Hi Everyone,

Hope you’re all doing well and your weekend was great. This weeks email will be a little longer than usual and a day later (sorry) but it will include this weeks Thursday night wine tasting and next weeks (Thursday August 7th’s) wine tasting.

I also wanted to let you know that Bella Vino will be closed Tuesday, August 5 and Wednesday, August 6. Other than those 2 days we will be open regular business hours. 

WINE TASTING THURSDAY JULY 31 – A Shiraz/Syrah Comparison Tasting 

2003 Kumkani – Shiraz – South Africa – Aromas of bright ripe black summer fruit, warm earth and spicy mountain herbs. It has ripe berry, spice and vanilla flavors and a long satisfying finish. ($16.99) 

2004 Chatom Vineyards – Syrah – Calaveras County, CA - Vanilla icing on a chocolate cupcake and a perfume essence lead to sweet baked fruit, subtle spice and medium but lingering fruit on the finish with a hint of oak. Won “BEST OF CALAVERAS COUNTY RED” at the Calaveras County Fair. ($17.99) 

WINE TASTING THURSDAY AUGUST 7 – An Italian Wine Tasting 

2006 San Quirico – Vernaccia – San Gimignano, Italy - This wine offers the unmistakable spicy varietal profile of Vernaccia. Very penetrating on the nose, in the mouth the wine is crisp, dry and refreshing with a slightly bitter aftertaste and perfect acidity. One of the best white wines from Tuscany, the Vernaccia di San Gimignano pairs well with fish and white meat. ($14.99) 

2004 Giribaldi – Dolcetto D’Alba – Piedmont, Italy -  Dolcetto is an early-ripening grape, grown in the Northwest area of Piedmont. It produces wines that are soft and fruity and ready-to-drink when released. The Italians like this wine for everyday drinking because of its soft tannins, ripe fruit, and ability to match with a variety of foods. ($19.99)  

NEW WINE

Villa Pozzi - Nero D’Avola – Sicily, Italy - A Touch of cherries, hint of prunes, little bit of mint. Despite the dark and strong tendencies of this grape, it’s not overpowering. Firm tannins, voluptuous body, lovely cherry aftertaste that lingers for a while. ($13.99) 

Baudana – Chardonnay – Piedmont, Italy – This wine is pale yellow in color with fruit aromas reminiscent of pear and pineapple, and tones of yeast on the nose. The palette is rounded but the acidity creates a sensation of freshness and balance. The fruit flavors from the nose return on the finish smooth and ripe. ($18.99) 

Campo Viejo  - Tempranillo Reserve – Rioja, Spain – Deep warm ruby color, with medium body. On the nose are ripe fruits (almost strawberry), a bit of ash and a mild minerality, along with ripe fruits, sour cherry and licorice on the palate. The soft, full finish is excellently balanced, especially when paired with a good homemade pasta with meat sauce. ($13.99)   

Morgan  - Syrah – Monterey, Italy - On the nose and the palate, the wine exhibits aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry, with bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, white pepper, and hard spice notes. The density of the fruit in this wine makes for a great solo performance. ($21.99 WoM (August) $19.80)  

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

Until then – Cheers!

Paula

Hi Everyone,

The weeds in my garden are certainly happy with all this rain! But come rain or shine, please join us this Thursday for our weekly wine tasting. This week we will have 2 wines from Justin Vineyards and Winery.

2006 Justin Sauvignon Blanc – Paso Robles, CA - The aroma combines tropical characters including grapefruit, lemon rind, pineapple and orange zest. A soft layered entry, with tropical and herbal characters, balances with fresh acidity and a slightly creamy mouth feel. The finish is crisp, clean and perfect for warm days. ($17.99) 

2006 Justin the Orphan – Paso Robles, CA - Ripe aromas of black cherry, plum and fig fill the nose and combine with spice, leather, and a touch of cedar resulting from the new French and American oak. The palate begins soft, yet driven by bright red fruit and a hint of minerality. Layers of earth and a light touch of tannin structure showcase the balanced blend of Rhone and Bordeaux varieties. ($18.99) 

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

Until then – Cheers!

Paula

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all are enjoying this beautiful summertime weather. And speaking of summer – we thought we’d prepare a great summertime drink for our wine tasting on Thursday – Sangria. We’ll have a white Sangria and a red Tempranillo.

White Sangria - Lots of fruit, some fresh mint and a dry white wine. A great summertime refreshment.

2005 Protos – Ribera Duero – Tempranillo – Spain - A clean fruity nose of cherry and plum, with a touch of raspberry. Really nice fruit: plums, dark cherry and black current with earthy notes in the mouth. Very clean and driven by some quality acid that leaves your mouth fresh and ready for more. ($17.99) 

NEW WINE 

David Bruce – Pinot Noir Reserve – Russia River Valley, CA - We’ve always carried David Bruce Petit Syrah (an elegant tasting Petit Syrah) and thought it was time to carry the Pinot Noir. This is another beautiful, elegant wine with rich cherries, cranberries, rose petals, cinnamon and vanilla on the nose. The palate is rich with red cherry, plum, vanilla and toasted pecan. It has a fine tannin structure and a long finish. ($44.99)

RETURNING WINES 

McManis Pinot Noir – Ripon – CA - It’s finally back. This Pinot Noir is medium ruby in color. A layer of hazelnut, which is contributed from oak, accompanies aromas of ripe cherries and plums. Rich fruit flavors with hints of milk chocolate linger in the elegant finish. ($13.99)  

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

Until then – Cheers!

Paula

Hi Everyone,

I hope you had a great long holiday weekend. It’s that time of the week again for the latest update to our wine tasting announcement. This Thursday we’re fortunate to have Dan Brennan from Wineberries here to taste us on some of his very delicious wines. We’ll be all over the map for this wine tasting: Napa, Portugal and New Zealand.

2006 Beaucanon Estate – Chardonnay – Napa – Pale gold in color with an intense aroma of sweet vanilla and tropical aromas of ripe pineapple, tangerine and coconut. The palate is full-bodied and rich but the lemon acidity keeps things lively. Flavors of citrus and subtle oak dominate. With time in the bottle or the decanter, the depth and layers of flavors will shine through. A joy to drink on its own, this wine will also pair beautifull with shellfish, like scallops, fresh crab in lemon butter or Lobster Thermidor. For Contrast pairings, try it with mild Thai dishes, jerk chicken and roast pork. ($19.99)

New to the Shop - 2007 Quinta da Alorna Rose – Touriga Nacional – Portugal - Aromas of red berries with slight scent of fragrant flowers. Fresh in the mouth with full fruit and a good structure. A vibrant, elegant Rose. One of Dan’s favorite Rose’s!! ($13.99) 

2006 Kiwi Red – Pinot Noir – New Zealand - 100% hand-harvested Pinot Noir featuring a charming, fruit-forward personality. Bursting with cherries and plums, this round and lush red will be welcome at any gathering. Great Value Wine. ($13.99)

RETURNING WINES 

Henry Varney Brut Blanc de Blanc – Sparkling Wine – Loire Valley, France - A pale yellow color and steady stream of fine bubbles. The nose has aromas of crisp green apple and melon. On the palate you will find flavors of citrus and apple. The crisp acidity and sparkle create a light weight wine that goes well with seafood, creamy cheeses and pastries. ($15.99)  

2006 R Stuart Big Fire – Pinot Noir – Oregon -  This wine is like a ripe plum – juicy, fruity, and very very drinkable. ($22.99)   

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

Until then – Cheers!

Paula  

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all made it through the recent rain storms and are looking forward to a great, long holiday weekend! We will be closed on Friday the 4th but look forward to seeing you any other day of the week. We’ll celebrate Independence Day with 2 local wines and a California Zinfandel – did you know the the Zinfandel grape is the most planted variety in California, and is the most consumed wine in the United States.

Here’s what we’ll be tasting:

Jewell Towne Vineyards – Aurore - Medium-bodied dry white similar to a Pinot Grigio. Hints of citrus and tropical fruits. ($12.99)

Jewell Towne Vineyards – Landot Noir - A spicy, but mellow, red wine with cranberry, black raspberry and licorice aromas. ($16.99)

NEW WINE and WINE OF THE MONTH  

Quivira Zinfandel – Dry Creek Valley- Dark cherry and bramble fruit lead to a medium-full mouth feel and fresh flavors of blackberries with a hint of bakers chocolate. Quivira Vineyards is a small, family owned winery located in the heart of Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. Committed to expressing the unique terroir of Dry Creek Valley, and through biodynamic processes, they craft wines from grapes grown on the estate’s vineyards. ($21.99 WoM $19.80)  

Our wine tasting on Thursday is from 4:30 to 7:00. So join us and stock up for your Independence Day celebrations.

Until then – Cheers!

Paula