Great Wine, Great Price!

So, I found a website that's right up The Whinery's alley.

They specialize in wines that are under $19.99 -- many under $9.99 -- and some, as low as $4.99!

How do they do it? Great Question --

It's simple really -- they deal in huge volume, and they buy a lot of close-outs. So, although some of their wines may not be available for long.... their selection is always fresh and new.

And, did I mention that they ship all orders over $99.99 for free?

Click the button above (the pretty yellow one telling you Mom would love some wine for Mother's Day) and you can get 15% off your order.

Great wine, free shipping and a coupon -- what more could you ask for?

Cheers!

May's Assignment

The warm weather is here..... and what goes hand-in-hand with summer??? You guessed it -- grillin'.

Whether you are grilling up some veggies, steaks, chicken, fish or just plain ole fashioned burgers & dogs..... this month's assignment is to post about a wine you chose to accompany food cooked on the grill. If you use wine to marinate.... by all means, mention that too -- recipes are always welcome!

If, like myself, you aren't quite sure what kind of wine best compliments grilled food -- don't be intimidated, take the opportunity to ask the personnel of your local wine shop -- in many cases he/she can make a fabulous recommendation.... they are just waiting to be asked.

Extra Credit:
If you are feeling particularly thirsty...... the extra credit assignment, in honor of Mother's Day, is LADIES CHOICE -- select a genre of wine that a lady in your life (wife, mother, daughter, girlfriend, sister) would enjoy -- try to select a label that you haven't tried before.

Cheers!

The Perfect Gift

Mother's Day is coming.... Father's Day too, but let's talk about Mother's Day shall we?

I don't know about you, but I think wine would be the perfect gift.... wine, wine, wine. But, I suppose there may be something a little bit off about a young child(ren) giving the gift of wine -- let's just say... my mother, she absolutely wouldn't approve.

So, how about a wine-inspired gift?

You may remember, a few months back I posted about a cute 'lil company I read about on-line.

Founded by a thirty-something husband-wife team, Little Barrel makes the most adorable higher-end, wine inspired accessories. Neckties, headbands and scarf belts -- all with whimsical, yet still very subtle wine patterns -- and let's not forget their fantastic tote bags & purses -- stylish and functional (the larger size can accommodate 2 bottles of wine, yet not look bulky!).

This couple is so crazy about wine, that they've even started their own blog where they talk about all the fabulous vineyards they've had the opportunity to visit and all the wines they've gotten to try. If you are looking for some really cool wine destinations, great restaurants or even ways to find tastings on a budget -- it's definitely worth checking out -- and you can follow them on Twitter!

I think mothers everywhere (this one in particular) would be thrilled to have a Little Barrel Mother's Day.... and thanks to our fabulous friends at Little Barrel, readers of The Whinery will enjoy 15% off their purchase from now 'til May 11th -- just enter WHINERY at checkout.

Now, get on over there and pick up one of those cute headbands -- and while you are there, check out the ties.... Father's Day is coming and these fun ties will keep any Dad looking really sharp!

Cheers!

Let's Review

Thought it might be a good idea to review our "rules" loose as they may be.

Each month, I post an "assignment" (sometimes I post an extra-credit one too!) suggesting a genre of wine. The idea is to get all of us trying wines that are out of our comfort zone -- expand our horizons. Then you write about it -- what you liked, what you didn't like and whether or not you'd buy it again.

We typically try to keep the wines in the $10ish neighborhood..... but splurges are okay too.

Some assignments may not be your cup of tea..... so, feel free to review something else.

It doesn't have to be a bottle -- can be a glass you had in a restaurant, or at a friend's house -- even a wine you used in a recipe (heck, include the recipe too!).

Beer/Liquor/Cocktail reviews are welcome too.

We have a few couples reviewers -- so, feel free to do a he-said/she-said review!

So c'mon everybody.... get drinking!
Cheers

May's assignment will be posted in the next few days -- so, stay tuned!

Beer Glorious Beer

Beer. I really do love beer. Beer, beer, beer. Yes, I'm very aware that this is a wine blog, but the same things we discuss when we talk about wine, are very similar to the qualities of a good beer. The two are not mutually exclusive. Beer is as complex (maybe even more so - take that oenophiles) as a good bottle of wine or a bottle of scotch. It shouldn't be looked at like it's alcohol's bastard stepson. Nor should drinkers of beer be seen as just a bunch of blue-collar shlubs. I don't wanna go all Breakfast Club, but drinkers of good beer come from all walks of life. But, then again, beer drinkers know that.

Anyway, I'm not reviewing anything today. I just wanted to stop by and tell you about some things that I'm looking forward to trying. First, Sam Adams is (or has) introducing an Imperial Series of beers to its lineup. For those who don't know, Imperials are usually referred to as "big" beers. They are usually higher in gravity and therefore have a higher alcohol content. Other terms associated with this style of beer are Double and Triple as in Double IPA or Triple Bock. According to the Sam Adams Web site:

With the Samuel Adams Imperial Series our brewers offer beer lovers intense versions of some of their favorite traditional beer styles by boosting the quantity of ingredients and testing the limits of each traditional style. With more robust and complex flavors and nearly twice the alcohol by volume of your average beer, each style in the Imperial Series is intended to be savored and appreciated like a fine wine.

Heh. In your face wine snobs - "...and appreciated like a fine wine." Enthusiasts really should give the Double Bock, Imperial Stout or Imperial White a go. Unfortunately, you readers in Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina and West Virginia will have to travel across state lines to pick these up.

250 years. Longer than the United States has been in existence. That's how long they've been brewing Guinness at St. James Gate. That means there's only...um... 8,750 years left on the original lease. Well for the first time in 20 some odd years, Guinness will offer a new, limited edition stout to commemorate the 250th anniversary of St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin. The new version of the "black stuff" will be fizzier, stronger and a single-pour version of its older, creamier sibling.

“This is more about refreshment and zing,” said Guinness master brewer Fergal Murray who created the new carbonated stout. “The stout has a different look and taste than anything our fans have ever experienced, but still retains the familiar character,” he said.

Guinness aficionados can grab the new stout starting April 24. I recommend stockpiling as the anniversary stout will only be available for six months.

Know of any new offerings or outstanding seasonals about to enter the market? Please let us know. We're always looking for something new to try. And, if you're a brewer, send your samples directly to me please...in large quantities...really large quantities.

Breathing New Life

When I began this wine blog back in May of 2007, it was really going to be just a way to help me discover new wines. I'm an admitted wine novice, but I like a nice glass of affordable wine and I'm always looking for recommendations...... so that's where we began.

Here we are, a couple of years (and a couple of pregnancies) later -- and well..... I'm looking for some new recommendations -- thought it would be a good time to breath new life into the site.

In addition to our already stellar roster, we've added two new contributors -- Two Busy & Kemp, and we are looking for one or two more.

And you can now follow us on Twitter.

Keep an eye on the site over the next couple of weeks as we look to make some exciting changes and hopefully increase our following

Cheers!

Drinking alone.... no fun!

So, a couple of months ago -- the Big Dubya got sick.... I mean really, really sick.

After spending the better part of a week in the hospital, he was sent home with some strict orders.... the harshest of which.... no alcohol for 6-8 weeks.

He told me to go ahead and indulge... he certainly did during while I abstained during all three of my pregnancies... but I've come to the conclusion -- I just don't like drinking alone.

Well, last night -- I got home after a really rough week.....dropped into the middle of a rough couple of months and well, I wanted a nice glass of wine and I'm thrilled to report that I got one!

2007 Trilogie de Fabre Montmayou Lujan De Cuyo Mendoza -- it's a red wine out of Argentina.

I can't find much on the internets about this wine... and I have no idea where I picked it up, I found it on the wine rack and it was either a gift..... or I bought it myself, in which case I know I wouldn't have spent more than $10-$12 on it.

It's a 70% Malbec, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The bottle says

"The owner of the winery, born in Bordeaux-France, crated this typical 'assemblage' where the Malbec combined with the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon gives to this very elegant wine a great complexity. To be enjoyed every day!"

I can honestly say that the thing that struck me was it's smooth quality -- it was soft and simple, yet the underlying flavor was complex and deep.

I wish I knew where I picked this one up..... I'd happily buy it again!