Posts for 'Wine Guides' Category

While the kids are counting the number of sleeps till Santa comes, parents at this time of the year are counting costs – the cost of filling Santa's bag with gifts and the cost of the eating, drinking and being merry that is central to the Christmas celebration.

And the good news is that buying in the drinks, particularly the wines that traditionally go with Christmas dinner, has never been cheaper.

We're not talking about the cheap and marginally cheerful stuff that fills the bargain bins these days, but wines we have come to trust and enjoy, most notably from New Zealand wine producers, some from Oz and other parts of the world. Let's not be too concerned about the reasons for this.

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In early August, San Francisco hosts a food and wine festival that celebrates the fantastic culinary world that exists in the Bay Area. The event -- entitled “SF Chefs. Food. Wine.” -- lasts four days and features a smorgasbord of chefs (including Jamie Lauren, Absinthe chef and popular contestant from last season’s Top Chef), farmers, winemakers, and culinary authors.

Two opening events take place on Thursday August 6. The Rising Star Chef Reunion from 6-10pm costs $125 and is held at Union Square, the location of the festival’s main tasting tent. Participants will taste foods made by more than 15 renowned local chefs – who will also be at the event – including the aforementioned Lauren, Melissa Chou (dessert chef at Aziza, a restaurant that critic Michael Bauer gave 3.5 out of 4 stars to in February), and Jonnatan Leiva (Jack Falstaff/Plumpjack – Jonnatan was a guest chef at a James Beard Foundation Dinner in April). Also included: cocktails from top San Francisco bars, champagne from Domaine Chandon, and Food Network’s Tyler Florence.

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A. Renee, a wine and gift boutique in downtown Bloomington, will more than double in size by fall.
The 1,200-square-foot store at 306 N. Center St., which already offers gourmet foods, chocolates, candles, linens and wine glasses, will add another 1,500 square feet for a wine cafe.
"It will be a place for adults to escape," said Amy Calhoun, co-owner, adding that the cafe will offer wine tasting as well as wine by the glass and bottle, cocktails, gourmet finger food, coffee and tea.
The cafe will be lit by candles and have a piano.

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When defining the perfect dining experience, most everyone has their own unique sets of standards in which they go by.  Usually these standards include things such as ambiance, price (especially these days), service,  and of course the food quality.  As any frequent diner can tell you, It can be difficult to find a restaurant that ranks high in all of these categories.  However, Venice Ristorante & Wine Bar in Denver comes very close.
Located on the corner of 17th and Wynkoop St. in LoDo, Venice Ristorante is an Italian food-lovers paradise, owned by Chef Alessandro Carollo.  When you walk in the door, you are greeted by very friendly staff members who actually seem eager to show you an excellent dining experience.

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No wonder wine tastings have caught on, from formal programs sponsored by the industry to informal "walk-around" tastings, often for the benefit of a charity or other nonprofit.

"I have seen a growth in the number of people attending consumer events, whether it be attending classes led by a professional or a walkaround charity event," said Carol Berman.

A wine educator who has been leading wine tastings for nearly 20 years through her New Jersey-based company, Class in a Glass.Wine tastings are typically held at fancy restaurants or hotels, but they can just as easily be held at home. No, you don't have to be a professional -- or a fundraiser -- to organize a wine tasting.

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