When many local restaurants need a brilliantly selected wine list with a sharp eye on value, they turn to Erin Ungerman.
With decades of experience in and around the restaurant industry, she's now known as the go-to wine representative who finds some of the more exciting under-the-radar and new-to-market bottles. She travels the globe as vice president and director of sales for New France Wine Co., visiting vineyards and learning the stories behind the grapes and vintners.
We saw Ungerman's wine picks on display during the pandemic through her collaboration with chef Karyn Tomlinson, owner of St. Paul's Myriel, on Karyn's Quarantine Kitchen. Tomlinson would create delicious takeout offerings, and Ungerman would select the perfect wine to take the meal to the next level.
All that makes her the perfect source to both answer food-and-juice pairing questions and to recommend picks for the bubbly holiday ahead. Ungerman not only knows all the great pours, but where to find them locally. Here are her top six suggestions:
Pomalo Pet Nat
Tasting notes: "This bottle comes from the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. Made from 100% Debit, which is a local white varietal, this wine is clean, bright and fresh. If one could bottle sunshine, citrus and sea salt, well, this would be it. 'Pomalo' means to take it easy, to relax, no stress, slow down, no worries, and is rooted in the coastal and island lifestyle and the general state of mind of the Dalmatians — a good 2023 resolution!"
Cost: $20-$23.
Available at: Henry & Son, Mpls.; France 44, Mpls.; Edina's municipal liquor store; Thomas Liquors, St. Paul; The Vine Shop, Hopkins.
J. Laurens Les Graimenous
Tasting notes: "A stunning bottle of bubbles for the money coming from the Limoux region of France, which has a long history of making sparkling wine in the traditional method (traditional meaning the same way Champagne is made). This crémant is bright, crisp and clean with tiny delicate bubbles that have a little dance party in your mouth. This is Champagne quality without the Champagne price tag."
