Brew Hops & Wine Stops

Today I will be staying in Germany and travelling a little southeast to Bamberg to sample a unique type of beer called a rauchbier (r-OW-sh) or smoke beer.  This style was born in Bamberg in the 1500s.  It is created by drying and smoking green malts over an open beech wood fire, begetting a taste that can only be described as smoked meat or bacon.  Are you scrunching your nose?  To me, it is delicious! 

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier is the quintessential smoke beer brewed at the 330-year-old brewery known as Brauerei Heller-Trum.  I am resampling the Urbock. There is also a Märzen, and Weizen (wheat).  The Urbock is the stronger version and the Märzen is the classic.  I was lucky to find this treat at World of Beers in Orlando, a very nice bar with forty taps and over 500 beers on the menu.

Appearance: as you can see from the photo it pours a rich Coke color.  Even trying her hardest not to (why?), the waitress poured a perfect three finger head that slightly domed over the lip of the glass (sorry I snapped the picture a little after it dissipated).

Smell: smoked ham and char, heaven.  There is no need to have a complex aroma because the smokiness is not cloying but pleasant and intoxicating.

Taste: thick, chewy, smoky wood and underlying semisweet malts.  Again, it is not a gagging smokiness but layered and savory.

This beer certainly is an acquired taste but surely enjoyable.  Pair it with some smoked gouda or applewood smoked cheddar or some traditional German Kasseler (smoked salt-cured pork chops).  Aecht Schlenkerla can be special ordered at any ABC but you will need to buy a full case of twelve, 16 ounce bottles, so get a bunch of bacon loving friends to pitch in.  If you want a more subdued smokiness to ease into the style, try Rogue’s Smoke Ale, Fort Collins Brewery “Z-Lager”, Samuel Adams “Bon Fire Rauchbier”, or Samuel Adams “Cinder Bock.”   All are available at select ABCs.  

Beer Blogger Adam Shugan is the store manager of our Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala store.

Earlier this month, I attended the 2012 Flamenco Festival and witnessed a trio of amazing performances from three supremely talented Spanish Bailaoras: Carmen Cortés, Rafaela Carrasco and Olga Pericet.  This has become an annual rite for me; an event I eagerly circle on my calendar.  Ever since the time I first experienced the Flamenco art form in its native Andalucía back in 2005, I’ll jump at any chance to revisit the real article. You see, like a Spanish schoolboy smitten by the fluttering eyes of a lovely Senorita, I was captivated at first glance.

 

I happened to be in Jerez, in the heart of sherry country, visiting many of the best bodegas and sampling their wonderful wines: Royal Corregidor Old Oloroso at Sandeman’s, Apóstoles Palo Cortado at González Byass, East India Solera at Lustau.  It was April and the scent of lemon trees along the Avenida tantalized my senses.  I recall an azure-blue afternoon, barrel sampling La Ina Fino at Castillo de Macharnudo, eating real Paella with Beltran Domecq and then walking through the vineyard, the crunch-crunch of the white Albariza soil crackling under my shoes.

 

It was my first taste of real tapas too: Jamón Ibérico, Croquettas, Marcona Almonds, Manchego, Gambas a la Plancha.  After an elegant dinner hosted by Javier Medina at Williams & Humbert, I took in my first Flamenco performance.  It inspired a hundred feelings that evening.  What passion!  Spanish artists refer to this as duende.  Loosely translated, it means “having soul”. 

It is said that Flamenco is gypsy in its origins but also reflects Moorish, Jewish and Castilian influences.  Its three cornerstones are the Cante (song), the Toque (guitar) and the Baile (dance).  The Cante presents its hauntingly anguished wail, the Toque its poignant, picado riffs and the Baile is flourishing and expressive.  Add to these the syncopated clapping (palmas), finger snaps (pintos) and foot tapping and you have a fiesta of duende, its patina of emotions laid bare.  I was hooked.  Olé!!!

I fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and a memorable evening at the Arsht Center in Miami.  The event was billed as Estrellas del Flamenco: Dancing to Lorca, a tribute to the renowned Spanish poet.  Some of the music selections were adapted from Federico García Lorca’s Canciones Populares.  The performances were simply brilliant.  They left me wanting more.

Post-performance, I retreated back to the house.  Although it was late, I couldn’t resist a chilled glass of La Gitana Manzanilla, a few slices of Jamón Serrano and a little Paco de Lucía on my iPod. 

Jim Greeley, Wine Supervisor, SW Florida

BTW, here’s a link to some pictures from the performance from worldredeye.com:

http://worldredeye.com/2012/03/flamenco-festival/

And just in case you wanted to get an idea of how phenomenal Olga Pericet is, here’s a YouTube video featuring her at Casa Patas (a great cabaret venue) last year in Madrid:

UPDATE: Oops. It appears the original link didn't load to the correct video. Try this one:

http://t.co/34qbInkY

Each April in Bordeaux people in the trade get to barrel sample the new vintage from just about any estate imaginable. The event is called the UGC (Union des Grandes CRU) and is attended by people from all over the globe. A long way for many to travel, so the Bordelaise began a few years back taking their show on the road to major markets around the world, including Miami.

We have asked, and they have agreed to visit Orlando next time, offering us at ABC, and therefore you, a chance to meet them AND taste the wines!!! Details are sketchy at this point, but we will most likely partner up with a hotel locally and put on our very own UGC tasting for you! WOW!!!

 The list of participants (estate owners and cellar masters) is hovering at around 18-20 right now, with a few more pending, and I can assure you there are some pretty spectacular names being poured! More details to come, as soon as we begin to finalize details, including date, location and a who's who of Bordeaux personalities!

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwineshayne

This logo is the closest thing to a "quality assurance" you can get on a German wine bottle.  V D P , or, Verband Deutscher Pradikats refers to the Association of German Pradikat Wine Estates where an elite group of top wine producers are members, numbering about 180 out of 35000 labels produced in Germany . It was founded in 1910 consisting of 13 regional associations; one for each region in the German wine classification system. Members follow a stricter set of standards than those in the German wine law.  They are allowed to use the VDP logo on their wine bottles.  This is all "fine and dandy", but in the end, it's up to your palate to make the final decision if it meets your quality assurance!

While Wine Supervisor Paul Quaglini and Fine Wine Buyer Brad Lewis are in Italy this week, guest blogger / wine consultant Daniel Eddy is in Gainesville...where the 2012 Italian Winemakers Tour just wrapped up. Check out his suggestions for what's in stock now while you wait for the new wines to arrive.

This month at our ABC store in Gainesville, we were lucky enough to host seven Italian wine makers for a special “Taste of Italy” wine tasting. From Apulia to the Piedmont and from Tuscany to the Veneto, we covered the length and breadth of Italy. Nadia Galati imports all of the wines for ABC exclusively, and we were happy to have Nadia attend and help us to translate. This style of tasting, with a specific geographic focus, is a fantastic opportunity to really get a sense of a country’s wines from the producers themselves.

From Apulia, the southern tip of Italy, or the heel of the boot, we had Gregory Perrucci of Racemi and Monili. He featured a new blend of Primitivo, Negroamaro and Malvasia Nero, called the Anarkos. This wine was a ripe fruit bomb, with hints of spice and plums, but low tannin and soft acidity. For $15, the Anarkos was a surprise hit and makes a nice addition to their fine line of classic Apulian red wines.

 From Tuscany, Nicolas Caramell featured his two La Ripa Chiantis, the lighter Mona Lisa and the fully organic reserve La Ripa Chianti Classico. Both were favorites of many of our regular guests, and the Classico, a more robust style of Chianti, surprised some of our guests with its density of flavor, almost Cabernet-like for only $25 per bottle. We also had Alberto Passeri of La Gerla, with a full array of his Montalcino-based Sangiovese wines. His classic Rosso and Brunellos were outstanding as usual, but the real hit was his Birba Toscana. This Super Tuscan, made from Brunello-sourced Sangiovese, is individually barrel fermented in small oak barriques, giving a real French polish to this quintessentially Italian wine. At $30, it’s a steal, considering Brunellos cost quite a bit more, so of course, we sold out of it that day.

 The majority of the wineries were from the Veneto, including Giuseppe Nicolis, featuring his classic Valpolicella, as well as his Ripasso and two Amarones. All are the typical Valpolicella blend of Corvina Nero, Rondinella and Molinara, and the break out hit was the Seccal Ripasso for $23 a bottle. It was like getting the flavors of the Amarones but for a third of the price. Giovanna Tantini featured her classic Bardolino, as well as her Chiaretto Rosé, but the fan favorite was the Ettore: a non-traditional blend of Corvina, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It has all the richness and complexity of a fine Bordeaux red, but at half the price, being only $26 a bottle.

 To finish out the Veneto, Lara Pradal from Collalto featured her outstanding Prosecco di Valdobbiadene and her classic Pinot Grigio. She also sampled her Rosé Spumante, with just a hint of sweetness and a nose of freshly cut roses. This was a beautifully elegant wine for $18 per bottle and was not your typical Italian sparkler. We also featured La Cappucina Soaves and their Madego Bordeaux-style red blend. Though owner, Sisto Teassari, was not able to attend, he did send his fantastic organic wines and the floral Soaves were real hits.

Last but not least from Lombardy and the Piedmont we had Eleonora Giorgi with his three incredibly popular sweet, frizzante wines: the Nadia Malvasia white, the Moscarosa rosé and the Costarosa Sangue de Giuda red. Made in the style of Moscato d’Asti, this one has less alcohol and that hint of natural bubble. The aromas and flavors vary depending on the color, but all are fragrant and soft, with very low acidity, so they are ideal for beginners and paired perfectly with the desserts brought by one of our guests, Dream Day Cakes. From the Piedmont, we featured Ca d’Gal’s Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti produced by Alessandro Boido, which are perennial favorites.

 If you have never been to this style of ABC tasting and there is one near you, attend it! I had more regulars report to me how much more they enjoyed this geographically specific format of tasting over our regular tasting format. Not just because our guests could leave with some signed bottles, though that was a bonus. What made it so special was the chance to confer with the wine makers and owners themselves, to hear their stories and get a sense of their wineries’ histories. Though we featured fewer wines than at our usual tastings, these were some special, pricier wines, and everyone I talked to felt that it was well worth the $10 admission. Guests discovered new wines and bought some, which made our Italian guests very happy, and they will no doubt be back for another wine maker’s tour next year. Check your calendar of events on ABC’s website, or talk to your local wine consultant, to make sure you don’t miss our next wine maker’s tour.

Daniel Eddy

Fine Wine Consultant for ABC in Gainesville, Florida

Wine Pairing Examiner for Examiner.com

http://www.examiner.com/wine-pairing-in-gainesville/daniel-eddy

In the words of Green Day, "Welcome to Paradise."  Spring beers are in full bloom, the boys of summer are all over our state playing spring training games and March Madness is in full swing.  This is the time of year that we beer and sports geeks live for.  I settled down last Thursday early afternoon to watch the opening day of the NCAA tournament while drinking an amazing beer.

 Some of our stores were lucky enough to get an allocation of Bell's Hopslam. This is a very hard to find double IPA from our good friends in Michigan.  I was happy as a kid in a candy store when I saw a few cases roll into our Northlake Blvd store in Palm Beach Gardens.  At $17.99 a six pack, the price may seem a little high, but you can never pay too much when you buy quality and that is exactly what is packed into every bottle (on a side note, many guests have told me that our price is $4 less than the other stores are charging for this).  As many beer drinkers can see, our shelves are becoming full of high alcohol IPAs, but please do not mistake this beer as just another overly hopped, overpriced IPA. It is truly impressive.

This beer jumps out at you as soon as you open the bottle with an aroma of citrus and flowers that smack you in the face.  After carefully pouring a pint of this beer I slowly enjoyed my first sip and had only one impression: white grapefruit juice. I have never had an IPA with this much citrus going on in the glass.  Every sip became more and more intriguing with different flavors emerging as the beer opened up in the glass, and before I knew it, the glass was empty.

Luckily, my bracket was still intact and I have five more bottles of this in the fridge to savor.  If you happen to see this beer in one of our stores, jump on it.  I can promise you it will not be around for long.

Keep your glasses half full,

Evan

Recently I was asked to do a TV spot here on one of our Tampa Bay stations, along with our friends from The Melting Pot. The subject was ‘Pairing Wine and Chocolate’.

            What a fascinating topic! We often talk about pairing wine and fish, or wine and meat, and all the old shibboleths (“white with fish, red with meat” or its opposite “drink whatever you want with whatever you’re serving”) are trotted out once again for our consideration.

            But wine and chocolate pairings are generally something that only true devotees of these twin delights think about. I say twin delights because like wine, chocolate is made from fruit. To be precise, chocolate is made from cocoa nibs, which are the seeds of the fruit of the cocoa tree. And like wine, chocolate can be bitter, sweet, acidic, or fruity.

            So how should we pair wine and chocolate?

            Our initial reaction might be to pair chocolate with a sweet wine, but this doesn’t always work as well as you would expect. The general idea is to match lighter, more elegant chocolate with lighter-bodied wine, and stronger, darker chocolate with more full-bodied wine.

            A lighter, sweeter wine will pair well with white chocolate. I would suggest a Moscato d’Asti (try Ca d’Gal Moscato d’Asti at around $17) which will enhance its elegant creaminess.

            With milk chocolate you can go either way. If you like red wine, go with Pinot Noir (Maysara Jamsheed Pinot Noir at $25 is a personal favorite) or a lighter Merlot. Ruby Port will also make a natural pairing. If you prefer white wine go with Riesling, Muscat, or a white dessert wine. By the way, dry sparkling wine or champagne – surprisingly -  doesn’t pair well with chocolate (except perhaps chocolate covered strawberries, but then the dominant flavor would be in the strawberry.)

            Dark semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate often demands a more robust and full-flavored wine. A Zinfandel (Paradise Sound Old Vines Zinfandel, $11) will be a natural choice. Also, to many people’s surprise, Cabernet Sauvignon – that hearty staple that pairs so well with steak – is also a perfect match for dark chocolate. Try this experiment – take a sip of Cabernet Sauvignon. Notice all those tannins, that dryness in your mouth that seems as if you’ve been sucking on a teabag? Now - have a bite of dark chocolate and then re-taste the Cabernet. You should notice quite a difference. The cocoa butter mellows out the tannins in the wine and all you get is a mouthful of beautiful, well-structured fruit that in turn makes the chocolate taste better too.

            I should add that for non-wine drinkers, Armagnac and Cognac also makes an excellent match for your dark chocolate. And for those of you that like the best of both worlds there’s always Tawny or LBV Port. Port is a fortified wine that doesn’t really pair with most desserts. (Much better to drink your Port with some Stilton or other blue cheese.) But Port with dark chocolate is the one sublime exception. And it’s the perfect way to conclude an excellent meal!

            Wine + Chocolate = the components of a perfect equation.

Bill Stobbs, Regional ABC Wine Supervisor for Tampa Bay

(Follow me on Twitter @abcwinebills)

One of the best finds from last year’s Vinexpo in Bordeaux were the wines from domain Bunan in Bandol.

 Bandol is a coastal town on the Mediterranean who’s given its name to Provence’s most prestigious appellation for red and rosé wines based on the noble Mourvèdre grape.

 Domain Bunan is a small, three generations family owned and operated wine estate; the 40 acres of vineyards are situated on steep, terraced slopes facing the Mediterranean.

The domain has been in conversion to organic farming practices since 2008.

 The 2010 Bunan Bandol Rosé and the 2006 Bunan Bandol Red are an incredible bargain offered at $18.99.

 The 2010 Bunan Rosé “Moulin des Costes”, a blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault, exhibits a salmon-pink color with red raspberry hues and aromas and flavors of red berries and flowers, peach and pomegranate followed by delicate spice and freshness on the long finish. Pair with light apetaizers, spicy dishes, seafood dishes, grilled fish and grilled white meats.

 The 2006 Bunan Bandol Red “Moulin des Costes”, a blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault, exhibits a saturated ruby color and aromas of red and black berries with touch of toasty oak; full-bodied, with fine-grain tannins and flavors of blackcurrant, blackberries, spices and leather. Decant and serve at 70ºF.

This is my favorite red to pair with gamy meats like venison, pairs well with lamb and another favorite, Beef and Mediterranean olives stew; try it with chocolate-based desserts as well.

Atanas Nechkov, Central Florida Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwineatanas

We (ABC) were part of a big charity tasting this past Friday, Tom Coughlin’s JFund Charity for Children's Cancer. This is an event which is put on by one of the large, national wine wholesalers and is by far the most prestigious wine event of the year in North Florida. In the past we have attended as guests of the event, in that we are also one of the contributors to the tasting. The past couple of years we have also sampled a table of wines that are part of our Direct To You program.

This year I chose some wines that I really enjoy, including a Argentinian Merlot from Cicchitti, Block 506 Pinot Noir from the Russian River, the Messenger Cab from Oakville and a Syrah/Carignan blend from Hegarty in the South of France. Now, to those of us that work for ABC and to our guests that regularly shop with us, these are very good wines. To the guests of the JFund who haven’t heard of these wines they were a great surprise.

   One of the sayings I use when I am introducing a DTY (Direct To You) wine to an ABC guest for the first time is: You don’t drink the label!! Then I show them a wine that isn’t a national brand (i.e Silver Oak, Cakebread, Kendall-Jackson or Sterling) and point out that you should judge a wine by what is in the bottle, not by what the label reads. That this is a good idea was demonstrated Friday night at the JFund event as guest after guest tried the obscure wines we were pouring, then came back for another sample and to let us know how wonderful our wines were. Unknown wines, yes…great wines, absolutely! Next time you’re looking for something really good, track down an ABC Wine Consultant and ask him/her for a quality DTY Wine.

Until they come up with a great Cabernet flavored label, buy wines that focus on what pours out of the bottle, not what you're holding onto as you pour.

Ken Amendola, Wine Supervisor, North Florida

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinekena

The arrival of Spring conjures up different thoughts from different people depending on your personal perspective. In South Florida I associate the coming of Spring with snow birds heading back north, college kids enjoying the ritual of spring break, and the start of months of hot, sticky weather.

As a lover of Italian wine, springtime also signals the opportunity to attend one of the worlds most important exhibitions of wine and spirits; Vinitaly. While early Spring is not the best time to visit Northern Italy as a tourist, [it can be cold and rainy], for wine professionals there is no better place to be. Four thousand exhibitors from sixty countries will be showcasing their best wines for the world to judge and perhaps buy. From Sunday, March 25th to Wednesday March 28th, I will be attending tastings, visiting producers we already do business with and searching for new, exciting wines to bring back to our stores.

Stay tuned as I will be making my first attempt at Tweeting from overseas. My blog goddess assures me there is nothing to it as long as you keep your phone charged. Follow me from Vinitaly @abcwinepaulq

A few of the great Italian producers I plan on visiting next week at Vinitaly. Starting from the left, Alberto Passeri of La Gerla, Lara Pradal of Collalto, me in the background, Gregory Perrucci of Racemi, Giovanna Tantini of Giovanna Tantini winery, Alessandro Boido of Ca d'Gal, Gregory's daughter huging our favorite importer, Nadia Galati, Antonio Giorgi of Giorgi winery and Nicolas Caramelli of La Ripa.

Paul Quaglini

With just a hop, skip, and a jump over the border  I am in Deutschland für ein Bier.  Today I will be sampling Hansa (German for ship), a Dortmunder or export lager.  Like Champagne or Bourbon, Dortmunders come from Dortmund, Germany.  It is a classic lager style with bready malts and light bitterness similar to a Pilsner.   This beer adheres to the 1516 Rheinheitsgebot German Purity Law stating beer can only be made with the three essential ingredients water, barley, and hops then later revised to include yeast.

Appearance:  the sixteen-ounce bottle boasts a simple white label with a picture of an old ship and Hansa in big bold letters.  I am serving it cold in my Samuel Smith tumbler.  It pours a fulgent crystal clear golden color with a small white head.

Smell:  dried grass, lemon zest, and sweet corn.  The corn cannot be from an adjunct but it must be the yeast strain or possible malt used.  It is not a bad smell, just unusual for the type of beer.

Taste: light cereal grains, and a clean Saaz hop like quality.  This is a crisp, sessionable Dortmunder that is a perfect example of the style.

For you six-pack American lager drinkers, this is a great foreign substitute and they come in sixteen ounce bottles!  Hansa can be found at every ABC, but if you are lucky enough to be in the Ocala area, my store has the very first Dortmunder: D.A.B. (Dortmunder Actien Brauerei).  Another you may see at your local ABC is Ayinger “Jahrhundert Bier.”

Beer blogger Adam Shugan is the store manager at our Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala store

Last Thursday, Nadia Galati of Alberello Imports arrived at our East Trail Naples location with eight Italian winemakers in tow as part of her annual barnstorming tour of select ABCFWS venues throughout Florida.  The 2012 incarnation of the ‘There’s Not Enough Time to Drink Bad Wine’ event was enthusiastically received by the nearly 100 guests who attended.

We were very pleased to have Alessandro Boido of Ca d’Gal from Asti, Alberto Passeri of La Gerla in Montalcino, Lara Pradal of Collalto from Susegana, Giovanna Tantini from Bardolino, Sara Perrucci of Academi Dei Racemi in Apulia, Antonio Giorgi from Oltrepo Pavese, Guisepe Nicolis from Valpolicella and Nicolas Caramelli of Fattoria La Ripa in Tuscany.  All of the wines sampled were exceptional and the perspectives provided by the winemakers priceless.

This is the second time in recent years that I’ve been fortunate to have these wonderful people at a wine event in my area.  We did a similar affair in North Naples back in 2010, which was also an unequivocal success.  After the tasting concluded last week it was off to my favorite Spanish restaurant, IM Tapas Resto Bar, to share a few small plates and sip a little wine with our Italian visitors.

Chefs Isabel Pozo Polo and Mary Shipman delivered a procession of incredibly delicious tapas for us to enjoy: Warm Sauté of Olives and Marcona Almonds, Boquerónes, Jamon Iberico, Piquillos Bacalao, Gambas with Pimenton and Roasted Garlic, Morcilla, Colorado Lamb with Romesco, Langostinos a la Plancha, Tenderloin with Cabrales, and a wonderful artisanal Spanish Cheese board to finish the meal off.  It was the perfect end a phenomenal evening!

Jim Greeley, Wine Supervisor, SW Florida

Follow me on Twitter @AbcWineJimG

If you have not already heard, Mr. Parker has finalized, a few months early, his scores for the 2009 Bordeaux. As expected, he gives this vintage very, very high marks, with nearly twenty wines scoring the magic 100 points!

Needless to say, my phone is ringing at all hours, mostly for the same dozen or so wines that have his highest score. Sadly, most have sold out at this point, but that should not stop anyone from looking again at this vintage.

Now the wait to see how the 2010 vintage does: probably about this time next year, when the critics final out the vintage. There is lots of chatter in Bordeaux circles even now that as good as 2009 turned out, 2010 may prove to be a more firm, structured for the long haul vintage than either 2009 or even 2005……2000 maybe? Time will tell, if you are the patient type!

You can order 2009 Bordeaux futures on our website: www.abcfws.com -- click on the "shop online" link (top right on the home page), then on "Featured Promotions."

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwineshayne

 German Riesling is always great to drink on its own,  any time of the day, but with certain foods, it's a match "made in heaven."  One example would be spicy Asian food, which has gained enormous popularity in recent years.  Choosing the right wine just takes a little common sense. 

High alcohol and spice fight!  Together, they burn, so it makes sense to choose wine low in alcohol for spicy food.  Sweet helps put out the fire, so, small amounts of residual sugar help calm the heat. Riesling hits both those points.

My selection today is the 2008 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken.

Marie Griffin, North/West Wine Supervisor

follow me on Twitter @abcwinemarieg

One of my favorite of all grape varietals produced in Washington State is Merlot. Yes, Merlot! The grape that was put down in the movie Sideways is still a wonderful glass of wine when made properly.

Winemakers Bill Owen and Rob Sullivan from O.S. Winery (Owen Sullivan) have released a wine called "The Tusk," named in honor of the Elephant Mountain Vineyard where the grapes (100% Merlot) are harvested in Yakima Valley, Washington. The 2009 The Tusk Merlot was awarded 92 points by Wine Advocate Magazine. It retails at the time of this writing for $48.99--in my opinion, a bargain (it compares more than favorably to pricier California Merlots).

I would say after sampling this wine, that in the fictious book "How To Make The Perfect Merlot For Dummies" this wine should be the role model for all Merlot producers. The wine exhibits amazing aromatics of red and black fruits and graphite and on the palate it is exactly what a "textbook" new world Merlot should taste like. Spicy cherry and plum fruits with a dash of sandalwood flavors and a very persistent lengthy finish. In plain English, it is delicious and way too easy to drink. Taste what Washington State does best. The 2009 Owen Sullivan The Tusk Merlot is an elephant you will never forget!

Guest blogger Larry Baker is the wine consultant at our Pembroke Pines store. Just ask for "the wine guy."

It's technically not spring yet, of course, but it ought to be, just so we can get some in before summer hits. To that end, we grabbed some reviews from one of our beer guys (Stephen Schmitt, at the Gandy Blvd, Tampa store) of some beers that seem just right for this fantastic weather we've been having lately.

Cisco Whale Tail- Pours orange with a huge fluffy white head. The aroma is full of spice and pine with hints of sweet bread. The taste is equal parts tangerine, pine, and spice with a sweet grain finish and lingering pine resin and citrus. This is very refreshing with a nice complexity. 88/100

  Cisco Grey Lady- Smells of light spice and a hint of floral sweetness. The spice is apparent up front with some citrus and hints of hibiscus. There is a bit of cinnamon in the finish. Overall, this is a light and refreshing brew with spice to keep things interesting. This beer would be ideal if wither you wanted something light yet festive four our Florida winters or something a bit more complex for a beachside sunset. 86/100

Roscoe's Hop House Pale Ale: Pours amber with a light head. Citrus, lemon zest, and pine up front. This has a great citrusy nose. Pine resin, citrus, and some sweet tangerine are the start of the show. This is a great beer to pair with food. 87/100

Later this month, ABC Fine Wine and Spirits will once again be hosting the very popular Einstein On Wine event at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa. One of the largest events that we participate in, the gala evening draws about 2500 people and was lauded as the Best Wine Tasting Event by Tampa Bay Magazine in 2010.

   All three floors of the museum will be open to guests as well as an outdoor area for dancing. There will be about fifty tables of fine wine to sample, as well as some spirits, beer, cigars, and an amazing selection of food from some of Tampa Bay’s finest restaurants.

  This year marks the 17^th annual celebration and will be held on Saturday, March 24th with VIP entrance starting at 6 p.m.

Tickets:           $60 for MOSI members in advance

                        $70 for non-members in advance

                        $80 if purchased the week of the event

                        $125 for VIP tickets (including valet service and early access)

Times of Event     6 p.m. VIP admission

                           7 p.m. General admission

                          10 p.m. Tasting finishes

          All proceeds go to MOSI and the wonderful work it does in the community. For further information contact mosi.org or call (813) 987-6000.

Bill Stobbs, ABC Wine Supervisor for Tampa Bay

 Follow me on Twitter @abcwinebills

Picpoul de Pinet from Domain Petit Roubier is one of my favorite new finds from last summer.

Domain Petit Roubier is family owned by Floriane and Olivier Azansince 1981 and organically farmed since 1985. The winery is located in the small town of Pinet (population 1,300), which would have been totally unknown to the wine world if it wasn’t for the great white wine produced there from the Picpoul grape.

Olivier Azan is a firm believer in organic farming; his Picpoul vineyards have been free of chemicals and synthetic fertilizers for over 26 years. These happy vines are planted on a high plateau overlooking the Mediterranean; happy vines = good wine.

The Picpoul de Pinet from Dom. Petit Roubier is a pure, honest, well-crafted and exciting wine that gives great pleasure consumed as aperitif and will enhance any seafood dish, in particular raw oysters! In fact, this area is also famous for some of France’s best oysters. The 2010 Picpoul from Petit Roubier exhibits aromas and flavors of white flowers, ripe citrus, and sweet apple, the finish is clean, refreshing and long lasting. This great wine is an incredible bargain offered at $10.99.

Atanas Nechkov, Central Florida Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwineatanas

  I’m not really sure how some of these things happen. Everything will be right with the world and then for no reason, from out of left field, seemingly with no warning, we are face to face with a…wine trend!! Explaining the Pinot Noir craze of a few years ago is easy--the movie "Sideways." We tried to get our guests to try Pinot Noir for years, without much luck, but Hollywood makes one anti-Merlot, pro-Pinot movie and the world pulls up their Merlot vines to plant Pinot Noir. Now we are faced with another wine fad…Moscato. This is one that I can’t seem to explain how or exactly when it occurred. All I know is that we had to build a new warehouse just to hold all of them…well, not really, but we sure have a bunch of 'em.

 Now ask any Sauternes, Tokaji, BA or TBA aficionado about sweeter style wines and he will go on with poetic eloquence on the virtues of botrytis cinerea. Mention Moscato and watch as his nose heads north with unabashed pretentiousness. The way I see it as a retailer, is that if these legions of Moscato drinkers were not drinking Moscato, they would not be drinking wine at all. It is a good introduction to the world of wine and will almost certainly lead to an introduction to other more substantial or dare I say…respected wines.                               

 Moscato is hardly new; it is grown in most all of the major and minor wine making countries in the world. From the Moscato d’Asti and Asti Spumantes of Italy, Moscatel in Spain, Beames de Venise in France and the sweet wines of the Rutherglen region of Australia--just to name a few--this world renowned grape is deserving of much more respect than it seems to receive from the wine drinking public at large. With the hot summer months about to begin, I’m sure the sales of these sweet-to-really sweet, drink-them-cold wines will grow even more astronomically than they presently are. So to those who enjoy these wines…cheers! To those wine snobs…gulp, like me?? Deal with it, people are laughing at you each time you’re caught swirling and sniffing every beverage you’re served…from water to iced tea!

Ken Amendola, North Florida Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinekena

I have fond childhood memories of making our way to Boston to see a Red Sox game. My brother and I would insist we get to Fenway Park early to watch batting practice. Back in the early 1970s it was no problem to hang out in the front row of seats until just before the game started. Today you need a few hundred dollars just to get near those seats. Of course, the sole purpose was to try to get an autograph or a ball tossed to you by one of the players. If successful, my day was made. It wouldn't matter if the Sox won or lost {we were used to seeing them lose back then}; just that brush with one of my heroes was enough to keep me content for the day.

Last weekend at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival I had a bit of a childhood flashback. During a break in the action, I ventured over to say hello to some friends in an Italian pavilion. After tasting some of Silvio Jermann's spectacular wines I turned and nearly bumped into a gentleman standing in front of the Antinori table. Yes you guessed it...Piero Antinori himself was on the beach promoting his wines. After I introduced myself, he invited me to taste his wines, which he passionately described for me. Wow! One of the most important wine producers not just in Italy but in the world is explaining the difference between his Peppoli Chianti and Marchese Riserva.   Needless to say the rest of my day was complete.      

Paul Quaglini

Follow me on twitter @abcwinepaulq

From the humid tropics, I am now in Watou, Belgium, at the Brouwerij (brow-er-RAY) St. Bernardus NV, to sample the Quadruple style “Abt 12”.  This was given a perfect “world class” score of 100 by Beer Advocate.  Actually, the Belgian style triple was the very first craft beer I ever tasted, Unibroue’s “La Fin Du Monde.”  I had it in a little coffee shop ten years ago when I was attending the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Appearance: the cover art depicts a grinning monk holding an overflowing chalice.  Unfortunately I do not have a chalice (anyone want to donate one? :D) so I am going to serve this in my trusty Duvel tulip.  I am enjoying it barely chilled to get its full flavor; it has been in the refrigerator about fifteen minutes.  It pours a rich, lively cacao color.  Even a steady, tilted glass pour yields a nice healthy head.

Smell: candied raisins, roasted honey, cloves, and ripe dates.  The aroma screams complexity.  A lot of these smells are typical to good Trappist monk-brewed Quadruples but they are hard to truly recreate.

Taste: earthy, thick, chewy.  Flavors of dried apricots dusted with brown sugar, melted carob chips, and dark fruits.  The elevated alcohol presence shines through with each sip warming my belly. 

Pair this gem with soft cheeses like Brie, Bierkase, or Havarti or some game or smoked meat.  A truly wonderful brew!

Adam Shugan

beer blogger Adam Shugan is the manager of our Silver Spring Road, Ocala store.

One of my favorite tapas to enjoy whenever I’m in Spain is a simple plate of Pimientos de Padrón, fried in olive oil and sprinkled with a little coarse sea salt.  Spain is justly famous for its pimientos (peppers), including the prized red Piquillos of Navarra.  Pimientos de Padrón is a little green gem that comes from Galicia in the northwest.  It’s actually a pepper that the locals pick in its immature stage on purpose, usually at about two inches in length.

The taste of a perfectly fried Pimientos de Padrón is sublime in its simplicity: mildly piquant like a green bell frying pepper, with a much thinner, delicate, slightly caramelized flesh.  Eating a plate of Pimientos de Padrón is also a little like playing Russian Roulette.   You see, roughly eight out of ten of them are on the mild side.  However, every so often you get a really hot one.  It’s kind of like finding a hot jalapeño hiding in the pile.  The spontaneous response you’ll get out of your friends eating one alongside of you is priceless, too: mild, mild, mild, mild, HOT!!!!

Apparently, a fully mature Pimiento de Padrón is a hot pimiento, so the heat is just part of the breed.   What time of the season you enjoy them also determines how many hot “bullets” are in the bowl.  A plate of springtime Pimientos de Padrón will contain a higher percentage of mild peppers.  Summertime warmth seems to increase the percentage of hot ones.  I recently ate a plate of them in mid-July that had about a 50 percent chance of finding a hot pepper.  It didn’t matter really, because the hot pimientos are as delicious as the mild ones.   I love them with a glass of Extra Brut Cava or a dry Spanish Blanco, like an Albariño from Rias Baixas or a crisp Verdejo from Rueda.  A slightly hoppy cerveza will also work well.  

Pimientos de Padrón are becoming popular in authentic tapas bars here in the US.  You can order them on-line ready for the frying pan or buy them as seed and plant them in your garden.  Just remember to pick them young!

Jim Greeley, Wine Supervisor, SW Florida

Follow me on Twitter @AbcWineJimG