Hi Everyone,

Today is the last day in June – hard to believe – but hopefully July will be filled with sunny, warm days. This Thursday’s wine tasting will feature some great BBQ wines. Perfect for any 4th of July gathering.

We will be closed Friday July 3rd and Saturday July 4. So be sure to drop by earlier this week or plan on joining us on Thursday. We look forward to your visit.

Thursdays Wine Tasting – Chuck and Jackie from Wineberries

“New Wine” 2006 Cambas Mantinia - Moschofilero – Mantinia, Greece - Clear, white/yellow color with greenish reflections. Flowery scent of lemon buds and rich flavor with a pronounced fruit component. Very good balance, the characteristic acidity gives freshness. Aromatic aftertaste of Orange Blossom. ($14.99)

“New Vintage” 2008 Newport Vineyards - Riesling - Newport, Rhode Island - BEST OF SHOW out of 458 entries at the Atlantic Wine Competition! Semi-dry, with floral aromas and rich melon and mineral flavors; refreshing finish. ($17.99)

Don’s Blend - Carignane, Syrah, a splash of sweet Symphony - Lodi, California - This is an atypical blend of red and white wines, with lovely fruity characteristics of Symphony added in order to please Don’s palate. An easy-drinking, everyday, great quality, red table wine. Great smokey aromas and flavors, perfect with that pulled pork sandwich or BBQ ribs. ($13.99)

“New Wine” 2001 Unum Wine Cellars – Cabernet Sauvignon – Spring Mountain California - This is a voluptuous, mouth filling Cabernet that exhibits bright fruit and a graceful approachability. ($39.99)

2005 Pezzi King – Old Vine Zinfandel – Dry Creek, California - DOUBLE GOLD Best of Class, 2008 California State Fair Wine Competition – GOLD MEDAL 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition – “There is no doubt that this wine is all about ripeness, and it shows an ample measure of fruit amidst its chocolate, caramel and slightly raisiny themes.” 88 pts. Connoisseurs’ Guide ($24.99)

New Wine

“New Wine and Customer Pick” 2005 Stickleback White - 45% Semillon, 35% Chardonnay, 20% Verdelho – South Australia - Vibrant straw in color with flashes of lime green. Masses of citrus zest on the nose with gooseberry, peach and passionfruit hints. Flavors of lemon zest and pear balanced by refreshing, crisp acid and a long, lifted finish. ($15.99)

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

Until then – Cheers!

Hi Everyone,

I hope all of your Father’s Day celebrations were great. Sunday was also the official first day of summer. Hard to believe with so many cloudy sky’s, rain and cool temperatures. But the 4th of July is quickly approaching and we’ve planed lots of fun tasting’s for any outdoor, or indoor, celebration.

Starting next week we will be adjusting our Bella Vino hours – for summer time only – in the fall we will revert to our normal hours. We will be closed on Sunday and Monday. Open Tuesday and Wednesday 2 pm to 6 pm, open Thurdsay and Friday noon to 7 pm and Saturdays 11:00 to 5:30. And as usual we will be open for all Tupelo shows.

We will also be adjusting some of our “summer series classes”. Many of you have expressed interest in a number of the classes but with vacation’s and other commitments it has been hard for you to commit. I will send out new dates soon. But please feel free to sign up for any you might want to attend.

Please join us for 4 great tasting’s before the 4th of July. Thursday’s tasting will feature 2 Chardonnay’s – 1 oaked and 1 unoaked – it will be fun to taste them side by side. I am excited to be bringing in Bonny Doon “Le Ciagar Volant” wine. For Fridays tasting we will feature great summer wines, or great summer wine mixers, for you to taste. Saturday will feature some great local wines and next Thursday you’ll taste some great bbq wines.

Thursdays Wine Tasting – Bob from RP Imports

2007 Hendry - Unoaked Chardonnay – Napa Valley, California - This is a wonderful California duplication of a fine French Chablis. Lovely notes of lemon blossoms, quince and white currants are accompanied by zesty acidity, medium body, and excellent freshness. ($21.99)

“New Wine” 2006 Hayman & Hill – Chardonnay – Russian River Valley, California - The warm days, cool, foggy nights and long growing season make Sonoma’s Russian River a great spot to grow Chardonnay. Soothing tropical fruit with subtle bursts of mineral weave through the palate. Ripe melon and butterscotch round out the rich mouth feel and finish with soft sweet acidity. ($17.99)

“Returning Wine” 2007 Hayman & Hill – Pinot Noir – Santa Lucia Highlands, California - Lifted strawberry and sweet ripe raspberry characters attack you on the nose and palate. Subtle dusty overtones with a sweet smokiness help to make this a powerful yet elegant Pinot. ($22.99)

“New Wine” 2004 Bonnie Doon – Le Cigare Volant – 38 % Grenache, 35% Syrah, 12% Mourvedre, 8% Carignane, 7% Cinsault – Central Coast, California - Vibrant, fruity and floral notes contrasted against a denser, darker core. Midweight red berry and sweet cherry flavors are given spine by gentle acidity and silky tannins. The red fruit takes a darker turn on the finish, which leaves black raspberry and succulent herbs behind. ($32.99) 

Fridays Wine Tasting – Paula and Sheila from Bella Vino!!

Sangria Clara – This White Sangria is be your perfect summer Sangria – we will mix the 2007 Chateau Valcombe Malbec Rose ($16.99 WotM $15.29) with plenty of fresh fruit, mint, cinnamon and sparkling cider. The fresh mint leaves infuse the sangria with an unforgettable zesty freshness.

“Sake” Mojito - Instead of using Rum we will be making a delicious, refreshing Mojito using Tozai “Living Jewel” Junmai Premium Japanese Sake ($10.99). Clean, smooth and tangy with the underlying sweet mint.

Jalapeno Pepper Wine Bloody Mary’s - We will be using Labelle Winery Jalapeno Pepper Wine ($9.00) to give an unusual twist to this “early morning” treat.

“New Wine” 2008 Perlage Terre di Chieti Bianco – Trebbiano – Veneto, Italy - Organic grapes from central Italy, a dry and fruity palate with with flavors of almonds and exotic fruits. ($12.99)

2004 Domaine Diochon Moulin-a-Vent – Gamay – Cru Beaujolais – Burgandy, France - Old vine Beaujolais (Gamay grape) from the Burgandy Region. The aroma is of vibrant cranberries with a floral component. Intense flavors of ripe/sour cranberries. A great summer red. ($21.99)

Saturdays Wine Tasting – Local Wines 

LaBelle Winery – Heirloom Apple Wine - Made with heirloom apples whose characteristics yield a more complex wine with floral notes of roses and tulips. ($12.99) 

Hi Everyone,

I hope June is treating you well. I think this rainy month is setting us up to really appreciate a beautiful July.

This Sunday is “Dad’s Day” – we have lots of great wine, food and gifts, perfect for an outdoor barbecue or a quiet dinner for two. Or how about signing up for one of our “Great grapes summer series’ classes.

We will be having a special wine tasting this month on Friday, June 26. We will feature great summer pool wines (even if your pool is the image from your flat screen t.v.). I’ll send along details next week.

We had a fun wine tasting with Chuck last week. He brought in some “extra’ wines for us to try. Every one who had the opportunity to try them thought they were great. So we will be adding some of them to our wine cellar soon. I am looking forward to our wine tasting with Ambra this Thursday. She will be pouring some of my favorite wines. If you haven’t tried a Chateauneuf-du-Pape or Sancerre, both French wines, you’re in for a real treat. She is also pouring a Chilean Malbec, one of my favorite Malbec’s in the shop and a new Cabernet Sauvignon that some of you had the opportunity to try the last time Ambra was here.

Thursdays Wine Tasting – Ambra from F & F Wine Imports

2007 Philippe Raimbault - Sauvignon Blanc – Sancerre, Loire, France - Among the work of Sancerre growers, Philippe Raimbault’s “Sancerre Apud Sariacum” aptly sums up the best of Sancerre in 2007 - restrained, mineral driven and elegant. Apud Sariacum refers to the fossilized stones found throughout Raimbault’s vineyard that you can virtually taste. Crisp and clean, with aromas and flavors of green apple, lime, and minerals. A graceful texture that leads to a lusciously long finish. Forget that spritz of lemon, all you need is a gulp of Raimbault’s citrus-and-mineral goodness to enliven your shellfish! .. this may be the PERFECT shellfish wine. ($28.99)

2005 Burton-Budinich Cumbres Andinas Reserve – Malbec – Cachapoal Valley, Chile - Bronze Medal – 4th Annual Wines of Chile - Aromas of tobacco and black cherries. The fruit sweetness and elegant French oak are in perfect harmony. Balanced on the palate, good tannic structure, finishing with an exquisite chocolate, dry fruit and quince after taste. ($18.99)  

2006 Domaine Roger Perrin –  76% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre, 3% Cinsault, 2% Clairette, 2% Counoise, 2% Vaccarese - Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Rhone Valley, France – 91-93 Pts. The International Wine Cellar - Earthy character with rich dark fruit, spice and chocolate scents on the nose. Medium-bodied, the palate exhibits rich lush fruit, notes of leather, anise and minerals, ripe tannins, and a long extended finish. ($38.99)  

Bella Vino Great Grapes Summer Series

Have you ever wanted to learn more about your favorite grape varietals and taste the differences within that grape family? Whether you’re beginning to learn about wine or you’ve been collecting for years, these classes will be fun and informative.

We’ve put together a summer series of 6 major grape varietals. Each class will be held at Bella Vino and will include wine education specific to that grape, food pairing and 5 different and distinct wines to taste and compare. The cost of each class is $25.  Class size is limited, so please sign up early. Email me: paula@bellavinonh.com, call me: 426-5212 or just drop in. Please look at the schedule below for grape varietals, dates and times. You will receive a 10% discount if you sign up for three or more classes. You will also receive a 10% discount on any purchased wines that we are sampling that evening and a free Bella Vino Wine glass.

We are also planning another Wine Aroma Class (back by popular demand) to be held late September as well as an additional Great Grapes Fall Series. We will send out details as the dates get closer.

1. Chardonnay – Tuesday, June 23, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm – One of the world’s most popular wines, Chardonnay is a white wine originating from Burgundy. Flavors range from clean and crisp to rich and complex, vanilla, butter and oak-aged wines. Chardonnay typically balances fruit, acidity and texture.

2.  Sauvignon Blanc – Tuesday, July 7, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm – Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine best known for its grassy, herbal flavors and is a popular choice for shellfish or as a refreshing alternative to Chardonnay. Come taste and learn about the differences between new world and old world Sauvignon Blancs.

3.  Riesling  – Tuesday, July 21, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm – Riesling is the classic white wine grape from Germany and known for their floral perfume aromas. Depending on where they’re made, they can be crisp and bone-dry, full-bodied and spicy or luscious and sweet.

4.  Pinot Noir – Tuesday, August 4, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm – Pinot Noir is the famous grape of Burgundy and more recently California and Oregon.  A light to medium-body wine, it has the reputation of being one of the most difficult to grow and make. Delicate and smooth with rich complexity, Pinot Noir is a versatile dinner companion.

5.  Merlot – Tuesday, August 18, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm – Merlot has herbal and fruity flavors similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, but also a smooth and supple character without the bite of tannins. Top producers hail from Bordeaux, (where the wine is mostly blended with Cabernet) California, Washington State, Chili and Argentina. Merlot lost its popularity, a victim of the movie “Sideways”, but has recently regained a loyal fan base.

6.  Cabernet Sauvignon – Tuesday, September 8, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm – The most successful and popular of the top-quality red-wine grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon is the basis for most of California’s superb red wines and the primary grape of most of the top vineyards in Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes produce full-bodied, fruity wines that are rich, complex and intensely flavorful.

Until then – Cheers!

Paula

Hi Everyone,

We have a wonderful line up of wines to taste this Thursday. Our typical selection includes 1 white and 3 red wines. With summer quickly approaching, (hopefully more than 1 day in a row!) I am curious to know if you would like to taste more whites than reds. I appreciate your feedback. 

I will be sending another email later this week announcing classes we will be holding throughout the summer and into the fall – they will be fun and educational.

Thursdays Wine Tasting – Chuck from Wineberries

“Returning Wine” 2005 Pezzi King - Sauvignon Blanc – North Coast, California - World Wine Championships Award: Silver Medal - Pale silvery straw color. Dried peach, delicate herb, and nectarine aromas. A round entry leads to a tangy medium body with tart lemon and white peach flavors. Finishes with a crisp, tart fruit fade. ($15.99)

 “New Wine” 2008 Budini – Malbec – Mendoza, Argentina - Very perfumed with aromas of ripe black cherries and some sweet oak. Full, fleshy, and jammy in the mouth with loads of ripe and spicy red and black fruits. Great structure with ripe, tannins and a long finish. ($15.99)  

2004 Chateau Tour de Miranbeau – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon – Bordeaux Region, France - Aromas of cassis and spice. A dense rich wine with good tannins and lots of fruit. Very nice finish. ($26.99) 

“Sheila’s Pick” 2003 Beaucanon Estate Trifecta – 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot – Napa Valley, California - 92 Pts. WE - Aromas of spicy berries and leather. The palate is bright with youthful acidity and flavors of blackberry, black cherry, cocoa and toasted coconut. ($29.99)    

Returning Wine

2007 Rocca di Montemassi – Sangiovese – Tuscany, Italy – Wild berries  and spices on the nose. Dense and persistent flavors. Perfectly balanced Sangiovese fruit. ($18.99) 

Saturdays Wine Tasting

2007 – Big Fire – Pinot Gris – McMinnville, Oregon – This wine is crisp and delicious with flavors of pears, apples and delicate blossoms. ($19.99) 

2006 Rosenblum – Petite Sirah – San Francisco Bay, California - Rich blackberry and chocolate bouquet with flavors of currant, anise, mocha, coffee and creamy orange zest. ($18.99)

Our wine tasting on Thursday is from 4:30 to 7:00 and on Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00.

Until then – Cheers!

Paula

Hi Everyone,

It’s can’t believe it’s already June. School will be out shortly, lots of graduation parties, lots of weddings and lots of time spent outdoors. We have many wines and gifts for all your June activities. 

I am always searching for new and seasonal wines for you to taste. You’ll find lots of new wines to taste this month. This Thursday Roz will be here to share some of her terrific wines.

I especially want to Thank You for all for your support throughout the last year -it’s been fun and you are the best customers (friends) that I could ask for. Thank You!

Thursdays Wine Tasting – Roz from Vinlandia

2004 Machherndl -Gruuner Veltliner – Wachau Region, Austria – Brilliant yellow hue. Dried apricot, apple peel and dried yellow flower aromas. Medium-full with good concentration, this has ripe, lush fruit and an earthy finish with tart acidity. ($24.99)

 “New Wine and WotM” 2007 Chateau Valcombe Rose – Malbec – Provence, France - Aromas of raspberries and strawberries, dry on the palate with crisp flavors of cranberries and red berries, pleasant finish. ($16.99 WotM $15.29)   

“New Wine and WotM“ 2005 Spann Vineyards – Charbono – Glen Ellen, California - Charbono has very dark color and medium-firm tannins and good acidity for aging. Long thought to be an Italian grape variety UC Davis in 1999 traced this back to an obscure grape from the Savoie region of France. This wine has a lovely nose of black currants and plums. Rich in the mouth, this has rustic texture, moderate tannins and bright acidity.  A good comparison might be “Petite Sirah without the pepper”. ($21.99 WotM $19.79) 

“New Lower Price” 2005 Nicolis Seccal- Valpoliccela – Riposso – Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara, Croatina – Veneto, Itlay - Full bodied and intense with aromas and flavors of ripe fruits and spices. ($23.99)    

Back by Popular Demand

2007 Veramonte - Sauvignon Blanc, Chile -91 Pts. WS - Zesty on the nose, with herb and floral notes, and zesty on the palate, with melon and citrus. Voted best Sauvignon Blanc and a top 100 value wine of the year by Wine and Spirits. ($14.99) 

Customer Pick

“Ricks Pick” 2007 Zarzuela Marrieta’s Well- 69% Tempranillo, 20% Touriga, 8 % Petit Sirah, 3% Souzao – Livermore Valley – California - The Souzao serves a bridge between the fruit of the Touriga Nacional and the depth of the Tempranillo. The tannins are rich and round, making this a wine that can age well for many years, but which is amazingly approachable now. ($29.99)    

Saturdays Wine Tasting

14 Hands – Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State - Classic aromas of dark stone fruits and toast. Flavors of cherries and spice are accentuated by fine, round tannins. ($14.99) 

2007 Veramonte - Sauvignon Blanc, Chile -91 Pts. WS - Zesty on the nose, with herb and floral notes, and zesty on the palate, with melon and citrus. Voted best Sauvignon Blanc and a top 100 value wine of the year by Wine and Spirits. ($14.99) 

Our wine tasting on Thursday is from 4:30 to 7:00 and on Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00.

Until then – Cheers!

Paula