Thomas Tew Rum is made by the Newport Distilling Company in nearby Newport, Rhode Island. Watch the tour and overview of how their barrel-aged rum is made, with Brent Ryan, master distiller. Brent was kind enough to give us the behind-the-scenes tour of the distillery. Watch, sip, and enjoy!
Littleneck clams are a classic Rhode Island dish. They’re even better with a bottle of crisp wine! Keep reading for a fantastic clam recipe from Edible Rhody and our pick for a rosé wine pairing.
Rosés make great partners with food because they are, in the way they’re made, right in between a red and white wine. Dry, not sweet, and full of light berry and citrus flavors, rosés are a lovely summertime wine.
Edible Rhody Magazine‘s summer issue includes a great Littleneck Clam recipe by Amy McCoy of poorgirlgourmet.com. She cooks Littlenecks with choriço sausage and vine-ripened tomatoes, which pairs perfectly with Ferraton ‘Samoren’ for a magical mingling of flavors.
2012 FERRATON ‘SAMOREN’
Côtes du Rhone, France
 |
| Photo by Amy McCoy |
INGREDIENTS
½ pound mild choriço sausage, casing removed, sliced in half lengthwise
1 pound vine-ripened tomatoes (Roma or other sauce tomatoes are ideal)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium sweet onion, such as Vidalia, trimmed and sliced lengthwise into ½-inch wedges
4 medium cloves garlic—2 minced, 2 left whole
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, coarsely chopped
1 cup dry white wine
24 Littleneck clams, scrubbed clean
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 thick slices good-quality crusty bakery bread
Grated zest of 1 lemon, plus 4 lemon wedges for serving (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the grill to medium heat or prepare coals.
Grill choriço until it is lightly charred; remove and cool slightly, then slice it crosswise into ¼-inch half-moons. Likewise, grill the tomatoes until they are lightly charred and their skins are peeling off; remove and allow to cool. Discard skins, core and coarsely chop, reserving any liquid.
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy stockpot with a tight-fitting lid. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and oregano and sauté 1 minute.
Pour in wine. Add tomato flesh and accumulated juices. Add the choriço and stir to combine.
Place the clams in pot, increase the heat to medium-high until the liquid begins to steam. Cover the pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the clams have opened wide, 10–12 minutes. (Discard any unopened clams.) Season to taste.
Meanwhile, grill the slices of bread over medium heat until they are just toasted, 1–2 minutes per side. Rub one side of each slice with peeled garlic cloves.
Divide clams and broth among 4 large warm, shallow bowls. Sprinkle with lemon zest and serve with a slice of grilled bread and lemon wedges alongside. Serves 4.
Know your local farmer! Wine and food are natural partners, and so what better way to enjoy the best of both by choosing local, fresh, and seasonal foods?
We love enjoying seasonally appropriate wines (rosé sangria in summer! big reds in the winter!), and so eating seasonally makes a lot of sense, too. Your food will taste fresher, be full of flavor, and you will be supporting your local farmer. Buy produce directly from local farms if they have a Community Supported Agriculture service, go to farmer’s markets, or look for local producers in grocery stores. CSA programs allow you buy a share of a nearby farm, where you receive regular baskets of super-fresh produce.
With this sentiment in mind, we’ve decided to start featuring local farmers, and thus our visit to Allens Farms and The March Hare with Darius Salko. Only a short drive down I-195 will bring you to idyllic Westport, MA, where you will find a plethora of farms, breweries, and vineyards just across the bay. This is where Debra Barrett started her 50-acre, certified organic farm in 1987. You can find their potted herbs, vegetables, flowers, and other farm-fresh produce at farmer’s markets, grocery stores, and their CSA program.
If you start following this blog, you’ll be in touch with our regular feature of wine pairings with foods that are coming into season. Thank-you Darius for the fantastic radishes, arugula and pea greens!
 |
| Darius and Nick (the Bottles Wine Director) checking out some seedlings. |
 |
| Darius showing us around the farm! |
 |
| Baby lettuce & greens. |
 |
| Nick enjoying the intoxicating smell of green garlic. |
 |
| Pea greens in the field; eat them as a salad, or make a pesto! |
 |
| Green garlic tops! |
 |
| Darius, Deb, & Danielle in front of a greenhouse full of mustard and kale plants in seed. |
Bottles was honored to support Save The Bay’s second annual Taste of the Bay event yesterday at the beautiful Save The Bay Educational Center. Save The Bay has dedicated themselves to protecting and restoring our Narragansett Bay, including nearby coastal waterways and shores. This year, the Taste of the Bay annual meeting and celebration has grown to include many of Rhode Island’s favorite food and drinks.
 |
| Photo: bucketbrewery.com |
Bottles supports local wineries! Watch our video about Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth, RI, which is not far from our wine store in Providence, Rhode Island. Nick, our Wine Manager, got a behind-the-scenes tour of the beautiful coastal vineyards and the wines with Nancy Parker Wilson, the 6th generation to own and operate Greenvale Farm. Learn more information about Skipping Stone White, Pinot Gris, and Cabernet Franc in addition to Greenvale’s history.
Greenvale Vineyards is a small-grower winery next to the Sakonnet River, and near Newport.
Greenvale has regular tastings and tours, so pay them a visit if you’re in the area! The location is beautiful, and you won’t be disappointed in the quality and range of wines offered at the tasting room.
Skipping Stone White is a popular seller, and a wine unique to Greenvale with its combination of two grape varietals: 90% Cayuga and 10% Vidal Blanc.
Greenvale was first a farm, and has been in the same family since 1863. Only recently in the 1980’s were grapes planted for wine-making.
Watch the video above, and be sure to browse our other brewery tours.
The Foolproof guys at work! They have weekly tours of the brewery, so you can hang out, drink fresh beers, and see the brewery. If you’re near Pawtucket, Rhode Island, swing by and check them out.
Beer in a can? There are many reasons why Foolproof and Bottles like cans over glass bottles when it comes to our craft beer.
This past spring, Bottles (we’re an inquisitive liquor store in Providence, RI, full of local beer enthusiasts) was fortunate enough to pay a visit to Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project. Dann and Martha Paquette run Pretty Things, which is based in Somerville, Massachusetts, but brewed in Westport, MA. Pretty Things beers are known for being delicious, quirky interpretations and twists on classic beer styles. Watch the video to take a quick craft beer journey with Liam, the Bottles Beer Manager.
Watch our other brewery tours >
 |
| Jack D’Or |
 |
| Bottled Jack D’Or ready to go. |
 |
| The resident gnome with a few Pretty Things Beers and hop vines. |
 |
| Martha at work! |
 |
| Dann chatting with Liam, Bottles Beer Manager. |
 |
| Westport, Massachusetts. |
Kosher Wine recommendations for Hanukkah: Hanukkah is just around the corner, and the Bottles team is here to help you choose wines. We have a wide selection of Kosher wines and unique gifts such as custom wine gift baskets and wine bottle etching! Stop by or order wine by calling (401) 372-2030 or emailing us at info@blog.bottlesfinewine.com.
Try Cantina Gabriele Dolcemente White, which is a blend of Chardonnay & Malvasia grapes and delightfully sweet and smooth. A perfect pairing for traditional latkes and applesauce!
The Don Guillermo Pinot Noir is a lovely light & dry Pinot Noir that pairs well with roast turkey. Senorio Aldaz Tempranillo pairs well with pot roast with caramelized onions, and Chateau Chéze is a wonderful, dry, earthy Bordeaux that will impress without costing a fortune.
For something a little more special, consider a Kosher wine gift bakset. Perfect gifts for loved ones, hosts and friends, we are more than happy to create custom gift baskets with special chocolates and treats, along with quality Kosher wines.
