| ~ ~ IN Memoriam ~ ~ Somebody's Political Career Let's recognize the passing with a bottle about which there can be no doubt. The Big RED WHITE and BLUE for this Week!
A blend of Petite Sirah (65%), Mission (30%) and Zinfandel (20%) $21.99 at Natural Wine Company Reserve Your Election Day Skull at (828) 575-9525 |
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As at many stores, the offerings near the register are geared toward impulse buying. Within easy reach of the cashier’s line at Gary’s Wine & Marketplace in Wayne, N.J., customers find novelties such as wine in cans and accessories such as corkscrews, fun wine gadgets and cheese boards. The concept is similar in the four other Gary’s stores in New Jersey and Napa, according to proprietor Gary Fisch. Gina Trippi, co-proprietor of Metro Wines in Asheville, N.C., features wine in cans and wine in boxes near her cash register, as well as dog toys made from old T-shirts. (The dog-friendly proprietors feature photos of favorite canines all over their store.)
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Entire Article HERE!
| Autumn Sangria https://www.wsj.com/articles/ more-or-less-makes-itself- Plums, Brandy, Orange Juice: check. But what wine? Hand picked grapes. Vegan. Biodynamic. Stainless Steel, 12%ALC The 2019 LITRE Bottle is $14.99 @MetroWines. More of Spain? Velazquez! |
| In Memoriam
Coca Cola is retiring Tab, a pop culture icon in the 1970s, Celebrate THIS and Other Occasions with...
Not Everywhere in Country: $16.99 |
| Beyond Politics
Shakespeare Folio Sold at Auction for $10million Mercury is in Retrograde! Discuss. Stan is back in the News Shipageddon Class UP the Conversation
"Established in 1976, Domaine Fichet started when Francis Fichet (Olivier's father) and Stay Sharp with only 12.5% ALC $22 |
| Big RED of The Week Out of Stock with Importer for Months. But now, It's baaaaaaaaaack!
Uphold 2019 Uphold Zinfandel for The People from Ryme Winery: $19.99 in Chapel Hill |
| Ever Wonder What Goes On with Those Buy a House for a Dollar Deals?
Follow Lorraine Bracco in Sicily!
Meanwhile, what's the Covid plan at restaurants in Italy? And What About Barolo? Nebbiolo is an old grape dating back to the 13th century and the name derives In the shop, we have Barolos and Brunellos that were built to age |
Good Time to review this article from four years ago for The Laurel of Asheville
By Gina Trippi
Wine in the White House dates back to Thomas Jefferson who, having become accustomed to French wine on his diplomatic missions to France, built a wine cellar under the West Wing to store up to 20,000 bottles! Ordering wine by the barrel from Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal and serving four to six wines with dinner daily, he racked up a $10,000 bill for his eight years in the White House (1801–1809).
After Jefferson’s administration, the cellar hit hard times. Hard liquor was the alcoholic beverage of choice for decades. By the time Franklin Roosevelt took office in 1933, with his preference for martinis, Jefferson’s cellar had been repurposed and wine was stored in the pantry.
Through the Kennedy administration, French wines were still served at official dinners. The menu for a 1961 luncheon to honor Princess Grace included Dom Pérignon and Puligny-Montrachet. It was Lyndon Johnson, according to Bloomberg News, who decreed only American wines should be served in the White House. By the time Richard Nixon took office in 1969, the California wine industry was taking off. While only serving American wines at official dinners, Nixon preferred Bordeaux when dining with family. He started his own tradition, serving Schramsberg’s Blanc de Blanc for his “Toast to Peace” in 1972 with China’s Premier Zhou Enlai. Schramsberg sparkling wines have been served at official state functions by every president since.
Just before Jimmy Carter took office in 1977, Chateau Montelena from California won a tasting in Paris, putting Napa Valley forever on the wine making map. Few knew that Carter was a winemaker himself! Wine Spectator reports that his grandfather had worked 15 acres of grapes in Georgia and Carter had been making wine from the family recipe for years.
When Ronald Reagan became president in 1981, the tradition of serving American wines was “rigorously enforced” according to Daniel Shanks, a sommelier from Napa Valley later hired to be Usher of Food and Beverage for President Bill Clinton, a position Daniel still holds. During the Reagan administration, the White House cellar grew to include California wines, like those from Grgich Hills and Stag’s Leap.
Most Americans, however, still considered European wines to be the standard when Clinton became president. Daniel says Clinton—who served Gruet and Roderer Estate, wines that are still in rotation at the White House today—was determined to promote the quality of American wines.
Today the White House plans themed dinners that connect foreign dignitaries and guests with the American experience. Daniel said the White House recently served a Greek Delegation wines from Topolos and Lolonis, California wineries started by Greek immigrants.
And it’s not just California wines on the table. Daniel says he has served wines from “19 or 20 states, Idaho to Pennsylvania, North Carolina to Massachusetts”—including Biltmore’s Blanc de Blanc.
But as much as we focus on the wines at the White House, Daniel says the guests are really focused “on one thing—the President.”
Gina Trippi is the co-owner of Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte Street in Asheville. Committed to the community, Metro Wines offers big-shop selection with small-shop service. Gina can be reached at gina@metrowinesasheville.com or 828.575.9525.
| Big LOVE Cooking
From the MetroWines Book Suggestion Department From Joey Campanaro, the lovable chef and owner
Your Read it With and Serve it With Wine This 2019 from Jose Pastor Selections |
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Beyond Politics
WSJ reports that "the mini manbag" is finally here! *** Your Discuss it ALL Over Wine *** Vouvray Sec 2018
Google Translate says: Good maturity wine with scents of white flowers |
| Big DEAL of the Week
2017 Peirano Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi
Silver Medal in 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. |
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*** From The MetroWines Holiday Gifting Desk ***
If we have learned anything this year, Call (828) 575-9525 and ask for Brett |
| Big DEAL and Big Red of The WEEK! Dante 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, California
Michael Pozzan proudly presents Dante, named after his eldest son, *** 13.5% ALC $10.99 *** |
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Consumables Make Great Wedding Gifts!
*** Divina Fig Spread *** at Metro North in Reynolds Village
Crafted from Aegean figs, classic Mediterranean Fig Spread from Divina Perfect with our Manchego Cheese! And pick up a bottle of Ciro! We talked about Ciro last week, |
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*** International Notes ***
Our buyer Brett Watson says "We have Baudry Chinon Les Granges.
The soil is all sand and pebbles, with little to no clay, so it drains well and yields a light, fresh style of Chinon. The fruit is hand-harvested, destemmed and moved by gravity into unlined cement vats. Fermentation with native yeasts and without sulfur or temperature control lasts from two weeks to two months. The wine is aged nine to ten months in cement before being bottled without filtration. It is the first red of any vintage to be released. Cellar Master John Kerr says "drinkable now." $24 ****************************** All true, but our buyer, Brett Watson, has been reaching for the lesser known, And some of our other favorites were also in the top 100 including but not limited to: Saint Cosme, Dr. Loosen, G.D Vajra, Tenuta, Tosca and Garzon. Shop LocalLY. Talk to the Buyer. Tell us what you want! |
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From The MetroWines BEYOND POLITICS Desk
"Playboy" is going public. Are they still around? "Subway" bread fails sugar test in Ireland. "Ruby Tuesday" files for bankruptcy protection. The Smithsonian asks: Are Humans Naturally Good or Bad? Your Discuss It ALL Over Wine: 2018 Osterreich, Austria 12.5ALC Wine made from grapes grown without synthetic pesticides, This is an impressive wine from an impressive importer. Out of Stock at Astor in NYC |
| *** Blind Tasting League *** on Facebook LIVE with Andy Hale Video from September 16th Episode
Join us for BTL on Wednesday, October 21st at 5:30 And if you want to taste along with Andy, you can purchase the wines |
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Navaherreros 2017
$21 |
By Gina Trippi for 50 Plus Living
Customer comes into our shop and asks for a wine to put into her Beef Bourguignon that she can also enjoy while cooking or at the table. The request for cooking wine for various recipes is fairly common.
First, what’s the difference in table wine and what we call cooking wine? Mainly, quality.
A successful match is simple. Avoid bottles labeled “cooking wine.” This is just a concoction of sugar, salt and preservatives that is nothing you would want in your dish. Notice “cooking wine” is usually shelved in the grocery store next to vinegar!
Julia Child summed it up this way: "If you do not have a good wine to use, it is far better to omit it, for a poor one can spoil a simple dish and utterly debase a noble one."
A good guide is to only cook with wine you would drink. That does not mean you need a high priced bottle. Because the subtle nuances of the wine will burn off in cooking, you would do best with a well made, reasonably priced wine, that complements not overwhelms your flavors. You can easily find an appropriate dual purpose wine for the dish and your table for under $15.
Why do recipes call for wine? Usually, to bring up the acidity in the dish which works to tenderize meats as well as to stabilize more delicate ingredients. As the wine cooks down and concentrates, it brings a richness or slight sweetness to the dish. Cooks generally recommend avoiding sweet wines like Moscato. And chose an un-oaked wine as oak aging can impart a bitterness when heated. If you select a wine that you can also serve with the dish, you continue the flavor profile through the meal!
Saving a wine to use in cooking presents real problems. The wine will likely oxidize. This results in musty, nutty, sherry like flavors. Such an addition might be right for your recipe but, if so, choose a wine that has been intentionally oxidized such as a dry Madiera or Marsala. Because wines become sweeter as reduced, unless you are working with a sweet dish, chose a dry wine. Remember the golden rule: use only wines that you would drink.
OK. But you want it all! A solid wine that makes a dish sing, sits nicely on a table and is a palate pleaser. We suggest Capitelles 2016 Pinot Noir and 2016 Chardonnay from Languedoc Roussillon, both $8.99.
| From the MetroWines Beyond Politics Department Discuss Amoung Yourselves * The Conan Doyle Estate has sued Netflix over the new film, "Enola Holmes," *Amazon is offering small drones that fly above houses filming inside, Flights to Nowhere. Literally. Don't get me started on this one! Your Discuss CIVILLY Among Yourselves Wine *** is The Big Red of The Week ***
The Spur 2017 is crafted from blending the classic Bordeaux varietals with Petite Sirah, The 2017 vintage provides an aromatic profile of spiced cranberry, blueberry and clove $26.97 at Wine Chateau ** $24 @MetroWines! ** *** NOTE ABOUT CALIFORNIA FIRES *** Check our stock @MetroWines. Call (828) 575-9525 |
