Thanks to my in-laws, in my early twenties I had the privilege of taking a trip through Tuscany, visiting wineries and enjoying unforgettable cuisine along the way. Perhaps the most memorable part of the trip was tasting with Giuseppe Sesti at the castle of Argiano. Giuseppe struck me as the type of man who treated strangers like he’d known them his whole life—while genially overestimating how much an average Joe like me knows about wine, let alone astrology. His wines and kindness won me over; his belief in the moon’s influence on his winemaking won my wife over.
     Fast forward to over a decade later, and Sesti’s Monteleccio (pictured above with smoked duck, find our recipe here) has been a go-to for us ever since our visit in 2013. My wife and I are just a couple of 30-something-year-old kids with three kids of our own, and we love to host, chef up, and share wine. We don’t have an unlimited budget, so the staple wines that we routinely order from Kermit all punch above their price range—although I typically throw in a special bottle or two. What’s awesome about the Monteleccio is it can easily be dressed up or down, kind of like a great pair of Jordans. My wife has a knack for casually whipping up an awesome meal on a random Tuesday after soccer practice… Monteleccio time. I have a habit of accidentally inviting all the neighbors over for a 7-course feast on a Sunday afternoon… Better open up some Monteleccio. You get the idea. Here’s a typical menu for a meal at our place:
• Crudo plate while we grill (hamachi, salmon, tuna, olive oil, salt, greens, peppers) with Tintero Arneis ($14)
• Garlicky roasted potatoes and arugula salad with Domaine de Fontsainte Gris de Gris ($20)
• Smoked duck, light lemon pasta with Sesti Monteleccio ($29)
     A pretty stellar lineup for $63 worth of vino! Shoutout to my father-in-law, Will, for teaching the ways of affordable, quality wines (and sneaking in a few special ones, too). And here’s to the late Giuseppe Sesti and the KLWM family who love to host, cook good food, and share good wine. Cheers! —JR Weaver