Escape holiday hustle and bustle at Cellar 59 Wine Bar & Shop in Stow | Phil Your Glass

Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
A North Hill panino and a glass of Villarini Nero d'Avola Sicilia from Cellar 59 Wine Bar & Wine Shop in Akron.
A North Hill panino and a glass of Villarini Nero d'Avola Sicilia from Cellar 59 Wine Bar & Wine Shop in Akron.

Cellar 59 Wine Bar & Wine Shop in Stow is the place to go if you need a respite from all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I popped in last week on my way back from a shopping trip at the Stow Community Center.

The cozy 1860s remolded farmhouse on state Route 59 near the Kent State University Airport has received nine Wine Spectator Magazine Awards. It was also named one of 11 Top Spots to Wine, Dine and Bottle Shop in the country by the magazine in March.

Phil Your Glass: It's time for the Feast of the 7 Delicious

I sat at the bar and chatted with general manager Max Pezzaniti. We’re both North Hill boys, Italian and graduates of St. Anthony of Padua Elementary School. I was most impressed with his wine knowledge.

“I don’t like not knowing what’s in the bottle,” said Pezzaniti, who could effortlessly describe any wine in the shop that I picked off the shelf.  "I like getting intimate with these bottles and giving people a correct ascension of what they like.”

Cellar 59 offers eight different kinds of pizzas, charcuterie, salad, panini and small plate options that are paired with wine glass pours.

I usually get a pizza, but selected the $11 North Hill panino and a $10 glass of Villarini Nero d'Avola from Sicily. The panino was perfect. It was packed with flavorful capicola, soppressata, provolone, mozzarella fresca and a nice giardiniera, which is an an Italian relish of pickled vegetables. The Nero d’Avola was one of the best I've had, from a label I've never seen before. Nice, rich red raspberry and blackberry flavors.

Local Flavor:Noisy Oyster Pub in Akron makes me as happy as a clam

Don’t make the same mistake that I did and not save room for the Nutella flatbread dolce paired with the Cockburn’s Tawny Port.

There are a lot more shopping days before the 25th. And I’m sure I will need a glass of wine or two along the way.

Send me an email at philyourglass@gmail.com with any wine questions and follow me on Instagram @pmasturzo_philyourglass.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Award-winning Cellar 59 Wine Bar & Wine Shop in Stow has food, wine