This begs the question: When, after you have invaded and then integrated your culture into, or maybe on top of another culture, can you then call that region your home? When does that happen? Not sure?

On Monday, December 15th, City Vino was awarded a plaque recognizing us as one of the Top 10 retail shops for SHABO wine sales in the United States. I am completely floored. Yes, SHABO was part of our Wine Cru back in June, and yes, some bottles sold then. But what surprised me most was what happened afterward. The continued interest. The questions. The repeat purchases. The genuine curiosity. The demand came directly from you. As always, we aim to serve our community, and Fredericksburg embraced Ukrainian wine with enthusiasm. That kind of openness and trust is never assumed and never taken lightly.

Sam Lerman, CEO of Spyrt Worldwide, a company focused on importing Ukrainian wine, vodka, and other spirits, visited City Vino to share his remarkable journey, the story of SHABO Winery, and a flight of eight Ukrainian wines with the King George Wine Society. The evening was a captivating blend of history, personal mission, and exceptional winemaking. Here are the highlights of a night that took guests from the shores of the Black Sea to the vineyards of Odesa, Ukraine.

Let’s talk about the phrase “room temperature.” Honestly, is this really a universally understood thing? For many of us, it’s that perfect temperature where you can walk around the house in your underwear, binge-watching TV, and not feel too hot or too cold. It’s comfort, it’s balanced—but it's not exactly scientific. And that’s kind of the problem.