We are CLOSED on Memorial Day....

Memorial Day is one of only 3 days a year that we aren't open....so plan accordingly and be sure to stock up for all of your long weekend festivities!

Most importantly, be sure to take the time to honor those who serve our country - past and present.  Always be appreciative and supportive to those who choose to fight and die for freedom, so that those who choose not to, don't have to.

Celebrate Mom: Cupcakes & Champagne!

Bring your Mom, Sister, Aunt, Daughter, Wife - any woman who's special in your life - and celebrate Mother's Day with Ruinart Champagne & home made cupcakes by Melrose's own VCVC Cupcakes!

We're giving out free mini cupcakes and sampling delicious champagne - as well as having boxes of full size cupcakes free to anyone who buys a bottle of Ruinart Blanc de Blanc or Rose!

Saturday, May7th  1:00 - 3:00 pm
It will be a delicious day that you won't want to miss!

Pamper the one you love with simple, affordable decadence!

It's Valentine's weekend....the perfect time for you to play Cupid and spoil someone special to you.

No plans yet?  Come sample wine with us!
Friday, Feb 11th 5:30 - 7:30 - Valentine's Sampler, Pt 1.  We'll be pouring Jacob's Creek Moscato, Banyuls ( a MUST try dessert wine), Robert Mondavi Cabernet - and a brand new Pinot Noir from Francis Ford Coppola that is in a perfect price point for all.

Saturday, Feb 12th 4pm - 7pm - Valentine's Sampler, Pt 2.  Join us as we sample Trentadue Chocolate Amore, La Caplana Gavi di Gavi, and Emeri Sparkling Pink Moscato.

Sunday, Feb 13th 2p-4:30pm - Bubbles & Love.  We are having a Chandon Sparkling Wine sampler featuring the classic Brut, Blanc De Noir (my personal favorite) and the Rose. 

Speaking of affordable decadence....we have Caviar & Creme Fraiche, Crepe Mix, Chocolate Bacon Pancake Mix, Applewood smoked bacon and more for a romantic breakfast or brunch.

Making a romantic dinner?  We've got you covered with everything from Steak tips to Muscovy duck.

And of course - in the glass.  Classic champagne, big Zinfandels & Cabernets, Dessert wine and of course the ever classic Chardonnay.

Anything and everything you need for a perfect weekend.
Hope to see you!

Getting ready for New Year's Eve!

Caviar, capers, creme fraiche & crackers; Champagne, Cava, Cuvee & more; Cold Brews, Chocolates, Cheese...Cheers!

We are open New Year's Eve until 9pm in Melrose - 11pm in Boston  -- and we are also open New Year's Day, for normal business hours.

However you celebrate the New Year -- enjoy and be safe!
Best wishes for a Happy 2010!

What's cooking..?

Just a reminder - if you need tenderloin, ribeye or any cut of beef for your Christmas dinner - we custom order from Dom's Sausage! You still have time....

We also have coming in over the next few days: Hand dipped Ricotta (if you've never used it before, check out this helpful link! ), Marscapone cheese, Bufala Mozzarella, Squid Ink pasta, Wild Boar, Foie Gras, Duck Breast, Meringue covered mixed nuts, Peppermint Funky Chunky, Buffalo Rib Eye, lots of appetizers and so much more.

If you we don't have a premade appetizers that suits your fancy, you can always buy our Smoked Salmon, Creme Fraiche and capers...perfect for a pre-dinner snack. Or bruschetta toasts, fresh roasted tomatoes and some truffle oil drizzled on top.

Of course, we always have the perfect wine for your glass.
(Speaking of glasses, don't forget our handpainted wine glasses make excellent gifts!)

Have you made your list - and checked it twice?

If you're as busy as many are these days - you may still not be done with your Christmas shopping. We can help make it easier on you!

We have everything from painted glasses, Vinturi aerators, artisan foods & fun baking gifts such as Molten Lava cake sets and Creme Brulee kits (with the torch!) - as well as gift certificates, and of course beer and wine. Best of all - we gift wrap as well. It's that simple.

Let us help take the stress out of your gift giving this season. And be sure to try some before you buy with our last tasting of the season on Saturday.

Need food for your dinner table? Then join us Thursday for a tasting with The Bread & Butter Co., and place your order for dinner rolls, biscuits, sweet breads and butters. We also have appetizers, fresh cheese, olives, souffles and so much more to help make your Christmas meal special.

'Tis the season....

We've had Black Friday, Cyber Monday - how about plain old fashioned shopping?

We have some tastings coming up to help you make the perfect selections for all the favorite people in your life.

12/3 - Kick off "Home for the Holidays" in downtown Melrose and Celebrate with Chandon! Sample all three sparkling varieties: Brut, Blanc de Noir & Rose. 5-8 p.m.

12/4 - Celebrate "Home for the Holidays" with live music and wine samplings. Wine TBD, 3-5p.m.

12/11 - Holiday Gift Giving, Part 1: Wines TBD, check back. 3-6 p.m.

12/18 - Holiday Gift Giving, Part 2: Wines TBD, check back. 4-8 p.m.

We have Vinturi aerators and gift sets...sake gift sets, beautiful glasses, gift ware, charms, cork screws and so much more for your gift giving needs. Come to downtown Melrose, shop and support your small businesses!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving....?

Just a reminder that no liquor stores are open on Thanksgiving Day - so be sure to stock up tomorrow on all your last minute holiday drinking & dining needs! Both locations are open early, and will be closing later than usual posted hours.

In addition to wine & beer - Melrose has plenty of fresh cheese, appetizers, ready containers of pepperoni, peppers, kalamata & gorgonzola olives, cookies, candies, pates, and so much more!

From all of us at the Beacon Hill Wine & Spirits - and Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet family -
we wish you and your family a happy, healthy and safe holiday.

As always - please drink responsibly.

Cheers!

Holiday Tasting Schedule and more...

We've got a full month of tastings to help you plan your holiday dinner table!

Fri, Nov 12th: 5:30 - 8:00, La Crema Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Nov 13th: 2-5pm Wines TBD
Nov 14th: See us at the Showcase Melrose - buy your tickets via the Melrose Chamber of Commerce
Nov 16th: Sake Class, $20/pp - sign up for space limited class with Richard Auffrey, certified Sake Master, 8-10p.
Nov 18th: The Bread & Butter Co., will be sampling fresh dinner rolls, home made butters, biscuits and sweet breads for your holiday table! 5:30 - 8:00
Nov 20th: Pre-Thanksgiving Wine Sampler, Part 1 - Wines TBD, 5-8pm check back for specifics
Nov 23rd: Pre-Thanksgiving Wine Sampler, Part 2 - Wines TBD, 5-8pm check back for specifics

It's a Yellow-Ween....

Have plans for Halloween day?
Come to our Melrose store from 2-4 p.m. and sample Veuve Cliquot champagne!

It's a Spook-tacular event...who doesn't love a little bubbly in the glass?

Holy Smokes - it's a special Pinot!

If you're a Pinot Noir enthusiast - then you're in for a treat.

We've recently acquired the Sea Smoke Southing -- and supplies are very limited.

Call/email for pricing.

It's never to early to start thinking of holiday gift giving!

And it's never the wrong time to think of a gift for yourself...

Holiday Sampler, Part 1

Please join us tomorrow, from 4:30 - 7:00 pm as we taste out the following wine that would be perfect for your holiday dinner table this weekend. We like to pick things that allow you to think "out of the box" a bit for each holiday, so be sure to stop by and try what we've got!

Domaine Pellehaut Rose
La Caplana Gavi di Gavi
Bell Cabernet
Annamaria Abbona Dolcetto

Holiday Week....

It's a big holiday week for everyone....and both stores have selections that are perfect for both the Easter & Passover Holidays.

Both stores are offering wines that are Kosher for Passover, including Tishibi Cabernet/Petit Syrah, Tishibi Emerald Riesling, Golan Chardonnay & Cabernet -- and of course, Manischewitz.

Our Melrose location has three tastings this week - and more specific information regarding what we'll be sampling will follow shortly, so keep checking back.

Thursday: Holiday Dinner Sampler, Pt. 1
Friday: Go Green Organic Sampling
Saturday: Holiday Dinner Sampler, Pt.2

We've got chocolates, candies, (even jellybeans!), oversized chocolate peanut butter cups and more for all your Easter gift basket stuffing.

The cheese case will have a fantastic selection, as well as a nice selection of fresh pasta that is available to add to your dinner table.

There's always something new going on in the Melrose shop.... and we're always changing our wine inventory in both locations, so come on by and pick out something that will be just perfect for your holiday table -- or just a quiet evening at home.

What's happening over the next few days...

Okay, so there's a lot going on so my wine recommendations have fallen to the wayside temporarily.

Sunday, we're having a fundraiser for Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In conjunction with Melrose Boot Camp, we're sponsoring a shopping day where 10% of our sales from the Melrose store from Sunday will be donated to DFCI via Joy Fay - who is running the Marathon and raising money for this fantastic facility. Unfortunately, in this day and age there is virtually no one that isn't affected by Cancer in some way and in some capacity -- so this is a great way to help contribute to the fight against the disease. So come by on Sunday and know that your contribution will help!

Monday, we will be part of the special that Chronicle is running on wine! So you dont' want to miss out on that...

We've got lots of tastings coming up in the next week for the holidays. I'll post more on that Tuesday.

In the meantime, here's a snapshot of our freezer and cheese case (at least how it looked as of this morning!) -- just in case you'd like to pop in at some point and indulge. Remember, we carry Dom's Sausages, Steak Tips & Ribs!

Out with the old and in with the new....

Happy New to all....

So, in addition to always having different wine to choose from - we also try to mix things up in the food department. Starting this week, we'll be featuring some delicious products from South Africa -- and mark your calendars for a food & wine tasting, January 16th. We'll be sampling delicious food items such as cookies, chutneys and more - along with some delicious South African wine varietals such as Pinotage, Cabernet & Chenin Blanc. You won't want to miss it!

Sure, the winter holidays are over - but right around the corner is Valentine's Day. Champagne, sparkling wine, wine -- and of course chocolates and gifts -- are the perfect thing for that special person in your life. Just a little something to think about....

Another new something is delivery. Already available in Boston -- now Melrose residents can have orders delivered as well. Hours may be limited, so be sure to call ahead to schedule.

Until next time....

New Year's Eve is approaching.....

...how about inviting Montaudon, Pommery, Veuve, PJ, Dom, Gosset or Billecart to celebrate with you?

We've got all that and more -- including sparkling wines from all over the country if champagne proper isn't your "cup of tea".

Fresh bread in Melrose on New Years Eve for your dinner -- and your New Year's Day brunches!

Speaking of which - we are open in both stores on New Year's Day for you to be able to get bubbles for your morning Mimosa's, should you run out from the night before.

New Year's Eve -- Boston is open until 11; Melrose is open until 9.
New Year's Day, both locations are open regular hours.

As always, we appreciate your business and support this past year -- and we encourage you to enjoy your celebrations -- but please drink responsibly. Don't drink and drive; life isn't worth the gamble.

Happy New Year!

Holiday Tastings, Hours, and more!

Happy Holidays!

Wednesday evening, we will be celebrating the wrapping up of the holiday shopping season with a Chandon Sparkling Wine tasting. Come on down and indulge in bubbles while you shop!

Thursday, Christmas Eve -- fresh bread will be arriving for your holiday dinner tables... delicious.

And finally, the Melrose location will be closing at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Hope to see you!

It's a big tasting week....

Mark your calendars -- Thursday, Friday AND Saturday -- tastings in the Melrose store.

Thursday evening is going to be a great gift giving tasting.... the list of 8 wines, will be posted tomorrow. Stay tuned....

Change of seasons.....

So yesterday and today was the transformation from Harvest to Winter at Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet. That means new merchandise...new decor -- and new foods.

Coming Friday: the long awaited bread!!

Baguettes, Focaccias, Multigrain baguettes and more...

New cheeses this week too (assuming they aren't backordered...... ).

Our wine selection, which is always evolving -- will be adding some new Zinfandels tomorrow, as well as 3-4 new Sake selections this week, which is an area I'm excited to be expanding upon.

Come on down and check it out!

We are still restocking our beer from Thanksgiving -- so while the cooler is scarce at the moment -- it will be better come tomorrow afternoon.

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching....

Still not sure what to serve in the glass on Thanksgiving?
Visit either our Boston or Melrose location -- and we'll help you figure it out.

Thanksgiving eve -- we'll be having a tasting in Melrose starting at 4:30, sampling out some delicious Italian wines, so while you're shopping -- feel free to have a taste.

Whether you prefer Beaujolais Nouveau, or Chilean Sauvignon Blanc - whatever the choice for your glass is, what makes it taste best is not just the food you're having with it; it's the people you surround yourself with.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with laughter, love, health and happiness.
And may your glass be filled with something that tastes delicious.