May EVENTS
Beer Tasting May 6th
Thurs, 4 – 7PM with rep
Join our industry rep and sample Heavy Seas Beers; Loose Cannon, Big Dipa, Siren Noire, and Stoudts Stout. Glasses free with purchase.
Wine Tasting (Colonial)
Sat. May 8 - 5 PM
Lisa Magnusun will be sampling our ‘new arrivals’. Try a bunch of our new outstanding wines!
Wine Tasting
Tues. May 11th - 5 - 7PM
Peter will sample & discuss Pinot Gris/Grigio from various regions (France, Italy, Oregon).
Taste S. African Wine w/Importer/Owner May 20th 4 – 7
Join Industry guest, Van Zyl, from S. Africa who will be presenting ‘newly’ imported wines from South African – FREE!
Friday FREE In-Store Tastings 4 – 7 PM
Learn from Guest Industry Experts
Spend a few minutes to sample one red and one white wine.
May's Wines of the Month
'click on' the 'Wines of the Month' Navigation Selection to the left for all the details on these fantastic selections!
10 % discounts on each bottle!
White: 3000BC Chenin Blanc (S. Africa)
Red:. Monte Antico (Italy) - a Wine Spectator Mag. Top 100!
S. African Wine Importer Visits Colonial May 20th
Learn about and taste ‘new’ wines now being imported from South Africa with owner of Knauth & Visser Imports -Van Zyl. These wines have tremendous quality and value. Join us on Thursday, May 20th between 4 – 7 PM for a real treat!
Happy Mother’s Day!
‘Mom’s Wine Sampler’
Pick up our specially selected ‘Mother’s Day Wine Sampler’. Six great wines at our 12 bottle (case) discount for Mom to share, pair with food, or sip while you’re ‘pampering her’. Includes a sturdy, reusable wine tote bag. Tasting notes on each wine are provided so she can create a wine party with friends and family.
Chenin Blanc, A Great Summer White
Chenin Blanc grows well in many soils and climates including the Loire Valley (France) Oregon and South Africa where it is considered their ‘signature’ white wine.
It ranges in style from bone dry to staggeringly sweet (dessert wine). Characteristics of Chenin Blanc include citrus fruits, peach, pear, and apple. It has floral aromas with mineral and earthy notes. Chenin is rich and concentrated with a long finish. Pairings include summer salads, goat cheeses, paté, and foie gras.
South Africa >300 years of winemaking!
The first vineyards were planted at Cape Town in 1655. The arrival of French Huguenots (religious refugees) and their knowledge of wine making helped develop the industry. But it was not until the late l990’s that marketing and exporting wines began. The cultures of Africa, Europe and the East have mingled in Cape Town for centuries. The southern tip of Africa has ideal conditions for vineyards; a Mediterranean climate and proximity to the Indian and Atlantic Oceans which bring in fog and breezes which allow slow ripening of the grapes. Their three main soil types are Granite, Sandstone (Table Mountain) and Shale.
Regions span east and west of Cape Town; the most famous include Constantia, Durbanville, Swartland, Paarl, and Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch University has the only viticultural and oenological departments in the country; and is also known as the ‘premiere’ growing region for red wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, and Shiraz. Chenin Blanc is their ‘notable’ white, followed by Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Winemaking reflects the classicism of the ‘Old World’ but is also influenced by the contemporary fruit-driven styles of the ‘New World’. This rare combination makes for wines which are complex yet accessible, refined yet powerful, eloquently expressing the unique terroir and people of the Cape.
FOOD & WINE
Pear Salad & Chenin
Pear flavors in the wine mirror the salad, which can be served cold or warm. If serving warm, use prosciutto –its’ saltiness will bring out the minerality of the Chenin. 1 TBL butter, 1 pear (Cored & thinly sliced), 1 cup baby spinach, 4 slices prosciutto, dried cranberries, slivered almonds, Balsamic vinegar, Extra-virgin olive oil, and ground cinnamon.
Melt butter, add pear slices to sauté pan (sprinkle with cinnamon) and cook until soft – turning every few minutes). Place spinach on plate and top with prosciutto slices. Arrange pears over prosciutto and sprinkle cranberries and almonds over salad. Drizzle equal parts of vinegar and olive oil on top.
Rotary ChileanDonation
A wine tasting was held in April with Caroline. Proceeds from the wine sale were donated to Rotary International which is sponsoring projects focusing on rebuilding Chile’s infrastructure. Bruce and Caroline are delighted to donate a total of $550 and we pray for a speedy earthquake recovery!
Blockbuster Wine Specials
This month our 'specially priced' Blockbuster Wines are:
Terra Nostra Chianti $11.99!!
Oroya White Blend (Sushi) $7.99
Save money on wines in our '2 - for' section’ ($12, $15, $20 and $25) it is filled with 'current’ vintage year wines - OVER 600 wines under $20!
Check closeouts; we’re making room for our new products arriving this Spring and Fall!
Exciting Events Coming Up!
Join our Bacchus Wine Club and experience the joy of food and wine pairing – a little education with a lot of fun! One thing about Colonial, you can DEPEND on our pairing suggestions!!!!!
Check out our ‘STAFF FAVORITES’ section for more ideas. Our weekly tastings help introduce you to many ‘exotic’ wines you might otherwise never experience.
I LOVE my job – I get the chance to sample over 1,000 wines a year to buy for Colonial. You’ll get more for your money at Colonial. That’s a promise!
Watch for a couple of very ‘special upcoming June events!
Wine Quote
"The only thing that should come between people and wine is the cork." ~~ Andrea Immer, Vintage Humor for Wine Lovers
by Malcolm Kushner.
Wine Word
Carbonic Maceration
This is the process of winemaking in which ‘whole grapes’ are fermented without crushing them or breaking the skins. The flesh of the grape starts to ferment inside the skin. This produces a wine that is less tannic, less acidic, and more light and fruity – ready to drink early. Beaujolais (France) is the most famous wine using this winemaking technique, however Pinot Noir and other ‘lighter’ reds are made this way as well.
EXPERT PAIRING ADVICE - BBQ
When choosing a wine for your next BBQ, keep it simple and strive for harmony. Find wine with smoky flavors. Opposites also attract, but don’t forget to balance the weight of the wine with the weight of the food. The sauce often determines the pairing! Spicy or hot sauce pairs well with wines with lower alcohol (‘Old World’ style). Sweet BBQ sauces go well with high alcohol wines made in a ‘New’ World’ style Thick sauces need a wine ‘weight’ – Malbec or Cabernet. Pick up your ‘complete’ handout of BBQ & Seafood wine pairings at Colonial during your next visit!