Fun Events And News From Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer

1. Spanish! Artisan Collection Wine Tasting
       with Lee Anderson
       Tasting will be 4-7 Friday and 12-7 Saturday, only $10!
2. Revelry Wine Tasting with wine maker Jared Burns
       Wednesday July 22nd, 7 pm, only $5 (1/2 price)
3. Sierra Nevada Beer Tasting with Chris Hem
       Thursday July 23rd, 5 & 7 pm, only $10
4. Valckenberg German Wine Tasting with Debbie Slutsky
       Thursday July 30th, 7 pm, only $5 (1/2 price)
5. Owen Roe Wines: Tasting soon, get in on them now!
6. Sake it to me: Saki-tini power
7. Fun Tasting Events at Enoteca in Post Falls – Upcoming Events Calendar
8. Enoteca Web Poll: Which region is my favorite to drink from?
9. I’ve heard Wine & Beer Club is fun, what is it?
10. Do I have to be able to describe tastes well for wine tasting?

A Note from Sarah

Recently I was on a ladder out front of Enoteca cleaning the windows. It was hot and I was overheated, my face was as red as my hair. Russell comes outside to give me a taste of Chasing Venus Sauvignon Blanc [Member $17.09 / Retail: $18.99], a wine from last weekend’s wine tasting flight. At first when he said New Zealand Savignon Blanc I winced. I had decided last summer to take a short sabbatical from that particular wine. The style was cool for a while but got overproduced and I was just ready to explore other white wine styles. In fairness I hadn’t had any Sauvignon Blanc in months and so I gave it a try.

Wow, did that change my attitude! This wine is very enjoyable! I started sharing it with customers that came in and people that normally don’t like ANY white (their words not mine) enjoyed it enough to buy a bottle or three. The astute reader will notice that I share wine when I’m working so stop on by to see what I’ve got open!

I’ve written a couple pieces below, one on the fantastic Owen Roe wines that are now available at Enoteca, and another on Sake-tinis, my new favorite party drink! Check these out, at least look at the pictures of the Owen Roe labels!

We also have tastings going on all week to give you a chance to try before you buy. The entry fee is as low as possible so you can have the opportunity to taste as much wine as possible. Check out the newsletter below for complete details, beer and wine tastings abound!

– Sarah Mann

Spanish! Artisan Collection Wine Tasting
with Lee Anderson

This Friday from 4-7 Enoteca will be hosting Lee Anderson from New West as he shares a great line up of big value Spanish wines! We’ll be tasting these wines Saturday from 12-7 as well, which is a great time to come beat the rush!

We want to give you the opportunity to “try before you buy” so we offer a flight of wine for a low cost. Taste a flight (2 oz. each of 5 wines) for $10 per flight, and follow up with a glass.


Gran Gesta Cava Brut Reserva
(Catalonia, Spain)
Spain has been producing sparkling wine (Cava) for more than one hundred years. Cava shares with Champagne the same elaboration method but has completely differentiated characteristics stemming from the use of Spanish indigenous grapes (Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada) and the influence of the Mediterranean climate and soil.

Within Spain, the production of Cava is mainly concentrated in the Sant Sadurni de Noia region of Catalonia.

90 Points Wine Enthusiast, with this review:

This is a pleasant surprise. From the first sniff you know it’s fresh and well made. Butterscotch, apple and yeast aromas create a swell bouquet, which is followed by round apple, pineapple and white-raisin flavors. It’s big, smooth and stands out from the crowd in a positive way.

Grapes: Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada

[Member: $15.29 / Retail: $16.99]

Pampano Blanco
(Rueda, Spain)
Pale gold. Racy scents of honeysuckle, fresh bay, lemon and white pepper. Juicy citrus and apple flavors are complemented by notes of spice and minerals.

Wine & Spirits Top 100 Value Wines

Verdejo 60% Viura 40%

[Member: $11.69 / Retail: $12.99]

Vina Alarba Old Vine Grenache
(Calatayud, Spain)
88 Points Wine Advocate, here’s what they said:

The outstanding Vina Alarba Old Vines boasts a deep ruby/purple color, full body, and wonderful kirsch liqueur and raspberry aromas and flavors interwoven with hints of licorice as well as minerals. This stunning effort is almost too good to be true.

100% Garnacha (50-70 year old vines)

[Member: $10.79 / Retail: $11.99]

Legon Roble
(Ribera del Duero, Spain)
Located between Pedrosa and Roa, at an altitude of 1200 feet, well drained soils and a harsh continental weather with extreme temperature contrasts are considered amongst the best in the appellation and provide excellent growing conditions for the Tinto Fino. The lack of water limits the density of vines significantly.

Tasting notes of cedar, spice, and vanilla as well as a floral component. It is a surprisingly large-scaled effort with plenty of black fruits and tannin filling out the wine’s midsection.

90 Points Wine Advocate, Top 100 Wine of the Year

100% Tempranillo from 35 Year Old Vines

[Member: $16.19 / Retail: $17.99]

Callejo Cuatro Meses en Barrica Tempranillo
(Ribera del Duero, Spain)
The Felix Callejo family has been growing grapes for 4 generations in Sotillo de la Ribera with little changes. Grapes are still carefully tended, selected and handpicked. The family owns 60 Has in Sotillo de la Ribera, the very heart of Ribera del Duero, planted with some of the best vines in the region. The age of the vines range from 25 to 50 years.

Tinto Fino is the native Tempranillo grape variety found in Ribera del Duero. The variety is structured, elegant and complex, giving rise to high quality wines. Clear sunshine during the day and cool night-time temperatures are the ingredients that yield these healthy, rich colored grapes packed with sugars and fragrant acidity.

Tasting notes for this wine include blackberry, licorice, and espresso roast aromatics. Layers of black fruits and ripe tannins on the palate.

100% Tempranillo

[Member: $20.69 / Retail: $22.99]

Pricing disclaimer.

Fun Revelry Wine Tasting Event

Revelry Tasting Event Wednesday, July 22nd Beginning at 7 p.m. Only $5 per person

Wednesday July 22nd, at 7 p.m. , at Enoteca in Post Falls, we will be hosting Jared Burns, wine maker, as he shares a few delicious Revelry wines! We will be pouring 3 oz. of each wine, including the Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay. Come see the fantastic packaging for boaters, a glass-free wine package they call a cask. This tasting will be a “classroom style” tasting starting at 7 p.m. and will last about 1-1.5 hours. The tasting starts at 7 on Wednesday, July 22nd. Tickets to attend are $5 per seat, paid in advance. Only 24 seats are available to this event. Club members can have tickets simply added to their Bin, and anyone can order tickets by coming into Enoteca in Post Falls, calling us at 208-457-9885 or sending us email at service@corkjoy.com

July Beer Tasting
Sierra Nevada with Chris Hem

Sierra Nevada Beer Tasting Thursday, July 23rd 1st Tasting at 5 p.m. 2nd Tasting at 7 p.m. Only $10 per person

With our last minute notice of this event, it isn’t full yet, so bring a crowd and enjoy a beer tasting! Chris Hem from Sierra Nevada is back, on Thursday, July 23rd, at 5 & 7 pm at Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer! Chris is the quintessential bard, spinning yarns that revolve around tasty beer. As educational as he is entertaining, this is a beer tasting you don’t want to miss. Sierra Nevada is adept at making beer, and Chris knows how to show off a different line-up every time he visits. If you came to the last one, it will be different than this one, with new beers coming into focus and old faves mixed in there. This is a “classroom style” tasting, on that starts at 5:00 pm, one that starts at 7:00 p.m. and will last about 1.5-2 hours. Be the first to taste the new Anniversary beer from Sierra Nevada, exclusively at this tasting event! 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

German Valckenberg Wine Tasting Event

Valckenberg Tasting Event Thursday, July 30th Beginning at 7 p.m. Only $5 per person

Thursday July 30th, at 7 p.m., at Enoteca in Post Falls, we will be hosting Debbie Slutsky as he shares a few delicious German wines from Valckenberg! This tasting will be a “classroom style” tasting starting at 7 p.m. and will last about 1-1.5 hours. The tasting starts at 7 on Thursday, July 30th. Tickets to attend are $5 per seat, paid in advance. Only 24 seats are available to this event. Club members can have tickets simply added to their Bin, and anyone can order tickets by coming into Enoteca in Post Falls, calling us at 208-457-9885 or sending us email at service@corkjoy.com

Owen Roe Wines Now Available
Sarah Likes the Art and the Wine

I’m an artist always looking for unique and interesting beauty, so when the new deliveries of Owen Roe wines showed up I was like a kid in a candy shop! I know that you don’t judge a wine by it’s label, but I still find myself grabbing a bottle with a sweet looking label and putting the money down for just that one reason. The Sinister Hand (pic) is what grabbed my attention first on a trip to Seattle a couple years ago, and of course it’s the popular one that is out of stock at the moment. For the last two years we’ve bugged people to make it possible to sell these wines in Idaho, and finally it has happened!

Check out the Sharecropper Pinot Noir and Ex Umbris Syrah that are on hand right now, and and David O’Reilly’s second label wines too. Under the Corvidae label you’ll find fantastic labels such as The Rook (Cab/Merlot/Syrah blend), Mirth (stainless Chardonnay), and The Keeper (Cabernet Franc). Corvidae refers to the bird family that includes crows and ravens. Under the O’Reilly name standard varietals of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Riesling are now in stock.

Maybe its my affinity for my people, the Irish, that leads me to like Belfast born David O’Reilly’s wine making, but don’t just take my word for it, these wines are often rated well and well known as crowd pleasers. Maybe it’s the literary connection to Poe in the Corvidae line, maybe it’s just tasty wine.

We will be having Lee Anderson of New West, the distributor who brings these in, come pour for a tasting of these wines, but we were so excited we had to share the news right away and give you a chance to come pick them up before that happens.

Sake it to me: Sake-tini power!

Summer is in full swing and I have found myself enjoying some new twists on old styles and rediscovering a varietal that I had put on the back shelf. Also with the impossible task of avoiding the bad news on the economy I’m also finding good wines that are a great value. Last month Russell and I got together with some frineds who were gifted in the ways of making sushi. I was trying to figure out what to bring when I was pointed in the direction of sake-tinis. We sell sake and I had never drank sake before! I figure fermented rice juice wasn’t my beverage of choice, but in Japan they are creating new ways of enjoying this stuff. I went to the grocery store grabbed a few ingrediens I liked for martinis, mint, coconut, lime, pineapple juice and went to Enoteca to pick up several varieties of Sake. At any given time there are 20-30 varieties of Sake available at Enoteca, from about $6 – $35 at present.

When we arrived to the party I started mixing things up, and found that sake is a smooth and inexpensive way to have a summer drink. The evening ended with us eating amazing sushi on the deck with sake tinins and friends. I recommend this to everyone! Whatever your favorite summer fair is (doesn’t have to be sushi) I recommend a Sake-tini. The flavors were smooth and well balanced, and I could have a few with out getting tipsy quickly. Usually one martini and it’s lights out Sarah. I actually could enjoy dinner and the evening conversations with out getting too tipsy.

Come on by Enoteca, I have printed out some of my favorite Sake-tini recipes! We carry so many different types and styles of Sake, including cream Sake, organic Sake, draft Sake, sparkling Sake (yes that means bubbles!), flavored Sake, Sake aged in cedar, and more. Some are better chilled, some I like better warm when they’re served “up” but the real fun for me is the Saki-tini!

Tasting Events Coming Soon

Mark your calendars, Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer 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, July 22nd – 7 pm
Revelry Wine Tasting! Someone from the winery will be here to pour Revelry wine on this Wednesday wine tasting event. Should be lots of fun!

Thursday, July 23rd – 5 pm
Thursday, July 23rd – 7 pm
Sierra Nevada Beer Tasting. Chris Hem will be on hand to share stories and fantastic beer. Be one of the first to taste this years Bigfoot and a new brew: Torpedo! $10 per person, reserve your tickets early!

Friday, July 24th – 4-7 pm
Artisan Collection Spanish Wine Tasting! Join Lee Anderson from New West Wines as he shares a selection of small winery, hand crafted wines from Spain. Spain is hot right now, great wines at fantastic prices, come learn all the details you could ever want to know! We will taste these wines on Saturday, July 25th as well, from 12-7.

Thursday, July 30th – 7 pm
Valckenberg German Wine Tasting! Come to this special mid-week tasting event to try some outstanding German wines from an outstanding producer.



Friday, July 31st – 4-7 pm
3 Horse Ranch wine tasting! Come try these Idaho grown grapes bottled into wine in Idaho with the owner/viticulturalist. Trust us, this is some Idaho State wine that tastes really good! We will taste these wines on Saturday, August 1st as well, from 12-7.

Friday, August 7th – 4-7 pm
Taste of Club! August 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, August 8th as well, from 12-7.

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!


Thank you for your support of our local family business.

Salute’

Russell and Sarah

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

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 at 8:58 pm and is filed under Enoteca News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.