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We’re celebrating Philly Mag’s Wine Week, and toasting to all things grapey and fermented. Check back daily for updates. On to today’s selections:

Make It: Le Castagne

The Sena family is known for their white tablecloth institution, La Famiglia, a fine dining Italian experience that’s unmatched in town. They opened Le Castagne a few years back in Rittenhouse to great acclaim and more affordable pricing, sans Jacket Needed In The Dining Room. They are my pick because of a very tempting ‘3-Course Tasting Menu Tailored To Each Guest’ at a price point of $65. This includes the libations. You can’t go wrong with anything they serve, but make sure you get at least one dish featuring their homemade pasta. It’s some of the best in the city.

Le Castagne is a winner of Wine Spectator’s prestigious Wine Award this year, and what they’re spilling out is no joke. Producer Pio Cesare has great penetration in the PLCB, and Le Castagne is featuring a bevy of their beverages. The highlight is a 2000 Barolo, one of the most prized wines in Italy. Made from Nebbiolo grapes, this juice is often referred to as the ‘Wine of Kings and King of Wines’. Also on the list is one of my stalwarts, the Dolcetto D’Alba, and 2 sparklers: a Prosecco, and a Moscato D’ Asti. Often thought of as a dessert wine, the Moscato is actually a great expression of Northern Italian wine prior to the advent of modern winemaking techniques. Excellent choices and a great representation of Italy’s varied varietals and styles.  

Forget It: Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse

$100 PER PERSON. Need I say more? Nope, but I will. The menu is the most vanilla of all participating restaurants, so naturally they must also charge the most. Wait, what? Highlights include Bufala Mozzarella, a Paperdelle dish, and another Petit Filet.

Highlighting the ‘Wines of Northeast Italy’ I see a Pinot Noir (which retails at $12 a bottle), a Merlot, and a Friuliano. Not exactly a good respresentation of the region. No Prosecco, no Soave, and no Amarone? $100. Really? For that price I will need some Dal Forno Romano Amarone della Valpolicella poured out by none other than the exhumed corpse of Luciano Pavarotti.

BYOB Pick: Little Fish

I know it’s not in Rittenhouse, but too many have forgotten how great this place is, or that it even exists, quietly on the corner of 6th and Catherine St. A recent winner of Philly Mag’s ‘Dish Of The Year’ , Chef Mike Stollenwerk has one of the best open kitchens in the city and plates great seafood. Menu highlights are the Diver Scallops (best scallops I’ve eaten this year), the Vichysiose, and of course my love for Monkfish.

Grab a bottle of Luna Freakout for $10 to wrangle all of the fish in your tummy with a proper invitation. The PLCB code is 18065.

Of note: I would be remiss to not give big ups to Brian McMahon, Sommelier extraordinaire at Le Bec-Fin. I stopped by yesterday to discuss Le Bec-Fingate, and he explained about the mix-up with Philly Mag and what they were actually offering. Never fear, the price is still in place, and well worth it. Not cut from the same cloth as most stuck-up wine pushers, McMahon is a wine geek at heart and a truly nice dude. He has changed Le Bec’s monstrous wine list from top heavy expensive untouchables to moderately priced drinkable juice. Not a small feat. There were many ‘Wine Week’ diners at the establishment along with regular patrons, and all were offered the same exemplary personal wine service at a joint known for its self-importance, stuffiness, and intense snobbery. McMahon believes in wine more than elitist behavior, and Le Bec is lucky to have him.