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A Story on Spätlese Riesling, BYOB Wine Celebrations, and a Very Worthy Birthday Bottle
Super Vino Bros
April 16, 2025
Hey guys!
This week, we’re diving into a recent reconnection with sweet German wines, why a BYOB dinner is the best way to celebrate something, and a special bottle we opened for our birthday this week. Hope you enjoy 🥂
The Sweet Return to Spätlese Riesling 🇩🇪
From a sweet mistake to a newfound appreciation.
I find drinking sweet Riesling a bit funny, mostly because it feels like I’ve come full circle. For context, Spätlese Riesling is a German wine classification meaning “late harvest”. The grapes are picked later in the season, allowing them more time to ripen, develop more sugar, and produce a richer, sweeter wine. This is what most people typically think of when they talk about Riesling
Pictured: German Wine Classifications, Photo by Flatiron Wines & Spirits
What’s hilarious about it is how it ties back to our introduction to wine. Growing up in suburban New Jersey, my brother and I were always on the lookout for something to drink on a Friday night, because, naturally, what else is there to do when you’re a high schooler? But it had to be something that actually tasted good. So we’re talking Raspberry Flavored Vodka, Fireball Whiskey, and, of course, cheap sweet German Riesling. In fact, I’m pretty sure one of the first bottles of wine we ever had, far from the dinner table, was a $10 Riesling a friend bought with their fake ID. Drinking that came with a cost, though: a brutal hangover the next day and the promise of “never drinking wine again”.
Pictured: Riesling Study at Plus de Vin
Fast forward to now, with a bit more knowledge of the wine world, and here I am, enjoying sweet German Riesling once more. The evolution of taste is funny. You start off with what’s easy and sweet, and eventually, you circle back to it, but this time with a whole new appreciation for the balance, the nuances, and even the elegance of it. And, let’s be honest, it still just tastes really, really good.
These thoughts came to mind after an event last Sunday, when Robert Dentice, aka “Soil Pimp” on Instagram, hosted a Spätlese Riesling Study at Plus de Vin, a wine bar in Williamsburg. The setup was wild: about 70-80 people packed into the covered courtyard, each bringing a Spätlese, Trocken (dry Riesling), or whatever else they felt like sharing. I won’t bore you with the finer details, but here’s what the table looked like by the end:
Pictured: Riesling Study at Plus de Vin
It was definitely more party than study, but nonetheless, it was a fantastic time, and a fun reconnection with the wine that once gave me the worst hangover of my life.
A BYOB Celebration Guide 🎉
A Quick Guide to the Only Group Dinners You’ll Ever Need
We’ve been celebrating our birthday this week, and it got me thinking, whether it’s mine and my brother’s, one of our friends’ birthdays, or any other reason we’re gathering, there’s always one thing we can count on: a BYOB wine dinner. I’ve mentioned it before, but there’s just something about a zero corkage wine night that always works. It’s the most fun, the most inclusive, and by far the most economical way to enjoy great food and even better company.
Wu’s Wonton King is a favorite among New York wine lovers, but here’s a few more spots where you can BYOB with no corkage and enjoy an incredible meal too.
Deluxe Green Bo, Chinatown 📍
Their BYOB policy was a recent discovery for me, though the spot’s been around since the '80s. It serves some of my favorite food in the area, and finding out they don’t charge a corkage fee made it even better. We went there with 10 friends for an early celebration, feasted like kings, and all paid less than $20 per person. We brought some Spanish Cava and Tuscan Sangiovese, both paired beautifully.
Pictured: Deluxe Green Bo, Photo by Infatuation NYC
Astoria Seafood, Astoria📍
Seafood lovers, this one is for you. This spot in Astoria isn’t exactly a secret, but it’s still one of the best places for fresh seafood in the city, and they keep it simple with no corkage BYOB. If you’re up for a trek to Queens, this place is worth the trip. Grilled octopus, briny oysters, and seafood platters, just order all of it. Albariño or Muscadet are my go-tos; they pair with pretty much everything on the table. If you’re craving Greek food, make this your next stop.
Pictured: Astoria Seafood, Photo by New York Magazine
Spicy Village, Lower East Side 📍
This is where to go for bold, spicy Chinese food. The Big Tray Chicken is the standout: chicken, chilis, and spices piled high, perfect for sharing. To balance the heat, grab an off-dry Riesling or a heavily macerated orange wine, probably the best pairing you’ll find. The place is tiny though, so I'd recommend keeping your group to four people if you can.
Pitcured: Spicy Village, Photo by Infatuation NYC
Honestly, whether you have something to celebrate or nothing at all, grab some bottles, gather your friends, and hit one of these spots soon 🍽️
Producer Highlight ⭐️
One of our favorite parts of wine is the discovery: we’re constantly being put on to new regions, producers, and cuvées from our friends. We’ll never be able to try EVERY wine, but we want to take a moment to mention some producers that excite us!
Domaine Tissot 🍷
Location: Jura, France 📍
Pictured: Jura, Picture by Britannica
When people think of Jura, they often think of Tissot. Stéphane Tissot took over his parents' estate, Domaine André et Mireille Tissot, in 1990 and quickly became one of the region’s most influential figures. With 45 to 50 hectares of biodynamically farmed land, he has turned the estate into a benchmark for both quality and sustainability. Stéphane transitioned the domaine to organic farming in the late '90s, later adopting biodynamic practices a few years after that.
Stéphane’s wines strike a perfect balance between tradition and innovation. His Chardonnays capture the elegance of white Burgundy, while his reds, some with a touch of oak, others bursting with freshness, are pure finesse. His Savagnin sous voile is a standout, paying homage to the region’s rich heritage. Every bottle reflects Stéphane's meticulous attention to detail, solidifying Domaine Tissot as a cornerstone of the Jura wine scene.
Domaine Tissot at Le Nez Dans Le Vert
Personally, I’m obsessed with Tissot wines. One of the first Jura Chardonnays I ever had was Domaine Tissot’s Patchwork Chardonnay, and it completely opened my eyes to what the Jura can be. The best way I can describe it: it tasted like sesame seeds. So much so, in fact, that one of my friends, who is allergic to tree nuts and seeds, briefly thought he might have a reaction.
Stéphane was actually in town last Monday and I was able to grab a photo with him.
I’m lucky that Discovery Wines, just down the street from me, carries an impressive selection of Tissot. Earlier this week, while searching for a bottle to celebrate our birthday, Trevor, the wine buyer, shared some exciting news: the store had recently acquired a private cellar from a small collector and now have a tiny stock of back vintages, including Domaine Tissot.
That’s when I chose to pick up a 2016 Domaine Tissot Les Graviers Chardonnay, definitely a worthy bottle to mark the occasion.
Domaine Tissot Les Graviers 2016
You might be wondering why this bottle is so significant. First off, as I’ve mentioned, Tissot is fantastic, and I highly recommend trying anything from their range. But more importantly, in the world of natural wine, it’s rare to find bottles older than 2020 on store shelves. Occasionally, you might come across some back vintages at spots like The Four Horsemen, but they’re few and far between. Why is that? Well, from what I’m told, natural wine didn’t have a significant collector base outside of New York for a long time, and even here, there wasn’t much space to store wines for 10+ years. This makes older bottles like this one incredibly special. I can confirm that the Les Graviers was phenomenal, and if you can, I’d urge you to pick up some back vintage bottles from Discovery Wines. Link to the bottles is below.
That’s it for this week! Thanks so much for reading along.
It just so happens to be our birthday today, and we truly appreciate all of you for joining us for another lap around the sun.
Enjoy the rest of your week, and as always, drink responsibly 🥂