Just a few generations back, wine was made in the homes of Italian Americans in South Philly. It wasn’t for sale, but for personal consumption. Today, that tradition is getting a 21st-century reboot at Mural City Cellars, 1831 Frankford Ave., a boutique winery and wine bar that’s creating a lot of buzz.

Launched in 2021 by life and business partners Francesca Galarus and Nicholas Ducos, Mural City Cellars reflects the couple’s journey in the food and beverage industry and their mutual passion for wine.

“I worked at Morimoto and Continental while attending Drexel University from 2004–2009, and also at Makoto in Miami. My time with Starr taught me the essentials of great hospitality that I have carried throughout my career,” said Galarus, who grew up in the Philly suburbs.

Ducos is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and discovered his passion for wine while managing beverage service at some of Miami’s top restaurants, where the couple met.

A Certified Sommelier, Ducos’ fascination with wine motivated him to learn the winemaking process at Truchard Vineyards in Napa, followed by time at New Zealand’s Lawson’s Dry Hills, before relocating to Philadelphia.

“I started my career as a sommelier,” said Ducos. “Eventually, I got into winemaking and ended up working for three different wineries. The idea of starting my own winery began in 2016, when I was working for a winery in Napa Valley.”

“When we came up with the idea for Mural City Cellars, I knew it needed to be in Philly. I love this city,” said Galarus. “My grandmother grew up in South Philly. My parents now live in Phoenixville, and we actually made our first vintage in my mom’s garage. It’s been so special returning to my roots and starting our business here. Nicholas’ family is in New York, so we’re close to them as well.”

Mural City Cellars started small, moving four times while maintaining production out of their first warehouse space on Amber Street, before landing a 3,000-square-foot production space and tasting room.

“We specialize in minimal-intervention wines using locally grown varietals, which signifies our deep commitment to showcasing and promoting local produce,” said Ducos. “Our grapes are sourced within a 300-mile radius of Philadelphia.”

In case you didn’t know, southeastern Pennsylvania has the geography, climate, and growing conditions of the Bordeaux region in France. The region is home to more than 270 wineries and produces 2.25 million gallons of wine per year, making it a force in American winemaking. But while vineyards are plentiful, the vast majority of wineries that actually make and bottle wine are located well outside city limits. This is what makes Mural City Cellars a pioneer.

“Nicholas runs our winemaking, and I handle most of the other business aspects, including finances, growth, and our charitable giving program,” said Galarus. “We collaborate with Mural Arts every year and donate 15% of the sale of each bottle back to Mural Arts Philadelphia. We also donate $1 from the sale of each of our House Wine bottles to local initiatives.”

So how do local vineyards measure up to Napa?

“This has been a long-undervalued wine region,” said Galarus. “You can find some really great wineries from New York down to Maryland. Our best-selling wine is our House White. It’s a crisp, easy-drinking white made from Vidal Blanc,” she said. “If you enjoy Prosecco, we typically recommend our House Bubbles. It’s produced using the same method as Prosecco and features fresh, bright fruit and lively bubbles.”

Prices at Mural City Cellars won’t melt your credit cards. “Our bottles range from $20 to $40. Our House Wines are all $20,” said Galarus. Which means, after a wine tasting, you can still hit one of Fishtown’s BYOBs, like Bastia, featuring Corsican cuisine.

Some visit Mural City Cellars for the wine; others come to socialize and celebrate special events. “Our winery can accommodate up to 100 guests,” said Galarus. “In the summer, we also operate a wine garden on Fridays and Saturdays just across the street at the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) Garden Center. There, we can accommodate well over 100 people.”

“We have a wonderfully loyal following of guests who live in Fishtown. We live in this neighborhood as well,” said Galarus. “A lot of our visibility now comes from being right on Frankford Avenue, but we’ve also been lucky to receive some great press, including Philadelphia Magazine. We have a very active social media presence and definitely benefit from word-of-mouth recommendations.”

But you don’t have to go to Fishtown to sample Mural City Cellars’ wines. They’re sold at restaurants and breweries around the city, including Enswell in Center City; Emmett in Northern Liberties; Wissahickon Brewing in East Falls; and Cartesian Brewing in East Passyunk. The wines are also exclusive to both The Arden Theatre Company and InterAct Theatre. Bottles-to-go are available at Riverwards locations and The Richmond Shops in Fishtown.

Do I hear a cork popping?