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As a wine buyer, one of the more exciting aspects of my job is consistently hunting for "THE next best thing." This involves constant research into what products are newly available to the market, as well as trust and great relationships with wine reps who know your interests and tastes. Best case scenario: you discover a new favorite that is a fantastic value. Here are some things I'm currently obsessed about:
While the island of Corsica is a French territory, many of their winemaking traditions and varietals are Italian in origin. Wines here are typically made by co-ops, small farmers that band together and share a facility. Niellucciu, the leading grape in the northern area of Corsica, is genetically identical to Sangiovese. This particular rosé is a crowd-pleaser, showcasing white flowers, peaches, delicate red fruit, with fantastic acidity on the palate.
Since most people associate the Rhone valley with red wines, their white wines are often overlooked. It's a shame because these wines (typically blends in the Southern Rhone) are incredibly food friendly, aromatic, and complex. Clairette is considered to be one of the most popular varietals for white wine production in the Rhone, expressing itself as fresh, floral, and mineral with orchard fruit notes and lime. However, it shows best when paired with another varietal like Roussanne, which adds honeysuckle, apricot, and herbal tea notes to the wine.
In the springtime my favorite category is a session wine: an easy-drinking, lower-alcohol red wine I can drink with a slight chill. Enter Valdiguie, the varietal you've probably encountered before in a California Zinfandel Blend but didn't know it at the time. In this particular bottling, this wine is made in a similar manner to Gamay from Beaujolais — in fact, until 1980 it was referred to as Napa Gamay until genetic analysis proved that it was, in fact, the southern French varietal of Valdiguie. Fresh, light, and bursting with fruit punch notes, this wine does just as well as a sipper as it does being paired with food (think our Duck Confit or Palmetto Squab with Cassoulet).
Originally from Madiran, France, Tannat usually makes powerful wines with big body and formidable tannins, unless these grapes happen to be grown in Uruguay. A Basque gentleman named Pascual Harriague is credited with introducing the grape to Uruguay in the 19th century. The Uruguay version of Tannat has smooth, integrated tannins, darker black and purple fruit, and a really pleasant, supple body. From a health standpoint, it also has a much higher levels of antioxidants than most other grapes! As if you needed another excuse to drink this wine.
Next time you're at the restaurant be sure to ask one of our wine professionals for guidance — there's always something new on the list. Cheers!
— Andres Contreras, Wine Director, The Establishment
The bottles that we're wild about right now!
while we're mostly local sustainable seafood and produce, we have exceptional items for land lovers on the menu đź–¤ beautiful quality cuts from @meatsbylinz #chsfoodie #chseats #charlestonrestaurants #charlestonfood #steak
fall menu items are starting to pop up on our menu 🍂 like our version of an Apple Tarte Tatin. Crumbly, buttery, and sweet, served with Lapsang Souchong tea ice cream for a creamy, smoky balance. An absolute must try this week. #falldessert #chsfoodie #charlestonrestaurants #chs #chseats #appleseason #lapsangsouchong
We tried swapping out our grouper dish, but you wouldn't let us. So here's the *new* butter poached grouper • truffle celeriac velouté, arugula fennel salad #localfish #sustainableseafood #chseats #charlestonrestaurants #charlestonfood #charlestonfoodie
Fra Diavolo • house-made tagliatelle, local shrimp, sun dried tomato, aji dulce, lemon basil 🌿 stunningly fresh #charlestonseafood #localseafood #sustainableseafood #goodcatch #chsfoodie #chsrestaurants #charlestonfood
Stop in for a cocktail (or two) during the Art Walk on Friday, October 4, and enjoy live music from the Stephen Jenkins Trio! Plus, we'll be at @revealedgallery passing out bites prepared by Chef Elliott Howells. The Establishment is located in the center of Charleston's art gallery district at 28 Broad. We can't wait to see you, cheers 🥂 @stephenejenkinsmusic #charlestonartwalk #artwalk #chs #charlestonsc
It's the last weekend for the the Hat Trick Cocktail Tour benefitting @southernsmokefoundation - a non-profit that supports F&B industry with emergency relief funding and access to mental health services. Come by The Establishment and rate our participating cocktail! Crafted by our Bar Manager Ryan, we have an extra special cocktail named after a local resident (and also using her honey) “Autumn’s Apiary” • a strawberry infused, coconut washed Negroni with a local honey foam - bitters and fresh thyme garnish. @highwirechs @shopbottles #chsdrinks #charlestonfoodie #charlestonbars #cocktails
a tempting tuna tart to taste • bluefin tuna, Fresno pepper, ponzu, savory tart, Golden Osetra caviar. The perfect bite to start your meal 🖤 #chseats #charlestoneats #caviar #sustainableseafood @caviar.star
Join us for a delectable evening as we savor the beauty of the Pinot Noir grape 🍇 Guests will experience a tasting of 6 hand-selected Pinot Noirs, paired with a custom menu from Executive Chef Elliott Howells to highlight the tasting notes of each wine while celebrating fresh, local ingredients. Taste something you love during the dinner? We're excited to partner with local company @wineandcompany for your wine orders. Tickets can be purchased through Open Table or call to reserve your seat 843-789-4028. We can't wait to see you 🖤 #chsevents #charlestonevents #chseats #charlestonfoodie @breakthrubeveragegroup
A huge thank you to @robertfmoss and @postandcourier for featuring The Establishment in this week’s food review. Executive Chef Elliott Howells and our team are wildly proud of the cuisine and experience we provide customers, and we’re thankful to Robert Moss for sharing. Cheers!