The Grapevine - October 2009
October EVENTS
Argentinean Wine Tasting with guest!
On Friday, Oct. 9th 4:30 – 6:30 PM we invite you to come to Colonial for a FREE tasting & bottle-signing with Carlos Muñoz (winemaker, Las Perdices Winery) and Carlos Figueroa (JC Imports). Case orders are now being taken to assure ample supplies. Quality, Value, and Limited production (hand-crafted) are the ‘key’ to soaring sales of this wine. Caroline loves his wines and you will too!
Julia Child
French Dinner
Thurs., Oct. 22nd 6:30 PM
JoEllen Hockenbrough and Caroline are featuring recipes from Julia’s first book ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ (max 20 people) – ‘event alert’ coming soon. Reserve early or be left out!
10th Annual Holiday Wine Tasting & Class Sunday 2 – 5PM, Nov. 8th
Includes 20-25 wines, show discounts, class, door prizes, and great fun! Buy wines for holiday meals and gifts; or just discover ‘new’ favorites. Reserve through Colonial at 294 – 4623; $50/pp (Bacchus members $45). At door on day of show - $55/pp.
Rolling Back Prices!
We now have OVER 500 wines under $20! We’ve added new products and reduced prices on wine, beer, and liquor (reacting to the economy).
Most ‘inexpensive’ wines are ‘bulk’ grapes (weak & watery) with lots of chemicals added to mimic ‘real’ fruit flavors and tannin. Wine writers for the Wall St. Journal warn about these ‘faux’ wines in their articles and advise “finding a good wine merchant”. to avoid mistakes! We strive to ‘give you what you want’ – it’s been tough work, but we know you’ll be pleased! You may not find familiar brands or ‘bulk’ wines – but you’ll find hand-crafted, ‘real’ wines at every price point!
Our ‘2 for’ section ($12, $15, $20 and $25) is filled with awesome, ‘current vintage year’ wines – NOT closeouts typically found in most stores.
Keep your passion for wine and ‘simple indulgences’ intact!
Private Invitation Wine Sale – Tues., Oct. 20th
Caroline takes out the ‘gems’ in the climate-controlled storage on these occasions! Watch for ‘event alert’ by e-mail.
Wine Pairings Seafood & BBQ
Stop at Colonial for a handout – save in your cookbook!
JULIA CHILD - FIRST 'LADY OF FOOD'
Every American who loves fine food and wine knows Julia Child: her masterful cookbooks, many entertaining television shows, and her unique ‘voice’. Her fame continues to spread with Hollywood's release of a film (Julie & Julia) based on her life, starring Meryl Streep as Julia Child.
A sea of change started almost 50 years ago, when Julia first encouraged Americans to “try a little harder, eat a little better and, above all, relax and have fun in the kitchen”. Wine Spectator (Sept. 30th) issue is a tribute to Julia Child's life and accomplishments and offers profiles of seven people whose lives she touched, and who in turn have extended her influence. Also in this issue, enjoy the four recipes inspired by her. She opened the door for average Americans to enjoy ‘fine’ food and launched the careers of a number of famous chefs.
Julia’s kitchen – now at the Smithsonian is one of the most visited exhibits.
She was one of the first chefs to give wine pairing-suggestions. Julia explained, “I like wine with everything, but they tell me you can’t have wine with artichokes or asparagus.” So she experimented - pairing wines she said “I didn’t like them until I had them with the asparagus”. “Now they taste lovely.” She was delighted to see how the wines changed with the food. To honor this remarkable women, and abide by her sage advice, Caroline is hosting a wine dinner using recipes from her original book (featuring the Boeuf Bourguignon) and delightful French wines. It is limited to Bacchus Wine Club members (details at Colonial).
NEW PRODUCTS!
Fall is show time! Too many new wines to list – check them out! Wow- Crystal Head Vodka arriving soon (Dan Akroid)
Helpful Hand-outs!
BYOB – SAVE $$$
Pick up the updated BYOB & Wine Spectator ‘Awards of Excellence’ restaurant lists at Colonial!
New Website
So many events, classes, and dinners - now you can check us out by visiting our new website at www.colonialwines.com! We select ‘unique’ wines with passion and provide helpful information to our customers.
Oct. Wine of the Month
Case discounts on each bottle!!
White: Chamarré Chardonnay (France)
Red. Las Perdices Malbec (Argentina) – Oct. 9th meet owner/winemaker, Carlos Muñoz.
Wine Word
‘Minerality’
A number of wines (especially whites) are described as having a mineral flavor; smells and tastes of crushed stone flavors (think Alsacian Riesling, Austrian Grȕner Veltliner, Argentinean Pinot Grigio or French Chablis). Minerality activates the salt receptor taste buds ; they’re picked up on the palate just as salt is, thus making food flavors livelier – just as salt would do. There is no actual salt in the wine, but minerality enhances foods and gets juices flowing!
Snug & Safe
Climate Control
Did you know we GUARANTEE all our wines? This is possible because Colonial Wine & Spirits is one of the only stores in the state that can boast of having a CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE ROOM. It takes only a few hours of unfavorable conditions to ruin a bottle of wine! Over 5,000 wines are snug and safe (preserving aromas and flavors); including ‘aged’ Cabernets now at ‘peak’.
FREE In-Store Tastings
Learn from Guest Industry Experts
Fridays 4–7 PM we continue to host a weekly wine tasting. Spend a few minutes to sample one red and one white wine paired with wonderful cheeses.
Bordeaux
Right Bank/Left Bank
The Right Bank and Left Bank are two specific broad areas within Bordeaux. The Right Bank includes appellations of St.-Emillion and Pomerol (these wine districts are on your right traveling by boat NW toward the Atlantic on the Gironde River). The Left Bank includes all the villages of the Médoc (most famous are Pauillac, Margaux, St.-Julien, and St.-Estéphe). Right Bank wines are based on merlot and cabernet franc; Left Bank wines are based on Cabernet Sauvignon.
Emperor Napoleon III ordered a list be made of the ‘finest’ Bordeaux wines in preparation for the 1855 Exposition in Paris. From hundreds of winemaking operations, only 61 ranked as ‘chateaux’; these were divided up into five subcategories. They were called ‘Premier Crus’ (first growth), ‘Deuxieme Crus’, and so on. Only four of the 61 were allotted ‘first growth’ status. The chateaux names are often hyphenated reflecting the intertwining of English & French history (marriages, etc). The current list is almost identical; Medoc still reigns as the ‘jewel’ for quality, complexity, & aging ability – 2005 was outstanding! These ‘big’ wines are favorites of Caroline’s’. Check out both banks to find your favorites!
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