New Arrival! Roots & Branches

We are now carrying these new crackers from Asheville's own Roots & Branches - Vegan Specialties & Baked Goods.  They've been a hit at several area farmer's markets this season and now you can find them here!  They are light, crisp and the sesame seeds give a touch of nuttiness.  I think they are the perfect light snack when drinking any wine, really - and make a great partner for the Roots Organic hummus that we feature in the cooler.  Soon, we'll be adding even more locally-made wine accompaniments, so stay tuned!  $4 for 7oz.  -JG

 

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Quick Taste: New Belgium Lips of Faith - Belgian Style Blonde Ale

Many of you may not know this, but for a brief while, I worked as the Production Assistant for New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado.  I was thrilled when their beers crossed the mighty Mississippi and entered the North Carolina market a couple of years back.  As time passes, more and more of their beers are making their way to Asheville and here is one of my favorite from their Lips of Faith series:  Belgian Style Blonde Ale!

This is a strong golden ale, light in color, with moderate body and a crisp finish.  A traditional Belgian yeast strain produces banana and clove notes on the nose.  It's terribly inviting and approachable with a decidedly adult 8.5% alcohol content!  Tasting it reminds me of a creamy, smooth, Russian River chardonnay!  A great food beer!

We have a few sample bottles open today - come on down and get you a taste!

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The Phantom has arrived!

Good Winesday to you all!

We're excited to announce that the new release of the Bogle Phantom has arrived!  This is a wine that has established quite the cult following over the years and has come to be a benchmark standard for the full-bodied, old-vine stylistics of California field blends.  As in past vintages, this wine is predominately petite sirah and zinfandel, rounded out with a bit of mourvedre.  Excited to open a bottle and see what the 2007 had in store for us, this is what we tasted: Lush berry, fierce spice, black pepper, black fruit, juniper, toasty cinnamon, and nutmeg.  This is a highly-coveted wine that will only be around a short time.  Get one to enjoy with all the fall fare that's about to hit our tables and save one to drink in a few years!

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South African Vintage Guide

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South_African_Vintage_Guide_2010.pdf (163 KB)

I am crazy for South African wines for so many reasons!  Maybe its the romance of 350 years of winemaking, the world's most ancient soils, the incredibly diverse flora, fauna, sub-regions...or maybe it's the value, the friendliness and the overall quality.  I'm sure it's all of this and more.  Here's a fun vintage guide that addresses the past few years.  A fun read.

 

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Certified Organic Sake - New Arrival!

The folks at SakeOne have given us a USDA certified organic premium sake that retails for only $10!

From their website:

"Lush fruit and spice aromas layer their way to big fruit flavors packed in a complex body and long, clean finish."

Sounds kinda like a wine description, doesn't it?  And with premium sake, we assess flavor profile much in the same way we approach wine - by using our "5 Ss": sight, swirl, smell, sip and savor.  We also serve them chilled and most often in a white wine glass!

If you'd like to learn more about sake, join us Saturday evening for a tasting of 6 premium sakes complete with a presentation that walks us through quality-levels and the sake-making process.  As always, Jess is in the business of bringing us closer together by facilitating a sipping experience that is unforgettable!  And even more fun: BYOSushi!!

The cost is $15.  Please call us at the studio (828.255.5955) or send an email to jessica@winestudioasheville to reserve your spot! 

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Ique Malbec

Hey malbec lovers!  We are excited about our latest arrival to The Wine Studio - 2009 Bodega Foster "Ique Malbec" from Lujan de Cuyo, a subregion of Mendoza that is regarded as the birthplace of the movement that catapulted Argentine malbec to the international stage.

The people of Bodega Foster farm 50 acres of grapes from ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines, many of which were planted in the early 20th century!  Irrigation is by canals that were built by the Huarpe Indians a thousand years ago to divert melting snow from the Andes! 

They're also big on "gravity flow" winemaking techniques, which eliminates the need to pump the wine from each stage of the wine making process to the next.  To Bodega Foster that equals superior quality malbec and I'd say the proof is in the bottle!

They made under 7,000 cases of the 2009 Ique Malbec.  It sees no oak, and is intended to drink upon release.  The wine has some fun aromatics of violets and dark fruit, is fairly full-bodied, with soft, lush tannins.  Can you say BBQ wine? ;)  A real value at $12!

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Tensley!

So, I've loved these wines forever and I'm so happy to have the Santa Barbara Syrah in my life and on our shelves (starting tomorrow)!

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