Tag Archives: wine store

Top 9 Fall Wines: New York, Washington, Oregon

Top Fall Red & White Wines

Ah, autumn.

It’s time to ditch your summery drinks and pull out those velvety reds and luscious white wines.

After all, you need something perfect to drink for the cooler weather, and equally yummy when with paired with harvest veggies, slow roasts, and big pasta dinners.

Luckily, the shop has tons of incoming wines. It was a hard job to taste them all and choose just nine favorites, but we did it.

We’ve focused on notable non-California wine regions—Long Island, the Finger Lakes, Washington State, and Willamette Valley Oregon.

Cheers!
– Eric Taylor, Bottles General Manager

 

OREGON

Firesteed Wine

Firesteed Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon

A great example of the elegance of Pinot Noir from Oregon.

Featuring great gobs of bright cherry fruit and cola (yes, cola) with hints of mocha and vanilla from the judicious oak aging.

Brilliant with salmon or lighter meat dishes.

 

Kings Ridge Pinot Gris - White Wine

King’s Ridge Pinot Gris
Willamette Valley, Oregon

Pinot Gris is often overlooked because of its famous cousin Pinot Noir, but this beautiful white certainly demands some love.

Fresh and lively with pretty peach, citrus and herbal flavors like lime, nectarine and thyme.

Drink this with harvest veggie dishes and TV snack time foods.

 

Ken Wright Cellars - Willamette Valley Oregon - Pinot Noir - Red Wine

Ken Wright Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon

Ken Wright, maker of very high end Pinot Noir, makes this wine by blending grapes from his very best vineyards.

Extremely enjoyable, lush and full of pure Pinot fruit flavors like ripe raspberries and cherries.

This wine and roast chicken are meant to go together.

 

WASHINGTON

Columbia Crest 'Horse Heaven Hills' Merlot - Washington Wine

Columbia Crest ‘Horse Heaven Hills’ Merlot
Washington

Merlot is making a big time comeback amongst serious wine drinkers and this wine is one of the reasons why.

This medium-bodied Merlot delivers aromas of spice and blackberry, with a perfect balance of earth, cocoa and ripe cherry flavors with a rich velvety finish.

Slow braised pork or beef with this wine will make you happy.

 

Owen Roe 'Lenore' Syrah - Washington Red Wine

Owen Roe ‘Lenore’ Syrah
Washington

In our opinion, Syrah is the showcase grape coming out of Washington and Lenore is a great example why.

This is powerful and intensely concentrated and while shows boastful fruit flavors, this comes across as more savory than fruity with flavors of wild herbs and black pepper.

Lamb + Lenore ≥ Heaven

 

K Vintners Viognier - Washington White Wine

K Vintners Viognier
Yakima Valley, Washington

Rock star winemaker Charles Smith turns it down a bit from his head-banging Syrah set with this elegant and frankly sublime white from a top-tier vineyard in Yakima Valley, Washington.

This Viognier shows layers and layers of complex flavors and aromas of Meyer lemon curd, clove, melon and bee’s wax all with big mouthfeel that a Chard drinker would love.

Can stand up to meat dishes, but will excel paired with savory veggie soups and side dishes.

 

NEW YORK

Ravines Riesling - Finger Lakes Wine

Ravines Riesling
Finger Lakes, New York

Dry and crisp without being sweet. Some of the best wine from the Finger Lakes Region!

Look for flavors of peach and honeysuckle with a nice crisp ripe lemon/lime finish.

Try it with roasts that include apples in the recipe.

 

Shinn Estates Wine

Shinn Estate Vineyards Red Blend
Long Island, New York

A blend of all of the Bordeaux grape varieties (Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petite Verdot) grown in the beautiful North Fork region of Long Island.

Luscious bright fruit and acidity with flavors and aromas of red cherries, licorice and spice.

Goes great with red meat based pasta sauces.

 

Southold Wine - Devils Advocate

Southold Farm + Cellars ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ Chardonnay
Long Island, New York

An intriguing, one may even say beguiling, Chardonnay from the North Fork.

This is certainly not the oaky/butter bomb that you would get from California – this is much more restrained and truer to the flavors of Chardonnay.

Look for beautiful tropical fruit flavors and big rich body – great as a cold weather aperitif or paired with squash based soups.

 

 

 

Favorite Kosher Wines at Bottles This Fall

Kosher Wines - Victor Lazio

With the fall High Holidays coming up, you’re most likely looking for new and exciting Kosher wines, in addition to the already extensive selection at Bottles.

This year, a must-try is this trio of delicious wines from the Lazio region of Italy (the area around Rome). They’ll surprise you with their quality and price!

Really, these wines fall into the category of ‘great wines that just happen to be Kosher’.

Victor Chardonnay – Not a big oak/butter bomb, like from California, but much more subtle and true to the flavors of Chardonnay: ripe red apple and pear. A dry white that would be great with appetizers and lighter first courses.

Victor Merlot – This has everything that is great about Merlot: soft and smooth without any sharpness or bite and big delicious flavors of dark plums and cherries. Great as a party wine as it doesn’t need food to be enjoyed, but would love to paired with roast lamb or chicken.

Victor Cabernet Sauvignon – A great example of Cabernet, with big flavors of black currants and blackberries with plenty of stuffing to stand up to the most decadent of Holiday meals.

The best part of these wines is that they’re only $9.99 each – one of the best values in the store!

Shop one of the best selection of Kosher wines in the area at Bottles. Plus, these qualify for the Bottles case discounting (6% off 6 bottles, 12% off 12, 15% off 18 or more).

Happy Holidays and we hope to see you in the shop!
– Eric Taylor, Bottles General Manager

 

 

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!

 

Our Top Rosé Wines

Rosé is here to stay! No longer an afterthought for winemakers and wine drinkers alike, rosé is now recognized as a serious style of wine to be enjoyed in the most casual of settings. Dry, light and refreshing for warm summer days, a glass of rosé evokes picnics on the beach, polo tailgates and leisurely dinners in the backyard.

rosewine-2015-title

The crisp and lean style of rosé allows lighter dishes, such as grilled fish served with fresh garden salads topped with goat cheese, to shine without fear of being overpowered by the wine’s weight.

On the flip side, the light nature of rosé is a lovely counterpart to richer dishes. It’s a thirst quenching wine to serve with a spicy rack of barbecue ribs, carne asada tacos or spicy Pad Thai.

Think pink, drink pink, and enjoy this slice of sunshine in a glass!

– Joanna

matthiason-rose

2014 Matthiasson Rosé
Napa Valley, California

Ethereal, delicate notes of peach and rhubarb are present in this austere rosé, best enjoyed with grilled salmon.

alexandervallyevineyards-rose

2014 Alexander Valley Vineyards ‘Dry Rosé of Sangiovese’
Alexander Valley, California

An Italian grape grown in California! Bright strawberry notes are met with super refreshing acidity. Serve with roasted pepper hummus and chips.

calcu-rose

2014 Calcu Rosé
Colchagua Valley, Chile

A French style of rosé made in Chile, the Calcu features 50% Malbec, 40% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot grapes and pairs best with barbecue ribs.

commandeire-de-peyrassol-rose

2014 Commanderie de La Peyrassol Rosé
Provence, France

A classic! Light watermelon notes and mineral tones from the region that made rosé a household name, enjoy with grilled shrimp.

chateauvalcombe-rose

2014 Château Valcombe Rosé
Ventoux, France

A wonderful Grenache based rosé from the Rhône, dry with a hint of strawberry, serve with grilled artichokes with a pepper aioli.

rose-de-loire

2014 Auguste Bonhomme ‘Rosé de Loire’
Loire Valley, France

Another great find from the Loire Valley, featuring Gamay and Grolleau grapes with notes of red currant, enjoy with your favorite cheeses.

lacrimarosa-rosato

2014 Mastroberardino ‘Lacrimosa’
Campania, Italy

Raspberry, pepper and rhubarb notes are plentiful in this hearty rosé, serve with grilled zucchini and artichokes.

gobelsburg-cistercien-rose

2014 Schloss Gobelsburg ‘Cistercien’ Rosé
Kamptal, Austria

A blend of Zweigelt and St. Laurent, this rosé teems with minerals, the slightest hint of watermelon and has a wonderfully refreshing finish, serve with a raw beet salad.

chateaumontaud-rose

Château Montaud Rosé
Côtes de Provence, France

A classic Provence rosé, refreshing acidity meets bright strawberry notes, serve with chicken salad.

 

 

Rosh Hashanah Wines! (Kosher Wine Picks)

Happy Rosh Hashanah! Bring in the Jewish New Year with a few of our favorite Kosher wine picks for this season. Though we’re pretty happy about our year-round Kosher wine selection, we’ve made sure to layer in a few more additions just for the holiday.

Kosher Wine Brands for Rosh HashanahLove a nice red? We highly recommend Arza ‘Ariel’ Merlot. Expect flavors of blackberry and raspberry with a soft finish.

Another fantastic wine to look for is ARFI ‘Gabriel’ Cabernet Sauvignon. Simply a phenomenal wine! Black currant, olive, cedar, and black cherry notes are coupled with a delicate structure.

Cheers!

Welcome Springtime with Local Scallops and a Bottle of Muscadet

Scallop and Wine Pairing

Winter is coming to an end and Spring is just around the corner. What better way to transition to the next season than with seared, fresh Sea Scallops gathered from Narragansett Bay? To enhance the mild flavor of the scallops, we recommend a bottle of Muscadet, a dry, bright, and minerally white wine. Down with the reds! Bring on the whites and rosés!

Scallops and Wine Pairing 

Sea Scallops

Found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, sea scallops are harvested anywhere from Newfoundland down to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Generally shiny and creamy white in color, scallops have a sweet, rich taste that is mild or briny. Don’t worry about a slight orange or pinkish tint when raw; it’s natural and won’t affect the flavor. High quality scallops have an ivory translucence to them and should keep their oval shaped structure.

  • The Local Catch provides fresh, available seafood at the Wintertime Farmers Market. Sea Scallops are there now!
  • For a list of wholesalers and local seafood farms check out this list at Farm Fresh.
  • For some of the best scallop recipes in New England, interviews from Nantucket scallop fishermen, shuckers, world-renowned chefs and history check out Scallops: A New England Coastal Cookbook.

Muscadet Wine

Domaine de la Pepière
Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie

Located in the far western portion of the Loire Valley, in France, wine grower Marc Ollivier makes some of the top Muscadets from the AOC Muscadet Sevre et Maine appellation. Hand-picked by Ollivier himself, this Muscadet is unique because of the use of natural yeasts. Taking longer to ferment, the wine is bottled later, but it is well worth it.

The Muscadet vines are grown in terroir that is thick with granite stones and debris, giving the wines a particularly lemon-tinged, mineral edge that makes it perfect for seafood. His Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie has beautiful, bright and energetic aromatics that are fruit forward and floral. The palate displays similar characteristics, with lots of pleasing texture and substance.

This Muscadet is a fantastic complement to this simple seared scallop recipe that only takes 10 minutes to prepare. We recommend enjoying this pairing on your veranda on a fresh spring day.

Sea Scallops Recipe

Sautéed Scallops with Garlic & Parsley 

Ingredients
1 lb Sea Scallops
2-3 tsp grapeseed oil or olive oil
2 large cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
A handful of Parsley, chopped
1 tsp unsalted butter
Fresh ground pepper
Juice from half a lemon
Sea Salt

Method of Preparation
1. In a bowl gently toss the scallops with the oil, garlic and parsley. For increased flavor, store in the refrigerator for some minutes before cooking.
2. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a sauté pan.
3. Once the butter starts to bubble, add the scallops, season with ground pepper and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
4. Very carefully, turn over the scallops. After about 1 minute squeeze the lemon juice over top and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Once they have become opaque, stop cooking them!
5. Serve over salad greens and sprinkle with sea salt. Yields 4 servings. *Recipe by Savoring the Thyme. 

PRINT RECIPE CARD >

Looking for other spring food and wine pairings? Try Asparagus with Grüner Veltliner or Arugula with Sauvignon Blanc.

Cheers!
by Kim Vroegindewey

Pinot Camp 2013 – Eric Taylor Goes to Oregon!

A few weeks ago we sent Eric Taylor, General Manager at Bottles, to Pinot Camp in Oregon. Oregon Pinot Camp is a three day immersion into the Oregon wine world. He had a blast and took amazing photos (and we got a week of peace & quiet). Check out our video and more photos below!

Argyle, winery, oregon, pinot camp, pinot noir
First day at the Argyle Winery in Dundee, Oregon. Along with producing the classic Oregon Pinot Noir, Argyle winemakers also produce delicious Chardonnays and sparkling wines.
Lena, the 100-year old ghost that haunts the Argyle farmhouse, which doubles as a tasting room for guests!
Eric attended and video chatted the store* from the Oregon Chardonnay Alliance (ORCA) Crab & Chardonnay Picnic.
 
*We have wine tastings every Saturday, so stop by and try!
The first day of Pinot Camp workshops started in Elk Cove Vineyards with a walk through the valley and a history of the Oregon wine industry and Pinot Noir.
Goats roam around the vineyards and help keep the weeds and grass at bay.
He also attended a grape growing workshop where he learned about all of the manual labor that goes into producing quality grapes.
Above are the original Pinot Noir vines planted in Oregon from 1966 — still alive and kicking today!
Campers had a really interesting “Soil Into Wine” tasting with 6 different wines from the 3 types of soil in Willamette Valley: Volcanic, Marine Sedimentary, and Windblown.
 Each soil type leads to a different tasting Pinot Noir. Volcanic soil creates softer, more tannic wines with high-toned fruit aromas. Pinot from Marine Sedimentary soils are earthier with heavier tannins and darker fruit tones. Windblown soil (which is most common in the region) creates mixed berry, cedar and exotic spice flavor with a rounded tannin structure.
An example of Volcanic soil lead by winemaker Alex Sokol Blosser.
Campers tried oak aged wine and talked about closures; the cork versus screw cap debate. To test which was better, they tasted the same wine from 2005 – one corked and the other screw capped. Eric was shocked to find out that they were exactly the same, with hardly any difference! 
 













On the last evening, Pinot Campers were treated to a traditional northwestern style Alderwood Salmon Bake at Stoller Vineyards.
Salmon is splayed out on wood frames so it will slow roast evenly over a large outdoor fire. It takes approximately one hour to bake completely, but is the tastiest, most unique flavored salmon around!
Of course we experience lots of rain, or “liquid sunshine” as it’s called in Willamette Valley.
Luckily Eric had his boots ready!
It was a truly enlightening experience! The wines were extraordinarily great throughout the region. The comradery and spirit of all the wineries was amazing. We will forever be a fan of Oregon wines!
Visit our wine store in Providence for a great selection of Oregon wines!

Easter Wine Video

Spring is coming, which also means Easter is on its way! While kids enjoy Easter candies and dyed eggs, adults get ready for Easter dinner and brunch with family and friends. What wines match best with what’s on the table? Here at Bottles, we’ve made pairing wine with ham, lamb, and other foods easy with an Easter wine recommendations video, and signs throughout our Providence wine store.

Watch this video to see what Eric’s favorite picks are!
 

If you are in the Providence, Rhode Island area, pay us a visit! We’ve placed these fun springtime flowers on wines around the store, to help you find affordable but quality wines that are great for Easter. Pair them with appetizers, lamb, ham, and desserts, or bring them as a hostess gift!

In a hurry? Look for the wine case stacks near the front of the store for grab-‘n-go Easter wines.

And as always, we’re here to help. We love talking about food and wine pairings, so swing by, call us, or email us for expert advice.

141 Pitman St., Providence, RI
(401) 372-2030
info@blog.bottlesfinewine.com

Kosher Wine List for Hanukkah

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.

Happy Hanukkah!
– from the Folks at Bottles