"Wine is bottled poetry" - Robert Louis Stevenson

As there is not a poet among us here at WWM, we are lucky that what Robert Louis Stevenson said is true. Can wooing be complete without a wine to whet the romantic appetite? We certainly don't think so, and look forward to helping you pick out the "bottled poetry" that will best suit the object of your affection. For good measure, we'll throw a song recommendation in too (you gotta have the food of love (music, according to Shakespeare) to go with the drink of love, right?).

The Crush 

"Wine gives courage and makes men more apt for passion."
Ovid 

 

The Song: "House of Cards" by Radiohead 

 

The Wine: Trevor Jones Sparkling Red ($16)

 

With Thom Yorke crooning "I don't want to be your friend, I just want to be your lover" and a glass brimming with this mouth-watering, fizzy, berry and spice tinged garnet-colored wine, they'll probably get the message. 

 

 

Soul Mate

 

"In water one sees one's own face; But in wine, one beholds the heart of another."
Old Frech proverb

The Song: "My Funny Valentine" by Chet Baker

The Wine: Montaudon Grand Rose Champagne ($40)  or Avinyo Rose Cava ($20)

Toast having found, and kept, one another with bubbly. The Montaudon is a great value in the world of Champagne, and the Avinyo is a great substitute if Champagne's not in the budget. Both are dry and complex, with mineral, berry and delicate toastiness.

Valentine's Day certainly may be a "Hallmark Holiday," but there's nothing wrong with an excuse to celebrate the person and people you love.

If sparkling wine's not your thing, we've got lots of ideas. Come see us!

 

Upcoming Tasting Events

 

Bistro Dinner

at Marche 

Wednesday, February 27

6:30pm

$40

 

We are thrilled to offer a Parisian-style Bistro Dinner down the hill at Marche. The menu for the event is as follows:

 

Gaston Riviere Pineau des Charentes

 

Prince Edward Island Mussels,herbs, garlic & white wine

2006 Chateau de la Chesnaie Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine

 

Salad Lyonnaise frisee, poached egg and bacon vinaigrette

2006 Chateau des Capitans Julienas

 

Braised Short Ribs, celery root puree

2005 Chateau Labory Fronsac 

 

Pear Tarte Tatin

2005 Chateau Hallet Sauternes

 

 

Call Marche to make reservations (262-1111) 

 

 

Piedmont Wine Dinner

at City House

Monday March 3

6:30pm

$71

 

We had our first official wine dinner with City House on Monday, and we couldn't be happier with the event. In fact, we are chomping at the bit for the next one! Thanks so much to all who came and made it so memorable. The food was outstanding, and it was a pleasure to have a chance to get to know many of you better. It sounds cheesy to say, but having food and wine from a given region is just magical: the two play off each other so well, and one enhances the other in ways that are just amazing. The next dinner will focus on Northernwestern Italy's Piedmont region. Home to some of the most wonderfully bipolar wines on earth (both wildly tannic and unbelievably elegant and delicate at the same time), you've probably heard of Barolo and Barbaresco. Explore Nebbiolo and the other beautiful grapes of Piedmont with the most authentic cuisine you'll find in the city (if not the whole Southeast!).

 

Antipasti

 

Grissini - housemade bread sticks

 

Maiale Tonnato - roasted pork, creamy tuna sauce

2006 Ceretto Langhe Arneis     2005 Villa Sparina Montej Bianco

 

Pasta

 

Risotto al Nebbiolo - Carolina Gold risotto, red wine, porcini, parmesean

 

Pastina in Brodo - housemade pasta in broth

 

Secondi

 

Bollito Misto, housemade cotechino, Springer Mt. chicken, tongue, short ribs

Mostarda di Cremona

2006 Fontanafredda Dolcetto Torremova   2005 Poderi Alasia Barbera d'Asti "Rive"

2005 Antoniolo Costa della Sesia Nebbiolo

 

Dolce

 

Housemade Chocolates in the style of Torino

2005 Coppo Brachetto d'Acqui

 

 

Call City House to reserve your place (615-736-5838).

 

 

On Sale

 

Heinrich RED (Austria)

Was $15

SALE $13

 

"Red" is perhaps more symbolic than any other color, and this tasty little Austrian is perfect for so many occaisions and people. First of all, it's delicious, unique and super smooth. Comprising the triumverate of Austrian red grapes (Zweigelt, St. Laurent (which is quite similar to Pinot Noir), and Blaufrankisch), it's got just enough earthy funkiness to keep things interesting, but enough fruit to keep them from getting out of hand. Heinrich is at the forefront of the Austrian red wine industry, from their gravity-flow winery to the cool glass "corks" in the bottles.

 

Reasons to Give RED (and ideas on how to give it):

 

Love Red is, after all, the color of lust; attach a heart-shaped card and some Hershey's kisses

 

Politics Give a bottle to your Republican friend. If you want to be playful, attach a Hillary/Obama '08 button! Or if you're on the red side of the aisle, play a joke on your Liberal buddies by giving this bottle and taping a picture of Huckabee/McCain/ to the label! Also, makes a perfect gift for the Marxist in your life that is so hard to shop for.

 

Awareness Even though December was "officially" AIDS awareness month, it's an important cause to remember all year. Attach a red ribbon to the bottle and take it to a fundraising event

 

The Obvious It's delicious!

  

Reminder: The 6-Pack of the Month

 

 

Get yours before they're gone! Restock your everyday wines, have a tasting, give it as a gift.  We're sure people have found even more uses for our 6-Pack of the Month, because we can hardly keep them in stock! A $70 value, you get 6 unique wines for $60, in a recyclable carrying case. This month's pack spans Argentina, Australia, Spain, and Italy, and all the wines are red (cause it's still cold out there!). Unlike our Holiday 6-packs, these monthly 6-packs don't contain tasting notes, but here are some that you can reference while enjoying the wines:

 

Los Cardos Malbec (Argentina)  According to their website, this winery was started and is funded by a well-known South American businessman. He provided the winery with all the latest technology and equipment, allowing the wine to be sold at reasonable prices.  All that you love about Malbec is here: dark fruit, undertones of spice and coffee, and a rich, full texture.

 

Wishing Tree Shiraz (Australia)  A lighter, more refined style of Shiraz: the fruit is definitely there, but it caresses, rather than pummels, the palate. Pungent red berries, rhubarb, pomegranate, bright raspberry and slightly bitter cherry flavors, with tangy acidity keeping everything in its right place. A hint of mint on the finish refreshes.

 

Wrongo Dongo (Spain) Though the goofy name seems like it should be on one of the palate-pummeling Australian wines mentioned above, this is actually a sleek-but-effusive Mourvedre from Spain's Jumilla region. One of the more fruit-forward and approachable Mourvedres we've tried, it bursts with blackberry, cassis and even some more unusual, savory notes (German chocolate cake and bacon, if you can believe it).

 

Tikalo "Alba Liza" (Spain)  A blend of Tempranillo and Grenache, this wine represents a bit more of the traditional Spanish rusticity than the Wrongo Dongo. Full of black cherries, licorice, and wild mountain berry fruit. The finish is tinged with some nice spicy, peppery notes. From central Spain's Castilla region.

 

Sella & Mosca Cannonau Riserva (Italy)  Cannonau is the same grape as Grenache, and it was brought to the island of Sardegna by the Spanish in the 13th Century. This wine, as with many of the wines of Sardegna, seem to merge the wine styles of Italy and Spain. There's rich, earthy notes of tar and tobacco with bright, cherry-kirsch-tinged red fruit and nice spicy notes. We often recommend this as an interesting way for Pinot Noir fans to branch out.

 

Quattro Mani Montepulciano (Italy)  Montepulciano is the grape, and it comes from Abruzzo, on Italy's eastern coast. The wines are something of the antithesis of the terrain: plump and generous, versus rugged and ungiving. Inky in color, with blackberries, a touch of earthy funk, and an attractive youthful vigor, this is a wine we return to over and over.