Napa vs. Sonoma Wines – Phil the Wine Thief Tells All

Phil used to work with us here in Fortress Sonoma County. It was the Axis of PR Evil: Larry for the grapegrowers, Phil for the vintners, and myself for tourism. Then one day Phil up and surprised us all by announcing that:

1. He was quitting,
2. he was going to open a wine shop,
3. in Milwaukee

As a former Milwaukeean, and one who bartended in Cream City, I offered him some advice on how to approach the fickle Milwaukee wine market and Milwaukee in general:

1. Learn how to pronounce “liebfraumilch”
2. Better stock some brandy and beer, too.

Phil has settled into his life in Brew City. On my last visit, he and Aimee, his fiance, had set up their new shop (Thief Wine) at the Milwaukee Public Market in the hip Third Ward, just a few steps from the Summerfest grounds and Lake Michigan. He was starting to drop the “L” and call the place “M’waukee”, and he survived the annual Harley-Davidson Birthday party.

Earlier this week Phil posted in his blog about a wine match-up he did of California Cabs, facing Napa and Sonoma off each other on the wind-blown shores of Lake Michigan. See who wins at the link.

In the meantime, if you ever are in Milwaukee, say to visit old college friends, visit the new Harley museum, check out the Fonzie statue or maybe to try out with the Brewers or something, stop by and say hi to Phil and Aimee, and tell ‘em Sonoma County misses them.

“The theme was Napa vs. Sonoma – we did four wines 1 from each region at $15-$20, one at $50ish. I’ve always been biased towards Sonoma, finding them more elegant and balanced, and when tasting the wines Tuesday preferred both the Sonoma wines. (Of course, I liked the Napa wines as well; I’d tasted them and thought them each great exemplars for the style and a good value for the price, otherwise we wouldn’t carry them; they’re just not what I personally prefer drinking.)”  More …