Enoteca News: Sweet Wine Wednesday, Mercer Winery This Weekend, Sierra Nevada Beer Tasting!
What’s Fresh At Enoteca?
- Keeping it Sweet - Quady Dessert Wine Tasting
Wednesday, April 16th (Taxes are done, time to celebrate!) - Mercer Estates Winery Tasting This Weekend
- Freestyle Beer Tasting
- Sierra Nevada Beer Tasting With Chris Hem
- Sarah’s Been Cooking With Wine & Beer
Awesome, Heal the World Chicken Soup - Upcoming Tasting Events
- What is Wine & Beer Club?
Request Your Favorite Wine & Beer:
Have you had a great wine or beer at a restaurant, and would like to take a bottle home? Have you read about something and would like to try it for yourself? Do you have a favorite wine or beer that you’d like to see conveniently available at Enoteca in Post Falls? If there are any products you’re interested in, we are happy to track them down for you. Especially hard to find and specialty products! Simply fill out this form and we will do the hunting.
Have you had a great wine or beer at a restaurant, and would like to take a bottle home? Have you read about something and would like to try it for yourself? Do you have a favorite wine or beer that you’d like to see conveniently available at Enoteca in Post Falls? If there are any products you’re interested in, we are happy to track them down for you. Especially hard to find and specialty products! Simply fill out this form and we will do the hunting.
Keeping it Sweet - Quady Dessert Wine Tasting - April 16th
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Andy Quady, blessed with a wicked sense of humor, founded his winery in Madera, in the central
San Joaquin Valley, to make classic dessert wines. Included in his portfolio are splendid Muscat-based
wines and port-style wines. But because it’s not legal to call the latter by the name of the similar
wine from Portugal [Port], Quady renamed his Starboard. His Muscat wines include a delightful Orange Muscat
called Essensia, a black Muscat called Elysium, and a low-alcohol Orange Muscat, called Electra.
For the newest wine, Deviation, pictured, Quady said he thought it would be fun to make a “love potion” dessert wine, “so we infused Damiana and Scented Geranium into our Essensia Orange Muscat dessert wine.” The damiana is a plant with a pleasant herbal character “reputed to have aphrodisiac properties,” though the wine isn’t advertised as an actual love potion. Quady added that scented geranium “is said to be used in witchcraft where practitioners supposedly employ its hauntingly seductive aroma in love potions.” Dustin Lewis will be on hand to share these unique sweet dessert wines. They make good cocktails, and blending is encouraged. The event will start at 6 p.m. and will feature a handful of Quady’s excellent sweet dessert wine. Email us at service@corkjoy.com to buy tickets in advance, or call 208-457-9885. |
Quady Winery Sweet Dessert Wine Tasting Wednesday, April 16th Beginning at 6 p.m. Taste 5 Sweet Wines Only $15 per person 
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Mercer Estates Winery Tasting
Start the weekend out right at Enoteca - Fine Wine & Beer!
Mike Hogue, Rob Mercer, and Ron & Barbara are the partners in Mercer Estates. Mike Hogue started the Hogue winery and Rob Mercer developed the famous Champoux vineyard site. With a pedigree like this it’s not hard to believe the wines they are making are excellent. What we were blown away by is the incredible value pricing for such excellent wines!
This Friday from 4-7 Enoteca will be hosting Jeff Peda as he shares a selection of Mercer Estates wines. We will be tasting Saturday from 12-7 as well, which is a great time to taste wine to beat the rush. Taste a flight (2 oz. each of 5 wines) for $10 per flight, and follow up for $5 per 5 oz. glass.
Mercer Estate Riesling 2007 (Yakima Valley, Washington)
Riesling grapes grown in Washington State’s cooler Yakima Valley appellation produce a brisk, tangy and refreshing wine. Flavors and aromas of apricot, peach and tangerine along with the bracing acidity of the Mercer Estates Riesling reflect the unique character of Washington State Riesling. With little less than a percent and a half residual sugar this Riesling is a bit dryer than many Rieslings and lends itself quite well to food pairings.
100% Riesling
[Member: $11.69 / Retail: $12.99]
Mercer Estate Pinot Gris 2007 (Columbia Valley, Washington)
Ripe pear, melon and peach fruit flavors backed by a minerality and good acidity make this a refreshing, balanced wine that will go well with seafood, chicken and cheeses.
100% Pinot Gris
[Member: $11.69 / Retail: $12.99]
Mercer Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Columbia Valley, Washington)
Ripe pear, herb and melon flavors are complimented by a nice oak spice balanced with bright Sauvignon Blanc characteristics. The palate is generous yet elegant with lively fruit aromas and a mouth filling finish. Pair with chicken dishes, fish, oysters and lighter fare. It also makes a great aperitif wine.
100% Sauvignon Blanc
[Member: $11.69 / Retail: $12.99]
Mercer Estate Merlot 2005 (Horse Heaven Hills, Washington)
Ripe mature blueberry and cherry aromas with a nice oak spice are followed by forest floor, cedar and anise. In the supple mouth the same fruit flavors are complimented with chocolate and coffee bean followed by moderate tannins with good mouth feel and length.
95% Merlot, 5% Syrah
[Member: $21.59 / Retail: $23.99]
Mercer Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Horse Heaven Hills, Washington)
Anise, cassis and cedar are further scented with oak spice, vanillin and cedar to produce a complex and well balanced wine. A full, rich mid-mouth followed by long length and moderate tannins makes this a good wine to drink now and it will develop with additional cellar aging.
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot
[Member: $21.59 / Retail: $23.99]
Pricing disclaimer.
Freestyle Beer Tasting
Freestyle Beer Tasting - Thursday, May 8th from 5-7 p.m.
Thursday, May 8th, from 5-7 at Enoteca we will be holding a Freestyle Beer tasting! It’s simple: just show up buy a beer, and share it. The folks next to you will do the same and you both get to try some new and interesting beer. Bring your friends!
Hop-heads take notice, we’ve gotten in some great hoppy beers lately, with words like IPA, and Imperial IPA written all over them.
What is Freestyle Beer Tasting? Learn more here!
May Beer Tasting - Sierra Nevada with Chris Hem
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Sierra Nevada Beer Tasting Thursday, May 22nd Beginning at 6 p.m. Taste 4-5 or so beers Only $10 per person |
The May Beer Tasting is going to be great! Enoteca is hosting Chris Hem
from Sierra Nevada. We will be tasting some new and exciting Hoppy Beer from the Chico
hop superstars. Can you imagine a beer made with hops from New Zealand? What would that be
like? Sierra Nevada Brewing Company has a proud history as one of the pioneers of the craft
brewing industry and as a brewer of award-winning beers since 1981. Chris Hem always comes
with a pile of stories and great information about these hoppy beers.
The tasting starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 22nd. Tickets to attend are $10, paid in advance. Attendees will receive a beer glass and most importantly, learn about, and taste, more great beer! Email us at service@corkjoy.com to reserve space, or call 208-457-9885. To be made aware of future beer tasting events, join the email list at www.corkjoy.com |
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Awesome, Heal the World Chicken Soup
Anytime a hint of cold or sickness attempts to attack, Sarah has an instant cure. (Not approved by the FDA)
Her chicken soup with the hotness of chili and the tastiness of heaven come to the rescue.
It’s perfect for these times of uncertain weather.
This recipe also contains Sage dumplings, which are a must to complete the “healing process”.
Make sure the onion and celery are coarsely chopped to bite size. Not too small. This is a hearty soup.
The soup:
3 large chicken breasts (boneless, skinless preferred)
5 cans of low sodium chicken stock
1 bottle of good German lager (I used an Ayinger Oktoberfest beer)
1/2 cup of dry white wine
1 large yellow onion
6 cloves of garlic
6 celery stalks (chopped)
3 cups of baby carrots
2 tablespoons of thyme
1 and 1/2 tblsp of lemon thyme
1/2 teasp ground chili flakes
1 pinch of saffron
1 pinch of cumin, taste to your liking
1 tblsp butter
1 tblsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
In a large stockpot add the butter and olive oil and turn heat to medium high. Chop onion and add to pot, add garlic as well. Cook until the onion is translucent, then add the thyme, lemon thyme, and chili flakes. Cook for one minute. Add all the cans of chicken stock, beer, and wine then stir. Then add the celery, carrots saffron and cumin. Let it cook on medium heat for at least an hour. Salt and pepper to taste.
Chicken Soup Recipe from Sarah Mann
Cornmeal Sage Dumplings:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
1 and 1/2 teaspoons dried sage
1 and 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon olive oil
In a medium bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sage, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper. Add buttermilk and oil and stir with a fork until mixture comes together. Using a spoon or a small ice cream scoop, drop 8 golf ball size dumplings into simmering soup. Cover pan and cook for 5 minutes (without lifting lid), until dumplings are puffed up and cooked through. Serve soup with dumplings.
Dumpling Recipe from Robin Miller
Here are some AMAZING white wines to go with the Awesome, Heal the World Chicken Soup.
Bonny Doon Le Cigar Blanc 2006 (Central Coast, California)
This is a very unique opportunity to taste a White Chateauneuf du Pape style of wine that is a little bit different. Usually Roussanne dominates a blend like this, however in 2006, most of the California Roussanne was botrytised, which is a fungus that renders sweet, so the winemakers leaned on the Grenache Blanc component. This wine is a study in pome fruit, Asian pear and quince, monst notably, with suggestions of honeydew, lime blossom, and lilac. The botrytised fruit adds a honeyed, apricot/peach note.
75.3% Grenache Blanc, 24.7% Roussanne
[Member: $19.79 / Retail: $21.99]
Tablas Creek Côtes de Tablas Blanc 2005 (Paso Robles, California)
The 2005 Côtes de Tablas Blanc is a blend in the style of French Côtes du Rhone whites, and features spicy aromas of herbs, stone fruits and minerals are followed in the mouth by apricot flavors, rich texture, bright acidity, and a long, clean peachy finish. 90-92 Points Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate, 94 Points Wine & Spirits
42% Viognier, 33% Roussanne, 19% Marsanne, 6% Grenache Blanc
[Member: $19.79 / Retail: $21.99]
Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2005 (Paso Robles, California)
The 2005 Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc is a vibrant expression of the terroir of Tablas Creek. It shows aromas of honeysuckle, mint, lemon peel and spice, with rich Roussanne flavors of honey, rose petals, pear, petrol and white flowers, excellent breadth, cleansing acidity and great length. It should drink well when young but will also reward time in bottle; we expect it to show beautifully for at least the next 5-7 years.
93 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
70% Roussanne, 25% Grenache Blanc, 5% Picpoul Blanc
[Member: $36.99 / Retail: $39.99]
Domaine de Cristia Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2005 (Rhone, France)
Viticulture is described as “earth-friendly” meaning very limited use of chemical treatments and lots of attention. Winemaking process lasts 12 months, the Roussanne spends this time in one-year-old barrels. This is a really wonderful white CDP. A rich and full palate, quite mineral with dried herbs, floral, peaches and an intense, quite spicy finish. Look for honeysuckle, pineapple and peach with a tangy finish.
30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 30% Roussane and 10% Bourboulenc
[Member: $44.99 / Retail: $49.99]
Henri Boillot Chassagne-Montrachet White Burgundy 2002 (Burgundy, France)
This is one of those rare white wines that ages well. This six year old gem built entirely of Chardonnay from the Burgundy region of France exhibits great depth and complexity. The mouthfeel begins with full weight and viscosity but finishes with a clean mineral note. The nose shows citrus, spice, and a little bit of butter. On the palate the mineral, spice, citrus, and round feel of butter come through in harmony. A terrific white wine, drink it now, it’s at it’s maturity!
[Member: $53.99 / Retail: $59.99]
To reserve any of this wine (or any wine at all), email us at service@corkjoy.com , or call 208-457-9885.
Tasting Events Coming Soon
Mark your calendars; Enoteca has a great lineup for the next few weeks. Join us for these excellent tasting events! More details will be available in this newsletter, as well as any changes that might come up.
Wednesday, April 16th - 6 pm
Quady Winery, Keeping it Sweet. Spend the days after Tax Day to taste a great line up of sweet dessert style wines, some of them fortified, from Quady Winery. Dustin Lewis from Eagle Marketing will be on hand to share more information and answer questions.
Friday, April 18th - 4-7 pm
Mercer Winery Wine Tasting with Jeff Peda. Mercer Ranch is the original name of the vineyards now known as Champoux, because Paul Champoux bought them in 1971. The Mercer family is now making their own wine from adjacent vines. This lineup includes 3 white and 2 power house red wines. Mike Hogue, Rob Mercer, and Ron & Barbara are the parnters in this winery. Try these wines from this exciting new winery in Washington State. We will taste these wines on Saturday, April 19th as well, from 12-7.
Friday, April 25th - 4-7 pm
Sobon Estates Wine Tasting with Debbie Keller. Amador County California organic wines from the Sobon Family. Sobon Estate has exceptional Zinfandels, Italian varietals, and other great wines. We will taste these wines on Saturday, April 26th as well, from 12-7.
Friday, May 2nd - 4-7 pm
Taste of Club! May Wine & Beer of the Month Club! Club tasting event, taste all the wine club wines! This is a great opportunity to see what the Club is all about, and to see what others are getting in their bins. We will taste these wines on Saturday, May 3rd as well, from 12-7.
Thursday, May 8th - 5-7 pm
Freestyle Beer Tasting! Simply show up, buy a beer off the shelf, and share it with friends. Someone else will share with you and everybody gets to taste great beer!
Friday, May 9th - 4-7 pm
2 Mountain Winery wine tasting! Come try these excellent examples of Washington wine and meet someone from the winery. We will taste these wines on Saturday, May 10th as well, from 12-7.
Thursday, May 22nd - 6 pm
Beer Tasting! Enoteca will be hosting Chris Hem as he pours a lineup of excellent and new Sierra Nevada beer. Only $10 per person. Email us at service@corkjoy.com to reserve space, or call 208-457-9885.
You can keep yourself in the loop on Enoteca events! Subscribe to the Enoteca
Google Calendar to keep up-to-date on the latest happenings!Salute’
Russell, Sarah, and Roger
Enoteca - Fine Wine & Beer
208-457-9885
service@corkjoy.com
Enoteca is open:
Tuesday-Saturday: 11-7
Directions, hours, and more about Enoteca: www.corkjoy.com
We’re always looking for feedback! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to let us know. Did you like a certain wine or beer? We’re here to serve you so let us know how we can help: service@corkjoy.com
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