Christmas Edition, Segura Viudas, Varaschin Prosecco , Gruet Blanc de Noirs , A. Margaine Champagne

Greetings from all of us in New London,

Thames River Wine & Spirits - 860-443-9463 - http://thamesriver.com/wine/calendar.html

Brie & Bleu - 860-437-2474 - http://brieandbleu.com/

Thames River Greenery - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/gourmet.html

IMPORT - 860-443-6817 - http://www.thamesriver.com/trg/featured.html


HOLIDAY HOURS: We Will Be Open Monday December 24th - until 9 p.m. -
Last Minute Shopping Is Not A Problem.


The New Year is peeking at us from around the corner and to celebrate we have a HUGE tasting planned for Friday night - I only hope that you can join us.
There has been a parade of friends and customers stopping into the store to wish us the best for the holidays and the coming New Year.
Thanks for making it such a party all of the time, and thank you very much for your tremendous support - it has been a great year.

Wine Tasting - Please Join Us
Friday December 28 - 6-9 p.m. - No Charge


This Week:

It's all about the BUBBLY - By popular demand it's an all sparkling line up - and the bubbly will be flowing like water.

Cava, Champagne, Prosecco,…need we continue? Good fizz is wonderful at any time of year but this is the season when we feel we can indulge ourselves -
With so many sparkling choices to select from, why wait for a special occasion to break out the bubbly?

Need a case or two? Remember that we can deliver your holiday party needs right to your doorstep - all you need to do is ask.

1 - Segura Viudas Brut reserva Cava $10
Cava - is sparkling wine from Spain. And this one makes your mouth water from the first sip. A very affordable party wine that will fill the bill with food and mid-night toasts too. The bubbles are very persistent - unlike others in this price range. This Cava has a racy flavor and it feels light-bodied with a nice gold color, and a lively fresh aroma and subtle scents of lemon. This is a great party wine. Raise your glass to Spain on Friday night.


2 - Varaschin Prosecco Brut Rose $13
This is a house favorite. We sell cases and cases of it - in fact we even serve it by the glass at Brie & Bleu. Varaschin's wine-firm was founded in S. Pietro di Barbozza around 1930 by Matteo Varaschin - This is a Brut Rosé - It is a great bottle to open as you grab that cook book off of the shelf or tear the recipie out of the The Times magazine section at a quarter to twelve on Sunday. It gets the juices going - and allows you to come up with a plan for the rest of the day. It is great with food. It is aromatic and elegant with soft floral and fruit notes - It is NOT a bottle of sweet fizzy wine - We promise.

3 - Gruet Blanc de Noirs $17
In 1983, the Gruet family was traveling through the Southwestern part of the United States, and while in New Mexico met a group of European winemakers who had successfully planted vineyards in Engle, near the town of Truth or Consequence, 170 miles south of Albuquerque. The land was inexpensive and the opportunity golden. In 1984, Gilbert Gruet, whose Champagne house, Gruet et Fils had produced fine Champagne in Bethon, France, since 1952, made the decision to plant an experimental vineyard, exclusively planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. His children, winemaker Laurent and daughter Nathalie, and family friend Farid Himeur then relocated to the great state of New Mexico to begin their American wine making adventure - and the rest, as they say, is history. This is gorgeous - rich & creamy, with delicious hints of berries. Give this a try on Friday night.

4 - A. Margaine Champagne $42.
This Champagne is part of our "Grower-Producer" portfolio. We are proud to offer the largest selection of boutique Champagne's in the state of Connecticut. This particular wine is one of the best Champagne values in our store because we made our commitment to purchase it before the recent dollar shift with the Euro. We will not be able to offer it at this price again. When you compare this Champagne - or for that matter any of our small producer Champagnes to the big brands you will never be disappointed.

And when you compare the price for these "grower's" top Cuvés with prices for the big brands - then it becomes almost laughable - because these wines sell for half as much and in some cases less than half as much as the big brand names. And that's because they do not have designer bottles, and enormous PR budgets, and product placement expenses to pass along to us - the consumers.

Most of the familiar big names of Champagne are manufactured using industrial protocols in modern factories - and they are produced in huge quantities.
The flavors that one tastes are decided upon by a committee in a boardroom - and we can get any of these famous brands for you if you need them - BUT

We have decided offer a magnificent collection of “Grower Champagne.” Champagne that is produced by individuals and their families in limited quantities.
They pick the grapes themselves, make the wine and bottle it themselves. They make in an entire year what the big names produce in a matter of hours.
Crafted with old world traditions, these are artisanal wines that reflect the land were they came from and the people that made them - and present wonderfully unique, almost magical flavors in the glass.

Offer Grower Champagne to your family and friends this year - and taste the difference.
All of these Grower-Producer Champagne's deserve your attention - they represent something quite special, and I hope you will try this one on Friday night.


All of us want to wish you and your families our warm regards for Christmas and the coming holidays - We hope to see you this week.


Please Join Us - it's fun, informal, and a great way to start your weekend.



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