm to table, Plant based restaurant that serves natural wine. Thanks to Bradley for telling us about it!
Wine I Typically Drink
I like my wine good and dry. I tend to gravitate towards a more full body Chianti Classico or Chianti Reserva (made from Sangiovese grapes) in the Fall and Winter months and a more tart Rioja (made from Tempranillo grapes) in the warmer months. Besides enjoying the taste, these wines also tend to hit my stomach the best. Even though it’s not a full proof method for me, my odds are good.
Chilling Red Wine
Another thing I have learned over the years is that I enjoy my reds chilled. Not super cold, just 20 minutes in the fridge prior to opening a bottle. It seems to soften any bitey tannin taste and make the wine taste better. It’s funny, because I use to gripe when I would get a cold glass of red wine at a fancy restaurant. They clearly knew better and I just needed time to catch up.
Typically, when you chill a red wine, some flavors are muted and others are enhanced, explains Roni Grinach, owner of natural wine distributor Roni Selects. Fruity notes tend to become more pronounced, while tannins—the bitter and astringent chemical compounds in red wine—tend to “shut down,” she says.
bon appetit
Well, thank you so much for being here with me! If you just stumbled upon my blog, hello and welcome! I hope you stick around. Xx Riane
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