DISCOUNT WINE CELLARS

L'Espalier is one of the most expensive restaurants in the United States. Located in Boston, a meal there can cost dearly. Chef McClelland's tasting menu costs $185 per/person. For those of you willing to splurge on the tastes of a great restaurant and the skills of a sommelier, L'espalier offers some interesting events which cost quite a bit less (though you may still need to go for a burger later or sell a kidney on E-bay.)
Every Monday, this Boston gem offers a themed 'wine' night. Apparently, the chef and the wine director get together in the cellar, open bottles, talk about combinations of food and wine. Sounds unrealistically civilized, but beats sitting in the pub listening to some guy tell jokes about a Scotsman, an Englishman, and an Irishman. These wine-tasting events are meant to be casual, to encourage conversation between participants, and are hosted by Erich Shliebe, the sommelier. Everyone is welcome: you don't need to be an expert, just rich enough to afford $60 for the privilege. For this money participants will also enjoy a 4 course tasting menu 'composed' by Chef McClelland, from which some items eventually find their way to the main menu. You could be a high-flying guinea pig. Upcoming themes include the Loir and the Rhone; Spring Fling; March Madness; and for Easter, rose colored glasses.
I was taught to know that when no price is indicated on an item, I cannot afford it. Cheese Tuesday at L'Espalier does not show a price, at least not on the website, so I guess I couldn't even peak there. I might get charged an eyeballing fee. Here, sommelier and fromager combine their talents to offer a 'grand cheese tasting' along with music and a 3-course meal with paired wines. The next series is New England Cheeses from the Shy Brothers (March 23rd). After that, try cheese and chocolate. I would, except for the cheese. I'd have double the chocolate, though.
Oh yeah, I can't even afford oxygen in L'Espalier. Oh well.

Labels: 48 bottle wine cellar, Boston, Discount Wine Cellars, gourmet food, lead free crystal, wine cellars

During a recent meeting for an upcoming fundraiser an interesting suggestion was made. Where items donated for auction were of a fairly small value, combine them to make bigger baskets that looked more exciting and might draw larger bids. Everyone at the table thought this was a very intelligent suggestion. Among the items were some wooden wine accessories valued at around $30Cdn. Hmmm, what would go with wine accessories?
Of course - wine! This yielded the suggestion of trying to get a bottle of wine to go with the basket. When I asked Recline Ridge for a wine at the wholesale price, they donated not just a bottle but an entire basket which will stand alone. So, back to getting just the one bottle. In the end we found one ourselves, a classy white that would pair nicely with the wooden items, and last a little while in a wine cellar. It's called 'Shuswap Serenade' and the name alone is suggestive of Valentine's Day, little stones thrown against a window, someone singing under a balcony to his true love.
A bottle of wine transforms any silent auction basket into a very classy item and adds at least a ten dollar value to it, sometimes more). I should know: Salmon Arm must be the 'silent auction' capital of the province, there's one somewhere in town every second week. I never have the winning bid though.
A basket is up for grabs at one of our two local malls, but not as part of a silent auction. It belongs to a 'sweetheart package' raffle which anyone can enter without purchase. Items have been donated by merchants to encourage shoppers into the place.
Of course, I entered. Watch this space to see if I win.

Labels: 48 bottle wine cellar, auction, charity, Discount Wine Cellars, dry white wine, wine accessories, wine cellars

In the movies, characters hold, pour, purchase and drink wine all the time. Bridget Jones gets totally plastered with the stuff in her apartment. Steve Martin is the sarcastic wine waiter to Miss Piggy and Kermit. Hannibal Lecter creeps everyone out with his pairing of human organs and chianti. Thanks to that one scene, I have never kept chianti in my wine cellar (even though the movie came out when I was barely old enough to drink).
Then there are the movies whose plots are wrapped-up in wine. I've talked about Sideways before, but that's only the most well-known. A Good Year, with Russel Crowe and Albert Finney, was adapted for the screen in 2006 from the writings of Peter Mayle, famous for A Year in Provence (a good book by the way). Russel Crowe's character inherits his uncle's estate and vineyard in Provence which he initially plans to sell, until he falls in love with the lifestyle and a woman. I wonder what seeing Russel Crowe in a Provence vineyard did for sales of French wine in the USA?
At Sachem Farm (1998) sees a character played by Rufus Sewell trying to sell-off his family's wine collection to purchase a mining interest, which of course leads to conflict (there wouldn't be a plot otherwise). The cast also includes Minnie Driver.
The 2008 film Bottle Shock goes all the way back to 1976 and a proposed contest between Napa Valley and French wines. Paris Sommelier Steven Spurrier (played by the wonderful Alan Rickman) meets interesting characters including Jim, a vintner going deep into debt as he tries to perfect his chardonnay. You might recognize Chris Pine (Captain James T. Kirk in the new Star Trek franchise) and Bill Pullman (You Kill Me, While You Were Sleeping).
Appealing leading men plus wine: sounds like a good gift to treat yourself with this weekend.

Labels: 48 bottle wine cellar, big bottle wine cellars, chardonnay glasses, chianti, Discount Wine Cellars, movies, napa valley, Sideways

Though you may not hear the subject of 'wine in the Bible' tackled by your priest or pastor, the pulpit is where only a portion of the talking at church happens. Much is discussed before we move from lobby to sanctuary to hear the worship music. Over the pouring of coffee or the signing-in of children to nursery or Sunday School, a whole week may be reviewed between two parents. Even Monday to Saturday our church is a busy place, where I am often asked by someone 'so you're a writer? And what do you write about?'
Since I'm in church, the answer makes me blush. Not all folks of faith are sanguine about the topic of alcohol consumption, even within the same denomination. For this reason, when I was asked this question recently, my response was mumbled and I made no eye contact.
'Why are you so shy about it, dear? Wine is found throughout the Bible! I mean, it was Jesus's first miracle, turning water to wine!' In fact, this lovely lady told me that wine was among the topics in their most recent Bible Study series. She got very excited about the subject.
Phew. Then maybe she won't mind that I sometimes hand my friend a partially drunk bottle of wine on Sunday mornings before the service, to take home of course, and totally wrapped-up. Not to drink on the spot, we meet at 9:00 am for crying out loud. And, I mean, it's not like I have plans to install a wine cellar in my church basement or sell wine racks in the lobby.
Perhaps I should propose a series of wine tastings in the church library, see what kind of reaction that gets. I wonder if the Deacons have a sense of humor.

Labels: 222 bottle premium glass holder wine rack, 48 bottle wine cellar, big bottle wine cellars, church, Discount Wine Cellars

California boasts so many interesting things to see and do, no matter your age or interests. With beaches, Disneyland, San Diego Zoo, wine country, you are spoiled for choice in California. I remember visiting as a teenager, my first and only visit so far, and thinking that California was like a giant playground. Mickey Mouse, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, Montezuma's Revenge: I didn't want to go home.
One event you may not hear about from your travel agent is the 'Unified Wine and Grape Symposium', unless your agent is an avid collector with an ample wine cellar. We didn't hear about it when we were going because my brother and I were under-age, but we're old enough to go now. This annual event held in Sacramento is a place for professionals to share their knowledge and information on all aspects of the wine industry, from vineyard to vintner and beyond. Professionals don't get to have all the fun, however, as more than 11,000 visitors come to the four-day event where more than 550 vendors are also set-up.
The Symposium is ideally situated just 20 minutes from the Sacramento airport, quality restaurants, hotels, museums, the State Capitol, and more. On the other hand, if you were to visit from, say, Northern British Columbia, justing sitting on the ground near your car would be a gift in this sunny state.
I must confess, however, that however much I love wine, California always makes me think of Space Mountain and the Haunted Mansion. I wonder if the Symposium has a funfair.

Labels: 48 bottle wine cellar, California, Discount Wine Cellars, Wine Black Wine Charm Set, wine cellars big bottle

The clerks at the BC Liquor store I frequent must be getting really tired of me always asking them questions.
'What do you think of this one?' 'What about that one?' 'Would you drink it?' 'Just so you know, I don't drink all of this wine myself.'
Yeah, yeah; they've heard that one before. Oh, and with a cold, my nose red, eyes all glazed over: sheesh, I must have looked like I'd already hit the bottle.
I headed towards a wine which was on my 2010 tasting list, but the clerk said that to be honest, she hadn't liked it. She did, however, like the Gewurztraminer from the same vineyard: Calona, out of Kelowna BC; that is, the famous Okanagan Valley. This bottle fell between two other versions of the same grape in terms of price, all from BC vineyards, so I decided to give it a try since I had heard lots about Gewurztraminer but tasted none. Descriptions made this white sound much like a cross between Riesling and Ortega.
Such a comparison would not be too far off: there is the definite tang of citrus on the nose with a touch of something floral - perhaps lavender - plus apple. I was told to look out for lychee, but I don't know what that tastes like since lychees always make me think of eyeballs and I can't look at them without feeling sick. Fruity, but not overly so, and definitely not sweet. Off-dry would describe this wine well, a touch acidic for my liking, though not astringent. Full-bodied, I would say this is a drinkable wine, though best paired with food for my taste. The ideal pairing, according to the label, is Kung Pao Chicken. The finish is smooth with citrus resonating on the palate after the liquid has gone down my throat. Do not keep the Gewurztraminer in your wine cellar for long: it is ready to enjoy right away. Drink this cold or the apple notes, as I've mentioned before, can smell like stale pee.
Oh, by the way, this bottle comes from the Artist Series and the painting displayed on the label is by Brittani Faulkes', entitled 'There Ain't No Morning Like a West Coast Morning.' I think the Ogopogo is cheekily depicted in the distance, even though it supposedly resides in Okanagan Lake. Maybe he's touring West Coast wineries. You'll enjoy her artwork here, though. Classy and bright, like Okanagan wines.

Labels: 48 bottle wine cellar, big bottle wine cellars, Discount Wine Cellars, gewurztraminer, Okanagan, wine display kit

The 2010 Winter Olympics are very nearly here, after four years of planning and mounting excitement in BC. The Olympic flame is going to come through our little city of Salmon Arm, carried by Roy Sakaki, former principal of my daughters' elementary school. Roy Sakaki is a guy so well known and liked around here that the regular task of shopping or taking out a library book takes him forever, what with all of the conversations he has to have with people he knows (or who know him) along the way. And he remembers everyone too! Plus, he both plays hockey and is deeply involved in the sport here. He is the right person to carry the flame through Salmon Arm.
Who else represents the Olympics in BC? Lots of companies are sponsoring the Olympics and Olympians in one way or another, big fast food chains for example. I won't name names. The commercials are getting boring, though they are introducing me to some of the faces we hope to see on the podium in just a matter of weeks now.
Among those companies which are supporting The Olympics, Paralympics and Canadian Olympic athletes is Jackson-Triggs. You may remember them from the Malbec I so enjoyed. Part proceeds of their 'Esprit' series of wines will go towards this cause. Wines of the 'Esprit Series' include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Merlot (a very nice wine by the way), and Merlot. So, any Canadian wine drinkers out there, take note: you can fill your wine rack and support the Olympics at the same time.
I know you picture yourself gracing the snow-frosted mountains with your stylin' form, on skiis, snowboard: you don't care. It's only a dream. If there was a medal for most diverse selection of wines on a wine rack well: you'd be a shoe-in. At least, when you sip your wine while watching the Games from your couch, you can feel like you're making a difference.

Labels: 20 bottle classic wine rack, 48 bottle wine cellar, Airplane Travel Wine Charms, cabernet sauvignon, Chardonnay, Discount Wine Cellars, Jackson-Triggs, merlot, Olympics, Sauvignon Blanc

I have been hunting a while for the right red wine; the red wine that would turn me into a fan of red wine and broaden my horizons; the red wine that would become a reliable favorite. I think I may have found the varietal for me.
Jackson-Triggs has bottled a Malbec which I can drink without making a face. In spite of warnings that red wine is better drunk after resting on a wine rack deep in your wine cellar for a few years, this Malbec is smooth. I could smell blackberry, cherry, plum, spice and oak when the bottle was opened. I let it sit on my counter for ten minutes, which was long enough for this wine to air. In the mouth, blackberry and some kind of spice (or maybe pepper?) were prominent; the oak was very subtle. I found this to be an off-dry, drinkable red which left a pleasant tingle on my lips.
This is a new wine from Jackson-Triggs, whom I have found to be a usually reliable Canadian winery. I would definitely recommend this Malbec to red wine drinkers and the red-fearful alike.

Labels: 144big bottle wine racks, 48 bottle wine cellar, Discount Wine Cellars, Jackson-Triggs, malbec, supreme wine cellar sale