What's My Wine - and The Sinner's Guide to Wine Tasting

Greetings from all of us at
Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463
Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817
Brie & Bleu - New London's Premier Cheese Market - 860-437-2474
We hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend.

It was a great week here in New London -

Thanks to everyone that attended the Cellar Club tasting for Wines of The Great North West -
I think personally that the "K Syrah" from K Vintners is probably the best syrah I have ever tasted.
We are the only place that one can find these wines in our area - period.
It was like pulling teeth to get the gentleman from the importer in Norwalk to visit us - but once he saw what we are doing -
he made sure that we would have these amazing wines from Oregon.
take a look for yourself: www.kvintners.com

On Friday night Mark Giordano from Bonny Doon Vineyards presided over our regular tasting.
Mark was a big hit with everyone - including the ladies - they would not leave this poor guy alone.
The wines were fantastic - Old Telegram, Heart of Darkness, Pacific Rim Riesling, and Big House Red are all in stock.
If you do not know about this company take a minute and look at the website: www.bonnydoonvineyard.com

The scene on Friday was beautiful - people were schmoozing with Mark in the Cellar - the wine was flowing -
The deck at Brie & Bleu was full - People were talking and laughing and sharing their wine with the table next to them -
The harbor was buzzing - ferries arriving and departing, sailboats crisscrossing to the left and to the right.
The sunset was perfect. Where else can you have so much fun??? Thank you all for making it work.

Before I get to the wine for this Friday I want to quickly mention a few upcoming items.
remember our calendar changes often - take a peek at: www.thamesriver.com/site_2/wine/calendar.html

Our French wine dinner on June 15, is SOLD OUT.
We have received many, many calls and we are trying to figure out a way to accommodate additional people.
It may be an additional seating or perhaps a second night the same week - we will keep you posted.

On Saturday June 4th - during the day - starting at 12:00 noon - NO CHARGE
Brie & Bleu will be hosting a cheese tasting with Beltane Farms from Lebanon Connecticut.
Beltane is famous for their artesian goat cheese - BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE -
Not only will you be able to try the cheese that is nearly impossible to find - they are bringing their GOATS with them!
Seriously - this is a chance for your kids to meet their "kyds".
Harbor school is sponsoring a raffle to name one of the goats and who knows what will happen after that.
This is a big chance for YOU to name that EWE. ( I just could not resist )
We will have an all day tasting at the wine store for the adults - truly something for everyone.

Tuesday June 7 - 6pm - the return of: "Wine Fever - A Sinner's Guide to Wine Appreciation".
There are many - many - maybe too many - "wine 101" classes available for you to choose from.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry offers a wine 101 class - we have a different approach.
We will help you with the basics too - Look, Smell, Taste, etc.
But we will send you out into the world with enough knowledge to enjoy asking for that wine list in a restaurant.
We will show you how to narrow your choices and make an educated selection on the right wine - then it's up to you to embellish -
I've always been fond of :
"This is an amusing little number I discovered on the Left Bank". - OR - "The Loire Valley? - Don't EVEN get me started on the Loire Valley".
The crowd will be EATING OUT OF YOUR HAND!
This is a regular series - space is limited - please call for more information. 860-443-9463

While I am on the subject - and this is in direct response to your requests -
We are starting our "blind tasting" series in June.
We call it: WHAT'S MY WINE?
In the tradition of all the great "Goodson & Todson" game shows of the past we are challenging all of our experts and beginners alike to join us for a one hour summer series that will surprise & delight you. I can't tell you how many experts get it WRONG when the label on a bottle of wine is covered.
Please call now to sign up - Lots of great wine & prizes - It's fun, It's a great way to meet new people, and of course there will be some wonderful "parting gifts" for the losers.

OK - THIS FRIDAY - June 3 2005 - 6-9 p.m. - NO CHARGE
Summer Wines Are "in".

1 - Germany Bürgerspital Rivaner - $12
Wines for every day and occasion - light, elegant wines of invigorating freshness with a fine fruity touch, pleasant acidity and marked character.
With a wine-growing area of 110 hectares, Bürgerspital wine-growing estate, at home in a beautiful courtyard right in the middle of Würzburg, is one of the largest wine-growing estates in Germany and one of the most important.

2 - Germany Franken Kabinett Riesling - $22
An obvious feature of most Franken wines is the oddly shaped bottle, the so-called Bocksbeutel, in which they are filled. To most German wine drinkers, this packaging is the synonym for a powerful, earthy, even rustic and completely dry white wine.

3 - Connecticut Chamard Estate Chardonnay - $13
The Estate Reserve Chardonnay is a rich, full bodied wine with complex aromas of ripe fruit and layers of spicy fruit and toasty oak flavors. This classic Chardonnay is beautifully balanced with a rich, creamy texture and a long, smooth finish.

4 - The fourth wine was still undecided at "Press Time". So I will simply say it's a red - and hope to see you all there.

Thanks for your interest and support - we all appreciate it.

Please Join Us - it's fun, informal and a great way to start your weekend.
Visit our web site: www.thamesriver.com
for updates, wine dinners, special events, and other items of interest.

Thanks for all of the calls and emails - we appreciate each and every one of them.
TRW&S