While rummaging through the haystack for information on a Rhone wine whose name intrigued me, I ended up discovering Erato on Main, a nice little wine bar and eaterie in Edwardsville, Illinois.
For whatever reason the name brings to my mind Erato, the classical music label. The menu strives to offer as much local fare and in season products as possible because the fresher, the tastier.
Prices are sensible, Oyster Mushroom-Frisee and Goat Cheese Salad listed at $9 and Filet or NY Strip for $28.
As for the wine list, it is not just your run of the mill chardonnay, cabernet, merlot.
The other whites section for example (below):
2007 Vinchio-Vaglio Serra "Valamasca" Moscato D'Asti, Italy
2007 Pertinance, Roero Arneis, Italy
2006 Fossaluzza Pinot Grigio, Veneto, Italy
2007 Cantalupo “Carolus”, Italy
2006 Andrew Murray Viognier, Santa Ynez Valley , California
2005 Edmunds St. John "Shell and Bone", Paso Robles, California
2006 Brassfield "Serenity", High Valley, California
2007 Steve Bird “Old Schoolhouse Vineyard”, Marlborough, New Zealand
2004 Vinoptima Gewurztraminer, Ormond Gisborne, New Zealand
2007 Hopler Gruner Veltliner, Burgenland, Austria
2007 Huber "Hugo" Gruner Veltliner, Austria
2006 Muga Blanco, Rioja, Spain
2006 Naia, Rueda, Spain
2007 Urban Uco Torrontes, Cafayate, Argentina
2007 Margan “Saignee” Shiraz Rose, Australia
A good cross section of Rhone style reds is there to be enjoyed as well as owner-sommelier Tim Foley' s personal picks.
The wine bins above say cosy…