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The Savory Grape Wine Shop Newsletter |
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Greetings!
Well, Thanksgiving is just over two weeks away, and
many of you already may have planned your menus
or are
making those strides now. To simplify things for you,
we would like to help with your wine selections. This
week's
article highlights wines that
are fine partners for Thanksgiving fare. So be daring -
try something different! Please also see a welcome
note from The Savory Grape's new store manager
and wine lover Anne
Sage.
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A Message from Store Manager Anne F. Sage |
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I have found my first
week at The Savory Grape to be very smooth. I am
grateful to be here, using my knowledge as well as
learning from others. For more than ten years, I
have
been studying wine starting with Sandy Block at the
International Wine Center in Boston (since closed),
Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and through the London Wine
Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Having owned Fat Cat
Catering in Newport for 6 years, cooking and
teaching wine for various venues and pairing foods
with wines, my experiences will contribute to the
already knowledgeable family at The Savory Grape. I
recently completed and passed the WSET Advanced
Certificate exam (level 3) through the International
Wine Center in NYC, which enables me to practice as
a Sommelier and recommend customers on wine and
food pairing suggestions. I look forward to becoming
a part of the community at The Savory Grape and
thank every one for welcoming me!
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Thanksgiving Wine Suggestions |
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Choosing wines to pair with this year's
Thanksgiving turkey does not have to be stressful,
but there are a few things to consider along the
way. It isn't necessarily about the turkey when
deciding
which wines will pair best with your fare, but rather a
major
consideration should be side dishes, such as
brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, and corn pudding,
and the gravy and stuffing that are on the turkey.
Therefore you want wines that will have balance -
enough flavor to stand up to a variety of
accompanying flavors; just the right amount of
acidity and tannins to cut through rich foods; and
the perfect delicateness that will enhance foods and
not overpower them. Following are our wine
suggestions that have
this delicate balance and that will serve as a great
accompaniment to your Thanksgiving Day fare. We
also include dessert wine
recommendations for pumpkin pie, crème brulee or
your favorite cooked fruits.
White Wine |
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- Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley,
CA ($19.49).
Reserve winemaking methods and brief aging in small
tanks accent this wine's citrus and tropical fruit
aromas! Its silky and crisp acidity offer a refreshing
edge to this food friendly wine.
- McManis Family Vineyards, Chardonnay,
River Junction, CA ($9.99).
A Thanksgiving wine for Chardonnay lovers! This
wine is rich, coating the mouth with abundant flavors
of green apple and tropical fruits, yet balanced with
hints of vanilla from oak barreling. A perfect pairing
with stuffing and rightful addition to the Thanksgiving
table!
- Two Princes Riesling, Germany
($12.49).
Riesling is the perfect food wine, and this one is off
dry with just a touch of sweetness, tingling acidity
and flavors of white peaches, all which make it tasty!
- Mottura Orvieto, Italy ($12.99).
This is a light, dry white that is not only a great food
wine but can also serve as the start to any meal!
(And it is organic.) Have this as your sipping wine
while entertaining your guests.
Red Wine
- Grayson Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso
Robles, CA ($10.49) Blackberry, raspberry notes
combined with hints of
vanilla, cherry and toasted almond contribute to this
balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. A nice price for a
fulfilling wine.
- Domaine Monpertuis, Vignoble de la
Ramiere, France ($12.49). This is a
nice medium bodied red from the same house as the
renowned, higher tiered Chateauneuf du Pape. From
this wine, you'll get a smooth mouth feel of cassis
and spice. This is a refined wine for Thanksgiving and
best served with the main course.
- Moniz Pinot Noir, Napa Valley, CA
($26.99). Small in production but rich
in flavor, this is a special Thanksgiving selection. Its
dark fruit flavors are soft with light touches of vanilla
from oak aging.
- Pavilion Merlot, Napa Valley, CA
($12.49). This is
an affordable Merlot that offers a taste much higher
than its price tag. Rich in fruit, its soft with a silky
finish.
- Columbia Winery Cabernet Franc, Red Willow
Vineyard, WA ($23.99). This is a distinctive,
single vineyard Cabernet Franc that is sure to please
your guests. The succulent fruit flavors are
accompanied by light earth undertones. Beautiful!
Other Must Have Wine Additions
- Elyse Rose, Napa, CA ($13.49).
This wine is an elegant
rose to be shared with turkey and/or seafood as well
as roasted vegetables. It exhibits a lovely
gift of balanced acidity and fruit. Although from
California, this wine's balance
derives from grapes native to France's Rhone
region.
- Lanson Champagne, Black Label, Reims,
France ($32.99).
This fine Champagne is a gem, very welcomed at the
wine shop, and is a perfect partner for any meal.
Don't be afraid to introduce a little sparkling into the
meal.
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- Newport Vineyards, Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, RI
($27.99). This local and delicious wine is a great
addition to the dessert table and makes a nice gift
from our local winemaker.
- Cantine Aurora Moscato, Piedmont, Italy
($11.99).
This wine is light, sweet and very refreshing with
slight bubbles adding a balanced effervescence.
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This Week's Savory Selections |
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The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz - $16.49.
Another wine that dares you to be different. A
sparkling Shiraz is great for those who are not fond
of dry Champagne or sparkling wine. This bubbly red
has intense red berry flavors, like strawberries,
currants, and cherries, that give you a feeling of
biting into berries. A different, yet enjoyable
experience.
2004 Molnar Family Vineyards Chardonnay -
$21.99. This cool-climate single-vineyard
Chardonnay from the very southern end of Napa
Valley offers intensely aromatic, sweet-smelling floral
aromas backed by flavors of honey, baked pineapple
and citrus fruits. It is rich, smooth and mouth filling,
yet completely balanced and not overpowering. Quite
elegant.
2004 Downing Fly by Night Zinfandel -
$31.99. DF Vineyards produces small lots of ultra
premium Zinfandel, along with Cabernet Sauvignon
and Syrah. We are excited that we were able to
acquire some of this newly released vintage. Only
633
cases were produced overall,
and this vintage is the first certified organic wine.
It's well balanced, sweet on the front palate and
spicy on the back. Black currants and an essence of
dark chocolate emerge from this full-bodied wine that
finishes with a note of vanilla and cracked pepper.
Superb!
La Puerta Cabernet, Argentina-
$9.49. This is a nice, everyday Cabernet for the
price. It is dry with layers of modest black cherry
fruit flavors that are in balance with the touch of
oak. For an inexpensive Cabernet it leaves you with a
nice, lingering finish.
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Weekend Tasting Selections |
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Friday, Nov. 10 (5 pm - 8 pm):
Avila Cabernet, Santa Barbara, CA: Avila
Wines have been a favorite among many clients of
The Savory Grape. The Avila Cabernet Sauvignon has
classic Cabernet characteristics and an amazing
variety of flavors. Powerful plum, blackberry and
black cherry fruit marries well with cranberry, licorice,
and vanilla notes. Well-structured, with deep, rich
fruit, supple tannins and a spicy finish, this wine is
smooth. ($12.99)
Avila Chardonnay, Santa Barbara, CA:
Fragrant aromas of pineapple, grapefruit, apricot, and
vanilla greet the nose and are mirrored on the palate
of this fresh flavorful Chardonnay. A slightly creamy
texture, the finish leaves a lasting impression, and
the crisp acidity of this Chardonnay plays well with a
wide variety of dishes and cuisine.
($12.99)
Saturday, Nov. 11 (5 pm - 8 pm):
Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia:
This Cabernet was one of our top picks a couple of
weeks ago, and we immediately sold out of it. Now it
is back, and we want to share it with you. This is a
great value, a delicious alternative to the ubiquitous
Shiraz and another great everyday, wine. Wall Street
Journal's Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher gave it
a "Best Value." It reveals intense, dark fruit flavors
(black raspberry and cherry) and cassis that is
backed by a balanced acidity. (What is acidity you
ask - think of something that makes your mouth
pucker. This puckering is from acidity.) A wine of
some conviction!
($9.99)
McManis Chardonnay, Carneros, CA:
On the other side of the world from the Australian
Cabernet, this California Chardonnay has peach,
pear, mango and pineapple aromas, accompanied
with undertones of vanilla oak. The wine is rich,
mouth coating and slightly tangy. The aromas
continue to your palate as the flavors linger through
to the finish. ($9.99)
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The Savory Grape Updates |
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At The Savory Grape, giving a great wine basket to
someone special this
holiday season has never more easy. Simply
- Choose your price point. We offer standard gift
baskets at prices to fit any budget.
- Select a basket theme. We have developed wine
baskets from three of the most popular regions -
California, Italy and France and additionally have
developed a Chocolate Lovers and Local basket.
- Decide whether to have it picked up at the store,
delivered or shipped.
We also are happy to develop custom baskets to
accommodate your needs and budgets.
Note: The Savory Grape will open at 10
a.m., instead of 11 a.m., on the Monday-Wednesday
before Thanksgiving. We also will open at 9 a.m. on
Friday, November 24, the renowned Black Friday, the
day after Thanksgiving. Stay tuned for special
happenings!
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