March 10th Wine Dinner, Post Office Cafe. Please save the date and join us on Monday, March 10th for a 5-course wine dinner at the Post Office Cafe in East Greenwich. Tickets ($60) are now on sale and can be purchased at The Savory Grape or the Post Office Cafe. The menu and wine selections are being finalized and will be available at the shop and on the News and Events page of our web site this Friday.

Upcoming Siena Wine Dinner. Since the February 12th Siena wine dinner was well received and sold out so quickly, we are happy to say that we are in midst of planning additional dinners with Siena. Stay tuned, and keep an eye out for information in the newsletter. We will announce future dates in the coming weeks.

February 25th Wine Tasting. Australia brings forth many great wines, including big, bold reds, and on Monday, February 25th, we will have a chance to taste some of the country's great selections that consistently occupy both the WS and Robert Parker's reviews. (The wines will be available on the News and Events page of our web site on Friday, Feb. 8th.) The Savory Grape (TSG) will hold the tasting at 7 PM at Main Street Coffee (MSC) in East Greenwich. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at TSG (886-9463) or MSC (885-8787). Payment is due upon making a reservation, and seating is limited to 20 people.

Drinking and tasting wine can be a lot of fun and a great experience all in one glass, but additionally there are many health benefits to the beverage, particularly red. The topic of red wine and health is getting more press these days. Besides the multiple health benefits already proven, studies have now shown that some red wine varietals can kill bacteria found in food.

According to Azlin Mustapha, a food microbiologist from the University of Missouri, research has been done that links various red varietals to killing harmful food borne bacteria. Mustapha has tested 11 different varietals and found a handful to be useful against harmful bacteria. Although some red varietals have been able to fight against harmful bacteria, it does not harm probiotic bacteria, which is used to aid digestion.

In these tests, different varietals were tested on several strains of harmful bacteria, including Listeria, E.Coli and Salmonella, as well as probiotic lactobacillus and bifido bacteria which aid digestion. The strains of each virus were isolated and then exposed to samples of concentrated forms of each wine. Testing both harmful and non-harmful bacteria allowed them to see the reaction of the harmful bacteria, but leaving the non-harmful bacteria safe to aid the body.

The varietals that were found to be most helpful were Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Pinot Noir, followed by Tempranillo, which provided some inhibition. These wines showed a high inhibitory effect on growth of all the harmful bacteria tested. However when testing red Zinfandel and Grenache/Shiraz based blends no inhibitory properties were apparent. Studies found that the drier the wines the more helpful they were in aiding against bacteria. Although this sounds great, we do caution against gulping down glasses of wine to kill bacteria that may be in your food. More research is being conducted to offer clearer indications of whether drinking wine at the time of an infection will result in suffering less severe effects.

2004 Las Perdices Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina. Las Perdices is no stranger to the store, but we are very happy to finally taste and bring in its Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 6 months in French and American Oak, this Cabernet is big and bold with cherry aromas and subtle pepper notes. Soft tannins and oak touches rest on the palate while the finish is smooth and balanced with sour cherry and cassis notes. The restrained alcohol level (13.5%) lends this well-integrated wine a touch of elegance more reminiscent of a high-priced wine. Pairings: It also makes an excellent accompaniment to any red meat (braised short ribs would be perfect) or chicken or pork in spicy, full bodied sauces. ($16.99)

2005 Trivento Select Malbec, Argentina. Trying to find smooth, tasty inexpensive Malbecs is often a challenge. But we found one that we thought is worthy to taste and bring in. Trivento's Select Malbec has been aged in medium-toasted French oak barrels which adds soft and balanced vanilla aromas and flavors. (Barrels that are more heavily toasted will obviously offer more aromas and flavors.) The wine is full of rich berry and spice flavors which come through in the mouth along with a mineral nature adding to an already complex finish. Pairings: This wine will pair fantastically with hearty stews, grilled meats and both beef chili and white chicken chili. ($10.99)

2003 Melini Chianti Classico "Isassi," Italy. Straight from the Chianti Classico region in Tuscany is Melini's Chianti Classico. Produced from 90% Sangiovese Grosso and 10% Canaiolo grapes, this red wine has a gorgeous, bright ruby color. A smooth Chianti (not tart and harsh as some can be), its wonderful bouquet shows fragrant aromas of violets and hints of vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full and pleasantly reminiscent of black cherries and black berries. The finish is dry and elegant with an aftertaste of raspberries and almonds. Pairings: It's an undeniable fit with any veal, pizza, pasta in meat sauce and antipasto and Italian cheese platters. ($16.49)

Friday, February 8th (5 to 8 PM) A Winter Retreat to Argentina.

• 2004 Las Perdices Cabernet Sauvignon. Please see tasting notes above in this week's Savory Selections. ($16.99)

• 2005 Trivento Select Malbec. Please see tasting notes above in the week's Savory Selections ($10.99)

• 2007 Finca Flichman Misterio Chardonnay. This very inexpensive Chardonnay is just wonderful for the price. What a value! A splash of oak adds a vanilla sheen to its floral, nutty fruit flavors. Round, soft and very easy sipping describes this Argentina Chardonnay. Sip solo or serve with white meats & pasta in butter or light cream sauces. Stay away from tomato based dishes, which aren't good partners for Chardonnay.($8.99)

Saturday, February 9th (3 to 7 PM) An Offering of Italian Selections.

• 2003 Melini Chianti Classico "Isassi." Please see tasting notes above in this week's Savory Selections. ($16.49)

• 2006 Fontanafredda Barbera d'Alba Briccotondo. This new Barbera that we brought in last week and highlighted in the WS Top 100 list has wonderful bright plummy aromas with soft hints of chocolate. On the palate, it shows lots of full cherry and blackberry flavors, although it is soft, succulent and a tad lighter in body than most Barberas, which makes the wine ever more appealing and approachable. Definitely a great find, we think this wine is just delicious and can be enjoyed now or in about 2-3 years from now. ($13.99)

• 2004 Zenato Lugana. This lovely, light white is full of floral aromas with an intense golden color marked by brilliant reflections. A great alternative to Pinot Grigio, it shows a crisp, citrusy palate that is also supple and rounded. It shows off dry with a balanced acidity and slightly zingy finish. Lugana is age-worthy, and a few years of cellaring will improve its complexity. This white wine pairs especially well with mild grilled fish dishes that are not prepared with tomatoes or other overly acidic foods. ($13.99)

email: jessica@thesavorygrape.com

phone: 401.886.9463

web: http://www.thesavorygrape.com