Sweet and Dry had the pleasure of sitting down with Fifth Avenue Grill sommelier, Glenn Fiedler, a few months ago at the upscale Delray Beach steakhouse.

Fiedler has been the restaurant’s sommelier for the past 9 years, and been with the company for 20. We quizzed him on his recommendations for great alternative white and red wines. Take a look at the video for some unique white wines to try, and then check back next week for his suggestions on alternative reds. But first, a little bit about Glenn:


Watch the video


History in wine: Fiedler grew up in New York and started waiting tables in restaurants in his late teenage years. His mother worked on and off as a professional chef, so wine was something he knew from an early age.

“I grew up with such great food and wine was such a natural pairing with dinner. It wasn’t like it was a passionate thing; it was just an essential part of the diet. That’s what really got me into wine the most, is trying to convey that message.”

Favorite part of the job: “Sitting down drinking wine! Not only that, the joy factor in finding the right bottle of wine for somebody is immense. It’s an immense pleasure for me; it’s an immense pleasure for them. It’s rewarding.”

Favorite type of red wine: “That’s almost like trying to pick your favorite child. Zinfandel is definitely one of my favorites. My introduction, it was a Ravenswood, way back when, and it was so good! It was the first time that I drank a big wine that I liked. And then I became fond of it because it was uniquely American.”

Favorite type of white wine: “I love my Moschofilero because it’s simple and easy to drink. I do fall into the category of loving Chardonnay. But overall, I love Albariño. Albariño is my favorite, because it changed how I looked at Spanish whites.”

Advice for a new wine lover: “Try everything and write everything down. I try new things all the time – stuff I’ve never heard of, teeny-tiny little things. Sometimes, I’m even ashamed to say that the label grabs me.”

Best thing about wine: “If it’s a very fun surroundings, a simple dinner with friends and family, you won’t have to write anything down because you’ll remember that bottle for the rest of your life. That’s what makes wine so much fun. The next time you drink it, it transcends you to the last time. There is no other beverage like that. Nothing.”

Swirl Girl Dry went on a mission to track down some of Fiedler’s suggestions for alternative white wines at retail stores. Here are his suggestions with information on where they are locally available:

Casalnova Prosecco ($35/bottle at Fifth Avenue Grill): This is a great sparkling wine from Italy. It’s a simple, delicate wine with hints of honeysuckle and flowers. It’s easy to drink alone, or try with salads or light seafood appetizers. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a retail location that carries this wine. But you can find it on the wine list at Fifth Avenue Grill.

Boutari Moschofilero ($9.97 at Crown Wine & Spirits): This wine is carried by Crown, Total Wine and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, but Crown’s pricing was the best. This is a dry white wine from Greece. It’s a light, crisp wine with hints of cantaloupe, melon and citrus. It’s great with or without food.

Martin Codax Albariño ($10.99 at Total Wine): This wine is carried by Crown, Total Wine, ABC, and Whole Foods, but this time, Total Wine has the lowest price. Albariño is grown in the northwestern part of Spain. It is a fairly acidic, dry wine with plenty of citrus notes on the aroma and palate. Try this wine with seafood.

Naia Verdejo ($11.99 at Total Wine): This wine is currently out of stock at Total Wine, but can be ordered. Whole Foods also carries it for $13.99. Another Spanish wine, Naia comes from the region of Rueda. Fiedler strongly suggested trying this wine with lobster.

Domaine du Tariquet Sauvignon Blanc ($8/gls at Fifth Avenue Grill): Although the grape isn’t alternative, the region it comes from is. This wine comes from Armagnac, an area in France much more famous for their Brandy. This wine exhibits notes of citrus, earth and honeysuckle. I couldn’t find a retail store that carries this wine, but you can try it by the glass at Fifth Avenue Grill.

Domaine Tempier Rosé ($65/bottle at Fifth Avenue Grill): This is a beautiful dry wine with hints of summertime fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. Crown Wine & Spirits did carry this wine awhile back and may be able to special order it on request. If not, you can buy a bottle over dinner at Fifth Avenue Grill.

Darioush Viognier ($44.99 at Crown Wine & Spirits): Famous for its Cabernet, Darioush also makes big and bold white wines. This wine will definitely appeal to those who like big and rich Chardonnays. This full-bodied, vibrant wine exhibits aromas of citrus, jasmine and honeysuckle. On the palate, it has a slightly oily mouth feel, with flavors of peach and pear. It’s extremely food-friendly. Fiedler suggests this wine can even stand up to the strongest, sharpest cheese.

Check back next week for Fiedler’s suggestions on alternative red wines, along with where you can find them locally.

~Dry (Gwen)