- June 4, 2009
- May 28, 2009
- May 21, 2009
- May 14, 2009
- May 7, 2009
- April 30, 2009
- April 23, 2009
- April 16, 2009
- April 9, 2009
- April 2, 2009
- March 26, 2009
- March 19, 2009
- March 12, 2009
- March 5, 2009
- February 26, 2009
- February 19, 2009
- February 12, 2009
- February 5, 2009
- January 29, 2009
- January 22, 2009
- January 15, 2009
- January 8, 2009
WinE-Letter
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ISSUE DATE: June 4, 2009
Looks like we're in for another great weather weekend! Once we
get by this gray, rainy stuff today and tomorrow. I guess the upside of all of
the rain is that things are looking green and lush and it's been nice not to
have to drag out the sprinkler yet! Moving on into June, 'tis the season for all
sorts of parties...graduation, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, just because
BBQs. If you're looking for tasty values in the wine department and perhaps some
wine and food pairing assistance, bring in your menus and/or recipes and we'll
make your wine shopping unbelievably easy!
'Tastier Thursday' is on tonight at the Tasting Bar! Colleen Glennon of Lemelson
Vineyards will be here pouring two whites and two reds from Lemelson located in
the Willamette Valley in OR. Come on by and try between 5pm and 7pm tonight!
Our Summer 2009 'Go To' List of Patio Whites & BBQ Reds is listed below and
we'll keep tweaking it all throughout the summer. Our Wine Features of the Month
which includes a white from Portugal, a red from Russian River Valley in Sonoma
County and a bubbly from Greece are on display on the new shelf behind the
counter. (Shelf courtesy of Mark Wilkinson who builds absolutely beautiful wine
cellars and wine closets for anyone thinking of getting their wine collection
organized!) And our Wine Club kicks off this week with a delicious white
Burgundy whose grapes are sourced across the street from Meursault (but doesn't
come with the Meursault price!) and a rich and luscious BBQ Red fit for a
Saturday night from the Rhone Valley.
Saturday, Peter Gaylor of William Harrison Imports will be manning the Tasting
Bar with a Patio White, our Rosé of the Week and three BBQ Reds. Peter will be
pouring from 12 to 4pm.
Bogie has another great grillin' recipe this week on his Recipe Board, we've got
Quiz Winners from last week and a new quiz in this week's Quiz Corner. It's also
last call to join the day trip to Barboursville Winery with Chris Gerkin of
Morton's of Reston. Please see the details noted below. We look forward to
seeing you soon!
'Tastier Thursday' is Tonight!!
Join us tonight as Colleen Glennon of Lemelson Vineyards will be at the Tasting
Bar pouring 2 whites and 2 reds (Pinot!) from 5pm to 7pm. Eric Lemelson, owner
and winemaker, makes some of the tastiest Pinot Noirs to be found in the
Willamette Valley in Oregon and we'll be trying one of his 'entry' level Pinots
as well as one of favorite single vineyard Pinots. Complimentary.
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 6/6 - Peter Gaylor of William Harrison Imports will be standing guard
at the Tasting Bar!
Saturday, 6/13 - Lori Corcoran, proprietor and winemaker of Corcoran Vineyards
located in Loudoun County, will be here pouring her wines!
Saturday, 6/20 - Everybody loves Harry! Harry Tatian of Roanoke Valley Wine
Company will be here pouring some artisanal selections from his portfolio.
Saturday, 6/27 - Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Imports...nobody can tell a
wine story like Mr. Bill!
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, July 14th - Summer Bounty and Wines to Pair
Corn, tomatoes, peaches - these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll
taste several wines which work with the bounty from the garden, along with the
bounty itself - and you'll shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, August 4th - Beach Chillers
August is the month everyone heads to the beach and we'll taste you through a
collection of wines perfect to keep your thirst quenched, palate satisfied and
wallet not stripped of all your vacation cash! Plus, we'll give you some recipe
suggestions for healthy and easy nibblers at the beach. $40 per person. 7:00pm.
Wednesday, September 16th - California Dreamin'
If you can't make it to California this year, we'll bring California Wine
Country to you! We'll start up in Mendocino County and work our way down the
coast to Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, the Central Coat and wind up in the area of
Santa Barbara and Santa Rita Hills. The sky's the limit on where we can go for
tasting different varietals! Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will
be co-piloting with Lucinda on our journey and we'll pair foods to go with each
of the wines. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Road Trip to Barboursville Winery...This Sunday!
Morton's of Reston will be hosting a series of Sunday day trips to various
Virginia wineries this summer. The next trip occurs on Sunday, June 7th. Here's
the skinny on the plans, the price and how to make reservations.
Enjoy a leisurely day in the Virginia wine countryside with Chris Gerkin,
Sommelier & GM of Morton's of Reston. You'll start off with a light breakfast
and a glass of wine at Morton's in the Reston Town Center and then you'll enjoy
a private coast to transport you through the Virginia hills to Barboursville
which is outside of Charlottesville. Check-in at Morton's is at 11:00am and
departure after breakfast is as 12:00 noon for the winery. After arriving at
Barboursville, you will enjoy a 3 course wine lunch at the award winning
Palladio Restaurant at the winery, then you'll meet winemaker Lucca Paschina and
will have a private barrel tasting. We'll tour the ruins of the Barboursville
mansion and return home in time for your own tasting if you've purchased some
wines for the trip home. Return time to Morton's will be at 6:00pm. Come see
what is waiting for you in our backyard!
Tours are limited to only 24 people so contact Kate Tourville today to secure
your spot. Kate Tourville. 703-796-0611 or kate_tourville@mortons.com.
Rosé of the Week
Antis Mendoza Malbec Rosé 2008 - This Rosé is full of ripe watermelons and
strawberries with a little bit of spice in the mix. Easy drinking and rather
robust for a Pinky, delicious on a hot summer day. Normally, $11.99 per bottle,
specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.
Patio Whites and BBQ Reds...Our 'Go To' List for Summer 2009
Since it is the unofficial start of summer this weekend, we thought we'd put
together a list of our picks for Patio Whites and BBQ Reds. We've carefully
selected these wines and we expect all of the wines on the list to be available
all summer in our bins and stacks. All are under $15 with most of them under
$10. And don't forget, mix or match a case and you'll get 10% off - buy 3 cases
or more and get 15% off!
Patio Whites
Fuzelo Vinho Verde 2008 - $9.99
Domaine Felines Jourdan Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet 2007 - $9.99
Floria Vin de Pays de Cotes de Gascogne NV - $8.99
Cousino Macul Maipo Valley Chardonnay 2008 - $9.99
Tilia Mendoza Chardonnay 2008 - $9.99
Domaine Labbe Abymes Vin de Savoie 2007 - $12.99
Masera Gavi 2008 - $13.99
Uvaggio Lodi Vermentino 2007 - $13.99
Tierruca Lontue Valley Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2008 - $9.99
Man Vintners Coastal South Africa Chenin Blanc 2008 - $9.99
La Carraia Orvieto Classico DOC 2007 - $11.99
Josef Bauer Gruner Veltliner 2008 - $10.99
Cielo Veneto Pinot Grigio IGT 2008 - $8.99
Chateau Ste. Michelle Washington 'Horse Heaven' Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - $13.50
(sale price, reg. $16.99, no further discounts)
BBQ Reds
Tilia Mendoza Bonarda 2008 - $9.99
Remonte Navarra Garnacha 2007 - $9.99
Vigne Vini Puglia Rosso IGT 2007 - $10.99
Gouguenheim Mendoza Malbec 2007 - $10.99
Mont Pellier California Pinot Noir 2008 - $7.99
Mars & Venus Central Valley Cabernet Sauvignon NV - $7.99
Cousino Macul Maipo Valley Merlot 2008 - $9.99
Friday Monkey Shiraz 2008 - $9.99
Cantarranes Alicante Monastrell 2008 - $8.99
Ermita de Petrer 2008- $8.99
Clifton Mendocino County Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $14.99
Wine Features of the Month (WFOM) for June
The WFOM for June are listed below! They include a bubbly from Greece (yes,
Greece!), an exquisite Alvahrino from Portugal and an elegant Zinfandel from
California.
Amalia Brut NV - Done in the Methode Traditionnelle (as how you'd find bubbly
made in Champagne), this is a crisp sparkling wine from Greece which drinks like
a California bubbly. Showing lovely notes of apples, it is a delightfully guilty
pleasure at such a reasonably price. Normally $24.99 per bottle, specially
priced at $22.50 per bottle for the month of June
Soalheiro Vinho Verde Alvarinho 2008 - Fantastic white with weight for
summertime! Perfect with grilled fishes, roast chicken or entree salads such as
a Salad Nicoise. Normally $24.99 per bottle, specially priced at $22.50 per
bottle for the month of June
Joseph Swan 'Mancini Ranch' Russian River Valley Zinfandel 2003 - This is
perfect bottle aging to be drinking this Zinfandel from Sonoma County now! Soft
and luscious on the palate, an excellent wine for summertime grilling. Normally
priced at $29.99 per bottle, specially priced at $27.00 per bottle for the month
of June
Wine Club
The kickoff of our new Wine Club starts this week! Wines will be available for
pickup starting this Saturday.
If you are interested in joining and want us to email you a sign-up form, email
Lucinda at Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Two Wines (1 White and 1 Red) will be offered each month for $39.99 plus tax
(regular value of the two will be $45 to $50)
If you want two whites or two reds instead of one each, substitutions can be
accommodated. Requests for substitutions must be made in writing.
Your credit card will be charged for the monthly Wine Club during the first week
of every month
All Wine Club purchases must be picked up in the store; No shipments will be
made
Wine pickup starts the first Saturday of every month and runs through the last
day of the month. Wine Club purchases will not be held beyond the current month
of offering without prior arrangements made in writing.
If you wish to purchase additional bottles of the current month's Wine Club
offering during the same month, purchase price will be at the special Wine Club
price.
Membership runs month to month and can be cancelled at any time. Cancellations
must be done in writing and must be done by the 20th of the month to be
effective for the upcoming month.
June's Wine Club Offering will be:
Domaine de Montemeix Bourgogne Chardonnay 2006 (White Burgundy from across the
street from the Meursault region)
Domaine Roc des Anges 'Segna de Cor' Cotes du Roussillon 2007 (Delicious Rhone
blend from the Southern French appellation)
Regularly prices at $48.99 plus tax - Wine Club Price of $39.99 plus tax
Bogie's Recipe Board
This recipe is SO easy and really, really good. Yup, I got to partake in this
test driving this recipe too! It is again from the collection issue of The Best
of Fine Cooking on magazine stands now. Definitely worth the purchase as there
are lots of great recipes in it. Here's my recipe pick for this week!!
Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken Stuffed with Fresh Mozzarella & Basil
Serves 4
4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/2 lb)
12 large Basil leaves
¼ lb fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced (preferably Bufala from Italy)
4 thin slices Prosciutto
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Prepare a medium charcoal fire or light a gas grill to medium high.
Cut through each chicken breast horizontally almost all the way through and open
up the breast like a book. Sprinkle the chicken all over with salt and pepper to
taste. Layer the Basil and mozzarella evenly on half of each breast and then
fold it closed. Wrap a piece of prosciutto around each breast to hold it closed
and then brush lightly on both sides with the olive oil.
Reduce the heat on the gas grill to medium if using a gas grill. Grill the
breasts, covered, until they're well marked, about 4 mins. Flip and cook,
turning every few minutes, until the chicken is just firm to the touch and an
instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the breast registers 165
degrees, another 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool for a couple of minutes and then
serve.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
An unoaked Chardonnay from Italy, California or Australia would be a nice match
here as an alternative to some nice Italian full bodied whites (Erbaluce,
Vernaccia, certain Soaves, etc.). Our California Vermentino from L'Uvaggio would
also be excellent for a white wine accompaniment.
An earthy red would be nice here, especially something along the lines of a
Dolcetto or Barbera from the Piedmont or a Chianti from Tuscany. A Rhone red
would also be a terrific match.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: What is Fiefs Vendeens?
Answer: Fiefs Vendeens is an appellation in the Loire Valley sitting close to
the end of the Loire River where it meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Congratulations to last week's quiz winners Debra Burke, Jose Ignacio Fernandez
and Bev Garner. Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: What is the French word meaning 'walled vineyard'?
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
'Tastier Thursday' with Colleen Glennon, National Sales Manager of Lemelson
Vineyards from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Peter Gaylor of William Harrison Imports
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
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ISSUE DATE: May 28, 2009
We hope everybody had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend! Hard
to believe we're almost into June. Summer Farmer's Markets are in full swing and
before you know, the heirloom tomatoes and fresh corn will be hitting our tables
nightly! For of the Herndon Festival fans, don't forget it's happening this
weekend in Old Town Herndon. There are all sorts of things buzzing about this
week. Doug Fabbioli, owner and winemaker at Fabbioli Cellars in Loudoun County,
will be hosting a wine dinner at Passion Fish restaurant in the Reston Town
Center next Tuesday night. The menu, pricing and reservation information is
listed below. We have two seats left for our Greek Wine Class which is also next
Tuesday night and Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports, will be our guide for
the evening. A local restaurant which is a gem sitting in our backyard, The
Goodstone Inn, just announced some new culinary programs and we've outlined
those below as well. GM and Sommelier Chris Gerkin of Morton's of Reston will be
piloting a day trip to Barboursville Vineyard a week from Sunday. Seating is
limited so reservations are a must! More details on this trip are listed below
too.
Our Wine Features of the Month (a white, a red and a bubbly....something like
saying red, white and blue!) for June rolls out tomorrow night when Amy Evans of
Dionysos Imports will be here pouring a delicious Alvahrino from Portugal, a
juicy but elegant Zinfandel from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma and a value
bubbly from Greece (yup, a bubbly from Greece!). Come by the Tasting Bar and try
from 5 to 7pm!
Saturday, a rep all of our regulars always enjoy seeing, Jason Bise, will be
manning the Tasting Bar with some Patio Whites, BBQ Reds and a Rosé. Jason will
be pouring from 12 to 4pm.
'Tis the season for weddings, graduations, anniversaries and just outdoor
parties in general! If you need wine pairing assistance, we're here and happy to
assist! Just come on in, tell us what you're serving (or bring in your menus or
recipes), give us a guide for your budget and we'll do the rest and make you
look like a wine rock star. And a reminder that since it is grillin' and beach
season, we've got our Summer 2009 'Go To' List of Patio Whites & BBQ Reds listed
below to make all of your wine shopping as easy as possible!
We look forward to seeing you soon and enjoy the remaining couple of weeks while
the kids are still in school!!
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 5/30 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner will be here pouring a couple
of Patio Whites, a couple of BBQ Reds and our Rosé of the Week!
Saturday, 6/6 - Peter Gaylor of William Harrison Imports will be standing guard
at the Tasting Bar!
Saturday, 6/13 - Lori Corcoran, proprietor and winemaker of Corcoran Vineyards
located in Loudoun County, will be here pouring her wines!
Saturday, 6/20 - Everybody loves Harry! Harry Tatian of Roanoke Valley Wine
Company will be here pouring some artisanal selections from his portfolio.
Saturday, 6/27 - Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Imports...nobody can tell a
wine story like Mr. Bill!
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece 2 Seats Left!
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, July 14th - Summer Bounty and Wines to Pair
Corn, tomatoes, peaches - these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll
taste several wines which work with the bounty from the garden, along with the
bounty itself - and you'll shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, August 4th - Beach Chillers
August is the month everyone heads to the beach and we'll taste you through a
collection of wines perfect to keep your thirst quenched, palate satisfied and
wallet not stripped of all your vacation cash! Plus, we'll give you some recipe
suggestions for healthy and easy nibblers at the beach. $40 per person. 7:00pm.
Wednesday, September 16th - California Dreamin'
If you can't make it to California this year, we'll bring California Wine
Country to you! We'll start up in Mendocino County and work our way down the
coast to Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, the Central Coat and wind up in the area of
Santa Barbara and Santa Rita Hills. The sky's the limit on where we can go for
tasting different varietals! Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will
be co-piloting with Lucinda on our journey and we'll pair foods to go with each
of the wines. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Fabbioli Cellars Wine Dinner at Passion Fish in Reston Town Center
Our friend, Doug Fabbioli, is joining with Passion Fish restaurant in the Reston
Town Center on Tuesday night, June 2nd, for a six course wine dinner featuring
the wines of Fabbioli Cellars. Price is $100 inclusive. Start time is 7:00pm.
For reservations, please call the General Manager at Passion Fish, Michael
Yarger, at 703-230-3474 or email at Michael@passionfishreston.com. The menu is
below and boy, does it look tasty! If we didn't have a wine class already going
on that night, we'd all be eating at Passion Fish!!
"A Taste Of Summer"
Wine Dinner Menu
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
7:00pm
Amuse Bouche
Chilled Fabbioli Vineyards Asparagus + Crispy Rock Shrimp "Shooter"
First Course
Sea Spider Roll
Crispy Soft Shell Crab, Crabmeat, Cucumber, Sesame Seeds, Masago Roe
Sauvignon Blanc, 8 Chains North, Loudoun County, Virginia, 2008
Second Course
English Pea Risotto
Summer Truffles, Morel Mushrooms
"Rosa Luna" Dry Rosé, Fabbioli Cellars, Loudoun County, Virginia, 2008
Third Course
Greek Octopus Carpaccio
Castlevetrano Olives, Red Pepper Panzanella
Chambourcin, Fabbioli Cellars, Loudoun County, Virginia, 2007
Fourth Course
Prosciutto Encrusted Black Grouper
Heirloom Tomato Provencal, Artichokes Barigoule
Cabernet Franc, Fabbioli Cellars, Loudoun County, Virginia, 2007
Fifth Course
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Caramel Tuile
Raspberry Merlot, Fabbioli Cellars, Loudoun County, Virginia, 2007
Road Trip to Barboursville Winery
Morton's of Reston will be hosting a series of Sunday day trips to various
Virginia wineries this summer. The next trip occurs on Sunday, June 7th. Here's
the skinny on the plans, the price and how to make reservations.
Enjoy a leisurely day in the Virginia wine countryside with Chris Gerkin,
Sommelier & GM of Morton's of Reston. You'll start off with a light breakfast
and a glass of wine at Morton's in the Reston Town Center and then you'll enjoy
a private coast to transport you through the Virginia hills to Barboursville
which is outside of Charlottesville. Check-in at Morton's is at 11:00am and
departure after breakfast is as 12:00 noon for the winery. After arriving at
Barboursville, you will enjoy a 3 course wine lunch at the award winning
Palladio Restaurant at the winery, then you'll meet winemaker Lucca Paschina and
will have a private barrel tasting. We'll tour the ruins of the Barboursville
mansion and return home in time for your own tasting if you've purchased some
wines for the trip home. Return time to Morton's will be at 6:00pm. Come see
what is waiting for you in our backyard!
Tours are limited to only 24 people so contact Kate Tourville today to secure
your spot. Kate Tourville. 703-796-0611 or kate_tourville@mortons.com.
Check It Out...The Goodstone Inn...Worth the Trip!
The Goodstone Inn is out in Middleburg in a bucolic setting in the country. You
definitely won't want to check back in to reality after a trip out there! Late
last summer, Chef Tarver King arrived at The Goodstone Inn and his resume is
extremely impressive. Think Inn at Little Washington, French Laundry, Woodlands
Inn, The Fat Duck. Chef Tarver is big on utilizing local farm ingredients and
The Goodstone Inn employs a full time gardener who works with Chef Tarver in
growing many of their own vegetables and herbs.
Besides their normal seven-course 'Progressions' menu, The Goodstone Inn just
announced a new three-course menu called 'Traditions'. The three-course meal is
$49 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and you have a choice of three first
courses, three main courses and three desserts. The food is all sourced from
various local farms mostly located in Loudoun County.
In addition, starting on July 5th, The Goodstone Inn will start offering Sunday
Brunch from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Price is $55 per person for three-courses (plus
tax and gratuity). A special Father's Day Brunch will also be offered on Sunday,
June 21st.
Neal Wavra, the Sommelier at The Goodstone Inn, has put together a fantastic
wine list and he hails from Blackberry Farm, a Relais and Chateau property in
Tennessee.
Even if you can't get away to stay at The Goodstone Inn (and you will want to
when you check out their website at http://www.goodstone.com/), it is definitely
worth the trip to go for a culinary adventure with your guides of Chef Tarver
and Neal.
Rosé of the Week
Cline Contra Costa County Mourvedre Rosé 2008 - This was a really pleasant
surprise when we tasted it at our Rosé class back in April. Ripe watermelon and
raspberries on the palate make for a tasty, tasty Pink! On the Tasting Bar this
Saturday with Jason of Country Vintner. $13.99 per bottle.
Patio Whites and BBQ Reds...Our 'Go To' List for Summer 2009
Since it is the unofficial start of summer this weekend, we thought we'd put
together a list of our picks for Patio Whites and BBQ Reds. We've carefully
selected these wines and we expect all of the wines on the list to be available
all summer in our bins and stacks. All are under $15 with most of them under
$10. And don't forget, mix or match a case and you'll get 10% off - buy 3 cases
or more and get 15% off!
Patio Whites
Fuzelo Vinho Verde 2008 - $9.99
Domaine Felines Jourdan Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet 2007 - $9.99
Floria Vin de Pays de Cotes de Gascogne NV - $8.99
Cousino Macul Maipo Valley Chardonnay 2008 - $9.99
Tilia Mendoza Chardonnay 2008 - $9.99
Domaine Labbe Abymes Vin de Savoie 2007 - $12.99
Masera Gavi 2008 - $13.99
Uvaggio Lodi Vermentino 2007 - $13.99
Tierruca Lontue Valley Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2008 - $9.99
Man Vintners Coastal South Africa Chenin Blanc 2008 - $9.99
La Carraia Orvieto Classico DOC 2007 - $11.99
Josef Bauer Gruner Veltliner 2008 - $10.99
Cielo Veneto Pinot Grigio IGT 2008 - $8.99
Chateau Ste. Michelle Washington 'Horse Heaven' Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - $13.50
(sale price, reg. $16.99, no further discounts)
BBQ Reds
Tilia Mendoza Bonarda 2008 - $9.99
Remonte Navarra Garnacha 2007 - $9.99
Vigne Vini Puglia Rosso IGT 2007 - $10.99
Gouguenheim Mendoza Malbec 2007 - $10.99
Mont Pellier California Pinot Noir 2008 - $7.99
Mars & Venus Central Valley Cabernet Sauvignon NV - $7.99
Cousino Macul Maipo Valley Merlot 2008 - $9.99
Friday Monkey Shiraz 2008 - $9.99
Cantarranes Alicante Monastrell 2008 - $8.99
Ermita de Petrer 2008- $8.99
Clifton Mendocino County Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $14.99
Wine Features of the Month (WFOM) for June
Amy Evans from Dionysos will be at the store tomorrow night, May 29th, from 5pm
to 7pm, pouring the WFOM for June which include a bubbly from Greece (yes,
Greece!), an exquisite Alvahrino from Portugal and an elegant Zinfandel from
California.
Amalia Brut NV - Done in the Methode Traditionnelle (as how you'd find bubbly
made in Champagne), this is a crisp sparkling wine from Greece which drinks like
a California bubbly. Showing lovely notes of apples, it is a delightfully guilty
pleasure at such a reasonably price. Normally $24.99 per bottle, specially
priced at $22.50 per bottle for the month of June
Soalheiro Vinho Verde Alvarinho 2008 - Fantastic white with weight for
summertime! Perfect with grilled fishes, roast chicken or entree salads such as
a Salad Nicoise. Normally $24.99 per bottle, specially priced at $22.50 per
bottle for the month of June
Joseph Swan 'Mancini Ranch' Russian River Valley Zinfandel 2003 - This is
perfect bottle aging to be drinking this Zinfandel from Sonoma County now! Soft
and luscious on the palate, an excellent wine for summertime grilling. Normally
priced at $29.99 per bottle, specially priced at $27.00 per bottle for the month
of June
Wine Club
The kickoff of our new Wine Club is just about here! If you are interested in
joining and want us to email you a sign-up form, email Lucinda at
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Two Wines (1 White and 1 Red) will be offered each month for $39.99 plus tax
(regular value of the two will be $45 to $50)
If you want two whites or two reds instead of one each, substitutions can be
accommodated. Requests for substitutions must be made in writing.
Your credit card will be charged for the monthly Wine Club during the first week
of every month
All Wine Club purchases must be picked up in the store; No shipments will be
made
Wine pickup starts the first Saturday of every month and runs through the last
day of the month. Wine Club purchases will not be held beyond the current month
of offering without prior arrangements made in writing.
If you wish to purchase additional bottles of the current month's Wine Club
offering during the same month, purchase price will be at the special Wine Club
price.
Membership runs month to month and can be cancelled at any time. Cancellations
must be done in writing and must be done by the 20th of the month to be
effective for the upcoming month.
June's Wine Club Offering will be:
Domaine de Montemeix Bourgogne Chardonnay 2006 (White Burgundy from across the
street from the Meursault region)
Domaine Roc des Anges 'Segna de Cor' Cotes du Roussillon 2007 (Delicious Rhone
blend from the Southern French appellation)
Regularly prices at $48.99 plus tax - Wine Club Price of $39.99 plus tax
Bogie's Recipe Board
If you enjoy cooking, you should definitely check out the current collection
issue of The Best of Fine Cooking on magazine stands now. It's got a picture of
a Cobb Salad with Fresh Herbs on the cover. There are so many great recipes in
this edition I was drooling heavily while reading the magazine and enjoying the
pictures! Ok, I know you're going to say I'm a Basset Hound and Basset Hounds
drool in their normal state of being. Really, I'm not that much of a drooler.
But the pictures for the recipes in this magazine, they almost made me howl!
Here's my recipe pick for this week!!
Prosciutto Wrapped Greens
Serves 8
3 tbps extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
½ tsp Dijon mustard
¼ lb mesclun or arugula, washed and spun dry
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
12 thin slices Prosciutto
In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, lemon juice and mustard. Put
the mesclun or arugula in a medium bowl and season with a generous pinch of salt
and pepper. Add the Parmigiano to the greens and gently toss with just enough of
the vinaigrette to coat the greens lightly. Taste for salt and pepper.
Set a slice of prosciutto on a work surface and put a small handful of greens at
the narrow end of the meat. Squeeze the greens together and roll the prosciutto
into a tight log. Cut the log on the diagonal into 2 inch pieces. Repeat with
the remaining prosciutto and greens and serve.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
When in Italy, does as the Italians do and drink something white from somewhere
in Italy...the sky's the limit! Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Verdicchio,
Vernaccia, Erbaluce, Vermentino....you get the picture!!
A lighter red would be in order, particularly with some good acidity to pair
with the vinaigrette. Pinot Noir comes to mind (I know, a shocker for our winE-Letter
readers!) but a nice Barbera or Dolcetto from the Piedmont region of Italy would
also be nice as would a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.
Quiz Corner
Congratulations to our two week's ago quiz winners Ian Dunn and Katrina Stroud.
Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: What is Fiefs Vendeens?
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm with Amy Evans of Dionysos Imports tasting June's
Wine Features of the Month!
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Jason Bise of The Country Vintner
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: May 21, 2009
The unofficial start of summer begins this weekend! This means
in your glass, you will need a Patio White, a Rosé or a BBQ Red or perhaps a
glass of bubbly! For any of these, we've got your covered! A big thanks to all
of our Guest Taste Pourers last week...we had some great wines at the Tasting
Bar! A special thanks to Jeff Gaffner from Saxon Brown for bringing such
unbelievably tasty wines to try and sell out of in short order!! We'll be back
at it this Saturday afternoon when Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing
is here pouring some fantastic wine values (the deals keep on coming!). Join us
anytime between 12pm and 4pm.
A reminder that since it is a holiday weekend, we will have abbreviated hours on
Monday from 11am to 4pm. Our regular hours will be in effect today through
Saturday (11am to 7pm). And since it is a grillin' weekend, Bogart has a grillin'
recipe up on his Recipe Board! Plus, we have a new Rose of the Week along with
our Summer 2009 'Go To' List of Patio Whites & BBQ Reds. We've got you hooked up
in the wine department for all of the graduations, weddings, backyard BBQs and
beach trips you'll have this summer. And oh yeah..we've got all sorts of
upcoming classes as well as a trip to Barboursville Vineyard taking place on
Sunday, June 7th with Chris Gerkin, Sommelier & GM of Morton's at Reston, as
your guide. As always, summer will be busy, busy, busy! Enjoy the great weather
and the long weekend everybody!
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 5/23 - Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing has so many
fantastic values in his book right now, he'll be back trying us on some more
values you just can't pass up. On the tasting table will be a Sauvignon Blanc
from New Zealand as well as one from Washington State, a Rosé from Virginia and
a Malbec from Argentina.
Saturday, 5/30 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner
Saturday, 6/6 - Peter Gaylor William Harrison Imports
Saturday, 6/13 - Lori Corcoran, proprietor and winemaker of Corcoran Vineyards
located in Loudoun County, will be here pouring her wines!
Saturday, 6/20 - Everybody loves Harry! Harry Tatian of Roanoke Valley Wine
Company will be here pouring some artisanal selections from his portfolio.
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece 2 Seats Left!
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, July 14th - Summer Bounty and Wines to Pair
Corn, tomatoes, peaches - these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll
taste several wines which work with the bounty from the garden, along with the
bounty itself - and you'll shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, August 4th - Beach Chillers
August is the month everyone heads to the beach and we'll taste you through a
collection of wines perfect to keep your thirst quenched, palate satisfied and
wallet not stripped of all your vacation cash! Plus, we'll give you some recipe
suggestions for healthy and easy nibblers at the beach. $40 per person. 7:00pm.
Wednesday, September 16th - California Dreamin'
If you can't make it to California this year, we'll bring California Wine
Country to you! We'll start up in Mendocino County and work our way down the
coast to Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, the Central Coat and wind up in the area of
Santa Barbara and Santa Rita Hills. The sky's the limit on where we can go for
tasting different varietals! Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will
be co-piloting with Lucinda on our journey and we'll pair foods to go with each
of the wines. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Road Trip to Barboursville Winery
Morton's of Reston will be hosting a series of Sunday day trips to various
Virginia wineries this summer. The next trip occurs on Sunday, June 7th. Here's
the skinny on the plans, the price and how to make reservations.
Enjoy a leisurely day in the Virginia wine countryside with Chris Gerkin,
Sommelier & GM of Morton's of Reston. You'll start off with a light breakfast
and a glass of wine at Morton's in the Reston Town Center and then you'll enjoy
a private coast to transport you through the Virginia hills to Barboursville
which is outside of Charlottesville. Check-in at Morton's is at 11:00am and
departure after breakfast is as 12:00 noon for the winery. After arriving at
Barboursville, you will enjoy a 3 course wine lunch at the award winning
Palladio Restaurant at the winery, then you'll meet winemaker Lucca Paschina and
will have a private barrel tasting. We'll tour the ruins of the Barboursville
mansion and return home in time for your own tasting if you've purchased some
wines for the trip home. Return time to Morton's will be at 6:00pm. Come see
what is waiting for you in our backyard!
Tours are limited to only 24 people so contact Kate Tourville today to secure
your spot. Kate Tourville. 703-796-0611 or kate_tourville@mortons.com.
Rosé of the Week
Kluge Abermarle County Rosé 2008 - There aren't a lot of Rosés made in Virginia
so this is a delightful surprise to enjoy. Made from the Bordeaux varietals of
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvginon and Merlot, this wine is on the light side of
medium weight and shows lots of bright berry flavors. A solid Pink for summer
made in Virginia! $12.99 per bottle.
Patio Whites and BBQ Reds...Our 'Go To' List for Summer 2009
Since it is the unofficial start of summer this weekend, we thought we'd put
together a list of our picks for Patio Whites and BBQ Reds. Ok, and maybe some
bubblies too! We've carefully selected these wines and we expect all of the
wines on the list to be available all summer in our bins and stacks. All are
under $15 with most of them under $10. And don't forget, mix or match a case and
you'll get 10% off - buy 3 cases or more and get 15% off!
Patio Whites
Fuzelo Vinho Verde 2008 - $9.99
Domaine Felines Jourdan Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet 2007 - $9.99
Floria Vin de Pays de Cotes de Gascogne NV - $8.99
Cousino Macul Maipo Valley Chardonnay 2008 - $9.99
Tilia Mendoza Chardonnay 2008 - $9.99
Domaine Labbe Abymes Vin de Savoie 2007 - $12.99
Masera Gavi 2008 - $13.99
Bodega Colome Salta Torrontes 2007 - $14.99
Uvaggio Lodi Vermentino 2007 - $13.99
Tierruca Lontue Valley Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2008 - $9.99
Man Vintners Coastal South Africa Chenin Blanc 2008 - $9.99
La Carraia Orvieto Classico DOC 2007 - $11.99
Josef Bauer Gruner Veltliner 2008 - $10.99
Cielo Veneto Pinot Grigio IGT 2008 - $8.99
Chateau Ste. Michelle Washington 'Horse Heaven' Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - $13.50
(sale price, reg. $16.99, no further discounts)
BBQ Reds
Tilia Mendoza Bonarda 2008 - $9.99
Remonte Navarra Garnacha 2007 - $9.99
Vigne Vini Puglia Rosso IGT 2007 - $10.99
Gouguenheim Mendoza Malbec 2007 - $10.99
Mont Pellier California Pinot Noir 2008 - $7.99
Mars & Venus Central Valley Cabernet Sauvignon NV - $7.99
Cousino Macul Maipo Valley Merlot 2008 - $9.99
Friday Monkey Shiraz 2008 - $9.99
Cantarranes Alicante Monastrell 2008 - $8.99
Ermita de Petrer 2008- $8.99
Clifton Mendocino County Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $14.99
Bubblies
Domaine St. Vincent Brut NV - $11.99
Saint-Meyland Brut NV - $12.99
Casabianca Prosecco Brut NV - $11.99
Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava NV - $8.99 (sale price, reg. $9.99, no further
discounts apply)
Wine Features of the Month (WFOM) for May
New selections for the featured white, red and bubbly for June will be announced
in next week's wine-Letter. In the meantime, this is the last week to purchase
May's WFOM at their special prices! Amy Evans from Dionysos will be at the store
next Friday night, May 29th, from 5pm to 7pm, pouring the WFOM for June which
include a bubbly from Greece (yes, Greece!), an exquisite Alvahrino from
Portugal and an elegant Zinfandel from California.
Wine Club
The kickoff of our new Wine Club will be in June. We're putting together a
sign-up form which we'll have in the store and on the web in the next week or so
but in the meantime, here are some of the details of the program. If you are
interested in joining and want us to email you a sign-up form, email Lucinda at
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Two Wines (1 White and 1 Red) will be offered each month for $39.99 plus tax
(regular value of the two will be $45 to $50)
If you want two whites or two reds instead of one each, substitutions can be
accommodated. Requests for substitutions must be made in writing.
Your credit card will be charged for the monthly Wine Club during the first week
of every month
All Wine Club purchases must be picked up in the store; No shipments will be
made
Wine pickup starts the first Saturday of every month and runs through the last
day of the month. Wine Club purchases will not be held beyond the current month
of offering without prior arrangements made in writing.
If you wish to purchase additional bottles of the current month's Wine Club
offering during the same month, purchase price will be at the special Wine Club
price.
Membership runs month to month and can be cancelled at any time. Cancellations
must be done in writing and must be done by the 20th of the month to be
effective for the upcoming month.
June's Wine Club Offering will be:
Domaine de Montemeix Bourgogne Chardonnay 2006 (White Burgundy from across the
street from the Meursault region)
Domaine Roc des Anges 'Segna de Cor' Cotes du Roussillon 2007 (Delicious Rhone
blend from the Southern French appellation)
Regularly prices at $48.99 plus tax - Wine Club Price of $39.99 plus tax
Bogie's Recipe Board
I just know there's going to be some grillin' in my future this weekend. YIPEE!!!
I love summer and I love it when my Mom grills! I've got a recipe this week for
a favorite side at BBQs...potato salad. And since my Mom can't eat mayo, this is
a recipe which doesn't have any! Plus, chives are really fresh right now from
Farmer's Market. I love to go to Farmer's Market...I go early every Saturday
morning with my Mom and menu consult with her. From one of my favorite cookbooks
to ogle over, Grilling: Where's There's Smoke There's Flavor, here's my recipe
pick for this week.
Creamy Potato Salad with Celery and Chives
Serves 4
1-1/2 lb new potatoes, cut into bite size pieces
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
½ cup cream cheese (you can use low fat/no fat)
2/3 cup sour cream or crème fraiche
2 celery sticks, finely diced
2-1/2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives
Extra snipped fresh chives for garnish
Place potatoes in a large pan of cold water. Bring to a boil. Gently simmer
until tender when pieced with the tip of a knife but still firm, about 10-15
minutes. Drain.
While potatoes are cooking, in a large bowl, mix mustard, red wine vinegar,
olive oil, salt and pepper until smooth. Add hot potatoes to mix. Gently toss to
coat each potato piece. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow flavors to combine.
Beat cream cheese and sour cream/crème fraiche until smooth. Stir in celery and
chives and gently combine all ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with extra chives. Serve
chilled or at room temperature.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
Since you have some creaminess in the potato salad from the cream cheese and the
sour cream/creme fraiche -- but you'll probably have lots of other sides to eat
along with your burgers or chicken or brats or what have you, sticking to a
white or red that isn't too dramatic in any direction is probably the best
course. Think of an 'All Purpose" wine - a Chardonnay which is either fermented
in stainless steel or very light oak, an Italian wine with some weight to it
(probably not a Pinot Grigio but more like an Erbaluce or a Vermentino or
Vernaccia) or an Oregon Pinot Gris.
For a red, again, sticking to something which has wide appeal is where you want
to me. Rhone reds are great for this if you like medium weight, earthier wines,
some table reds from Italy are always great to go with a bunch of different
foods and a Pinot Noir which has enough weight (probably Oregon or New Zealand)
would be a good match.
Calling All Coffee Lovers! We now carry Illy Coffee!!
We are now carrying Illy coffee from Italy as well as the Mayorga coffee we have
always carried. We have some beans, some ground and some decaf and we're in the
process of putting a display case. So if you're an Illy lover, we've got your
coffee covered!
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: Where is the AVA known as Snake River Valley located?
Answer: Idaho
Quiz winners from last week will be announced in next week's winE-Letter!
This Week's Quiz Question: Is taking a Memorial Day Weekend Vacation! See you
next week!!
Memorial Day Weekend Hours
Thursday: 11am to 7pm
Friday: 11am to 7pm
Saturday: 11am to 7pm
Sunday: 12pm to 5pm
Monday, Memorial Day: 11am to 4pm
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Jim Futrell of Republic National
Distributing
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
A
back to top
ISSUE DATE: May 14, 2009
There’s a KILLER Malbec on the Tasting Bar this evening….come
on by and try with Holly Kapica of The Hess Collection! She’ll also have a
Torrontes from Argentina, a white blend from Australia and an equally fantastic
Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands made by artisan winemaker Jim MacPhail.
Come visit between 5pm and 7pm tonight!
Then tomorrow night, we are very fortunate to have Jeff Gaffner, owner of and
winemaker at Saxon Brown Winery located in Sonoma County, here at the Tasting
Bar from 5pm to 7pm! Jeff makes very small production wines, mostly reds (like
Pinot Noir!) and we’ll be trying one white and four reds including a Pinot Noir,
two single vineyard Syrahs and a single vineyard Zinfandel.
And on Saturday, Ron Sweatman of Graystone Imports will be pouring at the
Tasting Bar from 12pm to 4pm. Ron has some new additions in his portfolio of
wine goodies and he’ll have a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile and a Rose from
Australia in addition to the new release of the 2006 Hans Fahden Sonoma Cabernet
Sauvignon. This is an amazing Cabernet for the price!
So it’s a triple tasting lineup worthy of sampling! Plus, we’ve got a new Rosé
of the Week this week, a new quiz in the Quiz Corner and Bogie’s got a new
recipe up on his Recipe Board. And no matter what your wine fancy, whether it be
a Patio Whites, a Rosé or a BBQ Reds, your local independent wine shop (that’s
us!) has you covered with all sorts of tasty values. And don’t forget – if you
have a wedding celebration, or graduation party or any sort of get together
where you’d like to serve Interesting Wines, Reasonably Priced, and need some
assistance in calculating how much wine you’ll need for an event, come in and
see us….we’d be happy to assist you!
TONIGHT! Tastier Thursdays…
Thursday, May 14th – Holly Kapica, Regional Manager for The Hess Collection,
will be here tasting out some the delicious wines in her portfolio including the
Colome Malbec which comes from the highest vineyards in Argentina which is
luscious, a Patio White blend from Peter Lehman called ‘Layers’ comprised of
five white grape varietals, a brand new California Pinot Noir in the market
named Sequana made by Jim MacPhail (who makes some ridiculously good Pinot Noirs
under his flagship label called MacPhail) along with another wine or two. Come
by and try! Complimentary. 5pm to 7pm.
* Friday, May 15th – Jeff Gaffner, Winemaker & Owner Saxon Brown Winery
We are very happy to announce we will have Jeff Gaffner pouring his Saxon Brown
wines at the Tasting Bar as he’ll be visiting the D.C. area on this day! Jeff’s
career started back in 1981 at Chateau St. Jean and he catapulted to Rock Star
Winemaker Status when the 1996 ‘Cinq Cepages’ by Chateau St. Jean was named Wine
of the Year by Wine Spectator magazine. In 1997, he founded Saxon Brown winery
with his wife and they focus on making very, very low production Pinots, Syrahs
and Zinfandels in Sonoma County. We’ll be trying one of his Semillon’s (Cricket
Creek), the Durell ‘Hayfield’ Pinot Noir, the Flora Syrah (Chalk Hill) and the
Parmelee-Hill ‘Owl Box’ Syrah and the Parmelee-Hill ‘Stonewall’ Zinfandel. Total
production of the Saxon Brown Winery is approximately 1700 cs with each of the
wines they make only running around 100 to 300 cases each. This will be a real
treat to have this opportunity to try such highly acclaimed, low production
wines!
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 5/16 – Ron Sweatman of Graystone Imports will be pouring some new
wines in his portfolio, namely a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and a Rose from Down
Under! We’ll also be tasting the Friday Monkey Shiraz from Australia and the NEW
RELEASE of the 2006 Hans Fahden Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. This Cabernet
is always a rock star find for the price!
Saturday, 5/23 – Miles Penland of Vinum Ventures with Julie Johnson, Winemaker
and Owner of Tres Sabores of Napa Valley
Saturday, 5/30 – Jason Bise of The Country Vintner
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece 4 Seats Left!
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, July 14th – Summer Bounty and Wines to Pair
Corn, tomatoes, peaches - these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll
taste several wines which work with the bounty from the garden, along with the
bounty itself - and you'll shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, August 4th – Beach Chillers
August is the month everyone heads to the beach and we’ll taste you through a
collection of wines perfect to keep your thirst quenched, palate satisfied and
wallet not stripped of all your vacation cash! Plus, we’ll give you some recipe
suggestions for healthy and easy nibblers at the beach. $40 per person. 7:00pm.
Wednesday, September 16th – California Dreamin’
If you can’t make it to California this year, we’ll bring California Wine
Country to you! We’ll start up in Mendocino County and work our way down the
coast to Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, the Central Coat and wind up in the area of
Santa Barbara and Santa Rita Hills. The sky’s the limit on where we can go for
tasting different varietals! Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will
be co-piloting with Lucinda on our journey and we’ll pair foods to go with each
of the wines. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
* Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make
a great gift!!
Rosé of the Week
Domaine Sorin Cotes de Provence Rosé 2008 – What do you get when you mix
together some of the famed grapes of the Rhone (Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan,
etc) and create a delicious Rosé? You get the tried and true Domaine Sorin Pink!
This perennial favorite always sells out early in the season each year and
drinking it makes you feel like you’re sitting at an outdoor café in Provence
enjoying a light breeze and a salad nicoise. $15.99 per bottle.
Wine Features of the Month (WFOM) for May
Champagne Pierre Paillard Bouzy Grand Cru Brut Rose NV - This is one tasting
Rose Champagne! Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and from Grand Cru vineyard
sites in Bouzy, this pale salmon color bubbly has a fantastic mousse, tiny
bubbles and is very refined in its style. This Champagne has depth without being
weighty/heavy on the palate. Absolutely delightful. Regularly priced at $49.99,
specially priced for the month of May at $42.50.
Domaine Boulay Sancerre 2007 – May is a perfect time of year to enjoy a Sancerre
and this one is delicious. Sancerre is the land of amazingly pure Sauvignon
Blanc and Domaine Boulay doesn’t disappoint. Regularly priced at $29.99,
specially priced for the month of May at $25.50.
Olivier Morin Chitry 2006 – Chitry is an appellation in Burgundy up in the north
near Chablis. The weight on this Pinot Noir is impressive. Meaty without being
chewy, nice earthy notes abound in the glass. Regularly priced at $18.99,
specially priced for the month of May at $16.00.
Wine Club
The kickoff of our new Wine Club will be in June. We’re putting together a
sign-up form which we’ll have in the store and on the web in the next week or so
but in the meantime, here are some of the details of the program. If you are
interested in joining and want us to email you a sign-up form, email Lucinda at
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
* Two Wines (1 White and 1 Red) will be offered each month for $39.99 plus tax
(regular value of the two will be $45 to $50)
* If you want two whites or two reds instead of one each, substitutions can be
accommodated. Requests for substitutions must be made in writing.
* Your credit card will be charged for the monthly Wine Club during the first
week of every month
* All Wine Club purchases must be picked up in the store; No shipments will be
made
* Wine pickup starts the first Saturday of every month and runs through the last
day of the month. Wine Club purchases will not be held beyond the current month
of offering without prior arrangements made in writing.
* If you wish to purchase additional bottles of the current month’s Wine Club
offering during the same month, purchase price will be at the special Wine Club
price.
* Membership runs month to month and can be cancelled at any time. Cancellations
must be done in writing and must be done by the 20th of the month to be
effective for the upcoming month.
June’s Wine Club Offering will be:
* Domaine de Montemeix Bourgogne Chardonnay 2006 (White Burgundy from across the
street from the Meursault region)
* Domaine Roc des Anges ‘Segna de Cor’ Cotes du Roussillon 2007 (Delicious Rhone
blend from the Southern French appellation)
* Regularly prices at $48.99 plus tax – Wine Club Price of $39.99 plus tax
Bogie’s Recipe Board
Like the Culinary Hound I am, I took up my position as Grill Supervisor this
past weekend when my Mom cooked me burgers on the grill Saturday night! For this
week’s recipe, my Mom told me I needed to focus on food found in the Springtime.
I told her CHEESE is a four season food! Seriously, I’m going with a pasta dish
this week that is quick and easy. Plus, the sugar snap peas and asparagus sure
do look good right now! From Smith and Hawken’s Gardener’s Community Cookbook,
here’s my recipe pick for this week.
Pasta with Asparagus, Sugar Snap Peas and Parmesan Cheese
Serves 4
1 lb asparagus, cut into ½ inch lengths
8 oz sugar snap peas or snow peas, tips snapped off
8 oz bow tie pasta
3 tbsp olive oil
½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt and Pepper
Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the asparagus and cook over high heat
for 2 minutes. Add the peas and cook 2 minutes more, until the vegetables are al
dente and still bright green. With a slotted spoon, transfer the asparagus and
peas to a bowl and set aside in a warm plate.
Bring the water back to the boil, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain
the pasta and transfer to a serving bowl. Add the olive oil, asparagus and peas.
Sprinkle with Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve right
away.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
* A pasta dish with spring vegetables is just screaming for an Italian white
such as an Orvieto Classico, Verdicchio or Gavi (we have a great one coming in
tomorrow!) for a white wine.
* For a red wine, a soft Chianti with lower tannins would be perfect (and we
have one of these coming in tomorrow too!), a not-too-earthy Dolcetto would be
nice and a Cotes du Rhone Villages would also work well here.
Calling All Coffee Lovers! We now carry Illy Coffee!!
We are now carrying Illy coffee from Italy as well as the Mayorga coffee we have
always carried. We have some beans, some ground and some decaf and we’re in the
process of putting a display case. So if you’re an Illy lover, we’ve got your
coffee covered!
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: Blaufrankisch (a grape grown prevalently in Austria)
is known as what in Germany and is sometimes known as this in Washington State
as well?
Answer: Lemberger
Congratulations to this week’s quiz winners Bill Haskitt, Lyn Jennings and Bev
Garner. Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week’s Quiz Question: Where is the AVA known as Snake River Valley located?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and pick up to three
winners out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds
consider bribery perfectly legit!
Facebook, Twitter…We are oh so connected!
Facebook – Look for The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table group. Coming soon….all
members in our Facebook Group will be offered occasional specials on the group
Facebook page! That’s a good reason to join our group!!
Twitter – If you want to follow Bogart, he is the “FoodHound”. I know, shocking.
If you want to follow us, we are “thewinesellerva”.
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Thursday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm with Holly Kapica of The Hess Collection
Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm with Jeff Gaffner of Saxon Brown Winery
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Ron Sweatman of Graystone Imports
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: May 7, 2009
First order of business....a reminder to all the Dads out
there - it's Mother's Day on Sunday!! Hop on that phone and make a brunch or
dinner reservation, order some flower or come on by and see us and we'll hook
you up with a great bottle of wine to give the Moms in your life!
We have a terrific lineup of wines for our Saturday tasting and they're all at
fantastic deal pricing! Seriously - wineries and importers are wanting to move
their current vintages of wine out of their warehouses to make room for new
vintages which need to be bottled so you end up the winner in this
transaction...there are deals out there to be had and we've found a lot of them
for this Saturday's tasting! Come on by and try some wines with Jim Futrell who
will be at the Tasting Bar pouring from 12 to 4. We've got a new Rosé of the
Week this week and had the opportunity to try several with Jason at our 'Think
Pink' class on Tuesday which are now in stock. We're keeping that Rosé Bandwagon
rolling! Our next Wine Class is on Greek Wines in the beginning of June, Bogie
has a new recipe up on his Recipe Board, we've got quiz winners from last week
and there's a new quiz in the Quiz Corner! Let's hope it dries out soon so we
can all head outside and after mowing the lawn which is now ten feet high, enjoy
some Patio Whites, Rosés and BBQ Reds!
Friday, May 15th - Jeff Gaffner, Winemaker & Owner Saxon Brown Winery
We are very happy to announce we will have Jeff Gaffner pouring his Saxon Brown
wines at the Tasting Bar as he'll be visiting the D.C. area on this day! Jeff's
career started back in 1981 at Chateau St. Jean and he catapulted to Rock Star
Winemaker Status when the 1996 'Cinq Cepages' by Chateau St. Jean was named Wine
of the Year by Wine Spectator magazine. In 1997, he founded Saxon Brown winery
with his wife and they focus on making very, very low production Pinots, Syrahs
and Zinfandels in Sonoma County. We'll be trying one of his Semillon's (Cricket
Creek), the Durell 'Hayfield' Pinot Noir, the Flora Syrah (Chalk Hill) and the
Parmelee-Hill 'Owl Box' Syrah and the Parmelee-Hill 'Stonewall' Zinfandel. Total
production of the Saxon Brown Winery is approximately 1700 cs with each of the
wines they make only running around 100 to 300 cases each. This will be a real
treat to have this opportunity to try such highly acclaimed, low production
wines!
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 5/9 - Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will be here
pouring a delicious, value priced Cava ($9.99), the unoaked Chardonnay from
Morgan called 'Metallico' (specially priced at $18.99), the red Rhone blend from
Morgan which is always a great seller called 'Cotes du Crows' (normally $19.99,
on sale at $16.99), the aromatic, White Rhone blend from Treana (specially
priced at $24.99) and if you were curious about the Hall Sauvignon Blanc and the
Hall Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, these will both be on the Tasting Bar as well to
try. And both Hall wines are 20% off! Besides having great tasting wines to try,
all of them are offered at significant savings!
Saturday, 5/16 - Ron Sweatman of Graystone Imports
Saturday, 5/23 - Miles Penland of Vinum Ventures with Julie Johnson, Winemaker
and Owner of Tres Sabores of Napa Valley
Saturday, 5/30 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner
Upcoming Tastier Thursdays...
Thursday, May 14th - Holly Kapica, Regional Manager for The Hess Collection,
will be here tasting out some the delicious wines in her portfolio including the
Colome Malbec which comes from the highest vineyards in Argentina which is
luscious, a Patio White blend from Peter Lehman called 'Layers' comprised of
five white grape varietals, a brand new California Pinot Noir in the market
named Sequana made by Jim MacPhail (who makes some ridiculously good Pinot Noirs
under his flagship label called MacPhail) along with another wine or two. Come
by and try! Complimentary. 5pm to 7pm.
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, July 14th - Summer Bounty and Wines to Pair
Corn, tomatoes, peaches - these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll
taste several wines which work with the bounty from the garden, along with the
bounty itself - and you'll shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, August 4th - Beach Chillers
August is the month everyone heads to the beach and we'll taste you through a
collection of wines perfect to keep your thirst quenched, palate satisfied and
wallet not stripped of all your vacation cash! Plus, we'll give you some recipe
suggestions for healthy and easy nibblers at the beach. $40 per person. 7:00pm.
Wednesday, September 16th - California Dreamin' JUST ADDED
If you can't make it to California this year, we'll bring California Wine
Country to you! We'll start up in Mendocino County and work our way down the
coast to Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, the Central Coat and wind up in the area of
Santa Barbara and Santa Rita Hills. The sky's the limit on where we can go for
tasting different varietals! Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will
be co-piloting with Lucinda on our journey and we'll pair foods to go with each
of the wines. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Rosé of the Week
Le Petit Caboche Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rosé 2008 - Jean Pierre Boisson has
been the long time Mayor of the village of Chateauneuf du Pape. The Domaine
itself has been around since the mid-1600's. The Rose produced by this Domaine
is one of our favorites year in and year out. It's a medium weight Rosé on the
palate and its lighter color screams southern Rhone. Perfect with cheese and
pates or a roast chicken salad. $9.99 per bottle.
Wine Specials Worthy of Mention
Hall Wines of Napa Valley
Here's another deal on a great Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet
Sauvignon from the highly acclaimed Hall Winery. Hall Winery was founded in 2005
and sits among the famed 'Sacrache Vineyard' located in the Rutherford region of
Napa Valley. Hall is owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall and is focused on producing
only Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The special prices offered
on these two great Napa Valley wines are not to be missed!!
The Hall Sauvignon Blanc 2007 is a clean and focused style showing off notes of
citrus, orange blossom and guava. The fruit is sourced primarily from a vineyard
partner located in Yountville. The wine is crisp and refreshing offering a
little bit of flintiness on the palate. Normally prices at $23.99, we are taking
orders for this wine at a price 20% off its normal price bringing it down to
$18.99 per bottle. There is no further discount on this wine but bottles
purchased count towards completing a case or more to get our mix/match case
discount of 10% or mix/match 3 case discount of 15%. Offer is good as long as
the distributor has availability of this wine!
The Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 was featured in the Washington Post
back in March of 2008. Notes from the WP article stated 'The 2005 Hall Napa
Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, ripe red with concentrated blackberry and
black cherry fruitiness and hints of baking spices. Though we relished it this
month...it will continue to evolve over the next seven to 10 years.' I tasted
the '05 Napa Valley Cab Sauv this past week and with the special deal price on
it right now, this is a deal not to be missed. It is a wine full of crushed red
and black berries with soft tannins and good depth on the palate. Thank goodness
for Spring Cleaning in the warehouse! Normally priced at $41.99 per bottle, we
are taking orders for this wine at a price 20% off its normal price bringing it
down to $33.59 per bottle. There is no further discount on this wine but bottles
purchased count towards completing a case or more to get our mix/match case
discount of 10% or mix/match 3 case discount of 15%. Offer is good as long as
the distributor has availability of this wine!
To order, email Lucinda@thewineseller.com or call 703-471-9649. Wine will start
arriving next week. We will need your credit card info if we do not have it
already on file.
Wine Features of the Month (WFOM) for May
Champagne Pierre Paillard Bouzy Grand Cru Brut Rose NV - This is one tasting
Rose Champagne! Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and from Grand Cru vineyard
sites in Bouzy, this pale salmon color bubbly has a fantastic mousse, tiny
bubbles and is very refined in its style. This Champagne has depth without being
weighty/heavy on the palate. Absolutely delightful. Regularly priced at $49.99,
specially priced for the month of May at $42.50.
Domaine Boulay Sancerre 2007 - May is a perfect time of year to enjoy a Sancerre
and this one is delicious. Sancerre is the land of amazingly pure Sauvignon
Blanc and Domaine Boulay doesn't disappoint. Regularly priced at $29.99,
specially priced for the month of May at $25.50.
Olivier Morin Chitry 2006 - Chitry is an appellation in Burgundy up in the north
near Chablis. The weight on this Pinot Noir is impressive. Meaty without being
chewy, nice earthy notes abound in the glass. Regularly priced at $18.99,
specially priced for the month of May at $16.00.
Wine Club
The kickoff of our new Wine Club will be in June. We're putting together a
sign-up form which we'll have in the store and on the web in the next week or so
but in the meantime, here are some of the details of the program. If you are
interested in joining and want us to email you a sign-up form, email Lucinda at
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Two Wines (1 White and 1 Red) will be offered each month for $39.99 plus tax
(regular value of the two will be $45 to $50)
If you want two whites or two reds instead of one each, substitutions can be
accommodated. Requests for substitutions must be made in writing.
Your credit card will be charged for the monthly Wine Club during the first week
of every month
All Wine Club purchases must be picked up in the store; No shipments will be
made
Wine pickup starts the first Saturday of every month and runs through the last
day of the month. Wine Club purchases will not be held beyond the current month
of offering without prior arrangements made in writing.
If you wish to purchase additional bottles of the current month's Wine Club
offering during the same month, purchase price will be at the special Wine Club
price.
Membership runs month to month and can be cancelled at any time. Cancellations
must be done in writing and must be done by the 20th of the month to be
effective for the upcoming month.
June's Wine Club Offering will be:
Domaine de Montemeix Bourgogne Chardonnay 2006 (White Burgundy from across the
street from the Meursault region)
Domaine Roc des Anges 'Segna de Cor' Cotes du Roussillon 2007 (Delicious Rhone
blend from the Southern French appellation)
Regularly prices at $48.99 plus tax - Wine Club Price of $39.99 plus tax
Bogie's Recipe Board
I love my Mom! She treats me really, really well and I know I am totally
spoiled. I love every minute of it! If I could, I'd make her dinner for Mother's
Day this Sunday. Now that would be a sight....a Basset Hound in the kitchen with
an apron on, standing on my hind legs, sniffing around!! Well, I won't be making
dinner but I'll be farming out lots of kisses. But here's a recipe which is
really easy to make and would be a great Mother's Day meal. From Smith and
Hawken's Gardener's Community Cookbook, here's my recipe for this week.
Lemon Chicken with Tarragon
Serves 6
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/2 lbs)
4 tbsp (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
½ tbsp finely chopped fresh Tarragon
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
6 saltine crackers, finely crushed
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the chicken in a lightly greased baking
pan large enough to hold the pieces in one uncrowded layer. Melt the butter in a
small saucepan. Stir in the mustard, lemon juice, tarragon, salt and pepper and
pour the mixture over the chicken. Mix together the crushed crackers and cheese
and sprinkle over the chicken. Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the
topping is golden, about 35 mins. Serve right away.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
A White Rhone or White Rhone blend would be a great match for the Tarragon here.
Perhaps a Marsanne/Rousanne blend or a basic Cotes du Rhone Blanc.
In the red wine department, something a bit earthy would be nice and staying in
the Rhone family would be a great pairing. A Rosé from the Rhone region would be
excellent as well!
Calling All Coffee Lovers!
We are now carrying Illy coffee from Italy as well as the Mayorga coffee we have
always carried. We have some beans, some ground and some decaf and we're in the
process of putting a display case. So if you're an Illy lover, we've got your
coffee covered!
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: Who are the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon?
Answer: Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc
Congratulations to this week's quiz winners Ian Dunn, Cary Boshamer and Bob
Puckett. Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: Blaufrankisch (a grape grown prevalently in Austria)
is known as what in Germany and is sometimes known as this in Washington State
as well?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and pick up to three
winners out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds
consider bribery perfectly legit!
Facebook, Twitter...We are oh so connected!
Facebook - Look for The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table group. Coming soon....all
members in our Facebook Group will be offered occasional specials on the group
Facebook page! That's a good reason to join our group!!
Twitter - If you want to follow Bogart, he is the "FoodHound". I know, shocking.
If you want to follow us, we are "thewinesellerva".
That's it for this week! Happy Mother's Day!!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Jim Futrell of Republic National
Distributing
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: April 30, 2009
Tonight, tonight.... Come on in tonight and meet Roland and
taste some great wines! Roland Herrmann, of Maison, Marques & Domaines, will be
here pouring some of the spectacular wines offered in his portfolio from 5 to
7pm. Included in tonight's tasting lineup is the Roederer Estate bubbly from
California, Napanook also from California and a second label produced by the
folks at Dominus Estate, one of the most well known Rosés in the world, Domaine
Ott, and two value priced selections - a Sauvignon Blanc from Kiwi Land and a
delicious Cotes du Rhone. Come on by and forget it's drizzling and gray outside!
It's time to roll out the Rosé bandwagon - we have our first Rosé of the Week
arriving tomorrow plus Andy Sackenheim of Monsieur Touton will have a Rosé at
the Tasting Bar tomorrow night during the Wine tasting. And if
you're interested in learning about (and tasting some!) Rosés, we still have
some seats left in Tuesday's 'Think Pink' class so give us a call or shoot us an
email to sign up for the class!
Dave Bortolin of Cobblestone Cellars will be here Saturday pouring at the
tasting bar and one of the selections will be a new Zinfandel produced by Orin
Swift (makers of 'The Prisoner'). A big 'thank you' to Doug Fabbioli for leading
a fantastic class on Sunday at his winery. We had a lot of fun riding around the
vineyard on the golf cart and then getting to 'mix up' different blends from
five different barrel samples. And having Ted Plemons of Cass Winery here
alongside Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections was also a ton of fun last
Saturday! The 'Edge' from Cass was simply delicious! For all of the Cass lovers
out there, Ted will be back pouring his latest releases in September.
We've got a new recipe on Bogie's Recipe Board (by request as a result of the
luncheon menu at Fabbioli Cellars on Sunday) and quiz winners from last week and
a new Quiz Corner Question this week. Plus, our first month of rolling out Wine
Features of the Month starts tomorrow. We've got a bubbly, a white and a red all
worthy of a 'Saturday Night Special' treat to yourself priced at a discount for
the month of May.
We know the schedule is getting packed with the kids sports events, weddings,
graduations and everything else going on but we've got some great tastings going
on all weekend so we hope you'll make it by at least once!
Friday, May 1st - Andy Sackenheim of Monsieur Touton pouring our new favorite
Sauvignon Blanc for $9.99, a 2008 Rose from the Rhone for $9.99, a value Malbec
from Argentina for $8.99 and a Pinot/Gamay blend from Burgundy for $9.99
Friday, May 15th - Jeff Gaffner, Winemaker & Owner Saxon Brown Winery
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 5/2 - David Bortolin of Cobblestone Cellars
Dave will be here pouring some tasty new wine finds including a
new-to-the-market Zinfandel made by the Orin Swift folks and an Oregon Pinot
Noir which the Pinot Queen is just giddy about. Plus, there will be some nice
Spring Whites at the Tasting Bar as well.
Saturday, 5/9 - Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing
Saturday, 5/16 - Ron Sweatman of Graystone Imports
Saturday, 5/23 - Miles Penland of Vinum Ventures with Julie Johnson, Winemaker
and Owner of Tres Sabores of Napa Valley
Saturday, 5/30 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner
Upcoming Tastier Thursdays...And a Tastier Tuesday...And a Tastier Wednesday!
Wednesday, May 6th - Christian Roguenaut, winemaker at Baileyana Winery in the
Central Coast region of California, will be here tasting the wonderful wines he
produces at his state-of-the-art facility. Christian's resume is impressive
having worked at such famed wineries as Champagne Deutz in France, Navarro
Coreas in Argentina, Delas in the Rhone and Brancott in New Zealand before
landing at Baileyana in 1998. Baileyana is a family owned winery and the
vineyards sit in a very unique microclimate perched on hill overlooking Edna
Valley in San Luis Obispo. The Baileyana estate vineyards are located just miles
from the Pacific Ocean. The 'Firepeak' series of Baileyana wines consisting of
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah are amazing, focused and sumptuous. We'll be
tasting all of these - plus a few others - when Christian joins us at the
Tasting Bar.
Thursday, May 14th - Holly Kapica, Regional Manager for The Hess Collection,
will be here tasting out some the delicious wines in her portfolio including a
Malbec made from the highest vineyards in Argentina!
Friday, May 15th - Calling all Pinot Noir Lovers!!! We are very happy to
announce we will have Jeff Gaffner pouring his Saxon Brown wines at the Tasting
Bar as he'll be visiting the D.C. area on this day! Jeff's career started back
in 1981 at Chateau St. Jean and he catapulted to Rock Star Winemaker Status when
the 1996 'Cinq Cepages' by Chateau St. Jean was named Wine of the Year by Wine
Spectator magazine. In 1997, he founded Saxon Brown winery with his wife and
they focus on making very, very low production Pinots, Syrahs and Zinfandels in
Sonoma County. We'll be trying one of his Semillon's (Cricket Creek), the Durell
'Hayfield' Pinot Noir, the Flora Syrah (Chalk Hill) and the Parmelee-Hill 'Owl
Box' Syrah and the Parmelee-Hill 'Stonewall' Zinfandel. Total production of the
Saxon Brown Winery is approximately 1700 cs with each of the wines they make
only running around 100 to 300 cases each. This will be a real treat to have
this opportunity to try such highly acclaimed, low production wines!
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, July 14th - Summer Bounty and Wines to Pair
Corn, tomatoes, peaches - these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll
taste several wines which work with the bounty from the garden, along with the
bounty itself - and you'll shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, August 4th - Beach Chillers JUST ADDED
August is the month everyone heads to the beach and we'll taste you through a
collection of wines perfect to keep your thirst quenched, palate satisfied and
wallet not stripped of all your vacation cash! Plus, we'll give you some recipe
suggestions for healthy and easy nibblers at the beach. $40 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, September 15th - California Dreamin' JUST ADDED
If you can't make it to California this year, we'll bring California Wine
Country to you! We'll start up in Mendocino County and work our way down the
coast to Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, the Central Coat and wind up in the area of
Santa Barbara and Santa Rita Hills. The sky's the limit on where we can go for
tasting different varietals! Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will
be co-piloting with Lucinda on our journey and we'll pair foods to go with each
of the wines. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Rosé of the Week
J. Maurat Collection Fiefs Vendeens Rose 2008 - This is a fun way to start of
our Pink Season! Fiefs Vendeens is an appellation which sits on the very western
part of the Loire Valley right down by where the Loire River empties into the
Atlantic Ocean. This Rose is a blend of Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Negrette
and is clean, refreshing and shows off classic Rose note of white pepper on the
palate. A fantastic choice with salad nicoise. $14.99 per bottle.
Wine Specials Worthy of Mention
Hall Wines of Napa Valley
Here's another deal on a great Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet
Sauvignon from the highly acclaimed Hall Winery. Hall Winery was founded in 2005
and sits among the famed 'Sacrache Vineyard' located in the Rutherford region of
Napa Valley. Hall is owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall and is focused on producing
only Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The special prices offered
on these two great Napa Valley wines are not to be missed!!
The Hall Sauvignon Blanc 2007 is a clean and focused style showing off notes of
citrus, orange blossom and guava. The fruit is sourced primarily from a vineyard
partner located in Yountville. The wine is crisp and refreshing offering a
little bit of flintiness on the palate. Normally prices at $23.99, we are taking
orders for this wine at a price 20% off its normal price bringing it down to
$18.99 per bottle. There is no further discount on this wine but bottles
purchased count towards completing a case or more to get our mix/match case
discount of 10% or mix/match 3 case discount of 15%. Offer is good as long as
the distributor has availability of this wine!
The Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 was featured in the Washington Post
back in March of 2008. Notes from the WP article stated 'The 2005 Hall Napa
Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, ripe red with concentrated blackberry and
black cherry fruitiness and hints of baking spices. Though we relished it this
month...it will continue to evolve over the next seven to 10 years.' I tasted
the '05 Napa Valley Cab Sauv this past week and with the special deal price on
it right now, this is a deal not to be missed. It is a wine full of crushed red
and black berries with soft tannins and good depth on the palate. Thank goodness
for Spring Cleaning in the warehouse! Normally priced at $41.99 per bottle, we
are taking orders for this wine at a price 20% off its normal price bringing it
down to $33.59 per bottle. There is no further discount on this wine but bottles
purchased count towards completing a case or more to get our mix/match case
discount of 10% or mix/match 3 case discount of 15%. Offer is good as long as
the distributor has availability of this wine!
To order, email Lucinda@thewineseller.com or call 703-471-9649. Wine will start
arriving next week. We will need your credit card info if we do not have it
already on file.
Wine Features of the Month (WFOM) for May
Champagne Pierre Paillard Bouzy Grand Cru Brut Rose NV - This is one tasting
Rose Champagne! Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and from Grand Cru vineyard
sites in Bouzy, this pale salmon color bubbly has a fantastic mousse, tiny
bubbles and is very refined in its style. This Champagne has depth without being
weighty/heavy on the palate. Absolutely delightful. Regularly priced at $49.99,
specially priced for the month of May at $42.50.
Domaine Boulay Sancerre 2007 - May is a perfect time of year to enjoy a Sancerre
and this one is delicious. Sancerre is the land of amazingly pure Sauvignon
Blanc and Domaine Boulay doesn't disappoint. Regularly priced at $29.99,
specially priced for the month of May at $25.50.
Olivier Morin Chitry 2006 - Chitry is an appellation in Burgundy up in the north
near Chablis. The weight on this Pinot Noir is impressive. Meaty without being
chewy, nice earthy notes abound in the glass. Regularly priced at $18.99,
specially priced for the month of May at $16.00.
Wine Club
The kickoff of our new Wine Club will be in June. We're putting together a
sign-up form which we'll have in the store and on the web in the next week or so
but in the meantime, here are some of the details of the program. If you are
interested in joining and want us to email you a sign-up form, email Lucinda at
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Two Wines (1 White and 1 Red) will be offered each month for $39.99 plus tax
(regular value of the two will be $45 to $50)
If you want two whites or two reds instead of one each, substitutions can be
accommodated. Requests for substitutions must be made in writing.
Your credit card will be charged for the monthly Wine Club during the first week
of every month
All Wine Club purchases must be picked up in the store; No shipments will be
made
Wine pickup starts the first Saturday of every month and runs through the last
day of the month. Wine Club purchases will not be held beyond the current month
of offering without prior arrangements made in writing.
If you wish to purchase additional bottles of the current month's Wine Club
offering during the same month, purchase price will be at the special Wine Club
price.
Membership runs month to month and can be cancelled at any time. Cancellations
must be done in writing and must be done by the 20th of the month to be
effective for the upcoming month.
June's Wine Club Offering will be:
Domaine de Montemeix Bourgogne Chardonnay 2006 (White Burgundy from across the
street from the Meursault region)
Domaine Roc des Anges 'Segna de Cor' Cotes du Roussillon 2007 (Delicious Rhone
blend from the Southern French appellation)
Regularly prices at $48.99 plus tax - Wine Club Price of $39.99 plus tax
Bogie's Recipe Board
My Mom made this recipe last weekend and lots of people requested the details on
how to make it. I like the dip a lot but will skip the veggies which go with it.
Just slather some on a chunk of bread and I'll be happy! From the cookbook
Delicious Dips, here's my recipe pick for this week...
Not Your Mother's Onion Dip
Makes about 2 cups
3 tbsp olive oil
3 large sweet onions such as Walla Walla, Vidalia, cut into ½ inch dice
2 large shallots, finely diced
1-1/2 tbsp sugar
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar (you could use either regular Balsamic or white
Balsamic which is a little bit sweeter)
1/3 cup sour cream
3 tbsp mayonnaise
¾ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
In a 12 inch sauté pan over medium low heat, warm the oil and swirl it around to
coat the pan. Add the onions and cook, preferably covered, stirring frequently,
until the onions soften and turn transparent, about 10 mins. Uncover the pan and
continue sautéing, adjusting the heat to low if the onions begin to brown, until
the onions are completely softened and begin to caramelize, about 15 mins. Add
the shallots and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes longer. Add the sugar and
continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the onions turn a beautiful caramel
color, 5 to 7 mins longer. Add the balsamic vinegar and stir to combine. When
the vinegar has evaporated, remove the pan from the heat. Transfer the onion
mixture to a bowl and cool 15 mins. Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, salt and
pepper to the onion mixture. Stir until completely combined. Taste and adjust
the seasonings. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve slightly warm or at room
temperature.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
For a white, there are a lot of ways to go. A nice Italian such as a Vernacchia
or an Oregon Pinot Gris or a Chablis from Burgundy would all be terrific
choices.
For a red, think fruit forward since caramelized onions have a rich, sweet
flavor. A California Pinot Noir or Zinfandel or a southern Italian Red or an
Argentinean Malbec would all work well here.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: The grapes of Trajadura, Loureiro and Alvarinho are
used to make a wine known as what?
Answer: Vinho Verde
Congratulations to this week's quiz winners Ian Dunn, Hema Mangatoo and Chris
Miskovich. Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: Who are the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and pick up to three
winners out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds
consider bribery perfectly legit!
Facebook, Twitter...We are oh so connected!
Facebook - Look for 'The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table' group. Coming soon....all
members in our Facebook Group will be offered occasional specials on the group
Facebook page! That's a good reason to join our group!!
Twitter - If you want to follow Bogart, he is the 'FoodHound'. I know, shocking.
If you want to follow us, we are 'thewinesellerva'.
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Thursday (TONIGHT!) from 5:00pm to 7:00pm with Roland Herrmann of Maison,
Marques & Domaines
Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm with Andy Sackenheim of Monsieur Touton
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Dave Bortolin of Cobblestone Cellars
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: April 23, 2009
There is loads going on here at The Wine Seller and it's
making my head spin in a dizzy, happy way! We've got some great winemakers and
winery owners who will be here in the store during the upcoming weeks starting
with Ted Plemons of Cass Winery who will be here this Saturday from 12pm to 4pm!
In additional to the wines we've all come to know and love from Cass (like the
Rockin' One!), Ted has brought a very special bottle of wine Cass produces in
very limited quantity for us to try. Only 12 cs of this blend called 'Edge' are
produced and it almost exclusively goes to Wine Club members of Cass. Ted has
agreed to part with some for The Wine Seller customers so come on in and try
it....IT IS FANTASTIC! In addition, Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections
will be here on Saturday as well (and possibly the winemaker/owner of Poppiano
in Tuscany if his plane touches down at Dulles in time!) pouring some Italian
gems including one of our favorite Proseccos. After all, the weather this
weekend is going to PERFECT for Patio Prosecco drinking!! Also on the Italian
tasting table will be one of our best white wine sellers for fish, a couple of
reds from Poppiano plus a dessert wine from Poppiano. Bring your taste buds this
Saturday for a superb lineup of wines to try between Ted and Bill!
Next Thursday, we'll have Roland Herrmann here of Maison, Marques & Domaines and
he'll be pouring some of the spectacular wines offered in his portfolio
including some Roederer Estate bubbly from California and Napanook also from
California. We're putting the finishing touches on what other wines will be
poured but Maison, Marques & Domaines portfolio spans the globe so it'll include
wines from around the world.
Two events upcoming this Sunday if you haven't made your weekend plans yet.
We're going to have perfect weather for our outing to Fabbioli Cellars in
Loudoun County on Sunday afternoon and there are still some seats left if you'd
like to come learn about the art of blending with Doug Fabbioli, try his wines
and have some lunch with Doug. Also, on Sunday evening, there are just a few
seats left at our Spring Wine Dinner at Café Antonio's (in the Kmart Shopping
Center near Five Guys and Virginia Kitchen). Please give Café Antonio's a call
at 703-437-3307 if you'd like to secure a seat for the dinner.
More winemakers visiting the
store for special tastings and our big Saturday tastings abound in the upcoming
month so read on below for all the details of all of our in-store visitors!
It'll be time to roll out the Rosé bandwagon next week (the 2008 Rosés are just
beginning to arrive...YIPEE!) and we're in for a fantastic weather week
upcoming. So get those Patio Whites out and enjoy this great weather and we'll
see you soon!!
Friday, May 1st - Andy Sackenheim of Monsieur Touton pouring value wines from
around the globe
Friday, May 15th - Jeff Gaffner, Winemaker & Owner Saxon Brown Winery
Friday, May 29th - Amy Evans of Dionysos Imports
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 4/25 - It's a Double Header Tasting!
Ted Plemons of Cass Winery will be back for an encore pouring of his wines!! Ted
has been at the store a few times before sampling the liquid wares from the
winery he co-owns in the Paso Robles region of California. His wines are always
a big hit and Ted's engaging conversation always makes for lively conversation
at the tasting table. Ted was last in town just before Bailout Round #1 passed
and Ted autographed a few of his bottles with the apt line of 'Drink in case of
Bailout'. Well, I guess of those bottles have been drunk so now it's time to
restock with some new offerings of Cass wines!!
The one, the only, Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be here
pouring and might just have a surprise or two up his sleeve seeing as how their
annual portfolio tasting for the trade occurs a few days later and they have
lots of winemakers in town. So, we're hoping to ferry a winemaker or two our way
once travel plans have been confirmed but for sure, we'll have some special
bottles on the tasting table to try!
Saturday, 5/2 - David Bortolin of Cobblestone Cellars
Saturday, 5/9 - Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing
Saturday, 5/16 - Ron Sweatman of Graystone Imports
Saturday, 5/23 - Miles Penland of Vinum Ventures with Julie Johnson, Winemaker
and Owner of Tres Sabores of Napa Valley
Saturday, 5/30 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner
Upcoming Tastier Thursdays...And a Tastier Tuesday...And a Tastier Wednesday!
Thursday, April 30th - Roland Herrmann, Regional Manager for Maison Marques &
Domaines, will be here sampling some of the uber fantastic wines in his
portfolio. Maison Marques & Domaines represents such properties as Champagne
Roederer, Dominus, Domaine Ott (who makes an excellent Rose!) and Pio Cesare to
name just a few. Napanook will definitely be in the tasting lineup! Napanook is
a separate label owned by Dominus Estates (who produce the well known Dominus
Wine). Napanook is an approachable Bordeaux blend offered at a very reasonable
price by this highly esteemed winery. Come check out the wines we've picked out
for the tasting and give them whirl around your glass! Complimentary. 5pm to
7pm.
Wednesday, May 6th - Christian Roguenaut, winemaker at Baileyana Winery in the
Central Coast region of California, will be here tasting the wonderful wines he
produces at his state-of-the-art facility. Christian's resume is impressive
having worked at such famed wineries as Champagne Deutz in France, Navarro
Coreas in Argentina, Delas in the Rhone and Brancott in New Zealand before
landing at Baileyana in 1998. Baileyana is a family owned winery and the
vineyards sit in a very unique microclimate perched on hill overlooking Edna
Valley in San Luis Obispo. The Baileyana estate vineyards are located just miles
from the Pacific Ocean. The 'Firepeak' series of Baileyana wines consisting of
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah are amazing, focused and sumptuous. We'll be
tasting all of these - plus a few others - when Christian joins us at the
Tasting Bar.
Thursday, May 14th - Holly Kapica, Regional Manager for The Hess Collection,
will be here tasting out some the delicious wines in her portfolio including a
Malbec made from the highest vineyards in Argentina!
Friday, May 15th - Calling all Pinot Noir Lovers!!! We are very happy to
announce we will have Jeff Gaffner pouring his Saxon Brown wines at the Tasting
Bar as he'll be visiting the D.C. area on this day! Jeff's career started back
in 1981 at Chateau St. Jean and he catapulted to Rock Star Winemaker Status when
the 1996 'Cinq Cepages' by Chateau St. Jean was named Wine of the Year by Wine
Spectator magazine. In 1997, he founded Saxon Brown winery with his wife and
they focus on making very, very low production Pinots, Syrahs and Zinfandels in
Sonoma County. We'll be trying one of his Semillon's (Cricket Creek), the Durell
'Hayfield' Pinot Noir, the Flora Syrah (Chalk Hill) and the Parmelee-Hill 'Owl
Box' Syrah and the Parmelee-Hill 'Stonewall' Zinfandel. Total production of the
Saxon Brown Winery is approximately 1700 cs with each of the wines they make
only running around 100 to 300 cases each. This will be a real treat to have
this opportunity to try such highly acclaimed, low production wines!
Road Trip This Sunday!!! There are a Few Seats Left...
Book your spot! This will be a super fun not to mention educational way to spend
a beautiful Spring Day in the Loudoun County countryside! Doug Fabbioli, owner
and winemaker of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, will be hosting a Winemaker's
Class at the winery on Sunday, April 26th, from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Included in
the class with be a tour, learning winemaker's techniques, the art of blending
and lunch along with some wine tasting. Price is $60.00 per person. For
reservations, please email Lucinda at Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, July 14th - Summer Bounty and Wines to Pair
Corn, tomatoes, peaches - these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll
taste several wines which work with the bounty from the garden, along with the
bounty itself - and you'll shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, August 4th - Beach Chillers JUST ADDED
August is the month everyone heads to the beach and we'll taste you through a
collection of wines perfect to keep your thirst quenched, palate satisfied and
wallet not stripped of all your vacation cash! Plus, we'll give you some recipe
suggestions for healthy and easy nibblers at the beach. $40 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, September 15th - California Dreamin' JUST ADDED
If you can't make it to California this year, we'll bring California Wine
Country to you! We'll start up in Mendocino County and work our way down the
coast to Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, the Central Coat and wind up in the area of
Santa Barbara and Santa Rita Hills. The sky's the limit on where we can go for
tasting different varietals! Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will
be co-piloting with Lucinda on our journey and we'll pair foods to go with each
of the wines. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
A WINE SPECIAL YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PASS UP!
Have we got a wine special that'll put a smile on your face and some extra Dead
Presidents in your wallet! The Tilia wines from Argentina are newer players in
the U.S. wine market and to get their wines out there and known, there is a
rebate offer for purchases of their wines. We've been carrying the Malbec/Syrah
blend for awhile but they also have several other tasty wines including a
Chardonnay, a Merlot and a Malbec.
So here's how it works. All wines are line priced across the different varietals
at $9.99 per bottle. Our normal discounts apply. Buy a mix or match case and get
10% off (you're down to $8.99/btl). Buy three or more mix or match cases and get
15% off (you're down to ($8.49/btl).
Then, a mail-in rebate to the importer will get you an even lower bottle price.
When you buy any Tilia wines, we'll give you a mail-in-rebate form along with a
sales receipt for your purchase. Buy 1 750ml bottle and mail in the rebate form
and you'll get $1.00 back. Buy 3 750ml bottles and mail in the rebate form and
you'll get $6.00 back. Buy 6 750ml bottles and mail in the rebate form and
you'll get $15.00 back. Buy 12 750ml bottles and mail in the form and get $36.00
back. This means that if you buy 1 to 2 cases, the net cost works out to be
$5.99 per bottle and if you buy 3 or more cases, the net cost works out to be
$5.49 per bottle. You'll be hard pressed to find a better 'bang for the buck' in
the wine market today at these prices!
The offer is good until the end of the year and the sales receipt must be dated
no later than 12/31/2009. The postmark on the rebate form cannot be later than
1/15/2010. One rebate form per household. Offer good until the rebate forms
and/or the wine runs out!
More Wine Specials Worth of Mention
Are you a Didier Dagueneau fan?
As many of you might know, Didier Dagueneau is one of the most highly revered
winemakers in the world, making extraordinarily well regarded Sauvignon Blancs
in the Loire Valley. Last September, Didier unexpectedly passed away in an
ultralight plane crash in France. Only in his 50's, Didier had a simply amazing
reputation not only among fans but among peers and his death was a big loss to
the worldwide winemaking community.
Didier's wines have always been highly sought after because of their excellence
in quality, the high scoring points garnered by every trade publication in the
industry and the limited availability of wine because of the small growing area
for the fruit used to make the wines. Now with Didier's death, his wines will be
even harder to obtain.
We have a small amount of his Sauvignon Blancs arriving today. If you are
interested in purchasing any of Didier's wines, please email
(Lucinda@thewineseller.com) or call (703-471-9649) and we'll be happy to tell
you exactly what we receive and pricing. We put our 'wishlist' in a couple of
months ago but we're not even sure exactly what we'll get due to the high demand
for his wines this year!
Hall Wines of Napa Valley
Here's another deal on a great Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet
Sauvignon from the highly acclaimed Hall Winery. Hall Winery was founded in 2005
and sits among the famed 'Sacrache Vineyard' located in the Rutherford region of
Napa Valley. Hall is owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall and is focused on producing
only Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The special prices offered
on these two great Napa Valley wines are not to be missed!!
The Hall Sauvignon Blanc is a clean and focused style showing off notes of
citrus, orange blossom and guava. The fruit is sourced primarily from a vineyard
partner located in Yountville. The wine is crisp and refreshing offering a
little bit of flintiness on the palate. Normally prices at $23.99, we are taking
orders for this wine at a price 20% off its normal price bringing it down to
$18.99 per bottle. There is no further discount on this wine but bottles
purchased count towards completing a case or more to get our mix/match case
discount of 10% or mix/match 3 case discount of 15%. Offer is good as long as
the distributor has availability of this wine!
The Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was featured in the Washington Post back
in March of 2008. Notes from the WP article stated 'The 2005 Hall Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, ripe red with concentrated blackberry and black
cherry fruitiness and hints of baking spices. Though we relished it this
month...it will continue to evolve over the next seven to 10 years.' I tasted
the '05 Napa Valley Cab Sauv this past week and with the special deal price on
it right now, this is a deal not to be missed. It is a wine full of crushed red
and black berries with soft tannins and good depth on the palate. Thank goodness
for Spring Cleaning in the warehouse! Normally priced at $41.99 per bottle, we
are taking orders for this wine at a price 20% off its normal price bringing it
down to $33.59 per bottle. There is no further discount on this wine but bottles
purchased count towards completing a case or more to get our mix/match case
discount of 10% or mix/match 3 case discount of 15%. Offer is good as long as
the distributor has availability of this wine!
To order, email Lucinda@thewineseller.com or call 703-471-9649. Wine will start
arriving next week. We will need your credit card info if we do not have it
already on file.
Wine Features of the Month (WFOM)
Starting May 1st, we will feature one white wine and one red wine worthy of the
title of 'Saturday Night Special'. The featured wines will change each month. No
pre-order is necessary and the wines will be displayed in the store along with
tasting notes and food pairing suggestions. Retail prices will be in the $20 to
$25 per bottle range. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the 1st of
May!
Wine Club
We've been talking about starting a Wine Club for awhile and we've decided to
begin one with the kickoff being in June. We're putting together a sign-up form
which we'll have in the store and on the web in the next week or so but in the
meantime, here are some of the details of the program. If you are interested in
joining and want us to email you a sign-up form, email Lucinda at
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Two Wines (1 White and 1 Red) will be offered each month for $39.99 plus tax
(regular value of the two will be $45 to $50)
If you want two whites or two reds instead of one each, substitutions can be
accommodated. Requests for substitutions must be made in writing.
Your credit card will be charged for the monthly Wine Club during the first week
of every month
All Wine Club purchases must be picked up in the store; No shipments will be
made
Wine pickup starts the first Saturday of every month and runs through the last
day of the month. Wine Club purchases will not be held beyond the current month
of offering without prior arrangements made in writing.
If you wish to purchase additional bottles of the current month's Wine Club
offering during the same month, purchase price will be at the special Wine Club
price.
Membership runs month to month and can be cancelled at any time. Cancellations
must be done in writing and must be done by the 20th of the month to be
effective for the upcoming month.
June's Wine Club Offering will be:
Domaine de Montemeix Bourgogne Chardonnay 2006 (White Burgundy from across the
street from the Meursault region)
Domaine Roc des Anges 'Segna de Cor' Cotes du Roussillon 2007 (Delicious Rhone
blend from the Southern French appellation)
Regularly prices at $48.99 plus tax - Wine Club Price of $39.99 plus tax
Look for the sign-up form coming in the next week or two along with tasting
notes for both of the wines!
Bogie's Recipe Board
I got a ribeye for my birthday!! That was a real treat and one I was very happy
to enjoy. Thank you to all of my friends who brought me treats last
weekend...I'm still enjoying all of them! This week, I'm going to go with a
fresh vegetable recipe. Farmer's Markets are getting ready to open and there's
lots of good looking produce in the aisles at the grocery store (my Mom informed
me of this...don't worry, I haven't been roaming the aisles!). From Quick Food,
here's my recipe for this week.
Fresh Vegetable Lasagna with Arugula
Serves 4
Balsamic Syrup
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1-1/2 tbsp brown sugar
16 asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
2 large zucchini, cut into thin ribbons (you could use a wide peeler)
2 fresh lasagna sheets (each sheet 10x14 inches) (you could substitute
individual pieces from a box)
3 handfuls arugula leaves
1 cup fresh basil, torn
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 cup low fat ricotta
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
Parmesan shavings to garnish
Stir the vinegar and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until the
sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the sauce
becomes syrupy. Remove from the heat.
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Blanch the asparagus, peas and
zucchini in separate batches until just tender, rinsing each batch in cold
water. Return the cooking liquid to a boil. Cook the lasagna sheets in the
boiling water for 1-2 minutes or until al dente. Rinse in cold water and drain
well. Cut each sheet in half lengthwise (if you're using fresh lasagna sheets).
Toss the vegetables and the arugula with the basil and olive oil. Season with
salt and pepper to taste. To assemble, place one strip of pasta on a serving
plate - a third of it on the center of the plate and two thirds overhanging one
side. Place a small amount of the salad on the middle third, topped with some
ricotta and sun dried tomatoes. Season lightly if necessary and fold over a
third of the lasagna sheet. Top with another layer of salad, ricotta and sun
dried tomatoes. Fold back the final layer of pasta and garnish with a little bit
of salad and tomatoes and drizzle with the balsamic syrup and garnish with fresh
Parmesan shavings. Repeat these steps of layering and folding on the remaining 3
plates.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
Since you've got sweetness in the Balsamic glaze, you want to stick to a riper
white wine such as an Oregon or Alsatian Pinot Gris. A Chenin Blanc from South
Africa would also pair nicely.
For a red, to match with the sweetness of the glaze, stick to a fruity red such
as a Zinfandel or a West Coast Pinot Noir. An Aussie Shiraz would also be a
solid pick.
Looking for Fantastic Herbs? DeBaggio's is Open!
If you're looking for the best place to purchase herbs for the season, look no
further than DeBaggio's Herb Farm & Nursery located in Chantilly. DeBaggio's has
been around forever (it used to be located in Arlington for years) and in the
mid '90's, they moved out to a bigger location in Chantilly right off of Poland
Road (Sheetz gas station is at the corner of Rt. 50 and Poland Road. You go down
Poland Road and turn onto Mountain View Road and they are right on the right
side). DeBaggio's has an unbelievable selection of herbs, vegetables and flowers
and if anybody has a starter plant growing of some obscure item, it's DeBaggio's.
Plus, you can pick up one of their incredibly informative catalogs which will
tell you all about whatever plants you purchased or might be thinking about
purchasing.
DeBaggio's is open now until July 1st. Hours are 10 to 6 Monday through Friday,
9 to 6 on Saturday and 10 to 5 on Sunday. Website is http://www.debaggioherbs.com/.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: True or False. Albarino and Alvarinho are the same
thing.
Answer: True. Albarino is the name of the grape in Spain and in Portugal, it is
known as Alvarinho.
Congratulations to this week's quiz winners Chelsea Folmsbee, Nichole Yochus and
Janet Carlton. Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: The grapes of Trajadura, Loureiro and Alvarinho are
used to make a wine known as what?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and pick up to three
winners out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds
consider bribery perfectly legit!
Don't Forget to Join Our Facebook Page
Join The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table Facebook Group Page! Click on the link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=90060220303 or do a
search for 'The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table' and you'll find our group.
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Ted Plemons of Cass Winery & Bill McKenney
of Michael Downey Selections
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: April 16, 2009
Here comes the sun....do do do do....is that what the big ball
of light up in the sky is? Has anyone told Mr. Sun it's about time it showed
itself to us?!! Looks like we're in for a GREAT Spring weekend though and we
have definitely earned it.
Boy, lots to tell you about. We have an absolutely unbelievable deal on some
terrific wines from Argentina and we'll be sampling them at the Tasting Bar this
Friday. Come check it out and place your
orders....delicious wine which deals down to $5.49 per bottle doesn't get any
better than this! Ted Plemmons will be here next Saturday (4/25) due to a later
departure from the West Coast so we'll have a 'Double Header' Tasting next
Saturday with both Ted of Cass Winery and Bill McKenney (and possibly an Italian
winemaker). We'll still be pouring a couple of wines this Saturday at the
Tasting Bar....we'll just need to figure out what to sample! Two Thursdays from
today we'll have our next 'Tasting Thursday' with Roland Herrmann of Maison
Marques & Domaines, an importer/sales and marketing company of some of the best
wines found in the wine world today. There are still some seats left at both the
Blending Class at Fabbioli Cellars and the Spring Wine Dinner at Café Antonio's
both being held on Sunday, April 26th. Sign up before the seats sell out!
We've got two new programs to tell you about. Starting in May, we will have one
white wine and one red wine feature each month, offered at a special price,
which will be our 'Saturday Night Specials' pick for the month. The selections
will be seasonally appropriate and a bit off the beaten path just to make it a
bit fun. Price range of the Wine Features of the Month will be in the $20 to $25
ballpark. Starting in June, our Wine Club of the Month will commence offering
one white and one red at a special price (15% to 20% off the regular price).
Besides being a fun way to try something new each month, Wine Club make for a
great gift and operate on a month to month basis so gift purchases could be for
a month, a quarter or a year - your choice. Read on below for more details!
Last but not least, Bogart turns 12 on Sunday!! Needless to say, we need to
celebrate!! Bogie will be here with his party hat on and his Mom is sure to find
some sort of bubbly to sample out to store shoppers. Bogart stated this morning
that he wanted a 'Birthday Vacation Day' today from doing his Recipe Board so
we'll be back next week with a new grillin' recipe to share because you know
he's going to want something on the grill for his birthday dinner!
The winE-Letter is jam packed with info this week so peruse on down and check it
all out, get ready to head to the deck for some Patio Whites and Rosés to enjoy
this great weather and we'll see you soon!!
Friday, April 17th - John Grimsley of Billington Imports pouring wines from
Tilia (read about the unbelievable pricing special below)
Friday, May 1st - Andy Sackenheim of Monsieur Touton pouring value wines from
around the globe
Friday, May 15th - Malcolm Riddle of International Cellars
Friday, May 29th - Amy Evans of Dionysos Imports
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Due to travel complications, Ted Plemmons of Cass Winery will not be coming this
Saturday, 4/18. Instead, he'll be here next Saturday, 4/25. Read on
below....we'll have a 'double header' tasting next week!
Saturday, 4/25 - It's a Double Header Tasting!
Ted Plemmons of Cass Winery will be back for an encore pouring of his wines!!
Ted has been at the store a few times before sampling the liquid wares from the
winery he co-owns in the Paso Robles region of California. His wines are always
a big hit and Ted's engaging conversation always makes for lively conversation
at the tasting table. Ted was last in town just before Bailout Round #1 passed
and Ted autographed a few of his bottles with the apt line of 'Drink in case of
Bailout'. Well, I guess of those bottles have been drunk so now it's time to
restock with some new offerings of Cass wines!!
The one, the only, Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be here
pouring and might just have a surprise or two up his sleeve seeing as how their
annual portfolio tasting for the trade occurs a few days later and they have
lots of winemakers in town. So, we're hoping to ferry a winemaker or two our way
once travel plans have been confirmed but for sure, we'll have some special
bottles on the tasting table to try!
Saturday, 5/2 - David Bortolin of Cobblestone Cellars
Saturday, 5/9 - Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing
Saturday, 5/16 - Ron Sweatman of Graystone Imports
Saturday, 5/23 - Miles Penland of Vinum Ventures with Julie Johnson, Winemaker
and Owner of Tres Sabores of Napa Valley
Saturday, 5/30 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner
Upcoming Tastier Thursdays
Thursday, April 30th - Roland Herrmann, Regional Manager for Maison Marques &
Domaines, will be here sampling some of the uber fantastic wines in his
portfolio. Maison Marques & Domaines represents such properties as Champagne
Roederer, Dominus, Domaine Ott (who makes an excellent Rose!) and Pio Cesare to
name just a few. Come check out the wines we've picked out for the tasting and
give them whirl around your glass! Complimentary. 5pm to 7pm.
Thursday, May 14th - Holly Kapica, Regional Manager for The Hess Collection,
will be here tasting out some the delicious wines in her portfolio including a
Malbec made from the highest vineyards in Argentina!
Road Trip!!!
Book your spot! A LOT of people showed interest in signing up for this event
when talking to Doug at the tasting table a few weeks ago and space is limited.
Doug Fabbioli, owner and winemaker of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, will be
hosting a Winemaker's Class at the winery on Sunday, April 26th, from 12:00pmto
3:00pm. Included in the class with be a tour, learning winemaker's techniques,
the art of blending and lunch along with some wine tasting. Price is $60.00 per
person. For reservations, please email Lucinda at Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Spring Wine Dinner at Cafe Antonios...There are a few seats left!
Join us on Sunday, April 26th at Café Antonio's (right over in the Kmart
Shopping Center near Five Guys and the Virginia Kitchen) for a Four Course Wine
Dinner to celebrate the arrival of Spring! The menu and wine pairings are listed
below. Dinner commences at 6:00pm. Seating is limited. Price is $65 plus tax and
gratuity. For reservations, please call Café Antonio's at 703-437-3307.
Primo
Sliced Fresh Fennel topped with Goat Cheese and Starwberries and touched with
Olive Oil and Lemon
Pescador Blanc NV
Secondo
Seafood Risotto with Scallops and Shrimp dressed with Lobster Sauce
La Soraia Gavi di Gavi 2007
Terzo
Antonio's Famous Veal Chop (the mini version)
Novencento Chianti Riserva 2003
Quarto
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Taliano Birbet NV
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, July 14th - Summer Bounty and Wines to Pair
Corn, tomatoes, peaches - these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll
taste several wines which work with the bounty from the garden, along with the
bounty itself - and you'll shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, August 4th - Beach Chillers JUST ADDED
August is the month everyone heads to the beach and we'll taste you through a
collection of wines perfect to keep your thirst quenched, palate satisfied and
wallet not stripped of all your vacation cash! Plus, we'll give you some recipe
suggestions for healthy and easy nibblers at the beach. $40 per person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
A WINE SPECIAL YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PASS UP!
Have we got a wine special that'll put a smile on your face and some extra Dead
Presidents in your wallet! The Tilia wines from Argentina are newer players in
the U.S. wine market and to get their wines out there and known, there is a
rebate offer for purchases of their wines. We've been carrying the Malbec/Syrah
blend for awhile but they also have several other tasty wines including a
Chardonnay, a Merlot and a Malbec - all of which we'll be sampling out at the
Tasting Bar this Friday night.
So here's how it works. All wines are line priced across the different varietals
at $9.99 per bottle. Our normal discounts apply. Buy a mix or match case and get
10% off (you're down to $8.99/btl). Buy three or more mix or match cases and get
15% off (you're down to ($8.49/btl).
Then, a mail-in rebate to the importer will get you an even lower bottle price.
When you buy any Tilia wines, we'll give you a mail-in-rebate form along with a
sales receipt for your purchase. Buy 1 750ml bottle and mail in the rebate form
and you'll get $1.00 back. Buy 3 750ml bottles and mail in the rebate form and
you'll get $6.00 back. Buy 6 750ml bottles and mail in the rebate form and
you'll get $15.00 back. Buy 12 750ml bottles and mail in the form and get $36.00
back. This means that if you buy 1 to 2 cases, the net cost works out to be
$5.99 per bottle and if you buy 3 or more cases, the net cost works out to be
$5.49 per bottle. You'll be hard pressed to find a better 'bang for the buck' in
the wine market today at these prices!
The offer is good until the end of the year and the sales receipt must be dated
no later than 12/31/2009. The postmark on the rebate form cannot be later than
1/15/2010. One rebate form per household. Offer good until the rebate forms
and/or the wine runs out!
So come on by this Friday night and have John Grimsley of Billington Imports
give you a taste through of the lineup and place your order!!
Our Don't Forget Department
Tierruca Lontue Valley Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2008 - From Chile, this Sauvignon
Blanc is just lip-smackingly delicious and a great way to herald in new white
wines from the 2008 vintage. $9.99 per bottle.
Pazo de Monterrey 2007 - This delicious white blend from the Galicia region of
Spain just screams springtime on the patio with a salad or some sort of fish
dish. A mix of 65% Treixadura and 35% Godello, it has a nice richness on the
palate but also has a lovely freshness on the finish. $14.99 per
bottle....Perfect for any seafood dish or vegetarian dish
Vigne Vini Puglia Rosso IGT 2007 - This red is a delightful mix of Primitivo and
Sangiovese. It makes for the perfect pizza and pasta red. Medium weight with
just a hint of spice and no aspects of 'hot alcohol' which one often finds from
this part of the world, this is an excellent BBQ Red. $10.99 per
bottle...Excellent for Lamb
Sipacha Garnacha Calatayud 2006 - Bright berry flavors abound on the palate in
this easy drinking red from the value country of Spain. This is a medium
drinking red showing some good acidity alongside spice notes and hints of black
cherries, raspberries, blackberries and plums. Perfect with anything off the
grill including a burger! $9.99 per bottle...Can go with either Ham or Lamb
Cesari Duetorri Pinot Noir Delle Venezie 2007 - A delightful surprise from the
northeastern area of Italy. Who wouldda thunk a Pinot Noir from Italy could be
so tasty? This is an earthy style of Pinot, perfect to go with a dish
encompassing mushrooms. Coq au Vin, perhaps? Nice weight on the palate. $11.99
per bottle....Goes well with either ham or lamb!
Wine Features of the Month (WFOM)
Starting May 1st, we will feature one white wine and one red wine worthy of the
title of 'Saturday Night Special'. The featured wines will change each month. No
pre-order is necessary and the wines will be displayed in the store along with
tasting notes and food pairing suggestions. Retail prices will be in the $20 to
$25 per bottle range. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the 1st of
May!
Wine Club
We've been talking about starting a Wine Club for awhile and we've decided to
begin one with the kickoff being in June. We're putting together a sign-up form
which we'll have in the store and on the web in the next week or so but in the
meantime, here are some of the details of the program. If you are interested in
joining and want us to email you a sign-up form, email Lucinda at
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Two Wines (1 White and 1 Red) will be offered each month for $39.99 plus tax
(regular value of the two will be $45 to $50)
If you want two whites or two reds instead of one each, substitutions can be
accommodated. Requests for substitutions must be made in writing.
Your credit card will be charged for the monthly Wine Club during the first week
of every month
All Wine Club purchases must be picked up in the store; No shipments will be
made
Wine pickup starts the first Saturday of every month and runs through the last
day of the month. Wine Club purchases will not be held beyond the current month
of offering without prior arrangements made in writing.
Membership runs month to month and can be cancelled at any time. Cancellations
must be done in writing and must be done by the 20th of the month to be
effective for the upcoming month.
June's Wine Club Offering will be:
Domaine de Montemeix Bourgogne Chardonnay 2006 (White Burgundy from across the
street from the Meursault region)
Domaine Roc des Anges 'Segna de Cor' Cotes du Roussillon 2007 (Delicious Rhone
blend from the Southern French appellation)
Regularly prices at $48.99 plus tax - Wine Club Price of $39.99 plus tax
Look for the sign-up form coming in the next week or two along with tasting
notes for both of the wines!
Looking for Fantastic Herbs? DeBaggio's is Open!
If you're looking for the best place to purchase herbs for the season, look no
further than DeBaggio's Herb Farm & Nursery located in Chantilly. DeBaggio's has
been around forever (it used to be located in Arlington for years) and in the
mid '90's, they moved out to a bigger location in Chantilly right off of Poland
Road (Sheetz gas station is at the corner of Rt. 50 and Poland Road. You go down
Poland Road and turn onto Mountain View Road and they are right on the right
side). DeBaggio's has an unbelievable selection of herbs, vegetables and flowers
and if anybody has a starter plant growing of some obscure item, it's DeBaggio's.
Plus, you can pick up one of their incredibly informative catalogs which will
tell you all about whatever plants you purchased or might be thinking about
purchasing.
DeBaggio's is open now until July 1st. Hours are 10 to 6 Monday through Friday,
9 to 6 on Saturday and 10 to 5 on Sunday. Website is http://www.debaggioherbs.com/.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: What is the word used to describe an amount of wine
lost in a bottle either by leakage during shipment or storage?
Answer: Ullage
Congratulations to this week's quiz winners Chris Miskovich. Come on in and
collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: True or False. Albarino and Alvarinho are the same
thing.
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and pick up to three
winners out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds
consider bribery perfectly legit!
Don't Forget to Join Our Facebook Page
Join The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table Facebook Group Page! Click on the link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=90060220303&ref=ts or
do a search for 'The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table' and you'll find our group.
That's it for this week! Happy Birthday Bogart!!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
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ISSUE DATE: April 9, 2009
Did you miss us last Thursday in your inbox? I'd love to tell
you I'm never technologically challenged from time to time but I'd be fibbing.
That said, last week's issue was a down server...as a in down for 2+ days. Urrr.
In any case, we hope you missed us, we're sorry we missed you last week and
we're back up and running full steam ahead this week.
On to the good stuff......WINE! We have an absolutely fantastic new Sauvignon
Blanc in the store which we think you're just gonna love and you'll definitely
love the price. Plus, we have a terrific and unusual white grown locally in
Loudoun County which is a perfect match for anyone having Ham this weekend.
Speaking of Ham, we have plenty of Ham and Lamb choices for your Easter dinner
along with a great selection of high quality Kosher wines. We've got your
holiday needs covered! We've got lots going on here this week so let's hop to it
and get to what you need to know....wine finds, holiday wine suggestions, menus,
quizzes - all the usual suspects! Have a great Holiday everybody and just a
reminder, we will be CLOSED on Sunday.
Friday, April 17th - John Grimsley of Billington Imports pouring wines from
South America
Friday, May 1st - Andy Sackenheim of Monsieur Touton pouring value wines from
around the globe
This Saturday's Tasting
Saturday, 4/11 - Wines perfect for Easter will be the theme when Heather Fay of
Grappoli Imports joins us at the tasting table the day before lambs and hams.
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 4/18 - Ted Plemmons of Cass Winery will be back for an encore pouring
of his wines!! Ted has been at the store a few times before sampling the liquid
wares from the winery he co-owns in the Paso Robles region of California. His
wines are always a big hit and Ted's engaging conversation always makes for
lively conversation at the tasting table. Ted was last in town just before
Bailout Round #1 passed and Ted autographed a few of his bottles with the apt
line of 'Drink in case of Bailout'. Well, I guess of those bottles have been
drunk so now it's time to restock with some new offerings of Cass wines!!
Saturday, 4/25 - The one, the only, Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections
will be here pouring and might just have a surprise or two up his sleeve seeing
as how their annual portfolio tasting for the trade occurs a few days later and
they have lots of winemakers in town. So, we're hoping to ferry a winemaker or
two our way once travel plans have been confirmed but for sure, we'll have some
special bottles on the tasting table to try!
Upcoming Special Tasting Events
Thursday, April 30th - Roland Herrmann, Regional Manager for Maison Marques &
Domaines, will be here sampling some of the uber fantastic wines in his
portfolio. Maison Marques & Domaines represents such properties as Champagne
Roederer, Dominus, Domaine Ott (who makes an excellent Rose!) and Pio Cesare to
name just a few. Come check out the wines we've picked out for the tasting and
give them whirl around your glass! Complimentary. 5pm to 7pm.
Thursday, May 14th - Holly Kapica, Regional Manager for The Hess Collection,
will be here tasting out some the delicious wines in her portfolio including a
Malbec made from the highest vineyards in Argentina!
Road Trip!!!
Book your spot! A LOT of people showed interest in signing up for this event
when talking to Doug at the tasting table a few weeks ago and space is limited.
Doug Fabbioli, owner and winemaker of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, will be
hosting a Winemaker's Class at the winery on Sunday, April 26th, from 12:00pmto
3:00pm. Included in the class with be a tour, learning winemaker's techniques,
the art of blending and lunch along with some wine tasting. Price is $60.00 per
person. For reservations, please email Lucinda at Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Spring Wine Dinner at Cafe Antonios
Join us on Sunday, April 26th at Café Antonio's (right over in the Kmart
Shopping Center near Five Guys and the Virginia Kitchen) for a Four Course Wine
Dinner to celebrate the arrival of Spring! The menu and wine pairings are listed
below. Dinner commences at 6:00pm. Seating is limited. Price is $65 plus tax and
gratuity. For reservations, please call Café Antonio's at 703-437-3307.
Primo
Sliced Fresh Fennel topped with Goat Cheese and Starwberries and touched with
Olive Oil and Lemon
Pescador Blanc NV
Secondo
Seafood Risotto with Scallops and Shrimp dressed with Lobster Sauce
La Soraia Gavi di Gavi 2007
Terzo
Antonio's Famous Veal Chop (the mini version)
Novencento Chianti Riserva 2003
Quarto
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Taliano Birbet NV
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, July 14th - Summer Bounty and Wines to Pair
Corn, tomatoes, peaches - these are the hallmark foods of summertime. We'll
taste several wines which work with the bounty from the garden, along with the
bounty itself - and you'll shine like a rock star at your next BBQ. $40 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
New Vino Finds
Tierruca Lontue Valley Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2008 - From Chile, this Sauvignon
Blanc is just lip-smackingly delicious and a great way to herald in new white
wines from the 2008 vintage. $9.99 per bottle.
Hiddencroft Vineyards Loudoun County Traminette 2007 - From local winery
Hiddencroft comes this refreshing white wine which just screams Spring and is
also searching for a Ham to be paired with for a holiday meal. Its kissing
cousin the Gewurztraminer grape. Aromatic in the nose with some great fruit on
the palate but balanced with great acidity. Refreshinginly delicious. $17.99 per
bottle.
Easter Wines for Hams & Lambs + Other Holiday Foods
Pazo de Monterrey 2007 - This delicious white blend from the Galicia region of
Spain just screams springtime on the patio with a salad or some sort of fish
dish. A mix of 65% Treixadura and 35% Godello, it has a nice richness on the
palate but also has a lovely freshness on the finish. $14.99 per
bottle....Perfect for any seafood dish or vegetarian dish
Vigne Vini Puglia Rosso IGT 2007 - This red is a delightful mix of Primitivo and
Sangiovese. It makes for the perfect pizza and pasta red. Medium weight with
just a hint of spice and no aspects of 'hot alcohol' which one often finds from
this part of the world, this is an excellent BBQ Red. $10.99 per
bottle...Excellent for Lamb
Pasion 4 Mendoza Malbec 2007 - Yet another easy drinking and delicious Malbec
from Argentina. This is medium weight on the palate but not a fruit bomb - it's
got some great balance on the palate. Another excellent burger wine or any kind
of grilled meats. $9.99 per bottle....Searching for one Leg 'O Lamb please!
Sipacha Garnacha Calatayud 2006 - Bright berry flavors abound on the palate in
this easy drinking red from the value country of Spain. This is a medium
drinking red showing some good acidity alongside spice notes and hints of black
cherries, raspberries, blackberries and plums. Perfect with anything off the
grill including a burger! $9.99 per bottle...Can go with either Ham or Lamb
Castoro Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2006 - I keep getting pleasantly
surprised with some of the Cabernet Sauvignons I've been tasting of late from
the Paso Robles region of California. Typically, I find a lot of wines from this
region have higher alcohol levels as well as a 'hotness' on the palate from the
warm climate and resulting ripe fruit. I'm rethinking my previous thoughts of
this appellation as I have tasted several excellent reds, from Rhone varietals
to Bordeaux varietals, coming from this area of central California. This
Cabernet for the price is just outstanding. It's lush on the palate with
excellent balance and very seductive in its nose and depth on the palate. It
drinks like a $20 to $25 bottle of wine but it's only $17.99 per bottle! A low
tannin but rich red for Lamb
Agua de Piedra Reserva Malbec Mendoza 2007 - A tasty bottle of red from
Argentina...I have yet to find a Malbec which isn't thoroughly enjoyable! This
wine is a nice medium weight showing lots of blue and black fruits on the
palate. And a bargain at $8.99 per bottle...Great for Lamb!
Cesari Duetorri Pinot Noir Delle Venezie 2007 - A delightful surprise from the
northeastern area of Italy. Who wouldda thunk a Pinot Noir from Italy could be
so tasty? This is an earthy style of Pinot, perfect to go with a dish
encompassing mushrooms. Coq au Vin, perhaps? Nice weight on the palate. $11.99
per bottle....Goes well with either ham or lamb!
Bogie's Recipe Board
I admit, I'm not a big salad guy. But my Mom is and I do like looking at the
pretty pictures of all the salad creations there are in the world. This one
looked pretty good and I know avocados are plentiful right now and for some
reason, they make me think of Spring. And I'm thinking Spring...and wishing the
temperature dial would go up just a tad! I thought this might be a nice twist
for a salad course if you're having company this weekend. From the cookbook Easy
Summer Food: Simple Recipes for Sunny Days, here's my recipe pick for this week.
Avocado Salad
Serves 4
6 very thin slices Prosciutto or Bacon
1 tbsp olive oil
8 oz salad greens - a mixture of soft, crisp and peppery
1-2 ripe Haas Avocados cut in half and pits removed
Dressing
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp Cider Vinegar or Rice Vinegar
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp Dijon Mustard
Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
If using Prosciutto, cut the slices into 3 to 4 pieces. Heat a skillet, brush
with a tbsp of the olive oil and add the Prosciutto or Bacon and cook at medium
heat without disturbing the pieces until crisp on one side. Using tongs, turn
the slices over and sauté until crisp and papery but not too brown. Remove and
drain on paper towels.
To make the dressing, put the oil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, salt and pepper in
a salad bowl and beat with a fork or small whisk. When ready to serve, add the
greens and turn in the dressing using your hands. Using a tsp, scoop out balls
of Avocado into the salad. Toss gently if you like (although this will send the
Avocado to the bottom of the bowl). Add the crisp Prosciutto or Bacon and serve
immediately.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
A new vintage (2008) white would be perfect with this salad such as the new
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc we just got in. Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs would also
be good fits as would northern or central Italian whites such as a Gavi or a
Verdicchio.
For a red, a lighter red with solid acidity would be a good match. A lighter
Pinot Noir from California or Oregon would be an excellent selection.
Bubbly would also be an excellent celebratory wine to drink and enjoy with this
salad!
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: If I am walking through the vineyards and find grapes
growing called Godello, Treixadura and Albarino, in what region of what country
am I walking?
Answer: Galacia in Spain (the part of Spain which sits on top of Portugal)
Congratulations to this week's quiz winners Chris Miskovich, Nadine Dallitis,
Dave Blanchard and Katrina Stroud. Bogart, you can't count to 3 again!! Come on
in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: What is the word used to describe an amount of wine
lost in a bottle either by leakage during shipment or storage?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and pick up to three
winners out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds
consider bribery perfectly legit!
Hours This Weekend
Just as a reminder...we will be CLOSED this Sunday. Regular hours Saturday (11am
to 7pm).
Don't Forget to Join Our Facebook Page
Join The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table Facebook Group Page! Click on the link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=90060220303&ref=ts or do a
search for 'The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table' and you'll find our group.
That's it for this week! Happy Passover and Happy Easter Everybody!!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Heather Fay of Grappoli Imports
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: April 2, 2009
NO NEWSLETTER THIS WEEK.
back to top
ISSUE DATE: March 26, 2009
Tonight, tonight...we have Kevin Chambers here at the Tasting
Bar. Kevin is the owner of and winemaker at Resonance Winery located in the
Willamette Valley of Oregon. We'll try Kevin's G3 white blend along with his two
Pinot Noirs. In addition, since we're in a celebratory mood this week, we'll be
tasting out a lip smackingly delicious Cremant de Bourgogne Rose as well. Come
on by and celebrate the fact tomorrow is Friday!!
A big thank you to Al McCosh for coming to pour and christen our new tasting bar
last Friday night. Also, thank you to Gerhard Reisacher for coming by last night to pour
six of his outstanding wines from Napa Valley...what a treat they were to try!
We also have our usual Saturday tasting this week with Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner. Jason will be pouring some great wines for Spring. Bogart's got a new
recipe up on his board, we've got quiz winners from last week and a new quiz to
give your brain a workout and we've got all sorts of upcoming tastings, classes,
road trips and dinners to read about below.
If you want to check out pictures of our new Tasting Bar (and new countertop),
check out The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table's Facebook page and scroll down to
the Photos area. We took some pictures earlier this week and posted them online.
The wood used to make the Tasting Bar and the new countertop is from reclaimed
wood from Ford's Theatre. The design and woodworking was done by Mark Wilkinson
of Saint Vincent's Cellars, a wine cellar design, building and management
company.
I know we need the rain so we'll take it but here's hoping the warmer Spring
weather hurries up and gets here!
This Saturday's Tasting
Saturday, 3/21 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner will be joining for a
Saturday tasting. Jason's book is endless so we'll try some old favorites as
well as some new finds and at least one of the tasty jewels which reside in his
portfolio.
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 4/4 - How about a Greek Easter celebration this year? If you're
planning one of those, we've got you covered with some fantastic selections from
the portfolio of Dionysos Imports. Amy Evans will be here pouring the classic
Greek wine picks for ham and lamb alongside some samples of fresh Greek Feta.
Saturday, 4/11 - Wines perfect for Easter will be the theme when Heather Fay of
Grappoli Imports joins us at the tasting table the day before lambs and hams.
Upcoming Special Tasting Events
TONIGHT!! Thursday, March 26th - Owner and Winemaker of family owned Resonance
Winery in Oregon, Kevin Chambers, will be at the Tasting Bar sampling out his
biodynamically produced wines from Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton District. For close
to20 years, grapes grown in the Resonance vineyards were farmed by Kevin and his
wife and sold to premiere Oregon wineries. Starting in 2006, they started
producing their own wines under the Resonance wine label. On the tasting table
will be their fantastic 'G3' white blend which is mouthwatering as well as their
Estate Grown Pinot Noir. Come on by and try these delicious wines as well as
learn about the mechanics of biodynamic farming. Complimentary. 5pm to 7pm.
Thursday, April 30th - Roland Herrmann, Regional Manager for Maison Marques &
Domaines, will be here sampling some of the uber fantastic wines in his
portfolio. Maison Marques & Domaines represents such properties as Champagne
Roederer, Dominus, Domaine Ott (who makes an excellent Rose!) and Pio Cesare to
name just a few. Come check out the wines we've picked out for the tasting and
give them whirl around your glass! Complimentary. 5pm to 7pm.
Thursday, May 14th - Holly Kapica, Regional Manager for The Hess Collection,
will be here tasting out some the delicious wines in her portfolio including a
Malbec made from the highest vineyards in Argentina!
Road Trip!!!
Book your spot! A LOT of people showed interest in signing up for this event
when talking to Doug at the tasting table a few weeks ago and space is limited.
Doug Fabbioli, owner and winemaker of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, will be
hosting a Winemaker's Class at the winery on Sunday, April 26th, from 12:00pmto
3:00pm. Included in the class with be a tour, learning winemaker's techniques,
the art of blending and lunch along with some wine tasting. Price is $60.00 per
person. For reservations, please email Lucinda at Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Spring Wine Dinner at Cafe Antonios
Join us on Sunday, April 26th at Café Antonio's (right over in the Kmart
Shopping Center near Five Guys and the Virginia Kitchen) for a Four Course Wine
Dinner to celebrate the arrival of Spring! The menu and wine pairings are listed
below. Dinner commences at 6:00pm. Seating is limited. Price is $65 plus tax and
gratuity. For reservations, please call Café Antonio's at 703-437-3307.
Primo
Sliced Fresh Fennel topped with Goat Cheese and Starwberries and touched with
Olive Oil and Lemon
Pescador Blanc NV
Secondo
Seafood Risotto with Scallops and Shrimp dressed with Lobster Sauce
La Soraia Gavi di Gavi 2007
Terzo
Antonio's Famous Veal Chop (the mini version)
Novencento Chianti Riserva 2003
Quarto
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Taliano Birbet NV
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, April7th - It's Pinot!
Gray Mosby of Nice Legs will be co-piloting our class on Pinot Noir and I think
a Pinot Blanc and a Pinot Gris might just make their way into the class as well.
In Gray's portfolio are several of the best artisanal Pinots being made in the
U.S. today as well as a small but focused and tasty selection of Burgundies.
We'll take the Pinot Wagon out for a stroll and try some as well as match what
we try with foods which work well with Pinot. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
New Vino Finds
Pazo de Monterrey 2007 - This delicious white blend from the Galicia region of
Spain just screams springtime on the patio with a salad or some sort of fish
dish. A mix of 65% Treixadura and 35% Godello, it has a nice richness on the
palate but also has a lovely freshness on the finish. $14.99 per bottle.
Our Don't Forget Department
Vigne Vini Puglia Rosso IGT 2007 - This red is a delightful mix of Primitivo and
Sangiovese. It makes for the perfect pizza and pasta red. Medium weight with
just a hint of spice and no aspects of 'hot alcohol' which one often finds from
this part of the world, this is an excellent BBQ Red. $10.99 per bottle
Pasion 4 Mendoza Malbec 2007 - Yet another easy drinking and delicious Malbec
from Argentina. This is medium weight on the palate but not a fruit bomb - it's
got some great balance on the palate. Another excellent burger wine or any kind
of grilled meats. $9.99 per bottle
Sipacha Garnacha Calatayud 2006 - Bright berry flavors abound on the palate in
this easy drinking red from the value country of Spain. This is a medium
drinking red showing some good acidity alongside spice notes and hints of black
cherries, raspberries, blackberries and plums. Perfect with anything off the
grill including a burger! $9.99 per bottle.
Castoro Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2006 - I keep getting pleasantly
surprised with some of the Cabernet Sauvignons I've been tasting of late from
the Paso Robles region of California. Typically, I find a lot of wines from this
region have higher alcohol levels as well as a 'hotness' on the palate from the
warm climate and resulting ripe fruit. I'm rethinking my previous thoughts of
this appellation as I have tasted several excellent reds, from Rhone varietals
to Bordeaux varietals, coming from this area of central California. This
Cabernet for the price is just outstanding. It's lush on the palate with
excellent balance and very seductive in its nose and depth on the palate. It
drinks like a $20 to $25 bottle of wine but it's only $17.99 per bottle!
Agua de Piedra Reserva Malbec Mendoza 2007 - A tasty bottle of red from
Argentina...I have yet to find a Malbec which isn't thoroughly enjoyable! This
wine is a nice medium weight showing lots of blue and black fruits on the
palate. And a bargain at $8.99 per bottle
Cesari Duetorri Pinot Noir Delle Venezie 2007 - A delightful surprise from the
northeastern area of Italy. Who wouldda thunk a Pinot Noir from Italy could be
so tasty? This is an earthy style of Pinot, perfect to go with a dish
encompassing mushrooms. Coq au Vin, perhaps? Nice weight on the palate. $11.99
per bottle.
Bogie's Recipe Board
My Mom met with the National Sales Rep from Sinskey Vineyards this week so I got
a few pictures taken of me enjoying some Sinskey wine (ok, it was in the
placement for the picture...I don't drink wine. I just eat CHEESE which is often
served with wine.). All that said, I got to thinking, I have a cookbook from the
Sinskey folks so it seemed appropriate to do a recipe this week from their
cookbook. I think Maria Helm Sinskey has written a couple of cookbooks; this
recipe is from The Vineyard Kitchen: Menus Inspired by the Seasons. And
naturally, it calls for a grill.
Marinated Skirt Steak
Serves 8
12 large garlic cloves
Four 5 inch fresh rosemary sprigs or 2 tbsp dried
16 Fresh Thyme sprigs or 1-1/2 tbsp dried
4 skirt steaks, about 4 pounds total
1 tbsp cracked black pepper
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt
Smash the garlic cloves with a heavy knife. Crush and tear the Rosemary and
Thyme sprigs to release their perfumes. Toss the steaks with the Rosemary,
Thyme, garlic, cracked black pepper and enough olive oil to coat all of its
surfaces. Marinate for 1 to 2 days. The longer the steaks are marinated, the
greater the transference of flavor from the herbs to the meat.
Preheat the grill. Remove the steaks from the refrigerator 30 minutes before
grilling and brush off the herbs and garlic and season with salt. There is
plenty of cracked pepper on the steaks so no additional pepper is necessary.
Grill the steaks over medium high heat for 6 minutes on each side for
medium-rare. Let the steaks rest 10 minutes.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
A bigger red is really be summoned to the table here. A West Coast Cabernet
Sauvignon, an Aussie Shiraz or an Argentinean Malbec would all be terrific
choices.
For a white, a rich, buttery Chardonnay from California or Washington State
would be the place to go.
Any of the great Sinskey wines would be a great pairing, naturally!
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: The Carneros AVA (appellation) straddles two areas.
Name the two areas.
Answer: Napa Valley and Sonoma
Congratulations to this week's quiz winners Terri Kennedy, Diane Whitmoyer and
Michael Abreu. Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: If I am walking through the vineyards and find grapes
growing called Godello, Treixadura and Albarino, in what region of what country
am I walking?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and pick up to three
winners out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds
consider bribery perfectly legit!
Don't Forget to Join Our Facebook Page
Join The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table Facebook Group Page! Click on the link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=90060220303&ref=ts or do a
search for 'The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table' and you'll find our group.
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm - Bill McKenney Pouring!
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Jason Bise of The Country Vintner
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: March 19, 2009
Let's get in the mood to celebrate the arrival of Spring with
a tasty wine dinner at our neighbor's, Cafe Antonio's! Check out the menu and
wine pairings below. Plus, we can't wait to 'Christen the Tasting Bar' which
just got put in this past week (with reclaimed wood from Ford's Theatre) with
Gerhard Reisacher, owner and winemaker at Delectus Winery. Gerhard will be
joining us next Friday evening at the tasting bar, pouring up his sumptuously
seductive reds from Napa Valley. Nibbles to enjoy... come hang with us next Friday
night the 20th! We've got a great tasting lined up this Saturday afternoon with
Brian Forsgren of Potomac Selections including a couple of whites perfect for
warmer weather. Bogart's got a new recipe up on his recipe board just in time
for the spring vegetables and there's a new Quiz Question in the Quiz Corner.
There are a couple of new wine finds this week along with our 'Don't Forget
Department'. Hope you're all enjoying it stay light out late....summertime will
be here before you know it!
Don't Forget to Join Our Facebook Page
Join The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table Facebook Group Page! Click on the link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=90060220303 or do a search for
'The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table' and you'll find our group.
This Saturday's Tasting
Brian Forsgren, the rep with the really cool book of wines, will be here trying
us on some new wines for Springtime!
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 3/21 - Cindy Yim, co-owner of Elite Wines, will be here at the tasting
table. Elite has a wonderfully eclectic mix of wines from around the globe so
we'll go on a globe-trotting tasting trip!
Saturday, 3/28 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner will be joining for a
Saturday tasting. Jason's book is endless so we'll try some old favorites as
well as some new finds and at least one of the tasty jewels which reside in his
portfolio.
Saturday, 4/4 - How about a Greek Easter celebration this year? If you're
planning one of those, we've got you covered with some fantastic selections from
the portfolio of Dionysos Imports. Amy Evans will be here pouring not only Greek
wines but some other gems as well.
Saturday, 4/11 - Wines perfect for Easter will be the theme when Heather Fay of
Grappoli Imports joins us at the tasting table the day before lambs and hams.
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, April7th - It's Pinot!
Gray Mosby of Nice Legs will be co-piloting our class on Pinot Noir and I think
a Pinot Blanc and a Pinot Gris might just make their way into the class as well.
In Gray's portfolio are several of the best artisanal Pinots being made in the
U.S. today as well as a small but focused and tasty selection of Burgundies.
We'll take the Pinot Wagon out for a stroll and try some as well as match what
we try with foods which work well with Pinot. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines ofGreece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Upcoming 'Tastier Thursdays' (and one Tasty Friday!!)
Friday, March 20th - We'll christen our new Tasting Table which is being built
now with the arrival of Gerhard Reisacher, owner and winemaker of the boutique
winery Delectus who is arriving in town on this Friday afternoon! As soon as we
confirm his travel times, we'll announce a start time but it'll be a fun evening
of absolutely fantastic wine, some great nibblies to try. The wines of Delectus are sumptuous,
handcrafted, small lot wines with a big focus on rich reds so come by and check
the wines out!! Complimentary.
Thursday, March 26th- Owner and Winemaker of family owned Resonance Winery in
Oregon, Kevin Chambers, will be at the Tasting Bar sampling out his
biodynamically produced wines from Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton District. For close
to20 years, grapes grown in the Resonance vineyards were farmed by Kevin and his
wife and sold to premiere Oregon wineries. Starting in 2006, they started
producing their own wines under the Resonance wine label. On the tasting table
will be their fantastic 'G3' white blend which is mouthwatering as well as their
Estate Grown Pinot Noir. Come on by and try these delicious wines as well as
learn about the mechanics of biodynamic farming. Complimentary.
Thursday, April 23rd - Roland Herrmann, Regional Manager for Maison Marques &
Domaines, will be here sampling some of the uber fantastic wines in his
portfolio. Maison Marques & Domaines represents such properties as Champagne
Roederer, Dominus, Domaine Ott (who makes an excellent Rose!) and Pio Cesare to
name just a few. Come check out the wines we've picked out for the tasting and
give them whirl around your glass! Complimentary.
Spring Wine Dinner at Cafe Antonios
Join us on Sunday, March 22nd at Cafe Antonios (right over the Kmart Shopping
Center near Five Guys and the Virginia Kitchen) for a Four Course Wine Dinner to
celebrate the arrival of Spring! The menu and wine pairings are listed below.
Dinner commences at 6:00pm. Seating is limited. Price is $65 plus tax and
gratuity. For reservations, please call Cafe Antonios at 703-437-3307.
Primo
Sliced Fresh Fennel topped with Goat Cheese and Strawberries and touched with
Olive Oil and Lemon
Pescador Blanc NV
Secondo
Seafood Risotto with Scallops and Shrimp dressed with Lobster Sauce
La Soraia Gavi di Gavi 2007
Terzo
Antonio's Famous Veal Chop (the mini version)
Novencento Chianti Riserva 2003
Quarto
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Taliano Birbet NV
Road Trip!!!
Book your spot! A LOT of people showed interest in signing up for this event
when talking to Doug last week at the tasting table and space is limited. We've
already got several spots spoken for. Doug Fabbioli, owner and winemaker of
Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, will be hosting a Winemaker's Class at the winery
on Sunday, April 26th, from 12:00pmto 3:00pm. Included in the class with be a
tour, learning winemaker's techniques, the art of blending and lunch along with
some wine tasting. Price is $60.00per person. For reservations, please email
Lucinda at Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
New Vino Finds
Agua de Piedra Reserva Malbec Mendoza 2007 - A tasty bottle of red from
Argentina...I have yet to find a Malbec which isn't thoroughly enjoyable! This
wine is a nice medium weight showing lots of blue and black fruits on the
palate. And a bargain at $8.99 per bottle
Morli Neri Chianti 2007 - This is one fantastic bottle of Chianti for the price!
Wonderful balance of fruit and dry, soft tannins and the quintessential
pizza/pasta/burger wine. $10.99 per bottle
Our Don't Forget Department
Sipacha Garnacha Calatayud 2006 - Bright berry flavors abound on the palate in
this easy drinking red from the value country of Spain. This is a medium
drinking red showing some good acidity alongside spice notes and hints of black
cherries, raspberries, blackberries and plums. Perfect with anything off the
grill including a burger! $9.99 per bottle.
Castoro Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2006 - I keep getting pleasantly
surprised with some of the Cabernet Sauvignons I've been tasting of late from
the Paso Robles region of California. Typically, I find a lot of wines from this
region have higher alcohol levels as well as a 'hotness' on the palate from the
warm climate and resulting ripe fruit. I'm rethinking my previous thoughts of
this appellation as I have tasted several excellent reds, from Rhone varietals
to Bordeaux varietals, coming from this area of central California. This
Cabernet for the price is just outstanding. It's lush on the palate with
excellent balance and very seductive in its nose and depth on the palate. It
drinks like a $20 to $25 bottle of wine but it's only $17.99 per bottle!
DeValier PinotGrigio del Veneto IGT 2007 - This is a fantastic Italian Pinot
Grigio made from grapes from a single vineyard in the Veneto region. Definitely
far above your 'average bear' inexpensive Pinot Grigio! It has a nice richness
yet freshness on the palate due in part to the extended maceration of the grapes
followed by six months aging in stainless steels tanks. A delightful dash of
Spring in a glass. $10.99 per bottle.
Cesari Duetorri Pinot Noir Delle Venezie 2007 - A delightful surprise from the
northeastern area of Italy. Who wouldda thunk a Pinot Noir from Italy could be
so tasty? This is an earthy style of Pinot, perfect to go with a dish
encompassing mushrooms. Coq au Vin, perhaps? Nice weight on the palate. $11.99
per bottle.
Friday Monkey Shiraz Southeastern Australia 2007 - While this wine has a nice
plushness on the palate, it's no overwhelming fruit bomb. It's a bit more
subdued and a very pleasant drink. Perfect alone or with cheese or would work
well with pizza, burgers or a red sauce pasta dish. $9.99 per bottle.
Castello di Magione Morcinaia Colli del Trasimeno 2005 - What a fantastic bottle
of Italian red wine we got in just before Valentine's Day and then sold out in 2
days! Well, the distributor ordered more and we're back in stock on this Italian
gem and ready to roll it out the door. This unusual blend of 40% Merlot, 40%
Cabernet Sauvignon and 20%Sangiovese just sucks you into the glass with one
swiff of the glass and a taste on the tongue. It's a very balanced, elegant and
silky red showing off crushed dark berry fruits and just a hint of earthiness
which in this case, is a really nice trait. $19.99 per bottle.
In the Pantry
New in the shop this week are some delicious snack items. Check out the
following pates, cheeses and crackers!
D'Artagnan Peppercorn Mousse
D'Artagnan Duck Mousse Basquaise
D'Artagnan Pate de Campagne
D'Artagnan Mousse Truffee
Vermont Butter & Cheese Coupole Goat Cheese
Rosemary Crostin iCrackers
Whole Wheat Picos de Pan Crackers(perfect for dipping)
Tucker's Crackers in Carmelized Onion and Oatmeal
Bogie's Recipe Board
This week's recipe is from the Cook's Illustrated Spring Entertaining 2009
magazine.
Asparagus, Red Pepper and Spinach Salad with Sherry Vinegar and Goat Cheese
Serves 4 to 6 as a first course
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1x1/4 inch strips
1 lb asparagus, trimmed of tough ends and cut on the bias into 1 inch pieces
Table salt and ground black pepper
1 medium shallot, sliced thinly (about ¼ cup)
4 tsp sherry vinegar
1 medium garlic clove, minced or pressed (about 1 tsp)
1 6oz bag baby spinach
4 oz goat cheese cut into small chunks
Heat 2 tbsp oil in 12 inch nonstick skillet over high heat until beginning to
smoke. Add red pepper and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes, stirring
only once after about 1 minute. Add asparagus, ¼ tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper and
cook until asparagus is browned and almost tender, about 2 minutes, stirring
only once after 1 minute. Stir in the shallot and cook until softened and
asparagus is tender-crisp, about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a
large plate and cool 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk remaining 4 tbsp oil, vinegar, garlic, ¼ tsp salt and 1/8 tsp
pepper in bowl until combined. In large bowl, toss spinach with 2 tbsp dressing
and divide among salad plates. Toss asparagus mixture with remaining dressing
and place portion over spinach; divide goat cheese among salads and serve
immediately.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
Sauvignon Blanc is the classic match for both asparagus and goat cheese so this
would be an exellent pairing, particularly a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire
Valley such as a Quincy, Touraine or Pouilly Fume.
If you really are gunning for red, go for a lighter bodied red but one which has
some nice earthy flavors. Perhaps a Pinot Noir or a Dolcetto.
Quiz Corner
This Week's Quiz Question: What does the term 'passito' mean?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and pick up to three
winners out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds
consider bribery perfectly legit!
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Brian Forsgren of Potomac Selections
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: March 12, 2009
Let's get in the mood to celebrate the arrival of Spring with
a tasty wine dinner at our neighbor's, Cafe Antonio's! Check out the menu and
wine pairings below. Plus, we can't wait to 'Christen the Tasting Bar' which
just got put in this past week (with reclaimed wood from Ford's Theatre) with
Gerhard Reisacher, owner and winemaker at Delectus Winery. Gerhard will be
joining us next Friday evening at the tasting bar, pouring up his sumptuously
seductive reds from Napa Valley. Nibbles to enjoy... come hang with us next Friday
night the 20th! We've got a great tasting lined up this Saturday afternoon with
Brian Forsgren of Potomac Selections including a couple of whites perfect for
warmer weather. Bogart's got a new recipe up on his recipe board just in time
for the spring vegetables and there's a new Quiz Question in the Quiz Corner.
There are a couple of new wine finds this week along with our 'Don't Forget
Department'. Hope you're all enjoying it stay light out late....summertime will
be here before you know it!
Don't Forget to Join Our Facebook Page
Join The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table Facebook Group Page! Click on the link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=90060220303 or do a search for
'The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table' and you'll find our group.
This Saturday's Tasting
Brian Forsgren, the rep with the really cool book of wines, will be here trying
us on some new wines for Springtime!
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 3/21 - Cindy Yim, co-owner of Elite Wines, will be here at the tasting
table. Elite has a wonderfully eclectic mix of wines from around the globe so
we'll go on a globe-trotting tasting trip!
Saturday, 3/28 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner will be joining for a
Saturday tasting. Jason's book is endless so we'll try some old favorites as
well as some new finds and at least one of the tasty jewels which reside in his
portfolio.
Saturday, 4/4 - How about a Greek Easter celebration this year? If you're
planning one of those, we've got you covered with some fantastic selections from
the portfolio of Dionysos Imports. Amy Evans will be here pouring not only Greek
wines but some other gems as well.
Saturday, 4/11 - Wines perfect for Easter will be the theme when Heather Fay of
Grappoli Imports joins us at the tasting table the day before lambs and hams.
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, April7th - It's Pinot!
Gray Mosby of Nice Legs will be co-piloting our class on Pinot Noir and I think
a Pinot Blanc and a Pinot Gris might just make their way into the class as well.
In Gray's portfolio are several of the best artisanal Pinots being made in the
U.S. today as well as a small but focused and tasty selection of Burgundies.
We'll take the Pinot Wagon out for a stroll and try some as well as match what
we try with foods which work well with Pinot. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines ofGreece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Upcoming 'Tastier Thursdays' (and one Tasty Friday!!)
Friday, March 20th - We'll christen our new Tasting Table which is being built
now with the arrival of Gerhard Reisacher, owner and winemaker of the boutique
winery Delectus who is arriving in town on this Friday afternoon! As soon as we
confirm his travel times, we'll announce a start time but it'll be a fun evening
of absolutely fantastic wine, some great nibblies to try. The wines of Delectus are sumptuous,
handcrafted, small lot wines with a big focus on rich reds so come by and check
the wines out!! Complimentary.
Thursday, March 26th- Owner and Winemaker of family owned Resonance Winery in
Oregon, Kevin Chambers, will be at the Tasting Bar sampling out his
biodynamically produced wines from Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton District. For close
to20 years, grapes grown in the Resonance vineyards were farmed by Kevin and his
wife and sold to premiere Oregon wineries. Starting in 2006, they started
producing their own wines under the Resonance wine label. On the tasting table
will be their fantastic 'G3' white blend which is mouthwatering as well as their
Estate Grown Pinot Noir. Come on by and try these delicious wines as well as
learn about the mechanics of biodynamic farming. Complimentary.
Thursday, April 23rd - Roland Herrmann, Regional Manager for Maison Marques &
Domaines, will be here sampling some of the uber fantastic wines in his
portfolio. Maison Marques & Domaines represents such properties as Champagne
Roederer, Dominus, Domaine Ott (who makes an excellent Rose!) and Pio Cesare to
name just a few. Come check out the wines we've picked out for the tasting and
give them whirl around your glass! Complimentary.
Spring Wine Dinner at Cafe Antonios
Join us on Sunday, March 22nd at Cafe Antonios (right over the Kmart Shopping
Center near Five Guys and the Virginia Kitchen) for a Four Course Wine Dinner to
celebrate the arrival of Spring! The menu and wine pairings are listed below.
Dinner commences at 6:00pm. Seating is limited. Price is $65 plus tax and
gratuity. For reservations, please call Cafe Antonios at 703-437-3307.
Primo
Sliced Fresh Fennel topped with Goat Cheese and Strawberries and touched with
Olive Oil and Lemon
Pescador Blanc NV
Secondo
Seafood Risotto with Scallops and Shrimp dressed with Lobster Sauce
La Soraia Gavi di Gavi 2007
Terzo
Antonio's Famous Veal Chop (the mini version)
Novencento Chianti Riserva 2003
Quarto
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Taliano Birbet NV
Road Trip!!!
Book your spot! A LOT of people showed interest in signing up for this event
when talking to Doug last week at the tasting table and space is limited. We've
already got several spots spoken for. Doug Fabbioli, owner and winemaker of
Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, will be hosting a Winemaker's Class at the winery
on Sunday, April 26th, from 12:00pmto 3:00pm. Included in the class with be a
tour, learning winemaker's techniques, the art of blending and lunch along with
some wine tasting. Price is $60.00per person. For reservations, please email
Lucinda at Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
New Vino Finds
Agua de Piedra Reserva Malbec Mendoza 2007 - A tasty bottle of red from
Argentina...I have yet to find a Malbec which isn't thoroughly enjoyable! This
wine is a nice medium weight showing lots of blue and black fruits on the
palate. And a bargain at $8.99 per bottle
Morli Neri Chianti 2007 - This is one fantastic bottle of Chianti for the price!
Wonderful balance of fruit and dry, soft tannins and the quintessential
pizza/pasta/burger wine. $10.99 per bottle
Our Don't Forget Department
Sipacha Garnacha Calatayud 2006 - Bright berry flavors abound on the palate in
this easy drinking red from the value country of Spain. This is a medium
drinking red showing some good acidity alongside spice notes and hints of black
cherries, raspberries, blackberries and plums. Perfect with anything off the
grill including a burger! $9.99 per bottle.
Castoro Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2006 - I keep getting pleasantly
surprised with some of the Cabernet Sauvignons I've been tasting of late from
the Paso Robles region of California. Typically, I find a lot of wines from this
region have higher alcohol levels as well as a 'hotness' on the palate from the
warm climate and resulting ripe fruit. I'm rethinking my previous thoughts of
this appellation as I have tasted several excellent reds, from Rhone varietals
to Bordeaux varietals, coming from this area of central California. This
Cabernet for the price is just outstanding. It's lush on the palate with
excellent balance and very seductive in its nose and depth on the palate. It
drinks like a $20 to $25 bottle of wine but it's only $17.99 per bottle!
DeValier PinotGrigio del Veneto IGT 2007 - This is a fantastic Italian Pinot
Grigio made from grapes from a single vineyard in the Veneto region. Definitely
far above your 'average bear' inexpensive Pinot Grigio! It has a nice richness
yet freshness on the palate due in part to the extended maceration of the grapes
followed by six months aging in stainless steels tanks. A delightful dash of
Spring in a glass. $10.99 per bottle.
Cesari Duetorri Pinot Noir Delle Venezie 2007 - A delightful surprise from the
northeastern area of Italy. Who wouldda thunk a Pinot Noir from Italy could be
so tasty? This is an earthy style of Pinot, perfect to go with a dish
encompassing mushrooms. Coq au Vin, perhaps? Nice weight on the palate. $11.99
per bottle.
Friday Monkey Shiraz Southeastern Australia 2007 - While this wine has a nice
plushness on the palate, it's no overwhelming fruit bomb. It's a bit more
subdued and a very pleasant drink. Perfect alone or with cheese or would work
well with pizza, burgers or a red sauce pasta dish. $9.99 per bottle.
Castello di Magione Morcinaia Colli del Trasimeno 2005 - What a fantastic bottle
of Italian red wine we got in just before Valentine's Day and then sold out in 2
days! Well, the distributor ordered more and we're back in stock on this Italian
gem and ready to roll it out the door. This unusual blend of 40% Merlot, 40%
Cabernet Sauvignon and 20%Sangiovese just sucks you into the glass with one
swiff of the glass and a taste on the tongue. It's a very balanced, elegant and
silky red showing off crushed dark berry fruits and just a hint of earthiness
which in this case, is a really nice trait. $19.99 per bottle.
In the Pantry
New in the shop this week are some delicious snack items. Check out the
following pates, cheeses and crackers!
D'Artagnan Peppercorn Mousse
D'Artagnan Duck Mousse Basquaise
D'Artagnan Pate de Campagne
D'Artagnan Mousse Truffee
Vermont Butter & Cheese Coupole Goat Cheese
Rosemary Crostin iCrackers
Whole Wheat Picos de Pan Crackers(perfect for dipping)
Tucker's Crackers in Carmelized Onion and Oatmeal
Bogie's Recipe Board
This week's recipe is from the Cook's Illustrated Spring Entertaining 2009
magazine.
Asparagus, Red Pepper and Spinach Salad with Sherry Vinegar and Goat Cheese
Serves 4 to 6 as a first course
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1x1/4 inch strips
1 lb asparagus, trimmed of tough ends and cut on the bias into 1 inch pieces
Table salt and ground black pepper
1 medium shallot, sliced thinly (about ¼ cup)
4 tsp sherry vinegar
1 medium garlic clove, minced or pressed (about 1 tsp)
1 6oz bag baby spinach
4 oz goat cheese cut into small chunks
Heat 2 tbsp oil in 12 inch nonstick skillet over high heat until beginning to
smoke. Add red pepper and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes, stirring
only once after about 1 minute. Add asparagus, ¼ tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper and
cook until asparagus is browned and almost tender, about 2 minutes, stirring
only once after 1 minute. Stir in the shallot and cook until softened and
asparagus is tender-crisp, about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a
large plate and cool 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk remaining 4 tbsp oil, vinegar, garlic, ¼ tsp salt and 1/8 tsp
pepper in bowl until combined. In large bowl, toss spinach with 2 tbsp dressing
and divide among salad plates. Toss asparagus mixture with remaining dressing
and place portion over spinach; divide goat cheese among salads and serve
immediately.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
Sauvignon Blanc is the classic match for both asparagus and goat cheese so this
would be an exellent pairing, particularly a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire
Valley such as a Quincy, Touraine or Pouilly Fume.
If you really are gunning for red, go for a lighter bodied red but one which has
some nice earthy flavors. Perhaps a Pinot Noir or a Dolcetto.
Quiz Corner
This Week's Quiz Question: What does the term 'passito' mean?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prize picking' scarf and pick up to three
winners out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds
consider bribery perfectly legit!
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Brian Forsgren of Potomac Selections
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: March 5, 2009
Ok. We're on Facebook. We've been there for a bit but as we
build up the group site, we'd love to have any (and all!) of our customers join
our group page! It's under 'The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table' if you're logged
on to Facebook right now or you can also click on this link http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=90060220303
if you'd like to join the group. For those of you who haven't come to 'the dark
side' yet, consider yourself warned that Facebook can be a bit addictive...in a
fun way. For those of you already there, you know what I'm talking about!!
A big, big 'thanks' going out to Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Cellars for a great
tasting last Saturday afternoon and to Bill McKenney as well for leading such an
informative (and tasty) class on the wines of the Piedmont this past Tuesday
night. We work with some of the best partners in the wine industry in the D.C.
area! We'll have Gray Mosby of Nice Legs on the tasting table this Saturday
showing off several wines new to the Virginia market as well as a killer (and
limited availability) Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley in the Mendocino region of
California. Don't forget to mark your calendars for two fantastic special
tastings this month - one on Friday, March 20th with the owner and winemaker of
Delectus Winery in Napa and the other on Thursday, March 26th with the owner and
winemaker of Resonance Winery in Oregon. There will be some great sampling to be
had at both events. Bogart has a tasty new recipe up on his board and while the
Quiz Corner is on Spring Break this week, we have some quiz winners from last
week. Our 'In the Pantry' section is back in action with new food items for the
store. Don't forget this weekend is 'Spring Forward'...we're on to Daylight
Savings Time this Sunday so push that clock forward an hour. Not so fun Sunday
morning but well worth it by Sunday evening. We'll see you this weekend!!
This Saturday's Tasting
Gray Mosby of Nice Legs will be here pouring some of the hand picked selections
they carry from the West Coast, particularly, some delicious Pinot Noirs and a
new-to-the-market Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay from Oregon.
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 3/14 - Brian Forsgren, the rep with the really cool book of wines,
will be here trying us on some new wines for Springtime!
Saturday, 3/21 - Cindy Yim, co-owner of Elite Wines, will be here at the tasting
table. Elite has a wonderfully eclectic mix of wines from around the globe so
we'll go on a globe-trotting tasting trip!
Saturday, 3/28 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner will be joining for a
Saturday tasting. Jason's book is endless so we'll try some old favorites as
well as some new finds and at least one of the tasty jewels which reside in his
portfolio.
Saturday, 3/4 - How about a Greek Easter celebration this year? If you're
planning one of those, we've got you covered with some fantastic selections from
the portfolio of Dionysos Imports. Amy Evans will be here pouring not only Greek
wines but some other gems as well.
Saturday, 3/11 - Wines perfect for Easter will be the theme when Heather Fay of
Grappoli Imports joins us at the tasting table the day before lambs and hams.
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, April 7th - It's Pinot!
Gray Mosby of Nice Legs will be co-piloting our class on Pinot Noir and I think
a Pinot Blanc and a Pinot Gris might just make their way into the class as well.
In Gray's portfolio are several of the best artisanal Pinots being made in the
U.S. today as well as a small but focused and tasty selection of Burgundies.
We'll take the Pinot Wagon out for a stroll and try some as well as match what
we try with foods which work well with Pinot. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Upcoming 'Tastier Thursdays' (and one Tasty Friday!!)
Friday, March 20th - We'll christen our new Tasting Table which is being built
now with the arrival of Gerhard Reisacher, owner and winemaker of the boutique
winery Delectus who is arriving in town on this Friday afternoon! As soon as we
confirm his travel times, we'll announce a start time but it'll be a fun evening
of absolutely fantastic wine, some great nibblies to try. The wines of Delectus are sumptuous, handcrafted,
small lot wines with a big focus on rich reds so come by and check the wines
out!! Complimentary.
Thursday, March 26th - Owner and Winemaker of family owned Resonance Winery in
Oregon, Kevin Chambers, will be at the Tasting Bar sampling out his
biodynamically produced wines from Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton District. For close
to 20 years, grapes grown in the Resonance vineyards were farmed by Kevin and
his wife and sold to premiere Oregon wineries. Starting in 2006, they started
producing their own wines under the Resonance wine label. On the tasting table
will be their fantastic 'G3' white blend which is mouthwatering, 'Pulse' Pinot
Noir with fruit from Resonance Vineyard and their Estate Grown Pinot Noir. Come
on by and try these delicious wines as well as learn about the mechanics of
biodynamic farming. Complimentary.
Thursday, April 23rd - Roland Herrmann, Regional Manager for Maison Marques &
Domaines, will be here sampling some of the uber fantastic wines in his
portfolio. Maison Marques & Domaines represents such properties as Champagne
Roederer, Dominus, Domaine Ott (who makes an excellent Rose!) and Pio Cesare to
name just a few. Come check out the wines we've picked out for the tasting and
give them whirl around your glass! Complimentary.
Road Trip!!!
Book your spot! A LOT of people showed interest in signing up for this event
when talking to Doug last week at the tasting table and space is limited. We've
already got several spots spoken for. Doug Fabbioli, owner and winemaker of
Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, will be hosting a Winemaker's Class at the winery
on Sunday, April 26th, from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Included in the class with be a
tour, learning winemaker's techniques, the art of blending and lunch along with
some wine tasting. Price is $60.00 per person. For reservations, please email
Lucinda at Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
New Vino Finds
Sipacha Garnacha Calatayud 2006 - Bright berry flavors abound on the palate in
this easy drinking red from the value country of Spain. This is a medium
drinking red showing some good acidity alongside spice notes and hints of black
cherries, raspberries, blackberries and plums. Perfect with anything off the
grill including a burger! $9.99 per bottle.
Castoro Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2006 - I keep getting pleasantly
surprised with some of the Cabernet Sauvignons I've been tasting of late from
the Paso Robles region of California. Typically, I find a lot of wines from this
region have higher alcohol levels as well as a 'hotness' on the palate from the
warm climate and resulting ripe fruit. I'm rethinking my previous thoughts of
this appellation as I have tasted several excellent reds, from Rhone varietals
to Bordeaux varietals, coming from this area of central California. This
Cabernet for the price is just outstanding. It's lush on the palate with
excellent balance and very seductive in its nose and depth on the palate. It
drinks like a $20 to $25 bottle of wine but it's only $17.99 per bottle!
DeValier Pinot Grigio del Veneto IGT 2007 - This is a fantastic Italian Pinot
Grigio made from grapes from a single vineyard in the Veneto region. Definitely
far above your 'average bear' inexpensive Pinot Grigio! It has a nice richness
yet freshness on the palate due in part to the extended maceration of the grapes
followed by six months aging in stainless steels tanks. A delightful dash of
Spring in a glass. $10.99 per bottle.
Cesari Duetorri Pinot Noir Delle Venezie 2007 - A delightful surprise from the
northeastern area of Italy. Who wouldda thunk a Pinot Noir from Italy could be
so tasty? This is an earthy style of Pinot, perfect to go with a dish
encompassing mushrooms. Coq au Vin, perhaps? Nice weight on the palate. $11.99
per bottle.
Friday Monkey Shiraz Southeastern Australia 2007 - While this wine has a nice
plushness on the palate, it's no overwhelming fruit bomb. It's a bit more
subdued and a very pleasant drink. Perfect alone or with cheese or would work
well with pizza, burgers or a red sauce pasta dish. $9.99 per bottle.
Back in Stock!
Castello di Magione Morcinaia Colli del Trasimeno 2005 - What a fantastic bottle
of Italian red wine we got in just before Valentine's Day and then sold out in 2
days! Well, the distributor ordered more and we're back in stock on this Italian
gem and ready to roll it out the door. This unusual blend of 40% Merlot, 40%
Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Sangiovese just sucks you into the glass with one
swiff of the glass and a taste on the tongue. It's a very balanced, elegant and
silky red showing off crushed dark berry fruits and just a hint of earthiness
which in this case, is a really nice trait. $19.99 per bottle.
In the Pantry
New in the shop this week are some delicious snack items. Check out the
following pates, cheeses and crackers!
D'Artagnan Peppercorn Mousse
D'Artagnan Duck Mousse Basquaise
D'Artagnan Pate de Campagne
D'Artagnan Mousse Truffee
Vermont Butter & Cheese Coupole Goat Cheese
Rosemary Crostini Crackers
Whole Wheat Picos de Pan Crackers (perfect for dipping)
Tucker's Crackers in Carmelized Onion and Oatmeal
Bogie's Recipe Board
The picture of this recipe looks mighty tasty. Plus, it looks pretty easy to
make. Ok, so I'm not actually making it, just supervising from the couch. But
who knew corn starch is the secret ingredient for making a whole chicken
crispy?? From the Cook's Country magazine, here's my recipe pick for this week.
Crispy Roast Chicken and Potatoes
Serves 4
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Salt
1 whole chicken (3-1/2 to 4 lbs), giblets discarded, skin patted dry with paper
towels
2 lbs small red potatoes, scrubbed and halved
2 tsp vegetable oil
Line roasting pan with foil, letting foil come up sides of pan. Adjust oven rack
to middle position (8 to 10 inches from broiler element), place roasting pan on
rack and heat oven to 475 degrees. Coat V-rack with cooking spray.
Combine cornstarch and 2 tsp salt in small bowl. Use skewer to poke holes all
over chicken skin. Rub cornstarch mixture evenly over chicken.
Remove roasting pan from oven. Place chicken, wing side up, in V-rack, then
place V-rack in roasting pan. Roast chicken 15 mins. Remove roasting pan from
oven and using a wad of paper towels, flip chicken so that the other wing is
facing up. Roast another 15 mins.
Meanwhile, toss potatoes, oil and ½ tsp salt in medium bowl. Remove roasting pan
from oven and with potholder, carefully transfer V-rack with chicken to rimmed
baking sheet. Gather up the foil by its corners, capturing any fat and juices
and discard. Arrange potatoes, cut side down, in bottom of roasting pan. Using
wad of paper towels, flip chicken, breast side up, in V-rack. Place V-rack back
in roasting pan on top of the halved potatoes. Roast chicken until thermometer
inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 170 degrees, about 20
mins.
Using wad of paper towels, remove chicken and V-rack from pan and pour juices
from cavity of chicken into roasting pan over the halved potatoes. Place chicken
on angel-food cake pan insert or empty soda can to rest upright for 10 to 15
mins. Meanwhile, toss the halved potatoes in the chicken juices, return to oven
and cook until well browned and crisp, about 10 to 15 mins. Carve chicken and
serve with potatoes.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
For a white wine with crispy skinned roasted chicken, go for a medium weight
Chardonnay, either from Burgundy or the West Coast, or a Pinot Gris or Pinot
Blanc from Oregon.
In the red department, a Piedmont red from Italy, a Garnacha from Spain or a
Pinot from Oregon would all be great choices.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: How many Grand Cru designate vineyard sites are there
in Chablis?
Answer: 7
This week's quiz question winners are Bill Haskitt, Christine Harley and Bob
Puckett. Congratulations! Come on in and collect your prize! And Bogie picked
out some new quiz winner prizes this week....he's been shopping!
That's it for this week! Happy Birthday Molly!!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Gray Mosby of Nice Legs
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: February 26, 2009
We've got a local celebrity of sorts pouring on the tasting
table this Saturday...Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg will be here
sampling out several of his handcrafted wines including his Cabernet Sauvignon
which one usually only gets to taste at the winery. Come by and say 'hi' to Doug
and see what's going at Fabbioli Cellars these days. Our Piedmont Wine Class
with Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections is almost filled up so if you
are contemplating coming next Tuesday, sign up soon! We'll be trying some of the
unique whites of the Piedmont region as well as the big red guns of Dolcetto,
Barbera and Nebbiolo. There are a couple of special tastings on the calendar
upcoming for March including a 'Tastier Friday' with Delectus Winery Owner and
Winemaker Gerhard Reisasher, fresh off the plane from Napa Valley, and a
'Tastier Thursday' event with the owner and winemaker of Resonance Winiery in
Oregon, Kevin Chambers. We've got quite a few new wine finds this week and Bogie
has a new recipe up on his Recipe Board. A note to anyone who was considering
the CSA Program with Potomac Vegetable Farms: shares are sold out and sign up is
now closed. Thank you to all who are participating this season! We've got some
quiz winners from last week and a new quiz this week and frankly, we can't wait
for March to get here so we can hop to Daylight Savings Time (one week from
Sunday....hurray!!) as well as some warmer weather. The leaves are out on my
honeysuckle bush so really, Spring is almost here!!!
This Saturday's Tasting
He's Fresh, He's Local.....He's Doug Fabbioli!! Doug, owner of and winemaker at
Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, will be here this Saturday pouring several of his
wines on the tasting table. Included in the lineup will be his Cabernet
Sauvignon which you usually find only at the winery (and maybe a few
restaurants). Doug should be name 'Mr. Virginia Wine' for his unbridled
enthusiasm about the future of the winemaking business in the Commonwealth of
Virginia. Come on by and try as well as find out all about the Virginia wine
industry!
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 3/7 - Gray Mosby of Nice Legs will be here pouring some of the hand
picked selections they carry from the West Coast, particularly, some delicious
Pinot Noirs and a new label available in Virginia making a great Pinot Blanc.
Saturday, 3/14 - Brian Forsgren, the rep with the really cool book of wines,
will be here trying us on some new wines for Springtime!
Saturday, 3/21 - Cindy Yim, co-owner of Elite Wines, will be here at the tasting
table. Elite has a wonderfully eclectic mix of wines from around the globe so
we'll go on a globe-trotting tasting trip!
Saturday, 3/28 - Jason Bise of The Country Vintner will be joining for a
Saturday tasting. Jason's book is endless so we'll try some old favorites as
well as some new finds and at least one of the tasty jewels which reside in his
portfolio.
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, March 3rd - Piedmont Wines 2 Seats Left!
Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be back to share his wealth of
knowledge of Italy and in particular, of the Piedmont. Gavi, Barbera, Dolcetto,
Nebbiolo...all the usual suspects will be present and accompanying nibbles of
food to see how they eat and drink in Northwestern Italy! $45 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, April 7th - It's Pinot!
Gray Mosby of Nice Legs will be co-piloting our class on Pinot Noir and I think
a Pinot Blanc and a Pinot Gris might just make their way into the class as well.
In Gray's portfolio are several of the best artisanal Pinots being made in the
U.S. today as well as a small but focused and tasty selection of Burgundies.
We'll take the Pinot Wagon out for a stroll and try some as well as match what
we try with foods which work well with Pinot. $45 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Upcoming 'Tastier Thursdays' (and one Tasty Friday!!)
Friday, March 20th - We'll christen our new Tasting Table which is being built
now with the arrival of Gerhard Reisacher, owner and winemaker of the boutique
winery Delectus who is arriving in town this Friday afternoon! As soon as we
confirm his travel times, we'll announce a start time but it'll be a fun evening
of absolutely fantastic wine, some great nibblies to try and we might even
through some music in the mix. The wines of Delectus are sumptuous, handcrafted,
small lot wines with a big focus on rich reds so come by and check the wines
out!! Complimentary.
Thursday, March 26th - Owner and Winemaker of family owned Resonance Winery in
Oregon, Kevin Chambers, will be at the Tasting Bar sampling out his
biodynamically produced wines from Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton District. For close
to 20 years, grapes grown in the Resonance vineyards were farmed by Kevin and
his wife and sold to premiere Oregon wineries. Starting in 2006, they started
producing their own wines under the Resonance wine label. On the tasting table
will be their fantastic 'G3' white blend which is mouthwatering, 'Pulse' Pinot
Noir with fruit from Resonance Vineyard and their Estate Grown Pinot Noir. Come
on by and try these delicious wines as well as learn about the mechanics of
biodynamic farming. Complimentary.
Thursday, April 23rd - Roland Herrmann, Regional Manager for Maison Marques &
Domaines, will be here sampling some of the uber fantastic wines in his
portfolio. Maison Marques & Domaines represents such properties as Champagne
Roederer, Dominus, Domaine Ott (who makes an excellent Rose!) and Pio Cesare to
name just a few. Come check out the wines we've picked out for the tasting and
give them whirl around your glass! Complimentary.
Road Trip!!!
Save the Date!!! Doug Fabbioli, owner and winemaker of Fabbioli Cellars in
Leesburg, will be hosting a Winemaker's Class at the winery on Sunday, April
26th, from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Included in the class with be a tour, learning
winemaker's techniques, the art of blending and lunch along with some wine
tasting. Space is limited so reserve your spot early! Price is $60.00 per
person. If you want to learn more about the class, come on by on Saturday,
February 28th and talk with Doug directly - he'll be here from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
for an in-store tasting. For reservations, please email Lucinda at
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
New Vino Finds
Sipacha Garnacha Calatayud 2006 - Bright berry flavors abound on the palate in
this easy drinking red from the value country of Spain. This is a medium
drinking red showing some good acidity alongside spice notes and hints of black
cherries, raspberries, blackberries and plums. Perfect with anything off the
grill including a burger! $9.99 per bottle.
Castoro Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2006 - I keep getting pleasantly
surprised with some of the Cabernet Sauvignons I've been tasting of late from
the Paso Robles region of California. Typically, I find a lot of wines from this
region have higher alcohol levels as well as a 'hotness' on the palate from the
warm climate and resulting ripe fruit. I'm rethinking my previous thoughts of
this appellation as I have tasted several excellent reds, from Rhone varietals
to Bordeaux varietals, coming from this area of central California. This
Cabernet for the price is just outstanding. It's lush on the palate with
excellent balance and very seductive in its nose and depth on the palate. It
drinks like a $20 to $25 bottle of wine but it's only $17.99 per bottle!
DeValier Pinot Grigio del Veneto IGT 2007 - This is a fantastic Italian Pinot
Grigio made from grapes from a single vineyard in the Veneto region. Definitely
far above your 'average bear' inexpensive Pinot Grigio! It has a nice richness
yet freshness on the palate due in part to the extended maceration of the grapes
followed by six months aging in stainless steels tanks. A delightful dash of
Spring in a glass. $10.99 per bottle.
Cesari Duetorri Pinot Noir Delle Venezie 2007 - A delightful surprise from the
northeastern area of Italy. Who wouldda thunk a Pinot Noir from Italy could be
so tasty? This is an earthy style of Pinot, perfect to go with a dish
encompassing mushrooms. Coq au Vin, perhaps? Nice weight on the palate. $11.99
per bottle.
Friday Monkey Shiraz Southeastern Australia 2007 - While this wine has a nice
plushness on the palate, it's no overwhelming fruit bomb. It's a bit more
subdued and a very pleasant drink. Perfect alone or with cheese or would work
well with pizza, burgers or a red sauce pasta dish. $9.99 per bottle.
Back in Stock!
Castello di Magione Morcinaia Colli del Trasimeno 2005 - What a fantastic bottle
of Italian red wine we got in just before Valentine's Day and then sold out in 2
days! Well, the distributor ordered more and we're back in stock on this Italian
gem and ready to roll it out the door. This unusual blend of 40% Merlot, 40%
Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Sangiovese just sucks you into the glass with one
swiff of the glass and a taste on the tongue. It's a very balanced, elegant and
silky red showing off crushed dark berry fruits and just a hint of earthiness
which in this case, is a really nice trait. $19.99 per bottle.
Potomac Vegetable Farms (PVF) CSA Program for 2009
The Potomac Vegetable Farm CSA Program for 2009 is now sold out. Thank you to
all the returning participants and welcome to all the new participants!
Bogie's Recipe Board
I didn't get to go to work on Tuesday so I had plenty of time to peruse through
all of my cookbooks. Ok, they're not actually all mine....but I'm a mighty find
reader of food recipes, particularly with mouthwatering pictures. I'm going for
a dish with CHEESE this week because it looks hearty and filling and we might as
well enjoy a few more meals like this while the weather is still chilly. From
the Quick Food cookbook, here's my recipe this week.
Tortilla Pie
Serves 4
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 lb lean ground beef
¼ oz package taco seasoning mix
14 oz can chili beans, drained
8 flour tortillas
2 cups grated cheddar
10 oz jar salsa
2/3 cup sour cream
1 avocado, diced
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch pie pan. Heat the oil in a
large nonstick frying pan. Add the ground beef and cook for 5 mins or until
brown, breaking up the lumps with the back of a spoon. Drain off the excess oil.
Add the seasoning mix and cook for 5 mins. Stir in the beans until they are
heated through.
Lay a tortilla on the bottom of the pie dish, then spread ½ cup of the beef
mixture on top. Sprinkle with ¼ cup cheese and 1 tbsp salsa. Continue layering
the remaining tortillas, beef mixture, cheese and salsa ending with a tortilla
sprinkled with a little cheese - it should end up looking like a dome shape.
Bake for 15 mins or until all the cheese has melted and browned. Cool slightly,
cut into wedges and top with a dollop of sour cream and the diced avocado. Serve
with a salad.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
Indigenous wines go with indigenous food so I'm thinking Spain or Chile or
Argentina for vino. A Garnacha from Spain or a Malbec from Argentina or a red
blend from Chile, perhaps with some Syrah, would be a good red pick here.
For whites, a Verdejo from Spain would be a great pick or an Albarino. A richer
styled Chardonnay from Argentina or Chile would also be a good pairing.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: True or False. Fermentation only takes place in oak
barrels.
Answer: False
This week's quiz question winners are Diane Whitmoyer, Suzanne Jones & John
Brock. Congratulations! Come on in and collect your prize! And Bogie picked out
some new quiz winner prizes this week....he's been shopping!
This Week's Quiz Question: How many Grand Cru designate vineyard sites are there
in Chablis?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prizepicking' scarf and pick up to three winners
out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds consider
bribery perfectly legit!
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Doug Fabbioli of Fabbioli Cellars
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: February 19, 2009
We're keeping it short and sweet this week with a dose of some
humor. We figure some humor is in order! As we all keep rolling along through
this crazy thing called Life, we here at your local independent wine store keep
trying to find ways for you to enjoy life just a little bit more with some good
wine at tasty values. After all, good wine shared with good friends and good
food will get you through anything!! In addition to Bogie's Recipe Board this
week, Bogart has also posted his Top Ten Reasons why he should be the next
Secretary of Commerce. Hmmm...this ought to be interesting. We've got a tasting
this Saturday with an incredible Amarone, some seats left in our Italian
Piedmont Class on March 3rd and if you haven't signed up for Potomac Vegetable
Farms CSA program yet and have been mulling it over, they are filling up fast so
don't dilly dally! Lots of correct Quizzers from last week too along with lots
of amusing answers! Keep those quiz answers coming and we look forward to seeing
you soon!
Bogie's Top Ten Reasons Why He Should Be Secretary of Commerce
Bogie Buck$ are the most stable currency around.
Everybody wants what Bogie Buck$ can buy.
Both Bogie and Abe look good on currency.
Bogie's paid his taxes. (Note to self: Since he never owes any taxes, this makes
him a shoe-in.)
Bogie doesn't mind 'a little pork'. Please pass the bacon.
BoGAS is the New Green.
Bogie's paws are just made for 'fast tracking'.
Bogie is shameless enough to start a website to raise money through donations.
It seemingly works for others....why not Bogart? Bassets seem to have no shame.
Bogie is highly motivated by stimulus packages. Where's that bacon mentioned
earlier?!
Bogie is an expert in lamb chops. (Bogart...what does this have to do with
anything??!!!)
Call this the #10 REDO. Bogie is experienced at selling. He cut his 'chops' at
The Wine Seller...quotas and all!!!
This Saturday's Tasting
Come by and meet Marcus Suleiman of Bravo Wine Cellars who will be here pouring
some new wine values in the Northern Virginia market along with a spectacularly
stunning Amarone. Really - it's the best Amarone I've had in years.
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 2/28 - Doug Fabbioli, owner of and winemaker at Fabbioli Cellars in
Leesburg, will be back tasting us on his wines and telling us all about grape
growing and winemaking in the Virginia countryside!
Saturday, 3/7 - Gray Mosby of Nice Legs will be here pouring some of the hand
picked selections they carry from the West Coast, particularly, some delicious
Pinot Noirs.
Saturday, 3/14 - Brian Forsgren, the rep with the really cool book of wines,
will be here trying us on some new wines for Springtime!
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, March 3rd - Piedmont Wines 5 Seats Left!
Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be back to share his wealth of
knowledge of Italy and in particular, of the Piedmont. Gavi, Barbera, Dolcetto,
Nebbiolo...all the usual suspects will be present and accompanying nibbles of
food to see how they eat and drink in Northwestern Italy! $45 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, April 7th - It's Pinot!
Class details coming shortly.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Road Trip!!!
Save the Date!!! Doug Fabbioli, owner and winemaker of Fabbioli Cellars in
Leesburg, will be hosting a Winemaker's Class at the winery on Sunday, April
26th, from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Included in the class with be a tour, learning
winemaker's techniques, the art of blending and lunch along with some wine
tasting. Space is limited so reserve your spot early! Price is $60.00 per
person. If you want to learn more about the class, come on by on Saturday,
February 28th and talk with Doug directly - he'll be here from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
for an in-store tasting. For reservations, please email Lucinda at
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Open Enrollment for Potomac Vegetable Farms (PVF) CSA Program for 2009
This Sunday, February 15th, is open enrollment for Potomac Vegetable Farms
Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) program. If you've done this before, it's a
lot of fun and a great way to support local agriculture at a reasonable price.
If you've never done this before, it's fresh, it's local, it's fun and it's
reasonable!!
CSA is a program where local residents can 'buy' a share of a farm for a period
of time. As a purchaser, you are supporting local agriculture plus you are
getting farm fresh veggies each week. Last year, we became a drop spot/pick-up
spot for PVF's CSA program. Each week, PVF dropped off all of the shares that
signed up for The Wine Seller as their pickup spot. Our delivery day last year
was Wednesday and deliveries are made to The Wine Seller by 3:00pm.
New this year is besides being able to purchase a Summer Share and have it
delivered to The Wine Seller, this year, Autumn Shares are also available.
Shares can be purchased in a variety of sizes depending upon how many people you
have to feed: a mini-share, a regular share or a robust share. Add-ons to
whatever size share of veggies you purchase are eggs and flowers. Eggs are ½
dozen a week and are available for both the Summer Share and the Autumn Share;
the flower add-on option is available only during the Summer Share season.
I have done other CSA programs from other farms before but asked PVF in
particular to partner with us as a drop spot because I regularly shop at their
stand at the Leesburg Farmer's Market each Saturday during the Summer Market.
Their garlic is the best you'll ever have; their squashes are unusual and
succulent; their herbs are fantastic; they don't just have the run-of-the-mill
items in their CSA bags; they practice organic farm practices (but are not
certified organic) and their eggs don't get any fresher!! There produce is
really, really good. Plus if you do the math, it's also really reasonable.
Divide the Summer Share by 16 and the Fall Share by 4, after figuring what size
share would be best for you, and I think you'll find the pricing is pretty darn
good for having such fresh product on a regular basis without trekking out to a
farm to get it or going to Farmer's Market every week. Check out all the details
below and if you have any questions, just ask Farmer Ellen at PVF or email
Lucinda at Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
And some food for thought....last year, the signup for PVF's CSA program sold
out in a week so if you're thinking about signing up, do so earlier rather than
later so you're not disappointed!!
Note: If you have signed up already for a CSA share this year with PVF, The Wine
Seller has set up a mail list for recipients of the CSA program. Check it out to
sign up at www.thewineseller.com.
PVF West Share Seasons
Spring Share: June 2 to June 24 = 4 weeks of spring produce: lettuce, radishes,
cabbages. Available ON FARM ONLY
Summer Share: week of June 30 to October 12 = 16 weeks of summer produce:
luscious tomatoes, tender squashes, swiss chard, garlic, peppers, celery,
onions, eggplant and basil. Available on farm and delivered.
Autumn Share: week of October 19 to November 9 = 4 weeks of fall produce:
butternut squash, sweet potatoes, celery root, kale, asian greens and salad
greens. Available on farm and delivered.
Extra Options to add to your basic share
Egg Share: We offer fresh brown unfertilized eggs from happy birds. These are
free moving chickens that live in a hen house (safe from foxes) and eat
commercial (not organic) grain.
Fresh Flower Share: We grow a colorful assortment of annual flowers.
About Share Sizes and Prices
Delivery Fee: If you're not picking up at the farm, add this delivery fee.
Summer: $48. Autumn: $12
Mini Share: Designed to feed single folks or couples who eat out often.
Approximately 1/4 bushel each week. Summer share: $310. Autumn share: $80
Regular Share: Designed to feed 2 adults most of their weekly vegetable needs.
About 1/2 bushel each week. Summer share: $460. Autumn share: $115
Robust Share: Designed to feed a larger family, or strictly vegetarian couple,
most of their weekly vegetable needs. As much as one bushel each week. Summer
share: $620. Autumn share: $155
Egg Share: You will receive a half dozen eggs per week. Summer: $40. Autumn:
$10.
Fresh Flower Share: You will receive a bouquet of flowers for approximately 12
weeks (from mid-July to mid-September). Summer: $60.
NOTE: PVF East (Arlington, McLean, etc.) has already sold out. If you are
thinking of participating in PVF West (that's us!) for 2009, act soon before all
of the shares are sold!
Bogie's Recipe Board
My Mom likes short recipes. I like recipes with pictures. She says I slobber
when there are pictures. Go figure. This recipe comes from a cookbook which
keeps both of us happy. From Quick Food, here's a flavorful and fast recipe for
chicken.
Teriyaki Chicken with Ginger Chive Rice
Serves 4
4 5oz boneless chicken breasts with skin
¼ cup soy sauce
2 tbsp Sake
1-1/2 tbsp mirin
1-1/2 tbsp light brown sugar
3 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
1-1/2 cups long-grain rice
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Pound each chicken breast between sheets of plastic wrap with a mallet until ½
inch thick. Put the soy sauce, Sake, mirin, sugar and 1 tsp ginger in a flat,
nonmetallic dish and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add the chicken and
turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour turning once halfway through.
Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add the rice and cook for 12 minutes.
Stir in the chives and remaining ginger then cover until ready to serve.
Drain the chicken, reserving the marinade. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan and
cook the chicken, skin side down, over medium heat for 5 mins until the skin is
crisp. Turn and cook for another 4 mins. (It won't be totally cooked). Remove
the chicken from the pan.
Add the marinade and ¼ cup water to the chicken pan and scrape up any sediment.
Bring to a boil over high heat then add the chicken back in (skin side up) and
juices. Cook for 5-6 mins until cooked through, turning once. If the sauce is
runny, remove the chicken and boil the sauce until thicker). Serve the chicken
whole or sliced over the rice drizzled with the sauce.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
Since the sauce is going to be prominent and spicy and sweet, for a white, go
for a Chenin Blanc - preferably from the Vouvray region of the Loire Valley. A
richer, riper Pinot Gris from Alsace or Oregon would pair nicely too.
For a red, look for something with a lot of ripe fruit such as a Zinfandel, West
Coast Syrah or an Australian Shiraz.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: Ok. So this Quiz Question has nothing to do with wine
(almost). But I just discovered this small tidbit of information this morning.
Who else, besides President Abe Lincoln, turns 200 today?
HINT: He's famous too! (there's your hint....gender!)
Answer: Charles Darwin shares the same exact birthday as Abe Lincoln. We'll say
our Quiz Question last week was related to 'Darwinism in the vineyard'!!
This week's quiz question winners are Paul Mutino, John Brock and Susie
Littlejohn. Congratulations! Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: True or False. Fermentation only takes place in oak
barrels.
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prizepicking' scarf and pick up to three winners
out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds consider
bribery perfectly legit!
Don't Forget....Case Discounts, Call Ahead, Delivery and Our Own Stimulus
Package!
Don't forget, mix or match a case of wine any day of the week and get 10% off.
Mix or match 3 cases of wine or more any day of the week and get 15% off.
Short on time? Call ahead or email us and we'll have your order ready for you
when you pull into the parking lot. 703-471-9649 or Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
We deliver wine! Wines must be signed for by someone over the age of 21 and a
government issued picture ID is required.
And we've had our own 'Bailout Specials' going on since September. We're doing
our part to help those Dead Presidents in your wallet stretch farther for the
good 'ole Wine Budget.
Six on Sunday Special - Buy 6 Wines, get 5% off
Money Monday - Monday is Bogie Buck$ Day. Purchase between $60 and $119.99 and
earn $5 in Bogie Buck$; purchase between $120 and $199.99 and earn $10 in Bogie
Buck$; purchase over $200 and earn $15 in Bogie Buck$. All Bogie Buck$ good on
your next store purchase.
Hump Day Means Bubbles! - Take 10% any Sparkling Wine or Champagne (bubbles make
everything better, we promise!)
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Marcus Suleiman of Bravo Wines
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: February 12, 2009
The circus is in town!! Nope, not Ringling Brothers but the
circus which is called 'politics' up on Capital Hill. It is so clear to me why
there is wine. (!) Think I'll stick with Bogart and keep to the Westminster Dog
Show! How 'bout the 'Ole Geezer' who won on Tuesday night? Go Stump!! Bogart's
chest was pretty puffed out when Stump won seeing as how Bogart will be twelve
in April and Stump is ten. The 'older crew' still has it!! I do have to admit
though, Uno was pretty darn cute and a great ambassador for Westminster (and
dogs in general) for the past year. I was reading last night that Uno had a
complimentary seat on Southwest Airlines during his tenure as 'Top Dog' and once
got a whole plane full of people laughing when he let out a loud 'aaarrrrrooooooooooooo!!!!'
when asking for a treat!! Good stuff. Speaking of good stuff, we've got all
sorts of good stuff going on around here this weekend starting with our first
'Tastier Thursday' of 2009 which takes place this evening with Ladera Winery of
Napa Valley! Ladera makes some out-of-this-world Cabernet Sauvignons which we'll
be tasting but they also make a fantastic Sauvignon Blanc and a tasty Pinot
Noir. Per instructions by the Hound, there will be snacks served tonight
alongside the wines (Bogart did the pairing selections in consultation with
Celebrations Catering) so come on by and check it all out! Saturday, we'll have
a Valentine's Day Tasting with Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections. What
is Valentine's Day without love and how can one think about love without
thinking of the Italians?! We'll have the #1 Italian Wine as published in
Gambero Rosso last year out on the tasting table as well as one of the Italian
sparklers featured in this week's Washington Post wine column. Plus, there will
be some other tasty treats too! We've got all sorts of fantastic wine picks to
share with the person who has your heart so come on in and visit with, tell us
what you're serving for Valentine's Day, give us a budget and we'll do the
rest!! Happy Valentine's Day and enjoy the blizzard-less long weekend!!
'Tastier Thursday' Tonight (!) from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Join us this evening from 5:00pm to 7:00pm as the VP of Sales for Ladera
Vineyards, Brenda Bullington, joins us on a taste tour of this fabulous Napa
Valley winery. Ladera means 'hillside' or 'slope' and the winery makes some
absolutely spectacular Cabernet Sauvignons (not to mention an excellent
Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir). The winery itself dates back to the 1800's
and when the owners of Ladera purchased the property in 2000, they totally redid
the winery building. Come learn about the history of the property as well as try
a sampling of their fine wines. Snacks will be served (per order of Bogart) made
by Celebrations Catering.
Upcoming 'Tastier Thursdays'
Thursday, March 12th - Join Barbara Rundquist-Muller, owner of Dr. H. Thanisch
winery in Germany, who will be here to tell us all about her winery which is
rich in heritage as well as rich with very tasty wines indeed.
Thursday, April 23rd - Roland Herrmann, Regional Manager for Maison Marques &
Domaines, will be here sampling some of the uber fantastic wines in his
portfolio. Maison Marques & Domaines represents such properties as Champagne
Roederer, Dominus, Domaine Ott (who makes an excellent Rose!) and Pio Cesare to
name just a few. Come check out the wines we've picked out for the tasting and
give them whirl around your glass!
This Saturday's Tasting
Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be here pouring some fantastic
wines to take home to share with your Valentine. A bubbly or two, the #1 as
listed in the Gambero Rosso last year, a white perfect for seafood or
poultry...there will be several wines to try so come on by!
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 2/21 - Marcus Suleiman of Bravo Wine Cellars will be here pouring some
new wine values in the Northern Virginia market along with a spectacularly
stunning Amarone.
Saturday, 2/28 - Doug Fabbioli, owner of and winemaker at Fabbioli Cellars in
Leesburg, will be back tasting us on his wines and telling us all about grape
growing and winemaking in the Virginia countryside!
Saturday, 3/7 - Gray Mosby of Nice Legs will be here pouring some of the hand
picked selections they carry from the West Coast, particularly, some delicious
Pinot Noirs.
Saturday, 3/14 - Brian Forsgren, the rep with the really cool book of wines,
will be here trying us on some new wines for Springtime!
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, March 3rd - Piedmont Wines
Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be back to share his wealth of
knowledge of Italy and in particular, of the Piedmont. Gavi, Barbera, Dolcetto,
Nebbiolo...all the usual suspects will be present and accompanying nibbles of
food to see how they eat and drink in Northwestern Italy! $45 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, April 7th - It's Pinot!
Class details coming shortly.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Road Trip!!!
Save the Date!!! Doug Fabbioli, owner and winemaker of Fabbioli Cellars in
Leesburg, will be hosting a Winemaker's Class at the winery on Sunday, April
26th, from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Included in the class with be a tour, learning
winemaker's techniques, the art of blending and lunch along with some wine
tasting. Space is limited so reserve your spot early! Price is $60.00 per
person. If you want to learn more about the class, come on by on Saturday,
February 28th and talk with Doug directly - he'll be here from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
for an in-store tasting. For reservations, please email Lucinda at
Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
Open Enrollment for Potomac Vegetable Farms (PVF) CSA Program for 2009
This Sunday, February 15th, is open enrollment for Potomac Vegetable Farms
Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) program. If you've done this before, it's a
lot of fun and a great way to support local agriculture at a reasonable price.
If you've never done this before, it's fresh, it's local, it's fun and it's
reasonable!!
CSA is a program where local residents can 'buy' a share of a farm for a period
of time. As a purchaser, you are supporting local agriculture plus you are
getting farm fresh veggies each week. Last year, we became a drop spot/pick-up
spot for PVF's CSA program. Each week, PVF dropped off all of the shares that
signed up for The Wine Seller as their pickup spot. Our delivery day last year
was Wednesday and deliveries are made to The Wine Seller by 3:00pm.
New this year is besides being able to purchase a Summer Share and have it
delivered to The Wine Seller, this year, Autumn Shares are also available.
Shares can be purchased in a variety of sizes depending upon how many people you
have to feed: a mini-share, a regular share or a robust share. Add-ons to
whatever size share of veggies you purchase are eggs and flowers. Eggs are ½
dozen a week and are available for both the Summer Share and the Autumn Share;
the flower add-on option is available only during the Summer Share season.
I have done other CSA programs from other farms before but asked PVF in
particular to partner with us as a drop spot because I regularly shop at their
stand at the Leesburg Farmer's Market each Saturday during the Summer Market.
Their garlic is the best you'll ever have; their squashes are unusual and
succulent; their herbs are fantastic; they don't just have the run-of-the-mill
items in their CSA bags; they practice organic farm practices (but are not
certified organic) and their eggs don't get any fresher!! There produce is
really, really good. Plus if you do the math, it's also really reasonable.
Divide the Summer Share by 16 and the Fall Share by 4, after figuring what size
share would be best for you, and I think you'll find the pricing is pretty darn
good for having such fresh product on a regular basis without trekking out to a
farm to get it or going to Farmer's Market every week. Check out all the details
below and if you have any questions, just ask Farmer Ellen at PVF or email
Lucinda at Lucinda@thewineseller.com.
And some food for thought....last year, the signup for PVF's CSA program sold
out in a week so if you're thinking about signing up, do so earlier rather than
later so you're not disappointed!!
Note: If you have signed up already for a CSA share this year with PVF, The Wine
Seller has set up a mail list for recipients of the CSA program. Check it out to
sign up at www.thewineseller.com.
PVF West Share Seasons
Spring Share: June 2 to June 24 = 4 weeks of spring produce: lettuce, radishes,
cabbages. Available ON FARM ONLY
Summer Share: week of June 30 to October 12 = 16 weeks of summer produce:
luscious tomatoes, tender squashes, swiss chard, garlic, peppers, celery,
onions, eggplant and basil. Available on farm and delivered.
Autumn Share: week of October 19 to November 9 = 4 weeks of fall produce:
butternut squash, sweet potatoes, celery root, kale, asian greens and salad
greens. Available on farm and delivered.
Extra Options to add to your basic share
Egg Share: We offer fresh brown unfertilized eggs from happy birds. These are
free moving chickens that live in a hen house (safe from foxes) and eat
commercial (not organic) grain.
Fresh Flower Share: We grow a colorful assortment of annual flowers.
About Share Sizes and Prices
Delivery Fee: If you're not picking up at the farm, add this delivery fee.
Summer: $48. Autumn: $12
Mini Share: Designed to feed single folks or couples who eat out often.
Approximately 1/4 bushel each week. Summer share: $310. Autumn share: $80
Regular Share: Designed to feed 2 adults most of their weekly vegetable needs.
About 1/2 bushel each week. Summer share: $460. Autumn share: $115
Robust Share: Designed to feed a larger family, or strictly vegetarian couple,
most of their weekly vegetable needs. As much as one bushel each week. Summer
share: $620. Autumn share: $155
Egg Share: You will receive a half dozen eggs per week. Summer: $40. Autumn:
$10.
Fresh Flower Share: You will receive a bouquet of flowers for approximately 12
weeks (from mid-July to mid-September). Summer: $60.
Bogie's Recipe Board
I'm kind of a classic kind of dog. Since Valentine's Day is this Saturday, I
thought a recipe for a classic dish might be in order. Plus, it's a fish recipe
and fish is good for you. I'm actually thinking of putting more fish into my
diet (and less Lamb Chops and CHEESE) to get my svelte figure really in great
shape for next year's Westminster competition. Look out Uno and Stump! From The
Wine and Food Lover's Diet Recipes, here's my recipe pick for this week. Enjoy
with your Valentine's Day sweetie!!
Fillets of Sole with Classic Butter Sauce
Serves 2
2 Dover Sole fillets, flounder fillets or trout fillets (about 5 oz each)
Kosher Salt
Freshly Ground White Pepper
5 tbsp cold unsalted butter cut into cubes
2 tbsp Grapeseed oil
½ tsp finely chopped fresh Thyme
1 shallot, chopped
2 tbsp white vinegar
2 tbsp dry white wine
½ tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice or more to taste
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Pat the fillets dry with paper towels and lay
them on a plate. Lightly season both sides with salt and pepper. In a large
skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 tbsp of butter with the Grapeseed oil.
When the mixture is hot, add the fish and cook until light to medium brown on
the first side, 2 to 3 mins. Turn and cook until light brown on the second side
and the fish is opaque throughout, 4 to 5 mins. Sprinkle the thyme over the
fillets. Transfer to warmed plates and put in the oven to keep warm while you
make the sauce.
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the shallot, vinegar and
wine. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid is reduced to about 1 tbsp,
about 2 mins. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the butter, 1 or 2 cubes at a
time. Adjust the heat as necessary so the butter melts but does not overheat and
separate. Strain the sauce into a small bowl and whisk in the ½ tsp of lemon
juice. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt, pepper and more lemon juice, if
desired.
Remove fillets from the oven, spoon some of the sauce around and on top of the
fillets and serve.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
A classic match for a fillet of fish would be a medium bodied White Burgundy or
some sort of an Italian white which has some good weight to it.
A bubbly would also be a great match!
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: What is the name of the person who makes the barrels
used by wineries?
Answer: Cooper
This week's quiz question winners are Margie Moore, Doug F. and Hema Mangatoo.
Congratulations! Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: Ok. So this Quiz Question has nothing to do with wine
(almost). But I just discovered this small tidbit of information this morning.
Who else, besides President Abe Lincoln, turns 200 today?
HINT: He's famous too! (there's your hint....gender!)
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prizepicking' scarf and pick up to three winners
out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds consider
bribery perfectly legit!
Case Discounts
Mix or match a case (12 bottles or more) and take 10% off any day of the week.
Mix or match 3 cases (36 bottles or more) and take 15% off any day of the week.
Wine Bailout Specials (why not?!!)
We're doing our part to help those Dead Presidents in your wallet stretch
farther for the good 'ole Wine Budget. Check out these 'Bailout Specials'!
Six on Sunday Special - Buy 6 Wines, get 5% off
Money Monday - Monday is Bogie Buck$ Day. Purchase between $60 and $119.99 and
earn $5 in Bogie Buck$; purchase between $120 and $199.99 and earn $10 in Bogie
Buck$; purchase over $200 and earn $15 in Bogie Buck$. All Bogie Buck$ good on
your next store purchase.
Hump Day Means Bubbles! - Take 10% any Sparkling Wine or Champagne (bubbles make
everything better, we promise!)
That's it for this week! Happy 200th Birthday Abe!!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: February 5, 2009
I'm officially declaring this day to be the last really cold
day we have this winter! Sound good? I think so. After all, we'll probably all
be outside grilling by the weekend with forecasts for temperatures in the 50's
and 60's....YIPEE!! And how 'bout that Super Bowl game? Exciting all the way to
the end! A big 'thank you' to Paul Everitt of JAO Imports who had some truly
wonderful Bugundies to try at Tuesday's night Burgundy Class...those wines were
a treat! This weekend, we'll have Tony Roddy of Select Wines here pouring some
wines to get us thinking Spring. A couple of tasty, aperitif style Italian
whites; a rich Rhone wine made in California; an Italian Pinot Noir which is
positively fantastic for the money and a cult red wine from California. One week
from tonight, we'll kick off our first 'Tastier Thursday' of the season with
Brenda Bullington, the VP of Sales for Ladera Winery who will be here to taste
us through their selections of wonderful Napa Valley wines. If you've never
tried Ladera wines, we promise, they'll be worth the trip! Bogart has a new
recipe this week, we had so many correct quiz answerers last week it was
unbelievable and we have a new quiz so read on and just keep thinking....the
winter cold is almost behind us!
New Wines
Castello di Magione Morcinaia Colli del Trasimeno 2005 - What a fantastic bottle
of Italian red wine just in time for Valentine's Day! This unusual blend of 40%
Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Sangiovese just sucks you into the glass
with one swiff of the glass and a taste on the tongue. It's a very balanced,
elegant and silky red showing off crushed dark berry fruits and just a hint of
earthiness which in this case, is a really nice trait. $19.99 per bottle.
Our Don't Forget Department
Orsolani 'Al Bacio' Erbaluce di Caluso 2007 - This is the younger brother of our
beloved 'La Rustia' (which is out of stock currently - we are waiting for the
new vintage to arrive). But it is equally as tasty in it's own right! What is so
great about the Erbaluce grape is that its weight lends itself to go with so
many foods (or no foods at all)...it's versatility pays off in spades. An
excellent white for a Super Bowl spread! $14.99 per bottle.
Alcesti Grillo Sicilia 2007 - This is a mellow white which has nice body and
mild acidity due to the fact that it is grown down in the southern part of
Italy. An excellent aperitif wine or a great wine to go with a buffet of food
items. An excellent crowd pleaser! $10.99 per bottle.
Cousino Macul Chile Chardonnay 2007 - It had been awhile since I last tasted the
Cousino Macul Chardonnay and boy was I pleasantly surprised. This is what every
house Chardonnay in a restaurant or hotel bar is seeking to be - straight down
the middle of the road for taste profile, a little bit of butter, some nice
apple and pear fruit, everything well balanced and definitely a wine worthy of
our 'Two Glass' theory. Specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.
Cousino Macul Chile Merlot 2007 - This Merlot from South America offers a lot of
depth on the palate. It is a darker styled Merlot showing blue and black fruits
and no green in site! (In this case, not being green is a good thing...greenness
in a wine suggests under ripe fruit). An excellent glass of red for cold
weather. Specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.
Bishop's Selection Cotes-du-Rhone Villages 2006 - This hearty winter red wine
offers a lot of bang for the buck. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, this
is rich, dark fruited red which would be a perfect match for beef stew or a slow
cooked roast. $11.99 per bottle.
Bricco dei Tati Piemonte Barbera 2007 - The new vintage of this wine has just
been released and the distributor now has it in stock and we'll have it in the
store starting Friday the 30th! This vintage is every bit as tasty as the last
and perhaps shows just a hint of richer, darker fruits. A value red from Italy
that's irresistible for the price of $7.99 per bottle.
Sylvester Vineyards California Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - Crisp and refreshing, this
is a straightforward easy drinking Sauvignon Blanc made with grapes from all
over California. Varietally correct, it's a perfect quaffer before a meal. $8.99
per bottle.
Sylvester Vineyards California Merlot 2006 - Very well made for the money with a
nice suppleness on the palate. Plum notes with a touch of milk chocolate. $8.99
per bottle.
Videgal 'Shore Line' Vinho Regional Estre Madura Reserva 2007 - We are loving
these tasty finds from Portugal! This is a medium weight, supple red wine which
is representative of a nice table wine. A hint of spice in the glass and a nice
roundness in the palate. $9.99 per bottle.
This Saturday's Tasting
Tony Roddy of Select Wines will be here pouring several tasty selections.
Included in the lineup: La Carraia Orvieto Classico 2007, the Regaleali Sicilia
IGT 2007 (a white blend from Southern Italy), the Zaca Mesa Santa Ynez Valley
Roussanne 2005, the Kris Pinot Noir and the special wine of the day...the Shafer
Napa Valley Merlot 2005. Shafer is mostly mail order only -- we get uber small
amounts of their wines each year -- so this wine will be a treat to taste!
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 2/14 - We love Bill! Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will
be back pouring some favorites from his book just in time for your Valentine's
Day celebration.
Saturday, 2/21 - Marcus Suleiman of Bravo Wine Cellars will be here pouring some
new wine values in the Northern Virginia market along with a spectacularly
stunning Amarone.
Saturday, 2/28 - Doug Fabbioli, owner of and winemaker at Fabbioli Cellars in
Leesburg, will be back tasting us on his wines and telling us all about grape
growing and winemaking in the Virginia countryside!
Saturday, 3/7 - Gray Mosby of Nice Legs will be here pouring some of the hand
picked selections they carry from the West Coast, particularly, some delicious
Pinot Noirs.
'Tastier Thursday' on Thursday, February 12th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Join us on Thursday, February 12th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm as the VP of Sales for
Ladera Vineyards, Brenda Bullington, joins us on a taste tour of this fabulous
Napa Valley winery. Ladera means 'hillside' or 'slope' and the winery makes some
absolutely spectacular Cabernet Sauvignons (not to mention an excellent
Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir we haven't tried yet). The winery itself dates
back to the 1800's and when the owners of Ladera purchased the property in 2000,
they totally redid the winery building. Come learn about the history of the
property as well as try a sampling of their fine wines when Brenda is here.
Snacks will be served, per order of Bogart!!
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, March 3rd - Piedmont Wines
Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be back to share his wealth of
knowledge of Italy and in particular, of the Piedmont. Gavi, Barbera, Dolcetto,
Nebbiolo...all the usual suspects will be present and accompanying nibbles of
food to see how they eat and drink in Northwestern Italy! $45 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, April 7th - It's Pinot!
Class details coming shortly.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Bogie's Recipe Board
My Mom has made this recipe for years and it looks like it's really easy and it
makes the house smell really good while it's cooking. She says it'll make you
never want to buy tomato sauce again! My recipe pick this week is from the
Moosewood Cookbook. It's great on pasta, my Mom usually puts it in lasagna, you
could put it over meatballs or meatloaf or how about even over veggies - kind of
a ratatouille!
Italian Tomato Sauce
Makes plenty of sauce for a big pan of lasagna
Saute in a large kettle:
3 tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 cup chopped green pepper
2 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
2 bay leaves
2 tsp salt
When onions are clear and very soft, add:
1-1lb 13 oz. tomato puree
1 6 oz can tomato paste
2 tbsp dry red wine
1 cup freshly chopped tomatoes
¼ tsp black pepper
Turn the heat way down, cover and simmer for at least 45 minutes, stirring
occasionally. Then add:
½ cup freshly chopped Parsley
½ lb coarsely chopped mushrooms (optional)
½ cup grated Parmesan or Romano (optional)
Wine Pairing Suggestions
Tomatoes are acidic so a tomato sauce based dish just begs for a wine with good
acidity. Plus, indigenous wines go with indigenous foods not by accident! So,
head to Italy for your wine (preferably red). A Piedmont red such as a Barbera
or a Tuscan red such as Chianti would be perfect with this recipe.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: I'm a Nebuchadnezzar. What am I?
Answer: A Nebuchadnezzar is a name for a Champagne bottle which holds the
equivalent of 20 bottles of 750ml of Champagne.
This week's quiz question winners are Jenifer Bush, Bob Adamson, Ann Crocker and
Beverly Wicker. Hey Bogart, you can't count buddy! Oh well, there are four quiz
winners this week because we had soooooo many correct answers. Congratulations!
Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: What is the name of the person who makes the barrels
used by wineries?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prizepicking' scarf and pick up to three winners
out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds consider
bribery perfectly legit!
Case Discounts
Mix or match a case (12 bottles or more) and take 10% off any day of the week.
Mix or match 3 cases (36 bottles or more) and take 15% off any day of the week.
Wine Bailout Specials (why not?!!)
We're doing our part to help those Dead Presidents in your wallet stretch
farther for the good 'ole Wine Budget. Check out these 'Bailout Specials'!
Six on Sunday Special - Buy 6 Wines, get 5% off
Money Monday - Monday is Bogie Buck$ Day. Purchase between $60 and $119.99 and
earn $5 in Bogie Buck$; purchase between $120 and $199.99 and earn $10 in Bogie
Buck$; purchase over $200 and earn $15 in Bogie Buck$. All Bogie Buck$ good on
your next store purchase.
Hump Day Means Bubbles! - Take 10% any Sparkling Wine or Champagne (bubbles make
everything better, we promise!)
Call or Email Ahead
In a hurry? Or planning to come by later in the week? Just call ahead
(703-471-9649) or email us (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) and give us your order
and payment information and we'll take care of the rest. Your wine will be
waiting for you when you pull into the parking lot and we can bring it out to
your car if you need us to do so!
Wine Delivery
As a reminder, particularly with the holidays coming up, we deliver wine!
Whether you are giving a gift of wine and need it delivered or wish to purchase
wine via phone or email and have us bring it to you, we deliver! All wine
deliveries must be signed for by an adult who is age 21 or older and a picture
ID such as a license or passport must be provided to verify age. Business
addresses are preferable to home addresses.
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Tony Roddy of Select Wines
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: January 29, 2009
Just in case you're needing some encouragement after our
lovely 'wintry mix' of weather....that would be 5 weeks from Sunday Daylight
Savings Time is back and 7 weeks from tomorrow will be the First Day of Spring.
They'll come -- but maybe not fast enough!! After yesterday's ice chipping
exercise, I think the Basset ought to learn how to chip some too! He seems to
think his job is supervising from the living room sofa. Hmpf. So, are you ready
for some Super Bowl watching? Bogart has a good recipe for a Super Bowl snack
and we've got plenty of good wines to go with the spread you might be having
this Sunday. And not far behind the Super Bowl is Valentine's Day and we have
the perfect Valentine's Gift for your sweetie...an autographed bottle of bubbly
(or Pinot Noir) from Domaine Carneros signed by winemaker Eileen Crane! Orders
must be placed by Tuesday, February 3rd, in order to have them autographed so
plan to do your shopping early! Amy Evans of Dionysos Imports will be here this
Saturday pouring a tasty array of wines from France to keep us warm in fortified
in the cold weather and there are a few seats left for our Burgundy Class being
held next Tuesday night. We will be doing February's wine class with Paul
Everitt of JAO Imports. JAO Imports distributes many of the exclusive Burgundies
carried by the top restaurants in the area such as CityZen, Citronelle and The
Inn at Little Washington just to name a few. And two weeks from tonight, we'll
kick off our first 'Tastier Thursday' of the season with Brenda Bullington, the
VP of Sales for Ladera Winery who will be here to taste us through their
selections of wonderful Napa Valley wines. Ergo, there's lots to keep us busy
while we wait for Spring to arrive! We have some new wine finds this week and a
new quiz along with Bogart's quiz winners so read on, keep warm, stay on your
feet and we'll look forward to seeing you soon!
New Wines
Orsolani 'Al Bacio' Erbaluce di Caluso 2007 - This is the younger brother of our
beloved 'La Rustia' (which is out of stock currently - we are waiting for the
new vintage to arrive). But it is equally as tasty in it's own right! What is so
great about the Erbaluce grape is that its weight lends itself to go with so
many foods (or no foods at all)...it's versatility pays off in spades. An
excellent white for a Super Bowl spread! $14.99 per bottle.
Alcesti Grillo Sicilia 2007 - This is a mellow white which has nice body and
mild acidity due to the fact that it is grown down in the southern part of
Italy. An excellent aperitif wine or a great wine to go with a buffet of food
items. An excellent crowd pleaser! $10.99 per bottle.
Cousino Macul Chile Chardonnay 2007 - It had been awhile since I last tasted the
Cousino Macul Chardonnay and boy was I pleasantly surprised. This is what every
house Chardonnay in a restaurant or hotel bar is seeking to be - straight down
the middle of the road for taste profile, a little bit of butter, some nice
apple and pear fruit, everything well balanced and definitely a wine worthy of
our 'Two Glass' theory. Specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.
Cousino Macul Chile Merlot 2007 - This Merlot from South America offers a lot of
depth on the palate. It is a darker styled Merlot showing blue and black fruits
and no green in site! (In this case, not being green is a good thing...greenness
in a wine suggests under ripe fruit). An excellent glass of red for cold
weather. Specially priced at $9.99 per bottle.
Bishop's Selection Cotes-du-Rhone Villages 2006 - This hearty winter red wine
offers a lot of bang for the buck. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, this
is rich, dark fruited red which would be a perfect match for beef stew or a slow
cooked roast. $11.99 per bottle.
Bricco dei Tati Piemonte Barbera 2007 - The new vintage of this wine has just
been released and the distributor now has it in stock and we'll have it in the
store starting Friday the 30th! This vintage is every bit as tasty as the last
and perhaps shows just a hint of richer, darker fruits. A value red from Italy
that's irresistible for the price of $7.99 per bottle.
Our Don't Forget Department
Sylvester Vineyards California Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - Crisp and refreshing, this
is a straightforward easy drinking Sauvignon Blanc made with grapes from all
over California. Varietally correct, it's a perfect quaffer before a meal. $8.99
per bottle.
Sylvester Vineyards California Merlot 2006 - Very well made for the money with a
nice suppleness on the palate. Plum notes with a touch of milk chocolate. $8.99
per bottle.
Videgal 'Shore Line' Vinho Regional Estre Madura Reserva 2007 - We are loving
these tasty finds from Portugal! This is a medium weight, supple red wine which
is representative of a nice table wine. A hint of spice in the glass and a nice
roundness in the palate. $9.99 per bottle.
Poderi Elia 'Sara' IGT Toscana Red 2006 - This is the kind of red wine you enjoy
drinking in the wintertime. Perfect by itself or versatile to go with all sorts
of tomato based dishes or slow cooked roasts. This blend of 90% Sangiovese and
10% Ciliegiolo will keep the cold away! $13.99 per bottle.
Chateau de Vaux 'Les Gryphees' Moselle 2007 - This is a very cool wine. It's
from the Moselle appellation, an area in France which has the same famous Mosel
Rriver running through it. A blend of Pinot Gris, Muller-Thurgau, Auxerrois and
Gewurztraminer, this is a mouth watering, tasty white wine which is easy to
drink by itself or would work with all sorts of fish dishes and salads. This is
Spring in a glass! $16.99 per bottle.
This Saturday's Tasting
Amy Evans of Dionysos Imports will be here pouring the Floria White from Gascony
and the Floria Red from the South of France (a GSM blend) along with a
Cotes-du-Rhone Villages and a super tasty Mourvedre from Bandol. And the extra
treat on the tasting table this Saturday will be the Eric Bordelet Pear Cider.
If you have not tried this sparkling wine yet, you must, so come by and try it!
A very limited amount of it comes to the States and only a few places in the
D.C. area pick it up (including Alain Ducasse's Adour downtown where they are
serving it by the glass).
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best
way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come on in and see what's on the
tasting table!
Saturday, 2/7 - Tony Roddy of Select Wines will be joining us for our Saturday
afternoon tasting. Included in the tasting lineup will be a killer Petite Sirah
from California.
Saturday, 2/14 - We love Bill! Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will
be back pouring some favorites from his book just in time for your Valentine's
Day celebration.
Saturday, 2/21 - Marcus Suleiman of Bravo Wine Cellars will be here pouring some
new wine values in the Northern Virginia market.
Saturday, 2/28 - Doug Fabbioli, owner of and winemaker at Fabbioli Cellars in
Leesburg, will be back tasting us on his wines and telling us all about grape
growing and winemaking in the Virginia countryside!
Valentine's Day Special...An Autographed Wine Bottle by the Winemaker!
We're taking orders now! If you're looking for a special gift for Valentine's
Day, how about a bottle of wine from the famed Domaine Carneros winery signed by
the winemaker, Eileen Crane? We will be taking orders through Tuesday, February
3rd and Eileen will autograph all bottles ordered. Wines available from Domaine
Carneros include:
Domaine Carneros Brut NV - $29.99
Domaine Carneros 'Cuvee La Pompadour' Brut Rose - $44.79
Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir - $34.99
If you would like to place an order for a signed bottle, please email
(Lucinda@thewineseller.com) or call (703-471-9649) with you name, phone # and
what you would like to order. If we don't have your charge card information on
file already, we will call you to collect that information via phone (please do
not email your credit card information!). Pickup of the autographed bottles will
be available starting Saturday, Februrary 7th, 2009.
'Tastier Thursday' on Thursday, February 12th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Join us on Thursday, February 12th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm as the VP of Sales for
Ladera Vineyards, Brenda Bullington, joins us on a taste tour of this fabulous
Napa Valley winery. Ladera means 'hillside' or 'slope' and the winery makes some
absolutely spectacular Cabernet Sauvignons (not to mention an excellent
Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir we haven't tried yet). The winery itself dates
back to the 1800's and when the owners of Ladera purchased the property in 2000,
they totally redid the winery building. Come learn about the history of the
property as well as try a sampling of their fine wines when Brenda is here.
Snacks will be served, per order of Bogart. (!)
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, February 3rd - Burgundy Unveiled 4 SEATS LEFT!
Paul Everitt of JAO Imports will be here to unravel the mysteries of Burgundy.
We'll tour the area and learn about the nuances of the different appellations
along the importance of the geography as well as the geology. In addition, we'll
taste several white and red Burgundies and JAO Imports distributes some of the
very best Burgundies in the Washington, D.C. area, and most of their wines are
sold at the most revered restaurants in the area. $50 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, March 3rd - Piedmont Wines
Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be back to share his wealth of
knowledge of Italy and in particular, of the Piedmont. Gavi, Barbera, Dolcetto,
Nebbiolo...all the usual suspects will be present and accompanying nibbles of
food to see how they eat and drink in Northwestern Italy! $45 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, April 7th - It's Pinot!
Class details coming shortly.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
Bogie's Recipe Board
A dip recipe seemed appropriate this week in light of the fact that millions of
us will be glued to the telly this Sunday evening watching football and the in
between entertainment. Naturally, I've picked a dip recipe which involves
CHEESE. No surprise there, eh?! And if you're hosting a Super Bowl party, this
recipe can be made up to 3 days in advance so you don't have to prepare
everything all in one day. You can make a few substitutions to make the fat
content less. My Mom often uses the Light Canola Mayo from Spectrum Naturals
instead of the full on mayo and she almost always uses fat free sour cream when
she cooks. No one will know the difference when you serve up the dip. From the
cookbook Delicious Dips, here's my recipe pick this week and enjoy the game!
Blue Cheese Dip with Chives
Makes about 1-1/2 cups
1 cup (4 oz) crumbled Blue Cheese
¼ cup Mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives
Freshly ground black pepper
In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix together the blue cheese, mayonnaise and sour
cream. Stir in the chives and add a few grinds of pepper. Taste and adjust the
seasonings as necessary. Serve with pita chips or pita bread, crudités,
bruschetta, crostini, bagel chips or veggie chips.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
Blue Cheese is a strong flavor so you need strong wines to pair. For a white, go
for a full bodies Alsatian Pinot Gris, a rich California Chardonnay or some of
the fuller bodied whites from Italy such an Erbaluce.
Port is a classic match for Blue Cheese but you might not want a fortified wine
for a Super Bowl spread so go for full bodied red such as a Malbec from
Argentina, a California or Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon or a Piedmont or
Tuscan red wine.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: I'm a rather obscure red grape originating from
Tuscany and am known for my cherry-like flavor and color. What's my name?
HINT: I am mentioned in this newsletter!
Answer: Ciliegiolo
This week's quiz question winners are Holly Roth, Michael Stievater and Rick
Fifield. Congratulations! Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: I'm a Nebuchadnezzar. What am I?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prizepicking' scarf and pick up to three winners
out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds consider
bribery perfectly legit!
Case Discounts
Mix or match a case (12 bottles or more) and take 10% off any day of the week.
Mix or match 3 cases (36 bottles or more) and take 15% off any day of the week.
Wine Bailout Specials (why not?!!)
We're doing our part to help those Dead Presidents in your wallet stretch
farther for the good 'ole Wine Budget. Check out these 'Bailout Specials'!
Six on Sunday Special - Buy 6 Wines, get 5% off
Money Monday - Monday is Bogie Buck$ Day. Purchase between $60 and $119.99 and
earn $5 in Bogie Buck$; purchase between $120 and $199.99 and earn $10 in Bogie
Buck$; purchase over $200 and earn $15 in Bogie Buck$. All Bogie Buck$ good on
your next store purchase.
Hump Day Means Bubbles! - Take 10% any Sparkling Wine or Champagne (bubbles make
everything better, we promise!)
Call or Email Ahead
In a hurry? Or planning to come by later in the week? Just call ahead
(703-471-9649) or email us (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) and give us your order
and payment information and we'll take care of the rest. Your wine will be
waiting for you when you pull into the parking lot and we can bring it out to
your car if you need us to do so!
Wine Delivery
As a reminder, particularly with the holidays coming up, we deliver wine!
Whether you are giving a gift of wine and need it delivered or wish to purchase
wine via phone or email and have us bring it to you, we deliver! All wine
deliveries must be signed for by an adult who is age 21 or older and a picture
ID such as a license or passport must be provided to verify age. Business
addresses are preferable to home addresses.
That's it for this week! Happy Birthday Bev!!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Amy Evans of Dionysos Imports
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: January 22, 2009
Thank goodness this cold month of January is almost behind us!
It's been pretty bone-chilling, hasn't it? Of course our answer to that problem
would be to go open a nice bottle of red wine and pour yourself a glass! We've
got a wine worth braving the cold to try on this Saturday's tasting table...a
bottle from the famed winery, Nickel and Nickel! Come on in and check it out as
well as what else is on the tasting table. Included in the lineup will also be
an extremely tasty Pinot Noir and Sparkling Pinot Noir from Oregon. The seats
for our Burgundy Class in February are filling up so if you're contemplating
coming to this class, don't delay in signing up! We've just scheduled our first
'Tastier Thursday' of the year for February 12th and we'll have the VP of Sales
for Ladera Vineyards here to tell us all about their sumptuous Napa Valley
wines. We also have the ultra cool Valentine's Day gift - an opportunity for an
autographed bottle of wine by the winemaker of Domaine Carneros. Check out the
details below! Bogart's got a new recipe this week and he was pleased to hear
his soup recipe from a couple of weeks ago was 'Soup-er'!! There's also a new
quiz this week and quiz winners from last week are listed below. Don't forget,
if you are interested in participating in the CSA program with Potomac Vegetable
Farm this summer, the signup for this summer's program is fast approaching. Stay
warm and we'll look forward to seeing you soon!
New Wines
Videgal 'Shore Line' Vinho Regional Estre Madura Reserva 2007- We are loving
these tasty finds from Portugal! This is a medium weight, supple red wine which
is representataive of a nice table wine. A hint of spice in the glass and a nice
roundness in the palate. $9.99 per bottle.
Poderi Elia 'Sara' IGT Toscana Red 2006 - This is the kind of red wine you enjoy
drinking in the wintetime. Perfect by itself or versatile to go with all sorts
of tomato based dishes or slow cooked roasts. This blend of 90% Sangiovese and
10% Ciliegiolo will keep the cold away! $13.99 per bottle.
This Saturday's Tasting
Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will be here pouring some nifty
new wines in his book. Included in the lineup will be a well known Oregon Pinot
Noir and sparkling Pinot Noir which just got picked up for distribution in
Virginia. We'll also try some new wines in the market from Chile. And as a
special wine to try, Jim will have a bottle from the famed Nickel and Nickel
winery open for a taste test!
Saturday Tasting Schedule Upcoming
New in 2009, we will have a rep in the store each Saturday afternoon sampling 4
to 5 wines each week. All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from
12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come
on in and see what's on the tasting table!
Saturday, 1/31 - Amy Evans of Dionysos Imports will be here pouring a white and
red wine from the South of France and a couple of Rhone reds.
Saturday, 2/7 - Tony Roddy of Select Wines will be joining us for our Saturday
afternoon tasting.
Saturday, 2/14 - We love Bill! Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will
be back pouring some favorites from his book just in time for your Valentine's
Day celebration.
Valentine's Day Special...An Autographed Wine Bottle by the Winemaker!
We're taking orders now! If you're looking for a special gift for Valentine's
Day, how about a bottle of wine from the famed Domaine Carneros winery signed by
the winemaker, Eileen Crane? We will be taking orders through Tuesday, February
3rd and Eileen will autograph all bottles ordered. Wines available from Domaine
Carneros include:
Domaine Carneros Brut 2004 - $29.99
Domaine Carneros 'Cuvee de la Pompadour' Brut Rose - $44.79
Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir 2006 - $34.99
If you would like to place an order for a signed bottle, please email
(Lucinda@thewineseller.com) or call (703-471-9649) with you name, phone # and
what you would like to order. If we don't have your charge card information on
file already, we will call you to collect that information via phone (please do
not email your credit card information!). Pickup of the autographed bottles will
be available starting Saturday, Februrary 7th, 2009.
'Tastier Thursday' on Thursday, February 12th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Join us on Thursday, February 12th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm as the VP of Sales for
Ladera Vineyards, Brenda Bullington, joins us on a taste tour of this fabulous
Napa Valley winery. Ladera means 'hillside' or 'slope' and the winery makes some
absolutely spectacular Cabernet Sauvignons (not to mention an excellent
Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir we haven't tried yet). The winery itself dates
back to the 1800's and when the owners of Ladera purchased the property in 2000,
they totally redid the winery building. Come learn about the history of the
property as well as try a sampling of their fine wines when Brenda is here.
Snacks will be served, per order of Bogart. (!)
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, February 3rd - Burgundy Unveiled 4 SEATS LEFT!
Paul Everitt of JAO Imports will be here to unravel the mysteries of Burgundy.
We'll tour the area and learn about the nuances of the different appellations
along the importance of the geography as well as the geology. In addition, we'll
taste several white and red Burgundies and JAO Imports distributes some of the
very best Burgundies in the Washington, D.C. area, and most of their wines are
sold at the most revered restaurants in the area. $50 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, March 3rd - Piedmont Wines
Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be back to share his wealth of
knowledge of Italy and in particular, of the Piedmont. Gavi, Barbera, Dolcetto,
Nebbiolo...all the usual suspects will be present and accompanying nibbles of
food to see how they eat and drink in Northwestern Italy! $45 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, April 7th - It's Pinot!
Class details coming shortly.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
CSA for 2009
REMINDER...It's time to start thinking about CSA for 2009! The Wine Seller &
Vineyard Table is a drop off/pick up spot for the CSA program produced (no pun
intended) by Potomac Vegetable Farms. Ellen of Potomac Vegetable Farms plans on
this year's signup being in February. If you are interested in participating in
this year's CSA program, please go to our website (http://www.thewineseller.com/)
and click on the CSA Newletter link. I'll be shooting out an email to everyone
when it is signup time with Potomac Vegetable Farms. If you are an 'old' member
of the CSA program, signup will be in the beginning of February; if you are a
'new' member of the CSA program, signup will start around mid-month.
Bogie's Recipe Board
Even though I am a Lamb Chop aficionado, I also enjoy Duck every once and again.
I've picked out a straight forward recipe for Duck for this week's Recipe Board
- a perfect selection to go with a nice glass of Pinot Noir (I'll let my Mom
enjoy the Pinot Noir and while she's doing that, maybe she won't notice me
helping myself to an extra piece of Duck!). From the cookbook Lobel's Meat and
Wine, here's my recipe pick for this week:
Duck Breasts with Shallots
Serves 4
2 Moulard or Muscovy Duck breast halves (about 2 lbs total)
Kosher salt
2 cups finely chopped shallots
1 tbsp chopped fresh Thyme plus whole sprigs for garnish
Freshly ground Black Pepper
1/3 cup dry red wine
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp honey
Using a very sharp knife, score the fat on the duck breasts, covering each
breast with a crosshatched pattern at about ½ inch intervals, drawing the knife
all the way through the fat but not cutting the breast meat itself. Salt the
breasts generously on both sides.
In a heavy skillet, arrange the duck breast halves fat side down and place over
medium low heat. Cook gently until the skin is deeply browned and crispy and
much of the fat has been rendered, about 10 to 12 minutes. Turn the breasts,
raise the heat to medium high and cook for 5 to 7 minutes longer for medium
rare. Transfer to a baking pan and keep the duck warm, uncovered, in a very low
oven (about 200 degreees F).
Pour off all but 3 tbsp of the duck fat in the skillet (reserve the poured off
fat for another use...like sautéing potatoes!) and place over medium heat. Add
the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 4 to 5
minutes. Add the chopped Thyme, a few grindings of Black Pepper, the wine,
vinegar and honey and ½ tsp of salt. Stir well and let the liquid reduce until
it has almost evaporated. Taste and adjust the seasonings as necessary.
When the liquid has almost finished reducing, transfer the duck to a carving
board designed to capture the juices. Slice the duck against the grain and on a
slight diagonal into slices about 3/8 of an inch thick. Set aside.
Stir any duck juice on the carving board into the shallot reduction and keep
cooking until nearly evaporated. Spoon some of the shallot mixture onto the
center of each serving plate. Neatly fan out the duck slices around the shallots
and garnish with the whole Thyme sprigs. Serve immediately.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
Duck just screams either for a nice glass of Pinot Noir or some sort of hearty
Rhone Red.
If you're really gunning for a white wine with Duck, you'll want some hearty
enough to stand up to the duck fat. An Alsatian white would work well here.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: I'm an emerging appellation in the Lorriane region of
northeast France. I have the Mosel River running through me (just like it runs
through the famous region in Germany). What is the name of my appellation?
Answer: Moselle
This week's quiz question winners are Beth Harris, Ian Dunn and Judy Burleson.
Congratulations! Come on in and collect your prize!
This Week's Quiz Question: I'm a rather obscure red grape originating from
Tuscany and am known for my cherry-like flavor and color. What's my name?
HINT: I am mentioned in this newsletter!
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prizepicking' scarf and pick up to three winners
out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds consider
bribery perfectly legit!
Case Discounts
Mix or match a case (12 bottles or more) and take 10% off any day of the week.
Mix or match 3 cases (36 bottles or more) and take 15% off any day of the week.
Wine Bailout Specials (why not?!!)
We're doing our part to help those Dead Presidents in your wallet stretch
farther for the good 'ole Wine Budget. Check out these 'Bailout Specials'!
Six on Sunday Special - Buy 6 Wines, get 5% off
Money Monday - Monday is Bogie Buck$ Day. Purchase between $60 and $119.99 and
earn $5 in Bogie Buck$; purchase between $120 and $199.99 and earn $10 in Bogie
Buck$; purchase over $200 and earn $15 in Bogie Buck$. All Bogie Buck$ good on
your next store purchase.
Hump Day Means Bubbles! - Take 10% any Sparkling Wine or Champagne (bubbles make
everything better, we promise!)
Call or Email Ahead
In a hurry? Or planning to come by later in the week? Just call ahead
(703-471-9649) or email us (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) and give us your order
and payment information and we'll take care of the rest. Your wine will be
waiting for you when you pull into the parking lot and we can bring it out to
your car if you need us to do so!
Wine Delivery
As a reminder, particularly with the holidays coming up, we deliver wine!
Whether you are giving a gift of wine and need it delivered or wish to purchase
wine via phone or email and have us bring it to you, we deliver! All wine
deliveries must be signed for by an adult who is age 21 or older and a picture
ID such as a license or passport must be provided to verify age. Business
addresses are preferable to home addresses.
Happy 20th Anniversary Dan & Nancy!
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Jim Futrell of Republic National
Distributing
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
back to top
ISSUE DATE: January 15, 2009
So, I know you're wondering where your invite is to sit in the
third row on the Capital steps next Tuesday. And you're thinking, 'it's in the
mail'. But you know, it's going to be cold outside, crowded, uber heightened
security and most relevant...there's no wine service! Our advice is to stay
home, telecommute, avoid the crowds, start a fire, turn on the telly and during
your 'lunch hour', head on over to your local, independent wine shop (that's
us!) and take advantage of our Inauguration Day Sale!! Seeing as how the
Inauguration is on the 20th of January, for one day only, next Tuesday the 20th,
come celebrate living in the good, 'ole U.S. of A and take 20% off any wine
purchase in the store. Just mention at checkout you want your 'Inauguration
Special' and we'll help you keep some extra Dead Presidents in your pocket! Now
that's a deal to beat the cold, the crowds and all the road closures!!
For this Saturday's expanded tasting, David Bortolin of Cobblestone Cellars will
be in the house pouring wines from around the globe. Chef Eduardo is cooking up
some 'Brews and Blues' at Jasmine Café for a Beer Dinner on Tuesday, January
27th...please check out the details below. The menu is sure to keep us warm as
we mosey on through the rest of January. Did we mention that Daylight Savings
Time is a mere seven weeks from this coming Sunday? And the First Day of Spring
is just about nine weeks away? Call it the power of positive thinking!! A big
thanks to Andy Sackenheim of Monsieur Touton who helped run our Bordeaux Class
this past Tuesday. I think we all can agree that tasting the Chateau Giscours
was a real treat! We still have a few seats left for our Burgundy Class in
February and we're working on filling out the class schedule for the coming year
so check out what we've got coming in the 'Fun to Learn' category. Bogart's got
a new recipe this week and there's a new quiz this week too (but no quiz winners
from last week) and don't forget, if you are interested in participating in the
CSA program with Potomac Vegetable Farm this summer, please let us know so we
can make sure you are on the email list to get all the details once they are
sent over from PVF. One last note on celebrating the Inauguration -- we have
highlighted three American wines to try which have ties to American history. Of
course, it's no surprise they all involve bubbles and Pinot Noir all the way
around the selection list! You wouldn't expect any less, would you?! Enjoy the
long weekend and we all hope the only place you have to commute to on Tuesday is
to The Wine Seller!!
Wines Fit for an Inauguration
Sotor 'Beacon Hill' Brut Rose 2004- Tony Sotor has been a rockstar winemaker (if
there is such a thing!) at Etude in California for many years. A couple of years
ago, he left to pursue his own project, Sotor Vineyards, located in the northern
Willamette Valley. I've been waiting for a distributor to pick up the Sotor
wines and somebody finally did and they just arrived into the state! After 'test
driving' this Rose this past weekend, this is my new favorite domestic Rose
bubbly. Made with grapes from low-yielding vineyards in cool climate areas and
aged three years on the lees, this is a stunning American Rose. $59.99 per
bottle.
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs Brut 2005 - Ever since President Richard Nixon
served this domestic sparkling wine in 1972 to the Chinese at the 'Toast to
Peace' (he served the 1969 vintage), the bubblies from Schramsberg Winery have
catapulted to the forefront of extremely well made domestic sparkling wines.
This was the first time an American wine was served at the White House or at a
State Dinner (and this dinner was hosted overseas by President Nixon in
Beijing). It is an extremely elegant wine which has a fine mousse and perfectly
tiny beads which will dance on your palate. $39.99 per bottle.
TR Elliot 'Three Plumes' Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006 - A featured wine
at the famed Hay-Adams hotel (the Obama's residence up until today and former
stomping ground of Bogart's Mom), this sumptuous Pinot from the Russian River
Valley in Sonoma County is sure to please. Ted Elliott, owner and winemaker, has
a 30 year plus love affair with Pinot Noir and he makes his wines with food in
mind. This wine has a solid core of minerality to it and the nose shows off
floral notes intermingled with bright red fruits. Only 315 cases of this wine
were produced and we are one of only a handful of retailers to have picked up
the wine when Ted visited the market back in the Fall. $49.99 per bottle.
New Wines
Sylvester Vineyards California Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - Crisp and refreshing, this
is a straightforward easy drinking Sauvignon Blanc made with grapes from all
over California. Varietally correct, it's a perfect quaffer before a meal. $8.99
per bottle.
Sylvester Vineyards California Merlot 2006 - Very well made for the money with a
nice suppleness on the palate. Plum notes with a touch of milk chocolate. $8.99
per bottle.
Chateau de Vaux 'Les Gryphees' Moselle 2007 - This is a very cool wine. It's
from the Moselle appellation, an area in France which has the same famous Mosel
river running through it. A blend of Pinot Gris, Muller-Thurgau, Auxerrois and
Gewurztraminer, this is a mouth watering, tasty white wine which is easy to
drink by itself or would work with all sorts of fish dishes and salads. This is
Spring in a glass! $16.99 per bottle.
This Saturday's Tasting
David Bortolin of Cobblestone Cellars will be here pouring an Italian Soave, a
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and a West Coast
Pinot Noir. Plus, there will be a special California treat on the table...think
Red!!
Saturday Tasting Schedule for January
New in 2009, we will have a rep in the store each Saturday afternoon sampling 4
to 5 wines each week. All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from
12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come
on in and see what's on the tasting table!
Saturday, 1/24 - Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will be here
pouring some nifty new wines in his book alongside some old favorites. Included
in the lineup will be a well known Oregon Pinot Noir and sparkling Pinot Noir
which just got picked up for distribution in Virginia. As a special wine to try,
Jim will have a bottle from the famed Nickel and Nickel winery open to try.
Saturday, 1/31 - Amy Evans of Dionysos Imports will be here pouring a white and
red wine from the South of France and a couple of Rhone reds.
'Brews and Blues' Beer Dinner at Jasmine Café on Tuesday, January 27th at 6:30pm
Seven international top end beers paired with seven international mouth watering
dishes plus live guitar paying BLUES, BLUES and more BLUES!!
Bob Gill from Hop & Wine Beverages will tell you everything you want to know
about beers!
~ $61 per person plus tax & gratuity ~
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Menu
~~~~~ One ~~~~~
Duck Breast Verrine with Dried Fruit Bulgar Wheat Salad
France - Kronenbourg 1664
~~~ Two ~~~
Maryland Style Crab cake ~ With Coriander-Citrus Butter Sauce & Cilantro Oil
Allagash White Beer
~~~~~ Three ~~~~~
Grilled Pork & Apple Sausage with Braised Red Cabbage with Chestnuts and Caraway
Germany - Weihenstephaner Hefeweisse
~~~ Four ~~~
Chickpea & Chorizo Soup
Spain - Alhambra Negra, Gold Lager
~~~~~ Five ~~~~~
Latin Spiced Chicken Empanada ~
Charred Corn Salsa, Yellow Corn Tamale & Cilantro Sauce
California, USA - Lagunitas IPA
~~~ Six ~~~
Medallion of Venison with Double Creamed Mustard Sauce, Black Pepper & Red
Currant Jelly
England - Old Speckled Hen English Pale Ale
~~~~~ Seven ~~~~~
Dark Cherry - Chocolate Tart with Kasteel Rouge Syrup
Belgium - Kasteel Rouge
For reservations, please call Jasmine Café at Lake Anne at 703-471-9114. Jasmine
Café is located at 1633-A Washington Plaza in Reston. Check out their website at
http://www.jasminecafe.com/.
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, February 3rd - Burgundy Unveiled
Paul Everitt of JAO Imports will be here to unravel the mysteries of Burgundy.
We'll tour the area and learn about the nuances of the different appellations
along the importance of the geography as well as the geology. In addition, we'll
taste several white and red Burgundies and JAO Imports distributes some of the
very best Burgundies in the Washington, D.C. area, and most of their wines are
sold at the most revered restaurants in the area. $50 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, March 3rd - Piedmont Wines
Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be back to share his wealth of
knowledge of Italy and in particular, of the Piedmont. Gavi, Barbera, Dolcetto,
Nebbiolo...all the usual suspects will be present and accompanying nibbles of
food to see how they eat and drink in Northwestern Italy! $45 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, April 7th - It's Pinot!
Class details coming shortly.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will be just entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
CSA for 2009
REMINDER...It's time to start thinking about CSA for 2009! The Wine Seller &
Vineyard Table is a drop off/pick up spot for the CSA program produced (no pun
intended) by Potomac Vegetable Farms. Ellen of Potomac Vegetable Farms plans on
this year's signup being in February. If you are interested in participating in
this year's CSA program, please email me at Lucinda@thewineseller.com. I will
compile an email list and shoot you out an email when it is signup time. If you
are an 'old' member of the CSA program, signup will be in the beginning of
February; if you are a 'new' member of the CSA program, signup will start around
mid-month. Send me your contact info and I'll make sure you know when you need
to signup!
Bogie's Recipe Board
You might have heard that President-Elect Obama ventured across the river the
other night and had dinner at George Will's house with some conservative
columnists. Well, the menu details have started to leak and I have do admit, I
did the menu planning. Who else do you think would dream up LAMB CHOPS as the
main course of the meal?!! Yes, my culinary talents are known far and wide. If I
was a hypoallergenic dog, I'd be advocating for a Basset Hound in the White
House. But it's looking like a Labradoodle or a Portuguese Water Dog. That's ok,
I have friends in both dog categories and they are swell pals. So back to food.
My Mom makes a homemade cocktail sauce and it sure smells good every time she
makes it. She doesn't let me try things which go with cocktail sauce so I don't
actually get to try it but my big ears always hear how well it was liked. So, my
recipe is fresh and easy, perfect to go with some shellfish. From The Hog Island
Oyster's Lover Cookbook, here's my recipe pick for this week:
Hog Island Cocktail Sauce
Serves 36 pieces of shellfish
1 cup ketchup, preferably Heinz
1 tbsp grated fresh horseradish (or you can use prepared horseradish)
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp seasoned rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Tabasco sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together all the cocktail sauce ingredients. Spoon ½ tsp
of sauce onto each oyster or use as a dipping sauce for shrimp cocktail.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
What a surprise, a classic wine pairing with oysters involves Champagne!!!
Truly, a clean, mineraly Blanc de Blancs with an oyster shooter will be
transforming. Another option would be a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc or perhaps
a nice Loire Valley white (Chenin or Sauvignon Blanc). If you are a die hard red
wine drinker, since the sauce is spicy, you want to look for a wine that can
handle that kind of spice. A juicy, red Zinfandel would be a solid bet.
Quiz Corner
Last Week's Quiz Question: I am a pink skinned white wine grape which is a
biological ancestor to Gewurztraminer. In some parts, my name is Gewurztraminer
is synonymous. I originated around the northern Italian town of Tramin until
the16th Century. What's my name?
Answer: Traminer
Sorry, no quiz winners last week.
This Week's Quiz Question: I'm an emerging appellation in the Lorriane region of
northeast France. I have the Mosel River running through me (just like it runs
through the famous region in Germany). What is the name of my appellation?
Hint: The answer is in this newsletter!
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prizepicking' scarf and pick up to three winners
out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds consider
bribery perfectly legit!
Case Discounts
Mix or match a case (12 bottles or more) and take 10% off any day of the week.
Mix or match 3 cases (36 bottles or more) and take 15% off any day of the week.
Call Ahead
In a hurry? Or planning to come by later in the week? Just call ahead
(703-471-9649) or email us (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) and give us your order
and payment information and we'll take care of the rest. Your wine will be
waiting for you when you pull into the parking lot and we can bring it out to
your car if you need us to do so!
Wine Delivery
As a reminder, particularly with the holidays coming up, we deliver wine!
Whether you are giving a gift of wine and need it delivered or wish to purchase
wine via phone or email and have us bring it to you, we deliver! All wine
deliveries must be signed for by an adult who is age 21 or older and a picture
ID such as a license or passport must be provided to verify age. Business
addresses are preferable to home addresses.
Reminder - New Store Hours
In an effort to try to make our store hours easier to remember, starting this
week, we are open from 11:00am to 7:00pm Monday through Saturday and from
12:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday. As always, if you running late and need us to stay,
just give us a call (703-471-9649) and we're happy to wait for you to arrive.
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with David Bortolin of Cobblestone Cellars
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
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ISSUE DATE: January 8, 2009
Happy New Year everybody!! It's hard to believe how fast 2008
went by and that we're off and running into 2009. And things are getting back to
normal. Lady Liberty walks the street of Herndon once again!! Yup, she's out
there, as of this morning. The question is, what should we dress the Basset
Hound up in to parade up and down Elden Street??!!! We've decided after our
successful holiday tastings to have 'bigger' tastings each Saturday in the new
year with a different rep being here each week to pour 4 or 5 wines from their
portfolio. This week, we kick off the 2009 tastings with the excellent Italian
portfolio of Grappoli Imports. Our class schedule for 2009 is also firming up -
check out some of the new classes we've added so far this year. Bogart's back
typing away wanting to share recipes with you and just hoping you'll test drive
them and bring him in a sample. The Quiz Corner is also back in action so it's
'put on your thinking cap' time. And it's also time to start thinking about
Potomac Vegetable Farms CSA program for 2009. Signup will be in February so
we're collecting names and emails now to send out a reminder towards the end of
the month. We've also streamlined our hours of operation to be the same Monday
through Saturday (11am to 7pm) and extending our Sunday hours by an hour (12pm
to 5pm). Whew, a lot going on for January! That's it for this week and welcome
2009!!!
New Wines
Floria Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne Blanc NV - This tasty blend of Ugni
Blanc and Colombard, the traditional white grapes of the Gascony region, really
deliver in flavor. Zesty, juicy and bright in both flavor and aroma, it's a
refreshing glass of wine reminding us that Spring is right around the corner.
$8.99 per bottle.
Floria Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne Rouge NV - The mate in red to the white
wine we've come to really enjoy, this blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre is
a very easy drink delivering some bright berry flavors and a touch of earth. A
terrific value for the price. $8.99 per bottle.
Jackson Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005 - I've always enjoyed this
Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand because it's a little atypical from a lot of
the Sauv Blancs from the same region - it's a touch creamier and a bit richer.
And normally, this wine retails for $16.99 but the distributor has on sale so
it's on sale to you at $12.99 per bottle until this vintage is gone!
This Saturday's Tasting
Heather Fay of Grappoli Imports will be here pouring a Pinot Grigio, a
Chardonnay from the northern part of Italy, a Negroamaro from Southern Italy - a
perfect wine for pizza and pasta - and the Nicolis 'Testal', a perennial
favorite in the Grappoli portfolio from the Valpolicella region. Please join us
for this complimentary tasting from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.
Saturday Tasting Schedule for January
New in 2009, we will have a rep in the store each Saturday afternoon sampling 4
to 5 wines each week. All Saturday tastings are complimentary and run from
12:00pm to 4:00pm. The best way to learn about wine is to try, try, try so come
on in and see what's on the tasting table!
Saturday, 1/17 - David Bortolin of Cobblestone Cellars will be here pouring an
Italian Soave, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
and a California Pinot Noir.
Saturday, 1/24 - Jim Futrell of Republic National Distributing will be here
pouring some nifty new wines in his book alongside some old favorites. Included
in the lineup will be a well known Oregon Pinot Noir which just got picked up
for distribution in Virginia. Hurray!!
Saturday, 1/31 - Amy Evans of Dionysos Imports will be here pouring a white and
red wine from the South of France and a couple of Rhone reds.
Upcoming Wine Classes
Tuesday, January13th - Bordeaux Basics SOLD OUT!
If you've ever wanted to learn about the complexities of Bordeaux, this is the
class for you! The focus will be on red Bordeaux from both the Left Bank and the
Right Bank. We'll also try a white Bordeaux or two as well as a dessert
Bordeaux(think Sauternes!). Andy Sackenheim of Monsieur Touton will join us as
he has one of the best Bordeaux books in the Washington,D.C. area. $50 per
person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, February 3rd - Burgundy Unveiled
Paul Everitt of JAO Imports will be here to unravel the mysteries of Burgundy.
We'll tour the area and learn about the nuances of the different appellations
along the importance of the geography as well as the geology. In addition, we'll
taste several white and red Burgundies and JAO Imports distributes some of the
very best Burgundies in the Washington, D.C. area, and most of their wines are
sold at the most revered restaurants in the area. $50 per person. 7:00pm.
Tuesday, March 3rd - Piedmont Wines
Bill McKenney of Michael Downey Selections will be back to share his wealth of
knowledge of Italy and in particular, of the Piedmont. Gavi, Barbera, Dolcetto,
Nebbiolo...all the usual suspects will be present and accompanying nibbles of
food to see how they eat and drink in Northwestern Italy! $45 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, May 5th - Think Pink!
We love to think Pink around here...but you already knew that! All of the new
releases of Rosés from around the globe will just be entering the market at this
time of year and we'll take you a tour of Rosé wines. Jason Bise of The Country
Vintner will be here to guide us through his bag of Pink goodies. And we're
positive we'll have at least one Rosé which you'll enjoy!! $40 per person.
7:00pm.
Tuesday, June 2nd - Wines of Greece
Yani Tsapos, owner of Dionysos Imports and expert of all things Greek, will be
here to guide us through a tour of the different whites, reds and dessert wines
of Greece. And there will certainly be some feta cheese on the table!! $45 per
person. 7:00pm.
Don't forget...Gift Certificates are available for Wine Classes and they make a
great gift!!
CSA for 2009
It's time to start thinking about CSA for 2009! The Wine Seller & Vineyard Table
is a drop off/pick up spot for the CSA program produced (no pun intended) by
Potomac Vegetable Farms. Ellen of Potomac Vegetable Farms plans on this year's
signup being in February. If you are interested in participating in this year's
CSA program, please email me at Lucinda@thewineseller.com. I will compile an
email list and shoot you out an email when it is signup time. If you are an
'old' member of the CSA program, signup will be in the beginning of February; if
you are a 'new' member of the CSA program, signup will start around mid-month.
Send me your contact info and I'll make sure you know when you need to signup!
Bogie's Recipe Board
My Mom hasn't been cooking much since Christmas because she's been quite a bit
under the weather but I'm hoping she'll make this recipe this weekend because it
has CHEESE in it! Plus, it's the perfect time of year for soups. This one looks
pretty easy and sure will make the whole house smell good while I camp out by
the fireplace. From the Williams-Sonoma website, here's my recipe pick for this
week:
Cheddar-Ale Soup
Serves 4 to 6
4 tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, finely diced
2 celery stalks, finely diced
2 carrots, peeled and finely diced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1-3/4 cups milk
1-3/4 cups chicken stock
1 bottle (12 oz) ale
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dry mustard
1-1/4 lb sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Salt to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste
In a stockpot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, celery and
carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir
in the flour and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium high and
whisk in the milk and stock. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until
thickened, about 10 minutes.
Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. Strain the mixture
through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl.
Return the mixture to the pot and set over medium heat. Add the ale,
Worcestershire sauce and mustard and simmer for 5 minutes. Whisk in the cheese,
½ cup at a time, letting each addition melt before adding the next batch. Do not
allow the soup to boil. Season with salt and Cayenne.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
Since this is a rich, creamy based soup, you want wines which reflect the creamy
texture. A Central Coast Chardonnay would be a great match or a White Burgundy.
For red, a Pinot Noir or Zinfandel would be a nice match, particularly if it has
some spice to stand up to the Cayenne pepper in the soup.
Quiz Corner
This Week's Quiz Question: I am a pink skinned white wine grape which is a
biological ancestor to Gewurztraminer. In some parts, my name is Gewurztraminer
is synonymous. I originated around the northern Italian town of Tramin until
the16th Century. What's my name?
Send in your quiz question answers to Lucinda@thewineseller.com by noon on
Monday. Bogart will put on his 'prizepicking' scarf and pick up to three winners
out of the correct answer pile. And unlike humans, Basset Hounds consider
bribery perfectly legit!
Case Discounts
Mix or match a case (12 bottles or more) and take 10% off any day of the week.
Mix or match 3 cases (36 bottles or more) and take 15% off any day of the week.
Call Ahead
In a hurry? Or planning to come by later in the week? Just call ahead
(703-471-9649) or email us (Lucinda@thewineseller.com) and give us your order
and payment information and we'll take care of the rest. Your wine will be
waiting for you when you pull into the parking lot and we can bring it out to
your car if you need us to do so!
Wine Delivery
As a reminder, particularly with the holidays coming up, we deliver wine!
Whether you are giving a gift of wine and need it delivered or wish to purchase
wine via phone or email and have us bring it to you, we deliver! All wine
deliveries must be signed for by an adult who is age 21 or older and a picture
ID such as a license or passport must be provided to verify age. Business
addresses are preferable to home addresses.
New Store Hours
In an effort to try to make our store hours easier to remember, starting this
week, we are open from 11:00am to 7:00pm Monday through Saturday and from
12:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday. As always, if you are running late and need us to
stay, just give us a call (703-471-9649). We're happy to wait for you to arrive!
That's it for this week!
Regards,
Lucinda, Vaughn, Nancy & Bogart
This Week's Tastings
Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm - Lucinda's Picks for a Blind Tasting!
Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm with Heather Fay of Grappoli Imports
304 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170
www.thewineseller.com
703.471.9649
Monday through Saturday: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
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