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8.30.10 Our Anniversary SALE ends Tuesday Night This month marked our 17th Anniversary! We’ve been thanking the thousands of WINE EXPO-isti new and old who made that possible (some of you from day one!) with a special offer good through close of business on August 31st: Come in (or call or e-mail) and buy any 6 bottles of non sparkling wine (mix or match) and take 10% off or buy any 12 or more bottles of non sparking wine (mix or match) and take 15% off. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other promotion and ends at 9PM on Aug 31.
Needed: Food Vendors for our Tasting Room / Retail Space If you or a friend are a local producer or purveyor of specialty NON perishable food products (including but not limited to: hot sauces, mustards, pates, jams & jellies, canned seafood, olives, gourmet sodas, crackers, vinegars, dried pastas, maple syrups, nut and olive oils, you get the idea), give Roberto a call at 310-828-4428 about getting your product featured in our new West Wing (opening in September for SURE).
The perfect Summer Party Aperitif? Laubad Floc de Gascogne $23.99 A sort of country cousin to Pineau de Charentes, this is made by adding Fine Armagnac to free run grape juice, stopping the fermentation that would have made wine and leaving a crisp, fruity, pineapple / quince / honey / spice flavored blast of the French countryside instead. Drink it chilled (no ice!), with soda or tonic or perhaps make a Champagne Cocktail with some basic selection from our universe of fizz plus a dash of Blood Orange Bitters. We were hipped to this last summer by our favorite Red Headed America’s Sweetheart...thanks Dana!
Cantina of the Week Ippolito 1845, Cirò Marina Calabria Cirò may be the oldest type of wine still in production, with roots back to pre-Roman days when this part of Italy was Magna Graecia (Greater Greece). Ippolito is the oldest cantina in the zona (founded in 1845) and is seriously dedicated to preserving the traditions of the zona yet is run by three young and very enthusiastic cousins from the current generation. We were introduced to them by the owners of Lomazzi & Sarli, producers of WINE EXPO-ista Cult Classics Solise and Latius, and we will be eternally grateful for it. The cantina makes a full range of wines but then takes the extraordinary step of retaining commercial quantities of their top Riserva for up to two decades before release while NOT charging a fortune for them when they do liberate them. Ippolito Cirò Classico Cirò Cirò 2006, Calabria $15.99 So, what is this? It's Cirò silly! A lighter, fresher version that is perfect for picnic fare, fish dishes and even spicier snacks (you could put a slight chill on it and it won’t mind). Ippolito Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore Liber Pater 2007, Calabria $21.00 100% Gagliopo, silky smooth yet meaty and earthy in the mode of aged Barolo or Rioja, this wine is named for the Italian god of wine and vines and he is pictured on the label in full armor and wielding a BIG sword to defend that style from any invading modernist tendencies. Bravo Bello! Ippolito Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva Colli del Mancuso 2005, Calabria $33.99 Gnarly old Gagliopo vines growing on steep hillsides in the heart of the zona are left hanging fruit until late October to produce this rich and delicious wine. The fruit is macerated for weeks in the manner of traditional Barolo and the resulting wine is then finished in barrels for eight months. Medium bodied but immensely flavorful, this beauty exudes perfumes of dried cherries, spices and vanilla. Braise something with some good mushrooms for a long time and hit it with this, you will not be sorry. Ippolito Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva Ripe del Falco 1991, 92, 93, 95, Calabria call for pricing (they’re ALL under $60!) We brought two vintages of these back from VinItaly 2005 and poured them at a Mr. Big Stuff tasting in May and not a week went by without someone calling to ask if they had arrived yet. These are the best wines from the best vintages, lovingly cellared at the cantina until they were shipped here, with wondrous scents of leather, aged meat, anise, dried red fruits, tobacco, earth and spices on the nose and a rich but elegant mouthfeel. VERY LIMITED. Fish Wine Napolitano Style... Antonello and Cirò Urciuolo (in cahoots with consultant enologists Carmine Valentino) are on a steep upward path of both quality and fame. Remember you saw them here first! Urciuolo Greco di Tufo 2008, Campania $26.99 No malolactic fermentation here so this is very zingy and fresh with a big minerally finish perfect for seafood or fish preps from most any cuisine...outstanding!
Urciuolo Fiano di Avellino 2008, Campania $26.99 Urciuolo Fiano di Avellino Faliesi 2008, Campania $35.99 These are wildly aromatic with intense floral and citrus elements and the Faliesi seems to be made from the local volcanic rocks, not grapes...pure minerality on the palate, huge dry finish. We LOVE these and so will you... Tan, Rested, Ready and on SALE... Señorio de Sarria Reserva 1998, Navara Spain A STEAL at just $12.99! Meat and Dirt....Mmmmmmm Yummmy! This wine originates from Merlot and Cabernet vines over 50 years old, planted on steep hillsides with southern exposure. The grapes are harvested by hand when they reach just the right level of ripeness (with grape selection carried out at the vines) and then given a traditional vinification that, with age, avoids the Fruit Bomb Highway and, instead, takes the last exit off the Dirt Road and heads directly into downtown Meatville. It is super soft with almost no tannin and will enchant you with its depth of aromas and flavors after a few minutes in the glass and / or decanter. Serve with grilled meats, smoked things or maybe a plate of rich cheeses, some nuts and dried fruit.
Big, Rich Reserve Cab from California for under $25?!? Welcome to WINE EXPO!
Shannon Ridge Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Lake County $21.99 This wine is made from vines situated high above Clear Lake on a steep mountain slope where they benefit from both elevation and the lake effect for cooling, yielding an elegant, nuanced cool climate style you might not expect in a wine from Lake County. Only 280 cases were made, we took 15 to offer to WINE EXPO-isti at this special price.
Weekly Wine Funny: Twitter 10...Veuve Cliquot 0! The folks who market Agent Orange in New Zealand learned a HARD lesson in the do’s and don’ts of using Social Media this week. Beyond funny: How NOT to use Social Media to market industrial fizz! 8.24.10 What’s up with the Tasting Room? We got the bar in place last week, the furniture arrived yesterday, we are installing the refrigerators tomorrow and Roberto is up late nights designing special iPod playlists for your tasting and dancing pleasure.... In the meantime, this is the last week of the first month of our 18th year of serving you and we are celebrating with an ongoing wine sale through the end of August (see below for details). Have a great Summer, see you soon! Anniversary SALE!!! This month marks our 17th Anniversary! We would like to thank the thousands of WINE EXPO-isti new and old who made that possible (some of you from day one!) with a special offer good through close of business on August 31st: Come in (or call or e-mail) and buy any 6 bottles of non sparkling wine (mix or match) and take 10% off or buy any 12 or more bottles of non sparking wine (mix or match) and take 15% off. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other promotion and ends at 9PM on Aug 31. What’s HOT? Malbec and Lodi! Christine Andrew Rosé of Malbec 2007, Lodi California $9.99 Dark, spicy, bone dry and ready for BBQ, grilled shrimp, paella, a nice salumi plate, fried chicken, whatever! Chill one of these babies down and improvise... Wine of the Week (Mr. Big Stuff Division) Maycas del Limari Reserva Especial Syrah 2006, Limari Valley, Chile $18.99 This is serious, meaty, bacon fat and leather with some fruit on top styled Syrah that more than stands up to similar wines from California or even the Rhone at twice this price or more. We blew out 10 cases in the last two weeks just on word of mouth so we took in another ten today. Organic, Delicious, Affordable... Odoardi Savuto Rosso 2005, Calabria $14.99 ORGANIC Truly classic Southern Pizza and Pasta wine: 45% Gagliopo, 15% Greco Nero, 15% Nerello Cappuccio, 15% Magliocco Canino and 10% Sangiovese give this some funky/rustic flavors but also a nice smooth finish that will have you reaching for more.... San Fereolo Dolcetto di Dogliani 2007, Piemonte $19.99 ORGANIC Deep, dark and tres serious Dolcetto grown on top of a decaying Roman amphitheater cut into the side of a mountain. Some of you loved this wine in its previous incarnation when the property was known as Due Donne and Ornella Muti was the owner. It’s better AND cheaper now... LAST CHANCE on this great value.... Foxes Island Pinot Noir 2005, Marlborough NZ $23.99 This is one of the silkiest, sexiest, most exotically scented Pinots we have EVER offered and is being retailed for as high as $49.99 at other stores in the US. You burnt through 52 6-packs in less than two months at this killer price. We have 36 bottles left and we expect them to vaporize shortly. Call today if you need some... Not on Sale (they’re bubblies) but Priced to MOVE: Henkell Blanc de Blancs, Wiesbaden Germany $9.99 To be honest, we are not sure what is in this deliciously creamy and poundable yet bone dry sparkler (they only admit to “carefully selected grapes from classic Rhein vineyards” which probably means some Riesling, some Weisburgunder / Pinot Blanc and maybe some Müller Thürgau) but, at this price, WHO CARES?!?!? Seriously quaffable and looks nice too....DEAL! Bauget-Jouette Brut, Epernay $39.99 This is A) serious, full flavored, Pinot based Champagne sure to bring a big round of smiles and B) a great deal! Very limited.... 8.4.10 What’s up with the Tasting Room? We finished painting and put in the sinks, lighting fixtures and ventilation hardware today. We got the final, final, FINAL paperwork from the ABC on Monday. Ali is flying in next Monday to deal with furniture for the tasting area and shelving for the retail area (which will feature wine accessories, hot sauces, mostarda, honey, balsamics and other yummy condiments as well as an expanded Bieres Belge display). In the meantime, today is the first day of our 18th year of serving you and we are celebrating with an ongoing wine sale through the end of August (see below for details). Have a great Summer, see you soon! Deal of the Week: Cable Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007, New Zealand was $13.99, now $8.99! Let Sauvignon be Sauvignon! Super crisp, dry and blasting grapefruit, fresh cut grass and gooseberry out of the glass, this is the UN-Chardonnay. Just add a big plate of steamed mussels or grilled shrimp and you’ve got a freakin’ good time... Cantina of the Week: Azienda Agricola Vitivinicola Lomazzi & Sarli, Latiano, Puglia Proprietario Pino Dimastrodonato has managed to drag a traditional winery (founded in 1869 but on land used for viticulture since the 8th century BC!) into the future by making it even MORE old school: they converted to all organic agriculture and instituted hand harvesting of the alberello trained 30+ year old vines. The results are not only delicious and packed with the dirt and sun of the heel of the boot, they are also almost ridiculously affordable (we love the fact that they talk about not a “good” quality / price ratio but “the correct” QPR in their brochure!) : Lomazzi & Sarli Negroamaro Partemio 2008, Puglia $17.99 ORGANIC A classic example of the most typical Puglian variety, Negroamaro, which is softer and sort of Pinot textured but with darker flavors. Aside from being a great value and not looking cheap, this is also perfect for meatloaf, red sauce pasta, pizza, Asian stir fries, pirogis, empanadas, Jody Maroni’s sausages, Uncle Sven’s special Swedish meatballs, turkey pot pies, carne asada, a chili cook-off, gyros and falafel...did we mention that it’s food friendly? Lomazzi & Sarli Brindisi Riserva Solise 2005, Puglia $26.99 ORGANIC A WINE EXPO-ista tasting note, live from the field: “Hey, guys, enjoyed the remaining bottle of Brindisi Riserva Solise w/ beef roulade filled w/ bacon, onion & spices. Another reminder that an alternate definition for 'smile' could be 'drinking Italian grower produced wines'. Four hours after receiving this earthy wine, the empty decanter sat on the counter. I wondered what the aroma would be, so I picked it up & sniffed, & was thoroughly amused to find only this: a hint of gardenia followed by beautiful blackberry honey. There are always pleasant surprises on ‘the dirt road’, and always...smiles.” Thanks, Carlton, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Lomazzi & Sarli Salento Primitivo Latias 2007, Puglia $27.99 ORGANIC Primitivo is the grape that came to California and became Zinfandel. This one is fermented in stainless steel to preserve the fruit and aromatics then mellowed in barrels for 12 months for a lush, comforting texture. Lomazzi & Sarli Salento Rosso Susumaniello Nomas 2004, Puglia $29.99 ORGANIC One of the best Puglian wines we have ever encountered: very dark and brooding in the glass with deeeep, dark black fruits but somehow nearly weightless in the mouth. It has intense color and a big, chocolate and plums flavor profile (but with good acidity underneath) and an incredibly smooth finish. Grab this while it’s here as it is VERY limited. Lomazzi & Sarli Salento Aleatico Rosso Dolce Dimastrodonato 2003, Puglia $26.99 500 ml ORGANIC An outrageously rich, indulgent and yummy alternative to Porto that is packed with rose petal, berry and citrus notes, this will be delish whether you serve it with some nice ripe cheeses, poach some pears in it or just sip it on the deck and watch the sunset. Straight outta the Oltrepò! Andrea Picchioni Rosso d’Asia 2006, Oltrepò Pavese $41.00 This has a RABID cult following here, especially amongst local Chefs who love its deeeeeeep rustic ooooomph with their after service repasts of sausages, variety meats and other hearty fare. Andrea is getting quite famous in Italy and this wine is the reason. Andrea Picchioni Oltrepò Pavese Pinot Nero Arfena 2008, Lombardia $46.00 One of the most entrancing Pinots we have come across in years. Medium color and body but just insane aromatics, you just wanna SMELL this one for a good while before actually tasting any. VERY limited, worth it. Anniversary SALE!!! This past Tuesday was our 17th Anniversary! We would like to thank the thousands of WINE EXPO-isti new and old who made that possible (some of you from day one!) with a special offer good through close of business on August 31st: Come in (or call or e-mail) and buy any 6 bottles of non sparkling wine (mix or match) and take 10% off, buy any 12 or more bottles of non sparking wine (mix or match) and take 15% off. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other promotion. A Rant from Yesteryear, back by special request: WINE EXPO’s Alternate Reality Theater: If Robert Parker had been a Music Critic A recent discussion in the store with a self proclaimed “wine headhunter” who only wanted to talk about wines that had been scored 95/100 or above by America’s most influential / misdirected / irrelevant to your everyday wine with dinner and friends wine scribe got us thinking.......Our friend reacted fairly violently when we characterized the Zinfandels that would be Port made by Mr. Parker’s personal “Wine Goddess” as being like “A drag queen in the middle of a great production of Carmen, totally over the top and not really germane to the context (dinner!)” which led us to think about the sort of ratings RPjr might give some of our favorite musicians: John Lee Hooker “It Serves you Right to Suffer” (MCAD 12025 re-issue of the classic 1965 LP) “Strangely rustic, a throwback to another era before the advent of modern studio wizardry which could have given this original version of “Sugar Mama” the power and intensity later achieved by Foghat in their cover version. This listener had figured out by the fourth track (“You’re Wrong”) that Mr. Hooker seems to be in a bad mood, yet he went on for another 20 minutes with titles like ‘Money’ (he doesn’t have any) and ‘Serves you right to suffer’ 68/100.” To which the only possible response is “Boom! Boom!! Boom!!! How! How!! How!!! Boogie Chillin! It’s in ya and it’s GOT to come out!” James Brown avec les JBs!!! “Love Power Peace” live in Paris 1971 (Polydor 314-513-389-2) “While certainly heartfelt, Mr. Brown’s tortured vocal performance could benefit greatly from the modern production techniques that bring such inner consistency and radio-friendly textures to New World Soul Crooners like Michael Bolton and George Michael. The back-up band, while certainly capable, seems bent on endlessly repeating fairly simple rhythmic patterns (called “grooves”) that appear to have stirred up the French audience but lack any real complexity..72/100, not recommended.” To which we reply “Yo Mama! Get on the Good Foot, Hit me Maceo!” And some not so favorite musicians: The Music Advocate Pick ‘o the Month Judas Priest Greatest Hits “Breakin the Law, a tribute to Beavis and Butthead” “Intense, complex, ponderous, with oodles and oodles of layered slabs of hot molten metal guitar and primal scream vocals seamlessly integrated in backward masking that just might drive you to suicide!” 99/100!!!!!!!!!! The point of this thought experiment? Power and extract are not everything, traditional styles are traditional for a reason and you MUST RESPECT DA FUNK!!! Ok, enough fun and games, let's go drink some great wines! PS: Ladies and Gentlemen, Live from Paris, James Brown & the Fabulous Flames! 7.31.10 This coming Tuesday is our 17th Anniversary! We would like to thank the thousands of WINE EXPO-isti new and old who made that possible (some of you from day one!) with a special offer good through close of business on August 31st: Come in (or call or e-mail) and buy any 6 bottles of non sparkling wine (mix or match) and get: 10% off Buy any 12 or more bottles of non sparking wine and get: 15% off. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other promotion. Once again, THANK YOU for nearly two decades of trust and patronage, Ali, Roberto, Erik, Bette, Miguel & Kathy.
7.28.10 What’s up with the Tasting Room? We are painting and doing floor treatments this week, ordered refrigerators yesterday and started building the actual service bar this morning. As they say in Jamaica, “Soon come Mon....”. In the mean time we have lots of new and delicious offerings for you (and don’t miss the Wine Funny of the Week below!)....
Value Cantina of the Week: Cantina Cardeto, Orvieto Scalo, Umbria This winery was founded in 1949 by a group of local vignerons and modernized to make high quality bottled wines in the 1990’s. With more than 800 hectares of vines to draw from, Cardeto is able to make a wide range of wines in price ranges from “bring your own jug and fill’er’up” to the low yield, barrique aged Sangiovese you demolished last year. Cardeto Orvieto Classico Matile 2009, Umbria $13.99 Trebbiano 60%, Verdello 15%, Drupeggio 10%, Malvasia 15%, this wine is a pale straw yellow with greenish tinges, rich ripe fruit on the palate and an hint of bitter almond on the finish that makes it a perfect compliment to most any cuisine, picnic fare or a Saturday afternoon gabfest with friends. Cardeto Orvieto Classico Amabile* 2009, Umbria $13.99 Trebbiano 60%, Verdello 15%, Drupeggio 10%, Malvasia 15% harvested a few weeks after the grapes destined for the dry version, this wine is a pale straw yellow with greenish tinges, rich ripe fruit on the palate and a kiss of sweetness on the finish that makes it a perfect compliment to Asian cuisine, picnic fare or a saturday afternoon gabfest with friends. *Amabile (ah-mah-beh-lay) comes from the same Latin root as “amiable” and means “friendly” but may also be dialect for “A picnic?....Sure...SCREW work!”.... Cardeto Umbria Rosso Matile 2009 $11.99 Your New House Red? This is exactly the sort of thing we were searching for on our buying trip in Italy last year, so we brought in 100 cases for you and it lasted three weeks last November. Now it’s baaaaaack: Sangiovese, Cabernet, Merlot, Ciliegiolo and Montepulciano in a fun, fruity, VERY drinkable blend priced to move and sealed with a screw cap for your protection! Fizz-a-teria of the Week: Azienda Agricola Ferghettina di Roberto Gatti, Adro, Lombardia Wow! KILLER bubblies made by very nice people, a win / win situazione: Founded in 1991 by Roberto Gatti after already working for 25 years making high quality Metodo Classico wines in other famous local cantine, this is one of the true jewels of this DOCG. They have 110 hectares of vineyards to make their choices from so only the top fruit goes into these wines and all of the remuage of the bottles is still done by hand (no gyro-pallets here!). The results are stunning, made in such small quantities that they have never been imported before (they are at the very top of European critic’s lists and sell every bottle, pronto!). We, being determined to make our entrance into this zona at the highest possible level, would not be deterred so, finally, here they are: Ferghettina Franciacorta Brut, Lombardia $56.00 Really complex and lively, this literally dances on your palate like the Camile Savese Carte Blanche or even Gobillard Vieille Vigne. 95% Chard / 5% Pinot with bright citrussy flavors up front and intriguing spice on the bone dry finish, you can taste every week of its twenty four months aging on the lees. Ferghettina Franciacorta Satén 2006, Lombardia $67.00 One of the best sparklers from outside of la Champagne we have EVER tasted: light and airy in the mouth but packed with rich flavors of vanilla, apricot, biscuits and toasted nuts followed by a firm, refreshingly dry finish, this is truly thrilling fizz. It is 100% very ripe Chardonnay, aged three years en tirage plus an additional year after disgorgement before release. Limited, worth it.... Ferghettina Franciacorta Rosé 2006, Lombardia $67.00 Wonderful rose petal perfume greet you from the flute, followed by a very Pinot driven flavor set on the palate then a crunchy crisp, food friendly finish. Yum! We’re grilling Fish but I want RED... Terre al Lago Pinot Nero 2008, Veneto $19.99 A perfect answer to an ancient question: “Which Red Wine for Fish?”, this soft, fragrant, super smoooth Pinot Noir is grown on the shores of Lake Garda in the Veneto where it is a perfect compliment to the simply prepared but ultra fresh fish plates there. Plus, it’s affordable! Mr. Big Stuff Comes to Town Azienda Vitivincola Eleano, Rionero in Vulture, Basilicata Basilicata? It’s the Italian Outback...Throw another Wild Boar on the Barbie. While they are working on their 19th vintage (which would make them old hands in California) Eleano is a relatively new cantina in this ancient zona. They farm 5 hectares with South East exposure and 600 meters elevation in deep volcanic soil generated by uncounted eruptions of nearby Mt. Vulture over the eons. Despite their short history they are THE critical darlings of the neighborhood with their wines getting top mentions in all the Italian Wine Guides. As we were typing this we searched all the American wine guides and found nary a mention so it seems we are once again way ahead of the curve. Eleano Aglianico del Vulture Dioniso 2006, Basilicata $38.99 Got Ooooomph?!?!? A real Tooth Stainer from The DARK Side: Aglianico is one of the great overlooked grape varieties of the world. Originating in the what is now Campania but used to be Magna Graecia (greater Greece) and spreading into Basilicata, Molise and Puglia, it is often called The Barolo of the South. This one is grown in deep volcanic soil in Basilicata and you can taste the fire and brimstone. It is pining for your best grilled meat (or even game) dish and will NOT disappoint. Then there is its deeper, darker, bigger and even brawnier big brother: Eleano Aglianico del Vulture Eleano 2004, Basilicata $64.00
Wine Funny of the Week: This could be an ad for certain big box stores that also sell wine, no? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUgfcvDThZE
Upcoming Events for WINE EXPO-isti:
Sat / Sun August 6 / 7 join us at Taste of Marina Del Rey!
http://www.tasteofmarinadelrey.com/ 7.21.10 What’s up with the Tasting Room? We passed building inspections last week, selected paint and floor treatments this morning and will install sinks and other fixtures next week. To quote Sam & Dave, “Hold On! We’re Comin’!”. In the mean time we have lots of new and delicious offerings for you (and don’t miss the Wine Funny of the Week below!).... WINE EXPO-isti Returning Champions: Feel Like an Aperitivo Sweetie? Cocchi Americano Aperitivo $22.99 A great find from Piemonte, this is sort of a “Piemonte meets Lillet” made by aromaticizing Moscato (fermented DRY) with Citrus, Spices and Quinine. A big hit at all our tastings, this stuff is perfect before dinner or in a long drink by the pool and will even cure Malaria (coming back, it’s a retro thang). So trade in that Martini for something far zestier (and lower in alcohol!) on the rocks, straight up or in a tall glass with soda. Also wonderful: sauté some large shrimp with pecans in Cocchi then serve over wild rice. Or baste a chicken with it. Or glaze a ham, uh, we’ve got to go, this is making us getting hungry! Our Official Wine of the Endless Summer: Palamà Metiusco Salento Rosato 2009, Puglia $24.99 Intense color (red with bluish glints) and aroma of championship roses (the flower), crisp, food friendly flavors of cranberry, pomegranate and Bing Cherry, BONE DRY, minerally finish. If you could only have one wine this one might do the job: from seafood antipasti to spicy carne asada, Metiusco Rosato rules the table. The Grill-a-nator: Ciù Ciù Marche Rosso Oppîdum 2003, Offida, le Marche $42.00 ORGANIC 100% Montepulciano and seriously dense, this bottling wants some lamb, duck, venison or at least some nice sausages (and NOW!). Not surprisingly, it has become a cult favorite with many local chefs as they dig it with their simple buy hearty hearty meals after service.
The Zombie Detector: Il Falchetto Moscato d’Asti Tenuta del Fant 2009, Piemonte $26.99 The fresh orange blossom and citrus zest aromas and refreshing sweet / tart finish of this wine burned its sheer excitement into the brain cells of so many of you that you never let us forget about it no matter how many other wonderful Moscati we threw at you when we were out of stock. Last summer we were quoted in the City Beat Summer Guide as saying that we call Moscato d’Asti “the Zombie Detector” because if you don’t like it you are probably dead. What the editor cut out (and what made the reporter do a spit take and nearly fall off his chair when we said it) was we also noted that “neurologists will tell you that there are receptors for crack cocaine and marijuana right in your brain...well, the one for Moscato d’Asti is right between them”. Fun, fizzy, low alcohol, bursting with bright citrus aromas and LOVE, serve this with salty snacks (Corn Nuts, Prosciutto e Melone, Honey Roasted Cashews and Dried Fruit, ect) in the afternoon and all will be well with the world. A New Classic for you to Discover: Martilde Malvasia Dedica 2007, Oltrepò Pavese, Lombardia $33.99 ORGANIC Our friends at the cantina explain this wine: An entirely new Malvasia, completely different from Piume. Grapes are picked up in baskets and processed with the same technique used for red wines: they are crushed and destemmed and the skins left to ferment with the must and kept submerged. At the end of fermentation, they are left in the wine during all winter, until the full moon of easter. After an adequate amount of time, Dedica is bottled. Still showing the aromatic nose of malvasia, this wine has a tannic side and has a pleasant body. Deep gold color. To be served not too cold, “Dedica” can be enjoyed also in matches not usual for a white wine. Dishes strongly flavored, salumi, raw fish and shells. On the label, in an appropriate dark setting, our black oriental Medea (nicknamed Dedica, which also means dedication), at full moon. How good is this wine? Traveling with two broken arms and under severe airline weight restrictions, this was the ONLY bottle Roberto carried home from VinItaly 2010 out of over 500 tasted. Limited. Worth it. We unloaded over 50 wines today, all just in from Italy (plus some amazing Champagnes from Ployez Jacqumart and even a rosé from Morocco!). We’ll be telling you about them in the weeks to come but you really should just stop on by.... Cheers! Wine Funny of the Week: We can only wonder what impelled the great thespian James Mason to do this but we LOVE it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xY7mBQrzXU Upcoming Events for WINE EXPO-isti: Sat / Sun August 6 / 7 join us at Taste of Marina Del Rey! http://www.tasteofmarinadelrey.com/ 7.13.10 What’s with all this New World stuff? I thought you guys sold ITALIAN wine? Fear not, dear WINE EXPO-isti, as we type a container is landing in Long Beach with over 13,000 bottles of more than 60 labels straight from the Motherland (including new vintages of old favorites and over a dozen NEW wines that have never been in the US before). In the meantime, we have been strip mining the warehouses of a few local distributors in search of overlooked treasures for you and we’ve found a few doozies: Johnston Oakbank Sauvignon Blanc 2004, Adelaide Hills Australia $8.99 Just in from the OLD New World...This is the oldest family owned business of any kind in South Australia, dating from 1839 when vines were planted at an elevation of 400 meters near the village the Johnstons named after their home in Scotland, Oak Bank. Truly classic Sauvignon Blanc: this wine is light in color, blows perfumed kisses of lychee and fresh grass out of the glass and has a firm, DRY, mineral driven finish. Serve with seafood / fish / chicken preps and watch the smiles break out. Sealed with a screwcap for your protection!
Peregrine Pinot Gris 007, Central Otago NZ $11.99 This is indeed a delicious example of cool climate Pinot Gris with impressive aromatics and a long, smooth, dry finish. SOMEONE at the importer was so impressed with this wine that they brought it to the US market priced to retail at $33.00. Well, to quote Roseanne Barr: “Yeah.....Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!!!!” Enter WINE EXPO’s crack Wine Hostage Rescue Team who specialize in making those sorts of mistakes go away in a hurry at GREATLY reduced pricing thus saving face for everyone involved. Sealed with a screwcap for your protection!
Plozner Friulano Moscabianca 2006, Friuli $17.99 Friulian goodness bottled just for you: Hints of ripe peach and golden apple aromas, crisp acids and minerals on the finish...in short, this is seriously good! “Moscabianca” literally translates as “white fly” but means something very rare and special like the deal we made on this wine (normally $27.99!). On our recurring theme of alternative closures, the cantina felt so strongly about their desire to protect the delicate aromatics of this wine with the latest technology (a GLASS cork called a Vino-Lok) that they gave up the prestigious DOC this wine should carry (which prohibits innovative closures) and labeled it simply Bianco Venezia Giulia...
We don’t need no stiiiiinkin’ Pear Vodka! Why would you pay $40+ for some neutral grain spirits distilled from grain and mixed with “natural and artificial flavors” when you could get THIS: La Captive Poire William, Normandy? This is distilled from perfectly ripe Alsatian pears (taking over 30 pounds of fruit to make each bottle) then given added flavor by letting that Eau de Vie be infused with the pure essence of ANOTHER perfect pear grown in the bottle. Plus it’s on SALE: Normal Retail $45.00 + WINE EXPO-isti Special: $29.99 (36 bottles only) Deal of the Week Foxes Island Pinot Noir 2005, Marlborough NZ $23.99 This is one of the silkiest, sexiest, most exotically scented Pinots we have EVER offered and is being retailed for as high as $49.99 at other stores in the US. We have 60 bottles only at this killer price and we expect them to vaporize shortly. Call today if you need some... Red you can CHEW on! Chateau de Nages Costières de Nîmes Rouge Lou Coucardié Reserve 2000 $19.99 Now THIS is manly wine for manly men: 80% Syrah / 10% each Mourvedre & Grenache bring a depth of flavor that just flat out demands a big steak (rare, ‘natch!). Deeeeep, dark, brooding and filled with meat, earth, spice and a hint of iron ore, this is the real merde. Tan, rested and absolutely ready to rock your world, this is VERY limited. Wine Myth of the Month: A common misconception is that WINE IS ART (it’s actually groceries). Deconstruction of this premise using Sturgeon’s Theorem that 90% of everything is crap (and you had better look pretty hard at the rest to make sure) actually shows us that most wine is swill, a lot of it is pretty good food, and a tiny percentage (much tinier than many self proclaimed artiste vignerons would have you believe!) is in fact art. We try to bring you the wines that are pretty good food and the occasional flash of blinding brilliance like this one: Endrizzi Teroldego Vallagarina Gran Masetto 2005, Trentino $110.00 The 2004 was one of our top five wines on our 2007 Italian buying expedition: made from 100% Teroldego that has been air dried in the manner of Amarone or Sforzato, we instantly dubbed it “Teroldegorone”! Packed with simply amazing depth and richness but with a smooth, dry finish, this will be fabulous with rich stews or braised dishes, game or big cheeses or you could just sip it while reading a good book by a roaring fire. This vintage is even better! Amazing, worth it, very, very limited. 7/11/10 Deal of the Week: La Captive Poire William, Normandy We don’t need no stiiiiinkin’ Pear Vodka! Why would you pay $40+ for some neutral grain spirits distilled from grain and mixed with “natural and artificial flavors” when you could get THIS delicious elixir distilled from perfectly ripe Alsatian pears (it takes over 30 pounds of fruit to make each bottle) then given added flavor by letting it be infused with the pure essence of ANOTHER perfect pear grown in the bottle. Plus it’s on SALE: Normal Retail $45.00 + WINE EXPO-isti Special: $29.99 7.8.10 On Your Marks, Get Set.....Grill! While we enjoy the elaborate culinary creations of skilled and inventive chefs as much as anyone (maybe more so since our suppliers are always dragging us off to nice joints to taste things) there is nothing more fundamentally satisfying than getting a good glow going on the charcoals, marinating some fresh fish, fattened fowl or marbled meat, slicing up some eggplant, onions and bell peppers and then burnin’ those suckers up on the grill! Consequently, we stock a large selection of wines we’ve field tested under the most rigorous conditions, serving them to starving Brazilian musicians, itinerant wine salespeople and visiting Italian winemakers circled ‘round an industrial sized Weber in Roberto’s backyard while listening to Roots Reggae, Blues and a Musica Brasileira. Here are some recent faves and they are all under $20.00... Light and fresh for fish and white meats (or while you cook): Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spâtlese 2003, Mosel Saar Ruwer Summer in a Glass! Just 8.0% ABV (which means you can actually DRINK this not just taste it!). Sehr Gut mit: Pork or Veal Sausages, grilled fish, spicy seafood boils, fruit and cheese, Vietnamese Stir Fries, Potato chips, Sunsets, friends... Latitude 41° South Island Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand Not for the meek or timid...This *rocks! This is racy stuff, exciting and zesty, the kind of wine the French call “nervous”: it can’t wait to cleanse anything from Lobster in Black Bean and Garlic Sauce to Foie Gras and Caramelized Vidallia Onion Confit off your palate and leave you gasping for more. *You can TASTE the rocks! Chateau St. Estève de Neri Rosé Grande Expression 2008, Luberon Mostly Grenache with a skoonch of Syrah for spice, this is the classic French “pale rosé” that has MUCH more flavor than its color lets on. The nose blasts berries but also lemon and even pink grapefruit and the crisp dry finish will have you reaching for more. It’s hard to admit, but our parents were right about a few things. One of them is that the best solution to Tex-Mex meets Yakitori So-Cal Cuisine is a good dry Rosé. Really! A wine that can be served ice cold yet has real red wine flavors and a modicum of palate cleansing tannins is a godsend when paired with cold chicken, greasy ribs, grilled eggplant, hamburgers or Ethiopian goat kababs! Chew on these while the steaks char (or serve as a side dish, the big stuff)! Ramos Pintos Duas Quintas Douro Tinto 2006, Portugal Looking for a little Summer Romance? Ladies, this is deeep, dark and brooding (and just a slight bit rustic), speaks NO English and will be gone by August 31st. Take a bottle home (or on a get away weekend) for a test drive... MezzaCorona Teroldego Rotaliano Riserva 2005, Trentino (VERY limited!) Got Ooooomph?!?!? Here is a real Tooth Stainer from The DARK Side: Teroldego is one of the great overlooked grape varieties of the world. Originating in the Dolomite mountains of Trentino, it combines the silky textures of Pinot Noir with intense bright red fruit (think pomegranate / cranberry) and loads of spice on the nose, is perfect for BBQ OR Pacific Rim Cuisine and is also our #1 pick for traditional holiday dinners with all the trimmings OR a summertime grilling party in the summer. Cheers and enjoy... Relief for an Oppressed Minority: White Wine Drinkers! Yes, we know, our obsession with Vini Rossi Italiani and our conviction that Chardonnay is not finished until it has bubbles in it sometimes leaves slim pickings (like only 100 or so choices...poor babies!) of white wines in our store. But when we find a great one (and especially if it is a great value!) we're all over it: Dry Creek Taylor’s Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Musque 2005 was $22.99 now just $14.99 Sauvignon Blanc of your Dreams? Delicious! Californian!! On Sale!!! This is made with the exotically scented, rich and figgy Musque clone of Sauvignon. NO cat pee OR fresh cut grass here but it’s bursting with rich, lush warm fruit / nut / spice flavor + a large scaled mouthfeel. It’s in its prime and ready for the world. Yes, we featured this a month ago. Yes, you demolished it in short order. Yes, we bought the remaining 17 cases from the winery and they will go fast.... Straight from the Vine (This week’s Rant-a-torial) These days people are more aware than ever before of the things they eat and drink, and with good reason too, in a time when multi-national food processors are trying to tell you that Cappuccino comes in a bag of powder or that ice-cold micro-filtering makes beer have more flavor. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that there is almost no other food product more natural than the sort of hand-made, small producer wines that we specialize in. The fact is that there is almost no incentive for any quality winery to engage in the kind of petrochemical “inputs” that are commonplace in the cultivation of produce meant for your table. The only reason farmers of, say, nectarines or table grapes, spend big bucks on chemical fertilizers and pesticides is that your gut reaction to the quality of their product is based on what it looks like: ideally the fruit should be large, uniform, shiny, definitely have no worm or bug holes and must have a shelf life of six weeks. In addition, maximum yields per acre are the only road to profitability. None of this applies to premium wines! Since the end goal of most quality wineries is small, intense, concentrated, complex fruit from very low yields, any sort of artificial fertilization is not an issue and even irrigation is kept to a bare minimum (in most of Europe it is illegal!). The best grapes tend to come from steep hillside plots where even hand cultivation is difficult and machine assisted spraying would be impossibly expensive. Plus, the end consumer never sees the fruit anyway. We are reminded of our visit to the late “King of Dolcetto”, Quinto Chionetti in Dogliani, where we told him that if he would make a back label explaining how he rejuvenated his fog-bound mountain vineyards by planting wild flowers and medicinal herbs we could sell all of his tiny production right here in moon-beam land. The response: he exploded and proclaimed that he was doing things normally and that “those guys in the Veneto with the helicopters making tanker ships full of watery Pinot Grigio should put that on their labels!” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! The bottom line is that of all the food products you consume good wine is one thing you can confidently feel good about (and will make you feel good too!). WINE EXPO’s Easy Party Planner You really can serve delicious wines at your reception, gallery opening, open house, family reunion, pyramid scam seminar (just kidding!) or whatever without breaking the bank or schlepping off to some club store in an industrial neighborhood where they use forklifts for shopping carts! Let our years of experience at some of the world’s finest restaurants and close to two decades here at the store help you get the most for your entertainment dollar. Here’s how it works: 1) Call our expert staff and discuss your needs, menu, body count and budget. 2) We deliver chilled, ready to serve wines, beer, spirits, soft drinks and mixers with complementary ice to keep them that way. 3) Any returns in resalable condition will be given store credit at full value (you bring’em back or we must charge a nominal restock fee). 4) After we sort it all out you will be given / e-mailed / faxed an itemized invoice sure to please the bean counter in residence. 5) You take the credit for being so well organized! It’s that simple! Upcoming Events for WINE EXPO-isti: Sat / Sun August 6 / 7 join us at Taste of Marina Del Rey! http://www.tasteofmarinadelrey.com/ Regional Cooking of Piemonte Class 7/17 Piemonte and Pasta! with WINE EXPO-ista Chris DeLoughrey This hands-on class explores the art of fresh pasta colored through the eyes of Piemonte. We will discuss the seasonal and artisan products of Piemonte while producing several farinaceous dishes. Menu includes: Gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce, Tagliatelle con funghi and Agnolotti alla Piemontese. Recipes, ingredients and regional wine pairings included. Schedule: July 17th/Saturday/10:30AM to 1:30PM Location: IIC Kitchen Fees: $85 per class/$150 for a couple More info & sign up: http://bit.ly/aDLXAz Our unique Wine of the Month Club Do you have friends or relatives who live in vinously deprived areas? Does your child slaving away in an Ivy League MBA mill need a remedial course in Business Wine 101? Are you just too plain busy (or lazy?) to come down and peruse the wonderful selection at Wine Expo? No problema! Just give us a call and sign up your friend, lover, boss, Great Aunt Tillie or even yourself for our monthly home delivery service. Give us a budget, a concept of the kinds of wines you would like and we’ll see to it that you and yours are well supplied with our best selections, custom fit to YOUR needs. Take Advantage of our special Discount Days! Effective immediately, when you buy any SIX or more bottles of STILL WINE (mix and match all you want but no sparkling wines, spirits or beer) on SUNDAYS or MONDAYS you will get 10% off that purchase. Sales must be completed on those days (phone orders are fine and we can hold or ship you the wine later) and this offer is not valid with any other promotion. Cheers! Buy Wine, score Free Pizza! Back by popular demand: When you buy any case of 12 bottles of wine here at WINE EXPO you will receive a voucher good for a FREE Pizza (your choice of toppings, eat in or take out) from our friends at Il Forno Trattoria* on Ocean Park Blvd here in Santa Monica (please remember to tip the servers!). Offer not valid with any other promotion. *Il Forno is one of the treasures of Santa Monica: a fun, kid friendly restaurant with GOOD food you can actually afford, indoor or outdoor seating, a banquet room plus free parking and their famous $6 Power Lunches are the best deal in town! http://www.ilfornocaffe.com/ 7.2.10 Grillin’ & Chillin Libations you can pour for the multitudes... Manoir du Parc Authentic Poire Cider, Saint-Joseph Normandy $13.99 / 750ml At just 3% alcohol but practically exploding with pure, unfiltered ripe pear flavors and fully sparkling, this has become a HUGE sensation here these past few months. It is absolutely delish with everything from grilled shrimp to jambalaya, soft shell crabs to Aunt Kizzies Fried Chicken, brunch to picnics to a full on Fourth of July cookout. Plus, you can pour everyone big glasses of this while you are waiting for a quorum and munching on snacks and no one will pass out (or make a pass at your mom!). We also really love the ingredient list on the label: 100% fermented Pear Juice. Nothing more, nothing less. This is GOOD.... Culley Unoaked Chardonnay 2007, Marlborough New Zealand $7.99 Grown in the cool climate Marlborough zone of NZ (famous for razor sharp, flinty, aromatic Sauvignon Blanc) and never exposed to wood at anytime in its development, the intense minerality and palate cleansing acidity of this might just be a revelation for those who generally flee from oaky Chardonnay. From sushi to fritto misto, Baja Fresh mahi mahi burritos to scallop brochettes on the grill, Culley is good to go. Cornaro Rosso Vino da Tavola, Veneto $9.99 Help us out here....we can’t decide: Is this the lightest Red Wine in the store or is it the darkest Rosé we have ever brought you? Either way it is still packed with the flavors and perfumes of wild berries, spices and Springtime in the mountains above Treviso. Plus, at just 11% ABV, you CAN have a third glass. Try it chilled (or not) with any classic picnic / grilled food. Bodegas Vicente Malumbres Tinto 2005, Navarra $11.99 Earthy, meaty, give me another haunch of roast goat wine from the lower slopes of the Spanish Pyrenees, this is 100% Garnacha spontaneously fermented with the natural yeasts from the vineyard while it sits on the skins for up to three weeks. Johnston Oakbank Pinot Noir 2003, Adelaide Hills $14.99 Just in from the OLD New World... This is the oldest family owned business of any kind in South Australia, dating from 1839 when vines were planted at an elevation of 400 meters near the village the Johnstons named after their home in Scotland, Oak Bank. Truly classic Pinot: light in color but packed with flavors of dried cherry, meat and a hint of oolong tea. Give this one a little air and something like a roast chicken, braised pork loin, mushroom pasta or cedar planked salmon and watch the smiles break out. Sealed with a screwcap for your protection! Terre da Vino Freisa d'Asti Frizzante 2008, Piemonte $14.99 So...what the hell is Freisa?!? It is a very traditional, very local variety grown in the vineyards of and drunk by the makers of great Barolo & Barbaresco. Why haven’t you seen one before? You could say it is the beautiful and enchanted daughter whom they packed off to the convent so the whole town wouldn’t be fighting over her. She smells like violets, spices and ripe red cherries, is medium bodied, hauntingly delicious.......and slightly sparkling! Serve chilled with antipasti and friends. Salud! US Distillery #1: The Spirit of the Revolution So, what is more appropriate for Independence Day than some fine American spirits from the oldest distiller in the nation (since 1753 and supplier to the Revolutionary Army of General George Washington!)? Maybe Ole Thom Jefferson was sipping one of these when he came up with that Pursuit of Happiness bit. Michter's Small Batch Bourbon at 91.4 proof $54.99 Michter's Single Barrel 25 Year Old Bourbon at 108.6 proof $398.00 A couple of snifters full of these and YOU may want to chop down a cherry tree (but only so you can smoke a nice suckling pig with the wood). Cheers! Michter's Small Batch Straight Rye at 84.8 proof $54.99 Michter's Single Barrel 25 Year Old Straight Rye at 92.8 proof $398.00 Step up from Crown Royal and get the pure rye blast from the past that inspired the Founding Fathers (since 1753!). Yeah, yeah...Wine, Whiskey, Pear Cider....What about the BEER?!?!? Just see LAST week’s list of dozens of fab craft and imported beers we brought in just for YOU. Cheers! 6.24.10 White Wine of the Week: Cinnabar Mercury Rising Blanc 2006, California $11.99 Sometimes we have to use highly technical language to talk about a wine. This is one of those cases.... “WOW!!!”. Semillon, Sauvignon and Viognier do the Vulcan Mind Meld (sans wood barrels or malolactic fermentation) to leave you in a state referenced in many great blues songs: “Oh, Lawdy Mama...you got my NOSE open baby!”. Budget seafood wine of the year? 10 cases only. Too! Hot!! Must have BEER!!! As we type the following are coming off the truck for your Endless Summer Refreshment: Old Speckled Hen, Tanner’s Jack, Hen’s Tooth Old Ale, Fischer Amber, Erdinger Weissbier, Spaten Munich Lager, Weihenstephaner Kristal Weissbier, Abita Amber, Turbo Dog & Purple Haze, Grimbergen Dubbel, Straffe Hendrik Bruges Tripel, Duchesse de Bourgogne Flemish Red, Gouden Carolus Tripel, Blanche de Namur Wit, Xingu Black Lager, Unibroue Quelque Chose, Czech Rebel Lager, Fuller’s London Pride, Triple Karmeliet, Affligem Dubbel & Trippel, Blanche de Bruxelles, Delerium Tremens & Nocturnum, St Martin Blond, Caracole Saxo Blonde, Grimbergen Blonde, Anderson Valley Summer Solstice, Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale & Old Scratch Amber Lager, Lost Coast Eight Ball Stout, North Coast Blue Star Wheat & Red Seal Ale, Chimay Tripel, Allagash Dubbel, Tripel & White, Anderson Valley Boont Amber & Summer Solstice...Prost! Red Wine of the Week: Mustilli Sant’Agata dei Goti Piedirosso 2005, Campania $18.99 This is very aromatic with lots of floral and spice aromas on top of ripe red fruit but no wood to get in the way of your meal. Medium bodied with a good balance of fruit and tannins leading to a soft finish, you could serve this to the resident Merlot-o-phile without worry but it is intrinsically much more fun. Insane DEAL of the Week: Clarendon Hills Brookman Merlot 2003, Australia $26.99 This is a large framed, plush and cushy Merlot with deeeep plum and coffee flavors from a very famous winery down under that originally wholesaled at a price that had even the deepest of discounters retailing it in the mid $50’s. Well, as you may have heard, the Aussie wine market is imploding with such force that it makes the California real estate market look positively gangbusters so now we have six cases for you at less than half price. Don’t dally... We’ve got New Neighbors! We’d like to invite those of you with kids to check out our the latest edition to our little corner of culture: The Santa Monica School of Dance and Music. Daniela (a nice Italian girl whose parents own local landmark Vito Ristorante on Ocean Park Blvd!) offers classes for kids of all ages (with affordable tuition) in all types of dance as well as both performance and composition for various instruments (remember, music education builds strong minds 12 ways). For much more detail check out the programs here: http://santamonicaschoolofdanceandmusic.com/ 6.19.10 Tasting Room Update: We are on a death march construction schedule (they are measuring to cut the entryway from the shop into the tasting room area as we type!) and hope to be open by mid July. Feel free to light incense / candles, pray to the gods of building inspection or meditate on how good that first flight of Prosecchi will taste with some great prosciutto...! Plus, we’re already getting press: Winery of the Week: Finca La Anita, Alto Agrelo Mendoza One of the first wave of “Cult Wineries” in Argentina, Finca la Anita is rarely offered in the US. This bodega was founded in the early nineties in an attempt to revive the tradition of small, self contained and self sufficient wine producers that began disappearing when the giant Co-ops and large producers funded by outside investment started buying all of the grower’s grapes for their world wide brands. All of the wines are estate bottled (and only in the best vintages) and the philosophy of the bodega is to let each vintage and variety speak its mind, not force them into some “house style” through manipulation in the cellar. The estate farms 175 acres located on the slopes of the highest peaks of the Andes mountain range, at 1000 meters above sea level and far away from any signs of civilization, using strictly organic viticulture. The vineyards are composed of dry and porous soils, set off by the permanent reflection of the sun on the snowcapped Andes mountains. Cold, dry winters and dessert-hot summer days contribute to the quality of the harvest. A large part of the crop is sold off with only the best fruit going into these bottlings. Finca La Anita Linea Tonel 1999, Mendoza $24.99 ORGANIC A fabulously elegant blend of Syrah (70%) and Malbec aged for 18 months in very large wooden tuns instead of barriques, lending a soft and fragrant character to the resulting wine which is bottled without filtration. Finca La Anita Syrah 2002, Mendoza $24.99 ORGANIC This is the flagship wine of the bodega and we are VERY glad to get some. It is deep and very flavorful (but never heavy) and virtually jumps out of the glass with a rich aromatic spectrum. It’s Hollywood Bowl Time! If you have never been to the Bowl you need to know that you can take your own food and WINE (or have a catered meal courtesy of Patina Group) so you can combine the Holy Trinity of Wine, Food and Music in one big happy gestalt either on the picnic grounds before the show (if you have bleacher seats) or in a box up front by the stage with tables, chairs and even aspiring actors to wait on you. Our good friends, the Burns Family at Marmalade Cafe (710 Montana Ave in Santa Monica, 310-395-9196, many other locations throughout the city), have got the preparation of primo Bowl vittles down to a science, packaging a full meal with utensils and napkins in a really sturdy and easily portable box that you can reuse for picnics for months afterwards. Call them (tell them we sent you) and they can e-mail or fax you this year’s Summer Picnics Menu. A couple of our favorites from their many offerings (all named for entertainers) with suggested libations include: The Sinatra features a nice insalata Caprese, sliced oak roasted Filet with Horseradish and Rosemary Potatoes then a Praline Fudge Brownie for dessert. Take a bottle of über refreshing Cornaro Raboso / Prosecco Frizzante (just off dry, gorgeous color, addictive) or Toffoli Prosecco to start, a big brawny red like the Gabbas Lillové Cannonau di Sardegna (all the flavors of classic grenache besed wines like CNDP minus the goopy textures and high alcohol) or maybe some Urciuolo Taurasi for the main plus a split of Vin Santo and YOU can be The Chairman of the Board. The Moby is vegetarian with flair: a salad with Baby Field Greens, Golden Beets, Orange Slices and Spiced Candied Walnuts in a Raspberry Vinaigrette, Glazed Portobellos with Tofu and Bok Choy in an Orange Saffron Dressing, Tabouli plus Roasted Garlic Hummus and Pita Chips and a Cherry Crumble for later. Pair that up with some of our large selection of Organic vino like the creamy and mineral driven Mecela Verdicchio Casa Antica Fosco, the fragrant and exotic Martilde Piume Malvasia Bianca, the silky smooth Ciù Ciù Esperanto or the big, boldFatalone Primitivo di Manduria Riserva, grab your raw hemp pullover to stay warm for the last set and you are good to go. Or, consult with the folks at Marmalade and they can make a special menu for your party (for the Baaba Maal / Playing for Change show Roberto is taking Spicy Shrimp and Mango Salad, Down Home Style Grilled Filet with Greens, Corn on the Cob and some Grilled Plantains to be served with Lallier Rosé Brut, Dario Raccaro’s insane Friulano and a vintage bottle of Donati Sangue di Drago Teroldego). See you at the Bowl! Our unique Wine of the Month Club Do you have friends or relatives who live in vinously deprived areas? Does your child slaving away in an Ivy League MBA mill need a remedial course in Business Wine 101? Are you just too plain busy (or lazy?) to come down and peruse the wonderful selection at Wine Expo? No problema! Just give us a call and sign up your friend, lover, boss, Great Aunt Tillie or even yourself for our monthly home delivery service. Give us a budget, a concept of the kinds of wines you would like and we’ll see to it that you and yours are well supplied with our best selections, custom fit to YOUR needs. |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 August 2010 22:42 ) |