Tria Fitler Square is blowing right past offering the traditional happy hour and going straight to offering Luxury Hour. This better version of happy hour runs from 4–6 PM, Monday through Thursday, boasting a rotating selection of luxury wines without the luxury price tag. Each week one sparkling, one white, and one red that normally run from about $13 to $18 a glass will be offered for $10 a glass during Luxury Hour.
 

Tria’s wine director, Michael McCaulley, chooses each week’s wines to encourage people to try more wines without feeling fear of the price tag. Sometimes the wines are what’s come in as a limited stock, sometimes they’ve been purchased for events, and sometimes they’re just cool wines that would normally be on the wine list at a higher price point.
 

Luxury Hour started yesterday, December 1, and the first week’s selections give a hint of what to expect each week.
 

Crémant du Jura Brut "Tête de Cuvée," Hubert Clavelin, ‘NV (Jura, France) – a rich Chardonnay crafted like Champagne from the Jura Mountains: toasty apple, buttery brioche.
 

Savennières “Clos du Papillon,” Domaine du Closel, ‘09 (Loire, France) -
this legendary “butterfly” vineyard is planted with organically grown Chenin Blanc: quince & mineral.
 

Barolo, Michele Reverdito, ‘11 (Piedmont, Italy) – a noble Nebbiolo with dried fig fruit, leather notes, fall spice, and refined oak—“The Italian Wine King.”
 

Each week’s wines will be accompanied by a rotating Cheese and Charcuterie Plate for $10. The first week’s plate features TÊte de Moine, a thinly shaved Alpine style cheese from Bern, Switzerland and Speck Alto Adige, a classic smoked Italian ham.  
 

The whole point of Tria is to get people to try more wines, and Luxury Hour isn’t the only time to try them. Sunday School is another fantastic wine tasting opportunity at Fitler Square and also Cafe Rittenhouse and Cafe Wash West. Each Sunday, guests can enjoy a different not-so-common wine, cheese, and beer at incredibly low prices. Tria’s website announces the selections beforehand and gives a little info about each wine, cheese, and beer.

Tria Fitler Square, 2227 Pine Street; 215-309-2245

Photo by Steve Legato