Archive by Author
Tasting: Rain or Shine
Posted on May, 18. 2011 by Michael Davis
Categories: Events
Our next several tastings are all brand new wines/importers/distributors for us, and I like nothing more than to give these new guys a great showing on our account! First up is Broadbent Selections, whose wines Kevin Sidders tasted at a recent trade show and subsequently insisted they host a tasting with us. Per the website, here’s their ‘story’:
When we look for wines to import, at Broadbent Selections Inc., we have a few absolutes. First and foremost, the wine must be the very best of its type. It’s not enough for a wine to please us; its quality and value must bowl us over. It’s been said that the difference between a good meal and a great meal is that, with the former, you finish the meal thinking, “The food was good”. With a great meal however, you think, “Life is good”. And that’s precisely what we we look for, and what we’re proud to represent; wines that gratify not just the palate, but the soul. Yet, we do more than represent wine. We also represent the people and passion behind those wines, which is why, since we were founded in 1996, our focus has always been on family-owned wineries-on places with personality and stories, and on wines that come from the heart. Quality and character: those are absolutes. We’re extremely proud of both the wines we represent at Broadbent Selections and the great people behind them.
Not sure about everyone else, but that’s a lot of what I look for in a wine portfolio. Tomorrow’s tasting with Broadbent will feature the best of their South African lineup, so not only is it a new portfolio, but it’s a theme that we very rarely delve into—and I think it might be time that we all got jolted out of whatever wine rut we’re in right now.
So, be there. Even if it’s raining (which, considering the forecast, isn’t too far-fetched), be there. Would you rather be cooped up at home, watching your neighborhood flood again? I thought not!
See you Wednesday evening, 5:30-7:30 at the Guild.
A Classic California Zinfandel
Posted on Oct, 21. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Wine
Zinfandel is kind of an esoteric wine, and one that we haven't often featured here at the Wine Guild. It's the most uniquely "Californian" of wines, a grape varietal essentially indigenous to the state that isn't successfully grown really anywhere else in the world (though, to be fair, Zinfandel is genetically equivalent to Primitivo grown in southern Italy). As a long time resident of the Bay Area, I have a fair bit of experience with this varietal, and really enjoy it when it's expressed purely through old vine fruit and traditional vinification methods. Continue reading...
About Last Night…
Posted on Jun, 17. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Wine
First, the Reader's Digest version of last night's tasting. Our air conditioner was outmatched. By the end of the night I felt like a honey baked ham. Fortunately, every wine showed well. Not a clunker in the bunch. If you weren't there, grab at least one of each. You'll thank me.
Now, the gory details:
Continue reading...
Wine Tasting: Sieg’s New and Old
Posted on Jun, 01. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Events
This Wednesday, June 2nd from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M., we're hosting Billy Koenig from Sieg...a distributor that's in the midst of somewhat of a renaissance. Well-known, for years, for their macro-brewery (Bud, et al) focus, they picked up Monsieur Touton a couple years back (in addition to some other cool/famous brands), and have very recently scored the killer portfolio of Terry Shiple - one of the best palates in the business (and one of the nicest guys you'll have the pleasure to meet). We're psyched to have his stuff at our fingertips, and you should be too (you'll see!). Billy will have a few of Terry's selections at tomorrow's tasting, along with some other new European wines, so it's certainly something that everyone should check out. Remember to bring a friend. Guests are always welcome.
Wine Tasting: Europe with Clement Brown.
Posted on May, 18. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Events
This Wednesday, May 19th from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. we welcome our favorite hedonist wine distributor, Clement Brown to the Guild. He will be pouring an array of European wines and entertaining us with stories of how he once ate pudding out of Barbara Eden's navel. Bring a friend. Guests are always welcome.
Wine Tasting: New World Whites
Posted on May, 04. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Events
This Wednesday, May 5th from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. we welcome the always tasty Genevelyn Steele to the Guild. She will be pouring an array of new world white wines that are perfect for the coming summer. Get yourselves down there and bring a friend. Guests are always welcome.
Your Last Chance at Dime Store Nirvana.
Posted on Apr, 21. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Wine
Listen up winos. Tonight's tasting was the holy trinity. Good, cheap and in-stock. Bottles flew out the door with happy members grinning like they stole it. Hell, they kinda did. Here are the highlights.
2005 Domain l’Idylle Roussette de Savoie
This honey colored French white brought all kinds of goodness to the table. At way under 10 bucks this is the kind of cheap date you fall hard for. Two weeks later you're left with little more than a hickey and a headache, but the memories were worth it. There are only 7 bottles left at the Guild. That's it. No more can be had. Act fast….really…don't read any further. Buy it now!
Member Price: [Login to see member prices.]
Retail Price: $11.25
Buy this wine!
2007 Chateau de la Chaize Brouilly
I'm a midnight snack guy. Usually a sandwich and a glass of wine. Since it's late I never want to pop anything too grand so I look for a good value gulper. This is that wine. It's cheap, lip-smackingly tasty and clears my palate between bites of my beloved roast beef sandwich. I'm a simple man...sue me.
Member Price: [Login to see member prices.]
Retail Price: $9.49
Buy this wine!
2007 Chateau Haut-Monplaisir Cahors
If you grill steaks, buy this wine. The combination will make your tongue love you. Seriously, it hasn't been happy with those silly Tofu dogs you've been feeding it. Really, you should apologize...those things are evil.
Member Price: [Login to see member prices.]
Retail Price: $16.00
Buy this wine!
An “Instant Gratification” Tasting
Posted on Apr, 21. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Events
Enough with the delayed gratification stuff. At tonight's tasting you can get your jollies pronto. That's right, we're pouring wines we have IN STOCK.
Taste your little patootie off then grab a few sleek, sexy bottles of grapey lovin' for a night of purple toothed naughtyness. Or just buy some wine for the weekend. It's up to y'all.
See you tonight (Wednesday, April 21st) from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. Bring a friend. Guests are always welcome.
Unio Siurana Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Organic
Posted on Apr, 15. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Food
This olive oil is produced entirely from Arbequina variety olives grown within the Siurana region in northeast Spain. The hand picked olives are rushed to local presses and cold pressed within 24 hours. Always low in acidity and smooth on the palate with rich fruity olive flavor and tremendous character. Net Weight: 500 ml.
Unio Siurana Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Organic
Member Price: [Login to see member prices.]
Retail Price: $19.99
Buy Now!
Wine Tasting: The Country Vintner
Posted on Feb, 15. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Events
Rob Gardner from The Country Vinter will be showing off some Italian bargains this Wednesday, February 17th from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
Remember, if you are interested in our any of our cheeses, just email us in advance and will have it cut, wrapped and ready for you at the tasting. Of course, we'll happily take cheese orders placed at the tasting too. You'll just have to wait a wee bit longer.
Bring a friend. Guests are always welcome.
A Killer Pinot Grigio – 92 Points for under $15
Posted on Feb, 01. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Wine
If you never expected an email offer with the subject line of this one, that makes two of us. Despite the varietal's mass popularity and rapid growth, many wine professionals continue to look down on Pinot Grigio (until yesterday, myself included). Now, I've had a few by-the-glass selections in restaurants that I thought were fine, but it's fair to say that I would never have expected to have any of this wine in my cellar (until now). Many of these considerations were echoed in an essay a few years ago by Lettie Teague, a well-known columnist with (then) Food & Wine Magazine (read it here:).
In any event, what brought us to today's offer began with me perusing the advance-release wine reviews scheduled to be published in upcoming issues of the Wine Spectator. Much to my surprise, one of the best-rated selections highlighted in the virtual newsletter was a Pinot Grigio that scored 92 points and was quite reasonably priced. Well, I'd certainly never seen one of those before, and when I researched it further and found that it was available from a local distributor I ordered a bottle just to see what the fuss was about. Continue reading...
Wine Tasting: Kysela
Posted on Jan, 24. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Events
Kysela Imports will be joining us Wednesday, February 3rd from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
Remember, if you are interested in our any of our cheeses, just email us in advance and will have it cut, wrapped and ready for you at the tasting. Of course, we'll happily take cheese orders placed at the tasting too. You'll just have to wait a wee bit longer.
Bring a friend. Guests are always welcome.
Wine Tasting: Dionysos Imports
Posted on Jan, 20. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Events
Kevin Schultz from Dionysos Imports will be joining us Wednesday, January 20th from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
He will be tasting out and talking about inexpensive wines from Portugal. These are some of our favorite wines here at the Guild and for our money they make up 80% of the wines that are worth drinking for under $10.
Bring a friend. Guests are always welcome.
2007 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese
Posted on Jan, 02. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Wine
From legendary importer Terry Theise:
ZELTINGER SCHLOSSBERG is mineral to the MAX! I think it’s time to give this vineyard its due: I think it’s a great Grand Cru site, fully deserving the status of a Wehlener Sonnenuhr or Erdener Prälat. The pity is most of it is worked by the small growers of Zeltingen, among whom standards aren’t particularly high. Selbachs have shown time and again the potential of the site. Flavors are a borealis of slate, buttressed by lime and grassy aspects. Mosel-apple is present but discreet. Medium bodied. If you love Mosels for their cussed Mosel-ness, grab these wines and hang on for dear life!
2007 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese
Member Price: [Login to see member prices.]
Retail Price: $38.25
Buy This Wine!
Virginia Health Information Project
Posted on Jan, 01. 2010 by Michael Davis
Categories: Member Business Directory
Please take a look at the Virginia Health Information Project. We're regularly in Google's Top Five for "Virginia health information" (out of over 50 million!). We give Virginians of all ages reliable national and state-specific health information and resources - all in an easy-to-navigate form. The VHIP is completely non-commercial. It was developed and is maintained by the Soho Center, a 38 year-old Virginia non-profit, with funding and support from two Virginia Attorneys General (including Bob McDonnell, now Governor). If it's about health, it's here - I encourage you to give it a spin.
Of special interest to Wine Guild members is that you (and your friends) can support the VHIP and get Virginia Income Tax Credits worth an additional 40% of your donation - and that's above and beyond your regular federal deduction. Even better, there is a true ZERO-COST donation option (no joking!) for those who pay over $2,000 a year in VA income taxes and are in the 25% or higher federal bracket. You can check it out at - http://www.vahealth.info/Donate1.htm
Twitter
Youtube
Facebook
Flickr