08/29/2026
It is time to talk about the “Featured” cheese and wine for September.
The “Featured” cheese of the month is burrata. Why burrata? Because it pairs so well with our wine of the month and we are in the middle of tomato season. Burrata is traditionally the cheese of choice for caprese salads. Slice up this buttery, decadent cheese and drizzle it with some good olive oil, a slice of tomato and top with basil. Perfection with garden fresh (or farmers market) tomatoes.
The burrata is also perfect with our wine of the month. The high acidity and citrus notes in the wine slices through the fats and cream in the cheese like a hot knife through butter creating an amazing textural experience. We order this cheese fresh weekly as it has a short shelf life. To order your burrata please call the shop at 402-705-0090. I will order this weekly. The cost for a tub of burrata with 2 pieces is $13.15. Preorder and pay upon pick up.
The “Featured” wine of the month is Tenuta delle Terre Nere Montalto Etna Bianco DOC offered at $43 each.
The Winery
Founded by Marco de Grazia, Tenuta delle Terre Nere has become one of the benchmark producers of Mount Etna on the island of Sicily. The estate began producing and bottling its wines in 2002 and today encompasses approximately 45 hectares spread across 30 parcels and nine distinct Contrade, or cru sites, on Etna’s northern slopes. Vineyards range from roughly 600 to 1,000 meters in elevation, with many of the vines between 50 and 100 years old.
De Grazia's philosophy centers on allowing Etna's extraordinary volcanic terroir and indigenous varieties to speak for themselves. The estate places tremendous emphasis on meticulous vineyard work and minimal intervention in the cellar, with the goal of expressing the individual character of each vineyard rather than imposing a particular winemaking style. The dramatic combination of altitude, volcanic soils, cool nights, and significant day-to-night temperature swings gives Etna's wines an unusual combination of freshness, minerality, and depth.
The Wine
Montalto is one of Terre Nere's small-production Vigne Niche wines and represents a particularly compelling expression of Carricante. The vineyard is located on Etna's southern slope in the municipality of Biancavilla, at an extraordinary 900–950 meters above sea level. The two-hectare vineyard is planted in deep volcanic soil dominated by loose volcanic ash and small stones, with vines approximately 60–90 years old according to the current estate information.
Montalto is a fascinating study in contrasts. Its southern exposure provides warmth and concentration, while the extreme altitude and constant breezes preserve acidity and freshness. De Grazia describes the site as one where the cool climate at altitude perfectly compensates for the full southern exposure. The wine's first vintage was produced in 2019.
Tasting Notes
The wine opens with an expressive bouquet of white flowers, citrus, ripe pear, white peach and yellow apple, followed by delicate notes of Mediterranean herbs, spice and wet volcanic stone. On the palate, Montalto is remarkably textural and creamy, with concentrated stone fruit and citrus flavors balanced by vibrant acidity and a distinctly saline, mineral finish.
There is an appealing richness here without heaviness. The wine's combination of ripe fruit, floral aromatics, volcanic minerality, and energetic acidity gives it both immediate drinkability and considerable depth. The finish is long and savory, leaving impressions of lemon zest, crushed stone, green almond and sea spray.
To preorder your bottle please call the shop at 402-705-0090. Again the price is $43 per bottle. I will place the wine order by September 16th to be picked up on September 18th.
