Iacomini family celebrates 90 years with a special wine | Phil Your Glass
The Iacomini family is celebrating 90 years in business and wanted to honor this momentous occasion with their loyal customers. So they are adding a private label wine to their stellar 2,000-bottle wine shop at Papa Joe’s in Merriman Valley.
"It was actually (managers) Morgan Massey, Toni Cornacchione and (wine manager) Danny Amato who thought it would be nice to have something that we could share with our customers in celebration of our 90th anniversary,” said co-owner Jeff Bruno. That’s how the idea for a private label wine came about.
"They brought some drawings with what they though the label should look like, and my sister (Kim McLaughlin) and I agreed with my mom (Judy Amato) that that would be fun."
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Bruno’s great grandfather, August Iacomini, brought his culinary skills from Florence, Italy. August and his wife, Eletta Iacomini, started Iacomini’s in 1932 at 321 Exchange St. in the middle of the depression. They moved upstairs and turned the living room of their home into a restaurant. In 1968, they moved from Exchange Street to Little Joe’s Pub in Bath, and then to a larger Little Joe’s Pub in Hudson in 1973.
The family has been in the current Papa Joe’s location in the Valley since 1986.
They have been blessed with a loyal following of customers, many over 37 years, and several over 55 years.
With help from Bruno securing Windsor Vineyards in Hopeland, California, the three managers taste tested sample bottles from the winery. The favorite of the group was a 2020 Paso Robles cabernet.
“We plan to celebrate the 90th with this wine and our customers all year long,” said Bruno. Live music will add to the festivities throughout the year.
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Hess Collection wine dinner
Hess Collection winemaker Stephanie Pope will host a five-course wine dinner at Papa Joe’s at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Chef Joe Alvis, who has been with the restaurant for over 25 years, will pair food for each of the five Napa Valley wines served. Price is $125 per person. Call 330-923-7999 to make a reservation.
A visit to the winery in Napa Valley is a must. I have been traveling regularly to wine country since 1999. My tasting last year in Hess' wonderful art gallery has been one of my most memorable experiences.
Email me at philyourglass@gmail.com with any wine questions and follow me on Instagram @pmasturzo_philyourglass.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Iacomini family celebrates 90 years with a special wine at Papa Joe's
