Grapevine 2.3 January 31, 2017
Greetings!
We have LOTS of fun things happening at Village Wines and Piccolo this month!
Italian Wine Month continues! The next 4 Friday Night tastings will feature Italian varietals. Last Friday was our first of 5 tastings – and the wines were terrific! Join us this Friday night as Katie Schoeny takes us on another trip around Italy. Tastings start at 5. Be sure to come early – you don’t want to miss out on any of these wines.
March 1 – Italian Seminar with Dennis O’Brien of Cutting Edge. Watch for more information.
DATE CHANGE! February 18th – Blind Tasting – Which is Which??!!! Merlot and Cabernet – can you differentiate? Test, develop or enhance your tasting skills by sampling 5 sets of Cabernet and Merlot – (from the same wineries) – from Napa, Sonoma, Washington State and Chile. The wines will be brown bagged for you analysis and enjoyment. This tasting is an Open House format beginning at 1 – but reservations are preferred. $20/person.
February 21 – Obsidian Ridge Tasting – Elise Fahr – National Sales Manager of Tricycle Wine Partners – will guide us through 4 wines:
Poseidon Chardonnay $27.99
Poseidon Pinot Noir $34.99
Obsidian Ridge Cabernet $31.99
Half Mile Red Blend $64.99
As many of you know, these wines are aged in Hungarian Oak – giving the wine a delicious different dimension. Here is some background information from their website:
In our pursuit of wine quality, we are in the enviable position of being able to control not only our fruit source, but also our wood source. In the early 90s, the brothers Molnar lived and worked in Budapest, Hungary. The Berlin Wall had recently fallen, and Peter took the lead in “re-discovering” a reputable cooperage that – due to Communism – had fallen on hard times. The Molnars began importing barrels to Napa Valley and beyond, and some twenty years later are owners of the Kádár cooperage in partnership with Taransaud, the famed French cooperage.
The source of the oak used to make our barrels is critical to the evolution of our wines. Like many winemakers, we speak passionately and often about the natural singularities of place. How place influences the way we farm and harvest and ferment and, ultimately, shape the character of our wines. But the importance of place extends beyond the vineyards.
Each year, we walk the forests of Hungary just as we walk the vineyards of Carneros and the Mayacamas, selecting the finest oak for our barrels. This simple philosophy extends to our Kádár Hungary cooperage: great oak makes for great flavors. And our attention to the growth, harvest, and transformation of wood to barrel directly affects our ability to produce exceptional wines.
Please join us for this tasting. $20/person. Please call 771-6611 for reservations.
Our very own Chef Nick will be doing a cooking demonstration, February 28th in Piccolo. Check the Piccolo FB page and the next Grapevine for more details.
Coming soon! A Dessert Menu at Piccolo. Beginning the week of February 6th (next week!!) we will be offering a new dessert each month. This month’s dessert is a Strawberry Trifle – made of Chilled house made dessert with layers of angel food cake, Chantelle cream, and strawberry glaze.
We will also be offering a fun Valentine’s Day menu for your date night destination! Check out our Piccolo FB page for details.
We recently had the opportunity to taste several terrific wines from Priest Ranch. We were so impressed – we’re having a tasting on March 14th – so you all can taste them as well! From a 100% Grenache Blanc to big hearty red blends – we think you will want to add them to your cellar. $20/person – call 771-6611 for reservations.
Priest Ranch believes that all wines must stem from the land itself. Craig Becker, the winemaker and viticulturist draws on rich, diverse vineyard sources of the Napa Valley that feature a variety of elevations, exposures, soils and microclimates. Craig takes a minimalist approach to winemaking, encouraging the highest expression of personality, intensity and distinction in each varietal they produce.
Our Wine of the Month continues to offer interesting selections! Join today and begin expanding your palate.
Back in stock: Sun Dried Tomato and Bourbon Fig Torta – and Whitley’s Peanuts, cashews, pistachios, deluxe nuts, peanut brittle and chocolate covered peanuts. Yum.
Also, don’t forget Village Wines when it comes to gift planning. We can make custom gift baskets, and have gift certificates available in any denomination.
Future Friday Nights:
2/3/17 – Katie Schoeny – Vanguard
2/10/17 – Alvin Feldman – Vintner Select
2/17/17 – Denise Sullivan – Vintage
2/24/17- Charles Redmond – Wine Trends
3/3/17 – Staff Tasting
3/10/17 – Becki Ison – D&E
Thanks for your continued support of Village Wines of Glendale! Like us on Facebook – Village Wines of Glendale and Piccolo Wine Room! And follow us on Instagram!!!
Cheers, Kate
