Fun Events And News From Enoteca – Fine Wine & Beer

1. 3 Horse Ranch – Idaho Grown Wine that Tastes Great!
       with owner/viticulturalist Gary Cunningham
       Tasting will be 4-7 Friday and 12-7 Saturday, only $10!
2. Valckenberg German Wine Tasting with Debbie Slutsky
       Thursday July 30th, 7 pm, only $5 (1/2 price)
3. Owen Roe Wines: Tasting August 27th, get in on them now!
4. Sake it to me: Saki-tini power
5. Fun Tasting Events at Enoteca in Post Falls – Upcoming Events Calendar
6. How much fun is it to join Wine & Beer Club?
7. Will I meet Niles and Frasier at a wine tasting?

A Note from Russell

Oh boy, oh boy have we got some fancy parties lined up! Tonight (Thursday, July 30th) we’re tasting 7 (count ‘em) seven German wines from the Valckenberg portfolio, ranging from a dry Pinot Noir, to dry whites and sweeter whites. You’ve got to check out the label on the Undone wine, it’s a little too racy to print here, come see what I mean. It’s only $5 per person (1/2 price), and it’s a classroom style tasting where everyone comes at 7 pm and Debbie Slutsky pours and explains each wine. You can ask questions and learn about your beverage! Since it is classroom format, you need to reserve space by calling, visiting, or emailing us at service@corkjoy.com. When the class is full, it’s full!

Friday we have Gary Cunningham from 3 Horse Ranch in Eagle, Idaho visiting to pour 6 of his fantastic wines. You can see the full list including tasting notes below. Come meet Gary, have him sign a bottle perhaps?!

More tastings! The Owen Roe wines that Sarah was on about last week will be poured on Thursday, August 27th. This is another classroom format tasting, led by Lee Anderson of New West. To taste, you need to reserve space by calling, visiting, or emailing us at service@corkjoy.com. These are incredible wines that all over deliver quality for their price. The tasting is only $5 (1/2 price) and space is limited.

One more to report. This is a big boy. September 10th we will be holding an Orin Swift tasting, and opening everything they make all in one night. That’s right kids, The Prisoner, Papillon, Saldo, Veladora, and Mercury Head. Delicious! Tickets are $15 per person and you’ll be tasting 2 oz. each of those five wines. The only ones let in will be the ones who have bought their tickets! Reserve space by calling, visiting, or emailing us at service@corkjoy.com.

We’re also hosting Kevin Rogers of TimberRock for a taste of his new releases on August 14th, and Lone Canary with Mike Scott on September 11th. As always, there is a complete calendar at the end of this newsletter to keep you up-to-date on the goings on.

Not enough wine tastings? Well, I’ll keep working harder to bring great events to Post Falls. It’s my mission.

We’re trying something new, sharing tasting notes on Twitter! If you like that sort of thing, you can follow us here.

– Russell Mann

3 Horse Ranch Wine Tasting
with owner/viticulturalist Gary Cunningham

This Friday from 4-7 Enoteca will be hosting Gary Cunningham, owner/viticulturalist from 3 Horse Ranch, along with Debbie Keller of IWM as they share fantastic Idaho grown grape wine! Come see what can be done on Idaho soil, these are all fantastic. 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.


3 Horse Ranch Pinot Gris 2008
(Snake River Valley, Idaho)
Our 2008 Estate Grown Pinot Gris is our first vintage of this delicate grape. Produced in the decidedly Alsatian style, this wine opens with intense aromas of orange, pineapples and grapefruit. It’s lush almost fresh cut apples like acidity shows well in the roundness at mid-palate. A wine that displays a complexity that captures the crispness of the fruit yet broadens to a soft lovely finish.

100% Pinot Gris

[Member: $17.09 / Retail: $18.99]

3 Horse Ranch Viognier 2008
(Snake River Valley, Idaho)
Our 2008 Estate Grown Viognier again showcases the vineyard site terrior at our ranch. An elegant wine that displays the notable characteristics of this grapes potential. Produced fairly simply and cleanly, going from stainless steel fermentation to the bottle this wine can age well. Our no-oak approach allows the aromas of white peach, apricot and kiwi to the nose. An almost honey-like smooth mouth feel leads to a deep rich finish. An intriguing wine whose luscious fruit compels one to just one more sip.

100% Viognier

[Member: $19.79 / Retail: $21.99]

3 Horse Ranch Roussanne/Viognier 2008
(Snake River Valley, Idaho)
Our 2008 Estate Grown blend of two noble varietals 50% Viognier and 50% Roussanne showcases the terrior of Idaho. The marriage of these great Rhone Valley whites highlight our appellations affinity for Rhone varietals, both white and red. The honeyed richness and longevity of Roussanne is the perfect partner for the full-bodied Viognier. This wine displays the fresh stone fruit and violets typical of Viognier yet doesn’t mask the crisp acids of Roussanne, producing a wine that can be enjoyed many years after bottling.

50% Viognier, 50% Roussanne

[Member: $24.29 / Retail: $26.99]

3 Horse Ranch Reserve Rosé 2008
(Snake River Valley, Idaho)
Refreshing enough to enjoy with lunch on a hot summer day, as fashionable to drink as a great Bordeaux-style wine at dinner. Our traditionally dry French style rosé is a melange of Merlot and Grenache whose individual characters are fully expressed in this delicious blend. This wine is extremely approachable with a balance and harmony that provides early drinkability. A richly structured wine offering up a nose of garden fresh strawberries, the depth of flavor will surprise along with a lively, crisp finish.

[Member: $14.39 / Retail: $15.99]

3 Horse Ranch Merlot 2006
(Snake River Valley, Idaho)
Our Merlot displays the deep ruby color and big body this varietal is known for. We showcase Idaho’s potential for great wines by utilizing 100% Idaho grapes in the production of this fine wine. The rich aroma of blackberry, cherry and chocolate are followed by an excellently balanced mid-palate. Smooth tannins lead to a soft well rounded, velvety finish.

100% Merlot

[Member: $17.99 / Retail: $19.99]

3 Horse Ranch Syrah 2006
(Snake River Valley, Idaho)
Our commitment to use only 100% Idaho grapes is reflected in this delicious wine from one of Idaho’s premier Syrah vineyards, Williamson. This superb fruit allows our winemaker to create a great Syrah displaying a hint of raspberry and black berry fruit on the nose. It leads to a true purity of fruit mid-palate, lingering for a rich nicely balanced finish.

100% Syrah

[Member: $19.79 / Retail: $21.99]

Pricing disclaimer.

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) – label based on the classic card game, Mirth (stainless Chardonnay) based on an old thyme nursery rhyme, and The Keeper (Cabernet Franc) based on the Bible book Song of Solomon. 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, and sport cool Irish wolfhound mugs.

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.

Russell likes the Sharecropper, Mirth, and O’Reilly Pinot Noir the most, you’ll have to ask him why he likes ‘em. I like the big juicy flavor of The Rook, the refined yet powerful Ex Umbris Syrah, and Corvidae Lenore Syrah the best. Lenore is named after the love interest of Poe’s Raven.

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.

Special Owen Roe Wine Tasting!

One night only! Owen Roe wine tasting – try these incredible wines with great bargain value prices for the flavor. Unique labels as well, including the Edgar Allen Poe inspired Corvidae series, and the Irish Wolf Hound on the O’Reilly series. 7 pm, pre-register only, limited space, $5 per person.

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, August 27th.
Tickets to attend are $5 per seat, paid in advance.

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

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.

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. Debbie Slutsky will be on hand to share stories and information about these wines, which range from the sweet to the dry, and red too!

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.

Friday, August 14th – 4-7 pm
TimberRock Winery Tasting with wine maker Dr. Kevin Rogers! Come visit us at Enoteca for this exclusive event to release and show off the new wines from TimberRock, and some old favorites in their new vintages. We will taste these wines on Saturday, August 15th as well, from 12-7.

Friday, August 21st – 4-7 pm
Blind Cabernet Tasting! Taste these Cabernet’s blind and guess what you have. We’ll also have a Chardonnay open for fun! We will taste these wines on Saturday, August 22nd as well, from 12-7.

Thursday, August 27th – 7 pm
One night only! Owen Roe wine tasting – try these incredible wines with great bargain value prices for the flavor. Unique labels as well, including the Edgar Allen Poe inspired Corvidae series, and the Irish Wolf Hound on the O’Reilly series. 7 pm, pre-register only, limited space, $5 per person. (1/2 price)

Friday, August 28th – 4-7 pm
Folio Partners wine tasting with Thomas Vogele. This is the importing company that brings in some of the world’s top Merlot’s including Ornellaia and Lamione, Italian super-tuscan wines. I never pass up an opportunity to open Ornellaia so we’ll do that, and while we’re at it Thomas will take us on a tour of Europe with Italian, Austrian, and Spanish wine! We will taste these wines on Saturday, August 29th as well, from 12-7.

Friday, September 4th – 4-7 pm
Taste of Club! September ust 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, September 5th as well, from 12-7.

Thursday, September 10th – 7 pm
One night only! Orin Swift wine tasting – including every wine they make! The Prisoner, Saldo Zinfandel, Papillon Bordeaux Blend, Veladora Sauvignon Blanc, and the mac-daddy Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon. 7 pm, pre-register only, limited space, $15 per person. (1/2 price)

Friday, September 11th – 4-7 pm
In honor of Patriot Day we will be tasting local legend, Mike Scott’s wine from Lone Canary winery. Come try something interesting from Spokane! We will taste these wines on Saturday, September 12th 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 Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 at 8:28 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.