June 2025 Wine Club
Cheers To The Start of Summer!
June has arrived, and while the weather in Vermont is keeping us on our toes (shoutout to the lush greenery though), this month’s wine is steady sunshine. To toast the start of summer, we’ve got some exciting bottles: two expressive Sicilian wines from the sisters behind Cantina Marilina, and a sparkling collaboration between Italian grower Massimo Marion and Burlington’s own Alex Labriola (who also designed Wilder’s visual identity!). No matter your start-of-summer plans, these wines are just glad to be along for the ride. Especially if that ride involves a boat…
1) Cantina Marilina, Cuè Moscato, Sicilia, Italy
Wine: White // Grapes: Moscato // Club: Vin de Soif & Cork Dork
About the Producer: Cantina Marilina is a family-run winery led by sisters Marilina and Federica Paternò, who took the reins from their father Angelo—a Sicilian winemaking veteran with decades of experience. Angelo bought land near the town of Pachino in southeastern Sicily, convinced it was one of the most special spots on the island to grow grapes. The family farms organically, practices biodiversity (think fruit trees among the vines!), and works with a light touch in the cellar. They’re serious about sustainability, too—recycled glass bottles, natural paper labels, cork closures—all in line with their philosophy of caring for the land as much as the wine.
About the Wine: If you think you know Moscato, Cuè is here to keep you guessing. Named after a Sicilian slang for “Who is it?”, this wine has a bit of an identity crisis: it smells floral and a little tropical, but it’s totally dry, zippy, and fresh. Spontaneously fermented in concrete tanks with native yeasts, it goes untouched by filtration or fining, and is bottled with just a whisper of sulfur. As for flavor, imagine eating a ripe melon while grilling a whole fish wrapped in a warm summer breeze (if you can remember what that feels like.) Cook accordingly.
“Our wines are produced with different facets precisely to demonstrate that the vine is not static, but alive and has different reactions.”
2) Cantina Marilina, Ruversa Nero d'Avola, Sicilia, Italy
Wine: Red // Grapes: Nero d'Avola // Club: Vin de Soif & Cork Dork
About the Wine: Ruversa is all about going against the grain… in fact, the name literally means “in reverse.” No stainless steel, no high-tech tools, just natural fermentation in concrete, 18 months of mellow aging in the same tanks, and a little rest in bottle before release. The result? A soulful, savory Nero d’Avola that shows off the earthy side of Sicily. It’s juicy and dark-fruited, but with a light herbal streak and the kind of curious texture that makes you want to take another sip. No filtering, no fuss, just a wine that feels honest and grounded. Enjoy it with saucy pasta or whatever comfort food you make while you wait for the warm sun to come out.
“I don’t think I can name another similarly priced sparkling wine that develops so flatteringly with time.”
3) Gia Brut Prosecco NV, Veneto, Italy
Wine: Sparkling // Grapes: Bianchetta, Perera, Verdiso, Glera and Pinot Noir // Club: Cork Dork ONLY
About the Producer: This isn’t just another bottle of bubbles. Gia is a true collaboration between Italian grower-winemaker Massimo Marion (of La Jara fame) and our very own Alex Labriola, the design mind behind Wilder’s visual identity—an OG natural wine enthusiast in her own right. Alex is one of those rare humans who’s as fluent in fermentation as she is in fonts. She worked directly with Massimo to not only create the unique label but also to sculpt the final blend and style of the wine itself.
Her quest? A sparkling wine that’s certified organic, zero added sugar, no added yeast, unfiltered, and, maybe the trickiest part, still totally crushable for your mom or anyone who’s not deep in the natty wine world.
About the Wine: Technically, Gia could be labeled as Prosecco, it’s made in Veneto and includes Glera, but it’s declassified by choice to signal that this is not your average sparkler. The blend features Glera along with lesser-known local grapes like Bianchetta, Perera, Verdiso, and a touch of Pinot Noir, then ages in tank for a rare 1.5 years(!) giving it far more depth, texture, and age-worthiness than most Prosecco. The result is a wine worth celebrating with a bouquet of fresh white flowers and salty citrus. Pair it with your favorite summer salad and potato chips.
