As you enter A 16, named for Autostrada 16, a roadthat stretches from Naples to Tavari, you’re greeted bysubtle greenery, rich chocolate wood, and a dozen or socoveted high-back chairs situated at the Italian marblebar and bay windows that look out onto ChestnutStreet (a great perch for people watching). A colorfulfloor-to-ceiling chalkboard touts the pride of A 16,its wide selection of wines.The concept for the establishment was born froma trip to the Campania region of Italy, where coownerShelley Lindgren fell in love with the region’sfood and wine. Lindgren, local attorneyVictoria Libin, and chef Nate Appleman teamed upto ensure that the grapes complemented the southernItalian cuisine.The Campania region, dubbed oenetria or land of wine,by the ancient Greeks, has a extensive history of greatwines. First up, Lindgren poured a glass of Clelia Romano,Fiano di Avellino, 2005—a dry white, with hintsof honey, almonds, and evergreen and a smokinessfrom the still-present volcanic soil of the Mount Vesuviuseruption, which destroyed Pompeii in 79 A.D., literallycreating a rich history in the wine itself.We also tasted the Cantine del Taburno, Falanghina,2005—a light, crisp, aromatic wine with hints of pearand mango; the Benito Ferrara, Greco di Tufo, 2005, a70-year-old vine Greco, grown from limestone “Tufaceous”soil, also found in the Loire Valley in Sancerreand Chablis—with stone fruits like white peaches,nectarines, and a dry finish; and the I Favati, Taurasi,2004—red currants, with lush fruits like plum andcherry, medium tannins.A 16’s knowledgeable staff serves forty wines by theglass and half-bottle carafes (assuring that no bottlestays open for too long), predominantly priced between$8 and $14 per glass. The selections changeoften with some staples of Campania there to stay.Some of the varietals of Campania include Falanghina,Fiano, Greco (whites), Casavecchia, Aglianico, andPiedirosso (red).Best of all, A 16 is not just a wine bar, it’s also arestaurant—which means you can pair your grape ofchoice with any of the establishment’s delicious southernItalian dishes while enjoying a wine bar experience.----------Joshua Ridless, the Law Offices of Joshua A. Ridless, is a past presidentof the Barristers Club and a local wine novice.
