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!

Got the Winter Blues? Taste the French Riveria & Italian Countryside....

This morning when I came in - it just felt like a duck kind of day.  And we have plenty for you to choose from!  We have whole Muscovy ducks, Magret Breast and Confit Legs.  Pair them with a fun Rhone or Burgundy wine and find yourself transported to France.  Not sure how to cook it?  It's easy, trust me.  And ask my friends at Food Network how to make it - you'll find some of the simplest and most delicious recipes, with minimal ingredients to use!

And what are your plans this weekend?  How about sampling a little bit of the Italian countryside...?

Saturday, from 3 - 6pm we're sampling out a Bolgheri & Vernaccia -- along with an assortment of Italian cheeses & roasted tomatoes.  Taleggio, Brenta, Grana Padano and Mozzarella.  Never heard of those types of wine?  Exactly the reason why we want you to come in and try them!

So leave this winter state of mind behind you - and transform your thoughts to a place romantic, a littler warmer - and delicious!

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!

Are you ready for some football....

Okay, so we've adjusted to the fact that the Patriots aren't playing tomorrow.
That doesn't mean we can't enjoy a day of good eating & drinking with friends!

Love to cook?  Well, the Melrose store has everything from whole Muscovy Ducks, to Duck breasts, Confit Legs (for Cassoulet), Venison, Boar - and good ol' fashioned steak tips, chicken breast, pork ribs & sausages.  Speaking of sausages -- there's Chorizo, Duck & Armanac, Chicken w. Truffles, Garlic & Sausage - and of course, a selection of italian sausages and pepperoni for snacking.

Need cheese?  From Sage & Derby, to Taleggio -- Cabot Clothbound to Manchego -- Stilton w Cranberry to Huntsman Layer, have we got cheese for you.  Have you tried our Gorgonzola Stuffed Olives?  To die for.... (and we have a full selection of "To Die for Dips" as well, now that I mention it!)

Making chili for the big game?  We've got you covered with Chili Mix, cold beer and a large selection of hot sauces to help "kick it up a notch",  Pretzel dipping sauces, chocolate sauces, and of course - Chilly Cow frozen custard pies for dessert.

Ice cold beer - ranging from Budweiser to Pretty Things, Abita Purple Haze to Frosty Knuckle Ale, Hop Stoopid to Ommegang, Amstel & Heineken to Sierra Nevada - and everything in between....

And of course, the wine..... no matter what you're serving, who you're hanging out with - we have something for the novice to the most discriminating palate!  Need recommendations?  We're happy to help...whether you're looking for an inexpensive Cabernet that delivers big - or an easy drinking white wine, we've got something to make everyone happy.

(Suggestions?  LeMire Tuscan Blend, Chocolate Box Shiraz, Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc, Vivacious Vicky, Ruffino Orvietto, Liberty School Cabernet, Red Truck Zinfandel Blend, Dom Brunet Pinot Noir, Casa Del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc, Norton Merlot...just to name a few!)

Chips, dips, crackers, cookies, chutneys, gourmet popcorn and always the beverages.
Let's get this party started, shall we....?

'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!)

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.

Baseball and Wine...

In honor of the All Star Game, join us tomorrow from 4-8pm as we sample out some baseball themed wine, and of course... fresh roasted peanuts!

Come on by and sample something fun and delicious to enjoy the game with.

(Of course, we also have great beer as well to go on the baseball theme...)

Mambo Italiano....

So keeping in theme with our Staycation Summer -- I'm trying to get everyone interested and excited about trying varietals that might be out of their comfort zone of familiarity.

One of the red wines that I am really enjoying the reactions when people try it, is Salice Salentino. A blend of Negro Amaro & two different types Malvesia: Nera di Brindisi & Nera di Lecce. It's a delicious and light wine that is similar to Pinot Noir - but rather than being light and bright with a ripe cherry flavor - it's got that nice light body, and bright fruit - but more of a tart cherry flavor. The acidity makes it a perfect complement for food - though, unlike one of it's other Italian counterparts, Chianti -- it is just as enjoyable alone in the glass.

(This is not to say that Chianti is not enjoyable without food...however, in my personal opinion it's better served with a meal or antipasti than alone.)

Why not try Salice Salentino this week if you're looking to try a new red - or give a gift to someone who enjoys lighter bodied wine? I promise, you won't be disappointed!

Feeling hot, hot, hot...and delicious!

I'm always a little skeptical when a celebrity endorses a product; they often tend to be mediocre items that are relying on the celebrity to sell the brand.

Not this time.

Calling all hot sauce enthusiasts.... Big Papi En Fuego Hot Sauces are smokin' good.
Really.

Right now, we're carrying his original in the large size, the smaller sampler pack - and the jars of Mango Pineapple Salsa that is out of this world. Everything tastes fresh, the quality of the product is exceptionally high - but the price is perfect for your budget. Each of the four sauces is using different peppers so they all taste different -- and they're marketed as "lifestyle" sauces. You can cook with them, or use them as accents to cheese or however you so enjoy spice.

I'm starting a New England section of wine; right now I've got in Turtle Creek which is a vineyard out of Lincoln MA; tomorrow I've got the Black Dog Tavern wines coming in, as well as Sailor's Dream from Nantucket. And next week I should have another collection of at least two varietals from Fall River. Buy fresh...buy local.

We've kicked off our Staycation International summer! Check out the signs around the store to give you ideas on wines to sample, foods to pair - and how to turn your home into different international travel destinations on a shoestring budget.

And this Friday, 5:30 - 7:30 join us for a Saranack Summer Sampler!
There's always something delicious going on.... always!

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!

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!

A lovely radio spot - and other tidbits!

Special thanks to Intermezzo Magazine's Roseann Tully for giving the Melrose store a fantastic "kudos" today on WBZ Radio: http://www.wbz.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4539573. Look for Intermezzo Magazine to grace our store, hopefully soon!

We're having a "Take me out to the Ballgame" tasting on Friday, April 23rd from 5-7 pm.
Get ready for the Sox to take on Baltimore as we sample out Wachusett "Green Monster" Beer, and Boston Beer Works "Fenway Ale" -- as well as delicious Dom's Sausages, Double Chin fried onion & pepper relish, Chilly Cow Vanilla Frozen Custard and American Nut Roasted Peanuts. It's truly a tasting you don't want to miss! All items are local products --so shop fresh, shop local!

New items coming soon: the most insanely delicious and truly unique cookies from a producer in Essex, yet another local food product! Also, again a North Shore baby -- Didi Salt collections. A fantastically delicious collection of gourmet sea salts, pink himalyan salts, and gourmet sugars. And of course -- there's always new cheeses and "To Die For" dips on the shelves.

We've got some great new wines on the rack -- Raw Power Shiraz is a fun and surprisingly refined Shiraz despite the label; Home Grown Red is a delicious Barbera blend from California; Lelia Garnacha is a surprisingly delicious Grenache that has good weight for an incredibly inexpensive price. We've got some new Spanish whites: Mesta, an incredibly light and crisp blend, as well as a white Rioja who's name is escaping me at the moment. We also have a delicious Argentinian Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc called Luna Benegas that is just lovely.

Come by this weekend and pick up something special for your wine glass, or dinner table!

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!

Happy Springtime.....

This week has certainly felt like Spring....and hopefully the fever will last!

Today in the Melrose store, you can come by and sample Silvaner; it's a lesser known varietal than Riesling and it's perfect for warm weather - and also a great wine to go with holiday fare.

At 3pm, we're going to be opening up some Black Raspberry Chilly Cow Frozen Custard, as well as Chocolate. You've got to give this incredibly decadent ice cream a try....and, here's a thought: drizzle Trentadue Chocolate Port over Vanilla custard. Oh yeah.....

Upcoming tastings to note: Thursdsay 4/1 and Saturday 4/3 we'll be sampling wines that go great for the holiday table! Keep checking back for specific details.

We'd hoped to do an Opening Day celebration but since the Fenway opener is Easter Sunday, we may have to just have a "Take me out to the Ballpark" day another time in April. Look for that to feature Fenway Park & Green Monster Beer, Dom's Sausages, and maybe some peanuts & ice cream!

Next post - I'll share some of my personal favorite bottles that we added to the inventory over the past few weeks.

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!

Domo Arigato.... and more!

This Saturday (tomorrow....) we're having a Sake sampler. Join us from 5-7 as we sample the following varieties:

Moon Rabbit Sparkling
Murai Tanrei
Chikurin Fukamari Junmai
Hakushika Junmai Ginjo
Ozeki Osakaya Chobei Dai Ginjo
Murai Nigori Genshu

If you have always thought sake was only for chinese food -- or meant to be digested warm, you're in for an interesting and pleasant treat!

We've brought new cheese in this week: Three Cream Gouda, Duchess Sara Gouda as well as delicious Applewood Smoked Cream Cheese and Pesto Butter.

Did you know we carry Dom's Sausage Steak Tips & Turkey Tips - as well as Country Style Ribs? They're delicious, and we charge the same amount as Dom's does so you aren't being charged any differently and you don't have to travel to Dom's direct if you don't want to! We also can order custom cuts of meat for you from Dom's, with only three days notice!

Speaking of Dom's as you can see from the photo on our new chalkboard -- we're sampling out Dom's Sausage meats AND having a beer tasting the same evening. You won't want to miss it!

Lots of new wine this week on the racks -- and in all regions! So come on by and indulge a little bit. You deserve it, don't you?

New Things, Tastings & More...

Friday night, 5pm - 7pm in Melrose - it's a Beer Tasting! Sample Sam Adams Noble Pils & Cherry Wheat, Ithaca Cascazilla & Flower Power. Complete with some cheese -- it's a great way to start your weekend!

Saturday night, 4-7pm in Melrose - it's a Chandon Sparkling Wine Tasting! Demi Sec, Blanc de Noir & Rose...it's a great way to prep for Valentine's Day and enjoy a Saturday night before dinner.

New items this week are.... Foie Gras, Italian Cookies (coming Thursdsay!), Deano's FRESH Pasta (lobster agnilotti, canneloni florentine & four cheese shells -- delicious!), Food Should Taste Good Olive chips, Chocolate Covered Almonds, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, & Gummi Bears! Ricotta Salatte as well as Feta should be in by Thursday as well...

And of course, as always -- we're bringing in new and exciting wine for you to enjoy and try! Don't hesitate to ask for recommendations and suggestions -- we're happy to help!

Cheers & Bon Appetit!

What's new - and what we're tasting!

So, this week - we added some more fun things!
Now available -- Dom's Sausage delicious Steak & Turkey Tips! Available in both Original and Zesty Teriyaki -- and Caesar & Honey Mustard for the turkey. And trust me when I tell you that I've priced them right.....

Also new in the cheese case is Danish Fontina, and Fol-Epi - as well as Mimolette Jeune (young) and Veille (aged). I'm hungry just thinking about it....

Dijon mustard has found it's way to the cheese case....and I'm trying really, really hard to find a good local honey! If anyone knows a resource please share - because it's been quite difficult to find someone who will return my phone call. Who doesn't love a little honey with their cheese?

Tomorrow night, 5-7pm we'll be tasting out some truly delicious wine: Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Vouvray & a Chinon. We'll also be sampling an Argentinan Malbec -- so if you're in the neighborhood.....come on in!

Tasting information & more!

Tomorrow, look for three new cheeses in the case at the Melrose shop:

Fol-Epi, Chimay Beer, and Danish Fontina.
How's that for delicious?

We're also bringing in Multigrain Chips & Jalapeno Chips by Food Should Taste Good.
Chocolates and more coming this week as well.

On Friday, we're tasting out wines from Provence -- and they're outstanding. I'll have some tasting notes and more information posted here as we get closer. The tasting is from 5-7, and you won't want to miss it.

Also coming soon -- Feb. 13th, mark your calendars for a Port & Chocolate tasting, perfect for Valentine's Day!