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5218 Lawton Avenue
Oakland, CA 94114

510-654-9159

Oliver McCrum Wines has been importing small production Italian wine and distributing to fine retail and restaurant establishes throughout California since 1994. Over time, our portfolio of producers has steadily grown to over 45 producers from 15 different regions of Italy. We look for typical Italian wines with clarity and freshness, usually made from indigenous Italian grape varieties using clean, transparent winemaking techniques and no obvious use of oak. 

Blog

Two New Releases From Gotha

Michele Boscia

During our trip to Italy earlier this year, we had the chance to spend the day with Ergin Allko from Gotha Spiriti Nobili in Bologna, as well as preview two of his latest products: the Bitter Allko and the Rosso Vermouth “DOK '61.”

As a bartender and proprietor who emigrated from to Italy from Albania when he was just 18 years old, the spirits are infused with the duality of both countries, as well as historical significance and nostalgia.

All of the Gotha spirits utilize individual infusions of plants and herbs (many of them locally grown), in addition to purified seawater from the Adriatic Sea—both a flavorful and symbolic ingredient as it’s the body of water separating Italy from Albania.

In the case of Elgin’s new Bitter Allko, the seawater enhances the taste perception of the other botanicals, which include: timut pepper, bitter orange and grapefruit peel, wormwood, china, gentian, black pepper and cherry pepper (pimento)—all of which are dried. 

The new DOK ’61 Vermouth is an identity statement from Ergin as bartender, distiller, and citizen of both Italy and Albania. For inspiration he calls on the history of communist Albania at the distinct moment in time when Chinese allies introduced a fabric called ‘DOK’ - the year 1961. It was durable and used to manufacture uniforms for proletarian workers, and Ergin in turn dedicated this vermouth to the working class.

Using a blend of 95% Zibibbo with 5% Frappato as a base wine (both sourced from Sicily), Elgin adds in chinotto peel, cinchona, rabarbaro, wormwood, star anise (essential oil), dandelion root and pimento, and of course the trademark purified seawater from the Adriatic Sea. He tops everything off with a small amount of plum distillate, a unique addition which increases roundness and depth.

Our team has tasted hundreds of aperitivos, digestivos, and bitter liqueurs from all over Italy and we can honestly say that few of them are as unique and innovative as those from Gotha. Ergin’s masterful blending of his delicate infusions is truly awe inspiring, and no matter how often we taste through his portfolio, we’re constantly taken aback by the quality of his spirits.

Both the Bitter Allko and DOK '61 Vermouth are available to order now! We can’t wait to see what you all think!

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