Sunday School

WINE

SKIN CONTACT, “ORANGE POPSICLE,” PRAY TELL ‘23

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Pray Tell’s 2023 Skin Contact “Orange Popsicle” is as vibrant and lively as its name suggests – a joyful yet complex expression of the Willamette Valley in a bottle. This 70% Pinot Gris and 30% Chardonnay blend comes from high-elevation vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains and Eola-Amity Hills, where cool breezes and meticulous organic practices nurture the grapes. It’s a wine that sings of guava, peach, orange peel, and red apple, with a mineral backbone and silky texture that’s as refreshing as it is intriguing. This is thanks to varying degrees of skin contact (from 24 hours to three weeks) and aging in French neutral oak and stainless steel. Such a defined process makes way for a wine that’s fresh and bright, yet grounded.

We love Pray Tell because winemaker Tom Caruso’s story is as captivating as his wines. Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Tom’s winemaking roots began with his grandfather on a Philly sidewalk, where they crushed grapes with a hand-crank press that Tom still treasures. After a stint in New York as an editor, a chance visit to Brooklyn Winery ignited his passion for wine. This journey led him to Bedrock Wine Co. in Sonoma, where he learned from legends like Morgan and Joel Peterson, and then to Oregon, where the Willamette Valley’s beauty and terroir inspired Pray Tell.

The story doesn’t stop there. Recently, Tom brought Pray Tell back to where it all began – Philadelphia. He moved the winery to Olde Kensington, into the very same building where his family started their business 30 years ago. This full-circle moment captures the spirit of Pray Tell: a celebration of roots, curiosity, and the craft of winemaking. This is more than just a wine – it’s a heartfelt connection between coast-to-coast journeys, family legacy, and a glass that inspires joy. We will cheers to that anytime!

$16 glass   •   $11 glass

CHEESE

COMTÉ ST. ANTOINE

Jura, France · Cow-R

In the Alps, the big wheels keep on turning. Classic and ever-elegant Comté is an AOC (government name protected) cheese, with production dating back to the 12th century. Historically, making these giant wheels required herders to bring their cows to graze in the Alps during the summer and craft cheese in the mountain chalets. Ever efficient, they would transport the enormous accumulation to market in the form of a big wheel at the end of the summer rather than trek down the mountain several times throughout the season.

Comté is traditionally made with summer milk, which is also used for Vacherin Mont d'Or cheese in the winter. Comté is eggy and rich, with a straight-up, unapologetically buttery flavor. Beneath a chestnut-colored rind, the subtle, yellow paste is firm yet unctuous and melts in your mouth. Highly snackable, enjoy this cheese alone or with a light-hearted red or nutty Jura white wine. Perhaps we could suggest a Philly-made orange wine, too? The sky is truly the limit with Comté St. Antoine!

$9  •   $6