Uncorked - A Stand Up Comedy Show

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Hey there Sanford! 

We’re very excited to announce our first ever Uncorked - A Standup Comedy Show, brought to you by Vinous Wine Bar, Carolina Wine Merchants, and Two Rings Comedy, featuring local comedians Tulsa Hudson, Madison Bergstedt, Eric Emerson, and Greg Capra!

Join us at Vinous Wine Bar in Sanford NC Saturday, July 12th, 8pm, for an unforgettable night of great wines, good times, and big laughs from some of the best comedians North Carolina has to offer.

Grab your tickets while they last at bit.ly/UncorkedComedyShow, or visit your favorite wine experts at Vinous Wine Bar to purchase in person!

  Madison Bergstedt Professional Bio:

Madison Bergstedt is a comedian from Greensboro, North Carolina. She has a residency at North Carolina’s very own Idiot Box Comedy Club, has been featured on Don’t tell Comedy, and opened for nationally touring comedians such as Kevin McCaffrey (The Late Show with David Letterman, Cash Cab, VH1, MTV) and Mary Mack (Solar Opposites, Dry Bar Comedy)!

Eric Emerson Professional Bio:

Eric Emerson is a Stand-Up Comedian originally from North Carolina. Eric is a regular at The Chicago Laugh Factory, the Chicago Comedy Bar, Zanies, Raleigh’s own Goodnight’s Comedy Club, and recently headlined the Comedy Bar in Nashville, TN.

Tulsa Hudson Professional Bio:

As a kid, Tulsa Hudson was always looking for ways to make people laugh. As an adult, he decided to get into standup. He became a finalist in “NC’s Funniest” just a few months after attending his first open mic. Now he’s a regular at Goodnights Comedy Club and performs all over the state, exploring topics like being the only theatre kid in town, growing up as a Jesus freak, raising a toddler, and more. Tulsa’s southern charm and fresh outlook provide hilarious insights into the life of a working comic.

Greg Capra Professional Bio:

Greg Capra is a millennial comic whose self-sabotage fuels sharp, relatable stand-up. Based in Raleigh by way of San Francisco, he's performed at top clubs like The Comedy Store, Ice House, and Gotham, as well as festivals like Rubber City (Best of Fest), Vail Comedy Fest, and SLO Comedy Fest. A regular around the NC club scene, Greg’s also shared the stage with Jim Gaffigan and was hand-picked for Nate Bargatze’s "Nateland Live" showcase. He can often be found spiraling at a Taco Bell drive thru.

Thank you,

Michael McChesney

Kay Baratti

Hey there Sanford! 

Be sure to check out Heart of The Carolinas Jazz Stroll on Saturday, June 28th from 5:30-7:30PM here at Vinous Wine Bar!! It’s going to be a great event! And it’s FREE to attend!

A Memorable Evening of Fine Wine

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, June 19th, 2025

• Time: 6pm to 8pm

• Location: Vinous Wine Bar

• Cost: $25 Per Person

• RSVP: Via Email – carolinawinemerchants@gmail.com

• Contact: Jake Jacobs – 919-349-2080

About the Event

Join us on Thursday, June 19th at 6pm for an unforgettable wine tasting experience. We are thrilled to welcome Kellogg Selections and Regional Sales Representative for Tiberio, Steve Morgan, to guide us through this exceptional evening. Discover the artistry, passion, and craftsmanship behind Tiberio wines while indulging in their exquisite flavors.

Why Attend?

This event is your opportunity to:

• Sample a curated selection of Tiberio wines, each reflecting excellence in every glass.

• Learn about the unique characteristics of these wines from Steve Morgan, an expert and regional sales representative.

• Connect with fellow wine enthusiasts in a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Reserve Your Spot

Spaces are limited, so be sure to RSVP via email at carolinawinemerchants@gmail.com to secure your place. For any inquiries, feel free to contact Jake Jacobs at 919-349-2080.

Join us in celebrating the elegance of Tiberio wines and creating lasting memories in every sip!

“Cristiana Tiberio's current releases are simply fantastic. They range from the “entry-level” 2022 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, which can outclass many of the region's best wines at a fraction of the price….In 2023, Tiberio handled the conditions of the vintage very well, turning out a mineral-intense Pecorino and a Trebbiano d'Abruzzo that may be one of the most exciting young renditions of this bottling I’ve yet tasted.” Eric Guido Vinous

Tiberio Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2023 - $27.99

Vinous 93

“The 2023 Trebbiano d'Abruzzo opens with a vivid bouquet of yellow apples, incense, chamomile and a dusting of confectionary spice. It contrasts salty mineral tones, sour lime and Granny Smith tartness with juicy acidity to create a tense yet zesty performance on the palate. This leaves a citrusy concentration that puckers the cheeks as hints of sour melon fade. Masterfully done. In my opinion, the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo is one of the most overlooked and underrated wines in the Tiberio portfolio.” EG

Tiberio Pecorino Colline Pescaresi 2023 - $32.99

Vinous 92

“Wickedly fresh, the 2023 Pecorino opens with a pretty blending of stone dust and white smoke, giving way to young peach and sage. This splashes across the palate with soft textural waves while maintaining fantastic energy. A spicy mix of sour lime and green apples saturate the senses. The 2023 cleans up beautifully, tart and mouthwatering, with a saline feel and a sensation of liquid stone. This zesty and wiry Pecorino from Tiberio is a total pleasure to taste.”

Tiberio Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo 2024 - $29.99

Vinous 94

“The 2024 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is impossible to ignore. It has a vivid, perfumed bouquet of black cherry and wild blueberry, complemented by sweet lavender tones and hints of spice. This possesses amazing complexity and inner perfume. Violet florals arc across the palate as the Cerasuolo finishes long and slightly tart. In 2024, Cristiana Tiberio used all of her Montepulciano fruit to bolster the Cerasuolo. This is not to be missed.”

Tiberio Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2022 - $27.99

Vinous 94

“Spicy to the core, the 2022 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wafts up with a blend of crushed cherries and wild berries, dusty violets, lavender and traces of incense. This is elegant in feel with silken textures and rich red and blue fruits. A crisp mineral sensation forms toward the close. The 2022 leaves the palate drenched in primary concentration, finishing with edgy tannins offset by a spike of residual acidity. Frankly, it's incredible that this is Tiberio's entry-level red, as the 2022 displays impressive depth and complexity. It's also a tremendous value. This is the total package.” EG

Please join us Saturday, May 31st from 1pm to 3pm as we welcome Mike Ruocco from Touton Selections (Wine Importer based in NYC).

Mike started his career as a wine professional in the hospitality industry back in 2000 in Italy, the country where he’s originally from.

After moving to the US in 2004, he managed restaurants in both New York City and Washington DC for over than a decade. Being the person in charge of the wine programs in many of these establishments, allowed him to keep up with trends and styles in the wine making industry.

Once Mike moved to North Carolina in 2018, he left the hospitality industry to focus on the retail/sales side of it. Mike joined his current company (Monsieur Touton Selection) in 2022 as a sales rep for Durham-Chapel Hill, here in the Triangle region. 

The knowledge of the wine industry he acquired in his years of experience in retail/sales, paired with my background in hospitality, gives Mike an invaluable perspective when it comes to wine pairing, while offering a high level of attention and customer service.

Mike Ruocco – Touton Selections Wine Tasting

Saturday May 31st, 1pm -3pm - $10 per person

Chateau Bonnet Bordeaux Blanc 2023 - $19.99 

Wine Enthusiast Best Buy 90

This wine comes from the family home of the Lurton family, one of the largest estates in Entre-deux-Mers. With a crisp aroma and a fresh, herbal Sauvignon Blanc-dominated character, the wine is classic white Bordeaux, fresh and fruity, ready to drink now. Best Buy. 

85% Sauvignon Blanc / 15% Semillon

Janare Greco di Tufo Sannio 2023 - $16.99

Greco di Tufo is named after the tiny town of Tufo in Avellino, Campania. The name Tufo is derived from “tuff;” the soft, volcanic rock that makes up the subsoil of the region. This distinctive soil is thought to impart a particular minerality to the wine flavor profile. Greco di Tufo, is the oldest grape variety of the Avellino area. It was imported from the Greek region of Thessaly by the Pelasgian peoples.

Straw yellow in color with a bouquet of peaches, citrus, honey and almonds with nuances of yellow flowers. Medium bodied and almost creamy in the mouth with flavors of honey and excellent acidity.

Ideal with appetizers, seafood-based dishes or with fried fishes, oysters, lobster and shellfish. Also excellent with buffalo Mozzarella and eggplant parmigiana.

Chateau Les Grandes Mottes Bordeaux Superior 2022 - $19.99

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot 

Deep cherry in color, it has an earthy smell. It's a medium bodied wine with ripe cherry and black tea flavors. There's also a strong tannic structure that you get full blast if you swish it around a while before swallowing.

Podere Castorani Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Cadetto 2021 - $16.99

Ruby red with violet notes, along with a nose of intense red fruit notes, with light hints of spices and chocolate. On the palate, it is full bodied with mature tannins and notes of spices and chocolate.

Perfect with chicken, light beef dishes, veal, and classic Italian pasta with tomato or meat sauce.

Join us as we welcome Italian Wine Maker Giampaolo Tabarrini to Sanford, NC to taste his amazing wines from Umbria. 

6:30pm Thursday, May 22nd, 2025 – Reservations Required

Email / Call Jake Jacobs – carolinawinemerchants@gmail.com 

to reserve your seat.

919-349-2080

$50 per person – Food Provided

Tabarrini is one of the most appreciated artisan businesses in the Montefalco area, with vineyards and a cellar in the Turrita area. Giampaolo, who represents the fourth generation of farmers in the family, is an enthusiastic and energetic winemaker, the creator and architect of an uncompromising project that has grown over time. A dreamer, a visionary, capable of evolving while remaining himself, he took over his parents' farm in the late 1990s and transformed it into an extraordinary success story. The company that bears his name resembles him and appears as a gear in perpetual motion, constantly seeking perfection and new challenges. A dynamism and a projection towards the future that rest on equally strong roots: in his own land, in the traditions of the place and in the values ​​that the Tabarrini family has passed down from generation to generation.

Montefalco “Land for Wine” is a slogan that is perfectly implemented in the chessboard of Tabarrini wines. Sagrantino is a bastion of Montefalco’s identity: it is made with separate vinifications of the vineyards to obtain Crus that tell the language of the territory with different accents. Alongside Sagrantino, other varieties and labels flourish, to design a range that sees many protagonists and no extras. From Montefalco Rosso, another great wine of the area where Sangiovese stands out, to the rediscovery of Grero (an ancient Umbrian variety with black grapes), passing through the whites. Among these, Trebbiano Spoletino sees Tabarrini as a pioneer, in terms of rediscovery and definitive consecration.

“Giampaolo Tabarrini continues to make some of the most compelling wines in Montefalco.” Antonio Galloni

https://tabarrini.com/

The Wines We’ll Taste

Tabarrini Adarmando Bianco 2020 - $34.99

Vinous 91

“The 2020 Bianco Adarmando mixes both savory and sweet, as honeyed florals and freshly sliced peach gain wild depths through a whiff of crushed rocks and enriching almond paste hints. This displays a lovely inner sweetness up front with a stern contrasting minerality as vividly ripe yellow pit fruits and citrus are carried across a tantalizingly acidic core. For all of its textural depth and concentration, this finishes perfectly fresh, slightly salty and completely irresistible. The 2020 is a seductive Adarmando drinking beautifully now yet has the balance for a long evolution.”

Tabarrini Padrone delle Vigne 2019 - $19.99

Giampaolo Tabarrini makes some of the top red wines in Umbrian, and this is the entry-point into his world. His Il Padrone (The Master) is an ode to his grandfather, the master that trained him how to be a vigneron. A blend of primarily Sangiovese with splashes of Barbera and Sagrantino, this big, bold, and decadent red sees 12 months of aging in French oak.

The finished wine offers up soaring notes of warm blueberry, dark cherry, dark chocolate, sweet tobacco, and herb. Full bodied, opulent, and finely textured, this is a big red wine that finishes smooth and easy. 

It is a fantastic VALUE!

Tabarrini  Montefalco Rosso Boccatone 2020 - $27.99

This wine is simply stunning! It is not Sagrantino’s younger brother. Such an intense and powerful wine borne from a blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino along with a precious input of Barbera. It is a flavorful and age worthy wine in its own right with a lot of aging potential.

And here’s an impressive wine making stat. It sees a MONTH long maceration, then 18 months aging in barrel, and another 12 months in bottle before release.

The color is a bright ruby red with rich and intense aromas of ripe red fruits, licorice, herbs and spices. The taste is powerful, structured, and vigorous with intense tannins and a pleasant spicy long finish.

2019 Tabarrini Montefalco Sagrantino Grimaldesco - $44.99

Drink 2028 - 2040

Vinous 96

“The 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino Colle Grimaldesco is zesty and intense, with a burst of savory herbs and woodland berries complicated by crushed ashen stone and cedar shavings. This is a beast, silky upon entry yet with a dense wave of mineral-infused, tart blackberries that saturate as fine-grained tannins add youthful poise. It's structured and incredibly long, leaving a pleasantly bitter concentration and hints of sage that linger beneath an air of hauntingly dark inner florals and a tinge of licorice.”

Join the crowd for Wine Down Wednesdays at Vinous, EVERY Wednesday!!! We have THIRTY wines at the bar to choose from and ALL wines will be 25% off starting this Wednesday, May 7th, from 4PM-9PM! 

Bring your friends, family, and even your colleagues for an evening of delightful wines and good company. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or just looking to unwind after a long day, Vinous offers the perfect ambiance for a memorable night. Discover new favorites, savor classic vintages, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Wine Down Wednesdays.

We can’t wait to see y’all! CHEERS!

Strawberry Jammin is Coming Saturday May 10th, 2025

Downtown Alive! Concert on Steele Street 3pm-5pm DJ in Charlie Watson Lane See you in Sanford for a berry good time!

Featured at Vinous Wine Bar

Childress Sun Kissed Strawberry Wine 

Sip into simplicity with sensational fruit flavors of ripened strawberry and sweet berry flavors. This sweet white wine blends harmoniously with sun-kissed strawberry notes, creating a fragrantly fresh sipper.

Castello del Poggio Strawberry Moscato 

Strawberry Kiss reveals a silvery amber color, enticing you with its vibrant hue. The bouquet fills the air with the irresistible aroma of sweet strawberries, evoking memories of biting into juicy, sun-ripened berries. The palate is a delightful journey of flavors, where the essence of strawberry shines through, accompanied by subtle hints of candied berries.

Del Mar Strawberry Margarita 

A unique blend of strawberry fruit and agave wine crafted in Mexican tradition, it contains 13.9% ABV for a lower alcohol content. Just twist, pour over ice and sip to enjoy! Agave wine is made from fermented blue agave plants, making this cocktail the perfect choice for any summer afternoon.

 Join us for our FIRST TRIVIA NIGHT!!! Thursday, April 24th, 2025 from 7PM-8:30PM, Father Matt Garrison will be hosting Trivia Night. There will be prizes/gift certificates presented to the winners!!! 

  Importer Wine Tasting

Saturday April 5th, 2025

1pm to 3pm

@Vinous Wine Bar

Sophie Barrett - Haw River Wine Imports

$30 Per Person – 

Charcuterie Boards & Snacks Provided

Come spend your Saturday afternoon with me (Jake) and Italian & French Wine Expert extraordinaire Sophie Barrett of Haw River Wine Imports as we take you on an educational tour of the fascinating wines of Italy, France & Spain.

We will dive deep into each individual wine with the history, terroir , wine growing methods, winemaking techniques and proper way to taste and evaluate.

It’s going to be a fun, educational day of wine tasting!

  1. Ostatu Rioja Blanco 2024

Ostatu consistently makes one of the best white wine values in the world, and their 2024 Rioja Blanco is better than ever. What if you could find a white wine that possessed the brightness and freshness of a Sauvignon Blanc, the lushness and texture of a Chardonnay, and the mineral complexity of a great Loire Valley white? 

Their white wine is made up of 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia from vineyards in the 60 to 70-year age range.

2. Comte Leloup Muscadet 2018 

  The first terroir and family home is Chasseloir, a vineyard with schist soils in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine appellation, right between Saint-Fiacre-sur-Maine and Château-Thébaud, on the hillsides above the river Maine. These are the family's oldest Melon vines, with vine age averaging 100+ years old! The resulting wine is dramatically delicious with deep notes of fresh lime and lemon, oyster shell and salt spray, and a Chenin-like meld of quince and pear.

3. Garofoli Piancarda Rosso Conero Montpulcino 2020 

Vinous 90+

“The 2020 Rosso Conero Piancarda, a varietal Montepulciano, lifts from the glass with a dusty mix of dried roses, red currants and hints of nectarine that form a truly inviting bouquet. This is silky and elegant, nearly creamy in feel, yet elevated and cool-toned, with mineral-laced wild berries and a salty flourish that adds a savory sensation toward the close. The 2020 leaves a coating of fine tannins, as inner florals arch across the palate, and a caking of minerality slowly fades away. The warm vintage has imparted an extra suave character here, yet the Piancarda’s structure and acidity are nicely balanced and should promote medium-term cellaring. Lose a few bottles in the cellar; you’ll thank me later.”

4. Thevenet Bourgogne Rouge Les Clos 2023

  This is gorgeous single-vineyard Pinot Noir from the southern reaches of Burgundy. This is Thévenet’s sole red wine, sourced from a superbly situated single vineyard called Les Clos, in the village of Bussières. Sporting a lovely translucent garnet color in the glass, Thévenet’s Les Clos presents dusty, soil-inflected, authentically Burgundian aromas of cranberries, red raspberries, chalky earth, and rose petals. The wine’s palate impression alternates notes of sour cherries and tangy raspberries framed by weight-lifting tannins and a persistent dusty limestone soil signature. Bright minerals, balancing acidity, and appetizing savory herbs carry the wine to its long finish.

Come join us at Vinous Wine Bar/Carolina Wine Merchants on Saturday May 18th as we welcome Jay Raffaldini to Sanford as we taste his amazing lineup of Italian wines. We will have food, wine, and Jay to speak about the wines.

Tickets for the event are just $35 and must be purchased in advance. Contact me, Jake Jacobs either by email or by phone. 

carolinawinemerchants@gmail.com/ 919-349-2080

https://carolinawinemerchants.com/

Vinous Wine Bar

112 S. Steele Street in beautiful historic downtown Sanford, NC.

For those of you who don’t know Raffaldini specializes in Italian grape varietals. One visit to Raffaldini vineyards you will feel like you’ve been transported to the beautiful countryside of the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Raffaldini Vineyards

450 Groce Road

Ronda, North Carolina 28670

Email: info@raffaldini.com

T: 336.835.9463

https://www.raffaldini.com/Visit/About-Us

The Raffaldini Wines

Vermentino Superiore 2021

“Our largest white planting this is our signature grape which we use to make a wine similar to the wine commonly found in the Italian island of Sardinia. With its beautiful minerality and saline features, this wine reminds drinkers of Mediterranean summers. Vermentino grows effortlessly on our property and when it arrives at the winery there is little winemaker intervention that takes place. It is simply a lovely wine, smooth and refreshing white with juicy notes of pineapple, sweet lemon and peach.”

Montepulciano Riserva 2020

Our largest planting on the property this grapes hails from the Province of Abruzzo which lies east of Rome. The Montepulciano grape tends to make wine that are most similar in profile to Merlot – juicy with ripe and rich fruit framed by lively acidity and soft tannins. Tending to prefer a more complex style made near the city of Chieti, we also put some of these grapes through the Appassimento drying process while also co fermenting these grapes with some Sagrantino and Petit Verdot.

Sagrantino 2020

Sagrantino is one of the rarest grapes in the world with almost 95% of the 2000 acres planted being located in the Province of Umbria and around the town of Montefalco, Sagrantino flourishes on our property and when the grapes arrive to the winery they are brimming with mouth drying tannins. We further accentuate the bigness of the wine by also utilizing the Appassimento drying process to create a savory, drying and earthy full bodied wine in the traditional Umbrian style. This wine is not for the faint of heart.

Grand Riserva 2019

The flight of the Bumble Bee defies physics- their wings are too small and don't flap fast enough to support their weight. Yet somehow, through the sheer force of their will and determination, they fly. Given the nearly impossible climate conditions we have here, we should not make a wine this wonderful, yet we do. Raffaldini Grande Riserva, our Flagship, is our Bumble Bee wine. Montepulciano, Petit Verdot, and Sagrantino grapes, harvested at optimal ripeness are triple-sorted and then dried heavily using the Appassimento drying process to further concentrate the grapes natural flavors and aromas.

La Dolce Vita 2021

La Dolce Vita (translated from Italian as The Sweet Life) is our version of the widely popular Italian sweet wine called Moscato D'asti. What makes La Dolce Vita so lovely is the aromatic profile of flowers is supported by acidity and sparkling bubbles to balance the sweetness of the wine while retaining freshness. Best served chilled it is a delightful wine designed to pair with dry cheeses and fruit or as a standalone when simply having relaxing moments.