As we get closer and closer to the holidays, it gets busier and busier in preparation for this chaotic time of year. Last Tuesday we had a couple of extra events to attend…along with deliveries, holiday gift-sets and a wine tasting, this may sound like I’m complaining, but I’m not. The wine team in north Florida had the pleasure of attending a seminar given by Nadia Galati of Alberello Imports with special guest Alberto Passeri of Fattoria La Gerla. This meeting was the highlight of our monthly meeting of the area wine consultants, but it was also made special by the unique venue, the San Sebastian Winery in St. Augustine, Florida.

Alberto Passeri of La Gerla and Nadia Galati of Alberello Imports.

Alberto Passeri has been a part of a number of Alberello Imports, Italian Winemakers Tours and has been profiled by Wine Spectator. The wines of La Gerla are all world class and have been very well received by the discriminating wine guests of ABC for many years now. Fattoria La Gerla estate has been producing fine Tuscan wines since 1976, along with exquisite olive oil and a somewhat interesting wine by-product, Grappa. The four wines that La Gerla does create are Brunello di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino Reserva “Gli Angeli,” Rosso di Montalcino and Birba IGT. These are all highly acclaimed and not to be missed. Alberto and Nadia gave us a wonderful insight into the history, terroir and winemaking philosophy that has made La Gerla one the most consistent and quality producers of fine Italian wines in the region.

For the other half of the meeting, our team got a tour and tasting at the San Sebastian Winery. The winery in St. Augustine, the oldest city in the country, was founded in 1996. The winery is located just off the historic downtown district of the city that was established in 1565. The wines of San Sebastian are unique in that they primarily made from Native America grapes and hybrids. The varieties of the Muscadine grape that the winery is best known for are Welder, Carlos and Noble. San Sebastian also uses a number of hybrid grapes such as Suwannee, Blanc du Bois and Stover. Now, these are not the typical grapes that most of us are used to…Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and the like. The soil, humidity, heat and other factors just don’t allow for these “European” grapes to flourish, so the southern state wineries have adapted these native varieties into their wine production. For the most part, these wines are a little on the sweet side, which is why they are popular with today’s entry level and lighter-styled wine drinker. The vineyards for this popular winery are found in Clermont, Florida, where San Sebastian’s sister winery, Lakeridge Winery, is located.

Cassidy pouring our team a taste of San Sebastian's unique wines.

Our team was shown a short film on the history of the winery and then treated to a tour and tasting in the barrel room by the wineries representative, Cassidy. I had not had the chance to taste these wines in the past and was impressed at how much care was taken in their production. The wines that really struck me were the cream sherry and the port. These were very well made and overall were our group's favorite wines at the tasting. Along with the meeting room that we used, the winery has a tasting room/gift shop and an outside patio deck on the third floor overlooking the city of St. Augustine, complete with a bar area, live entertainment and dining. Next time you are visiting the oldest of cities, I would certainly recommend you stop in the San Sebastian Winery and check it out.

Ken Amendola, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits wine supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinekena