Hi Everyone,

I hope your Memorial Day long weekend was great. Beautiful weather for outdoor projects or cookouts – hope you had some Bella Vino wine to go with those burgers! Last week Brenna Cavanaugh poured wines from France. The wines were delicious and it was great to have Brenna join us. This week we’ll travel to Italy – I’m looking forward to see what tasty treats Sheila will pair with the 3 wines we’ll be pouring!

Here’s what we’ll be tasting:

Carpineto – Rosata – Italy - A blend of Canaiolo and Sangiovese (both grapes used in the production of Chianti) – An explosion of fruit in the glass! Sour cherry, ripe raspberry and red currant accented by notes of acacia blossom dance in the bouquet. Uncommon richness, really good acidity & crisp minerality make this dry rose an excellent wine for the table! ($14.99)

Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy - Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a type of wine grape as well as a type of red wine made from these same grapes in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy. This dry, ruby red wine displays flavors of red berries, cherry, violets and a hint of tobacco. ($11.99)

Tuttobene Toscana Rosso, Italy - 50% Merlot, 30% Canaiolo, 20% Sangiovese – Tuttobene is a very pleasant wine with great structure and balance. The nose and palate display ripe fruit, red berries and subtle herbal notes. It is medium to full-bodied with remarkable tannins, yet is also silky with a smooth acidity and a rich, fruity finish. Serve with light dishes, pasta and pizza. ($15.99)

NEW WINES 

Susana Balbo Torrontes Crios White – Argentina – 90 Points Robert Parker - “The 2007 Torrontes is about as good as the varietal gets. Super fragrant, smelling of a spring flower garden, honey, and exotic spices, from the nose one expects the wine to be sweet. On the palate, however, it is dry with a creamy texture, intense flavors, excellent acidity, and a lengthy finish. It is an ideal alternative for rich courses normally calling for Chardonnay. All of the Crios wines are outstanding values.” ($15.99) 

Tikal Patriota Mendoza Red – Argentina – 90 points Wine Spectator - Blend of 60% Bonarda, 40% Malbec – With an alluring nose of spice, mocha and cocoa powder, this also delivers a pure, racy palate of red plum and currant fruit, with a long, lingering finish. Drink now. Pair with assorted grilled meats, pasta in red sauce. ($26.99) 

LaBelle Winery – New Hampshire – 3 Wonderful Local Wines – Seyval Blanc – Delicate and beautiful with floral and fruity notes. Perfect wine to drink on a warm summer night. ($11.99) Cranberry Wine –  Refreshing balance of light sweetness and tart cranberry. (11.99) Red Raspberry Wine – Medium-bodied with aromas of fresh raspberries. Tastes as good as it smells! Excellent with chocolate, fresh fruit and cheese. ($12.99)

RETURNING WINES 

Merriam Merlot Russian River – California - A seductive Merlot with abundant raspberry and cherry fruit in the bouquet and continuing onto the palate. Upon tasting, flavors of ripe cherry and plum are enhanced by hints of eucalyptus and spice. The wine’s beautiful mouthfeel gives way to a long fruit finish with lingering cedar and tobacco. ($28.99)

Essensia Quady Orange Muscat – Sweet Desert Wine – California - 100% Orange Muscat with an aroma reminiscent of Orange Blossom and Apricot, and a lingering refreshing aftertaste, Essensia is used as a dessert accompaniment or a dessert in itself. The Orange Muscat grape variety is little known. It was once grown in France and there are some small plantings in Italy and Australia. The wine is lightly fortified to about 15% alcohol and aged for 3 months in French Oak. The wine tastes balanced, like the taste of fresh fruit.

Here are some Essensia ideas. Essensia’s vibrant flavor makes it an excellent accompaniment to desserts, particularly chocolate and those containing almonds, peaches, apples, or apricots. It is also used for dipping biscotti, for moistening cakes, or for adding to trifles. With sparkling water, it makes a refreshing spritzer; with sparkling wine it makes Essensia Royale. ($18.99)

Sorry I’ve been particularly long winded this email! 

Our wine tasting on Thursday is from 4:30 to 7:00. 

Until then – Cheers!

Paula 

Hi Everyone,

I hope your weekend was great. It’s almost Thursday and time again for our weekly wine tasting. Brenna Cavanaugh from Perfecta Wine will be pouring 3 delicious French wines.

Here’s what we’ll be tasting:

(Both or the Les Tours wines have been certified as environmentally friendly by the French Veritas International Bureau for its conservation and sustainable winemaking practices.) 

Les Tours Chardonnay, France - This is a bright crisp estate bottled wine that has tropical fruit aromas, with a  mouth feel that is round and creamy and nicely full but with some acidity and complexity. ($12.99)

Les Tours Pinot Noir, France - Aromas of wild strawberries and rose petals. Supple and round with flavors of rhubard and black cherries. No Oak, just pure fruit flavors. ($12.99)

New to the Shop - Chateau Beauchene – Les Charmes – Cotes Du Rhone Villages - A blend of 45% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 10% Vieux Carignan – A good concentration of ripe red fruits (cherries and strawberries) with a touch of vanilla. The tannins are in harmony with the aromas and display together great balance. ($17.99)

NEW WINES 

Firesteed – Pinot Noir – Oregon - Firesteed Pinot Noir is a medium-bodied red wine with cherry and berry fruit flavors and aromas ($19.99) 

Our wine tasting on Thursday is from 4:30 to 7:00. 

Until then – Cheers!

Paula 

Just a quick email to let you know that Bella Vino will be closed Tuesday May 20. We will be taking the day for wine research! Tasting some new wines that we hope to bring into the shop. We will open Wednesday – usual business hours.

Until then – Cheers!

Paula    

Hi Everyone,

I hope your weekend was great. Thanks to all who joined us for our special wine tasting on Saturday and thank you to Patrick Dunn for sharing some special wines and lots of humor. We raised $70.00 that will be donated to Warm homes and Laurel Lomanno was our raffle winner. 

There’s an important issue I’d like to address that could have a major impact on small independent wine shops:  Governor Lynch is pushing through a bill that would increase the cost of wine to all retail wine shops. The increase would be for independent stores and grocery chains. Larger grocery chains could easily adjust to the increase – wine is a small percentage of their sales. It would not affect NH State Liquor Stores. The biggest impact would be to independent wine shops that rely on wine for the majority of their sales. If this Bill is passed it could be the end of many independent wine shops in New Hampshire. I have written to the governor and local state reps. If you have an opportunity I urge you to email or call your local rep. It could go to vote as soon as tomorrow. A listing of local reps. can be found at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ns/

Hope to see you at Thursday’s wine tasting – here is what we’ll be tasting: 

Wellington Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc – Sonoma Valley - This crisp, fresh Sauvignon Blanc offers juicy kiwi and citrus flavors. It is refreshing, beautifully balanced and excellent with food. A touch of Semillon adds complexity ($14.99)

New to the shop – She Wines – Red Wine Blend, Calaveres County - A nose of spicy red fruit, vanilla and white chocolate followed by black fruit, raisins and hints of coffee. Completed by soft lingering oak with a hint of dark fruit. ($16.99)

Our wine tasting on Thursday is from 4:30 to 7:00. 

Until then – Cheers!

Paula 

Thanks to everyone who came to our fun and festive wine tasting’s. And thank you to all who purchased raffle tickets – the proceeds will be donated to Londonderry Warm Homes. And the winner is Laurel Lomanno!

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to send along some more information about the SPECIAL SATURDAY “celebrating moms” WINE TASTING. Tomorrow from 1 to 4, Patrick Dunn will be pouring 5 of his delicious wines – 3 Domestics wines and 2 Italian wines.

White Oak – Sauvignon Blanc – Russian River Valley – 100% Stainless Steel fermented, bright forward floral essences of grapefruit and lime. Creamy tropical flavors with a hint of mineral, leading to a crisp clean, citrusy finish. ($19.99)

Robert Stemmler – Pinot Noir – Russian River Valley - Lifted aromas of pure strawberries and blueberries intermingling with mineral, sage and earth. A lush mouthfeel focusing on wild blackberries with nuances of pepper, mineral and a long fanning finish. ($34.99) 

Lange – Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley - The Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is a beautiful wine for everyday enjoyment. It is quite approachable upon release and makes a great pair for a variety of culinary fare. Truly a great value. ($22.99)

Le Tobelle – Valpolicella Ripasso – Italy - A rounded, velvet-textured wine with rich, complex aromas of berries and an impressively lengthy finish that seems to linger forever. ($18.99) 

Poggio Guidone – Brunello Di Montalcino – Italy - Deep intense ruby red with tones of smoked garnet. Perfume, slightly ethereal with great intensity, dry, warm and robust. ($42.99)  

We will also have Lindt chocolate give away’s, great gift idea’s and a basket raffle (valued at $150.00) proceeds to be donated to Warm Homes. Be sure to stop in – Saturday – 1 to 4 -it will be lots of fun!

Until then – Cheers!

Paula 

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for getting this email to all of you so late. I hope everyone is having a great week.  Mother’s day is right around the corner and to help celebrate all the wonderful women – mom’s, wife’s, daughter’s, friends, – we will be having 2 wine tasting’s this week.

Thursday’s Wine Tasting: 

Mommy’s Time Out, Pinot Grigio – Italy - Mommys time out is a well deserved break. This wine is delicate and fruit. It comes from some of the finest vineyards in Italy where the best grapes are vinified, resulting in a long-lasting finish. ($10.99)

Mia’s Playground - Old Vine Zinfandel, California - This Zin has mineral and earth tones balanced out with cappuccino, dark cherry cobbler, and cloves finishing with blackberries, vanilla, and French roast coffee notes. ($15.99)

SPECIAL SATURDAY WINE TASTING

On Saturday May 10 from 1 to 4, Patrick Dunn will be at Bella Vino pouring some of his delicious wines (more information on the wines to come).  We will also have Lindt chocolate give away’s, great gift idea’s for all moms and a basket raffle (valued at $150.00) proceeds to be donated to Warm Homes. Be sure to stop in – it will be lots of fun!!

Our wine tasting on Thursday is from 4:30 to 7:00. 

Until then – Cheers!

Paula