Tag Archives: types

Bourbon 101

Whether we’re turning neophytes onto bourbon or introducing new finds to long-time aficionados, we at Bottles love talking about bourbon. We love talking about it, writing about it, sipping it, mixing it, discovering new distillers and re-discovering old distillers. We just flat out heart bourbon.

To spread the love to team members that are new to the store, we give them a crash course in the beloved brown spirit. A “Bourbon 101” to prime their palates for the joys ahead.

And given the sheer volume of questions we get in-store about bourbon we’re sharing our primer with you. What follows is meant to give you the basics on what it is and how it’s made. Once you’ve got that down, come in to the store or give us a call for the fun stuff: the flavor differences between styles and producers, which is sweetest, which is strongest, how best to enjoy bourbon and which makes the best Manhattan (just our opinion , of course).

Did we mention we love talking about bourbon?

Cheers!bourbon101_info-color

 

 

Rosé Wine: Color Chart with Flavors & Pairings

Rosé Wine Guide - Styles, Colors, Flavors

Have you ever had trouble deciding which rosé wine to get when shopping at a wine store?

Well, to help you out, we’ve created this handy infographic on rosé wine colors, pairings, and flavors. Looking at the color of a rosé tells you a lot about its general flavors and potential food pairings.

Most of the rosés we have on our shelves are dry, and they’re definitely not the sweet blush or white zinfandel wines you might be thinking of. Learn more about the particulars on rosé wine in our video.

The color of rosé wine ranges from a light salmon pink, all the way to a deeper ruby-pink tone. Actually made of the same grapes used in red wines, the longer a wine sits on its skins, the darker it is, and the richer and fuller it tastes.

Stop by Bottles for the best selection of rosé wines in town!

Cheers!

 

Learn About Malbec

Malbec Wine Information - regions, styles, brands

What exactly is Malbec wine? And, why should you care? Eric, one of our resident Bottles wine gurus, gives you the lowdown in our newest video. Malbec is an extremely popular type of wine in our store because you get a lot of bang for your buck. Full of antioxidants and great with roasts and grilled meat, find out why Malbec is a solid choice.

Learn about wine by subscribing to our Youtube Channel!

Cheers!

Learn about Sauvignon Blanc

White Wine Guide - Learn about Sauvignon Blanc styles

Learn about Sauvignon Blanc! In this video, Eric Taylor (Bottles wine guru) discusses flavor and aroma profiles in Sauvignon Blanc from major wine regions. Find out some of his favorite wines in the store, and get food pairing ideas from Ben Lloyd, chef at The Salted Slate in Providence (we’re neighbors!).


Curious about wine? Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

sauvignonblancvideo_2

Cheers!

 

Rosé Wine Guide!

Learn all about rosé wines! These are not the sweet blush or white zinfadel wines you might be thinking of, but dry, delicious, and great with a wide variety of foods. Watch our very own Eric Taylor’s video guide for more information on rosé styles, flavors, food pairings, and some of his favorite brands.

In this same video, Eric also visited Derek Wagner (chef and owner at Nicks on Broadway in Providence Rhode Island) to chat about rosé wine and pairing it with food.

Derek Wagner - Nicks on Broadway in Providence rosé wine pairings rosé wine guide

 

Learn About Chardonnay – Video Guide

Learn about chardonnay wines

Chardonnay is also one of the most widely planted grape varietals in the world. It is also a wine with a wide range of flavors, aromas, and styles. Eric Taylor, Bottles manager and wine expert, talks about the range of Chardonnays out there, from warm climate to cool climate Chardonnays and oaked to un-oaked Chardonnay. Watch the video below to learn more and to find out Eric’s favorites available in the store.

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Herb-Roasted Spring Chicken Recipe and 3 Wine Pairings

Roasted Chicken Wine Pairing ideas

Looking for the perfect wine to complement your chicken dinner? The wines on this list are no-brainer choices for fresh and vibrantly flavored springtime chicken dishes, such as Herb Roasted Chicken with Spring Root Veggies. Read more for details on the three wines we’ve highlighted, and for a simple and satisfying roast chicken recipe provided by Edible Rhody magazine.

TOP 9 SPRING WINES >

Chicken wine pairings

Matua Pinot Noir, 2012, Marlborough, New Zealand

New Zealand is best known for their Sauvignon Blanc, but they also grow a little bit of really delicious Pinot Noir.  Lighter in style than California Pinot Noirs, expect notes of cherry with hints of blackberry and sweet smoky vanilla.  A soft and luscious wine with enough stuffing to satisfy the most discriminating Pinot Noir lover.  A perfect match with roasted chicken, especially with crispy skin. $12.99

Chicken recipe wine pairings

William Hill Chardonnay, 2012, North Coast, California

A beautiful, well-balanced Chardonnay with lush tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and mango, but without heavy oak or vanilla flavors.  This is a very nice example of a fresher style of Chardonnay coming out of California and is great by itself, but also really nice with lighter chicken dishes. $14.99

White wine for chicken dishes

K Vintners Viognier, 2012, Columbia Valley, Washington

Viognier is best known for coming from the Rhone Valley in France and is more of a savory wine than a fruity wine.  Viognier has the rich body of Chardonnay, but without any of the oak and butter flavors that Chard can often have.  Look for cool aromas of ripe Meyer Lemon and sandalwood, with flavors of dried orange rind, honeydew melon and beeswax.  Great with chicken and complex and concentrated sauces. $24.99

Herb-Roasted Spring Chicken Recipe and wine pairing

Herb-Roasted Spring Chicken with Roots, Sweet Peas and Buttery Onion Jus

PRINT THIS RECIPE >

by Beau Vestal, chef, New Rivers, Providence

Roast chicken is perhaps my all time favorite go-to recipe: simple, satisfying and representative of the cooking at New Rivers. The quality of the ingredients is paramount, so get the best bird and vegetables you can find, and enjoy this delicious spring feast!

Chicken:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon each fresh mint, parsley, thyme leaves
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (4-pound) free-range chicken

Vegetables:
1 pound spring parsnips, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound chiogga or golden beets, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound small fingerling potatoes, washed
Extra-virgin olive oil

Buttery Onion Jus:
2 cups homemade or unsalted chicken broth
½ cup green onions, washed and chopped
2 cups shelled English peas
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
Juice of 1 lemon

In a food processor, blend butter, garlic, herbs, lemon juice and zest, ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper into thick paste. Rub liberally all over chicken, inside and out. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Truss (tie) legs with butcher’s twine. Let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350°.

Toss root vegetables in enough olive oil to coat, add salt and pepper to taste and arrange in single layer in a heavy roasting pan. Place chicken on top of vegetables. Roast for 50–60 minutes. Raise heat to 425° and roast additional 6–8 minutes to get skin golden and crisp. (Chicken should register 165° with an instant-read thermometer inserted between thigh and breast.)

Remove pan from oven and transfer bird and vegetables to large sheet tray and tent with foil to rest and keep warm. Remove excess fat from roasting pan and put over burner at medium heat. Add chicken broth and scrape up any brown bits. Reduce by half. Add green onions and peas and whisk in butter 1 tablespoon at a time. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Carve chicken and serve with roasted veggies and spring onion jus. Serves 4–6.

 

Learn about Wine: Pinot Noir

Learn about Pinot Noir WineEver want to learn more about Pinot Noir and its different variations, styles, and flavors? Or how to choose the right Pinot Noir for you? What food pairs have with this particular type of wine? Eric Taylor, the Bottles wine pro, can answer all of your questions. Watch the video below and learn about Pinot Noir from the Old and New Worlds and some of Eric’s favorite Pinot Noirs in the store.

Want to learn more wine basics? Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/bottlesprovidence

Cheers!

Kosher Wines for Passover Recommendations

kosher wine store providence



Happy Passover from the Bottles team! We are stocked with a plentiful selection of Kosher wines from all over the world, with many wines under $15 dollars. Looking for a dry Bordeaux, spicy Spanish Tempranillo, a Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon or a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc? Visit us at our Providence, Rhode Island wine store to shop our international selection of Kosher wines for your Passover Seder. And please, if you have any questions, or need help with your wine selections, staff at Bottles are here to help! www.bottlesfinewine.com


kosher passover wine store "rhode island"

 

Over at O’Dwyer’s Creek in the heart of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc country, a team of rabbinical students were given a crash course on winemaking, and entrusted with their own parcel of land to create a great Sauvignon Blanc. The wine with its cool climate varietal’s distinctive fruit flavors was so rewarding for the students and winemaker that they plan to return every year!

Senorio Aldaz Tempranillo is a classic, full-bodied red wine from Spain that pairs well with braised chicken and olives. Enjoy the intense burgundy color, violet tones, lovely open fragrance, and aromas of ripe fruit.

Chateau La Cheze is a traditional French chateau producing this impressive Bordeaux that is dry and earthy, pairing well with a leg of lamb and rosemary.

Hai Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Judean hills in Israel has a nice hints of cherry and oak to compliment roast beef and vegetables. 

These are just a few examples of the diverse offerings in our Kosher wine section. Don’t forget something on the sweeter side for the haroset!


L’Chaim!

-The Bottles Team


Spanish Wine Recommendations

We always enjoy featuring different wine regions on our in-store display, here at Bottles in Providence. Currently, we’re taking a good look at Spain, by showing some of the key regions of the country. Wines from Galicia, Rioja, and Catalonia were chosen to highlight the vast differences of styles, flavors and cultures you can find all over Spain. Let’s take a closer look at one of my favorite wines from Catalonia, Mercat Brut Nature.


The Mercat Brut Nature is a wonderful example of Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine, and comes from the Northeastern corner of Spain. This Cava is made using traditional methods by El Xamfra, a top producer of Cava in Catalonia. A great quality sparkling wine for a great price! 91 Points, The Wine Advocate.

In the Penedes region of Catalonia, the winery ages the Brut Nature twice as long as the laws of Cava insist. They make this wine with almost ‘zero dosage’, meaning that very little sugar is used for the secondary fermentation. Only a mere 1/2 gram of sugar per liter is added for the natural bubbles to occur, making this wine one of the dryest bubblies on the market. Aging also makes this Cava taste mature. The Brut Nature has beautiful fresh fruit flavors, an elegant mid palate, and a super-long, mineral laden finish. 


Aside from the three regions we are highlighting, we are also devoting a whole section to Garnacha, Spain’s most widely planted grape variety with a white, pink and red Garnacha. I recommend the Clos Dalian White Garnacha, which is light, fun, and floral. This wine’s bold aromatics and clean mouthfeel make it perfect for springtime.


Cheers,
Nick

Bottles Wine Manager