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!

'Tis enough of winter.....

Okay, so it's winter in New England -- we've had enough snow to last us a long, long time.

That being said - it's perfect red wine drinking weather.

If you're looking to expand your horizons and try something different - let us know, we're more than happy to make recommendations.

New in the freezer are things like:  Uncured Applewood Smoked Bacon, Demi Glace, Wild Boar Roasts, Duck & Armanac Sausage, Buffalo Steaks & Venison Medallions.  Coming next week should be Duck Legs and Boar sausages - amongst a few other surprises.

In the refrigerator - we have caviar; right now King Salmon is all that's left but look for Sturgeon, Paddlefish as well as smaller Salmon Roe; they have a fabulous shelf life, are in beautiful bottles and would the perfect accompaniment for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner.

Speaking of the Valentine's holiday - keep checking for tasting information!  I've got three tastings lined up and some include bubbles...!

Here's a tried and true recipe for the wild boar; I made it myself last week and it was fantastic.  If you've never had boar before (I certainly hadn't!), it's not as gamey as you might think.  There was a little something that was reminiscent of duck - but it was like the most delicious, darkest piece of pork you'll ever see.  Try it for yourself and see!

Take the roast and coat it with kosher/sea salt, black pepper, red pepper and then drizzle with honey. (You can drizzle a tiny bit of olive oil on top prior to seasoning; it's a lean meat - so it won't be greasy.)
Place a few cloves of garlic in the roasting pan as well.
Preheat oven to 425; cook the roast for 15 minutes at 425, then reduce to 345 for the next 30 minutes.

Remove from oven, slice it - then add additional salt/pepper & honey.  Add a little garlic salt if you like at this point; then finish under the broiler for 5-7 minutes to get a completely finished roast and a little crisp from the honey.

Serve with a delicious Cote du Rhone -- or try Chasse Garde Fitou!

Enjoy -and let me know what you think!

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!)

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

Back from vacation - fabulous feedback....and ch-ch-changes!

Like most of you, I am returning from a brief summer vacation. As we're approaching our first year in Melrose, I was able to take a few days to unwind and relax (well, as relaxing as a family vacation to Hershey Park can be!). As sad as I am for it to be over - I'm so glad to be back.

To make the return even better, this morning I read this great article which really made me so very happy; this encapsulates what our business model is, and why we want the small wine boutique shop to be an experience - not just an errand. (http://passionatefoodie.blogspot.com/2010/08/rant-best-advice-on-buying-wine.html)

Labor Day is approaching - and that means Harvest is upon us. This is probably my favorite time of year; and to celebrate - some changes are coming to the Melrose store in the next month....window displays featuring Henriot Champagne is a big switch; if you are an enthusiast of the bubbles and have not yet tried this line - I insist that you try. Speaking of windows, a plan is in the works to pretty up the windows and give us a very classic and unique outside appearance. I'd been hoping to unveil it for Labor Day, but the schedule seems to be slipping on that one..

Hours are changing as well! We are now officially open until 9pm on Thursdays - and look for Sundays to stay open until 7. We know how halftime during football season is always the time that everyone needs to run out and refresh the coolers; or maybe you've got a Sunday dinner plan and forgot that bottle of wine to bring. No worries - we're here for you.

And of course...the inventory. Not sure if you've noticed, but the last three weeks I started stocking Harvest/Pumpkin/Octoberfest beer! Dogfish, Victory, Ipswich, Sam Adams, Shipyard - just to name a few. Who doesn't love a good pumpkin ale, right? We also have Fall Ciders from Woodchuck & Harpoon for those of you looking for something other than traditional beer or wine.

In the wine department - I'm cutting down on some of the lighter Spanish white wines, and re-engaging my South African section. South Africa has some delicious and exciting wines at fabulous prices. The "bigger" wines and higher end (but still not over the top in price) are bulking up as well. It's never too early to think about holiday gift giving!

And then, there's food.... Bread is coming back on Fridays in the next two weeks! I know some of you have really missed that, so I'm happy to announce the return. I've got some great food lines that I found over the summer coming in over the next month - and best of all - they're all LOCAL. Small, artisan food producers are so much fun to find for me - -and you can feel good knowing you're part of supporting our local economy. Buy local, buy fresh -- it's not just a tagline; it's a principle and business model I work hard to follow.

My batteries are recharged - and hopefully, you will enjoy the subtle changes that are going to be happening. My wine shop is your wine shop - and it is a constantly evolving, living thing. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome, and as always - thank you for your support.

Tax Free Weekend Event!

This weekend - save 6.25% on all of your purchases!

And with our regular discount of 10% off 6 bottles -15% off 12 (mix and match) -- that's a great incentive to think about stocking up, or holiday gift giving ideas!

Today, we'll have two bottles open after 11 - we're still choosing which ones they'll be.

Tomorrow, join us for an "Old Time Summertime Sunday" as we sample out a selection of 4-6 wines - and enjoy music from members of local band "That Old Feeling" performing live! Specializing in music from the 20's, 30's and 40's, you'll be sure to feel like you've stepped into an era gone by.

And remember - this year's election will feature the ballot question to permanently remove the tax on alcoholic beverages. Your vote counts.... we didn't get the choice previously - and now we do. So be sure to rock the vote!

Lagar De Besada Albarino, Saturday AM Sampler....

Good Morning!
And a gorgeous morning it is.... as you're walking around the downtown Melrose area today, be sure to stop in and sample some Albarino. It's the perfect choice for a hot summer day - and even better if you're going to be having raw bar or seafood today!

Never had Albarino before? Then you're in for a treat! If you're a Portugese wine drinker, then you may already be familiar with Alvarinho - their name of the grape. If not, then you can expect a deliciously light, crisp, slightly minerally and relatively fragrant wine. There's typically a slight hint of brine which is what practically makes it scream for oysters. It's also fantastic with Asian fare - but if you just want to enjoy it alone in the glass, it's perfect for relaxing on the patio in the summer sun.

Staycation Spain today... check out our Manchego cheese, Tapas seasoning mix, and Las Tapitas Flatbreads -- as well as Olive Oil & Sugar Tortas.

Can't Vacation? Travel the World on a Staycation...

We all know the economy can be difficult, especially when planning for vacations. So if you can't get away this summer....why not get away in the luxury of your own home? You can travel the world - and even our own state - right from your own dining room table.

You can be sitting on a veranda in Italy or Spain....lounging in the hot springs of Portugal....enjoying Paris at night. And I'm ready to show you how!

Can't get to the Vineyard?
Help yourself to a bottle of Black Dog Vineyards Chardonnay or Cabernet!

Have a night in Spain with some of our very own Tapas Mix and a fantastic bottle of Albarino or Moscabel. Perfect for hot balmy nights with a bit of spice!

Bring the flavors of France to you with Sancerre, White Burgundy, Vouvray and maybe a bit of Brie or Camembert with Carmelized Onion Chutney.

Tour California wine country by sampling Chardonnay from Napa, Sonoma, Carneros, Ynez and more. Try different varietals as well..... Viogner is one of my personal favorites!

All this is just a sampling of how you can tour the world from your home.
Come to the store and see how we're calling out wine for your very own international experience!

Sake...it's not what you think!

Interested in learning more about Sake? Did you know that you can pair Sake with many foods - especially cheese? It's not the hot Sake you remember -- Sake comes in many finishes from dry, to sweet, to sparkling -- to all of the above!

Join us for a Sake class, taught by the well known and Sake afficianado Richard Auffrey - otherwise known as the Passionate Foodie.

Class is limited to 12 people, and sign up is required.
$20.00/pp for a 2 hour concentrated class that not only opens your world to the lovely Sake -- but pairs her with a variety of delicious cheese from our artisan case. It's guaranteed to be a delicious and educational night for all.

Thursdsay, June 10th
8-10 p.m.

Email to sign up - or come by the Melrose store!

Wine Tastings, New items and more!

Join us in the Melrose store this Thursday as we taste out wine from Qupe Winery some spectacularly delicious wine! California Marsanne from St. Ynez Valley, Bien Nacido Cuvee which is a Viognier blende (one of my personal favorite grapes!) and their Syrah. It starts at 5 pm, so come on by!

The Beacon Hill store has a tasting as well, on Friday at 5:30. We're scheduling to sample Rosenblum Zinfandel, Bargmore Rose, Estancia Cabernet, and Drylands Sauvignon Blanc. You won't want to miss it.....

We've also just pre-ordered and scheduled to arrive in time for Father's Day gift giving are the Beckett Chardonnay, and the Ellsbury Zinfandel. These wines should not disappoint as they are produced by the Clos La Chance wine makers -- and best of all, each purchase benefits the player's respective charities.

New food items in Melrose that you might want to check out are Duck Confit sausages and Chicken with Black Truffle sausages. We added Coffee to our Chilly Cow inventory, and coming this Friday we'll have local honey from Crystal Apiaries in Billerica. Delicious, chunky, organic --and best of all, local -- honey. With tea, on toast, on a spoon - or cook with it -- honey never disappoints!

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!

What's going on this week...

Today I was interviewed on air with WDIS AM -- where I'm one of their wine sponsors for the show "Fairness Doctrine". I got a great 5 minute interview and if they post it online, I'll gladly share the link here. If you enjoy political banter, then you really should check their show out. Left meets Right - and everything in between.

This week, we've got new wine as always -- and some new products including dark chocolate covered espresso beans -- as well as savory chutneys, such as carmelized onion chutney which is amazing on tenderloin or any kind of oven roast.

Chilly Cow Black Raspberry is gracing our freezer chest....probably the most decadent tasting black raspberry I've ever had.

And Friday, we are sampling out delicious steak tips and country ribs from Dom's Sausage -- and pairing it with Plymouth's own Mayflower Beer. It's a shop fresh, shop local tasting that you will not want to miss!

Bring back "Wednesday is Spaghetti Day"....

Tomorrow in Melrose - we're running a special for dinner.

Your choice of a bottle of red wine or white, a bag of artisanal pasta, a jar of imported spaghetti sauce, a wedge of parmigian reggiano and a box of pizelles -- all for under $30.

What take out, when you can take in?

While supplies last!