This Saturday, February 4th, we will be hosting a special Art Show featuring local artist Patricia Jackson, who painted the “Grapes of Taste” mural on the outside of the building. She will be in the shop from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. to meet our customers and show off some of her artwork which might be for sale. The mural has certainly captured everyone’s attention and made the shop more visible to passersby. So much so that other local businesses have commissioned Patricia to spruce up their exteriors. I have encouraged Patricia to paint wine-related items and cannot wait to see what she has done.
On Saturday, February 11th, Ralph Watermier will be helping us celebrate Mardi Gras which is officially Tuesday, February 21st. Known as “Fat Tuesday” Mardi Gras is the last day of the Carnival season and always falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. We thought we would celebrate with some Spanish wines (see the Tasting schedule below) and Ralph’s Jambalaya. Hope you will stop by and tell us what you think.
Ralph also suggested a “Brewmaster Extraordinaire” Competition and we tossed around ideas with some of our beer customers last Friday night. In fact, we are thinking of starting a beer club that would meet every 6 weeks to network and share techniques. I have attached the application and if you brew your own beer and would like to participate in some fun competition, please fill it out and mail or email it back to us. The competition will be held on Friday, March 23rd.
Wine Trivia
“Dutch researchers say that a half-glass of wine per day might help you live longer, possibly five years longer, because wine’s polyphenolic compounds stop the build up of fatty tissue in arteries which can result in a stroke or heart attack.” This is from www.health.msn.com
“There are many styles of glasses for different wine varietals. Owning two or three styles should do – a good red wine glass, white wine glass, and a champagne flute.” My wine with my meals tastes good in any kind of wine glass.
“Everyone loves the Groundhog Wine Trail in the Pennsylvania Wilds, which gets its name from its famous resident groundhog and weather forecaster, Punxsutawney Phil.”www.groundhogwinetrail.com Tomorrow is Groundhog Day!
View our Virginia Wine List Here
Shuttle Excursions:
February 25 ~ Wine Expo Virginia Wine Expo @ Convention Center
Fee: $12.50 per person (does not include your ticket to the Festival)
Departure: 11:00 a.m.
Return: 6:00 p.m. or to be determined
Payment deadline: Wednesday, February 22, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 26 ~ Virginia Wine Expo @ Convention Center
Same as above. |
~ Tastings ~
Wine Tasting ~ Friday, February 3rd ~ 5:30 – 7:30 pm ~ Ladies’ Night will be an Evening of Italian Wines & Chocolate with Brian Fairtile from Siema Wines. He will be tasting:
- Lodali Moscato d’Asti
- Fabrini Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
- Fabrini Rose di Giugno
- Montepulciano D’Abruzzo
- Villa Mottura Negroamaro
- Ca’Bea Sangue di Giuda “Judas’ Blood”
Wine Tasting ~ Saturday, February 4th ~ 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. ~ Rana Buchanan with Service Distributing will be in the shop tasting:
- Castello del Poggio Rosato
- Cherry on Top White
- Peter Brum Bacchus
- Uppercut Sauvignon Blanc
- Cherry on Top Red
- Ensemble Red
Upcoming Wine Tastings:
February 11 ~ Saturday ~ 4:00 – 8:00 ~ Mary Shaw with Andes Importers
February 18 ~ Saturday ~ 4:00 – 8:00 ~ Travis Vernon with The Spanish Importers ~ this will be a special Mardi Gras celebration tasting with some homemade Jambalaya. Hope you will join us and tell us what you think!
February 24 ~ Friday ~ 5:30 – 7:30 ~ Jeremy Sutton with Kysela
February 25 ~ Saturday ~ 4:00 – 8:00 ~ Matt Leader with Country Vintner
March 24 ~ Saturday ~ 4:00 – 8:00 ~ Michelle Ditzler with Service Distributing
We will be replenishing our chocolates and truffles in time for Valentine’s Day which is two weeks away! In fact, on Saturday, we will be featuring Bacchus (a white wine in a red bottle) with a chocolate. We have put together some special packaging for the chocolates and truffles.
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Community Events
February 3 ~ Herman Parish, children’s author of Amelia Bedelia books created by his aunt Peggy Parish, will be at The Carmel School ~ 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. for a special book signing. Amelia herself might even stop by. The cost is $2.00 at the door and you can sign up online at: https://sites.google.com/a/thecarmelschool.org/library-media-center/
February 4 ~ Wright’s Chapel Polar Bear Plunge at the Lake Land ‘Or Beach. This is an annual event that supports Caroline County Emergency Assistance Programs. More information can be found at: www.wrightschapel.org Grapes of Taste sponsors one of the plungers!
~ March 10 ~ Rotary Wine & Beer Festival at Caroline County Fairgrounds ~ The day is growing as Rotary plans to make the day a family day with activities for the kids, food for lunch while listening to great music and sharing with friends. Wineries ~ Cooper, Democracy, Ingleside, Lake Anna, Mattaponi and Stone Mountain, Artist ~ Christopher Mize, Vendor ~ Linda’s Line (wine huggies),Food ~ Grapevine II Restaurant, Music ~ “Reunion”, D. A M. Barbeque
If you have a community event you would like to promote, send me an email and we’ll help to promote it. |
