Archive for March, 2009»
Recession Busters — Wines from Chile
In our continuing quest to find great wines under $10 we travel to Chile and find a red & a white guaranteed to make your taste buds jump with glee.
Chaman is a full bodied, earthy blend of 50% Carmenere and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Jose Miguel Sotomayor describes the wine as bright red in color with an intense, elegant and fruity nose that recalls cherries and plums with just a touch of smoke and mocha - wrapped in a refreshing acidity that leads to a very nice finish. This wine is $9.99 per bottle. Buy it by the case and knock off 20% — making it $8 per bottle; or $96 for the case. Not bad, huh?
Oskar Blues Momma’s Little Yella Pils
The newest and latest from Oskar Blues is an assertive, small-batched version of the beer that made Pilsen, Czechoslavakia famous. “Mamma’s” hearty amounts of pure malt, German specialty malts, and traditional and 21st century Bavarian hops make it a perfect antidote to the watered-down, cornfed versions of Pilsners clogging America’s shelves! “Take Two and Call Us in the Morning” was to be their slogan but alas, it was REJECTED by the Feds!Ramstein Beers from Butler, NJ
Now, those of you that KNOW beer KNOW Ramstein and KNOW that it hasn’t been available in South Jersey for quite some time now. Ramstein is one of those breweries that people knock themselves over for anyway — and now it is even harder to get. So if you are interested in a 6 pack or two . . . let us know asap.
The Ugly Duckling Wine that Tastes Like a Swan
Beer Overload!
This week we debuted a ton of new beers. Usually we like to introduce you to one a week but this week was BEER OVERLOAD - so we’ll do a little blurb about everything we got in.
~ Abita Andygator of New Orleans ~ a high gravity brew but unlike other high gravity beers it is fermented to a dry finish.
~ Bear Republic Black Stout of Healdsburg, Ca ~ As the name implies this beer is a hefty, black Russian Imperial-style Stout. And, for those of you who love your Bear Republic beers, the Racer 5 IPA & Red Rocket Ale are now available in 6 packs —- finally!
~ Stone Old Guardian of San Diego, CA ~ this year’s barley wine style is here - all 11.3% of it! Beautiful, bold barley wine has a massive malt character and a near critical level of hop notes.
~ Weyerbacher Insanity of good ol’ Easton, PA ~ made by taking their amazing Blithering Idiot Barleywine and aging it in oak bourbon casks. The result is a melange of flavors of rich malts, raisins and dates with a touch of vanilla. At 11% abv, try drinking it in a brandy snifter.
~ Lagunitas Ruben & the Jets of Petaluma, CA ~ a tribute to their dear Frank Zappa made chewy and chocolaty. This one will not be on the shelves long.
Wines of Uruguay
For the next couple of weeks we will try to highlight some wines from Uruguay. You would be surprised by the history of winemaking in Uruguay and the fantastic wines that come from there. Today we introduce you to Pizzorno Tinto Reserva, a beautifully crafted red wine under $20. Founded in 1910 by Don Prospero Jose Pizzorno, an Italian visionary and enterprising immigrant, the winery is now run by the third generation - grandson Carlos.4 More Reasons to Drink Red Wine (as if you needed them)
1.) It can keep you fit: For senior citizens who are already in good shape, moderate alcohol intake can help prevent the development of physical disabilities, according to a ne UCLA study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Researchers found that moderate drinkers had a lower risk than heavy drinkers or abstainers of developing physical problems that impeded their abilities to walk or dress or groom themselves.
2.) It may help fight Alzheimer’s: UCLA researchers found that compounds known as polyphenols, which naturally occur in red wine, can inhibit the development of proteins that deposit in the brain and form the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The polyphenols block the formation and decrease the toxicity of the Alzheimer’s associated protein deposits, scientists found.
3.) It boosts Heart-Healthy Omega 3 Levels: Moderate alcohol consumption helps boost the body’s omega-3 levels. The fatty acids are usually derived from fish and help protect against coronary heart disease, but people who consumed alcohol, especially wine, in moderation had higher omega-3 levels independent of their fish intake. Researchers hypothesize that this effect is due in part to polyphenols as well.
4.) It may lower lung cancer risk: Moderate consumption of red wine may decrease the risk of lung cancer in men, researchers reported in the October issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. They found that each glass of red wine consumed a month correlated with a 2% lower lung cancer risk. Men who drank one or two glasses of red wine a day saw a 60% reduced lung cancer risk.
A new & Easy Drinking Pinot Grigio
Become a Budget Minded Wine Drinker
We cannot emphasize enough that a great bottle of wine doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. In fact, since the very beginning of this economy crunch, we have repositioned our inventory to reflect that. You will now notice more & more wines in our store under $15 a bottle and even more under $10 a bottle. Here are a few examples:
* Pie de Palo Malbec and Viognier — two awesome wines from Argentina that are under $10! Two of our biggest sellers too. The Malbec is rich & full - the Viognier is lush & juicy.
* Casa Julia Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot — another wonderful pair under $10 — from Chile. The Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and citrusy and the Merlot is spicy and zippy.
* Primaterra Primitivo and Pinot Grigio — a favorite from Italy. The Primitivo is a perfect pizza wine and the Pinot Grigio goes great with seafood or a sunny day!
* Crosby Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot — a red lover? These affordable wines from California (under $12) are our biggest crowd pleasers. Who would have thought you could find a great California Cab for under $20!?
And there are many, many, many more. From now on we’ll call these wines RECESSION BUSTERS and they will be labeled that way throughout the store! AND DON’T FORGET — what’s the best way to save even MORE $$$$$???? Buy it by the case. Case discounts range from 10 - 20% off so that can make a great wine even better! Here’s a hint: by a wine by the case & split it with a friend or two!
Winemaker from Ochagavia Here @ Red, White & Brew!
Stop by Red, White & Brew at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, February 24th to meet Fernando Vargas, winemaker from the Ochagavia Winery in Chile. Fernando will be on hand to discuss and sample his wines and sign some bottles! Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Carmenere will be on hand.