I was tucking into the stuffed squash blossoms at Nora’s Wine Bar & Osteria recently when the som dropped a bomb. He was confidently ordering us up a bottle of something even he’d never tried. “So, how can you be sure it’s any good?” I inquired squeamishly as our bartender cut the foil, passing the point of no return on our $58 investment. But Matt Leos merely smiled knowingly as the Il Colorino di Casanova Della Spinetta 2005 was decanted and poured. An advanced sommelier and wine broker, Leos explained that you can order or buy with confidence (yes, even blindly) once you become familiar with importers who are renowned for impeccable taste and knowledge of a wine region. So, the next time you happen upon a particularly delectable import, make note of the importer’s label and do some research; it could be just the tip of a very tasty iceberg.
