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From $63k to $14M: The Transformation of Florida’s Party Destination ‘Beer Can Island’ – A Photo Tour
After six months of tracking down the owner of a small Tampa Bay island, Russell Loomis bought the marooned 9 acres for $63,500 in December 2017. Little did he know, it was an infamous party destination.
“I had no idea how popular this place was with the boating community,” Loomis told USA TODAY in an interview. “Come early February, early March…every weekend or every nice weather day the island was completely surrounded by hundreds of boats and hundreds of people up on the island.”
The spot goes by many names Pine Key and Paradise Island, but most popularly by Beer Can Island.
Loomis pooled money with some friends including Cole Weaver with the hopes of operating a floating tiki bar off its shores. But over the last six years, they’ve turned it into much more.
But now, they’re closing in on a deal to pass the island and its visitors to the next owners.
“We’re all entrepreneurs and we’ve done what we could do with the island,” Weaver said, rattling off the weddings, concerts and food and beverage services they brought to the island. “It’s just time for us to pass the torch to somebody who can come in and make the island bigger.”
‘Literal cottagecore’: Maine Wedding Cake House for sale at $2.65 million. See photos
Weaver said when they first bought the island, he camped out there for 100 days straight helping out with the bar, socializing with the onslaught of visitors and growing a big “Cast Away” beard in the meantime.
“I just (would) meet interesting people all day, hang out, party with them all day and then sunset comes around and they disappear and I’m on an island all by myself walking around like, did that really happen?” Weaver said.
He remembers most fondly the variety of people the island attracted, including professional athletes, politicians and people whose families had been going there for up to seven generations.
Loomis said they set up a membership system to allow people to purchase liquor from their bar. The memberships range from $9 a month to $499 for three years, and Loomis said they ended up with approximately 4,500 members. They closed Beer Can Island to the public in February of this year and listed it for $14.2 million.
Officials have raised concerns about emergency accessibility on the island, local outlets reported, and a young man drowned while visiting the island in 2023.
“Unfortunately, those things can happen anywhere,” Loomis said, adding that the island is safer with the staff who were trained in providing aid than if it was left uninhabited with the flow of visitors. He also said the island has devolved into “lawlessness” since they stopped operating.
Loomis said they are exploring two different potential deals: one from a private buyer and another from someone who hopes to buy it on behalf of the community with $1,000 pledges from members going into an Escrow account.
“It’s been a really fun project,” Loomis said, but he also expressed he is ready to move onto his next endeavor.
Weaver said that some people are worried it will fall into the wrong hands and may not be available to the public in the future, but he hopes it be expanded and improved on.
“There’s a lot of good potential still with the future of this place,” Weaver said.
The Reasons Why Soda-Made ‘Wine’ Will Leave a Taste of Regret
Homebrewing is currently all the rage on TikTok, and shockingly, one trend involves turning soda into wine. While it’s true that you can ferment just about anything with a high sugar content, the soda-to-wine pipeline is questionable (and an even worse idea than putting wine in a SodaStream). Despite this, the concept of fermenting something in a jar like a science experiment is enticing some to give it a go. Brave TikTokers have succeeded with flavors like Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper, but many question whether the result is even worth it.
Home wine making can be risky for the unskilled. If you miscalculate the quantity of yeast, you might experience significant bloating and gastrointestinal pain. Moreover, your wine could get contaminated by bacteria. Although the bacteria produced during the fermentation process via TikTok’s method might not make you sick, it certainly won’t enhance the taste. Many seasoned winemakers will add sulfur dioxide to their wine to fend off such growths.
One hazard of trying to make pruno-style soda wine, like one Reddit user suggested, is the potential for exposure to a lethal toxin produced by harmful bacteria. Fermenting fruit juice, sugar, and other pruno ingredients like honey can result in botulism, which can be deadly. To avoid this, never put fresh fruit or honey in your soda wine; sterilization is essential. Clean all your gear with no-rinse sanitizer or rubbing alcohol, and consult an expert fermentation guide before you venture into this on your own.
Read more: Popular Vodka Brands Ranked From Worst To Best
Sans pruno technique, Golden Hive Mead on TikTok demonstrates the soda wine process with a liter of Dr. Pepper and a gallon-sized jar. They eliminate as many gas bubbles as possible because carbonation destroys yeast — the necessary fermenting agent. A gradual pour with vigorous stirs helps decrease some of the osmotic pressure, but ultimately, what you’re concocting is yeasty, flat soda (which does not sound tasty). Besides, an acidic pH doesn’t support healthy yeast. Adding baking soda to balance the acid is one solution, but there are still preservatives in soda, like sodium benzoate, that will prevent the yeast from reaching its full potential.
Soda also lacks the natural tannins that make wine deliciously bitter. Sure, you can add yeast and nutrients, but there’s really no way to add the amino acids, aromatic compounds, and phenolic compounds that support yeast populations in actual wine. So be warned, fermented soda will not have the same body and flavor as your favorite wine. According to Golden Hive Mead, you could end up with a sweet flavor, but they note that it’s not the greatest-tasting wine. While it attains a decent alcohol percentage after a few weeks, the taste won’t be comparable to mixing grape soda with a glass of red wine. You might as well skip the hassle and make a risk-free wine-and-cola cocktail instead.
Read the original article on Mashed
Championing the Dynamic Duo: Beer and Barbecue
Apr. 18—Following on from a wine festival earlier this month, beer will now become the celebratory beverage of choice at the upcoming Lodi Grape Festival.
The Lodi Beer Fest and State BBQ Championship of 2024 is set to make a reappearance at the Ole Mettler Grape Pavilion come Saturday, April 27, from 1-5 p.m., boasting an array of over 40 local and national breweries showing off their top signature craft beers.
According to Grape Festival director, Mark Armstrong, “The beer fest shares many similarities with the wine fest. Despite the changing beer selections, this year we’re also introducing alcohol-infused seltzers. These are currently quite the hit, and we even have a dedicated section for them.”
The seltzers that are scheduled to be showcased next week include names like Nutrl, Beatbox, Rod & Hammer’s and more.
For those who enjoy a good brew, breweries from the West Coast that were showcased at this year’s event include Deschutes Brewery based in Oregon, Firestone Walker from San Diego, Lost Coast featured from Humboldt County, and Sierra Nevada from Chico, to mention a few.
The event also welcomed international breweries including Red Stripe, Dos Equis, Pacifico and Fosters among others.
In total, 43 beverage firms graced the occasion with their presence.
This marks the sixth year for the festival to host the State BBQ Championship, an event endorsed by the Kansas City BBQ Society. Participants bring their cooking A-game by preparing chicken, pork ribs, a pork shoulder or beef brisket with their preferred choice of wood, pellets or charcoal for heat. Each dish is rated anonymously based on its appearance, tenderness, and taste.
If the count of participating teams surpasses 15, the champion will proceed to the notorious “World Series of BBQ,” alternatively recognized as the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue scheduled in the upcoming October at Lynchburg, Tenn. Moreover, the triumphant team from the current year’s Beer Fest will be eligible for the American Royal Invitational in Kansas City, MO from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.
Around 40 teams will be contending in the championship, revealed Armstrong, with approximately seven vending food during the event. Besides relishing beer and barbecue, attendees can also indulge in a series of games including cornhole, ping pong, beer pong, and Jenga. New food trucks presenting macaroni and cheese or homemade pretzels will also be available for the gastronomes.
The ambiance of the event will be uplifted by the tunes played by Maya, a cover band known for their Santana music as well as a diverse range of covers, along with The Sweet Taunts, a band from Lodi specializing in folk, rock, and country blues.
The beer fest witnesses a footfall of about 3,000 people every year.
“We’re looking forward to (the event).” Armstrong said. “The weather looks like it’s going to be great, and we’re close to selling out our VIP tickets, so anyone who wants those should get them as soon as possible.”
The VIP tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door, and include entry at 1 p.m. with a commemorative glass and backpack. General admission tickets are $35 in advance, $5 at the door, and includes entry at 2 p.m. with beer tasting and a commemorative glass.
Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Lodi Grape Festival office, as well as Stogies Lounge, Five Window Beer Company, River Rock Brewery in Galt, and Dry Creek Liquor in Woodbridge.
Designated-driver tickets are available online and at the door, but must be purchased with someone that has a valid Lodi Beer Fest ticket.
Tickets are nonrefundable, with additional processing and handling fees applicable for online purchases.
The event is strictly for individuals aged 21 and above; therefore, infants, toddlers, and children won’t be permitted entry.
Identification will be required for entry into the festival. Please note that pets are not permitted. RV parking will be available at the event site, the Grape Festival Grounds, albeit in limited number.
For a fee of $30, trailers or RVs of any sizes can be accommodated, inclusive of water and electric hookups. Please remember that event tickets have to be purchased separately and the RV parking fee does not include admission to the event.
For more information call (209) 369-2771, e-mail brandy@grapefestival.com, or visit www.grapefestival.com
Tito’s Vodka Commits to National Parks Conservation with a $250,000 Donation
On the eve of National Parks Week, Austin-based spirits brand Tito’s Handmade Vodka has made a generous donation of $250,000 to the National Parks Foundation (NPF). In a celebratory move, they have partnered with Southern California-based headwear manufacturer melin to produce a limited-edition hat for enthusiasts who take pride in their love for distilled spirits and National Parks.
The brand has also made a commitment that 100% of the proceeds from the sales of this hat will be donated to NPF and other like-minded organizations. Tito’s views this as an opportunity for individuals to contribute $80 to causes they hold dear and receive a branded cap as a token of appreciation.
The primary purpose behind Tito’s contribution is to further the cause of environmental conservation in National Parks all across America. Alongside these noble intentions, it will also lead to a notable tax benefit for the company, which has a history of doing numerous charitable acts.
Bob Petroccio, the director of national trade marketing at Tito’s Handmade Vodka, shared with GearJunkie, “Tito’s Handmade Vodka is pleased to contribute $250,000 to the National Park Foundation. We believe in the principle of quality craftsmanship and supporting environmental conservation, and hence have collaborated with the luxury headwear brand melin.’
The melin x Tito’s Odyssey HYDRO hat is a quality ballcap that’s versatile enough to be worn at various places, from trails to beaches, BBQs in the backyard, or to sporting events. It’s a navy-colored, hydrophobic, five-panel hat featuring a snapback closure. The hydrophobic material ensures water slides off the crown panels. Interestingly, it also carries a custom-molded rubberized patch and comes packaged in a dedicated carry bag.
Moreover, this hat symbolizes support for National Parks and fun-filled times. The message written on the logo caps it all: “Protect where we play. Pour more fun.“
Admittedly, $80 might seem a bit steep for a ballcap. But the real satisfaction stems from the fact that the entire sales amount gets directly contributed to one out of five different charitable organizations.
According to Petroccio, what stands out is that 100% of the net proceeds from the melin x Tito’s Odyssey HYDRO hat sales go to any nonprofit orgainzation of the customer’s choice that Tito’s supports. This way, our supporters not only get a premium product but also an opportunity to back organizations that bring about change.
Anyone who purchases a hat has the option to donate the proceeds to Emancipet, a nonprofit organization that is broadening access to affordable veterinary care. There’s also Hire Heroes USA, a group that equips veterans and service members to find success in the civilian workforce. You can choose to support Musicians on Call, which provides live and recorded music to patients in their hospital beds, or Southern Smoke Foundation, which offers aid to food and beverage employees during times of crisis.
Additionally, if you purchase a melin x Tito’s Odyssey HYDRO National Parks Week Hat, your donation will benefit the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official fundraising partner of the National Parks Service.
Tito’s brand has always had philanthropic leanings since its inception. The early days saw the company donating vodka to local nonprofit events in the Austin, Texas, area. This ethos of support has grown and evolved over the years and is now a fundamental part of the company’s mission.
Tito’s encourages its employees to contribute to their preferred causes with its product. These contributions often include a thank you note signed, “Love, Tito’s.”
That’s why the brand’s nonprofit branch is called Love, Tito’s. NPF has been a beneficiary of the Love, Tito’s merch store since 2023. This $250,000 National Parks Week donation and collaboration with melin highlight Tito’s commitment to amplifying the environmental message behind NPF. It wants to help preserve our parks. This money will help achieve that end.
To purchase your commemorative melin x Tito’s Odyssey HYDRO National Parks Week Hat and donate the proceeds, visit the Love, Tito’s website.
Yosemite Sweepstakes! Score Free Trip This National Park Week From MTN Dew, Vail Resorts
The post Tito’s Vodka Celebrates National Parks: Donates $250,000 for Conservation appeared first on GearJunkie.
Mormon Drives 10 Hours to Buy Whiskey: A Gesture of Friendship for Jewish Passover
Nate Oman and his pre-Passover haul. Photo by Nate Oman (courtesy)/iStock
April 18, 2024
At any given point in time, Nate Oman has two bottles of wine in his kitchen, one red, one white. No more, no less. He only uses them for cooking, since he is a devout and lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which prohibits imbibing alcohol.
So it may come as a surprise that the day before last Passover, Oman, a 49-year-old law professor at William & Mary, drove from his home in Williamsburg, Virginia, to Philadelphia to purchase dozens of bottles of whiskey.
And vodka. And gin. And tequila.
Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis of the crisis each day.
Also Fruit Roll-Ups, Entenmann’s donuts and a bunch of half-used boxes of breakfast cereal. There may have been some flatbread from Costco. After a while, Oman said, it was hard to keep track of his haul.
He made the 10-hour round trip in his “somewhat battered” black Toyota RAV4 to participate in the annual ritual of Jews selling their chametz, or leavened products, to a non-Jew for the eight-day holiday of Passover, when they are forbidden not only from consuming but also even owning such things. And he is hitting the road again on Sunday, to do it all again for this Passover, which begins on Monday at sundown.
While most observant Jews participate in these symbolic exchanges, which typically reverse after just over a week, through rabbis or online, Oman, a self-proclaimed “contract geek” with a focus on legal and religious matters, saw potential for a more personalized approach.
Oman was introduced to the tradition by his friend and associate, Chaim Saiman, who holds the Jewish law chair at Villanova University and is a participant in the The Merion Shtiebel, a congregation located in a suburb of Philadelphia. Saiman arranged for Oman to buy all the leavened items from the synagogue’s 50 households. One of the congregation members, a prosperous hedge fund manager, included his secondary residence in Israel, which was stocked with chametz during his Passover observation in Pennsylvania.
“As far as I could tell,” Oman recalls, “I had a completely legal rental agreement for a lovely residence in Jerusalem.”
Oman, a business contracts and sovereign debt lecturer, knew precisely what was happening. He found the whole experience quite enjoyable.
Arriving the night before the planned transaction, he stayed at a Hilton hotel so as not to interrupt the Saiman family’s pre-Passover scrubbing and vacuuming. “You don’t want your weird non-Jewish friend to show up in the middle and complicate that,” Oman noted.
The next morning, Oman and a few others gathered in the backyard of Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig, the head of the shul and a judge on the Beth Din of America. Rosensweig called Oman “an ideal chametz buyer” because “he appreciated this interface between ancient law and modern commerce.”
Indeed, he delighted in the details, like when he realized upon reading the contracts that he had the right to walk into congregants’ homes during the holiday and pillage their pantries. “If he wants to access any of the homes,” Rosensweig said in an interview, “I’m duty-bound to get him the key, to get him the alarm code to any of those properties.”
For the purchase, Oman gave the rabbi $200 — in coins, to eliminate any doubt of the validity of paper money in Jewish law — plus a handkerchief, to close a halachic loophole that could potentially negate deals involving money with non-Jews. “That obviously would not be required under Pennsylvania property law,” Oman said.
The backyard handshake, the ancient holiday, the half-eaten Cheerios: It was all special for Oman.
“As a Latter-day Saint you grew up sort of thinking, ‘Boy, we’re really strict,'” Oman recalled. “And then I go to my Orthodox Jewish friends and I always feel like I’m a poser.”
For him, the journey was the physical manifestation of a thought experiment.
And what about the whiskey? Luckily, Latter-day Saints are allowed to own it, just not drink it. Which, of course, he didn’t.
“I’m hugely sympathetic to people who are attempting to develop means of leading devout and loyal lives in this contemporary era,” Oman shared with me. “The prospect of being able to assist, even in the minutest way, people to lead such a life in this age was enticing to me.”
The only drawback, as he put it, was the telephone conversation with the rabbi one hour post the conclusion of Passover, where he transferred the community’s chametz back. “Subsequently,” Oman quipped, “I relinquished my flat in Jerusalem.”
Benyamin Cohen serves as the News Director at the Forward. Follow him on Twitter @benyamincohen and subscribe to his morning newsletter.
I trust you found value in this piece. Prior to your departure, I would like to request you to kindly support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
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Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
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Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30
Exciting Weekend in Chicago: Highlights from Rum Festival, Pasta Fest, Grilled Cheese Fest and More!
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We are finally drying out, and while it will still be a little chilly out there this weekend, weve got a bunch of events going on you dont want to miss.
CHICAGO – We are finally drying out, and while it will still be a little chilly out there this weekend, we’ve got a bunch of events going on you don’t want to miss.
On Saturday, the Rum Festival returns for its 8th year. You’ll be able to try different kinds of rum and learn more about the alcohol in seminars. Here’s a fun fact: Illinois is one of the largest rum consumer markets in the country. The festival is at the Logan Square Auditorium starting at 1:30 p.m.
If alcohol isn’t for you, on Friday you can celebrate one of Italy’s most favorite foods — pasta! This is in honor of Eataly launching its own pasta line. You’ll be able to taste tradition by walking around the marketplace and trying more than eight kinds of pastas. It will also feature recipes from around the entire country of Italy.
How about some more carbs? There’s a new exclusive food experience called Grilled Cheese Fest! Bucket-Listers is partnering with the cheesiest spot in the city, Cheesies Pub and Grub in Wicker Park. General admission tickets include four samples and VIP tickets include eight. And you get bottomless tomato soup!
Some other events going on: The iconic Beauty Show is back for its 101st year! This weekend, over 21,000 licensed beauty professionals are reuniting for an event that shapes the future of the makeup industry. It will be at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.
And the North Riverside Park Mall is hosting a Kids Club event. It’s the Reptile Party! Bring your kids to check out bugs, reptiles, and snakes. The event is on Saturday at 11 a.m.
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Discovering Paris: An Insider’s Guide to the Best Natural Wine Bars
Take a tour of the 11th arrondissement.
The crowd at Giclette.
Photographer: Elin McCoy
On a chilly Saturday afternoon in Paris three weeks ago, I was drinking a deliciously zingy Loire Valley pét-nat, Vins Hodgson Chalan Polan chenin blanc, alongside a scoop of housemade ice cream poached in olive oil.
I don’t recommend pairing wine and ice cream, but, hey, it’s de rigueur at natural wine bar Folderol, which opened in December 2020 and quickly jumped to fame on TikTok. So much so that the owners, American chef couple Jessica Yang and Robert Compagnon, had to put up a sign outside: No TikTok.
Experiencing the 8th Annual Chicago Rum Fest: A Review
by: Tonya Francisco, Marissa Bailey
Posted: Apr 18, 2024 / 10:54 AM CDT
Updated: Apr 18, 2024 / 10:54 AM CDT
The 8th Annual Chicago Rum Fest is back and better than ever this Saturday bringing together rum lovers from all over the country.
Adrienne Stoner, rum community liaison for Maison Ferrand joined us in studio with the details and a preview of what guests can expect.
Saturday, April 20th
Logan Square Auditorium
2539 N. Kedzie Blvd
Pineapple Daiquiri
2oz Planteray Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum
.75oz fresh lime juice
.75oz simple syrup
Combine all ingredients in a shaker, fill it with ice, shake vigorously, then double strain into a coupe glass.
Mai Tai
2oz Planteray Xaymaca Rum
.75oz of fresh lime juice (keep the leftover lime hull for additional shaking)
.75oz Orgeat
.5oz Ferrand Dry Curacao *build all ingredients in a shaker, fill with ice, shake with half lime hull, strain over fresh ice into glass, place lime hull and expressed mint bouquet for garnish. Orchid/swizzle optional
Daytime Chicago airs weekdays on WGN-TV from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Δ
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The Hoka Arahi 7 is a stability shoe that you can’t even tell is a stability shoe.
If you’re trying to up your reading goals this year, popular books written by the best literary minds are great to have on your bookshelves.
Thanks to Walmart’s weekly flash deals, now’s your chance to get tons of home goods on a budget.
Mormon Drives 10 Hours to Purchase Whiskey for Jewish Friend’s Passover Celebration
Nate Oman and his pre-Passover haul. Photo by Courtesy Nate Oman/iStock
By Benyamin Cohen April 18, 2024
At any given point in time, Nate Oman has two bottles of wine in his kitchen, one red, one white. No more, no less. He only uses them for cooking, since he is a devout and lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which prohibits imbibing alcohol.
So it may come as a surprise that the day before last Passover, Oman, a 49-year-old law professor at William & Mary University, drove from his home in Williamsburg, Virginia, to Philadelphia to purchase dozens of bottles of whiskey.
And vodka. And gin. And tequila.
Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis of the crisis each day.
Also Fruit Roll-Ups, Entenmann’s donuts and a bunch of half-used boxes of breakfast cereal. There may have been some flatbread from Costco. After a while, Oman said, it was hard to keep track of his haul.
He made the 10-hour round trip in his “somewhat battered” black Toyota RAV4 to participate in the annual ritual of Jews selling their chametz, or leavened products, to a non-Jew for the eight-day holiday of Passover, when they are forbidden not only from consuming but also even owning such things. And he is hitting the road again on Sunday, to do it all again for this Passover, which begins on Monday at sundown.
While most observant Jews do these symbolic deals — after all, the transaction is reversed after just over a week — through their rabbis, or online, Oman, a self-described “contract geek” who specializes in law and religion, thought it’d be neat to make the whole thing a little more personal.
He’d learned about the ritual from his friend and colleague Chaim Saiman, the chair in Jewish law at Villanova University, and a member of The Merion Shtiebel, a congregation in a Philadelphia suburb. Saiman set Oman up to purchase all the leavened products from the shul’s 50 families. One congregant, a wealthy hedge fund manager, included in the sale his second home in Israel, which was filled with chametz while he was spending Passover at home in Pennsylvania.
“As I understand it,” Oman recalled, “I had a perfectly valid lease on a really nice apartment in Jerusalem.”
‘Get him the alarm code’
Oman, who teaches classes on business contracts, and the occasional seminar on sovereign debt, understood it perfectly. And he enjoyed every bit of the experience.
Arriving the night before the planned transaction, he stayed at a Hilton hotel so as not to interrupt the Saiman family’s pre-Passover scrubbing and vacuuming. “You don’t want your weird non-Jewish friend to show up in the middle and complicate that,” Oman noted.
The next morning, Oman and a few others gathered in the backyard of Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig, the head of the shul and a judge on the Beth Din of America. Rosensweig called Oman “an ideal chametz buyer” because “he appreciated this interface between ancient law and modern commerce.”
Indeed, he delighted in the details, like when he realized upon reading the contracts that he had the right to walk into congregants’ homes during the holiday and pillage their pantries. “If he wants to access any of the homes,” Rosensweig said in an interview, “I’m duty-bound to get him the key, to get him the alarm code to any of those properties.”
For the purchase, Oman gave the rabbi $200 — in coins, to eliminate any doubt of the validity of paper money in Jewish law — plus a handkerchief, to close a halachic loophole that could potentially negate deals involving money with non-Jews. “That obviously would not be required under Pennsylvania property law,” Oman said.
The backyard handshake, the ancient holiday, the half-eaten Cheerios: It was all special for Oman.
“As a Latter-day Saint you grew up sort of thinking, ‘Boy, we’re really strict,’” Oman recalled. “And then I go to my Orthodox Jewish friends and I always feel like I’m a poser.”
For him, the journey was the physical manifestation of a thought experiment.
And what about the whiskey? Luckily, Latter-day Saints are allowed to own it, just not drink it. Which, of course, he didn’t.
“I’m hugely sympathetic to people who are trying to come up with ways of living pious and faithful lives in the modern world,” Oman told me. “Being able to sort of help, in some little way, people live that kind of life in the modern world was appealing to me.”
The only downside, he said, was the phone call with the rabbi an hour after Passover ended, in which he sold the congregation’s chametz back. “And then,” Oman joked, “I lost my apartment in Jerusalem.”
Benyamin Cohen is the News Director at the Forward. Follow him on Twitter @benyamincohen and sign up for his morning newsletter.
I hope you enjoyed this article. Please consider supporting the award-winning journalism the Forward provides this Passover before your departure.
In our era of mass misinformation, our services are more essential than never before. We are truth-driven in our reporting on the news of utmost importance to American Jews, rather than being driven by ideology.
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Donors like you make everything we do feasible. At present, we’re in the midst of our Passover Pledge Drive and seeking 500 patrons to offer a gift to continue our reliable, independent journalism.
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שפֿרה־קריינדל לאָווען האָפֿט אַז איר בוך וועט העלפֿן חסידים וואָס האָבן מורא צו מאַכן דעם איבערגאַנג
Remembering Marco Felluga: A Visionary of White Wine in Italy’s Friuli Passes Away at 96
The founder of the respected winery passed away; his family has also announced a new partnership with the Tommasi family of Valpolicella
Marco Felluga, who made exquisite white wines that helped put the Collio area of Italy’s Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region on the global wine map, died April 3. He was 96.
“Friuli and the Collio region have suffered a great loss,” said fellow winemaker Silvio Jermann of Jermann winery. Jermann says that Felluga, along with fellow vintners Count Douglas Attems and Mario Schiopetto, led the drive to elevate wine quality in the Collio region, to advocate for the appellation’s promotion to DOC status and to create a regional consortium of wine producers. “Together they created the modern Collio, [and] they brought international recognition to the Friuli region. He was a great wine producer and a great man, and his loss will be felt keenly.”
Marco’s passing came shortly before his family formalized a new partnership with the Tommasi family of Valpolicella. The Tommasis have purchased a majority stake in the Felluga family’s winery and two estates—Marco Felluga and Russiz Superiore. Marco’s granddaughter Ilaria will remain at the helm of the wineries, however.
The Felluga family has been involved in the Italian wine industry since the 1800s. Following World War II, they settled in the Collio region of Friuli, where Marco and his brother Livio set up new wineries. In 1956, Marco established his namesake estate in Gradisca d’Isonzo, a town approximately 80 miles northeast of Venice and located near the Italian-Slovenian border. Both Marco and Livio believed their region held significant potential for high-quality wine, especially its white variants. In 1968, along with other forward-thinking producers, they helped to introduce the Collio DOC.
Marco was considered a trendsetter for his early decision to reduce yields, retrain vines and incorporate other methods not commonly practiced in the region. However, his vision of creating white wines that could age remains the most resonating to this day. Marco bucked the trend of producing light, easily-consumable Pinot Grigios — something Northern Italy is famous for — and instead crafted the Pinot Grigio Collio Mongris Riserva cuvée, which is aged on lees for two years before bottling.
In 1967, Felluga expanded his investment in the Collio region by purchasing the Russiz Superiore estate in Capriva del Friuli, which came with 125 acres of vineyards. Instead of increasing production for Marco Felluga’s lineup of wines, he set up Russiz Superiore as a distinct brand. Nonetheless, he applied the same philosophy of aging prior to release for the creation of long-lasting wines. The Collio Russiz Superiore Col Disôre is aged for a year in French oak barrels and another year in the bottle, while the Pinot Bianco Collio Russiz Superiore Riserva ages for three years in oak and a year in the bottle.
Brian Larky, founder and CEO of Dalla Terra Winery Direct, Felluga’s U.S. importer since the 1990s, remarked, “[For Marco,] America was always a key objective. Establishing Friuli, Collio, and Marco Felluga were priorities. Marco was always inseparable from his beloved region.”
Ilaria, the granddaughter of Marco and daughter of Roberto, who previously managed the wine estate together, unfortunately passed away due to cancer in 2021. Since then, Ilaria has stepped in to oversee the wineries with financial support from the Tomassi family. Ilaria reassures, “I will carry on leading the companies, alongside our team. The Tommasi Family will aid me in funding for expansion and progression. Our underlying principles will continue to be those that my grandfather Marco and my father Roberto chose to ground their efforts and perspective towards the wine industry.”
Massimo Zorzettig, a co-owner of the adjacent Friuli Colli Orientali appellation’s winery Tunella, admires Marco for his “foresight in his devotion and obligation towards a first-rate regional viticulture. He made significant contributions towards enhancing the territory and the quality wine of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. [He was] one of the forefathers of Friulian wine.”
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