Sourced from South Australian fruit (Riverland, Barossa, McLarenVale), this blend of Chardonnay, Shiraz and Grenache is pure, fizzy fun. Aromas of freshly crushed berries lead the way to a lightly sweet/lightly tart palate we can only describe as “strawberry-licious.” (Think pink Moscato!)

Made in the méthode champenoise style, the wine has aromas of ripe strawberries, cranberries, rose petals and rhubarb. The palate shows white chocolate, summer berries and is complemented with a good creamy palate.-

In the tradition of R Wines, the label is, of course, meant to be provocative – but don’t let that fool you. Accoladed Australian transplant (actually, he is from New Zealand originally) Winemaker Chris Ringland doesn’t mess around when it comes to wine and this is a seriously good quaffer. But more importantly, Girl’s Night Out wouldn’t be the same without a bottle or two of Bitch Bubbly to toast my friends with. So go on and get it girls, cause when it’s gone it’ll be REAL bitch. Just a few cases are in-coming next week, along with a plethora of French Champagne to peruse, so drop me an e-mail to put your name on a few bottles…before they are gone!
There’s so much more to Australian wines than big reds and wine with a ridiculous KANGAROO on it.

Pacific Rim “White Flowers” Sparkling Riesling NV $13.99 on sale now!
Pacific Rim – the preeminent domestic Riesling producer headed by maverick Randall Grahm – introduces an exciting new Sparkling Riesling. At nearly 1,000 feet of elevation and with crystalline views of Mount Adams, their Selenium Vineyard – located north of Washington State’s Yakima River – is White Flowers, at $13.99, this is knock-your-socks-off good, especially for feasts like Thanksgiving or Christmas. At this reasonable price, it is like a princess all dressed up to dance: a fine storm of bubbles, deceivingly dry, bright apple-pear, lime-citrus flavors and, oh yes, white flowers on the nose. On the mid-palate and finish, there is crisp acidity and minerality.It’s hard to find any real competition for White Flowers.

It tastes like sweet and sour green apple Jolly Ranchers, without the creamy toastiness of Champagne or the earthiness of Cava or the complexity of great California sparkling wines. But the White Flowers Sparkling Riesling is definitely distinctive, interesting, and ultimately addictive.

Presenting beautiful floral aromatics and a clean finish, this dry sparkling wine is aged sur lie for a balanced and textured profile. White Flowers is a refreshing change from other sparkling wines. Try it this weekend at our FREE, IN-STORE EDUCATIONAL WINE TASTING this Saturday, 12/12 from 1 – 5 pm!

Come join us at the store, Church Street Wine Cellars, 2 Church Street at the top of the block, Richardson Place, Lower Level in Burlington, Vermont (in the space formerly occupied by Tempo Furniture & North Country Books). We are accessible by elevator or stairs and look forward to serving you. Check out our website at: www.churchstreetwinecellars.com

Our extended holiday hours are 12 – 6, Tuesday though Saturday through l New Years Eve.

To serve these 750-ml cork-finished celebratory beers for two, just roll them on their sides gently back and forth to reincorporate the yeast (a great source of Vitamin B) into solution. Unlike most beers today that are sterile filtered, these are only partially filtered, retaining all their quality and unique personailty of a day gone by.

ÉPHÉMÈRE (pronounced ‘eff-eh-mehr’) is an outstanding white ale brewed with apple must redolent of ripe Granny Smith apples, this unique ale pleases the palate with a delicate balance of fruit and spice notes and just a hint of sweetness. Enjoy as an aperitif, paired with an artisan cheddar cheese, stuffed turkey with all the trimmings, sweet potatoes glazed with maple syrup, pork tenderloin served with apple chutney, cranberry rings, Vidalia onion soup or with (or as) dessert.

The label depicts a beautiful nymph reminiscent of a Maxfield Parrish painting, an ephemeral spirit associated with fruits picked at the peak of ripeness during each harvest season. Éphémère apple flavor is brewed with apple must, which consists of the freshly-pressed juice from apples, and when you pop the cork, the room will fill with apples sweet scent. Winner of 3 Gold Medals from the Beverage Testing Institute since 2002, you’ll be back to try the rest of the line up that we pair as well and specifically as our wines. And for less than $6 bones…you can’t go wrong! Pick one up when you visit!

There’s no perfect wine to match every element of the meal, so don’t over-study it.

Thanksgiving is typically about quantity, not elegance; so don’t use the best, oldest, or most expensive wines in your cellar. Subtleties will be lost in the festivities.

Many “experts” say “serve American wines on this American holiday”. That’s nice, but we suggest that you also invite some complementary Old World wines for some amazing palate sensations! It’s a good idea to serve several different wines so people can mix and match them with the myriad of food flavors and textures for a wonderful cornucopia.

FOR TURKEY
Turkey goes amazingly well with both white and red wines. The best whites include refreshing, tangy, fruity whites with at least medium weight and nice aromatics, such as Viognier and Chenin Blanc. These are typically low in tannin and see little or no oak in their making. Some Sauvignon Blancs work, especially if they are low in oak and blended with other fruitier grape varietals to tone down the tartness. Stay away from overly oaked, “flabby” (low acidity) Chardonnays which might match nicely with turkey and buttery mashed potatoes, but not much else. If Chardonnay is a must, choose a “fresher” one, with higher acidity…balance is what you are looking for. You could also go for a dense, powerful white without much oak influence. like a dry Smaragd Riesling from Austria’s Wachau, a great match with their opulence and cutting minerality, as are their weightier counterparts from around the world. (Look for alcohol above 13 percent; here the ripeness translates as richer mouthfeel.)

The best reds to match with turkey include Syrahs (soft, succulent, spicy), and Zinfandels (luscious raspberry aromas, jammy flavors, rich, spicy). Young, medium-bodied reds like Beaujolais (tangy, ripe, spicy with a bit of mineral notes) and ESPECIALLY Pinot Noirs (with good fruit, suppleness, complexity, fragrance, and bright, clean finish) can complement turkey (and often ham). California Cabernets are usually too big, tannic and tart to match with turkey. The sugars in the food can make the tannins in cabs taste bitter, so be careful here. The key is to find wines that are fruity, softer, bright and less tannic. So the hands-down winner – if you’ve read a Thanksgiving wine story before, you’re already mouthing the answer – again, is Pinot Noir. Also, Beaujolais, or other wines made from the Gamay Noir grape (even served slightly chilled). With too much oak, Merlot can be overwhelming, but plusher ones can offer red fruit and pleasant tea aromas that cut through the bird’s richness. Or go the other way – look for more robust wines with age on them that highlight the savory notes in the gravy and meat. Skip aged Burgundies here; they need something more subtle. Try older Cabernet if you want to go that route, or perhaps a good aged Bordeaux, or even Brunello!

Guigal Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc France

Chardonnay Saintsbury “Carneros”

Chardonnay Au Bon Climat “Santa Barbara”

Marietta Zinfandel

Saintsbury Pinot Noir “Carneros”

Owen Roe Pinot Noir “Sharecropper’s” Willamette Valley, Oregon

O’Reilly Pinot Noir Central Coast

Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz

Beaujolais-Villages, Louis Latour “Chameroy”

FOR HAM
Ham can be salty, and side dishes (e.g., yams) are contra-salty. So you need fresh white wines (i.e., with good acidity) a hint of sweetness (ripeness, more acurately), yet dry in the finish. Best choices include California Dry Rieslings, Dry Gewurztraminer, and light/fruity German Rieslings with slate, spice, mineral and honey notes, mild sweetness, and snappy finish. Also good would be fruity Rosés (as well as Beaujolais mentioned above) with nice aromatics and dry finish, to counter the saltiness. But don’t serve Cabernets which compound saltiness (at least not with ham)!

Gunderloch Dry Gewurztraminer

Ca’ntele Rosato Apulia, Italy Rosé

Rudi Wiest “Rhein River” Riesling

Tavel Grand Cru “Domaine de Longval” (Rosé)

FOR PRIME RIB & OTHER HEARTY MEATS
Beef dishes typically match up best with big Cabernets with lotsa, lotsa, lotsa fruit, oak, and chewy tannins. But if you’re serving beef with your Thanksgiving meal, the “smorgasbord ” of accompanying side dish flavors dictates a cab with softer tannins, nice ripe fruit flavors, and some smoky and/or chocolate notes.

Avalon Cabernet Napa

Reininger “Helix Pomatia” – $21.99(killer blend of Washington Merlot, Cab & Syrah)

Hahn “Meritage” Central Coast

Castle Rock Cabernet Paso Robles

Hess Cabernet Mendocino-Lake-Napa

Clos du Val Cabernet Napa

Dead Letter Office Shiraz Padthaway, Australia
(this Aussie star is packed with flavors and ripe, soft tannins)

Silver Oak Cabernet Alexander Valley

STILL HAVING DIFFICULTY?
One wine that performs quite well with all Thanksgiving dishes is our personal favorite, Champagne (or quality sparkling wines!). It’s preferable to serve a rosé or pinot noir-based bubbly for added red-fruit character and a bit more richness and complexity. Buy extra sparkling wine and keep the festivities going all weekend. Or crack open a beer. You deserve one.

Our top picks from California include:

NV Schramsberg “Mirabelle” Brut

Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs Napa

and from France, at a reasonable price:

NV Duval-Leroy Brut

NV Bollinger “Special Cuvée” Brut

And from Italy:

Prosecco, NV “M Spago” Maschio Veneto

NV Bisol “Jeio” Rosato Veneto

Prosecco, Adriano Adami “Garbel 13″

JUST DESSERTS…
It’s difficult to find American wines that work well with all those tarts and pies and puddings, but several standouts are listed below. Also, try some of the incredible imports or a Port (especially with the post-food coma), or if you feel it is all overkill, just serve coffee.

Kiona Late Harvest Gewurztraminer (375 ml)

Bonny Doon Muscat “Vin de Glaciere”
(a remarkable complement to pecan pie or dark chocolate)

Castello di Meleto Vin Santo Tuscany, Italy (500 ml)

Here’es to wishing you and your familya joyous, happy adn safe holdiay season. If there is anything we can do to facilitate your holdiay table,don’t hesitate to ask! E-mail us at info@churchstreetwinecellars.com for last minute needs or suggestions.

For those of you who were unable to attend, the Burlington Harbor Marriott provided the perfect backdrop to showcase the 48 wines of Vias Imports, the most dynamic importer of fine wines of the Italian peninsula. The cheeses, meats and accoutrements paired beautifully with the plethora of wines and our guest speakers brought a tremendous educational component for many of our customers & friends.

Some of the highlights of the show on the high-end were the 2004 Brunelli from Argiano, La Poderina, Camigliano & Fossacolle; the two 2004 Baroli from Damilano, “Lecinquevigne” & “Cannubi” (not to mention the spectacular 1999 Riserva), the amazing whites and reds of Lucio Mastroberardino of Terredora di Paolo fame including the Taurasi Riserva “CampoRe”.

The values were even more plentiful, with a bevy of other wines from the Northwest, the Northeast, Tuscany & central Italy and the rich and hedonistic wines of the south & the islands starting at just $7.99 ( before our CSWC case discount of course ! )

With over 60 people in attendance, the evening was a huge success and we thank you again for your support and patronage. Again, for those who came to this gala event and placed their orders, the wines will be available for sale at our lowest prices of the year the third week of November as soon as our boat lands!

We look forward to hosting many other events in the future, both sit-down lecture style and walk-around, so keep tuned in and we’ll keep you posted!

In searching out new and exciting portfolios, we came across one wine portfolio in particular which is new to Vermont that we have embraced! Bourgeois Family Selections, a predominately French import house headed by Jean-Philippe Bourgeois (and our new friend, and JP’s ex-wife) Stephanie Bourgeois who are not only still business partners, but the best of friends. Jean-Philippe has impeccable credentials as the former General Manager of Eric Solomon’s European Cellars (another portfolio we actively trumpet) for six years before striking out on his own with Stephanie. In fact, their offices are adjacent in North Carolina and we are looking forward to visiting both JP & Steph, as well as Eric next time we fly down to see my parents.

They specialize in sustainable, organic and/or biodynamic winemaking, and their portfolio includes a sizeable number of female winemakers at the helm (about 35%).

Well, the wines were stunningly pure examples of their French terroir, expertly-crafted, many which have NEVER been imported to this county until just now. From Burgundy, the Loire, Provence, the Rhone and Roussillon…once tasted, we (and our even husbands) were smitten.

These treasures are due to arrive this Friday, September 18, and we will launch the portfolio with some great special pricing! Look for an offering soon on these great wines.

Interestingly enough, the wines we selected to stock at our little Burlington wine shop, Church Street Wine Cellars, happened to be made by the female hand 75% of the time! Perhaps there is a difference? Come on in and see for yourself if you can discern the female hand! Visit us at 2 Church Street, Lower Level, at the top of the block in Burlington, Vermont (in the space formerly occupied by Tempo Furniture & North Country Books). We are open Thursdays & Fridays 4 – 7 pm, Saturdays noon to 5 pm, and always by appointment.

Unibroue beers are very different from what you are used to, are available in 750 ml cork-finished bottles, and are every bit the companions to the dinner table that our small, artisanally-produced wines we represent are. Classically Belgian-styled, these wonderful (and quite flavorful) Canadian beers from just outside Montreal in Chambly are brewed using an age-old process of in-bottle refermentation. They are only partially filtered, rather than totally filtered (which is the norm in today¹s beer industry). This means Unibroue beers keep all their protein and part of the yeast, producing a genuine upscale beer. These beers are on fresh lees. The lees deposit themselves at the bottom of the bottle as result of refermentation and natural carbonation. The process is the same as with champagne; except with champagne, the yeast is removed, while with Unibroue beers the lees are left in the bottle. This method gives a very particular taste to the beer and provides a natural source of vitamin B. Every single beer is brewed in one batch and is not water-softened.

The classic way to enjoy these beers are by resting the beer on its side and gentrly rolling it back and forth with your hand to meld the yeast back in with the rest of the beer just before serving (we’ll show you what we mean in the store). Think of these as beers for the table more than simple quaffing beers and pair them as you would wine with various dishes…just ask us for some menu pairings! Pick one up and give one a try next time you are in shopping our great value wine selections.

Unibroue’s brewing methods were inspired by the great European brewing traditions and, in this respect, are one of a kind in North America. Their brewing methods are time consuming and costly. Given that the beers contain no chemical additives or preservatives, they require strict quality control. This all-natural brewing process is also why Unibroue beers are higher in alcohol content and can provide a rich flavor without the bitter aftertaste of conventional beers. Moreover, they have a longer shelf life and adapt very well to the room temperatures, unlike conventional beers. In fact, they age quite beautifully for generally 2 to 5 years!

The disadvantages: cost of course. Unibroue beers are slightly more expensive than industrially produced beers (generally $6 – $9 750 ml, and are the perfect beers for two to share…or armchair quarterbacking for that matter) in order to cover the cost of production. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages by far:

– A more refined taste

– Richer in flavor

– Thicker foam that protects the beer

– Excellent source of vitamin B

– Competitive advantage over other brewers

– Almost unlimited shelf life (flavor evolves to a port wine after ten years)

– Ecological (no chemicals)

We hope to crack one with you sometime!

We revel in bringing to our Burlington, Vermont wine cellar the world’s best in small, artisanal producers…farmers, not conglomerates, quality not inexhaustible quantities of anonymous bulk wine required for national brands. Personally, we’d rather be water-boarded with Two Buck Chuck than accept “critter” labels that give wine a bad name from being “cooked up” in an urban laboratory. Wine should be made in the vineyard, not in the test tube. Cute and fuzzy aninmal labels you will not find here…please go to your nearest gas station, supermarket, convenience store, or ZOO to find those labels. “Critter” labels are best saved for a marketing department…or cereal, for that matter. On the other hand, we will happliy bring you great values from across the world, from stingy, concentrated old vines, from varietals you may not have heard of, and multi-generational family producers at the same price (or in many cases less). Just give us that opportunity. We look forward to serving you; thank you again for your consideration of Church Street Wine Cellars!

Keep in tune with us, we have many changes planned over the next few months from introducing qualtiy Belgian-styled beers & cigars to complement our inventory, exciting off-site seminars and in-store free educational seminars to Direct Import (from the producer to you at greatly reduced prices) sales events. We hope to see you at as many as possible.

Cheers!

SUMMER Hours are Thursday & Friday, 4 – 7 PM, Saturday, Noon to 5 PM or anytime by appointment, and our highly personalized service demystifies the small, limited production wines which we choose to promote.   We have always believed that great wine doesn’t have to be expensive.  We know anyone can go out and spend top dollar for a serviceable bottle, but what excites us is finding smaller, family-owned and operated wineries and featuring unique varietals at a value.

Many wines we feature carry third-party endorsements from the wine trade press,  like Wine Spectator, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar,  Decanter, and their high-quality contemporaries, but this alone doesn’t pique our interest.  For us, the criteria for our promotions to you is – “Does this provide great value for our customers?”

This reminds us of a favorite story that Sir Winston Churchill once related to his barman,“Bring me your best Cognac, young man ” he commanded.   But when the barman returned, and thought he complied with the Prime Minister’s wishes, Sir Winston asked, “Barman, is this your best Cognac?”.  The barman quickly replied,  “Sir, this by far our most popular Cognac”.   “Excuse me”  Sir Winston quickly replied, “I asked for your BEST Cognac, not your most POPULAR!”

Point taken!