Sip with Nik

Sip with Nik A weekly newsletter where wine enthusiasts discover tips, unique finds, pairing recipes, travel guides, and insights into making and selling the stuff.

From a wine marketer turned Sardinian vigneron with her winemaker husband. Join our winery journey. https://palmandvine.ac-page.com/wine-resource-library

IMO: Picpoul Blanc is an ultimate wine pairing for seafood (and fried foods, too)! Why⁉️ Well, I’m so glad you asked! Fi...
27/08/2026

IMO: Picpoul Blanc is an ultimate wine pairing for seafood (and fried foods, too)!

Why⁉️ Well, I’m so glad you asked! First of all, Picpoul Blanc is a white variety from Southern France known as “lip stinger” for its racy acidity. It’s crisp, tart & refreshing, loaded with flavors of lime/lemon zest, green apple, wet stone & subtle white florals. One of those wines that goes down a little too smoothly if you know what I mean 😏

Its mouthwatering acidity & super fresh flavor profile make it a delectable match for:
🦪 shellfish like oysters, clams & mussels
🍣 sushi & lighter fish
🍟 fried foods like calamari or french fries (a refreshing palate cleanser between each bite)

This glass was one of my personal favorites from Bonny Doon Vineyard enjoyed (x2) at the girl & the fig

End of summer (😭 can’t believe I’m already saying that) is the perfect occasion for an at-home aperitivo. The secret to ...
25/08/2026

End of summer (😭 can’t believe I’m already saying that) is the perfect occasion for an at-home aperitivo. The secret to a great one: prep some small bites ahead of time.
Here are some go-to classics that pair well with your Campari or Aperol spritz (or vinO):
Arancine (I’m ready to attempt these at home) + Catarratto 🥂🥂
Marinated olives Sicilian-style with citrus zest, garlic, and herbs +
Tagliere - cheese & salumi board built around contrast
Artichokes + sundried tomatoes sott’olio (preserved in oil) + Carignano Rosato
Pizzette -(IYKTYK) + 🍷 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Sfincione - (thick, spongy Sicilian pizza bread 🤤🤤🤤) + 🥂Perricone Pet Nat

Set it all out, pour the spritz, and let people graze while you finish the rest of dinner.

Save this one for your next gathering. Cheers to a delicious end of summer 🥂

End of summer (😭 can’t believe I’m already saying that) is the perfect occasion for an at-home aperitivo. The secret to ...
25/08/2026

End of summer (😭 can’t believe I’m already saying that) is the perfect occasion for an at-home aperitivo. The secret to a great one: prep some small bites ahead of time.
Here are some go-to classics that pair well with your Campari or Aperol spritz (or vinO):
Arancine (I’m ready to attempt these at home) + Catarratto 🥂🥂
Marinated olives Sicilian-style with citrus zest, garlic, and herbs +
Tagliere - cheese & salumi board built around contrast
Artichokes + sundried tomatoes sott’olio (preserved in oil) + Carignano Rosato
Pizzette -(IYKTYK) + 🍷 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Sfincione - (thick, spongy Sicilian pizza bread 🤤🤤🤤) + 🥂Perricone Pet Nat

Set it all out, pour the spritz, and let people graze while you finish the rest of dinner.

Save this one for your next gathering. Cheers to a delicious end of summer 🥂

20/08/2026

Aperitivo is a quintessential summertime activity (& non-negotiable IMO). 🍹☀️ When it comes to drinks...

My rule: skip the sweeter Aperol, reach for bitter Campari instead. Aperol tends to be a crowd-pleaser, as it’s lower proof with more citrus, less bite.

But is the real deal: gentian root, bitter orange peel, a proof high enough to stand up to salty food instead of disappearing next to it.

Lately I’ve also been mixing spritzes with , an aperitivo from the Alps made with rhubarb, rosemary, plum, gentian, and elderflower. it has a more herbal, layered edge than a classic Campari Spritz.

Not in the mood for a spirtz? Reach for a structured rosato instead. Something with enough acidity and perhaps extended maceration, not the pale, fruity stuff. Think a Carignano rosato or a Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo.

➡️ Bitter Campari or sweeter Aperol - where do you land?

Ciao wine lovers 👋🏻 🥂❤️ Have you tried Inzolia yet? On this week’s installment of The Italian Grape That Nobody Talks Ab...
19/08/2026

Ciao wine lovers 👋🏻 🥂❤️ Have you tried Inzolia yet? On this week’s installment of The Italian Grape That Nobody Talks About over on Substack, we’re taking a closer look at this white Sicilian variety, that may also be of Greek origin, and grows in Tuscany, too.

If you’ve ever had Marsala, then you’ve likely already had Inzolia as it’s one of seven or so varieties permitted in Marsala production.

I first encountered Inzolia during a wine fueled road trip around Sicily in 2024, and really started to love the variety when I tasted Marino Abate’s wines at Radici del Sud last year.

Marino Abate 🍷🍇 is family-owned, organically farmed, and run by siblings Enzo, Nicola, and Rosella — a young team giving native Sicilian varieties a fresh take across Marsala and Mount Etna. Just 30k bottles a year, vineyards split between sea and mountain, and it shows.



Two Inzolia bottlings stopped me in my tracks from Marino Abate Wines
🫧 “Inzolita” Frizzante — unfiltered, zero sulfites, not disgorged, 2nd fermentation right in the bottle (sediment and all). Crisp, bright, bitter almond and citrus. Certified summer porch pounder.



🍇“Ricamo” Inzolia 2023 — Inzolia’s serious side. 30-year-old vines, reminded me a bit of a Riesling with petrol or mineral notes, white florals, bright acidity. Proof of how far this grape can go.

Link in bio to discover more on Substack!

08/08/2026

There is no summer quite like a summer in Italy and if you’re craving a little taste of Italia like I am right now, then my latest substack is for you - The Italian Wine Lover’s Guide to Summer Entertaining
🍹the ultimate aperitivo drink (my go-to when in Italy & a fresh spin I’ve been loving lately)
🍽️ quick & easy appetizers to kick off the meal in style
🍝 a simple yet flavor-packed pasta recipe we’d make a lot in summer in Sardinia + an unexpected wine pairing
🥂 Italian summer wine recs, of course
🎵 a playlist of Italian songs I love to play while you’re hosting

Grab it at the link in bio - free! ❤️🍷

18/07/2026

Last year on a press trip with , I asked Nicola from about his favorite Abruzzese wine. Here’s what he had to say 💫⬆️

Remember to stock up on some Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo for summer & follow Sip with Nik for more Italian wine discoveries. 🍇❤️

Looking for exquisite Pinot Noir & Chardonnay (+ more) in Sonoma? Don’t miss SCHUG 🍷🍷💫 Founded by Walter Schug, a German...
17/07/2026

Looking for exquisite Pinot Noir & Chardonnay (+ more) in Sonoma? Don’t miss SCHUG 🍷🍷💫

Founded by Walter Schug, a German winemaker who originally came to California for a winemaking internship in 1959. He soon became an integral part of the pioneering days of Napa Valley while working at Jospeh Phelp’s winery before branching out and establishing his namesake estate, led by his passion for Pinot Noir.

Walter Schug left behind a legacy of craftsmanship, passion, and education. Current winemaker, Johannes Scheid, met Walter in 2009 and was once himself a harvest intern from Europe.

The cave tasting at Schug transported me to Europe and each wine just kept getting better and better.

Overall, the wines were old world in style, varietally expressive, fresh yet layered with nuanced complexity uncovered with time in the glass. It was a treat to taste:
💫 Sparkling Brut Rosé
💫 Petaluma Gap Sauvignon Blanc
💫 Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir
💫 Rancho Salina Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
💫 and a special treat — the 1996 Schug Cabernet Sauvignon, still alive and singing beautifully.

Save this one for next time you’re in Sonoma!

Rosato season is officially here 🌸🍷 While everyone's reaching for the same Provence bottle, Italy has been quietly makin...
13/07/2026

Rosato season is officially here 🌸🍷 While everyone's reaching for the same Provence bottle, Italy has been quietly making rosé more interesting for centuries. This week on Sip with Nik, I'm breaking down 5 Italian rosato styles you need on your radar this summer, from volcanic Sicilian rosé to a sparkling Piemonte stunner made from Nebbiolo. Check it out here and let me know which one you’d like to try first: https://sipwithnik.substack.com/p/rosato-season-italian-styles-to-stock

This Côtes du Rhône took me right back to my very first wine trip to the Southern Rhône, a trip that quite literally ch...
21/05/2026

This Côtes du Rhône took me right back to my very first wine trip to the Southern Rhône, a trip that quite literally changed the direction of my life. Funny how a wine can do that, right?

Jean-Luc Colombo’s Côtes du Rhône was brimming with juicy red berry flavors, hints of garrigue, and a kiss of pepper. All backed by moutherwaterinf acidity and lovely inviting tannins.

Wine is so much more than just another bottled form of alcohol. It’s travel, history, place, art, science, people and their stories. That’s why I love it anyways.

Experience this one for yourself at the link in bio, available on ! Use code BWOVIP at checkout for an exclusive discount (they have a huge selection!)

Tell me a wine region that changed you. Cheer!

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