(Julia's notes)
I am often amused by the term "smallwares" because they take up so much time and effort. I know there are plenty of folks out there who delight in finding just the right X to go with just the right Y, but whether due to opening day deadline stress, financial stress or my inner tomboy, my mantra seems to be: "Is it plain and cheap? Buy it. Next." Thank goodness I have a fantastic crew to delegate to. From the $14K hood/vent to the cute little teak salt & pepper shakers Cate found--Secco Wine Bar has been a truly collaborative effort. We ALL look forward to opening. Soon!
Cheers!
Julia

Friday, March 12th, 5-7pm:
(Peter's notes)
This Friday, our wine tasting will focus on wines from several, far-ranging French wine french2flagdistricts. Typically, French wine labels stress the provenance of the wine rather than the specific grapes employed. While the wine traditions of some appellations rely on single grape varietals, others are based upon an assemblage of several. This week, I'll be pouring five French wines ranging from crisp, dry whites to structured, dry reds. Here's the lineup this week:

Domaine de Bel Air 2008 Pouilly-Fume: Located on the upper Loire River in central France, the towns of Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire have achieved an international reputation for their white wines made exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc. Citrus, peach and flinty minerality are impressions that come to mind in tasting this crisp, snappy, dry white wine.

Olivier Morin 2007 Bourgogne Chitry Blanc: Located a half-dozen miles southwest from the town of Chablis, the town of Chitry offers a similar climate and terroir for making fantastic Chardonnay. The kimmeridgian chalk soils of Chitry, identical to those found in Chablis, impart a distinctive minerality to this apple-scented dry white wine.

Chateau de Roquefort 2008 Cotes de Provence Rose "Corail": This lively, dry, medium-bodied rose, made from 35% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Cinsault, 5% Carignan, 5% Rolle and 5% Clairette, is characterized by aromas that recall fresh strawberry and red raspberry.

Domaine Gerard Charvet 2006 Moulin a Vent Vieilles Vignes "La Reserve d'Amelie": Moulin a Vent is one of the ten crus, or specific vineyard areas, in the Beaujolais subregion of southern Burgundy. Gamay is the red grape here, and the terroir of Moulin a Vent provides a sturdier, ageworthy wine characterized by impressions that recall bing cherry, black currants, floral notes as well as an earthy-mineral impression no doubt linked to the soil composition which is granite and manganese based.

Chateau Magneau 2002 Graves Rouge: The Graves district of Bordeaux produces both red and white wines, each made from an assemblage of local grapes. The 2002 Magneau Rouge is made from 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. This matured Bordeaux provides a distinctive stony impression (unsurprising given the fact that the district is named for the gravelly soils found here) underlying aromas that include saddle leather, black raspberry jam, and black currant.

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara''s notes)
Howdy Cheese People.
I can't tell you how lovely it was to have some of that Richmond spring weather this week! Sitting out in my back yard, sipping coffee in the warm sunshine, clean sheets drying in the breeze, purple and yellow crocuses blooming their glorious, happy faces, and everywhere I turn there are robins hopping about. Ah, I do love spring in Richmond, it is simply spectacular, don't you think? And to help me shed the darkness of winter and fully embrace the sparkle of the season, I cut off most of my hair today. Grin. Nothing says spring like a new, short do! So, with many, many thanks to Kaci of Look Salon for always making me feel like a million bucks, I say, out with the old and in with the new!

Or perhaps I should really be saying in with the new AND the old, simply because this week's cheese fits into both of those categories. It is a tasty, crumbly, sharp, vibrant, rich, 7-year aged, vintage, Canadian cheddar from Old Quebec. I bring this in to quell all the rumbles I get at the counter for long-aged cheddars and I agree, there is something so lovely that happens to cheddar as it ages and ages. It's about time I got one in here. Not to mention how much I enjoy telling all of my younger cheese people (and, believe it or not, I have a lot of them) that I have a cheese in the case that is older than they are. So, come on by and help we welcome in the spring with a really old, new cheese! Hope to see you soon.

Whitehall Wine Dinner at Comfort March 23rd
Chef Jason Alley has teamed up with one of our favorite Virginia wineries for a fantastic wine dinner. Menu below, please email Comfort for information or to reserve your seats: chef@comfortrestaurant.com

COMFORT
Whitehall Vineyards Dinner, March 23, 2010

Reception:
Salmon rilletes, deviled ham,
assorted pickles
2007 Petit Manseng

1st course:
Chopped salad: smoked scallops, roasted tomato, avocado, soy beans, greens, pickled ramp/buttermilk dressing
2007 Chardonnay

2nd course:
Roasted suckling pig, braised pearl onions, sausage/cornbread pudding
2007 Touriga

3rd course:
Grilled quail, smoked paprika, Clementine, red wine, swiss chard, crispy potatoes
2008 Petit Verdot

4th course:
Apricot tart, lychee, beets, cardamom cream
2006 Soliterre
$65 per person, tax and tip included

Cider-o-the-Week
(David's notes from the field)
William Magner started commercial cider production in Clonmel, County Tiperary, in 1935. Today the cider production is considered a vital part of Clonmel's economic infrastructure. Cider is a hugely popular beverage in Ireland and the U.K. and seems to be catching on around the rest of the world. This is no surprise as these beverages are delicious!
Magners cider is a clean, crisp, dry cider that has a lean apple flavor. Come on by, we will have a bottle of this fine drink open all week for sampling.

BEERS of NOTE
Boelens Bieken Ale
Small production beer made with honey.

Full Sail Hop Pursuit
A full flavored Extra Pale Ale, this beer has a smooth hop character that is balanced by medium bodied, clean, crisp malt flavors.

Left Hand
400 Pound Monkey
This is an English style IPA apparently named after a comment made at Left Hand where, referring to massively hopped beers, some one said, "Any monkey can throw 400 pounds of hops in a beer."

Wine-o-the-Week
(Peter's notes)
Antonelli 2009 Grechetto dei Colli Martani
Produced in the Colli Martani DOC near the picturesque town of Todi in Umbria, this distinctive, structured dry white wine made from the indigenous Grechetto grape offers upfront fruity impressions of melon and peach yet finishes with a sense of tannin and minerals.
$14.99 per bottle.

(Julia's notes)
Hello Everybody!
Wow, construction is flying! All my hard-working trades have busted a move, made up for lost time (snow blows) and are actually on schedule! If anyone ever needs a hood guy, electrician or plumber, I can heartily recommend my guys--pictured here is Scott from Traditional Plumbing). Chef Tim and his crew finished tiling, the equipment has started rolling in (hello little six burner, welcome to your new home) and UPS arrives every day with packages full of smallwares.

The only weird part is I feel like I'm back at my old job in OP-504 (USMC Amphibious Warfare at the Pentagon) considering I am constantly surrounded by dudes--except for Debra at Janosko I'm convinced there are no women in the restaurant outfitting industry! Now back to finding a used kitchen prep sink with splash guards...

Cheers!
Julia

Friday, March 5th, 5-7pm:
Österreich
(Peter's notes)
When we first opened River City Cellars back in 1998, Austrian wines were almost completely unknown on the American wine scene. Grapes such as "Gruner Veltliner" and "Blaufrankisch" might as well have come from Burkina Faso as from Austria, and many people assumed, erroneously, that "typical" Austrian wines would be sweet like "typical" German wines. Twelve years later, the situation has changed considerably. Gruner Veltliner has not only become accepted but in fact has become quite popular. (One of our top ten selling wines last year was a Gruner Veltliner.) While Austria is still best known for white wines, there are also plenty of delectable reds wines being produced throughout the country. This Friday, I'll be pouring samples of five Austrian wines that I believe convey at least part of Austria's rich wine tradition. Here's what's on the table this week:

Buchegger 2008 Gruner Veltliner "Gebling": Gruner Veltliner is Austria's national grape, and the vineyard-designated "Gebling" bottle from Buchegger epitomizes fine Gruner. Classic aromas of pepper, peach and floral hints characterize this round, mineral-laden dry white wine.

Fritsch 2008 Riesling: This dry though not austere Riesling from biodynamic producer Fritsch exudes aromas of pear, nectarine and flowers.

Meinklang 2008 Burgenland Red: Made from two Austrian red grapes, Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch, this wine is made by certified-organic producer Meinklang in the southeastern region of Burgenland. Soft tannins and ripe cherry-like flavors characterize this medium-bodied dry red.

Meinklang 2007 Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir, also known as Blauburgunder, is well suited to Austria's temperate, continental climate. Wild strawberries, subtle earthy notes and silky tannins characterize this elegant, dry, medium-bodied red wine. Certified organic production!

Zantho 2006 St. Laurent: Perhaps related to Pinot Noir, the St. Laurent grape is widely used in making red wines in Austria. Fruity yet dry, this softly textured red wine offers flavors that recall riper black cherries and black raspberries.

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara''s notes)
Howdy Cheese Peeps.
In keeping with this stinky, pout-inducing weather we are having, I brought in a new stinky, cheese for us to try. I know, I know, perhaps I should have brought in something sweet smelling and happy, but this week I am choosing to fight stink with stink. Don't two wrongs make a right? Or, more accurately, don't two stinks make a sweet? Hrm. I'm not at all sure about that, but I do always like to try a new stinker, so here we are.

This week's new arrival is the Heritage Red Square from Tasmania. It is a soft, washed rind, cow's milk cheese whose sticky, orange rind provides a rustic, earthy, aromatic edge to balance a mild, creamy, rich center. Not too funky, but just funky enough to hint at what a washed rind cheese is all about. At least that's what I've heard and read about it. Sigh, I haven't actually tasted it yet, but I'm really hoping that what I've written up there is the truth! Not only am I looking forward to tasting another Australian cheese (as my experience with Aussie cheeses is fairly limited) but it might just put an end to my search for the ultimate starter stinker, once and for all. I've been looking for the perfect, mildly-funky, gateway cheese that might lead the uninitiated to the truly hard-core stinkers for a while now, so let's see if the HRS fits the bill, shall we?

And, saving the best news for last, I am surrounded by hundreds of gold-foil wrapped Rabitos. Yes, it is true, the chocolate covered figs are back. Better hurry!

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes from the field)
The fourteen breweries in and around the city of Cologne are governed by the laws of the Kolsch-Konvention. Not as important as the Geneva convention but apparently taken just as seriously. The Sunner brewery was started in the 1830's and quickly grew to be one of the city's largest producers of beer. The father encouraged his sons to work in other breweries around Germany and Austria, and by 1903 they were producing a beer that coined the term Kolsch, in 1918. The brewery had some ups and downs before and after the second world war, but by the 1950's had finished major reconstruction efforts. The old brewery is the only pre-war industrial building in Cologne to be used for it's original purpose.
Sunner Kolsch is a medium bodied, refreshing, and flavorful ale. Come on by all week we'll have a bottle open for sampling.

BEERS of NOTE
Urthel Samaranthliefmanskriek
Originaly brewed by the head brewer for her wedding, this is a huge beer, often referred to as the perfect degustation beer.

Southern Tier Backburner
Back in stock just in time to bury in your friend's backyard!

Nethergate Augustinian
"Originally brewed to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the founding of the Augustinian priory in Clare, the original home of Nethergate." Yes, that says 750th anniversary!

Wine-o-the-Week
(Peter's notes)
Lodali 2008 Barbera d'Alba "Bric Sant' Ambrogio"
This single-vineyard wine, produced in the heart of the Piedmont region of Italy, provides typical Barbera flavors that recall sour cherry, cinnamon and earth with a bittersweet finish. Versatile and well-balanced, the Lodali Barbera pairs with all manner of late-winter fare. $13.99 per bottle.

(Julia's notes)
Hello Everybody!

Wow.
To try and reign in my swirling, exponentially expanding to do list, I've taken a cue from the lovely and talented Kelly Justice (owner of Fountain Bookstore): Haiku. Makes it all seem less, well, insane...

My brain is bursting
Secco to open before
French Film Festival

30 amp fryer
Fifty seven resumes
Discontinued tile

Bowling alley wax
High-temp no-chem glass washer
Five dozen cheese slates

Zoning compliance
1.7 pounds ice per seat
POS training

BFM on draft
Research exterminators
Cross wired speakers

Refrigeration
Wrong week to quit sniffing glue
Fire suppression next

Grease to Biofuels
Dimmable halogen lights
Operating agreement

Meet with CPA
What do you mean 'not in stock'
Drafting press release

Repurposed lumber
Compostable containers
Need to drink Champagne

Scheduling two staffs
Need to finalize wine list
Hand me the Advil

Website comps to proof
Whole or half cube icemaker
No more g@%%#&n snow!

Cheers!
Julia

Friday, February 26th, 5-7pm:
(I'd rather be in) The Sunny Mediterranean!
(Peter's notes)
It's late February and there are just the faintest hints that this monumental Winter that we've been "enjoying" might finally be approaching an end. The longer days and the first brave crocuses are just a couple hints of the milder days that lie ahead. While there are still several weeks before Spring actually establishes itself here, I'd like to do what I can to encourage its arrival! With these thoughts in mind, I've put together a tasting which might transport us (at least in our imagination) to a seemingly warmer setting such as the Mediterranean. This Friday, I'll be pouring five wines produced in areas that lie along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea from Spain to France to Italy. Here's what we'll be basking in this week:

German Gilabert NV Cava Brut Nature Reserva: Produced in Penedes, an appellation just west of the city of Barcelona, this dry sparkling wine, made from a traditional assemblage of Macabeo, Xarello and Parellada grapes offers flavor impressions of tart apples underscored by leesy notes.

Colle dei Bardellini 2008 Vermentino Riviere Ligure di Ponente "Vigna U Munte": Produced along the Ligurian coast just west of Genova, this elegant, mid-weight dry white wine, made from the Vermentino varietal, is characterized by aromas that recall lemon zest, cedar and rosemary.

Primitivo Quiles 2008 Monastrell " Cono 4": Made from pure Monastrell in the Alicante appellation of southeastern Spain, this spicy, full-bodied red offers flavors that remind one ripe cherries and dried figs.

Mas de la Deveze 2006 Cotes de Roussillon Villages: Produced in southern France not far from the border with Spain, this full-bodied red is made from roughly thirds each of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah. Not unlike fuller style reds from the Rhone Valley, this generous wine offers loads of dark fruits flavors as well as hints of licorice and Mediterranean herbs.

Odoardi 2004 Savuto Rosso: Produced in Calabria in the toe of Italy, this full-bodied, complex red is made from an assemblage of local varietals including Galioppo, Greco Nero and Magliocco Canino. Obscure? Yes, but with a melange of flavor impressions that recall menthol, cherry, strawberry jam, tea leaves, and Chinese five spice, you just might find a lot to love about this wine.!

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara''s notes)
Howdy Cheese People!
I'm having a hard time thinking about cheesemails when there are baby goats around. Whoa, I mean, seriously, what else is there? Jumping, joyful, curious, crazy-cute, week old, goats, that's what. I've been taking videos like a proud new parent of the bottle feedings and the off-the-wall-side-kicks and the simple click-clacking of their tiny little feet on any hard surface they can find. There's nothing like it, I tell you. But, I should try and focus for a moment, because in addition to their overwhelming adorability and tap dancing prowess, baby goats mean milk, which, lucky for us, means cheese! So, for your snacking pleasure, I'll have fresh farmstead chevre, rounds of Old Green Mountain and plenty of pyramids of peppery powdered perfection. Yeah, I was denying how much I missed these cheeses, and am so relieved that the wait is finally over! I know you are too, so come on by and put an end to the delerium tremens with a little Caromont cheese fix! Hope to see you soon.

ps: Almost forgot! My new cheese of the week isn't a cheese at all! It's a HUGE tub of Catalan green olives with garlic and celery and a tiny smidge of spicy pepper and curry. They are fat and meaty and flavorful and really darn tasty, so come get some!

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes from the field)
21st Amendment IPA
21st Amendment started brewing in the year 2000, in San Fransisco. Their IPA, India Pale Ale, is they're most popular beer and really quite good. The beers are canned and as such are perfect for pick-nicks! Come on by we'll have a can open all week for sampling.

BEERS of NOTE
Ichtegems
Absolutely amazing Flemish sour ale. Finally back in stock!

BFM Abbey de Saint Bon-Chien 2008
BFM's latest Abbey de Saint Bon-Chien is a slightly more sour version. Barrels of beer were aged for distinctly different periods of time to produce a slightly more complex beer, if that is even possible.

Wine-o-the-Week
(Peter's notes)
Domaine Bellevue 2009 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc
Long a favorite here at River City Cellars, the recently arrived 2009 vintage of this wine offers loads of citrus zest aromas as well as tropical floral notes. At just $10.99 per bottle, it's perfect for informal events of all sizes!

(Julia's notes)
Hello Everybody!

Ceiling hole cutting, cementboard snapping, plasma cutting, barbonesbathroom tiling, internet researching, bar building, price haggling, ad designing, menu finalizing, fictitious name filing, online shopping, vent welding, French pressing, chase constructing, panini pressing, posting and publishing, olive oil tasting, and even more drinking than usual has marked this last week, with a few more to go (if all the planets align). Fingers crossed! You can see the latest here on our blog.
Cheers!
Julia

Thursday, February 18th, 5-7pm:
Ommegang Brewery
(David's notes from the sick bed)
In 1997 the Ommegang brewery was built in Cooperstown, NY. Just looking at the architecture of this fine building communicates the passion they have for making things well. After being acquired by Belgian brewers Duvel, their quality increased along with the the size of their market. Today they stand as the "go to" on Belgian brewing in the U.S. Thursday we'll have Stephen from Ommegang here to taste out a sample of their beers, and a couple beers that their parent company also produces.

Hennepin is a clean, clear Belgian style beer, not unlike a triple. Brewed with various spices, this beer is also designed to age. You can purchase one year old cave aged Hennepin at the Ommegang brewery. Just ask Jim and Marion S.

Ommegang's self titled beer was their first original offering. Brewed in a traditional old brown style, it's rich and nutty with a hint of sweetness and a dry finish.

Ommegeddon is a Belgian strong ale, brewed to 8% alcohol, that is well hopped, and bottled with Brettanomyces yeast. Brettanomyces, or Brett, is a wild yeast strain that is used quite a lot in Belgium. It can add barn yard like flavors, and deep, very tasty, sour flavors.

Maredsous beers have been brewed under the supervision of monks at the Duvel brewery since 1963. The monks that brewed this fine beer have two abbeys. One of which is famous for it's huge library with some books dating back 1000 years!

Leifmans have been brewing and blending beers since the 17th century. Threw out this time they have perfected rather unique beers. The Kriek is a Belgian old brown ale that has whole cherries added to it, and then ages in barrels for one year. The beer is then blended before bottling with younger old brown ale and Liefmans Goudenband which is itself an interesting dark beer made up of several blends. The result is a full flavored, fruity, and somewhat strong, %6 alcohol, beer that pairs with a huge array of foods and events.

Friday, February 19th, 5-7pm:
Free Wine Tasting with Dave Jones of Downey Selections!
(Peter's notes)
This Friday, the affable Dave Jones of Michael R. Downey Selections* will be on hand to pour five wines from the superb Downey catalog. Although the Downey portfolio includes wines from every wine producing continent on earth, it is particularly well known for its Italian and French offerings. With this in mind, Dave will be discussing and pouring samples of the following wines:

Orsolani 2008 Erbaluce di Caluso "La Rustia": Working in the Alpine hills of north of Turin in the Italian Piedmont, Gianluigi Orsolani makes several wines using the local Erbaluce varietal. Complex yet subtle fruit and floral aromas characterize this rich yet very crisp white wine.

Domaine du Salvard 2008 Cheverny Blanc: Made from 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Chardonnay, this pungent, bone-dry white wine from the Loire Valley of central France offers aromas that remind one of pepper, freshly-cut ivy, and citrus peel.

Renzo Masi 2006 Chianti Riserva: Aged for 18 months in oak casks, this Tuscan red shows off classic Sangiovese scents of dried cherries, sour cherries and cedar notes.

Clos Siguier 2007 Cahors: Produced in the Cahors appellation of southwestern France, this structured dry red wine is made from 90% Malbec and 10% Tannat. Plum and dark cherry notes come to mind in tasting this tannic and mineral-tinged wine.

Domaine Les Genestas 2007 Signargues Cotes du Rhone Villages: This fuller-bodied red from the Rhone Valley in Southern France offers a range of flavor impressions including wild berries, herbes de provence, and lapsang souchong tea.

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara''s notes)
Howdy Cheese Peeps!
Another week brings us yet another new cheese to try. I don't know about you, but I am truly enjoying this new cheese project of mine. I feel utterly invigorated and refreshed by the influx of all these diverse and wonderful cheeses from all around the world and thankfully, my cheese rut is now a thing of the past. It also never ceases to amaze me just how many magical curd incarnations that exist out there in Cheeseland...

This week I have Lingot du Quercy on the way. This pasteurized goat's milk from southwestern France is an ingot shaped bar of bloomy-rind deliciousness. A bit salty, a bit barnyardy, and a lot of creamy, tangy, lovely textured madness. It is one of those cheeses that ripens from the outside in, creating that softer creamline at the rind that gradually gets denser towards the center. Yum.

Oh, and even more important than all of this new cheese excitement, I'm also tickled pink (and maybe blue) that I'll be heading to Caromont next week for kidding season, take two. And you know what goat babies mean, right? Goat babies=goat's milk=fresh Caromont Chevre!!!! It's true, the wait is over, so bring out the cigars and get ready for some VA happiness straight from the farm!

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes from the field)

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barely wine style ale is beers answer to winter time. Times can be challenging when your out, maybe digging a whole in your friends back yard to bury beer in, and there is freezing rain coming down like icicles. But then you drink some Sierra Bigfoot and you suddenly feel a great deal happier. Heck, you pledge to be at your friends yard every year around this time to dig some more! Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot is a bold, malty, high alcohol (9.6% alcohol) beer with a huge amount of hops added. This beer is hopped with Chinook for bittering, Cascade and Centennial for finishing, and dry hopped with all three! A classic barely wine style ale that Sierra Nevada have apparently been making for 25 years. Come on by all week, we'll have a bottle open for sampling.

Wine-o-the-Week
(Peter's notes)
Dom du Pas St. Martin 2008
Saumur Rouge
"La Pierre Frite"
Made from pure Cabernet Franc in the Saumur district of the Loire Valley, this elegant, expressive red offers upfront ripe berried aromas as well as smoke and woodsy notes. This wine, which is certified organic, retails for a mere $12.99 per bottle!

Hello Everybody!

Here's a funny text exchange that illustrates just how glamorous opening a wine bar is...

Chef: "I'm getting excited looking at this cheese list!"

Me: "I'm getting confused trying to price out Durock--my search results keep coming up with David Hasselhoff movies."

Chef: "As in Duroc pork?"

Me: "No. As in 3'x5' sheets of moisture resistant cement underlayment for the kitchen tile."

Chef: "Oh. I need coffee."

Me: "I need beer."

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Tomorrow we will try and squeeze in hood venting between snowstorms, register Secco's Fictitious Name Certificate, and pick up our first load of kitchen equipment (which, I'm happy to report, helped cooked food with love right around the corner at 1 North).

Cheers!
Julia

Friday, February 12th, 5-7pm:
V-DAY Wine & Gearharts Chocolate Tasting!
(Peter's notes)
Sunday, my friends, is Valentine's Day, and so for the candyheartstasting this Friday, I've got five wines which might be delicious under any circumstances but which strike me as being particularly well-suited to this romantic holiday. Here's this week's lineup:

Subirats NV Cava Rosado: While bubbly is a more-than-acceptable beverage just about anytime, it seems especially made for Valentine's Day. Made from the local Trepat as well as a bit of Pinot Noir, this dry sparkling rose from southern Spain provides floral and strawberry aromas as well as fine, persistent bubbles.

Montinore 2007 Gewurztraminer: This dryish white wine from the Willamette Valley of Oregon offers classic aromas of rose petals and lychee fruit as well as a hint of ginger.

Domaine de Montmeix 2006 Bourgogne Rouge: Red berries and subtle hints of woodsmoke characterize this medium-bodied classic Pinot Noir from Burgundy.

Fosco 2007 Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba: Plushly-textured Piemontese red with dark cherry and plum notes, softer tannins and a bittersweet finish.

Innocent Bystander 2009 Pink Moscato: This aromatic dessert bubbly from Victoria, Australia offers aromas of sweet plum candies yet finishes clean. A superb wine to serve with chocolate such as those from Gearharts!

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara''s notes)
Howdy Cheese People!
We are simply swimming in high-caliber chocolates and little rounds of delicious cheese around here. So, no matter what you seek, whether sweet or savory, we've definitely got you covered this week. But, gosh, folks, I have to start with the chocolates. Oh, the chocolates! I'm almost at a loss for words. Not only are we stocked up with ALL sorts of wonderful dark chocolates from Charlottesville's own Gearharts Chocolates (Pistachio Toffee is in the house!), but Matt Gearhart will even BE here this Friday night to sample some of his fantastic chocolates with you. You've had these before, no? They should really be called GearHEARTS just because they are that good. If you haven't tasted them, you should seriously stop by and remedy that, Friday, February 12th, 5-7. (There will be the normal wine tasting, too. Perfect!) I'm just really hoping we put the chocolate tasting right by the cheesecase...

In other chocolate news: Rabitos, Rabitos, Rabitos!
That is my new mantra. Figs, brandy, chocolate truffle-y perfection from Spain. Not too sweet, individually wrapped, pieces of dark chocolate perfection. Watch out. That's all I'm going to say...

And in cheeseland, there is at least a trio of triple-cremes on the way (might even be a quartet if we are lucky), there is a new French goat's milk with truffles (jumping up and down in anticipation), and on top of all that, I also have not one, but two, Northern Italian delights from one of my favorite producers, the nevatCaseficio del Alta Langa AND the fluffy Spanish goat's milk pillow, Can Pujol back in. Really? How did I get so lucky?? This case is graced! Hope to see you soon.

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes from the field)
Started in 1983 as a home brew shop, Larry Bell started what eventually has become one of the best breweries in this country. In 1985 some of his first beers were made and sold, and in 2003 the new brewery in Comstock, Michigan, was opened and distribution to over 15 states was achieved.
Bell's Kalamazoo stout is one of the older beers Bell's has been making. Its deep, rich flavors accented by the addition of licorice bring together a uniquely pleasurable brew. Goes great with contemplating the great amounts of snow that keep arriving in your yard. Come on by the shop, we'll have a bottle open for sampling all week!

Wine-o-the-Week
(Peter's notes)
Fattoria Colsanto 2007
Umbria Rosso IGT "Ruris"
Made from 70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 10% Sagrantino meld together in this dark, spicy, substantial red from the heart of Italy. Blackberry, tea leaves and wintry spices come to mind in tasting this full-bodied red. A whole lot of wine for $11.99 per bottle.

Hello Everybody!

What a crazy week. In case you haven't heard, our beloved beer buyer David G. fell (literally) victim to the ice Sunday night and is recuperating from a nasty leg break. He'll be released from MCV soon and we'll figure out a way for him to "work from home" until he's mobile. Which means he'll 'break up' the monotony of bedridden beer-drinking, soccer-watching and political history reading by sending me occasional emails begging me not to let his section go to hell. Dear David: we hope you get better soon, because no one else can reach the airfilter.
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The Hood! She Is Up!!!
Seriously. This is the biggest and priciest piece of the wine bar puzzle so far. A little hole drilling here, a little arc welding there, and we're cooking with gas...see the latest blog post for more progress pictures.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to brag for a minute. Needless to say with the fast approaching completion of Secco Wine Bar next door (I can safely say I have dumped my proud "process oriented" moniker and fully adopted being "goal oriented" after all this time) I have suffered sleep deprivation, spreadsheet overload, and a barrage of unsolicited salespeople (from Auto-Chlor to Verizon). Tonight a clipboard-carrying woman came into the shop and weirdly, I instantly went to my 'happy place' instead of my 'I crush your head' place...

Oh, hello Zoe, so good to see you again.* Oh, you are working with the Cellars at Jasper Hill Farms? Lovely. We often carry your blue, and of course we'd be interested in other products.** Unless I scared her off, um, completely, I foresee delicious Vermont-Virginia partnerships in the future...

Cheers!
Julia

*OMG there's a CHEESE ROCKSTAR in the house!!! Zoe was the cave manager, affineuse extraordinaire, and super amiable instructor at Murray's when I attended their first ever Cheese Bootcamp in NYC. She is a font of cheese knowledge and a huge inspiration.

**So hopefully your website reports don't show how we've been stalking you and your cave construction, or how we send gushing fan letters from fictitious names that would make Mel from Flight of the Conchords squirm. Haha just kidding. So when can we eat your whey-fed pigs?

Friday, February 5th, 5-7pm:
Wintry Mix!
(Peter's notes)
The forecast for this weekend, surprise-surprise, calls for a wintry mix. Not to be outdone by the Weather Diety, we're offering a "wintry mix" of our own this Friday with samples of five inexpensive yet tasty wines for homebound entertaining. Here's what I'll be pouring:

Vina Collado 2008 Campo de Borja Blanco: Produced in the Campo de Borja appellation of north-central Spain, this crisp white wine, made from pure Macabeo, offers citrus and herbal elements.

Dal Maso 2008 Gambellara Classico "Ca' fischele": Made from 100% Garganega in the Veneto region of northern Italy, this dry white wine offers delicate floral and peach like aromas.

Grupo Yllera 2007 Cuvi Roble: This delicious, mid-weight red, made from Tempranillo, imparts impressions of ripe cherry, cedar and vanilla.

Domaine de la Guicharde 2008 Cotes du Rhone: Abounding in berried notes and hints of pepper, this medium-bodied red wine from the southern Rhone Valley is made from 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah.

Case Ibidini 2007 Nero d'Avola: This full-bodied red wine, made from Sicily's best-known red varietal, Nero d'Avola, offers typical blackberry and licorice-spice flavors.

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara''s notes)
Howdy Cheese People!
So, after our whirlwind trip out west, my parents are now happily tucked away at their Tucson retreat, surrounded by cacti and quail, and I'm back here, just in time for another snow storm. Huh? Where am I? Is this really Richmond? Crazy, this winter, just crazy. Not that I'm complaining, mind you, as I kinda like the snow, but, I'm not here to talk about the weather, I'm here to talk about the cheese! We have yet another new cheese to try this week, I'm thrilled to report. (And, I must add, that I am mighty impressed with myself for actually keeping a New Year's Resolution for a change!)

This week's newbie is Thomasville Tomme, from the tommeskilled cheesemakers of Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, Georgia. We've all had (and loved) their soft, rich, bloomy rind, Green Hill rounds, so I was very excited to taste one of their other creations. The Thomasville Tomme is an aged cheese, made with rich, raw, grass-fed Jersey Cow's milk, in the style of a Pyrenees Tomme. It has a natural grey dusty rind with a semi-firm golden interior that is speckled with small eyes. The flavor is mellow and rich, with salted buttery notes and a slight twang. Rumor has it that this cheese is a fantastic melter, and I'm just dying to try it in some homemade mac and cheese! Ooh, or maybe I'll make a Cream of Broccoli and TT soup this weekend! That would be a great heart-warming dish to have in a snowstorm, no? Hope to see you soon!

Beer-o-the-Week
(Julia's notes)
OK, I'll admit I'm not exactly a football fan, and that none of my staff even knew who was playing in the Superbowl Sunday (it is Sunday, right?) until I queried the interweb. But after years of excruciating tutelage by my boyfriend I now know the difference between offsides and false start, and no longer snicker at the phrase "special teams." So, I'm rooting for the Saints because WHAT SELF- RESPECTING BACCHANALIAN DOESN'T LOVE NEW ORLEANS?!?!
So we're stocking up on Abita Amber.
Go Saints. Now back to working on my list of stupid questions to ask Dave during crucial plays: "Um, is hair-pulling a personal foul?" "Hey--help me move some furniture?" "Do they use real gold leaf on the helmets?" "Honey, can we see what's on Cspan2 during the commercials?"...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beers of Note
Ommegang Ommegeddon
(Brewery notes)
"Ommegeddon is 8% ABV Belgian-style ale with a wild twist--a dose of Brettanomyces yeast and a blast of dry hopping. It's a strong blonde ale with a sharp citrus flavor that, like the other Ommegang ales, has a dry finish. Its dryness and funkiness begat the name of Ommegeddon ¯ for the time when the forces of light and dark battle for world dominion. It's time for you to pick your side."

Wine-o-the-Week
(Peter's notes)
Buondonno2007 Chianti Classico
More than 20 years ago, Gabriele Buondonno and his wife Valeria Sodano purchased "Casavecchia alla Piazza," a small farm located near Castellina in Chianti. Trained as agronomists, they sought out to produce top quality wines using organic methods. Their 2007 Chianti Classico, made from 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo and Merlot, is an excellent testament to their efforts. Aromas recall ripe cherry, plum pudding, and varied spices, and there is a sense of the terroir here as well. This exquisite wine retails for $22.99 per bottle.

For a respite from the wintry blue, be sure to check out the website for this pastoral estate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beer Dinner at the Jefferson
Heavy Seas Beer Dinner
with Hugh Sisson
founder of Clipper City
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
7:00pm at TJ's Restaurant
Executive Chef James Schroeder
Chef's Hors d'oeuvres
Clipper City Marzhon
Grilled Prince Edward Island Mussels
Charred Tomato Jus, Billy Bread, Saffron Aioli
Small Craft Warning Uber Pils
150˚ Pork Rib Eye
Pearl Barley, Piquillo Peppers, Cipolini onions
Cider Reduction
Winter Storm "Category 5" Ale
Herb and Garlic Roasted Free Range Venison
Warm White Bean Salad, Pickled Onions
Green Peppercorn Jus
Loose cannon hop3 Ale
"Tiramisu"
Doughnuts, Whipped Mascarpone, Chocolate
Peg Leg Imperial Stout
$50.00 Per Person
Tax and Gratuity Included

Please contact Jonathan Kibiloski at 804.649.4672
or by email at kibiloski@jeffersonhotel.com

Hello Everybody!

Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker. *

How about both?

Candy:
We're gearing up for Gearharts! Join us Friday, February 12th for a Chocolate Tasting with Matt Gearhart 5-7pm (during our regular wine tasting). He'll have classic standbys and new selections to try including Chai Spiced Pecans.

Liquor:
I am pleased as punch to announce the long awaited arrival of the BEST Vermouth available in Virginia: Dolin AOC. It's no surprise that I like a good cocktail, and a good cocktail is made from quality ingredients. The red makes a fantastic Manhattan, the white a sublime Martini, and the Blanc will convert even the staunchest Lillet drinker. I'm such a fan that I'd been driving to Georgetown just to get it! So get out your shakers and start sipping...

*I have my mother to thank for my Ogden Nash
repertoire. His quips are second only to Dorothy Parker's for cocktail party fodder. Another favorite:
The rain raineth/the sun sunneth/But O my couplet has runneth/Over.
Cheers!

ps: In case we really do get tons of snow Saturday, we will be open from 11am until dark. Feel free to call first (804.355.1375) or check our Facebook/Twitter posts for snow delays.

Friday, January 15th, 5-7pm: Snowproof Reds!
(Peter's notes)
With blasts of arctic air and assorted wintry redbottleprecipitation in the weather forecast for this weekend, I've decided to feature an all-red lineup this Friday evening. From medium-bodied, high-toned Pinot Noir to full-bodied, tannic Madiran, there'll be lots to choose from this week. Here's what I'll be pouring :

Tenuta Mazzolino 2008 Pinot Nero "Terrazze": Produced south of Milan, in the rolling hills of Lombardy, this silky textured Pinot Noir made by Burgundian winemaker Jean Francois Coquard offers fresh, fruity notes that recall wild strawberry as well as underlying earthy notes.

Fritsch 2008 Zweigelt "Windspiel": Employing biodynamic techniques at his family estate in the Wagram district of Austria, Karl Fritsch produces this cherry and plum scented red from the Zweigelt varietal.

Vinos de Terrunos 2008 Monastrell: This full-bodied Spanish red wine, made from 60 to 80 year old Monastrell vines, offers generous flavors that recall riper berries as well as licorice.

Chateau d' Agil 2008 Minervois: This full-bodied red from southern France is made from old vine Carignan as well as Grenache and Syrah. Unoaked, this mouthfilling wine has blueberry and raspberry like elements as well as peppery hints.

Laffitte Teston 2006 Madiran "Vieilles Vignes": Made from 70 year old Tannat vines, this full-bodied yet elegant red from southwestern France offers aromas that recall black currants, woodsy-earthy notes and subtle vanilla impressions.

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara''s notes)
Howdy Cheese People!
Sadly, I won't be around this week to ply you with cheeses, because I will be making my way to Tucson with my parents and their dog Maggie! I've barely seen any of the US by car so I am just thrilled to be making this trip with them. I have a entertaining, entirely cheesy book to read (and I mean cheesy in the teenage vampire kind of way), a new, fancy, digital SLR camera to figure out (as well as the daunting 400 page manual that came with it), and a delightfully wicked notion that I'm going to turn my parents into accomplished urban spelunkers by the time we get to Arizona. But, don't you worry, I have a new cheese for you to taste while I'm gone!

Sovrano is an 18 month aged cow and buffalo milk cheese from Lombardy that is rather parm-esque in nature. Not that it could take the place of King Parmigiano, mind you, but I can always find room in my heart for a new addition to my Italian cheese plate. Firm, creamy, and salty, with that wonderful, crunchy, crystally texture found in long-aged cheeses, Sovrano is a bit milder and perhaps less nutty than parm, but it has a twangy flavor of its own that is just as pleasing. I can see using this cheese for all my pasta-grating needs as well as serving Sovrano slivers with olives, sopressata, roasted red peppers, grilled zukes and a hunk of crusty bread for an easy Italian lunch.

p.s. Almost forgot! I still have a few rounds of Kunik left if you haven't yet tried this rich, decadent, bloomy-rinded goat and jersey cow cream stunner from Nettle Meadow, in Thurman, New York. If you are a fan of the French triple cremes, this cheese will be your new best friend! See you next week...

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes)
Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale
Rumors are flying around about a storm like that of the dark winter of '96 is on it's way! Thinking about that week when none of my roommates and I could get to work there brings a mixture of joy and terror. Great amounts of beer will be needed, not to mention many other provisions. Southern Tier is located in the bottom, western corner of N.Y. state. Given the amount of snow this area receives this beer should be able to stand up to said weather conditions. Come on by, if you can, we'll have a bottle open all week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beers of Note
Duck-Rabbit Baltic Porter
Brewed at the tiny brewery in Farmville North Carolina, this is a full bodied, smooth, and deceptively easy drinking beer, 9% alcohol.

Hofstetten Barely Wine Ale
Hofstetten is a micro brewery in northern Austria, near the Czech border. Their barely wine style ale (an English style of beer originally) represents some of the first beers coming from central Europe that have taken more inspiration from American micro-brewing then traditional European brewing. Brewed using Kolsch yeast, three different hops, and several different malts.

Wine-o-the-Week
(Peter's notes)
Buccia Nera 2008 Toscana IGT Bianco "Donna Patrizia"
Floral notes and ripe peach notes characterize the aroma of this snappy, very dry Tuscan white wine made from a traditional assemblage of Malvasia, Trebbiano and Grechetto. Superb as an aperitivo or with chicken or fish, this wine sells for $10.99 per bottle.

Hello Everyone!
The holiday rush is over and has been replaced by the paperwork rush--not nearly as exciting as only a week ago (especially since the flow of staff-morale-boosting Champagne has slowed to, well, nothing). I had almost forgotten how much paperwork is involved in opening a new business. Everything from grease trap specs to glassware purchase orders, equipment leases to POS training manuals, license applications to roofer bids, are all screaming for attention on my desk right now, in between stacks of bookwork I'm still ignoring from *cough* Thanksgiving. And on top of that I'm packing and moving in a week. All this list writing makes a girl thirsty! Good thing we're having our first wine tasting of the year tomorrow...though I don't think I'm going to wait that long ;)
Cheers!
-Julia

Free Wine Tasting: French New Year!
Friday, January 8th, 5-7pm:
(Peter's notes)
Happy New Year, Everybody! The 2010 wine tastings commence this Friday, and, to kick off the New Year, I'll be pouring an all-French lineup. Here's what I'll be sampling out...

Domaine de la Bergerie NV Cremant de Loire: This crisp but not too lean methode traditionelle sparkling wine is produced from Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. A superb aperitif, this Cremant has delicate peach and appley notes as well as mineral undertones.

Chateau Magneau 2008 Graves Blanc: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and a dash of Muscadelle go into this classic dry white wine from Bordeaux. An ideal wine to accompany seafood, the flavors of this wine recall pear and citrus zest, and there are underlying stony elements here as well.

Domaine de Martinolles 2008 Chardonnay VDP de L'Aude: This crisp, unoaked, apple-scented Chardonnay from Southwest France has become a staple around here.

Chateau de la Vieille Tour 2006 Bordeaux Rouge: Harmonious and structured, this Merlot-Cabernet blend from Bordeaux offers plenty of blackberry and dark spicy qualities.

Chateau de Fouzilhon 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc: Made from a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan, this robust, deep-toned red is characterized by spicy pepper and licorice aromas as well as riper blueberry preserve flavors.

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara''s notes)
Happy New Year Cheese People!
Yes, it's true, another year has come and gone. Can you believe it? I already had to abandon my "Procrastinate Less in 2010" resolution when I realized that it was just shy of two in the morning and I had yet to start this week's cheesemail. Sigh. Old habits die hard, I guess, but who can chat cheese when there are about a bajillion terrible and tempting 2009 Top Ten lists to peruse out there in the vast and varied Internet Wonderland? There are lists of wines, tweets, music, cars, bloopers, viral videos, and any other possible list that you could ever dream up in a million years. (I mean, seriously, you can go from a list of Top Ten Bipolar Blogs to a list of Top Ten Most Mormon Friendly Law Schools. ?? Do they put those out there just for those of us with Procrastination Desperation Syndrome? giggle.) In other words, there is an infinite number of possible distractions to be had when one is shirking responsibilities, but all these lists did get
me wondering what our Top Ten Cheeses of 2009 might be, and so, without further ado, here they are...

RCC TOP TEN CHEESE LIST of 2009:
Caromont Fresh Chevre, Virginia, Goat
Aged Gouda, Holland, Cow
Caromont Old Green Mountain Round, Virginia, Goat
Midnight Moon, Holland (but made exclusively for a CA company), Goat
Langa Bocconcino, Italy, Goat
Delice de Bourgogne, France, Cow
St. Marcellin, France, Cow
Ossau Iraty, France, Sheep
Piave Vecchio, Italy, Cow
Taleggio, Italy, Cow

Now, I must say, right off the bat that it does make me happy that 4 out of the top 5 are goat's milk cheeses. Grin. I didn't expect that, especially because the number one disparaging comment I heard at the cheesecase in 2009 was "I hate goat's milk." Ha. No you don't!! At least not if I have anything to say about it, anyway. And while I could go on and on about this list (how happy I was to have guessed 5 out of 10 correctly, how it is NO surprise that Caromont took both the gold and bronze medals, how odd that no Spanish cheeses are present, there are no cheddars, few sheep's milks, etc. etc.) suffice it to say that 8 out of 10 cheeses on this list are in the cheesecase RIGHT NOW, as they usually are, our loyal and trusted favorites. The only ones missing are the little lovelies from Caromont, but don't worry, I'll be heading back to the farm soon to remedy that.

But, enough about 2009! My new and improved (and perhaps actually attainable) New Year's Resolution is to shake things up a bit 'round here by bringing us lots of new cheeses to try in 2010. And that starts today with Barely Buzzed, an award winning, coffee and lavender rubbed cheddar from the Beehive Cheese Co. in Utah. I know, crazy right? Coffee and Lavender?? Huh? Like I said, I'm shakin' things up in 2010. So, come on by and try a bite!

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes)
The court or state brewery, known as hofbrauhaus, Wolters is located in the old Hanseatic town of Braunshweig, translated in English as Brunswick. This city has a rich history of being a major powerhouse in medieval times, and later, as part of the Hanseatic League, it was an important city in the Holy Roman Empire. Later though things did not go so well. The town of Brunswick, which had Germany's largest number of wood structure buildings, contained many industrial features, and was a target for Allied bombers in 1944. Hofbrauhaus Wolters survived the upheavals though, and is known today for its clean, crisp, lager beers. We'll have a bottle of this true German Pilsener style beer open all week for sampling.

Beer of Note
Nuova Mattina is brewed at Del Ducatto in the middle north Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. This is a fantastic Belgian Saison style beer! Very limited.

Hello Everyone!

The staff of RCC is unabashedly pro-bubbly and we are up to our smiles in it! Whether you're attending a fancy dress party, quietly sipping a magnum at home Thursday night or hosting a New Year's Day brunch Friday, we have everything from cheap and cheerful Prosecco to I've-waited-all-year-for-this Grand Cru. And I do mean everything: Got a sweet tooth? Try Moscato, Casorzo or Brachetto (from Italy),Clairette de Die or Bugey de Cerdon (from France). Want classy but affordable? How about <$25 Methode Traditionelle sparklers from South Africa, Austria, Spain, Germany, Virginia or the Loire Valley? Got a jaded palate? Satisfy your inner wine geek with single vineyard vintage Prosecco, unsulphered Blauer Wildbacher Sekt or nearly extinct 100% old vine Arbane. And of course, we have a wide variety of Grower Champagnes--from delicate Blanc de Blanc to rich Brut Rose--they are all "RM."

And don't forget the beer! David has stocked up on plenty of party-worthy six packs and extra special beer-lover brews from Belgium, Japan and Italy. Ring in the New Year with rare beer!

Cheers! Happy New Year to you all!!!

ps:
We're open until 7pm through New Year's Eve, closed New Year's Day, open regular hours Saturday & Sunday, closed Monday for inventory.

OH, AND BTW, CATE IS IN THE HOUSE FOR REALS!!!!!**

**ie, Our beloved Cate Harrison, former RCC staffer, is back in RVA and, because she drank the koolaid, is once again a fully fledged member of the team. Welcome back, Cate!

Hello Everyone!

Peter has been regaling us with tales of Aussie adventures (and torturing us with pristine beach photos) from his recent trip down under. He'll have a fully illustrated version up on the blog next week!

In the meantime, don't miss our last two tastings of the year tonight and Friday night. We've saved the best for last!

ps: We'll have extended hours this Friday and Saturday and next week as well, and we'll be closing at 5pm Christmas Eve. Happy Holidays!

Thurs., December 17th, 5-7pm: Free Beer Tasting Barrel Aged Beers!
(David's notes)
Beers have been put in wooden barrels since as far back barrelas anyone can remember. In a few places the tradition never stopped, but for most, modern stainless steel tanks have become king. Interestingly there is a growing number of beers being placed back in the wooden barrel and allowed to age and develop new characteristics. This interest in barrel aging has recently become very popular for brewers all over the globe. Thankfully many of these fine libations are available for us to enjoy. Here the beer can take on sour or nutty flavors from oxidation or reference traces of tastes from the liquid that may have been aged there before. Thursday we will be tasting an assortment of different beers that show off some of the ways breweries have been and are now using wooden barrels.

Ichtegem's Grand Cru is a classic Flemish red ale. Brewed for over two years in oak casks from the Bordeaux region of France, and blended with young beer before bottling. This beer shows all the distinct sourness flavors of this fantastic beer style.

Hitachino XH (extra high) is a strong Belgian style brown ale that is aged in shochu (distilled sake) barrels for three months. Full of yeasty, sour flavors, this beer is awesome!

Dogfish Head's Palo Santo Marron is a strong stout like brown ale aged in barrels made of Palo Santo wood from Paraguay. This wood is very hard--it destroys saws as they try to cut it. Some how the guys at Dogfish Head managed to build three ten thousand gallon brew vessels out of this "holy wood."

Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti is a monstrous imperial stout tempered by oak aging. The barrels have a distinct impact on the beers flavor, taming its edges with soft vanilla flavors.

Friday, December 18th, 5-7pm:
Free Wine Tasting: Staff Favorites of 2009!
(Peter's notes)
Hi Everybody!
Less than a week back from my travels to Australia, my sunburn has faded and I'm starting to get over some serious jetlag. It was a fabulous trip spent mostly in Adelaide and the nearby wine-region of McLaren Vale, with a few days in Sydney before making the long trek home. Great people, wonderful food, and even a decent bottle of wine now and again!

Since my return back, I've been immersed in work here at the shop getting things ready for the holidays. This Friday will be our last tasting of the year, and, as per our tradition, we are featuring some special wines that have been staff favorites. Whether you're looking for a gift for someone that appreciates good wine, or just want to have something delicious on hand to celebrate with friends or family, you'll certainly want to consider these wines which I'll be sampling forth on Friday. Here's the lineup:

Boulay 2007 Sancerre Blanc: Sara's a huge fan of wines from the Loire Valley (as are we all here at the shop), and this superb Sauvignon Blanc wine from the upper Loire River is a true classic. There's plenty of citrus zest notes here as well as a distinctive chalk-like minerality that characterizes the wines from the Sancerre subdistrict of Chavignol. I'm sure Sara can help pick out a chevre or other cheese to match with this delicious dry white wine.

Tissot 2007 Arbois Chardonnay: Julia wrote at length on this wine in her staff pick back in January, but all of us here are in love with this compelling Chardonnay. Produced in eastern France not far from Switzerland, this medium-bodied dry white has salty, tangy notes with a hint of nuttiness and delicate fruit impressions. It's got personality and complexity and yes, it's Chardonnay!

Raquillet 2007 Mercurey Rouge "Vieilles Vignes": While David is our in-house "fount of knowledge" on all matters beer-wise, he is also known to appreciate wine, especially those from Bordeaux and Burgundy. David's pick for our tasting this week is this cuvee made from old-vine Pinot Noir by Francois Raquillet in southern Burgundy. Silky tannins and woodsy aromas mesh with not-overwrought notes of wild berries and red fruits. Elegant stuff!

Verbena 2007 Rosso di Montalcino: I've served this wine at a few dinners at my house, and it never fails to impress everyone. 2007 was about as perfect a vintage in Tuscany as one could ever hope for, and this full-bodied red is a case in point. Dried cherries, a dash of earth and spice, and impeccable balance of fruit, acidity and tannins characterize this classic Italian red wine.

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara''s notes)
Happy Holidays Cheese People!
So, the cheesecase is positively OVERFLOWING with curdy delights to make your holidays merry and bright. So full, in fact, that I'm left here wondering where on earth I'm going to put all the rest of these cheeses I have arriving on Thursday! I do believe that this is where you come in, so, help a girl out, will you? I know my cheese tetrising (yeah, I know, I just made up a new verb there) skills are fantastic, but why not stop by and take some of these space hogs out of my way?

Not only do I have so many tried and true favorites (Explorateur, Cotswold, Gootessa Cheddar, Midnight Moon, Ossau Iraty, Rabbit Pate, and Roaring 40's, to name just a few) but I also have a handful of new cheeses to tempt you with. There are Crocodile Tears croctearsfrom Capriole in Indiana that are gorgeous, snowy, droplets of zingy, fresh goat's milk that have been dusted with a layer of paprika under there bloomy little rinds. There are rich and creamy organic cow's milk Pierce Point rounds from Cowgirl Creamery that have been delicately sprinkled twith coriander, fennel, juniper berry, bay leaf, lemongrass, lemon balm, red clover, marigold, chamomile, and oat straw. There are dusty little Hubbardston Blue goat's milk discs from Westfield Farm in Masssachusetts that wear their earthy, rustic blue on the outside, while their insides provide a dense and sweetly creamy balance. Ah, and then there is the Petite Frere, a mildly stinky, washed rind, oozy, cow's milk from Wisconsin that comes in its very own cute wooden box.

Oh, I could go on and on, at last count I had 69 cheeses stuffed in that bitty little case!! O'banon, Bleu des Basques, Taleggio, Langa Robiola, Comte, Mimolette, Covadonga, St. Marcellin, Pecorino Foglie di Noci, Langres, Fromager D'affinois, Petit Agour, Valdeon, Manouri, Red Hawk, Munster d'Alsace, Stilton, Red Dragon, Appalachian, Tavoliere... Cripes! Don't make me list them all here!! Suffice it to say that RCC is here for all your cheese needs. Best of all, many of these tasty treats are grab and go. Hope to see you soon.

CHEERS!

Julia, Peter, Sara, David & Dipti

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes)
Apparently Fritz Maytag, owner of Anchor Brewing, made a trek to England in the mid 1970s to discover different styles of beer. One beer that he found well off the beaten path was a barley wine style ale. He returned to San Francisco and soon after Anchor Old Foghorn was made. This is considered the first American micro-brew barley wine. The beer itself stays true to the classic English interpretation of the style. Deep and malty with a high alcohol, 8.8%, and a huge potential for aging. Come on by all week, we'll have a bottle open for sampling.

Beers of Note
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
De Regenboog 't Smisje BBBourgondier is a 12% alcohol dark beer brewed with valerian and lemon balm.!?

The Brooklyn brewery have, in complete secrecy, made a big imperial stout beer that has aged in Bourbon barrels for over four months!

Chicca is made at the Pausa Cafe brewery, located in the "Lorusso e Cotugno" penitentury in Turin, Italy. This beer is made with coffee from Guatamala that is from a slow food presidia. The beans are slow roasted over wood burning stoves at the Pausa Cafe prison.

(Julia's notes)
Hello Everyone!
It is officially crazy Christmas time here at RCC. Rapid-fire deliveries, gift-giddy shoppers, overflowing shelves, a bursting cheese case and more than a few "empathy bottles" of bubbly opened to help see us all through. But the coolest thing to happen this week was nowhere near the shop but across town in a secret kitchen in Northside. Secco's principals gathered for the first round of recipe testing for our winter menu. If you want a sneak peak check out our blog.

Friday, December 11th, 5-7pm: "Winter Weight" Wine Tasting with Harry Tatian of RVWC!
(Julia's notes)
We're pleased to welcome back our good friend Harry Tatian from Roanoke Valley Wine Company on Friday night! He'll be sampling out wines perfect for cold winter nights or hot holiday entertaining.
Here's the lineup:
Dehours NV Brut Reserve Champagne
Complex and compelling--50% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. 100% kicks Veuve Clicquot's butt for a lot less money. Organic.

Montinore 2008 "Borealis"
Reminiscent of an Alsatian Edelzwicker, this dry white wine is made from a field blend of aromatic grapes including Muller-Thurgau, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. Organically produced, this is a superb white wine to serve with Indian or East Asian cuisine. $14.99 per bottle. Biodynamic.

Earth 2.0 Tempranillo
From a progressive winery, this red wine from the Navarra region of northern Spain has lots of fresh red fruit & spicy notes. Organic.

Victory 2007 Zinfandel (California)
A hearty but balanced zin from Richmond's own Andy Beckstoffer. Perfect for heavy hors d'oeuvres and progressive dinner parties.

Paitin 2005 Barbaresco "Serra"
Classic Piemonte Nebbiolo--spicy, floral, darkly fruity, with seductive aromas and ripe tannins. Perfect pairing for rabbit stew! Organic.

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara's notes)

Howdy Cheese People!
This holiday season, why not give the gift of cheese? Everybody already has too much cluttery stuff, so why not treat your nearest and dearest to a selection of edible (and/or quaffable) treats instead? I have soooo many cheeses to share with you and yours and I'd bet money that you could one-stop-shop right here in River City Cellars for everyone left on your list! (okay, okay, maybe not everyone, but heck, World of Mirth is a just a few doors down for all those non-drinking minors you might have to shop for, right?)

So, why not let me choose a fine assortment of cheeses and appropriate accompaniments for you? I can make this VERY easy for you. Cheesemonger's Choice, my friends, in groups of threes, fives, sevens or nines! All I do is eat cheese, I won't steer you wrong. Ah, and the possibilities are endless. I could choose by country (Spanish, Italian, English, French, American) by style (blues, bloomies, stinkers, softies, aged) or by milk (goat, sheep, cow) or any combination thereof! I just need a budget, a few parameters, a little bit of time and I am certain I can put together a wham-bang selection guaranteed to please the palates of all your people. If you really want to indulge, we can add wines, beers, meats, and chocolates too! And just to make life easier, why not give us a call (804.355.1375) and a credit card and we can put something together and have it ready for next day, drive by, pick-up.

May everyone have visions of cheeses dancing in their heads this December!

ps: We have just received a shipment of freshly baked Panettone from Albemarle Baking Company in Charlottesville!

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes)
Brewed in a relatively unusual style, Ayinger Weizen-Bock is a Helles or light bock beer made from wheat rather then malt. Bock beers, first coming from Einbeck and then being popularized in the south, have gone through several interpretations in Bavaria. This Weizen-Bock is full flavored and has higher alcohol in accordance with the style. It is also profoundly drinkable, and perfect for the early winter weather. Come on by the shop, we'll have a bottle open for sampling!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rare/Notable

This is the 35th Anchor Christmas beer, brewed differently every year, and presented with a different tree drawn on the label.

Terrapin's latest "side project" beer is an imperial stout using Belgian yeast from one of our favorite Trappist breweries, Westmalle!

(Julia's notes)
Hello Everyone!
As many of you know, Peter has gone outback for a fortnight. No, that's not a metaphor or a Jimmy Hoffa reference, he really is stomping around Barossa vineyards and crawling through Sydney pubs while we 'enjoy' winter in RVA. So if I seem (even more) distracted or a little frazzled, it's because I'm Peter for a while. Talk about job security. The one good thing, though, is I get to choose all the wines! Mwah!

Not like it's so awful here (inside RCC anyway), especially since our dear friend and favorite cider maker Diane Flynt just delivered a HUGE shipment of apple Foggy Ridge (and half a dozen swooningly delicious fresh pippin apples straight from her orchard)! These ciders are complex, compelling and pair very well with holiday fare (turkey, goose) and all sorts of cheeses (especially cheddars and alpine styles like Gruyere and Comte).

Many of you were disappointed when we sold out of First Fruit and Serious Cider before Thanksgiving, but that's because Foggy Ridge was written up in the final issue of Gourmet and the November issue of Saveur (and will be featured in the December issue of Virginia Living). Talk about a good problem to have! Since we're her only retailer east of Charlottesville, we bulked up for Christmas. Your foodie stocking stuffers are set!

Cheers!

ps: Since Peter's not here I'm giving the rest of us a temporary reprieve on staff picks. They'll be up next week.

Free Wine Tasting
Friday, December 4th, 5-7pm: "French 76" Tasting with Ryne Hazzard of Potomac Selections
(Julia's notes)
French 76*? Huh? Cocktails at RCC? Not yet, but in my special world the logic is perfect: we're celebrating the 76th anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition with a French wine tasting! Here's what Ryne will be pouring...

Dom. des Aubuisieres Vouvray BRUT
Ah, the joys of sparkling Chenin Blanc from the Loire cannot be overstated! Rich with fruity floral aromas on the nose and a lovely, dry finish, it makes the perfect opener and closer (at half the price of champers). lutte raisonee

If you're tempted to spice up your holiday party bubbly with an edible hibiscus blossom in syrup or *a quarter ounce each of citrus vodka, lemon juice and Cointreau, a splash of rosewater and a twist, well the only thing people will say is, "Yes, please!"

Ghislaine et Jean-Hugues Goisot 2008 Saint Bris 'Exogyra Virgula'
Burgundy's northernmost corner appellation of Saint Bris borders on Chablis, and its white wines are predominantly made of Sauvignon Blanc rather than Chardonnay. This particular bottling is chalky, citrus-y and tangy enough to make any Sancerre lover salivate. certified organic in conversion to biodynamic

Dom. des Roy 2008 Touraine ROUGE "Les Linottes"
We here at RCC are all big fans of winemaker Anne Cecile Roy. This is her Pinot Noir/Gamay blend and it is delightful! With supple fruit, slight peppery notes and classic earthy Loire underpinnings, this is a food wine extraordinaire. certified organic

Dom. Alary 2007 Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne
Another great selection from importer Peter Weygandt. The Alary family have been winemakers for 11 generations and their reputation is well deserved. Mostly Grenache with some Syrah, my tasting notes read, "hearty red, deep dark fruit, smoke, hint of lanolin on the finish. Great balance. Yum."
lutte raisonee

Ch. Les Valentines 2006 Cotes du Provence Rouge
I have enjoyed what probably amounts to gallons of their rose, so it's perfect to segue into winter with their full-bodied, ageworthy red. My notes read, "Rich, brambly fruit, dense and chewy. Grenache/Syrah/Cinsault/Mourvedre. Meatastic." organic

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara's notes)
Howdy Chocolate People!
I was just about to fall into a rain-induced depression (seriously, it should be snow this time of year) when the big boxes of Poco Dolce arrived and took all the oog away! Who needs the sun when there are some of the finest chocolates to be had instead? I'm just awash in rays of chocolate! We have all our normal favorites, tiles and tiles of Burnt Caramel and Aztec Chile, boxes of 8 (for those of us who eat them two at a time), and our NEW favorite mini chocolate Single Shot Espresso Toffee Squares. y u m. They come in a little silver bag and though they may be less than an inch square, they pack a whole lotta love in a tiny little nibble-- espresso infused toffee covered in bittersweet chocolate--even Julia likes them and she is a notorious savory-over-sweet kinda girl. But beware, it is way too easy to tear through a whole bag at once. Better buy them two at a time, I guess...

ps: We're not the only ones who like them. Poco Dolce won a silver medal from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade as Outstanding Chocolate for 2009. Aaaaaannd we're the only retailer in the state carrying them!
CHEERS!

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes)
Left Hand Fade to Black
Bursting with big, chocolaty flavors and a nice dry finish, this is easily one of the best beers from the Left Hand brewery that we've tried in quite a while. Clocking in at 8.5% alcohol this is perfect for the colder and darker days ahead. Come on by all week we'll have a bottle open for sampling.

Wine-o-the-Week
(Julia's notes)
Antonio Lopes Ribeiro
"Mica" 2008 Vinho Verde
This is no typical Vinho Verde. Rather than the summer-weight, spritzy limeade quaffability one expects, Mica is weighty, serious. With ripe notes on the nose of apricot and white peach, plenty of minerality and a brisk tartness on the finish, I find myself comparing it to great food wines like Albarino or Riesling. I really want to pair it with sushi grade raw scallops or Chef's roasted almond soup. One of Portugal's rare biodynamic producers. $14.99.

Come taste for yourself...we have a bottle open!

Hello Everyone!

Everyone here at RCC is a-buzz over the holiday. The store is full of delicious treats for you and your family, and since there's roughly only 48 hours to go before the cooking marathons begin, we'd like to help simplify your shopping as much as possible. Feel free to call in your order (cheese, wine, beer) and we can have it ready for curbside pickup! Sara has restocked the cheese case with all your entertaining and gut busting favorites, there are helpful turkey stickers on the racks denoting feast-friendly items for the self servers, and plenty of tasty samples for tippling while waiting in line. Of course we still offer free gift wrapping for your host/ess presents.

Cheers!

ps:
This week we'll be open Mon-Wed 10-7, Fri 12-7 (yes, there will be a tasting), Sat 10-7, Sun 12-6.

(Julia's notes)
Hello Everyone!

Baby Got Back(bar)!
So exciting! Secco is really taking shape. If you'd like to see construction progress visit our blog. Tom & Eric got the back bar installed yesterday. It's going to be beautiful!

This being November, I can't help but be thankful, for my family and friends, awesome staff and loyal customers. With all the activity next store finally underway after two years of struggling, I am particularly thankful to all of you who made it happen: to the dozens of you who have contributed microloans*, manual labor, and much needed cheerleading THANKS!!!

Speaking of Thanksgiving, we have so many delicious things rolling for your feast next week! I am giddy with gourmet arrivals: from new seasonal coffees from Intelligentsia to new chocolate flavors from Poco Dolce to crazy rich goose rillete from France, I am bound and determined to ruin your waistline this holiday season. Let the eating begin!

Cheers!

*Until my house sells, Secco is an entirely crowdfunded project. If you'd like to help build a great wine bar (and get back gratitude and interest), please email me--anything helps!

Thurs., November 19th, 5-7pm: Free Beer Tasting RARE Italian Microbreweries!
(David's notes)
Some of the most adventurous and challenging brewing going on anywhere is happening in Italy. These Italian brewers are taking on styles from all over the world and recreating them with a Slow Food bent. Made in tiny quantities with some of the best local ingredients available, these fine libations prove that Italian brewing has firmly established itself as some of the world's best.

The Grado Plato brewery's Strada San Felice is a beer made with Piedmont chestnuts that are roasted over wood fires before being added to the brew. The beer is also made with Pale and Vienna malts along with Kent Golding and Saaz (Zatec) hops. This brewery is located just east of Turin in the town of Viale Fasano.

The Piccolo brewery won the best Italian Saison style interpretation award for their Sason. This beer uses local Chinotto in the brew. Chinotto are small, bitter orange-like fruits that come from the Chinotto tree, also known as the "Myrtle-Leaved Orange tree." The fruit is probably most famous for being the main flavor in Campari, though it is used in a wide selection of fruit drinks and sodas around Italy and South America. This beer also has Juniper, Coriander and Hallertauer hops added. The tiny brewery is located near the border with Monaco in western Piedmont.

This IPA style beer made by del Borgo is made with four different malts and several hops including Amarillo, Cascade, Styrian, and Golding. Bottle conditioned, unfiltered and unpasteurized, this beer clocks in at 6.4% alcohol. Brewed in Borgorose, Lazio, just east of Rome.

Verdi Imperial Stout is brewed at the del Ducato brewery in Rocole Verdi di Busseto, Emilia Romagna. This is an Italian style Imperial stout beer with hot chili peppers!

Friday, November 20th, 5-7pm:
Free Wine Tasting: Turkey Friendly Part II!
(Peter's notes)
Hi Everybody!
Thanksgiving Day is just a week away, and we've got all kinds of fabulous vinous libations on hand for sharing with friends and family. This Friday, "try before you buy" as I pour samples of several wines that I hope will enhance your celebration of this season of reflection and (you guessed it) thanksgiving. Here's what I'll be pouring this Friday:

Chateau de Vaux 2003 xB Extra Brut: My last two staff picks have featured wines from this estate located in northeastern France, and I'm excited that we're able to offer this exquisite bottling. Made from Chardonnay and aged for four years in bottle after nine months in barrel, this vintage-dated, methode traditionelle sparkler puts many a vintage Champagne to shame. Fresh butter, almond, apple and citrus hints define this serious contender to true Champagne (at half the price).

Mader 2008 Pinot Gris: This Alsatian Pinot Gris is characterized by rich texture, pear and peach notes, as well as hints of white radish. Versatile and impressive, this full-bodied white wine will work well with turkey or ham (or salmon for that matter).

Clos Robert 2008 Pinot Noir: For Thanksgiving Day feasts, it's hard to go wrong with Pinot Noir, and this delicious bottling from Oregon offers a nice mesh of fruit underscored by softer tannins and acidity. I'm pretty sure that you won't have any leftovers with this wine!

Cubillo 2002 Rioja Crianza: Cedar and cherry are just a couple of aromas that come to mind in tasting this truly classic wine from northern Spain. If you're unfamiliar with the red wines from Spain, you will find no finer introduction to Spanish red wine than this one!

Barboursville 2006 Cabernet Franc: Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful opportunity for entertaining out of town guests, and what better time to show off a wine from one of Virginia's best producers. High toned aromas of cherry and plum mesh with subtle oaky notes in this mid-weight red from the Old Dominion.

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara''s notes)
Howdy Cheese People!
So, here I am, once again writing the cheesemail from the darkness of the dairy at Caromont. I wasn't planning on being back here so soon, but there was a dog emergency and I had to come down. And, no, it was not the overwhelming cuteness of that puppyfluffandstuff, Sky, that drew me back here like moth to flame, but it was Nelson, one of the Great Pyrenees guardian dogs that inspired this week's visit. Apparently, during last week's Ida deluge, he managed to throw his back out to the point where he couldn't really walk any more. We aren't really sure whether he fell down a slippery slope, met the wrong end of an sparring buck, or had a rumble with a Mount Alto Yeti, but no matter how he did it, the end result was pretty devastating for a young, galumphing, gorgeous, excellent guard dog like Nelson. So, what is a massage therapist supposed to do? Well, I decided to come down and offer my services, of course! I know, it sounds weird, but from my experience with my own body and that of my fellow humans, massage can do wonders when your back goes out, so why should a dog be any different? I'm happy to report that he is doing much better, whether it had anything to do with me or not, I don't really know, but I'm happy to see him standing up and walking, even if it is for just a few moments.

In cheese news??? Well, we are gearing up for Thanksgiving, of course! The cheesecase is stocked with something to please every palate, without question. I have triple creams aplenty, and if triple is to many, well, I have a double cream too! Delice de Bourgogne, Explorateur, and Green Hill, oh my! I have Manchego with Rosemary, I have Caromont Chevre with Mango Chutney and Pecans, I have stinky, fruity Munster, I have the crowd-pleasing Cotswold with Chives, I have dusty, earthy, Spanish Valdeon Blue... Ah, just tell me what you need and I promise I can find it or something that you will certainly like just as well! Whether you need it to melt, grate, or crumble, or even if you just need a little package of goodness to please your host or hostess, I've got you covered. I have so many cheeses, people!

And that is not all, I also have Gearhart's chocolates back in stock (hello, my long-lost Pistachio Toffee delights!), jars of Duck Fat (everyone knows that duck fat makes everything taste better, right??), Herb and Oil cured black olives, Carriage House Cheese Straws (um, yum, these go down WAY too easily), Fig paste, Spicy Plum Chutney, Verjus (this vinegar-esque liquid made from pressing unripe grapes seems to be in cocktailevery recipe I see these days!), and I even have Hibiscus Flowers for your fancy cocktails (I can only speak for myself, but I am definitely more thankful when there is a bloom in my beverage!) Ahh, it is a wonderful time of year, my friends, I hope you come by the shop for all your holiday needs.
Sara

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes)
Big, rich and frankly awesome! This is the most flavorful beer we've ever had in a can. Clocking in at 10% alcohol, this beer exhibits all the chocolaty goodness one might expect from an Imperial stout, while hiding its inebriating content amongst these deep flavors. We'll have can open all week for tasting.
Wine-o-the-Week
(Peter's notes)

JUST SAY NO TO NOUVEAU!!

Pierre Chermette 2008 Beaujolais
With tradition in mind, Pierre Chermette at Domaine du Vissoux makes old school Beaujolais. He uses only indigenous yeasts, does not chapitalize (i.e. add sugar to augment body etc.), ages in large cask and bottles his wine unfiltered. The result is an unadulterated, unmanipulated wine with plenty of aroma, generous fruit and supporting acidity. If you wish to understand Beaujolais, this wine provides an excellent introduction (to say the least.) Don't settle for mediocre Beaujolais Nouveau, get the genuine article! You (and your guests) will thank you!
$15.99 per bottle.

Hello Everybody!
It's no surprise that a holiday centered around communal eating and drinking is my favorite event all year! The only thing better is all the tasting we do leading up to the big day. After all, gotta sample while unloading case after case of tasty libations! This year we've decided there are just too many fantastic Thanksgiving-friendly beverages out there to cram into one tasting, so we're doubling your pleasure! This week and next we'll have almost two dozen wines, beers and ciders for you to try. From Normandy Pommeau to Barley Wine to Cru Beaujolais to Sparkling Pinot Noir we've got something you'll love and love to serve to your crew.

To reward you "early birds" we're offering a special discount on all preorders. Call, email or visit with your shopping list BY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16th and get 10% off your order! Orders must be secured with a credit card. That way, everything will be here and ready for pickup by Saturday the 21st. Then you can focus on what the &$%# to serve your vegan niece and who's gonna have to sit next to your toothless, ranty, teetotalling great uncle...

Free Wine Tasting
Friday, November 13th, 5-7pm: "Early Bird" Thanksgiving-Friendly Wines Tasting
(Peter's notes)
With Thanksgiving Day a mere two weeks away, I've decided to put together a tasting of suitable wines for those of you who might want to get an early start on your holiday preparations. Of course, you might decide to enjoy these before (or after) T-day as well! At any rate, here's what I will be pouring on Friday the 13th!

Meinklang 2008 Pinot Noir Frizzante: Organically-produced in the Burgenland region of eastern Austria, this berry-scented, slightly off-dry sparkling Pinot matches effortlessly with all manner of traditional Thanksgiving Day fare. And given that it's delicious all on its own, the Meinklang Pinot makes a great aperitif as you finish up those preparations (as in, "whaddya mean, the stove's not workin' ").

Domaine du Pas Saint Martin 2008 Saumur Blanc: Made from pure Chenin Blanc at an organic estate in the central Loire Valley of France, this crisp yet richly textured white wine offers citrus zest and floral notes as well as underscoring minerality.

Cantina Nalles 2008 Vernatsch "Galea": Historically linked with Austria, Alto Adige, located in extreme northern Italy, has its own long standing wine tradition. Epitomized by Cantina Nalles "Galea", the Vernatsch grape (known as Schiava Grossa in Italian) produces lighter-bodied red wines with flavors that recall morello cherries with notes of cocoa and almond. An excellent alternative to Pinot Noir, this red wine also works well with smoked ham as well as turkey.

Domaine Pascal Berthier 2007 Saint Amour Vieilles Vignes: If the only Beaujolais that you've ever tried has been a Beaujolais Nouveau, well, it's time to take the training wheels off that bike and move up to a REAL Beaujolais! From Saint Amour, one of the ten cru vineyard sites in the Beaujolais region, this structured red made from Gamay offers cherry notes, hints of smoke and a long finish.

Castello di Poppiano 2006 Chianti Colli Fiorentini Riserva: Here's a new vintage of one of my all time favorite wines from one of my favorite Tuscan producers. Based on the Sangiovese grape, this elegant yet intense Riserva bottling from the ancient Castello di Poppiano offers aromas that recall dried cherry, freshly turned earth, almond and leather.

Don't forget to bring your own glass, unless you like health-department mandated plastic medicine cups!

Cheesemail!
(Sara's notes)
Howdy Cheese People!
Okay, I'm just back from Caromont and even though I brought back a whole cooler full of cheeses, all I can think about is the puppy they just got! She is the newest guardian dog at the farm and she is just a black puff of fluffy sweetness at the moment. I mean, seriously, have you ever seen such a face? She is a Bulgarian Karakachan and her name is Schuyler Marie, or Sky, for short. Whoa. I must say that it is difficult to get much work done when she is around, and she just about made me forget that Thanksgiving is only two weeks away.

But wait, Thanksgiving is really only two weeks away, yikes. But don't worry, we've got you covered. After all, this is what we train for all year around these parts! I know, it must be rough to be us, no? All that sampling and tasting all the time? Really? As a job requirement? I seriously don't know how we manage. But this time, from Thanksgiving to New Year's, well, it is like our Olympics. And I, for one, am definitely doing my part by filling the cheese case and surrounding areas with all that you'll need to make your holiday a happier place to be.

Need cheeses to make your recipes shine? Done. Fancy a cheese plate to wow your family? Easy. Not sure what to bring to the host or hostess? Any one of us can give you plenty of options in a range of prices. Searching for wine, beer, or cider pairing ideas? Well, we can help you there, too. Whether you are hosting or attending, spending the holiday with family or with friends, we have all that you might need to eat and drink well this Thanksgiving. But if I could give you one bit of advice, I'd say, when in doubt, think truffles. Ah, yes, spicy Speziato al Tartufo or tangy Truffle Tremor or seductive Sottocenere or rich, creamy Mousse Truffe pate studded with earthy, aromatic bits ofr black truffle-y goodness? That sounds about right for this time of year. It might even be enough to distract you from your crazy Aunt Marge or your inappropriate friend Tony at Thanksgiving dinner! Ha. Like I said, we train hard for this all year, so don't let all our research go to waste!! Hope to see you soon.
CHEERS!

Beer-o-the-Week
(David's notes)
With the arrival of Sierra Celebration comes the sober realization that the holiday season is upon us. Yet this beer IS the prescription to any and all those holiday ills. Brewed with pale and caramel malts plus plenty of Cascade and Centennial hops, this beer clocks in at 6.8% alcohol. Come on by all week, we'll have it open for tasting!

Blue Mountain
Lights Out
Holiday Ale

Wine-o-the-Week
(Peter's notes)
Chateau de Fouzilhon 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc
Made from an assemblage of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan, this hearty red from southern France offers loads of blueberry and raspberry notes as well as hints of licorice and pepper. This delicious wine is priced at $10.99 per bottle.