About this Event
Thursday, February 26th: Flavors Of Haus Alpenz
Please join us in welcoming Jake Parrott, Aromatized Wine and Spirits Portfolio Manager for Haus Alpenz and Sotolon Selections, pioneering importers of fine and traditional aperitifs, amari, wines, spirits, and liqueurs.
Step beyond the ordinary and into bold botanicals, bracing bitterness, and bright aromatics as Jake leads us through five distinctive expressions from the Haus Alpenz portfolio. Together, we’ll uncover the stories, traditions, and ingredients that define them, exploring a spectrum of aromas and flavors—from alpine herbs and bitter roots to vibrant citrus and spice.
Throughout the experience, Jake will demonstrate how simple additions and thoughtful pairings can dramatically transform each expression—revealing new layers, shifting balance, and unlocking entirely different flavor profiles with just a small adjustment.
But this isn’t just a tasting—it’s a flavor experiment.
Jake travels the country demystifying aromatized wines and traditional spirits, showing just how versatile and approachable they can be — whether enjoyed on their own, paired with antipasti, or transformed in cocktails. In the world of spirits and liqueurs, his passion lies in simplifying the tasting process and helping enthusiasts discover how a few thoughtful ingredients can create a range of compelling drinks.
When he’s not slicing salami for a vermouth tasting, you’ll likely find Jake redeeming frequent flier miles in search of a quiet city with great rental kitchens and even better farmers markets.
Cappelletti Aperitivo $24.94
Aperitivo Cappelletti, often referred to as “Il Specialino,” has been produced by Antica Erboristeria Cappelletti since 1906 in the Alpine town of Salorno in Trentino-Alto Adige. Created in 1909, it represents one of Italy’s earliest commercially produced red bitter aperitivi and remains rooted in the region’s pre-industrial aperitivo tradition. The fourth-generation family distillery continues to base the recipe on wine rather than neutral spirit and uses natural carmine for color, preserving a historic production style that reflects northern Italy’s longstanding herbal and alpine liqueur culture.
Sfumato Rabarbaro Amaro $29.94
Amaro Sfumato Rabarbaro is crafted by Antica Erboristeria Cappelletti, the century-old family producer founded in 1906 in Trentino. Drawing on northern Italy’s alpine amaro tradition, Sfumato centers on Chinese rhubarb (rabarbaro) that is dried and prepared in a manner that gives the liqueur its name—“Sfumato,” meaning smoky or shaded. The bottling reflects Cappelletti’s deep roots in herbal liqueur production and its continued focus on traditional, regionally inspired bitter formulas developed in the foothills of the Dolomites.
Cocchi Americano Rosa $29.94
Cocchi Americano Rosa is produced by Giulio Cocchi in Asti, Piedmont, a house founded in 1891 that became renowned for aromatized wines and aperitifs. Cocchi played a central role in establishing the Americano category in Italy, building its reputation on wine-based aperitivi and Barolo Chinato that were exported widely in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Americano Rosa continues that legacy as a Piedmontese aromatized wine made from regional grape varieties, reinforcing the producer’s long-standing commitment to traditional, wine-based aperitif craftsmanship.
Bonal Gentiane Quina $25.95
Bonal Gentiane-Quina was created in 1865 by Hyppolite Bonal in the French Alps, originally conceived as a fortified tonic wine combining gentian root and cinchona bark. Developed during the height of the 19th-century quinquina movement—when bitters and fortified wines were often positioned as healthful restoratives—Bonal became known as an alpine aperitif and gained prominence through early sporting sponsorships, including the Tour de France. Its continued production preserves a historic style that bridges the categories of vermouth and quinquina within the French aromatized wine tradition.
Salers Gentiane Aperitif $29.94
Salers Gentiane dates to 1885 in France’s Auvergne region, an area long associated with wild gentian harvesting. Named for the village of Salers, the aperitif reflects a distinctly regional tradition of macerating gentian root to create bitter herbal liqueurs that predate the sweeter aperitivo styles popularized in the 20th century. Still produced according to traditional methods, Salers stands as one of the classic gentian-based aperitifs of France and an enduring example of the country’s 19th-century alpine liqueur heritage.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The San Francisco Wine Trading Company, 250 Taraval Street, San Francisco, United States
USD 25.00
