Cappie Peete, Neighborhood Dining Group
Photos by Andrew Cebulka
Cappie Peete knows how to spit like a lady. (Actually gender has little to do with it.) As the Beverage Director of the Neighborhood Dining Group, she is the youngest person in Charleston, SC to receive her Advanced Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers, and so that means an awful lot of tasting wines and then spitting discreetly into a bucket. If not, she’d be like the rest of us, thinking that fourth glass is the “best wine she’s ever had!”
After looking up the audio pronunciation for “sommelier” (and realizing I’ve said it wrong every time before this recording), we sit down and chat wines. And as promised, here are her three go-to pics for 2016:
Domaine Huet Petillant
This is a delicious bottle of bubbles that is substantially less expensive than Champagne but is still very high quality. It has enticing flavors of pears and apples, and fine bubbles, and is a great bottle to have on hand for any occasion.
Hudson Chardonnnay
This is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for all Chardonnay lovers. It’s extended lees aging and oak treatment give it tons of richness that is balanced by acid and minerality. It is so complex that you’ll be remembering it (and maybe reminiscing about it) for days!
Scarpetta Barbera
This is a top pick because of its versatility with food and on its own. Its bright acid and mellow tannins make it great with pasta, pizza or meats, as well as a fun sipper on its own. A porch-sipping red wine is what I mean, perfect for the South.