Book Signing. The Savory Grape is proud to announce a visit by someone very special - to us personally, the craft beer industry and the country as a whole. Sam Calagione, founder/president of Dogfish Head Brewery, will be visiting The Savory Grape - signing his newly released book Extreme Brewing and tasting various craft beer selections on Monday, December 18, 4:00-5:00 PM.

Sam, one of the most passionate and inspirational entrepreneurs you will meet, started Dogfish Head in 1995 with a single-minded objective - sharing his love of intricate, quality craft beer with others possessing a discerning palate. (I had the pleasure of working with Sam many years ago when I still lived in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and when you meet him you will immediately see that his entrepreneurial spirit also can be found at The Savory Grape.) Today, the Dogfish Head brand is synonymous with high quality, award-winning craft beer that also appeals to many wine drinkers with discerning palates. Sam is the author of two books – Brewing Up a Business and Extreme Brewing. The former offers valuable insight for anyone in business. It's an entertaining, enlightening first-person account of Sam's nontraditional success as an entrepreneur – success as a result of dreaming big, working hard, and thinking unconventionally. With real lessons on entrepreneurship and success from a real entrepreneur, this is a business story that opens readers' eyes to the unquantifiable benefits of thinking differently. The latter and latest release, offers invaluable guidance and advice to would-be home brewers who don't have the time to learn the science behind this brewing. Both books will be available for sale and signing by Sam. Later that evening Sam will be at Gracies Restaurant in Providence for a four-course Dogfish Head beer dinner. The cost is $55 and begins at 7 pm. Call Gracies 272-7811 for reservations. Make sure you catch up with Sam either at The Grape or Gracies!!

January Wine Seminar. The Savory Grape and Grape Ideas Wine Education, in conjunction with Trattoria del Corso Restaurant, are pleased to announce their next fun, interactive wine class, exploring the hills of Italy's Tuscany and Piedmont, on Monday, January 15th from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. During this class, Jennifer Pereira, AIWS, of Grape Ideas Wine Education and an instructor at the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University, will guide you in an exploration of famed Tuscan and Piedmont wines, such as Sangiovese, Chianti Classico, Barbera, and Barbaresco; classical cuisine from these regions; and how the cuisine and wines complement each other. You will sample various Tuscan and Piedmont style foods and analyze how they taste and pair with the various wines to determine their versatility. The cost is $55 per person, which includes instruction, sampling various Italian food courses, tasting 5-6 wines and instruction booklets. Advance reservations and payment must be made by calling or visiting The Savory Grape. Space is limited to 20 seats to ensure personal attention, and we only have 6 seats remaining. So make your reservations now - think about giving the gift of wine and education this holiday season. The private class will be held at Trattoria del Corso Restaurant at 223 Main Street in East Greenwich.

Gift Baskets and Shipping. For your convenience, information on our wine baskets is now online. Please click here for more information. Remember, shipping within and outside of RI (except to NY, MA, PA, MD, UT and MS) and delivery is available - ask us for details or visit the delivery page of our web site for more information. Ship your orders early so all your family and friends receive their gifts on time!

Carpineto Dogajolo - $10.99. Carpineto takes its name from the Greek - Carpos, meaning fruit. The modern day winery was founded in 1967, and since then, the partnership between cofounders Giovanni Carlo Sacchet and Antonio Mario Zaccheo has developed an award winning, international reputation for consistently elegant wines with unmatched intensity and extract. Dogajolo is a young "Super-Tuscan" made from Sangiovese (80%) with a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon (20%). The name Dogajolo comes from "doga," meaning wood stave, since the wine finishes its fermentation process in new wood barrels where it is then aged for six months. Dogajolo has a deep, vivid, ruby-to-purple color and a fragrant bouquet of cherries and herbs accented by hints of vanilla and coffee. The taste is ample yet soft on the palate, complex and well developed. Given its fruitiness and New World style, Dogajolo can be paired with white meats, but shows best with full-flavored dishes such as roasts, salami, and Tuscan regional specialties.

Luianico Rosso - $9.99. Luianico is a Rosso di Toscana made with the venerable Sangiovese grape and is the youngest born of the Luiano family of wines. It is a wine created by Antonio Palombo to reflect his daughter's personality: young, red, Tuscan and fresh. The wine is obtained by a careful selection and vinification of Sangiovese grapes obtained from newly planted vineyards of the estate. Luianico is a young wine that refines for 10 months in vats before being bottled. It has a brilliant ruby red color, intense fruit aromas and a balanced taste that combine with classic characteristics of an Italian Tuscan wine – dry and earthy. This wine is an excellent companion for many kinds of Mediterranean cuisine. However we decided it was excellent just by itself.

Peter Paul Merlot, Napa Valley - $21.99 Peter Paul Merlot came from selected mature vines of 30 - 35 years with very low yields. Harvested from the Jaeger Vineyard within the Oak Knoll district, immediately south of the Stags Leap district, this wine has prominent aromas and flavors of cherry, boysenberry and blackberry together with restrained oak characteristics of vanilla and spice. The body shows a delightful balance of fruit and richness in the mouth with a firm clean finish. The wine drinks well now but will cellar nicely for at least the next five years.

Moniz Sangiacomo Vineyard Los Carneros Chardonnay and Moniz Syrah - $23.49 and 27.99 respectively. We will share these two wines, which are wonderful holiday gifts, with you during our Saturday tasting. So please see tasting notes in our tasting schedule below.

Limited selections of Spottswoode Estate and Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. Please inquire for pricing and availability.

Friday, December 15, 5 pm - 8 pm We are excited to taste the new Italian-featured Savory Selections, as mentioned above - Luianico Rosso di Toscana and Carpineto Dogajolo.

Saturday, December 16, 1 pm - 6 pm

The Moniz Collection.

For those who have experienced Moniz Pinot Noir and Moniz Cabernet Sauvignon can now enjoy the newly released Sangiacomo Vineyard Los Carneros Chardonnay and Syrah that we were thrilled to taste a couple of weeks ago. The medium bodied Chardonnay opens with lemon peel, pineapple, and lightly baked apple, and has a rich and luscious mouth feel dominated by citrus flavors, caramel, nutmeg, and just a hint of brown sugar. The long, complex finish exudes notes of lemon drop, butterscotch, and a hint of limestone minerality. The Syrah is bold and big and is perfect for cold winter nights. Immediately upon tasting, you will notice hints of black cherry, sweet vanilla (from oak barrels), mocha and spice. After a little decanting, the Syrah is perfect! Both wines are meant to enjoy with good company or selfishly on your own.

email: jessica@thesavorygrape.com

phone: 401.886.9463

web: http://www.thesavorygrape.com