THE TUESDAY ICE SHIPMENT IS IN !!!!!!!!

We have recieved our ice shipment today. In order to help as many people as possible we our selling a maximum of 3 bags per customer. We realize how difficult these times have been post-Irene and are happy to be able to offer ice. We have even had people looking for ice for their friends and neighbors. Hopefully by tomorrow more of the community has their power restored and ice can be used for keeping kegs cold or putting in your drinks!

- Greg

We just got our delivery of ICE

Since Irene blew out of here Leaving 65% of our town without electricity, everyone is working to get back on track with their lives and the most asked question today here at Harry's has been...

Do you have any Ice?

We had some early on but it was gone with the first wave of people. We are fortunate to be a big seller of ice in geneeral for our supplier and when we called this morning they gave us some good news, Your are on "the list" for delivery today. Well, they just finished loading us up so we stuck a sign up on the road the says it pretty matter of factly.

WE HAVE ICE

We aren't selling much in the way of beer or wine but the parking lot has been buzzing with people looking for those frosty cold blocks. I don't know how long we'll have a supply so if you are in the need stop down asap and we'll get you taken care of. 3 bags per sale please.

-Patrick

Wine Tasting 1-4pm Saturday, Aug 27

Your host is Jordan Ross of Pasternak Imports.

Pictured with Jordan are our neighbors and the owners of The Fairfield Cheese Company, Chris Palumbo and Laura Downey who just had a very nice honor bestowed on them when they recieved "Best Cheese Shop in Connecticut" as voted by Connecticut Magazine. It is an award that was hard earned and well deserved. Since there inception just two years ago their growth and commitment to excellence in their field have been great to watch through the glass wall that divides our two stores. If you haven't had the opportunity to stop in, please consider this your invitation.
Congratulations to everyone at the Cheese shop we couldn't be happier for you!

La Petite Perriere Sauvignon Blanc 2010 $9.99
Brilliant, pale straw gold with a translucent rim. Nose: fresh, clean and youthful with delicate nuances of lime, grapefruit, green apple. Well integrated acidity; medium bodied with lingering citrus-apple aromatic notes in the finish.


Les Charmes Macon Lugny 2009 $12.99
Fresh & crisp in the mouth, it has floral and fruity aromas with lemony nuances. Rich, full- bodied, almost unctuous dry white wine features a greenish-gold robe.


Prieure de Montezargues Tavel Rosé 2010 $22.99
This classic orange/salmoncolored wine offers up an exquisite nose of dried flowers, framboise, strawberry jam, Provencal herbs and spice. Its considerable depth of flavor and full body make this very dry rose the quintessential example of a great Tavel.


Marie de Beauregard Chinon 2009 $14.99
It has a rich ruby color and excellent structure. This value-priced wine has a subtle peppery spice and darker berry fruits with rich tannins on the finish and a juicy freshness throughout.

Irene is on her way, Do you have everything you need?

As we all hunker down in anticipation of hurricane Irene we have to wonder, have I done enough? Is it going to be as big as they say? Do I have everything I need? Well, I have been tracking this storm wondering what the impact will be on Harry's and Fairfield in particular but also the whole east coast. Is it just hype or are we in line for a devasting storm that will change the east coasts landscape forever? There are lots of questions and theories but not many answers. I guess only time will tell.

We at Harry's are a pretty sturdy bunch and we have helped our customers through the years to get their "emegency supplies" and today is no different. Just this past winter as the snow piled up and the mounds created by the plows kept rising our dorrs were kept open. I had a few people say to me that they knew we would be there, open and ready to go. Now I can't predict the future when it comes to mother nature but I can tell you that We are open since 8:00 am like usual and we will hang in as long as the weather permits. We aren't crazy and we'll be tracking Irene like everyone else. We all have families and won't put our employees in harms way but there are people looking for their emergency rations and though the supplies of Dark and stormies and Hurricanes will surely be put to the test we'll do our best to supply those in need.

A new load of ice will be in early a.m., we had some cases of water brought in, a couple of trucks delivering beer will come by soon the shelves are loaded with Rum. Recipes for recipes for Dark and Stormies and Hurricanes are below for those that need them.

Best wishes for a safe weekend to all!

-Patrick


Hurricane recipe:
1 oz vodka
1/4 oz grenadine syrup
1 oz gin
1 oz light rum
1/2 oz Bacardi® 151 rum
1 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1 oz triple sec
grapefruit juice
pineapple juice

Pour all but the juices, in order listed, into a hurricane glass three-quarters filled with ice. Fill with equal parts of grapefruit and pineapple juice, and serve.
Serve in: Hurricane Glass


Dark and Stormy recipe:
2 oz Gosling's Black Seal rum
3 oz Ginger beer
lime wedge for garnish if desired
Preparation:
Build the ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice cubes.
Garnish with the lime wedge.

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Aug 26

Your host will be Lindsey from Long Trail.



$15.99 for the Mix Pack


Blackberry Wheat
Light, crisp and refreshing, Blackbeary Wheat is modeled after the spontaneously fermented "Lambics" of Belgium. Real blackberries added to the fermentation contribute a subtle fruitiness to this Summer Quencher! Available May through August.



Pale Ale
This classic English-style pale ale features a modest malt body and a well balanced citrus, pine hop aroma. Our Pale Ale is lightly filtered to provide a delightfully robust flavor experience.



Belgian White
Our Belgian White Ale is modeled after the original Belgian Witbiers brewed in monasteries during the early 14th century. The soft notes of citrus and spice are topped with a light fluffy head that finishes clean and crisp.

Organic Wine

Going green is a popular trend which has impacted peoples' lifestyles and the wines they buy. However, some wine companies find when their bottles are marked as "organic" they are automatically grouped with other wines of a different caliber. "Frogs Leap" for example prides itself on being a sustainable winery since they started, however it will never say so on their bottles. If you take a look at its website (http://www.frogsleap.com/flash/intro.html), there are many segments dedicated to their belief in sustainable wine making practices.

Here at Harry's we have a wide variety of organic and sustainably farmed wines at a range of prices. Anytime you see a green label on the wine rack, it means the wine comes from an organic winery. Generally speaking, those customers looking for organic wine head to the corner of the store where one can find kosher, half bottles, and non-alcoholic wine however we have many of our organic wines all over the store depending on where they are from.

Depending on the origin of any given wine, there may be different regulations in place before a wine can be called organic. For example, in Canada, if a wine label says "100% organic" it means the wine is produced with grapes that are 100% organically grown and do not have any sulfur dioxide added. Additionally, if a wine label says "organic" (and it's from Canada) it means that 95% of the wine comes from organic grapes with a very low level of sulfur dioxide added. Yes, a small difference in labels, but it can be a big difference to a consumer. The list continues with specific regulations (which you can read on winesofcanada.com/organic) in order for a wine to receive the prestigious organic wine certification. It is important to recognize that just because a wine is organic, it does not necessarily mean it is completely sulfite free, so if you are unsure, simply ask on of our wine people!

Many international wineries have had trouble getting certification from the United States NOP (National Organic Program) because the regulations required in the US are more strict than in many other countries. Essentially, what is organic in Argentina for example may not be perceived as such in the United States which makes it tricky for many small international wineries to export their organic wines. For them the easy solution to this is for companies to simply going without putting the name "organic" on the label and hope for the best, which is what many have done. Mostly, it is the big name international wineries that can afford to make the label changes that are required by the US standards.

Here are some of the vineyards carried at Harry's that deemed organic:
Frog's Leap, Benzinger, Grgich Hills, Urban, Argiolas, Tilia, Kaesler, Parducci, Gruet, Heartland, and Calera.

-Georgina Heasman

QR Code but this time you can win something

I've been talking about these QR Codes for the better part of the summer and this week we came across this one in a case of Mionetto Sergio that came in. One of our guys has an iphone with the reader on it so I asked him to scan it to see what it could tell us. He did and it took him to a site where they are running a contest where the winners get these Prizes: One (1) Illy Espresso machine. Approximate Retail Value ("ARV"): $400. One (1) OXO Kitchen Set. ARV: $99.99. One (1) OXO Barware Set. ARV: $99.99. One (1) OXO Wine Sleeve. ARV: $24.99. One (1) OXO Wine Rack. ARV: $19.99. Twenty-five (5) Wine Stoppers. ARV: $6.99 each.
The contest ends August 31, 2011. Drawing is on September 15th.

Just putting it out there, we aren't getting anything out of it and although I like the Sergio Prosecco, I don't have anything to do with the contest. It only takes a couple of minutes if you feel like getting in it. These QR codes are popping up everywhere I guess it is time to upgrade my old cellphone and join the modern age. Funny, it wasn't so long ago that I got my first cellphone and now it seems like if you don't upgrade about every 6 months or so you fall behind pretty quickly. Hard to believe how fast technology is moving now.

-Patrick

Some Things Must Come To An End!

One of the most popular wines we have carried this year has been the Orogeny Pinot Noir. Coming from the highly touted 2007 vintage out of California, this wine offers silky flavors of cranberry, raspberry and cherry with a soft and elegant finish. Orogeny has surpassed our wildest expectations and our current stock is dwindling fast. Based on our sales history, we will run out sometime in the next month, and our experience shows that when a hot item like this is coming to an end it can go quicker than expected. We are fortunate enough to be one of the few stores in the country that still carries this delicious wine and IT WILL BE GONE SOON! If this happens to be one of your favorite wines or if you are looking for something new to try get it now before this wine becomes a thing of a past. $21.99 a bottle.

-Chris O

Wine Tasting 1-4pm Saturday, Aug 20

Your host is Juan Costa of Maja Imports. Maja imports was started in 1993 by a gentleman named Inaki Castro after retiring from Jai Alai, Juan, met and married inaki's daughter Biotza (translated is "Heart" in the Basque language) and started the company with him. Juan now owns Maja imports with his wife. Today Juan is tasting 2 from Spain and 2 from Portugal. All represent great value in their indvidual price to quality ratio. An interesting side note...A wine presently on our shelves is Inaki's namesake and appropriately named "Inaki". The bottle has a Pelota on the label (this is the basket used to play the game). A very popular wine with our customers when we can get it and has been since he first made it 6 years ago. Ask the staff to show you where it is

Quinta da Romeira White 2010 $12.99
The Arinto grape provides great delicacy and intense flavors that work together here. There are citrus and tropical fruits with a touch of pineapple. Fresh and crisp, the citric flavors and aromas dominate this fresh, green wine from the coast near Lisbon. It is zesty with some layers of tannin and grapefruit.


Dao Cabriz Red 2008 $9.99
A well-structured, muscular red, with a touch of Asian spice to the wild plum and dried raspberry flavors. Beef and mineral notes mark the finish. Distinctive, with a very sauvage allure. Drink now through 2015. Wine Spectator, 90 pts


Flor de Raim Cava N.V. $9.99Vibrant aromas of ripe peach and pear with a hint of spice fill the nose. The palate is dry with a crisp, clean texture. Flavors include citrus and spice that persist through an elegant finish.


Don Quijote Red 2009 $7.99
Berry and jam aromas with a touch of cacao. In the mouth it has good structure and well integrated tannins, showing flavors of fruit, dark chocolate and liquorice. 60% Tempranillo, 20% Syrah, and 20% Cab Franc

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Aug 19

Your host is Michael B. Bergeron of Sapporo Brewing, Pictured here with Jessica from Black Rock Vintners tasting through Mikes line-up of beers. He brought some swag with him, t-shirts and the like for some of our eary bird tasters So get down here quick if you want some.

Jessica was stopping in to tell us about Black rock's newest additions to their portfolio which will include a Malbec and a Barbera which are soon to be released. We will have the opportunity to tast the new wines in the coming week or so and will be happy to give you our own opinions.In the mean time come on by and try the Sapporo suds, they're pretty tasty today.






Sapporo $3.29/22oz $8.99/6pb
Pours clear golden with a medium white head. Aroma is light hops, light fruit and light malt. The flavour is sweet malt, light hops and light fruit.



Sapporo Reserve $3.29/22oz
Sapporo Reserve is a super premium lager brewed almost twice as long as other competing brands. Reserve is brewed with only finest European barley, and the most select European hops.

Excellent Alsatian Pinot Gris for just $14.99!!!!

Earlier this week I brought home the new vintage of the Hugel Pinot Gris Classic to pair with a chicken dish I was making, it worked wonderfully! Here at Harry's we were big fans of the 2006 release of this wine and the 2007 is every bit as good. Most people know pinot gris better as the light bodied white wine, pinot grigio, from the northeastern region of Italy.

Pinot Gris from the Alsace region of France has a different flavor profile than the pinot grigios most of us know. The Hugel has a very rich character and a fuller body marked by the following flavors and aromas - peach, a lemon-lime note, earthiness, and a "stony" minerality. Beneath this layer of the wine there is a hint of smokiness and savory herbs. Besides chicken, this wine would also pair well with pork, cheeses, and fish. I really liked this wine and am quite sure it will drink well for the next 5 or 6 years. So stop in and pick up this great wine to try out!

- Greg

A couple of weeks ago I opened a bottle of Ca' del Baio Barbaresco Asili 2006. When I had my first sip I found the wine very dry, no fruit, in a word, disappointing. My initial thought was to let it open for an hour and go back to it after it had some time to breathe. I work in the business and because of that I understand that some wines need a little time before they really show their personality and the grape in Barbaresco (Nebbiolo) is notorious for being very tannic and needing that time. After I waited more than an hour, I went back to it expecting it to be much better but it wasn't in fact it hadn't changed at all. I was very upset, this is not an inexpensive wine and I felt even though some of my co-workers said that they really liked the wine it just wasn't a very good one. That was Sunday.
Jump forward two days to Tuesday and I see at that stupid bottle staring back at me from the counter in the kitchen and I am reminded what a disappointment it is, reluctantly I went back to it for the third time (go ahead dummy try it, get let down again) I can't say that I was expecting much but how can I just throw a $50 bottle of wine down the drain? To my amazement it had finally opened up. It was beautiful, the fruit was showing, it was in balance, all of the pieces seemed to have fallen in place and this was an exceptional bottle! The experience showed me something, I didn't hold out any hope for that bottle and for all of my doubt I was rewarded with a brilliant wine after 3 days. Some wines need time, they really need to be in the cellar and given a chance to develope before you try to drink them. This wine in particular needs at least 5 years before it should be drunk but patience will be rewarded. The great wines are meant to be aged and if you open them before their time you are not going to enjoy them and you are not getting the most for your money. So, the next time you open an expensive bottle of wine and think it just isn't that good, give it some time and see if it doesn't just need some time to breathe so that it can come into its own. You might just be surprised.

-Christelle

ENTWINE TASTING

Your host will be Elena Shulman of New England Wine and Spirits.
Pictured with Elena is Harry's Wine patron and online friend Tom Bauder. Tom is perhaps Harry's biggest contributor on our Facebook page, often Tom will "like" or comment on our posts offering his view on things which we like very much. Thanks Tom!





Food Network and Wente Vineyards announced Entwine, the first Food Network wine portfolio featuring four varietals – a 2009 vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Grigio. Created with the 100 million households the network reaches in mind, as well as consumers across America, this new wine line from two of the country’s leading food and wine pioneers will be available in summer 2011. “We wanted to take the mystery out of wine for our viewers so that they could enjoy the marriage of food and wine as much as we do,” says Sergei Kuharsky, General Manager of New Enterprises, Food Network.



Food Network Entwine
All $10.99/bottle



Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Rich, fruity, and herbaceous with a touch of raspberry and thyme.

Merlot 2009
Perfectly ripe and juicy, like summer plums and cherries.

Chardonnay 2009
Delicious and satisfying, like a piece of toast spread with apple butter.

Pinot Grigio 2009
Crisp and refreshing, layered with lime, honey and a hint of green apple.

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Aug 12

Your host will be Chris Tucci of Drinx Unlimited






Hartford Brewing Company Arch IPA $8.99/6pb
Traditional India Pale Ale dominated by fruit and hops, light golden in colour with a floral aroma.

Hartford Brewing Company Arch Amber Ale $8.99/6pb
Arch Amber is a complex infusion of 5 hops, 5 malts and a centuries-old English top-fermenting yeast. A tried-and-true recipe brewed with crisp and clear New England water. Real beer drinkers know that balance is the real challenge of great beer-making, not too much of one hop not too much of any one malt. Balance, complexity and freshness describe the flavors and the spirit behind Hartford’s own Arch Amber. Balanced, complex, traditional and everyday-drinkable.

Wolters Pilsner $6.99/6pb
Clear golden colour, notes of honey and herbal flavours.

Wolters Fest $6.99/6pb
Medium bodied amber lager brewed with carmalized malt for a slightly sweet, well balanced finish.

A Summer Night in Athens Greek Wine Dinner

Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market,
Viale Restaurant & Mina Foods Present:
A Summer Night in Athens Greek Wine Dinner




With Host Dimos Mitas, Owner Mina Foods
Tuesday, August 16 7PM
$60 plus tax and tip


Greek Cheeses & Mezes
Feta
Kaseri
Kefalograviera
Dolma (stuffed grape leaves)
Special pepperoncini & Olives
Cucumber and tomato wedges
Loukaniko (Greek sausage with orange peel)
Muses Estate #9 White 2010

Second Course:
Grilled Octopus & Grilled Calamari
Medineo Roditis 2010 & Muses Savatiano 2010

Third Course:
Lamb Chops with Spinach
Chicken Souvlaki and oven roasted potatoes with a hint of lemon
Quadrille 2005 & Laloudi Agiorgitiko 2007

Fourth Course:
Assorted Greek pastries
Samos Muscat N.V.


For reservations please contact:
Viale Ristorante
3171 Fairfield Ave, Black Rock
RSVP 203.610.6193
www.vialeristorante.com

A Wine You'll Never Forget!

Italy is known as one of the finest producers of wine throughout the entire world and are known for their elegant and rustic characteristics. One of my favorite Italian wines has to be Palazzo Della Torre from Allegrini This wine incorporates three different types of grapes made in a ripasso style. 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese. This wine is unique in that it follows some of the same steps as an Amarone. 70% of the grapes are vinified right after harvest and the remaining 30% are dried until the end of December. By drying out the grapes it gives this wine an extra dimension of richness and body unlike any wine that I have encountered. Scents of chocolate, coffee, dark fruit and licorice can all be seen on the palate and will only get better with age. Stop by and try this exciting and scrumptious wine for yourself! Drink now through 2017. $18.99

Chris O

Great Wines of Rioja Sun, September 18th 2011 5pm

WINE DINNER: Great Wines of Rioja Sun, September 18th 2011 5pm Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar 4180 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield , RSVP 203-255-0800 Great Wines of Rioja Sunday, September 18, 5PM Barcelona Wine Bar, Fairfield $50 plus tax and tip 203-255-0800 Wine and Food Menu TBA

Wine Tasting 1-4pm Saturday, Aug 6

Your host is Fernando Ferreira of Iberia Wines. Pictured with Fernando is Michael Tierney aka "Dr. Mike", Dr. Mike is our single most successful century club member (scroll down for more on his very impressive achievement)




Trevo Vinho Verde 2010 $9.99
An extremely refreshing, flowery Vinho Verde with a pleasant acidity. Typical notes of fresh lemon and hay. Beautiful sparkling carbonic acid. The perfect summer wine - goes very well with seafood.


Trevo Vinho Verde Rose 2010 $9.99
Strawberry and pomegranate flavors and a delicate effervescence make this crisp, dry, cooler an excellent foil for spicy ribs, juicy burgers, and crunchy coleslaw.


Confraria Moscatel 2010 $6.99
White flowers, ripe pears, apricots, and peaches show both on the nose and the palate. The smell is as refreshing as the taste.


Vista Touriga Nacional 2007 $12.99
Deep almost black purple colour. The aromas are rich, ripe red fruit with a hint of French Oak. Spice and soft tannins on the palate make this very pleasing.


More on Dr. mike...
An avid wine fan, Dr. Mike began taking classes at Harry's Wine School nearly a decade ago. In one of those classes the instructor Len Gulino, talked about a group called the "The Wine Century Club". This group is made up of individuls from around the globe that have tasted at least 100 grape varietals (more info here) some of the groups members have tasted an astounding number of varietals and among their ranks is Dr. Mike. Today when he walked through our door he had 296 varietals under his belt. Then, to our Amazement, when he tasted through our line-up today he was able to add 2 new grapes to his already impressive count. Todays additions were Espadero (in the rosè) and Moscatel giving him a grand total of 298! Think about that for a minute...298 that is a big number. Most people are familiar with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Malbec, Pinot Grigio and so on. But take a few minutes and start adding the varietals you've tasted in your head and 50 seems a long way out. Lets say that you have had more exposure to the wine world, traveling, classes, experimenting and so on, are there a 100 or 125 varietals that come to mind? Now look at his number again, 298, it is an impressive number to be sure.
In the picture above you can also see two more bottles to Dr. Mikes right that our wine buyer, William Miller, hunted down for him earlier this week which will add an astounding 5 more varietals to his repertoire. The wines pictured with him include the grapes Corvinone, Rossignola, Oseleta, Dindarella, and Spatburgunder which will officially push him over the "Treble" or 300 mark in the wine century club and bring his total up to an almost unbelievable 303! Even to seasoned tasters working in the trade, this is quite an impressive feat putting him into a very select group, and while he may not yet be in a class by himself, I can assure you that it does not take long to call role.

Cheers Mike, Congratulations on you amazing achievement!

-Patrick

Friday Beer tasting August 5, 2011 4pm-7pm

Your host is Harry's own, The Beer Master, Renzo Kian







Duvel $10.99/750ml
Four generations of the Moortgat family have brought together Pilsner malts, Bohemian hops, and a unique yeast strain to create this intense, aromatic and beguiling ale. This Belgian favorite is best enjoyed chilled (40 - 50 F)


Saison Dupont $7.29/750ml
Saison Dupont is a classic Belgian farmhouse ale. This is a beautifully balanced, complex beer that has a refreshing fruitiness and long, dry finish. It is bottled unfiltered so it may be cloudy or have a slight sediment but this is normal and perfectly natural.


Scaldis $3.99/11.9oz
It was created in 1933 by Alfred Dubuisson, grand-father of the present family brewer, Hugues. Its former name was "Bush Beer 24°" (the density in Ballings), but today it is known as Bush Amber. Its amber colour is due to the use of caramel malt in the production process. Its bitter sweet taste provides it with firmness and personality. What's more, it helps digestion.

To Grüner, or not to Grüner ????

To Grüner, or not to Grüner ???? The answer is YES, pick up a Grüner Veltliner (Grüner for short) and enjoy Austria's lesser known white wine. For years Riesling was what first came to mind when thinking about great Austrian wines. Over the last 5 or 6 years Grüner has continued to grow here in the U.S. and nearly every good restaurant and wine shop will have at least one to offer you. Here at Harry's we usually have at least a half-dozen to choose from.

Recently I was out with some friends and we all decided on splitting a bottle of Grüner to drink as an apéritif while we looked over the menu. Each one of us agreed that it was a great wine and a perfect starter for a warm summer evening. The wines are refreshing and interesting. Across the board, Grüners exhibit great balance of fruit and minerality.

The first thing people notice when buying a Grüner is that many come in a 1 liter bottle (750ml is the common wine bottle size) and instead of a cork, many are sealed with a "pop top" (more commonly seen on beer bottles). These features help people in identifying these wines. We often hear someone come in and say, "I was over friends house this weekend and they had a great white wine that had a beer cap on it". This makes our job very easy, we simply march them over to they Austria section and show them the selection.

Two Grüners I have had recently are:
2009 Weingut Groiss, 1 liter, 12% alc, $9.99
2010 Weingut Berger, 1 liter, 12.5% alc, $14.99

Both are excellent wines. The Berger has a little more of a "citrus thing" going on, albeit still tempered by a nice firm mineral backbone. Anyone who is a Sauvignon Blanc fan should give this one a try. The Groiss is definitely a less fruity choice, more like an Alsatian Pinot Gris. I really enjoyed both of them and look forward to having each one again before summers end.

I forgot to mention, besides being great refreshing wines that are meant to be consumed within a few years, Grüner's also come in very high quality and age-worthy styles. These wines can age many years like great white burgundies. Grüner's of this caliber will be found in more traditional bottle shapes with cork closures for better aging.

Come in and check out our selection and give a bottle a try!

- Greg

How to keep your wine from tasting flat the 2nd day

We get this question alot and there are a number of opinions about the best answer.

First off, we sell a fair amount of reverse pumps that exract air from the bottle and theorically that will make it hold up longer. There is also the notion that if you put it in the refridgerator it slows the process and inert gas such as argon that helps to keep the bottle from getting that "flat" taste on day 2. All of these ideas have their merits and if one of them is your favorite and you like the effect on your open bottle of wine, I say keep at it.

Here is the scientific side of this subject...

Oxygen is the killer of your wine. So, using a reverse pump extracts much of the air in your bottle, thus slowing down the oxidation of the wine. In my opinion (not that it counts for much) it works pretty well on a bottle that has had a glass or so taken out of it and is pumped fairly soon after it has been opened. However, If there is a glass left in the bottle and it has been sitting on the table all night you will likely find that the next day it didn't help much. The reason is that the air to wine ratio was to high and you weren't able to get enough of the air out and the wine oxidized. All in all not a bad method if you work it properly and understand the concept of "oxidzed wine" and why it happens.

How about if I put it in the refridergator? Well, my research shows me that most people believe that it slows down the molocules in the wine thereby slowing the process of oxidation. I can only say that my experiences with this method have not been very favorable. I guess if I think about it I would say that if there was 3/4 or more of the bottle left when I put it in the refridgerator it would work better, but that still goes back to the wine, air ratio in the bottle and how quickly it oxidizes. Meaning that if I had the same amount of wine in two bottles and left one on the counter re-corked and put one in the refridge I believe the next day there would not be a decernable difference. That is just my theory, I haven't actually put it to the test. There is also the idea that red wine likes stable temperature so bringing it down in temperature then back up the next day will shock the wine and isn't good for it.If you tried it and been successful feel free to speak up, as I said it is just my own thought.

And then there is inert gas. This one is interesting to me and here's how it works...

Chemistry – Argon is an inert gas and does not interact with wine. Argon is non-metallic, colorless, odorless, tasteless and naturally in the air we breathe. Argon is heavier than oxygen and lighter than wine.

Physics – The heavier gas will displace the lighter gas. Argon displaces the oxygen and creates a vapor barrier between the wine and the oxygen, preventing oxidation from spoiling the wine.

You purchase a can of compressed air (argon) which is heavier than oxygen and when you are going to store your wine overnight or longer you simply spray some of the gas in to the bottle which pushes out some or all of the oxygen and rests on the wine. This does not hurt the wines and it puts a layer of protection down keeping the wine safe from the pesky oxygen. I have actually seen some pretty good results from this method. I guess the only real downsides are cost, $10-15 a can, supply (we don't carry it), and if you are moving it around, the gas is easily jostled which will break up the barrier. I guess as I think about that last thought, if your wine is being jostled around you are probably living through an earthquake and your wine isn't your biggest problem. My experience with the problem is when a salesman brings in a sample bottle that has been jiggling around in their backseat for a couple days an the effect of the gas is muted.

Are you ready for the inside scoop now?

In the trade we have discovered another method... This is the one that caps them all as far as I am concerned and I wish I could credit the person that first told me about it but I just don't remember who it was.

Are you ready?

So simple and yet so ingenious... when I tell people they almost always say "that makes sense, Why didn't I think of it?" and it does, and I didn't either but someone did and it works very well.

Here it is... 1/2 bottles! Now wait just a second let me finish. You don't need to start buying 1/2 bottles for the rest of your life, there just isn't a good enough selection of them out there and they generally have a price tag that is around 3/4's of the price of a full bottle. No, what I am suggesting is to buy a couple of half bottles and keep them once you have enjoyed the wine in them. At my house there are always 3 or 4 on the cabinet that I have soaked the labels off of and rinsed out well with hot water (no soap, I made that mistake, yuk!) and a few clean, good quality corks. If I believe there is a fair to good chance that I will not finish the bottle of wine I am about to open, the first thing I do when I open that bottle is to pour half of it in to one of the bottles that I have stored away. Fill the bottle up right into the neck. The reason is that you want as little air in the bottle as possible, don't get crazy, a little air is fine. If you look at any bottle of wine you will always see a small amount of air in the "neck" or "shoulder" if you tilt it a little. Ok, now push a clean cork down in to the neck until it is jus above the level of wine and voila! You have a bottle that can be held for days, even weeks without any change. It is brilliant and so easy to do. The other great thing about it is that if you decide you want another glass later in the evening all you have to do is pop it open and finish the bottle (happens alot at my house). Rinse the bottle and you are ready for the next time.

Interesting to note that while I was blogging this, I got that very question from a customer that I work with fairly regularly and wouldn't you know it, he left with two 1/2 bottles and a smile on his face.

Cheers

-Patrick

Could summer be over already?

It is a sad day today at Harry's.

Here it is the first day of August, the real dog days of summer and a couple of key things happened today that let us know that summer is drawing to a close. First, today we took down one of our Rosè racks and counted the number of labels remaining... 55 types remain, which sounds like alot until you consider that at our high mark was 105 this year. Couple that with the fact that we are having difficulty replenishing some of our favorites of the season and it starts to sink in, the fall season is just around the corner.

If you are a rosè fan, come by and pick up some of your favorites before they are gone for the year. I'm giving all that read this blog fair warning so don't wait, the selection will not be the same in 2 weeks, if your are like me and are thinking about Rosè for your Labor day party, trust me, you will want to inquire sooner than later.

Oh yea, the other sign that summer is winding down...

Somebody came to me talking about Ocktoberfest!

-Christelle