Looking to branch out from hard seltzer? Food-friendly Lambrusco wine is cool again

Source: Star Tribune

Fans of hard seltzers should try this affordable wine, which comes in a variety of price points and levels of sweetness.

My absolute favorite food-wine pairing is any of Red Table Meat Company's salumis with any Lambrusco, from a lighter Sorbara rosato to a darker Salamino.

Semisweet, semi-fizzy renditions are popular in pizza parlors, while Sorbara has found great favor at casual eateries, wine bars such as Ambi in Anoka and Italian outposts such as Terzo in Minneapolis.

Other versions at varying levels of sweetness and price points (almost always under $25) are taking up more shelf space than ever at wine-centric stores such as South Lyndale, Zipp's, North Loop, Thomas, France 44 and Central Avenue.

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ABC Newspapers: Anoka natives launch wine bar downtown - ABC Newspapers

A wine bar slated to open in Anoka this month is about more than tannins and tastings; it’s about community. Three Anoka area natives are launching Ambi Wine Bar at the corner of Second Avenue and Jackson Street, in the space once occupied by Herr Schmidt’s Inn and more recently by the Redrum smoke shop.

Ambi’s founders grew up in Anoka and Andover and were looking for a business opportunity that built on the momentum they saw growing in downtown Anoka. They wanted to complement the existing businesses and draw more people to their hometown.

“Through market research we found that wine as a category was growing, wine consumption was growing, both in bars and liquor stores, and we noticed that downtown Anoka didn’t really have something in that space,” said co-founder Ythan Pratt, of Blaine. “ And so it fit really well with our objective of getting people down here without pulling from other businesses.” Pratt, who has a decade of experience in advertising. With experience as a small business owner, Jess Pratt will lead operations, and Good will focus on public relations and building relationships with other local businesses.

Ambi already has plans to offer food pairings through partnerships with other local businesses, such as Truffles & Tortes and Anoka Meat & Sausage. It will feature work by local artists as well as regular live music.

The business will focus on creating a comfortable atmosphere for wine drinkers of all types.

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