January 19th Wine Tasting. Join us as we kick off a New Year of tastings at Main St. Coffee (MSC). On Monday, January 19th, we will lead you on a tour of the many varietals of Argentina. The night will begin with a new sparkling wine from Mendoza that is sure to knock your socks off. The tasting begins at 7 PM at MSC in EG. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased at time of reservation at TSG (886-9463) or MSC (885-8787).

January 30th Artist Opening and Wine Tasting. Artist Larisa Micheletti will be showcasing her work in The Savory Grape Tasting Room starting this weekend through April. Born and raised in Central Asia, Larisa can trace her passion for art from an early school age, when she attended drawing classes in after school programs. (You may remember Larisa was at The Savory Grape Fall Wine Festival.) Bold and beautiful, her artwork is often a combination of many different approaches and techniques. We will be holding her formal opening on Friday, January 30 from 5-8 PM. For more information about Larisa and her work, please visit www.larisa-designs.com.

As the popularity of wine continues to grow in the US, you are more likely to find yourself attending, or even having, a wine tasting party. Wine tastings are a great way to experience new wines, learn more and have fun with friends. (Note the have fun part!) Whether you are a veteran of tastings or new to it, there are a few steps you may want to follow. (If you plan to stay in more this winter and conduct your own tasting, print out this article as a go-to reference. Or call us to conduct the in-home tasting.)

First, you need to know what you are looking for when tasting. Sure we can all taste wine and say whether we liked it or not, but by doing only that you are missing quite a bit. To cover the basics you need to examine color, aroma and taste (also referred to as CAT).

Look at the color of the wine. Check for clarity, as well as brilliance in the color. The best way to do this is to tilt the glass over a white sheet of paper or some white linen. From there begin to swirl the wine by rotating the glass. This will allow the surface area of the wine to expand, allowing more aromas to emanate from the wine. After you are done swirling, immediately bury your nose in the glass and take a big sniff (yes, a big one). Start to identify the wine's aromas; this is somewhat of a warm up for your palate. Following that take a small sip, and with that first sip pass the wine around your mouth with your tongue.(Trust us this will make the next sip much better.) With the second sip let the wine sit in your mouth for a bit and then begin to suck air in over your tongue to aerate the wine so you can pick out more flavors. (It's kind of like gargling, but not.) Yes, this takes practice.

The more you taste the easier it will be for you to pick out specific flavors and aromas. So make sure you come by our tastings on Friday and Saturday so we can help you develop your palate and teach you how to do that "somewhat like gargling thing" with wine. Don't forget to print out this article for future reference if you think you might hold your own in-home wine tasting. If you are not that daring then ask us so we can help you plan a wine tasting party for you and your friends.

2006 Santi Solane Ripasso, Valpolicella, Italy. Straight from Italy's Valpolicella region comes this delightful Ripasso, a fermentation method coined around the 1960s that makes an otherwise young, fruity wine into a richer more concentrated style. Like all Ripasso wines, this is a blend of three Italian grapes, Corvina, Molinara and Rondinella. Displaying a ruby red color, the wine opens with an intense bouquet of cloves, vanilla cherry jam and almonds. The palate is full, warm, lush and harmonious with a dry, yet elegant finish. This is great to enjoy with your favorite pizza, a variety of meat roasts and chicken. ($15.49)

2007 diLenardo Pinot Grigio, Italy. The name is not new to the store, but the wine definitely is. diLenardo's Pinto Grigio has a pleasant bouquet of pears, banana, apricot and acacia flowers. Flavors reminiscent of the wine's aromas fill the mouth with balanced acidity and a long finish. It is refreshing to find a Pinot Grigio of this quality at an affordable price point that rivals its more expensive counterparts. ($12.49)

2007 Kamiak Cellar Select White, Columbia Valley, Washington State. The 2007 Kamiak white is a Chardonnay-based wine. Offering a soft luscious background, it exudes beautiful aromas of pineapple and honey from the glass, as the wine is swirled. This white blend is light and delicate with a satiny mouthfeel. Flavors of Granny Smith apple, melon and citrus greet the taster, settling into a smooth, lingering finish of almond and butterscotch. ($12.99)

2006 Kamiak Cellar Select Red, Columbia Valley, Washington State. The 2006 vintage was yet another year of perfect grape growing weather in Washington State. The result from these conditions is a wine filled with seductive, smoky aromas with hints of red berries. A burst of bright, cherry excites the palate with more subtle flavors of blackberry and toasted pecans lingering on the finish. Pair this wine with a wonderful smoked brisket, a grilled bratwurst or braised short rib. ($15.99)

2006 In Situ Carmenère, Chile. In Situ Carmenère is produced with grapes grown more than 3000 feet above sea level. Blended with only 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has wonderful red fruit aromas and soft spicy tones. The palate shows soft, yet ripe, tannins giving way to a silky texture and a round and elegant finish. ($14.99)

2006 La Valentina Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy. Montepulciano has always been a staff favorite. La Valentina is clean and vibrant with lingering aromas of red berries, blackberries and black cherries. Very round and clean red berry flavors lead to bright hints of liquorice. Enjoy it now or over the next 3-5 years. ($16.99)

Friday, January 9th (5 to 8 PM)
Wines of Washington State.

• 2006 Kamiak Cellar Select Columbia Valley, Red Wine, Washington State. Please see tasting notes above in this week's Savory Selections ($15.99)

• 2007 Kamiak Cellar Select Columbia Valley, White Wine, Washington State. Please see tasting notes above in the week's Savory Selections. ($12.99)

Saturday, January 10th (3 to 7 PM)
New Wine for a New Year.

• 2007 diLenardo Pinot Grigio, Italy. Please see tasting notes above in this week's Savory Selections ($12.49)

• 2006 Santi Solane Valpolicella Ripasso, Italy. Please see notes above in this week's Savory Selections. ($15.49)

All wines during our weekend tastings are paired with fresh cheeses from Whole Foods Market in Cranston. To obtain information on the cheeses that have been selected, please stop in for a tasting or visit Whole Foods.

email: jessica@thesavorygrape.com

phone: 401.886.9463

web: http://www.thesavorygrape.com