Tucked into Italy’s far northeastern corner, where the Alps tumble down toward the Adriatic and the borders of Austria and Slovenia blur, lies a region that quietly produces some of the country’s most elegant and expressive wines, Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It’s a place of contrasts: mountains and sea, Italian warmth and Central European precision, centuries-old tradition and cutting-edge experimentation. For generations, this cultural crossroads has been a meeting ground for empires, merchants, and migrants, and today, for wine lovers seeking something both authentic and quietly extraordinary.

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.

Is it February that just brings out the crazy need to feel somewhat romantic with your spouse? Maybe it’s just the time of year. Christmas was two months ago, and we all spent way too much and regretted it. All through January, most of us hibernated because it was just too dark outside to get out after work. But here is February. The depths of what should be winter, and we realize that actually spending time with people again is a good thing.