April 18th Wine Tasting. Come and taste with us this Friday, April 18th from 5pm-8pm as we take a closer look at some of the Woop Woop wines from Australia. Woop Woop is a collaboration between Ben Riggs, the winemaker of Penny's Hill, and Tony Parkinson, owner of Penny's Hill. Woop Woop is Australian slang for the middle of nowhere in the Outback... "just been to Woop Woop and back." We will sample the Woop Woop Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Shiraz. And we will offer a sneak preview of a new Aussie wine, Stickleback, which has earned 90 points by Robert Parker. Take a look at this week's Savory Selections as well as the weekend wine tastings to learn more about the wines.

April 28th Wine Tasting. Please join us on Monday, April 28th at Main Street Coffee in East Greenwich as we take you on a tour of Washington State and all the wonderful wines this wine region has to offer. To purchase tickets, please contact MSC at 885-8787 or TSG at 886-9463. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased at the time of reservation. Tickets are on sale now and remember seating is limited so get your tickets before it's too late.

Artist Exhibition. The vivid works of Elena Avanesova will be on display at The Savory Grape from now until July. Created primarily in oil on canvas, her works challenge our views of magnificent color palette and perspective, while remaining rooted in a familiar floral setting. Elena has lived and worked around the world. Her works have been featured in private collections in Switzerland, Ireland, Turkey and the US. To see more of Elena's work, please visit www.avanart.com

You've been planning all week. You went shopping for all the fixings, bought a centerpiece, and even watched Martha Stewart for ideas on how to fold napkins for the perfect place settings. Everything is ready for your dinner party. Your guests arrive and you crack open the first bottle of your carefully selected white wine for your special night. Just then, one of your guests turns to you and asks for a "white wine glass"....You freeze.

Why that glass? Am I not drinking wine properly? Take a deep breath. You can't ruin that bottle of Bordeaux you've been saving by drinking it out of a pub glass, but this much is true; there is a reason why there is a specific glass for almost every type of wine. Certain glass shapes can change a tasting experience and bring out flavors you might not believe.

To cover the basics, there are three categories of wine glasses - red wine, white wine and champagne flutes. Red wine glasses are easily distinguishable by their round, wide bowls which provide the wine with a large surface area in which to breathe, and the flavors of red wine can develop far more when the wine is allowed to breathe. More specifically, there are two distinct red wine glasses. A Bordeaux glass is taller with a wide bowl that directs the wine towards the back of the mouth. These are sought out for Cabernet, Merlot or other full bodied wines. Burgundy glasses have larger bowls, but are slightly shorter. This increase in surface area makes this glass shape best for more delicate red wines such as Pinot Noir.

White wine glasses are, as a rule, more narrow with either strait or "tulip" shaped sides. This results in less surface area, which is good. White wine should be chilled, and the reduction in surface area results in less air circulating around the interior of the glass which decreases the chance of the wine becoming warm. The smaller bowl also results in less contact between hands and the bowl. Body heat can very easily transfer and quickly warm wine. Finally there are champagne flutes. These long stemmed, tall glasses are designed to retain signature carbonation and much like white wine glasses reduce contact between hands and the bowl.

What your glasses are made of is also just as important as their shape. Glasses made of cut, or fused glass can interfere with the flavor of wine. These glasses also often have rougher, thicker lips which can make the wine flow "bumpy" and result in a less than smooth experience. Blown glass is best.

The theory from famous glass makers such as Riedel is that varietal specific glasses direct wine to the section of your palate that best detects the favorable flavors within that particular varietal. Actually, there may be something to this theory as it has long been proven that certain groupings of taste buds are more sensitive to specific flavors. With Mother's Day and Father's Day fast approaching this may be something to consider if your parents are wine lovers. Perhaps they would take pleasure in the experience of enjoying their favorite kind of wine from the sanctioned type of glass. It may not be something that they would do for themselves, but the best gifts are specific ones such as this that show attention to detail.

2006 Ipsum Rueda, Spain. This wine is produced by Hermanos del Villar, which was founded by the Villar brothers in 1995 and now consists of 247 acres of vineyards in the town of Rueda. Ipsum Rueda, a blend of Verdejo and Viura, has wonderful fruity aromas of apple and pears. In the mouth the wine is pleasant and refreshing with a long, lingering aftertaste. This wine will pair well with light spring foods such as grilled chicken with orzo and grilled white fish, such as Sea Bass. ($10.99)

2004 Can Blau Montsant, Spain. A fabulous value from the other side of the famed Priorat appellation, this dense ruby/purple-colored 2004 exhibits wonderful minerality along with beautiful raspberry and blueberry fruit notes interwoven with slate/rock-like characteristics. Medium- bodied with gorgeously pure fruit, this blend of Carignane, Syrah, and Grenache is ideal for drinking now and over the next 5-6 years. 90 points by Robert Parker. ($18.49)

2006 Fourplay Bianco, Italy. Made in collaboration with the owner of the Tuscan Estate of Deivole, Fourplay Bianco is the first of its kind in a white wine, a blend of 4 Sicilian ancient grape varieties from the beautiful region of Sambuca di Sicilia where viticulture is an old tradition. Intense yellow in color with green reflexes, the wine is full of tropical, crispy, ripe fruit aromas. On the palate Fourplay Bianco has great minerality with a long finish and elegant acidity. This is a great wine to help welcome the warmer months for which we have all been waiting. ($15.49)

2006 Woop Woop Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from key growing regions in S. Australia (40% comes from McLaren Vale, 54% comes from Langhorne Creek with the balance coming from other areas of the Fleurieu Peninsula), the 2006 Cabernet has an expressive bouquet of plum and black currant. With plenty of body, layered sweet fruit, and soft tannins, this is a wonderful Cabernet to enjoy by all especially this summer with your favorite BBQ foods. ($11.99)

Friday, April 18th (5 to 8 PM) Tasting the Wines of Woop Woop.

• 2007 Woop Woop Chardonnay, Australia. Made from 100% Chardonnay, this unoaked wine, light straw in color, has a wonderful blend of aromas including pear, apple, lime and orange with some subtle hints of gooseberry. The mouth feel is light- bodied with flavors of citrus fruit which is intensely refreshing followed by a tart finish. ($11.99)

• 2006 Woop Woop Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia. Please see tasting notes above in this week's Savory Selections. ($11.99)

• 2007 Woop Woop Shiraz, Australia. Always a ripper! Woop Woop Shiraz is deep in color with an inviting nose. Oodles of rich, opulent Shiraz fruit delivers a lush mouth feel, bursting with blackberry fruit juice, blueberry jam and licorice - chock full of quintessential Aussie character. ($11.99)

Friday, April 19th (3 to 7 PM) A Taste of Spain.

• 2006 Bodegas Muga Blanco, Spain. Yeah, a white Rioja! Bodegas Muga Blanco, made from the two unique grapes Viura and Malvasia, is fresh and crisp with full aromas of citrus fruits and apples, which are characteristic of this wine. On the palate, the wine is soft, and it has notes of vanilla, spice and citrus that mingle with a hint of coconut from the wine fermenting in oak barrels. This is a wonderful alternative to Chardonnay and great for Spring. ($13.99)

• 2006 Ipsum Rueda, Spain. Please see tasting notes above in this week's Savory Selections. ($10.99)

• 2004 Can Blau Montsant, Spain. Please see tasting notes above in this week's Savory Selections. ($18.49) <

email: jessica@thesavorygrape.com

phone: 401.886.9463

web: http://www.thesavorygrape.com