Monthly Archives: November 2010

Wine makes the holidays better!

Ramblings

Hi everyone, we have entered the time of year when the hours accelerate and there is hardly time to get everything done!

To take some stress away, I have two things to share with you.

1.  Getting cranky gave me the idea to offer a coupon in our store.

What made me cranky?

The holiday season started in SEPTEMBER this year.
I enjoy the time with friends and family, but Christmas music before Halloween – I thought the only store allowed to display Christmas decorations early was Joanne Fabrics?

If you haven’t already found a gift for that wine lover of yours. Use coupon code BAHHUMBUG at checkout now through December 15th.

This will give you 10% off your order of $50 or more.
Since I am not a big corporation and believe I already offer the lowest prices, all that I ask in return is that you let me know how the gift goes over.
That is not even a requirement, just a request.

2.  Turning to a more positive side, I do enjoy the chill in the air, relaxing with friends, and enjoying some mulled wine…

What are your favorite holiday traditions involving wine? Please share in the comments below, and I will choose a winner at random on
December 31st to win a $50 gift certificate to use at a Grape Thoughts event or in the store.

Seriously? NYC knows no Beaujolais?

Ramblings

So, I was walking back to my hotel – the Best Western Seaport Inn downtown.
How lucky am I to have THREE wine bars on this little street?

Not lucky enough. NONE of them even knew what a Beaujolais Nouveau is, or that last night
was Beaujolais Day.

I will just have to get my fix when I get back to Pittsburgh.

Or…at lunchtime. 🙂

Happy Beaujolais Nouveau Day – 2010 !

Events, Wine Education, Wine News

A couple of years ago,  our local wine club in Pittsburgh started celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau Day.

Beaujolais is a region in France which has found marketing gold in offering Beaujolais Nouveau – a wine in which Gamay grapes are picked, pressed, fermented, bottled, in a matter of weeks.

These bottles are rushed around the world to go on sale the third Thursday in November.

This light bodied red finds it’s way to us in the States just in time for Thanksgiving.

This Gamay is made to drink young, with the distinct aromas of….Bananas?!?!!

That sure is a fun aroma to search for when you try this one.

So, set Pandora to a French station, and open a bottle of the 2010.

Even though some say Beaujolais is only good for a year, others have attested to finding Beaujolais that has aged well up to three years or so. What’s nice, if this is true, most shops put their Beaujolais Nouveau on sale to make way for the new releases.

I have been so busy lately, no time for a full French menu in a happening location.

So, this year I am having members of the wine club over. Not enough room for everyone as we are remodeling.

SO, please pop open a bottle and leave a comment here about your experience.

One lucky commenter will win a gift certificate to use for wine gifts for the holidays.

Enjoy! Or should I say…