Wine Tasting - Saturday 1-4PM, May 31

Your host is Christopher Lawther of Hartley and Parker Select Brands.

Bargemone Provence Rosé 2013                        $15.99

Classic aromas of wild strawberries and red currants with a light, floral character and a crisp, bone-dry palate,  Perfect with Provence-inspired cuisine, this wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault from 25+ year-old vines.

Angeline Sauvignon Blanc Russian River 2013          $12.99

Enticing aromas of exotic spices and fresh picked limes. Green apple and freshly cut hay are all wrapped up in a juicy, zesty mouth feel. Sassy!  Winemaker’s Notes

Capestrano Montepulicano d’Abruzzo 2011     $9.99

Juicy and fruit-driven, showing floral and mocha undertones to damson plum and blueberry fruit character. Drink now.  Wine Spectator, 86 pts

Angeline Pinot Noir 2012                                    $10.99

This has a lively garnet color with aromas of intense fruit, luscious vanilla and spice. Bright fruit flavors of fresh strawberry, cherry, raspberry and ripe plum are layered with creamy vanilla, earthy overtones, tea spice and sweet toasty oak on the finish.  Winemaker’s Notes

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, May 30

Your host is Jeff from BMC Imports

Witterke $11.29 6pk

Charms you with its own character, smooth taste and a unique delicious aroma. A very pleasant drink, light in alcohol with a crisp and refreshing flavor. WITTEKERKE is always served cold, but in taking your time to enjoy it, you will find more flowery and spring flavors towards the end of your glass. Although the hoppy bitterness is an underlying taste, it is never dominant. Perfect white head.

Piraat Dry Hop $13.29 750ml

The brewers at brewery Van Steenberge had noticed the trend toward more hoppy beers worldwide and decided to experiment with the world famous Piraat Ale to produce a strong, rounded yet complex brew with defined hop character. The final result is Piraat Triple Hop! Using Piraat as the base offers the brew a full bodied sweet based from the caramelized malt blended with dry characteristics derived from the high levels of alcohol. The brewer then adds four different hops into the brew at 3 different occasions during the brewing process (Hence Triple Hop). The hops pitched are Saaz, Tetra and Aurora twice in the brewhouse and then Cascade is used to dry hop. The four styles of hop delivers a complex character which stands up to the great name of Piraat!

Piraat Ale $4.29 11oz
A robust tan head throws a thick blanket over this orange brew. Smells of mostly light fruits (pear, green apple, peach), Belgian yeast and very faint hops, if any. Big fruits and subtle hops mix quickly on the tongue and play together nicely, forming a pleasant, creamy, medium body. Alcohol heat flickers across the back of the throat. Flavorful and consistent all the way through.

Gulden Draak $12.99 750ml
Gulden Draak is a high fermentation beer with secondary fermentation. For the secondary fermentation, wine yeast is used. The white bottle, the black banner, the golden dragon and the red letters, constitute a stylish result that has no equal among the many Belgian special beers. Gulden Draak can be drunk as an aperitif or dessert, or whenever you have the time to sit back and relax. But this barley wine is also perfect with and in stews, especially the Ghent variety. It is also a plus in sauces for red meat, such as a bordelaise. It is particularly suited as a dessert beer, especially in combination with dark chocolate.

Greek Wine Class - List and Reviews

Wines of Greece Class

June 4, 2014   7 to 9pm
$35 per person
Call to reserve your spot(s) 203-259-4692

****    WHITE   ****

Muses Estate 9  2013  --  Thivaikos

Assyrtiko 50%, Trebianno 30%, Sauvignon Blanc 20%

Skouras Moscofilero 2013  --  Peloponnese              (vintages 2010 to 2012 rate 88-90 pts)

Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko  2013  --  Santorini        (vintages 2006 to 2012 rate 90-93 pts)

 

****    ROSE     ****

Kir-Yianni Akakies Rosé 2013  --  Naoussa                (Grade A-  from oddbachus.com and  Xinomavro                                                                        89 pts from Greek Wine Portal)

 

****    RED     ****

Kir-Yanni “Ramnista” Xinomavro 2010  --  Naoussa     (“reminiscent of classic Nebbiolo” and

                                                                                                vintages 2006 to 2009 rate 89-91)

Alpha Estate Axia 2010  --  Amyndeon                    (vintages 2007 to 2010 rate 88-91 pts)

Xinomavro 60% and Syrah 40% 

. . . .This has increasingly been the nicest value point in the red lineup. This may be its best iteration yet, if you are a fan of bright and earthy wines. Call it a poor man’s Barbaresco. From the first sip, it projects an earthy nose (the Syrah ascendant), ending with a crisp, mouthwatering and focused finish (credit the Xinomavro). Once past the nose, the Xinomavro seems quite dominant here, given the wine’s juicy finish and high acidity. It has a backbone, but it is nicely controlled and not overbearing, so it can be approached young. It should hold awhile, though, as it demonstrates the ability to improve over a couple of hours, getting better balanced and projecting more depth and harmony. . . .   Wine Advocate, 91 pts

Monemvasia Winery Agiorgitiko 2008 --  Peloponnese (Master of Wine Derek Smedley, 89 pts)

****    DESSERT     ****

Kourtaki Mavrodaphne  N.V.  --  Patras

Butter, maple and plum compote flavors fill this with plenty of supple sweetness. The fresh finish offers milk chocolate notes and plenty of spice.  Wine Spectator, 88 pts

 A sampling of recent accolades about Greek wine: 

Noted wine critic of Forbes magazine, Katy Kelly Bell, recently wrote, "Greek wines are some of the world’s most elegant and interesting. Any wine lover should take a chance on stumbling over a word or two for the delicious rewards in Greek wine.”

Alder Yarrow, award winning Vinography blogger proclaims, “We should all be drinking more Greek wine. Why? Because the best Greek wines offer incredible unique flavors, often at fantastic prices, thanks to being relatively unknown even to more serious wine lovers.”

Wine & Spirits magazine, managing editor Tara Q. Thomas states, "But ignoring Naoussa is folly: Never has the region’s wine scene been so exciting. Between the new players that have entered the field and the established producers refining their approach, Naoussa is at a crossroads redefining itself.”

Also, TripAdvisor just named Greece as one of the top 10 travel destinations in the world. “If you love wine, when you go to Greece, a visit to the Naoussa region should be on the top of your list of places to visit.”
 

Wine Tasting - Saturday 1-4PM, May 24

Your host will be Michael Tobin of Worldwide Wines.

Miraval Rose 2013                                              $23.99

As the French would say 'il y a du vin' – meaning that there is a sense of power alongside the elegance, a structure and a fresh acidity that gives the wine persistency, with a grip of minerality that gives a delicious mouthwatering finish.  Decanter Magazine, 91 pts

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier 2013           $12.99

Opens with fresh lemon, juicy honeydew melon, pomelo and sweet mango, complemented by soft orange blossom and carnation floral notes. The palate is crisp and mouth-watering, with yellow pear and ruby grapefruit flavors that are balanced by hints of sweet tangerine and white tea.  Winemaker’s Notes

Borgo Scopeto Chianti Classico 2010                $12.99

This is vibrant and energetic, with a base of fine-grained tannins lifting the cherry, currant, rhubarb and tobacco flavors. Taut and almost racy on the long finish.  Wine Spectator, 92 pts

Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2011                   $16.99

This wine opens with generous aromas of black fruit, toasty oak, caramel and cedar. The palate is elegantly layered with flavors of plum, cherry and blackberry, followed by trailing notes of black olive and cocoa. Fine tannins linger on a juicy, structured finish.

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, May 23

Your host is Earl of Grey Sail Brewing Company.

Flagship Can             $8.99/6pc

Our golden-colored cream ale, brewed in a similar manner to the crisp lagers of continental Europe, offers great balance between malty sweetness and noble hop bitterness. This gold-medal winning cream ale is the perfect session beer for any occasion. 

Fly Jen                        $8.99/6pc

An unfiltered extra pale ale crafted with five different malts and complimented by northwestern hops make this brew one to enjoy year-round. Generous amounts of hops in the kettle and fermenter give our EPA a citrusy and floral flavor and aroma. 

Hazy Day                   $8.49/4pc

This Belgian Wit summer offering is representative of the white beers made in the Wallonia      region of Belgium. The pronounced yeast characteristic and subdued spicing of our Belgian Wit offer a refreshing, unfiltered beer… perfect for those hot Summer days.

Ceil Rouge                 $8.99/750ml

Our Flanders-Style Red was brewed using a “sour mash” method with 6 different grains, lightly hopped and finished with a Belgian yeast, giving this limited-offer brew plenty of tartness with a slightly-oaked finish.

Memorial Day Weekend Savings 2014

Wine Classes June 2014

All classes are 7pm to 9pm

RSVP:  203-259-4692  or  harrys@snet.net

Wines of Greece            Wednesday                   June 4

Greece has the history of being the early cradle of winemaking among the Mediterranean countries.  Harry’s is proud to promote these fine wines, and at this class you can also experience the appreciation and enjoyment of this historical lineage.  The wine makers of Greece are crafting wines from indigenous varieties with a true sense of place in one of the world’s most diverse growing environments.   Greek wines are on many main stream wine lists, and they are a Sommelier’s dream for pairing with a wide range of foods.  Don’t be intimidated by the unfamiliar grape names.  We’ll give you some quick tips on how to remember your favorites, and also a couple of short-hand pronunciations that are as easy to say as “I’ll have a Cab!”  $35 one session   Just keep this one vision in mind . . .  SUMMER IN SANTORINI !

Wines of Italy               Wednesday          June 18

Italian wine lovers are in for a real treat when we have Jim Morrison of Artisan Wines here for a vinous trip “around the boot”!  Jim is a noted expert on a wide variety of Italian wines and he will be our guide for a very informative and entertaining evening of these most popular wines.  Italy continues as one of the premier wine-producing countries of the world, so please join us as we visit Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, Sardinia, and several other classic wine regions.  $35 one session  You are sure to exclaim “AMO IL VINO ITALIANO!”

Lesser Known Grapes  - Great Flavors    Wednesday                    June 25

Doug Rankin, owner of Missing Link Wine Company, has many years of wine experience.  His goal this evening will be to introduce us to a number of new and unique grapes and wine flavors.  Leave your love of Cabs and Chards at the door and open yourself up to the excitement of the unknown as Doug offers a wide range of different grapes from around the world.  Your palate will thank you for a most interesting and tasty roster of wines that you may never had the opportunity to taste . . . were it not for Doug’s “FABULOUS FINDS!”      $35 one session

Happy Mother's Day 2014 in quotes and pictures.

It’s been 100 years since Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national celebration! 
Here are some quotes dedicated to mom and a few pictures of some of our "Harry's Family" Moms through the years. 
Our heart felt thanks to all moms, for everything they do for us!
-Cheers

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn, Hundreds of bees in the purple clover, Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn, But only one mother the wide world over. ~George Cooper Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont The sweetest sounds to mortals given Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven. ~William Goldsmith Brown If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been. ~Robert Brault A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. ~Peter De Vries If the whole world were put into one scale, and my mother in the other, the whole world would kick the beam. ~Lord Langdale (Henry Bickersteth) Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. ~Author Unknown The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh All mothers are working mothers. ~Author Unknown When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul Mother — that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries. ~T. DeWitt Talmage A mother is a mother still, The holiest thing alive. ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men — from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb A mother understands what a child does not say. ~Author Unknown I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge. ~Phyllis Diller Woman in the home has not yet lost her dignity, in spite of Mother’s Day, with its offensive implication that our love needs an annual nudging, like our enthusiasm for the battle of Bunker Hill. ~John Erskine Women’s Liberation is just a lot of foolishness. It’s the men who are discriminated against. They can’t bear children. And no one’s likely to do anything about that. ~Golda Meir A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ~Irish Proverb Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories. ~John Wilmot

You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around — and why his parents will always wave back. ~William D. Tammeus


Mother, the ribbons of your love are woven around my heart. ~Author Unknown


Now that... my kids are grown, I understand how much work and love it takes to raise and to keep a family together. The example of your strength, devotion, and patience is now rippling through the generations. Thank you! ~Forest Houtenschil


Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey


Motherhood is priced

Of God, at price no man may dare
To lessen or misunderstand.
~Helen Hunt Jackson


A mom’s hug lasts long after she lets go. ~Author Unknown


Are we not like two volumes of one book? ~Marceline Desbordes-Valmore


It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn’t. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams


Who fed me from her gentle breast And hushed me in her arms to rest, And on my cheek sweet kisses prest? My Mother. ~Ann Taylor


Who ran to help me when I fell, And would some pretty story tell, Or kiss the place to make it well? My mother. ~Ann Taylor

A mother’s heart is a patchwork of love. ~Author Unknown


On Mother’s Day I have written a poem for you. In the interest of poetic economy and truth, I have succeeded in concentrating my deepest feelings and beliefs into two perfectly crafted lines:
You’re my mother,
I would have no other!
~Forest Houtenschil


Mom, when thoughts of you are in our hearts, we are never far from home. ~Author Unknown


Children are a great comfort in your old age — and they help you reach it faster, too. ~Lionel Kauffman


Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children. ~William Makepeace Thackeray


A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving


This heart, my own dear mother, bends,

With love’s true instinct, back to thee!
~Thomas Moore


Insanity is hereditary; you get it from your children. ~Sam Levenson


The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents. ~John J. Plomp


Most mothers are instinctive philosophers. ~Harriet Beecher Stowe


Before a day was over,
Home comes the rover,
For mother’s kiss — sweeter this
Than any other thing!
~William Allingham


I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich. ~Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford, M*A*S*H, "Identity Crisis,"


Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away. ~Dinah Craik


Where we love is home — home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.


In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer


Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~Marcel Proust


If I had a single flower for every time I think of you, I could walk forever in my garden. ~Claudia Adrienne Grandi


A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother. ~Author Unknown


Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce


All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his. ~Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895


Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own. ~Aristotle


A man’s work is from sun to sun, but a mother’s work is never done. ~Author Unknown


Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone


Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they didn’t have anything to do with it. ~Haim Ginott


Sing out loud in the car even, or especially, if it embarrasses your children. ~Marilyn Penland


Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. ~Charles R. Swindoll, The Strong Family


There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. ~Chinese Proverb


Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected. ~Red Buttons


If nature had arranged that husbands and wives should have children alternatively, there would never be more than three in a family. ~Lawrence Housman


Setting a good example for your children takes all the fun out of middle age. ~William Feather, The Business of Life, 1949


Your responsibility as a parent is not as great as you might imagine. You need not supply the world with the next conqueror of disease or major motion-picture star. If your child simply grows up to be someone who does not use the word "collectible" as a noun, you can consider yourself an unqualified success. ~Fran Lebowitz, "Parental Guidance," Social Studies, 1981

Wine Tasting - Saturday 1-4PM, May 3

Your host is Joanne Davis of Winebow.

Things are really jumping at the store today! Plenty of people stopping by to taste wines, stock up for tomorrow and/or just to be out in the beautiful weather. A few moms are at the table and tasting with Joanne. We are carrying on our long held tradition of passing out roses to all of the moms that come by today. These ladies don't know it yet but as soon as the camera is put down they will be handed a Rose. The flowers always seem to bring a smile to face of each recipient and it gets their once a year weekend started right. Happy Mother's Day!

Fontsainte Gris de Gris Corbieres Rose 2013      $14.99

Aromatics of raspberry, cherry and freshly picked strawberries - followed by exotic aromas such as pineapple and mango.  the palate density and richness of the fruit mingle with the superb acid vitality giving the wine a magnificent persistence.  Winemaker’s Notes

Wolffer Estate Rose 2013                                    $16.99

Bright shiny light copper in color. Vibrant aromas of crisp apples, kiwi, cantaloupe and fresh mint fill the glass. The mouth-feel is refreshing, with mouthwatering fruit and playful acidity. The wine has a long, vibrant and dry finish with great minerality.  Winemaker’s Notes

Deloach Russian River Zinfandel 2007              $9.99

Soft and jammy, with appealing black cherry and toasty pepper aromas and lively, zesty raspberry and smoky licorice flavors that nicely linger.  Wine Spectator, 89 pts

Catena Cabernet Sauvignon 2011                     $19.99

Bright ruby-red. Expressive nose melds kirsch, black raspberry, licorice, violet and graphite. Quite graceful on the palate, at once liqueur-like and energetic, with flavors of currant, cedar and graphite spreading out to saturate the palate. Finishes sweet, juicy and long, with a hint of dried herbs contributing lift.  International Winer Cellar, 90 pts

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, May 9

Your host is Chris from Shiner Brewing Company

Bock                     $9.69/6pb

Distinctive, rich, full-flavored, deep amber-colored beer with an inviting smooth taste without excessive bitterness.

Ruby Red Bird    $9.69/6pb

Brewed with genuine Texas Rio Red Grapefruit, the signature sweet citrus of the Rio Grande Valley, and ginger. This lager beer features grapefruit tartness and finishes with a ’lil kick of ginger. With Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit and Ginger, Shiner Ruby Redbird is a crisp and refreshing summer beer.

Wild Hare Ale     $9.69/6pb

Wild Hare is a classic American Pale Ale-richly hopped, fruity and floral. Munich malt nicely balances the assertive character of the U.S. Golding and Bravo hop varieties that give this brew its signature bitterness and aroma.

Harry's Wine School - Summer Speaker Series 2014

 Wines of Greece            Wednesday                   June 4

Greece has the history of being the early cradle of winemaking among the Mediterranean countries.  Harry’s is proud to promote these fine wines, and at this class you can also experience the appreciation and enjoyment of this historical lineage.  The wine makers of Greece are crafting wines from indigenous varieties with a true sense of place in one of the world’s most diverse growing environments.   Greek wines are on many main stream wine lists, and they are a Sommelier’s dream for pairing with a wide range of foods.  Don’t be intimidated by the unfamiliar grape names.  We’ll give you some quick tips on how to remember your favorites, and also a couple of short-hand pronunciations that are as easy to say as “I’ll have a Cab!”  $35 one session   Just keep this one vision in mind . . .  SUMMER IN SANTORINI

Wines of Italy               Wednesday          June 18

Italian wine lovers are in for a real treat when we have Jim Morrison of Artisan Wines here for a vinous trip “around the boot”!  Jim is a noted expert on a wide variety of Italian wines and he will be our guide for a very informative and entertaining evening of these most popular wines.  Italy continues as one of the premier wine-producing countries of the world, so please join us as we visit Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, Sardinia, and several other classic wine regions.  $35 one session  You are sure to exclaim “AMO IL VINO ITALIANO!”

Lesser Known Grapes  - Great Flavors    Wednesday                    June 25

Doug Rankin, owner of Missing Link Wine Company, has many years of wine experience.  His goal this evening will be to introduce us to a number of new and unique grapes and wine flavors.  Leave your love of Cabs and Chards at the door and open yourself up to the excitement of the unknown as Doug offers a wide range of different grapes from around the world.  Your palate will thank you for a most interesting and tasty roster of wines that you may never had the opportunity to taste . . . were it not for Doug’s “FABULOUS FINDS!”      $35 one session 

To make your reservation Call Jan at (203)259-4692 or email harrys@snet.net