California Wine and Cheese

Beginning Friday, April 27…

tdugan — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:04:39 +0000

This Friday, we’ll offer a tasting of wines from Inspiration Vineyards and be joined by Winemaker Jon Phillips.

Inspirations Vineyards Flight:

- 2010 Chardonnay Estate Russian River Valley
- 2009 Viognier Russian River Valley
- 2011 Rose Dry Creek Valley
- 2009 Pinot Noir Russian River
- 2009 Syrah / Reserve Dry Creek Valley

While Jon will only be with us Friday evening, his wines will continue to be available for tasting throughout the weekend and through next Thursday (May 3)

The West Wall presents two Italian artists, Carlo Bruchi and Renzo Regoli. Regoli, with both an art and geology background, began to have his paintings shown in galleries around 2000. Looking at his paintings, you can lose yourself in the hills of the Crete Senesi, the Tuscan coastal beaches or the mountains of the Apennines. The second artist, Carlo Bruchi, produces sun-drenched landscapes of rural Tuscany. Both artists are based in the Siena area.

Want to host a business seminar, but don’t want to use the same old meeting room at the local lodge? Maybe you want to host a dinner, but don’t want to be in the middle of a restaurant trying to find a waiter? Maybe you just want to party, but don’t have time to clean the house for your guests? We offer a new and different venue for that party. The Cellar Room at the back of the shop is available for private events and dinners. We’ll rent the room and provide wine service to you and your friends and we’ll also facilitate contact with three different caterers who can take you from light grazing to full five course meals. We’ve developed three different event formats and will be happy to provide that information in person or via email. Contact Janet or Tom for further information.

Cheese Corner:

What I suspect is the most requested cheese this year has returned. What else but the Beemster!! Despite more than two years of aging, it remains creamy while delivering flavors butterscotch, whiskey and pecan. Let’s see how long this 22 pound wheel lasts!

Upcoming Events.

Noir Food and Wine, Pasadena, will feature a their annual Best of Italy four course wine dinner on April 29. $59. includes everything. Go to the web site for details at www.noirfoodandwine.com . Wine related events are announced well in advance at the web site. Check it often.

Bistro 45, Pasadena, will offer a wine dinner on the evening of April 30, featuring wines from ONX Winery in Paso Robles. The wines are Rhone blends and Zinfandel. I am not familiar with the wines; Looking at the web page I noted they were all in the $40 range. I don’t know the dinner price at this point, but this might be a great opportunity explore these new wines. Of late, Robert has been offering dinners at very affordable pricing (in my opinion). Go to the (new and improved) web site at www.bistro45.com for more details.

Bistro 45 and A|K|A Bistro have some interesting wine and food presentations that are better described by checking the new and vastly improved web site at www.bistro45.com/index.php/events

A word about “Upcoming Events.” CWaC is not a principal or sponsor of events which take place at premises other than our own. I list these activities because they pair wine and food together and I feel they are worth knowing about.

We open at noon Tuesday through Saturday, closing at 8:00pm on Tuesday through Thursday and 9:00pm on Friday and Saturday. We are open Sunday from noon until 6:00PM. Please remember, we stop pouring 30 minutes before closing. Any questions, please call us at 626-358-6500.

Janet and Tom

Beginning on March 29….

tdugan — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 19:42:45 +0000

Our Mixed Red Flight includes:
- Roessler Red Label 2009 Pinot Noir Sonoma County
- Brassfield 2010 Eruption Red Lake County
- Cass 2009 Rockin One Estate GSM Paso Robles
- Cass 2009 Estate Mourvedre Paso Robles
- Oberon 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Our Mixed White Flight includes:
Actually, we don’t know right now. We’re going to raid the wine cooler and whittle down the stock that has built up there! On average, 75% of the wines sold and or consumed in flights are red wines. A red doesn’t get opened, it goes back on the racks. A white doesn’t get opened, once chilled, it stays in the cooler. There is a lot of white wine in there right now and it’s difficult for guests in the shop to see most of the available wines. We’re not talking “slash and burn,” just some mild clearcutting, leaving you with a sort of pot luck white wine flight week .

The best selling red wine last week was the Bokisch 2007 Graciano Terra Alta Vyd Lodi while the the best selling white wine was the Gundlach Bundschu 2010 Gewürztraminer Sonoma Coast. The Bokisch was a run away winner as we work our way through case three!!

Subscribe to our Dinner Announcement & Newsletter and get information on Wednesdays about our Thursday Night Wine Pairing Dinners, and on Thursday, the Wine Tasting Menu for the coming week. (see sidebar t0o subscribe)

Below is a sample dinner menu:

Beet Salad w/ Gorgonzola Crunbles, Candied Walnuts, tossed in Orange Muscat Vinaigrette
… with Tranche 2008 Slice of Pape Blanc White Rhone Columbia Valley

Wild Mushroom Ragout with Pancetta on Crispy Polenta and topped with Comté Gruyere
… with Cline Ancient Vines 2010 Mourvedre Contra Costa Co

Barbecued Beef Brisket with Baked Beans and Roasted Red Potatoes
… with Artezin 2009 Zinfandel Mendocino

Blackberry Chocolate Cake topped with Chantilly Cream & Chocolate Ganache
…with Bokisch 2007 Graciano Terra Alta Vineyard Lodi

Dinner reservations are required. Please call 626-358-6500 or email us at info@cawineandcheese.com. The cost of dinner is $32 + tax.

The West Wall presents two Italian artists, Carlo Bruchi and Renzo Regoli. Rengoli, with both an art and geology background, began to have his paintings shown in galleries around 2000. Looking at his paintings, you can lose yourself in the hills of the Crete Senesi, the Tuscan coastal beaches or the mountains of the Apennines. I do not yet have information about Carlo Bruchi. I will certainly add some when I again speak with his local representative.

Cheese Corner:

We received a couple Italian favorites today in the way of Caseificio de Alta Langa La Tur and Robiola, as well as some Sage Derby from Tuxford and Tebbutt. The La Tur, from Piedmonte, is a blend of pasteurized Goat, Sheep & Cow milks, while the Robiola is a blend of cow and sheep. Both rich and creamy. The Sage Derby, on the other hand, is a cheddar type gourmet cheese made using leaf sage for flavor, and colored using chlorophyll (plant coloring) to give a green marbled finish. The finely chopped sage leaf gives a subtle extra flavor. Sage Derby is matured for around 12 weeks as per mild cheddar.is a firm cheddar with a mild sage flavor.

Upcoming Events.

On April 1, Noir Food and Wine will offer its Annual “Best of Pinot Noir” Wine Dinner. This will be a four course dinner with a Kosta Brown Pinot accompanying one course and additional Pinot to be announced. This four course dinner will cost $70 + $10 gratuity + tax. Go to www.noirfoodandwine.com for additional details and/or reservations.

Bistro 45 and A|K|A Bistro have some interesting wine and food presentations that are better described by checking the new and vastly improved web site at www.bistro45.com/index.php/events

Janet and Tom

Beginning on March 16, 2012 …

tdugan — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 22:15:34 +0000

Beginning Friday, we’ll offer the following Wine Flights:

Our Mixed Red Flight includes:
- Bokisch 2009 Garnacha Terra Alta Clements Hills Lodi
- Infinite Monkey Theorem (we’ll explain when we see you!!)
- Gundlach Bundschu 2008 Mountain Cuvee Sonoma Valley
- Bokisch 2009 Tempranillo Liberty Oaks Vyd Jahant Lodi
- Player to be named

Our Mixed White Flight includes:
- Pavi 2009 Pinot Grigio Napa Valley
- Hall 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
- Banshee 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
- Iron Horse 2009 Unoaked Chardonnay Green Valley RRV
- Gundlach Bundschu 2009 Estate Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

The best selling red wine (in a runaway!) last week was the Romililly 2009 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley while the the best selling white wine was the Calera 2010 Chardonnay Central Coast

Wine and food Pairing Dinners are held on Thursday evenings. Subscribe to our newsletter and receive the menu every Wednesday at 3:30pm. Dinners are four courses and limited to 30 persons. They are generally $32 + tax. See right side panel for subscriptions.

Cheese Corner:

So the shop will bid your Céad Mile Fáilte this St Patrick’s Day with the arrival of “ST PAT” cheese. These rounds are made with whole organic milk from the Chileno Valley Jersey Dairy and are wrapped with stinging nettle leaves. Do not fear the nettles, since they are frozen to remove the sting before they are wrapped around the cheese. ST PAT, with its distinctive, green rind, commemorates the arrival of spring in Marin County. After three weeks of aging, ST PAT is mellow, soft, and full of flavor. The nettle leaves impart a smoky, artichoke flavor.

Along with the ST PAT, we’ll also offer the only cheese made in the heart of County Limerick’s, Cahill’s Original Irish Porter Cheese. This cheese itself is a full-flavored and tangy cheddar that is ever so slightly pungent with a firm texture. It’s a semi-hard cheese with a floral cheddery nose of fresh butter. The pate has a meaty texture with caramel and chocolatey, almost malty notes. It is made from pasteurized cow’s milk and is considered a “vegetarian” cheese since its curds and whey are separated with vegetable rennet.

Upcoming Events.

Bistro 45 and A|K|A Bistro have some interesting wine and food presentations that are better described by checking the new and vastly improved web site at www.bistro45.com/index.php/events

Janet and Tom

Beginning on March 1st

CAAW — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:41:20 +0000

We have five seats still available this evening for our wine and small plates dinner
Beginning Friday, we’ll offer the following Wine Flights:

Our Mixed Red Flight includes

Flying Nymph 2009 Red Wine Cass Vineyard Paso Robles
Remix Iberian 2008 Red Wine California
Seghesio 2009 Zinfandel Sonoma
Clayhouse 2009 Malbec Red Cedar Vineyard Paso Robles
Player to be named

Our Mixed White Flight includes

Darcie Kent 2009 Grüner Veltliner Rava Blackjack Vineyard Monterey
Flying Nymph 2010 White Wine Cass Vineyard Paso Robles
Remix Iberia 2009 White Wine California
Mary’s Cuvee 2009 Pinot Blanc Sierra Madre Vineyard Sta Maria Valley
J 2008 Chardonnay Russian River Valley

The best selling red wine last week was the Seventy Five 2008 The Sum Red Wine Lake Co while the the best selling white wine was the Bernardus 2009 Chardonnay Monterey.

We have been offering a variety of wine and food opportunities lately in hopes of providing some new and varied experiences here at the shop. We are going turn it up a few notches with something special next Thursday. Along with dinner, we’ll offer the stunning vocals of “Fumani.” She and I have met a couple times lately and I have been completely blown away by her singing voice. Dinner reservations will be required after 3:30pm, March 7 There will be a small additional cost, which we have not worked out yet.

The West Wall is now full with lots of color, courtesy of Chris Cuyler. These “palate knife” paintings explore and emphasize the artist’s love of bold color, movement and expressionism. Two of the pictures on the “bump wall” remind you of Peter Max, who was an early influence on the artist. Start at the beginning with “Pretty in Pink” and and finish with “Gwen S.#2.”
Want to host a business seminar, but don’t want to use the same old meeting room at the local lodge? Maybe you want to host a dinner, but don’t want to be in the middle of a restaurant trying to find a waiter? Maybe you just want to party, but don’t have time to clean the house for your guests? We offer a new and different venue for that party.

The Cellar Room at the back of the shop is available for private events and dinners. We’ll rent the room and provide wine service to you and your friends and we’ll also facilitate contact with three different caterers who can take you from light grazing to full five course meals. We’ve developed three different event formats and will be happy to provide that information in person or via email. Contact Janet or Tom for further information.

Our next Wine Class will be on Sunday, March 11, from 3:00 to 5:00pm. This class will will include Wine Appreciation and Sensory Evaluation and be taught by Elizabeth Schweitzer, Master Sommelier.This class is for both beginners and experienced wine tasters. We will learn how to taste wine, learn key words to describe the wines and walk away with some new-found knowledge all the while having fun. No winesnobs allowed! Class includes wines, snacks, hand-outs, friendship and a Master Sommelier guiding you along your wine journey. Make your reservations soon to guarantee a space. The charge for this class is $45 and this must be paid in advance to ensure seating. Payment should be made at www.winewisdomandwit.com. On the home page, scroll down to the “Reserve Here” box and click on the arrow to choose the number of persons you are paying for, and then click on the “Buy Now” button to complete your reservation.

Tax Free Wednesdays

On Wednesdays retail purchases will be discounted to eliminate the tax. As previously noted, this discount will not compound with others already available.

Cheese Corner

So I’m looking for something new to talk about this week and I was flat lining big time. Vicky and I started talking about one of our seriously overlooked cheeses, the Tetilla. This is mostly because it’s shape doesn’t lend itself to evenly cut slices, so it doesn’t show up on our cheese plates. If you have not had it before, it tastes a bit like a cross between a Gruyere and Gouda, but with a buttery creaminess. It is principally made in Galicia in the northwest of Spain. It’s either served by the slice or melted over canapes.

While I was writing this, a first time guest came in and bought one of our two Tetillas!! Go figure…

Upcoming Events

Bistro 45 in Pasadena does a wine pairing dinner on the last Monday of each month. Noir Food and Wine, just up the street form Bistro 45, likewise offers frequent wine pairing dinners. As details become available, I will note them here .
A word about “Upcoming Events.” CWaC is not a principal or sponsor of events which take place at premises other than our own. I list these activities because they pair wine and food together and I feel they are worth knowing about.
We open at noon Tuesday through Saturday, closing at 8:00pm on Tuesday through Thursday and 9:00pm on Friday and Saturday. We are open Sunday from noon until 6:00PM. Please remember, we stop pouring 30 minutes before closing. Any questions, please call us at 626-358-6500.

Janet and Tom
California Wine and Cheese
Visit us on Facebook
email: info@cawineandcheese.com

Beginning on December 17 …

tdugan — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:46:06 +0000

Our Mixed Red Flight:
- Palmina 2010 Dolcetto Santa Barbara County
- Curran 2007 Tempranillo Santa Ynez Valley
- Bourriquot 2008 Red Wine Napa Valley
- Jaffurs 2009 Petite Sirah Paso Robles
- Player to be named

Our Mixed White Flight:
- Curran 2010 Grenache Blanc Santa Ynez Valley
- Palmina 2009 Arneis Honea Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley
- Tangent 2010 Albariño Edna Valley
- Tangent 2007 Ecclestone White Blend San Luis Obispo Co
- Martin Ray 2010 Chardonnay Russian River Valley

Holiday Gift Baskets. A number of them have been already made up and are available for purchase. All you have to do is pick the wines you want inserted into the baskets and it’s practically “Grab and go!!” If we do run out, we would expect a re-supply with 24 hours. The longer you wait, the more likely, you will have to build that into your shopping strategy!

The best selling red wine last week was a (runaway) tie (15 bottles each) between Edward Sellers 2007 Red Cap Syrah and Steltzner 2008 Claret Napa Valley. The best selling white wine was the San Simeon 2010 Chardonnay Monterey

There will be a wine class on Saturday, December 17, beginning at 3:00pm. Elizabeth will focus on wines for the holiday season, and in the spirit of the holiday will charge only $30 for this session. Reservations, in advance, are required. There are four seats left at this moment. Please go to Elizabeth’s web site if you have not already spoken with me or Elizabeth. Make those reservations at Elizabeth’s web site www.winewisdomandwit.com if not already made.

The West Wall features a series of large format black, white and grey group portraits as well as colorful flower and nature pieces, and maybe, a hint of existentialism on the West Wall bump! (You’ll figure it out!). Elizabeth A Shafer, the artist,was here last Saturday evening and most of our guests had an opportunity to talk to her work. All pieces, along with a few extras in The Cellar Room will be here for a few more weeks and might make an ideal gift for someone during the holiday season.

Tax Free Wednesdays. On Wednesdays retail purchases will be discounted to eliminate the tax. As previously noted, this discount will not compound with others already available.

Cheese Corner:

There are no new cheeses this week. We’ll plan to have a few new items next week.

Upcoming Events:

Bistro 45 in Pasadena will offer a Sparkling Wine Dinner on Monday, December 19. This will be a five course dinner, each paired with a sparkling wine. The cost of this dinner will be $65. Reservations and/or more details, are available at 626-795-2478

Noir Food and Wine will present a kick-off dinner for the 2012 PinotFest at the Altadena Country Club on January 15. The dinner will feature five courses by five top flight chefs, each of which will be paired with wines from seven top flight winemakers. This dinner will cost $149. + tax + gratuity. More details, along with reservations, can be obtained at www.noirfoodandwine.com

Noir Food and Wine will present PinotFest 2012 from January 21 through February 11, 2012. There will be tastings and wine dinners, all culminating in the Grand Tasting at the Altadena Country Club. Details are all available at www.noirfoodandwine.com .

Janet and Tom

And beginning on November 25 …

tdugan — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:45:36 +0000

(This was posted late to the web site – sorry) We’re sending you the Newsletter early this week because unless you’re underground in North Dakota, supporting the NORAD missile deployment system, you’re probably going to be off work on Thursday (and you’re also planning to slip out early today). We thought we better catch you now. We’re here all day Wednesday, but closed on Thanksgiving.

We’re opening at 12:01 on Black Friday. That, of course, is PM, not AM!! We’d “stack ‘em high and sell ‘em low, ” but we have wine and cheese, not ipads and monster sized TVs. If you have the day off, come on in and enjoy some wine and cheese; maybe even buy some wine to go with your “leftovers.”

It will be a “Pot Luck” Flight of reds and whites this coming weekend. We’ll open a few of each to start with and see where things go.

Did you get the word on Small Business Saturday? Unless you have stock in those big name stores at the mall, why not stick around and spend your money in Monrovia (or the town you live in). Small businesses are struggling right now. I am guessing most of the local businesses are owned by neighbors; supporting those businesses would be a good idea for them and the community. Not sure where to start? Go to https://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday , enter your zip code 1/2 way down the page and get a list of participating local small businesses. You’ll probably get some good shopping ideas when you realize the variety of small businesses that are here!

Want a little bonus for shopping at the shops listed (at the above web site) and carry an American Express card? Go to https://sync.americanexpress.com/sbs2011 and register your card with the “Small Business Saturday” project. When you do this and make a purchase of $25 or more at a participating business, you’ll get a $25 credit added to tour AMEX statement. There’s not a lot of it, but read the fine print at the web site (and then go shop!)

The best selling red wine last week was Lee Family 2009 Rio Tinto Silvaspoons Vyd Alta Mesa Lodi . The best selling white wine was the Handley 2010 Gewürztraminer Anderson Valley.

The West Wall features a series of large format black, white and grey group portraits as well as colorful flower and nature pieces, and maybe, a hint of existentialism on the West Wall bump! (You’ll figure it out!). Elizabeth A Shafer, the artist, will be in the shop Saturday evening, December 3 (which is a date correction from last week’s Newsletter)..

Tax Free Wednesdays. On Wednesdays retail purchases will be discounted to eliminate the tax. As previously noted, this discount will not compound with others already available.

Cheese Corner:

King Island is one of the islands that make up the state of Tasmania, Australia. It is located in the Roaring Forties of Bass Strait, off the north-western tip of the main island of Tasmania, about half way between Tasmania and the mainland state of Victoria. Crossed by the 40th parallel south – and its infamous Roaring Forties – King Island is a grid of farmland and windbreaks. In the mid-1980s King Island Dairy shifted production from mozzerella to specialty cheeses. That includes one of our favorites, Roaring Forties Blue. It’s a creamy, mild, blue-veined cheese from pasteurized cow’s milk. If you haven’t tried it yet, you must be buying your cheese across the street!

Upcoming Events:

“The Great Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Pairing Event” will be offered at Noir Food and Wine on December 4, at 6:00pm, for $69.00 (includes gratuity; tax to be added). The event name says it all. Further information and/or reservations are at www.cawineandcheese.com

Noir Food and Wine will present Pinotfest 2012 from January 21 through February 11, 2012. There will be tastings and wine dinners, all culminating in the Grand Tasting at the Altadena Country Club. Details are all available at www.noirfoodandwine.com .

Janet and Tom

Beginning on November 11…

tdugan — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:44:33 +0000

Our Pinot Noir Flight will include:
- Healdsburg Ranches 2010 Russian River Valley
- Calstar 2008 Sangiacomo Vineyard Sonoma Coast
- Handley 2007 Anderson Valley
- Luli 2010 Santa Lucia Highlands
- Louis Jadot 2007 Côte de Beaune Villages

Our Chardonnay Flight will include:
- Luli 2010 Santa Lucia Highlands
- Melville 2009 Verna’s Vineyard Santa Rita Hills
- Morgan 2010 Metallico Unoaked Monterey
- Player to be named!
- Louis Jadot 2007 Côte de Nuit Villages “Le Vaucrain”

The best selling red wine last week involved our first ever three way tie! They were Bodegas Paso Robles 2005 Viva Yo! Paso Robles, Maloy-O’Neill 2007 Enzo Paso Robles & Racehorse Red 2007 Chiles Valley Napa . The best selling white wine was the Handley 2009 Pinot Gris Anderson Valley Mendocino.

Give Thanks for Wine is the subject of the next Wine Class to be presented by Master Sommelier, Elizabeth Schweitzer, on Saturday, November 19 at 3:00pm. This class is designed to showcase our gratitude for wine, food, and cheese. We will taste & learn about some special wines that will pair beautifully with your holiday meal. There will be enthusiastic discussions about food and wine pairings, recipes with cheese to serve before, with or after dinner and, of course, wines to taste throughout. Elizabeth guarantees that you will learn something new! Beginners and wine experts are welcome. The class includes wines, french bread, snacks, recipe cards, hand-outs, instruction, fun and friendship. $45.00 You must make reservations at Elizabeth’s website. Sign-up here: www.winewisdomandwit.com

The West Wall welcomes back the art of Kristen Gilmartin. Kristen’s new works are small paintings using oil, acrylic, and wax on canvas. They explore the theme of floral abstraction and movement as they occur in nature. They are colorful, unpredictable, and fun (much like Kristen). We’ve added a few more (larger) paintings to the exhibit.

Just when you thought Paso couldn’t fit in another wine festival, along comes the Garagistes (gar-uh-zhe-stuh) on November 12. One of the lines in the announcement reads, “Welcome to Paso Garagiste, a place for the underground, the different, and the cutting edge of small production winemaking with no rules.” If you are curious, go to http://californiagaragistes.com/ and check it out. I’d be there myself, but in case you don’t go, somebody has to stick around and pour wine for you here!

Tax Free Wednesdays. On Wednesdays retail purchases will be discounted to eliminate the tax. As previously noted, this discount will not compound with others already available.

Upcoming Events:

At Noir Food and Wine “The Legend Lives” four course Burgundy dinner is Sold out . .

Janet and Tom

Beginning on November 4 …

tdugan — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:23:25 +0000

Our Mixed Red Wines Flight will include:
- Block Nine 2010 Pinot Noir California
- Racehorse Red 2007 Chiles Valley Napa
- Ahnfeldt 2006 Red Wine Napa Valley
- Bodegas Paso Robles 2005 Viva Yo! Paso Robles
- Maloy-O’Neill 2007 Enzo Paso Robles

Our Mixed White Wines Flight will include:
- Terlato 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley
- Kenneth Volk 2008 Pinot Grigio Sierra Madre vineyard Sta Maria Valley
- Handley 2009 Chardonnay Anderson Valley
- Handley 2010 Gewurztraminer Anderson Valley
- Ludwig 2010 Riesling Sweetwater Vineyard Monterey

The best selling red wine last week was the Dancing Coyote 2009 Petite Sirah Clarksburg. The best selling white wine was the Dancing Coyote 2009 Verdelho Clarksburg.

The West Wall welcomes back the art of Kristen Gilmartin. Kristen’s new works are small paintings using oil, acrylic, and wax on canvas. They explore the theme of floral abstraction and movement as they occur in nature. They are colorful, unpredictable, and fun (much like Kristen). On Friday, we’ll add a few more (larger) paintings to the exhibit. There will be an Artist’s Reception on November 5, 4:30 to 8:30pm.

Short Notice Just when you thought Paso couldn’t fit in another wine festival, along comes the Garagistes (gar-uh-zhe-stuh) on November 12. One of the lines in the announcement reads, “Welcome to Paso Garagiste, a place for the underground, the different, and the cutting edge of small production winemaking with no rules.” If you are curious, go to http://californiagaragistes.com/ and check it out. I’d be there myself, but in case you don’t go, somebody has to stick around and pour wine for you here!

Tax Free Wednesdays. On Wednesdays retail purchases will be discounted to eliminate the tax. As previously noted, this discount will not compound with others already available.

Cheese Corner

Moliterno is a cheese we have often carried. It is a sheep’s milk cheese from Sardinia, Italy. The cheese is aged for about about a year during which it develops a very nutty flavor. At that point, the cheese is injected with truffles, creating large veins throughout the wheel. The truffle adds a very earthy flavor to the cheese well beyond the injection points. It’s a great cheese for full bodied red wines.

Upcoming Events:

Noir Food and Wine will offer a four course Burgundy “The Legend Lives” dinner on November 20. Highly sought after wines from the Côte d”Or and Chablis will be paired with each course. These wines are expensive and difficult to obtain, hence the dinner, at $265, reflects the higher cost of the wines. Go to www.noirfoodandwine.com for more details .

Janet and Tom

Beginning Oct 28…

tdugan — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:07:46 +0000

Wine Classes are back and we’re starting with a Halloween theme. See details below.

Beginning on Friday, October 28,

Our Mixed Red Wines Flight will include:
- Casa Torres 2006 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara Co
- Demuth 2004 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
- Boyd 2007 Big Ranch Cuvee Napa Valley
- Sunset Cellars 2006 Petite Sirah Suisun Valley
- Dancing Coyote 2009 Petite Sirah Clarksberg

Our Mixed White Wines Flight will include:
- Grayson 2010 Chardonnay California
- Stephen Ross 2007 Chardonnay Oliver’s Vineyard Edna Valley
- Beckmen 2009 Le Bec Blanc
- Dancing Coyote 2010 Verdelho Clarksburg
- Lone Madrone 2008 Points West White Paso Robles

The best selling red wine last week was the DeRose 2007 Cabernet Franc Cienega Valley. The best selling white wine was the Trajarinho 2010 Vinho Verde Minho.

Wine Classes are back and Elizabeth is starting with a Wine 101 class with a Halloween theme, Witch Wine is Witch?”. This class will be this Saturday, October 29 from 3 to 5:00pm in The Cellar Room. In addition to learning all about wine, the class will be followed by a blind tasting. Will it be a Ghostly Grenache, a Creepy Chardonnay, a Scary Sangiovese, the Vampire Viognier or some other ghoulish potions?? Plan on a bewitching and magical afternoon. MAKE YOUR RESERVATION at www.winewisdomandwit.com Free gift for the first ten people to sign up! Masks and costumes are optional!!

The West Wall welcomes back the art of Kristen Gilmartin. Kristen’s new works are small paintings using oil, acrylic, and wax on canvas. They explore the theme of floral abstraction and movement as they occur in nature. They are colorful, unpredictable, and fun (much like Kristen). There will be an Artist’s Reception on November 5, 4:30 to 8:30pm.

Tax Free Wednesdays. On Wednesdays retail purchases will be discounted to eliminate the tax. As previously noted, this discount will not compound with others already available.

Cheese Corner

Every Thursday, we receive the bulk of our cheese orders. I think it is safe to say that Belletoile is the single most popular cheese we offer. It seems like this two foot wheel of triple creme disappears faster than any other cheese in the case. It was developed in 1922 by Henri Hutin in the hills of Lorraine near Verdun, France. It’s a cheese which contains roughly 40% fat overall, which is similar to the fat content of extra-heavy liquid cream. This might explain why it seems to melt in your mouth!!

Upcoming Events:

Beginning on October 21…

tdugan — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:20:11 +0000

Wine Classes are back and we’re starting with a Halloween theme. See details below.

Our Mixed Red Wines Flight will include:
- Treasure Hunter 2009 Pinot Noir Sonoma Valley
- Hullabaloo 2009 Zinfandel Lodi
- Clos de Cal 2009 Zinfandel California
- De Rose 2007 Cabernet Franc Cienega Valley
- De Rose 2007 Continental Cabernet Sauvignon Cienega Valley

Our Faraway White Wines Flight will include:
- Loriella 2010 Pinot Grigio della Venezie
- Traharinho 2010 Vinho Verde Minho
- Roccafiore 2010 Bianco Fiordaliso Umbria
- Roccafiore 2009 Fiorfiore Grechetto Umbria
- Les Gras Moutons 2009 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Loire Valley

The best selling red wine last week was the Bourriquot 2008 Red Wine Napa Valley. The best selling white wine was the Stephen Test 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley.

Wine Classes are back and Elizabeth is starting with a Wine 101 class with a Halloween theme, Witch Wine is Witch?” This class will be on Saturday, October 29 from 3 to 5:00pm in The Cellar Room. In addition to learning all about wine, the class will be followed by a blind tasting. Will it be a Ghostly Grenache, a Creepy Chardonnay, a Scary Sangiovese, the Vampire Viognier or some other ghoulish potions?? Plan on a bewitching and magical afternoon. MAKE YOUR RESERVATION at www.winewisdomandwit.com Free gift for the first ten people to sign up! Masks and costumes are optional!!

So Dave stopped in Wednesday evening and shared the following insight from a recent business encounter. “Never argue with a fool. Someone watching may not be able to tell the difference!”

The West Wall welcomes back the art of Kristen Gilmartin. Kristen’s new works are small paintings using oil, acrylic, and wax on canvas. They explore the theme of floral abstraction and movement as they occur in nature. They are colorful, unpredictable, and fun (much like Kristen). There will be an Artist’s Reception on November 5, 4:30 to 8:30pm.

Tax Free Wednesdays. On Wednesdays retail purchases will be discounted to eliminate the tax. As previously noted, this discount will not compound with others already available.

Upcoming Events:

On October 29, Winemaker Joshua Klapper of LaFenetre Winery, will be presenting five of his wines at a dinner at Bistro 45 in Pasadena. These wines will be individually paired with each course. This diner will cost $80 and reservations can be made at 626-795-2478

Janet and Tom