Hi All:
any of you ever been to this? it sounds as though it might be an
excellent way to celebrate a Monday....
(Joyce, are you pouring?)
-Karin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hastings Country Club Annual Wine Tasting - 10/01
Date: 10/01/2007
Time: 6:30-9:00pm
Hastings Country Club Annual Wine Tasting and Culinary Tour
Monday, October 01, 2007, 6:30 PM
The Hastings Country Club invites you to the 5th Annual Wine Tasting and
Culinary Tour featuring Chef Ryan's gastronomic creations paired with
100 wines from around the world! A beer tasting will also be available.
All proceeds of this event benefit Gillette Children's Specialty
Healthcare, a world renowned leader in providing healthcare for children
who have disabilities.
Monday, October 1st at the Hastings Country Club, 6:30pm-9:00pm.
Tickets are $35.00 in advance or $45.00 at the door. Call Hastings
Country Club to purchase tickets, 651-437-4612, or visit MGM Liquor
Warehouses in Hastings, 1250 S. Frontage Rd and Provincial Bank, 1309
Vermillion St.
SPECIAL EVENT:
The Natural History of Minnesota Wine
Saturday, September 29, 2007
7 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door The history and flavors
of Minnesota wine will be showcased in The Natural History of Minnesota
Wine at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 at the University of Minnesotas Bell
Museum of Natural History in Minneapolis. The event, designed for both
novice and connoisseur, will kick off with a talk by James Luby, University
of Minnesota professor of horticultural science, whose team of researchers
are credited with developing many of the cold hardy, hybrid grapes that
make Minnesota viticulture and wine making a fast growing and increasingly
competitive industry. Sample tasting pours of award-winning wines from
Minnesota-based wineries using the universitys Frontenac, Frontenac Gris
and La Crescent grapes as well as live music in the museums diorama
galleries and cheeses handcrafted by student cheese makers in the
universitys College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences.
Call (612) 624-9050 for special discounted pricing for Bell Museum and
University of Minnesota Alumni Association members.
Greetings,
Long time, no sip. :)
I haven't heard of anything this week. Some folks
are out of town or leaving town (Betsy, Bob, Lori).
I'm up for something, since I have Friday off, heading to
da U P der. (Ironwood, MI)
Very nice sale at Zipps. Mike's been carrying this
stock since he took over at Zipps, and he's clearing it
out. Vinum and Overature champagne stems at a very nice
price. Ditto the chianti and the rielsing stems (vinum).
lots and lots of "O" series. Pinot, cab, syrah and others.
Cheers,
Jim
September 16, 2007
Spending
This Glass Is for the Cabernet, That One the Pinot Noir
By AMY CORTESE
YOU.VE mastered the intricacies of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Barossa, and pride yourself on choosing the perfect wine to complement a meal, whether it.s Asian fusion or a hearty hanger steak. Perhaps you even have a storage unit or, if you.re lucky, a cellar, to store wine at the proper temperature. But is your glassware still from the Chianti-in-a-straw-bottle age?
Wine consumption has grown in the United States, along with an appreciation for the character of varietals, from classics like cabernet and chardonnay to less familiar names like Grüeltiner, a peppery Austrian white, and malbec, a mellow red grape from Bordeaux that has played a starring, solo role in Argentine wine.
So it is not all that surprising to see that glassware has followed suit. Today, wineglasses are increasingly designed to showcase the character of specific varietals.
The theory is that the design of the wineglass . from the shape of the bowl and degree of tapering at the rim, to the design of the rim itself . can affect the way someone experiences the aroma, taste and harmony of a wine. The nuances of a complex red wine, for example, might unfold and beguile in the appropriate glass, but turn harsh and closed in another.
Indeed, according to many wine professionals, the right stemware can mean the difference between savoring a luscious wine and feeling shortchanged.
.It really does make a difference,. says Shaun Green, a buyer for K & L Wine Merchants in San Francisco.
The idea of matching stemware to the specific type of wine was pioneered by Riedel, an Austrian company that has been making glass for 250 years. .You have to have the perfect messenger to deliver the wine,. says Maximilian Riedel, president of Riedel Crystal USA.
It was Mr. Riedel.s grandfather Claus who created the first line of wineglasses in different shapes and sizes designed to enhance the character of specific types of wine. In particular, his Sommelier series, made of handblown, unadorned lead crystal, started the trend in the 1970s. They came in different shapes and featured much larger bowls than typical for the time to allow more space for the wine.s aromas to collect.
The Sommelier line, which sells for $60 to $95 a stem, is among the most popular high-end glasses sold today. Max.s father, Georg, popularized the idea further with the introduction of the Vinum line of machine-made glasses (around $20 a stem) and a series of tasting seminars to promote them.
Other glassmakers have followed suit, and a dizzying range of options can be found today in stores, from inexpensive models to fine crystal goblets costing more than $100.
Bottega del Vino Crystal, owned by the restaurant of the same name in Verona, Italy (and more recently New York), sells mouth-blown, lead-free crystal in six styles: for young, medium-bodied and big reds, concentrated wines known as Super Venetians, chardonnay, and sweet wines. Last year the winemaker Robert Mondavi, in collaboration with Waterford Crystal, introduced a line of varietal-specific glasses that sell for $50 a pair. Riedel.s models have proliferated as well, with glasses designed for drinks as diverse as single malt whiskey and Oregon pinot noir, a new glass. In addition to the high-end Sommelier line and the Vinum line, there is a basic line for novices called Ouverture ($10 a stem).
Do wineglasses make such a difference? And if so, how many are enough? I attended a Riedel seminar held recently at the company.s New York showroom to see for myself. It was led by Max Riedel.
We started with a typically full-flavored California chardonnay, from Kendall Jackson. In Riedel.s Vinum Chardonnay glass, notes of tropical fruit wafted up and expanded lusciously in the mouth. We transferred the wine into the Vinum Sauvignon Blanc glass, where it seemed to lose depth. Creamy oak and vanilla overpowered the other flavors. It also seemed unpleasantly tannic.
Finally, we poured the chardonnay into a .joker. glass . those miserly little wineglasses that you can barely fit your nose into. In this glass, alcohol burned on the nose, and the tropical fruit disappeared.
A surprised murmur swept through the room.
.Chardonnay needs a bigger bowl for its depth of flavors and alcohol,. Mr. Riedel said. The Chardonnay glass also directed the flow of wine to the desired part of the tongue, he said, adding, .The first impression is key..
This little test was repeated with a pinot noir and a cabernet sauvignon, both from California, to the same effect. The audience, down to a person, was persuaded.
The seminars have created many believers. .When Riedel first came out with the idea, I thought it was a bit extreme,. said Tim Kopec, wine director at Veritas, a New York restaurant known for its wine list. .But after experiencing it for myself, I fully bought into it.. And the critic Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that the effect of Riedel .glasses on fine wine is profound..
Others dismiss it as more marketing gimmick than science. The notion that a glass can pinpoint the flow of wine to the tongue .is ridiculous,. says Ted Allen, the wine expert and TV personality. Joshua Wesson, chairman and executive wine director of Best Cellars, a chain of stores that specialize in quality wines under $15, believes that a glass can have some influence on wine, but not as much as other factors like temperature. People fall prey to a sort of .placebo effect. when doing a guided tasting like the one I attended, he said.
Even if my taste buds could be believed, there is still the more pragmatic concern of just how many wineglasses one can afford, much less find room for. .The selection of stemware should not be a neurosis-inducing exercise,. Mr. Wesson says. .Most wineglasses, if shaped appropriately, do a fine job.. Even the most ardent advocates say there is a limit.
Many wine pros say that most people can do fine with three sets: a big-bowled basic glass for reds, a smaller-bowled basic for whites, and a Champagne flute (a flute preserves bubbles best). .If you.re really cramped for space, get one general purpose glass and call it a day,. advised Mr. Allen, who is also a spokesman for Robert Mondavi Private Selection.
The important things to look for in a general purpose glass are a decent-size bowl that allows you to swirl the wine and stick your nose in (since smell accounts for much of what we think of as taste), and clear, unembellished glass or crystal.
The answer ultimately comes down to individual tastes and lifestyles. .If you.re an avid wine drinker, making an investment in four or five styles of wineglass is a very small investment that pays many dividends,. Mr. Kopec says. At Veritas, five versatile glasses from Riedel.s Sommelier line handle most of his needs.
For those who have the storage space, like to entertain, or are regularly quaffing Domaine de la RomanéConti, nothing is more elegant than a handblown crystal goblet, like Riedel.s Burgundy Grand Cru model. This generous glass can hold an entire bottle of wine (although experts recommend pouring just four ounces at a time to leave plenty of room to swirl and aerate the wine). When clinked . always at the widest part of bowl, lest they break . they give off a deeply resonant tone that sounds like church bells.
.They really look beautiful,. says Ron Ciavolino, director of wine studies at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. .But some idiot usually knocks one over and you.re supposed to laugh like you don.t care..
----- Forwarded message from Mike Dombrow <mike(a)zippsliquors.com> -----
for <james(a)brewingnews.com>; Sat, 8 Sep 2007 22:46:36 -0400 (EDT)
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 22:46:36 -0400
To: james(a)brewingnews.com
From: Mike Dombrow <mike(a)zippsliquors.com>
Subject: {Disarmed} Zipp's Upcoming Events and More
Message-ID: <1017dc00afbe517552ebeae39b7ad6c7(a)localhost.localdomain>
Zipp's Liquors
In This Issue
Upcoming Events At Zipp's
Fall Wine Sale
All Riedel Glassware 50% Off
We have been having loads of trouble with our old newsletter program.
Hopefully if you all get this then the problems are only a thing of the
past.
I have migrated everyone from the old lists into this new system...if you
would like to stop getting these messages there should be a link at the
bottom of the E-Mail where you can do so.
If you have problems or would like to comment on this new system please
E-Mail me, thanks all for your patience!
Upcoming Events and More
September 8, 2007
Upcoming Events At Zipp's
Lotsa Fun To Be Had
We have finally finished up on our calendar of events through the end of
the year.
[http://www.zippsliquors.com/calendar.htm] Click here to go to the
calendar page where you can get more information on the events and buy
tickets.
While all the events will be fun and informative there are a couple of
events that I want to draw more attention to:
September 26th, 2007
On Wednesday the 26th of September Chris Rowe, from Old Bridge Cellars-an
importer of Australian wines, will be here to hold a tasting/seminar. Chris
is a super nice guy who tends to put his marketing degree away for these
tastings in favour of more education and fun. We will holding the
seminar/tasting on some of the more obscure of Australia's wines. We
figured that everyone by now has tried lots of Aussie Shiraz and knowing
that there is a whole world of great undiscovered wine we thought that it
would be tons of fun to put some those wines in your glass. We will be
trying things like an aged Merlot, a couple of funky blends, some awesome
dessert wines and to top it all off a Biodynamic wine from one of my
favorite Aussie producers. If you think you know the wines of Australia or
would like to expand your horizons please join Chris and I for this cool
tasting and seminar.
October 20th, 2007
By now most of you have heard me drone on about Portugal and how I went
there in May and how much fun I had and how much I love the wines of
Portugal and blah, blah, blah...well now is my chance to share with you all
some of the great folks that I met over there. Chuck Kanski, of Solo Vino
fame, and I are bringing 5 of the winemakers that we met in Portugal to
Minneapolis for a wine show. I just gotta tell you all that I am near
bursting in anticipation of this event! These are 5 people who are at the
top of their game and if you are not sold on Portugal after meeting these
folks then you have something seriously wrong with you (just kidding of
course)!
October 25th, 2007
Last spring The Seward Co-op and Zipp's put on a wine show at the Cedar
Cultural Center...a good time was had by all! In fact we all had such a
good time that we are doing it again! The Seward will be pulling out all
the stops for food, we will have 15 vendors on hand and they will be
pouring over 150 wines, there's gonna be a raffle and a silent auction and
there's a band and...best of all...all the proceeds go to the Cedar! If you
missed the spring tasting then you gotta come to this one and if you came
to the spring one then you know how much fun this one's gonna be! There
will be some rare wines poured and some of our favorites. Come support the
Cedar and drink some great wine!
Note about the last two tastings: in the calendar you will see a combo
ticket above the panel for the tasting on the 20th...we realize that you
all don't have unlimited funds so we are giving you the chance to get
tickets to both the event on the 20th and the event on the 25th for a lower
price. These tastings will be loads of fun and we would rather have to
cover more of the expense to get you there. Please consider this ticket!
[https://www.localwineevents.com/tickets/ticket_purchase.php?EVENTID=143565]
Here is a link to the Combo Ticket.
Fall Wine Sale
October 18th through November 3rd
The fall sale is right around the corner...as my dear old Mom would say
when I wanted a new toy, "start saving your pennies." All wine will be at
least 20% off and lots of wines will be discounted far below that.
All Riedel Glassware 50% Off
We like Riedel glasses but the time has come to reduce our inventory of
what we have. From now until all the glasses are gone the price that is
listed will be given a 50% discount...for example:
The Riedel 'O' glasses usually go for about $16.99 bucks on-line for a set
of two, we sell ours for $12.99....until they are all sold the price for a
set of two is $6.49!
There isn't a better time to get some great wine glasses!
This message was sent by: Zipp's Liquors, 2618 East Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, Mi 55406
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--
------------------------------ *
* Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu *
* University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 *
* Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *
Hi all,
For those of you who don't know, I've moved to Portland for a "fine wine
manager" job w/ Young's Columbia Distributing. Here are pic's of my
apartment in Vancouver WA (not BC) which is just across the Columbia river
from Portland (15 min to downtown). It's much larger than my last apt and
there's lots of room for visitors!
I started work on Thursday and am on tour tomorrow for meetings "downstate"
with my first meeting in Eugene - my collegiate home. Then we're going
further south to Ashland and then a golf day at the famous Bandon Dunes golf
course on the coast. My manager likes to golf and it will be one of my
accounts. I need to get to the driving range today!
Please note all of my new stats!!
1221 SE Ellsworth Rd. #91 Vancouver, WA 98664
Home: 360 891-1198
Cell: 360 980-2287
Email: annettehome(a)gmail.com
Mine is the one on the left - the top half. The skylights you see on the
roof are in my loft. There's a deck on the back side.
*I'll be pouring....if you can make it hope to see you there!
*
*
Bubbles
*
*
World Flavors Tour - 9/19*
Date: 09/19/2007
Time: 6:00PM
Join The Wine Company as it co-sponsors monthly "World Flavors" nights
with the Rake Magazine and Whole Foods Market. Enjoy a multiple course
tasting menu with our favorite wine pairings.
Join the experience on Wednesday, September 19th, at 6:00PM. The cost is
$40 per person; space is limited and reservations are required. To make
reservations, visit www.rakemag.com/store and click on "Events".
W.A. Frost and Company
"Flavors of France"
September 19^th , 2007
Leonard Anderson, Executive Chef
Sara Walter, Pastry Chef
*/_1st Course_/*
*/_ _/*
"Fruits De Mer"
Calamari, Shrimp, Market Fish, Mussels, Vegetable Stew, Crispy
Sourdough, Basil Pesto
Hautes Noelles, Muscadet "Cotes de Grandlieu" 2006 (Loire)
Pale straw. Blood orange, fresh herbs, minerals and citrus zest on the
nose, plus a hint of anise. Deep, focused and pure, with strong citrus
and quince flavors complicated by licorice and bitter quinine. Highly
concentrated but also elegant and brisk, with a pungent mineral tone
extending through the juicy, impressively long finish.
*/_2nd Course _/*
*/_ _/*
Peppercorn Crusted Petite Filet Medallion
Autumn Vegetable and Potato Pave, Oyster Mushrooms,
Pearl Onions, Red Wine Reduction
*/_Chateau de Petit Puch, Graves de Vayres, 2003 (Bordeaux)_/*
Big ripe fruit with a smoky tobacco nose. Not a real woody style, great
texture and mouth feel. Merlot keeps it soft throughout, long dry finish
but not big tannins.
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
*/_ _/*
*/_3^rd Course - Cheese_/*
*/_ _/*
*Pont L' Eveque A.O.C.*
Unpasturized Cows Milk, Hints of Herb, Balsamic Glaze, Stone Fruit Compote//
Barmes Buecher, Pinot Gris "Rosenberg-Silices" 2002 (Alsace)
Has the color of young Sauternes -- golden honey. Fresh and pure scents
of apricot pastry cream tart -- this smells luscious enough to serve as
dessert. Perhaps just a hint of Botrytis? The flavors are intense,
dense, and alive. The very low yields have given a wine to enjoy in
small sips -- the flavors expand to fill your mouth, and the wine has
the power of a red. And it is alive in the way of only the very best
organic wines -- each sip reveals something new. Powerful yet subtle.
The flavors are very ripe, and there may well be a bit of residual sugar
with sleek acids which balance the ripeness, and because of its
incredible flavor. There are notes of spiced pear, white pepper,
cinnamon, clove, and more. The finish echoes the flavors -- an ongoing
battle between ripe apricot, intense acid, and Asian spiciness. Wow!
_Dessert _
Hazelnut Mousse Torte
Yogurt Ice Cream, Hazelnut Praline, Warm Chocolate Sauce
--
NOTE NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS:
jhegstro(a)umn.edu
(there is no "m" at the end of hegstro)
Greetings,
I'm not sure if the group is doing anything this week.
I believe Bob is busy and Betsy is out of town.
Does anyone no if their is something planned for
this week. I'm ok w/ taking it off.
We would like to do, possibly host, a beer event some week.
Could be a Thursday or Saturday or Sunday event.
Focus would be sausages, cheeses and Belgian beers.
Could add in Rieslings, although they probably
deserve their own night over at Crua Thai.
Nicolai, Betsy and I all have considerable stock of
curious brew. Dave and Bill have expressed an interest
in doing a beer night.
Cheers,
Jim
----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> -----
X-original-sender: jellings(a)me.umn.edu
X-Greylist: Sender is SPF-compliant, not delayed by milter-greylist-2.0.2 (smtp-relay.enet.umn.edu [128.101.142.227]); Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:57:35 -0500 (CDT)
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Greetings,
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:15:50 -0500
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Greetings,
Vins du jour:
Dealers Choice. U pick 'em, They Drik 'em.
Ringers, sparklings, dessert wines, etc. always welcome.
Thursday at 6:30 at JPs Bistro.
Call Bob (612-672-0607), e-mail the list (wine(a)thebarn.com) or
reply to me if you can make it.
Please trim the articles form your replys to me or the list.
Bob
Betsy
Bill
Annette S
Ruth
Janet
Russ
I'm a maybe at this point.
JP's American Bistro
2937 S. Lyndale 55408
(612) 824-9300
Lot of consctuction on Lyndale, so side streets may be a better option.
Parking: Meters were free after 6 or 6:30.
Side streets may be an option.
Pay lot behind the restaurant.
Cheers,
Jim
Roasted Green Beans w/Lemon, Pine Nuts, and Parmigiano
1.25 lbs. green beans, rinsed and trimmed
1 small head garlic
1/4C + 2T extra-virgin olive oil
1-1/2T grated lemon zest, divided
2T fresh lemon juice
1t kosher salt
1/2t freshly cracked black pepper
1/3C pine nuts
1/4C coarsely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1T coarsely chopped parsley
Position oven racks in top and bottom third positions. Heat to 450.
Put beans in large bowl. Peel garlic, slice cloves lengthwise into quarters
and add to beans. Mix in 1/4C oil, 1T zest, salt, pepper. Spread evenly on
rimmed baking sheet and roast on top rack 10 minutes, stirring once. Bake
10-15 minutes more until lightly browned and tender.
Spread pine nuts on another baking sheet and toast on bottom rack 5 minutes
(or just toast the nuts in a frying pan).
Put beans on platter, add lemon juice and 2T oil. Toss; add more
salt/pepper to taste. Sprinkle on nuts, zest, cheese and parsley. Serve hot
or at room temp.
Serves 4-6
Hi All:
this sounds somewhat interesting:
http://www.spillthewinerestaurant.com/wineDinners.asp
September 27, 2007 | 7pm
Italian Wine Dinner
$59/person (includes tax and gratuity)
Presented by Wine Merchants
Menu in Brief: 5 Courses
Caprese Salad~
Ceretto Arneis Blange'
Artichoke Stuffed Calamari
Felluga Esperto Pinot Grigio
Frutti de Mare Risotto~
Conti Contini Sangiovese Rosso Toscano
Chicken Saltimbocca~
Santa Tresa Cerasuolo Di Vittoria DOCG
Cannoli~
Ceretto Moscato d'Asti Santo Stefano
Tonight! 6:30.
----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> -----
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:55:47 -0500
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Subject: Most of Italy at Trat. d. Vinci
User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.9i
X-Spam-Score: -1.44 () ALL_TRUSTED
X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.56 on 128.101.142.226
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:34:25 -0600
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Greetings,
Many thanks to all who respond yea or nay.
Vin du jour is Italian but not Piedmont (e.g. Barbara, Barolo,
Nebiolo, Moscotto) and not Tuscany (e.g. Chianti, Super
Tuscan).
Here's an interactive map of Tuscany. click on the DOCs to see
the areas.
http://winecountry.it/regions/tuscany/http://winecountry.it/regions/piedmont/index.html
Those grapes listed above from other places are well within
the rules. The web site is very detailed.
----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> -----
Italian Wines. (2/15)
Trattoria da Vinci
400 Sibley St., St. Paul, 55101
651 222-4050
It's in the "far end" of down town St. Paul, near the Farmer's
Market. If you're traveling on I94, take the 7th St. Exit.
Who?
Bob
Ruth (late)
Bill (lost?)
Jim/Louise
Dave?
Nicolai?
Karin?
Janet?
At the Fair (?)
Warren
Betsy
Alicia
BB King
Fred
Cheers,
Jim
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:34:25 -0600
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Greetings,
Many thanks to all who respond yea or nay.
Vin du jour is Italian but not Piedmont (e.g. Barbara, Barolo,
Nebiolo, Moscotto) and not Tuscany (e.g. Chianti, Super
Tuscan).
Here's an interactive map of Tuscany. click on the DOCs to see
the areas.
http://winecountry.it/regions/tuscany/http://winecountry.it/regions/piedmont/index.html
Those grapes listed above from other places are well within
the rules. The web site is very detailed.
----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> -----
Italian Wines. (2/15)
Trattoria da Vinci
400 Sibley St., St. Paul, 55101
651 222-4050
It's in the "far end" of down town St. Paul, near the Farmer's
Market. If you're traveling on I94, take the 7th St. Exit.
Who?
Bob
Lori
Janet
Jim/Louise
Dave?
Nicolai?
Karin?
At the Fair
Ruth and Warren
Betsy
Alicia
BB King
Cheers,
Jim
----- End forwarded message -----