Phil Masturzo
| Special to the Akron Beacon Journal
It is my duty as the self-appointed CEO, or cork extraction officer, of Phil Your Glass to curate seven spectacular wines each year for my favorite made-up holiday festival which I call The Feast of the 7 Delicious.
These bottles are the most magnificent pours of 2025. There are bottles from all corners of the globe, from France, Spain, Italy and Sardinia to California and Argentina. Something for every wine lover.
I look forward to seeing you at this year’s event from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 3180 W. Market St. in Fairlawn. Each wine will be paired with a special nosh by chef Beau Schmidt.
General admission is $59.99 plus tax. VIP admission is $79.99 plus tax and includes one-hour early admission along with exclusive wine pours. The 5 p.m. admission will be limited to 50 people.
For reservations, go to Feast of the 7 Delicious with Phil Masturzo at Ticketleap.com or call 330-867-5218. Special room rates are $119 plus tax for general admission or $109 plus tax for VIP admission. Call 330-867-5000 to reserve a room.
Without further ado, here’s the 7 sensational wines. Cheers!
Pace Metodo Classico
Every feast has to start with bubbles. I became very familiar with the wines of Dino and Piero Pace through my friendship with the late John Bee, whom I called “the Barolo King of Akron.” Bee was a master at finding and importing exceptional wines from the Piedmont Region of Italy. I’m a huge fan of Pace wines and couldn’t wait to try their new Metodo Classico sparkling wine. Metodo Classico is an Italian term meaning that the sparkling wine is made the same way as Champagne.
I first tasted these bubbles with Bottle to Glass wine importers Alan and Lauren Burge almost a year ago. We all had the “deer in the headlights look” after our first sampling and couldn’t wait for the cases to arrive in their Akron warehouse.
Pace’s sparkler is an unusual blend that uses 60% Nebbiolo, the same grape used to make Italy’s famous Barolo wine, and 40% pinot noir. The Nebbiolo grape gives this wine the structure and backbone to pair with the entire meal.
A hand full of Sahale honey almonds from Krieger’s Market was a great way to start my research. I loved how the $5 happy hour tempura shrimp appetizer from Beau’s on the River inside the Sheraton Suites paired with these bubbles. The panko-crusted lake perch and slices of elk sausage were also great to have with this $30.99 bottle.
Buy this wine at Krieger’s Market in Cuyahoga Falls and Beau’s Bar & Bistro in Copley.
Vermentino di Gallura Superiore
Vermentino di Gallura Superiore is a fabulous white wine made on the Italian island of Sardinia. Gallura, which means rocky or stony, is the famous subregion in the Northeastern corner of the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
This light bodied white wine, which boasts creamy lemon and tropical tangerine and mango nuances, is perfectly refreshing on its own. I like to enjoy a glass of white wine while I get the main course ready for the barbie. It was surely pleasant with a serving of Schmidt’s chilled shrimp salad along with some tabouli salad from Continental Cuisine in Fairlawn. Have a glass with a carryout order of crab cakes from Beau’s on the River and fuhgeddaboudit. But don’t let this organic Italian white wine fool you, because it surely has enough acidity to stand up to an Angus ribeye. It sure surprised the heck out of me.
You will only be able to taste this Phil Your Glass exclusive at the Feast of the 7 Delicious wine event on Dec. 4. After that, this $21.99 white will only be available at Beau’s Bar & Bistro in Copley.
2022 Ψ Psi
I’ve heard the whispers about Dominio de Pingus and its cultlike status. I spotted this Spanish icon from the Ribera del Duero on the shelf at Heinen’s and knew I had to try it. This $44.99 bottle is a special project by winemaker Peter Sisseck called Ψ Psi, which is the 23rd letter in the Greek alphabet. Not exactly sure what the letters Ψ Psi mean. After my first sip, I would definitely say Pretty Special Indeed.
Sisseck’s team sourced Tinto Fino or Tempranillo grapes, from over 700 small plots of old vines from 20 villages in the Ribero del Duero. This incredible blend, which also includes 8% garnacha, is from small local growers who use biodynamic farming practices.
An order of Funky Balls and chicken tacos from the Funky Truckeria in Norton was quite a delicious pairing. I was absolutely floored at how delightful this wine tasted after being open for four days. I enjoyed the last glass with a carryout order of Thai chicken and vegetables from Wise Guy’s Lounge & Grill.
If I had to pick a wine of the year for 2025, Ψ Psi would definitely be the one.
Buy this wine at Krieger’s Market in Cuyahoga Falls, Beau’s Bar & Bistro in Copley, Heinen’s in Hudson, Mustard Seed Market in Montrose, and Meyers Lake Beverage in Canton
2022 Collefrisio Appassimento
The label depicts a stunning golden flower from a mulberry tree. That alone could be worth the $21.99 price. However, this Appassimento from the town of Piane di Maggio of Frisa, from the Abruzzo Region of Italy, is just as beautiful inside.
I’ve never heard of an Appassimento from Abruzzo. Appassimento means withering in Italian. This winemaking process is more common in amarone wines made in the Veneto Region up north. Collefrisio’s is a blend of 60% Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, 20% Sangiovese, and 20% merlot grapes dried on the vine before harvesting. This process gives the wine many added layers of complexity.
The dark berry and rich bing cherry flavors were enchanting with a carryout order of Dontino’s rigatoni with their meaty bolognese sauce. A Mattioli’s Neopolitan pizza the next day was just as delicious. Strong Italian cheeses like shaved Parmesan from Heinen’s and Grana Padano from Carfagna’s in Columbus worked the best with this wine’s richness. Save a few sips to have with those decadent raspberry F-Bombs from Heinen’s. You will hear the angels singing after this lovely pairing.
You can only get this wine at the Feast of the 7 Delicious on Dec. 4 at the DoubleTree by Hilton. After that, it will only be for sale at Beau’s Bar & Bistro in Copley.
Anne Pichon Grenache Noir
My love for Grenache has slowly blossomed from my friendship with local winemaker/developer Michael Oravecz, who grows 5 acres of biodynamically farmed Grenache grapes for his Mila Family wines on his 55-acre ranch in Sonoma California’s Alexander Valley.
The Anne Pichon winery is located in the Southern Rhone Region at the foot of Mount Ventoux. This mountain, known as the “Giant of Provence,” is one of the most grueling climbs on the Tour de France. The cool mountain breeze is a welcome respite for the grapes as well as the residents in the village of Mormoiron. The old vine grapes are organically farmed, hand-harvested and fermented in indigenous yeast in concrete tanks.
Adams Reserve cheddar (from Market District, Heinen’s, and Acme) and Piavi (Heinen’s and Gallucci’s) cheeses made for a tasty pairing. Grenache is incredibly versatile and thrives when paired with comfort foods. This $26.99 red was exceptional with the rustic flavors of a bowl of Zuppa Di Cipolle or onion and anise soup with DeVitis sausage. Grilled chicken thighs with green bean casserole and mushrooms were also a hit. Save a couple of sips to have with a few Mitica chocolate-covered almonds from Heinen’s. You’ll thank me later.
Buy this wine at Krieger’s Market in Cuyahoga Falls; Beau’s Bar & Bistro in Copley; Heinen’s in Hudson, downtown Cleveland, Willoughby and Aurora; and Meyers Lake Beverage and Vinoteca Wine bar in Canton.
2022 El Enemigo Cabernet Franc
Thank you Dr. Drew Engles. Not only did you fix my broken wrist after a dreadful slip on the ice at Super Bowl XL, but you also introduced me to the amazing Argentinian wines of El Enemigo. The name of the winery means “The Enemy”, which is the complete opposite of our friendship. This wonderful Cabernet Franc from Argentina’s Mendoza Valley is a project from winemaker Alejandro Vigil and historian Adrianna Catena. I’m a complete fan of every wine I have tasted from this South American winery.
Although this bottle is labeled as a Cabernet Franc, it is blended with 10% Malbec. It’s silky smooth from the first sip to the long, long, finish. This is one of the rare occasions when Cabernet Franc is picked at peak ripeness. It’s a stellar pour that exudes flavors of elderberry pie, rich black raspberry and my grandma’s ripe plum kuchen.
Chef Beau went on a Latino carryout food mission gathering foods to try with this wine. This $27.99 showstopper was exceptional with chorizo tacos from Cantine in Broadview Heights, Portuguese blood sausage from the Hungarian Butcher in Dublin, Venezuelan beef empanadas from Trumbao58, and Cuban potato croquettes from the CentroVilla25 Cleveland Latino market. Undoubtedly one of my favorite wine and food taste testing experiences. Pairing perfection is all I can say.
Buy this wine at Krieger’s Market in Cuyahoga Falls, Heinen’s in Hudson, and Beau’s Bar & Bistro in Copley, Cellar 59 in Stow, Cornerstone Market in Munroe Falls and Top Shelf of Ohio in Jackson Township.
2020 Torchbearer Napa Valley Cabernet
One can never have enough good Napa cabernet in your wine rack. I’ve tasted the 2020 Torchbearer cabernet on three occasions over the last year. It’s quite the find at $29.99. There’s bountiful blackberry and currant flavors highlighted by a bit of dusty Oakville terroir that true Napa cabernet lovers cherish. This baby is ready to drink. No need to fuss. Have this cab with your favorite grilled burger. Parmesan shavings on top of a bed of fresh lettuce and greens dressed with a simple balsamic dressing are a great way to start with this cab while your Angus ribeye is sizzling on the grill. Some dark chocolate covered pretzels from Anastasiades in North Canton made quite a happy ending to the tasting. Buy this wine at Crave in downtown Akron, Krieger’s Market in Cuyahoga Falls, Beau’s Bar & Bistro in Copley, Buehler’s in Canton, Montavino Wine Market in Wooster, Bistro on Main in Kent, Meyers Lake Beverage in Canton and Inn the Weeds in North Royalton.
You can reach Phil Masturzo at philyourglass@gmail.com and follow him on Instagram @pmasturzo_philyourglass.
Dining and Cooking