February Newsletter
Can you believe it is February already? Our memories of Christmas on Maui are fading fast, as are our tans! Groundhog Day has come and gone, no shadows seen by any of them, so that means an early spring. Yahoo!
Valentines Day is February 14, don’t forget your sweetheart. Wine & chocolate make great gifts! When pairing wines with chocolate, your best bet is to match lighter, more elegant flavored chocolates with lighter-bodied wines; likewise, the stronger the chocolate, the more full-bodied the wine should be. There are specific qualities of some wines which naturally trigger romance by releasing pheromones or feel-good hormones. Look for whites with sweaty, earth aromas like Chardonnay or Symphony and reds with a musky hint of berries like Pinot Noir or Shiraz. 
Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) is on February 21. Time to party party! Some typical indulgences are grilled oysters, shrimp creole over jambalaya, gumbo, fried chicken and king cake. And of course your favourite wine! So put on a mask, don some beads, and laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!)
Selection Estate Series on sale
Our super sale this month is the Selection Estate Series Ultra Premium 8 week wine kits. These wine kits contain 100% pure varietal grape juice from single vineyard sources around the world. These exclusive juices let you produce authentic, stylistically true wines with extended ageing potential. This is a great opportunity to add some of these fabulous wines to your cellar at a fantastic price. The made in store sale price this month is $179! Sale ends February 29, 2012.
There are 10 wonderful wines to choose from including:
The LODI RANCH 11 CABERNET SAUVIGNON – this is the hearty red wine classic that lovers of fine Cabernet hunt down with passionate zeal – the king of red grapes in all its splendid glory. Our Cabernet has the trademark blackcurrant and cherry flavours, but its true triumph is the subtle weave of complex flavour compounds that contribute to the overall experience. We are very proud to announce that this wine won Best in Show at the 2011 Winemaker Magazine International Amateur Wine Competition. But, more importantly, this is Julie’s absolute favourite!
The LODI OLD VINES ZINFANDEL – the famous thick, gnarled and twisted old Zinfandel vines of Lodi contribute to intense concentrated flavours in the grapes. This wine is deep and rich, with bold, zesty aromas and ripe berry fruits on the tongue. Robust and exciting, it bursts with a spiciness that is met head on by the premium French oak. And this wine is “Oprah” approved! Check it out!
The NEW ZEALAND MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC – Marlborough has the sunniest, driest climate in New Zealand, and the Wairau Valley’s rich soils combine with the cool nights to deliver astonishingly pungent wines, with gooseberry, herbs, pink grapefruit, fresh-cut grass, asparagus, lime-leaf, tropical fruit, passion fruit, and a host of other beguiling aromas. Few wines ever achieve the amazing aromatic complexity and zesty fruit of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This one is Mike’s favourite!
The GERMAN MOSEL VALLEY GEWURZTRAMINER – this white wine is redolent with heady perfume and the aromatic fragrance of lychee, tropical fruit and rose petals. Finishing off-dry, its flavours are ample, lusciously fruity and spicy rather than complex. Matching well with spicy food such as Thai or Szechuan cuisine, strong cheeses and fresh fruits, it also drinks well all by itself.
Check out our website for details on the other six wonderful wines on sale this month!
World Vineyard Collection on sale
For our value oriented customers, we have the World Vineyard Collection kits on sale also. These kits give winemakers who prefer 28 day wine kits the opportunity to make great wines from around the world. The made in store sale price is $125. the sale ends Feb 29, 2012.
There are 17 varieties to choose from including the Gold award winning Australilan Chardonnay and Washington Riesling, the Silver award winning German Muller-Thurgau and Italian Sangiovese and of course the best selling Italian Pinot Grigio and Australian Shiraz.
Check out our website for details on all the World Vineyard Collection kit varieties on sale this month.
Selection Limited Edition Series 2011
Selection Limited Edition kits have started arriving!
In January we received the Washington State Meritage a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot. This wine features great extract, deep colour and intense aromatics of dark berry fruit, cassis, peppery spice, cedar and smoke. The seductive nose of this wine foreshadows magnificent texture and flavour, including dark berries, liquorice, vanilla and warm brown spices that glide across the palate. The texture and mouthfeel of the wine offers up silky tannins and a velvety smooth structure. Click on the link above for a great recipe to serve with this spectacular wine.
The South African Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon also arrived in January. The wild, herbaceous flavours and tart, grapefruit-like character of the Sauvignon Blanc and the flavours of honeydew melon and sweet honey of the Semillon make a lush, balanced wine with great up-front fruit and a satisfying, rich finish. Click on the link above for an incredibly decadent recipe to serve with this delicious wine.
The California Petite Sirah/Zinfandel has just arrived. Grippingly tannic, bold and deeply coloured Petite Sirah complements the jamminess of Zinfandel, taming the abundant blueberries and blackberries with a hint of dark cherry and vanilla. Full-bodied with a lingering palate and peppery spice, this is a wine of unprecedented power and length. Click on the link above for a fabulous recipe to serve with this bold wine.
If you have pre-ordered these wines we will be contacting you shortly. If you did not pre-order, we a few extra kits still, so if you are interested let us know as soon as possible. These Limited Edition kits are always great and sell out fast!
And don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook. We post the latest news and specials regularly. It is the best way to keep up to date on what’s happening!
Cheers!
Julie & Mike
