The seasonality of wine drinking?...

The east coast is preparing for the first major snowstorm of the year and a part of that readiness is to break out the rock salt and start up the snow blower for the first time in 9 months. The next step is to stock up on essentials like firewood, bread, milk and of course a trip to your local package store for a bottle (or twelve) of wine, beer or other favorite adult beverage.

Through the years we have gotten to see that the type of wines selected while getting ready for an impending blizzard are very different from those that are chosen when a hurricane is getting ready to bear down on us. The primary difference being that when it is colder weather people tend towards red and warmer weather brings requests for whites.

At least that is what history has dictated.

A couple of days ago a visit from Christelle (former Harry's mainstay on our wine staff) started a conversation that had me wondering about the actual seasonality of wines and the explosion in popularity of Rosé. If you read last weeks blog post you will remember the prediction of even more popularity in the category as the 2015 vintage makes the scene a bit later this year. She and I talked about a recent outing she had and her choice to have a glass of Rosé rather than red was the right choice even though the temperature outside was down below freezing. She simply wanted a glass of wine that she would enjoy with her food and the versatility of these little beauties made a seemingly unusual choice and easy one.

Her selection was not as surprising as it would have been just a few years ago and since Rosé does balance somewhere between red and white, it has become, or at least is becoming, an all weather favorite for many. Is it as simple as the warm weather patterns that we have experienced this year? I don't think so... This past year when or display was broken down, the number of choices remained around 50 and since has dwindled a bit but consumer demand has dictated that we keep a substantial selection even as the colder weather has rolled in these past couple weeks.

While the predominate call as people get their storm supplies is a blood thickening California Cab or Argentine Mablec to sit with by the fire as Mother Nature does her damage, I do expect some "unusual" requests for the pink stuff as it continues to defy its categorization as a summer quaff.

For such a pretty and delicate wine, Rosé certainly does have some moxy and continues to broaden its appeal for many sippers of these ethereal beauties. When you stop by for your supplies today, consider taking the bold step of adding one to your own list of essentials for the storm.

-Cheers!

Let's get this party started! Fun ideas...

Summer 2015 offers a great deal of party opportunities and with everyone trying to figure out a way to make their gathering stand out and be the hit of the summer, there is quite a bit of Googling, and swapping of ideas through social media. We thought it would be fun to share some of our own ideas on ways to kick your gathering into high gear.

Consider this:

Start your party off with bubbles!
Something as simple as inexpensive Cava or Prosecco can set the stage. You can also pour a California sparkler or slide all the way up to the top of the market with a vintage Champagne if you prefer and your wallet can handle it, but the point is that bubbles are fun! Sparkling wine is refreshing and it puts people in a celebratory mood. Use the first half hour to an hour of your party to meet and greet your guests as they arrive and toast a fun evening ahead. Put out some light snacks (sparkling wine pairs great with a broad spectrum of foods) and then have a couple of extra bottles on hand for those that want to stick with it throughout the party as others opt to put down this glass in exchange for the next offering.

Rosé is the way!
In recent years Rosé has become a "go to" summer wine. They are very in vogue and more and more people are jumping on board with this fast growing trend. Use it as an addition to you wine choices for your guests and offer a red, a white and a rosé. Our guess is that if your party like many in our area, you will see great deal of interest in the wine with the ethereal pink hue.
Here is an idea... A Rosé party! Pick up a dozen or more rosés from different producers and areas around the globe, throw in a sparkler or two and mix it up. No two bottles are the same, I try this one and you try that one, everyone just enjoys tasting something new with each glass that they enjoy. Pour small amounts in each glass and keep things exciting by offering different types of foods from cheeses and salads to seafood and selections from the grill. Have your caterer make a giant Paella as the centerpiece if you like and really take it to the next level. The point is that Rosé is both chic and simple. They evoke a sense of elegance and are a wonderful dinner wine but also the perfect accompaniment to a simple picnic.

Txakolina (pronounced Chocolie) steals the show!
This is a great addition or centerpiece to your summer party and just like the previous suggestions adds a sense of fun. For those that have never heard of this wine, it is "The" wine of Spain's San Sebastian area and it is served in virtually every Tapas bar across the region. Low in alcohol with bright acidity and a perfect pairing with so many foods, this one will get everyone's attention! Why? Just look at how it is served (see picture). The traditional pouring method is to hold the wine glass down low and pour it from way up high to force air into the wine and put a mousse on top which wakes the wine up and keeps everyone ooohing and ahhing while they watch. You will need a designated "pourer" for this one to keep the spillage to a minimum but once you get the hang of it (very easy) the party will quickly move to the realm of memorable.

Signature cocktail to seal the deal!
With so many mixologists out there mixing things up in our local bars and restaurants, there are ideas everywhere. Try adding a "Blueberry smash" or maybe a "Cucumber Lemonade" to the drinks menu. These eye-popping drinks are leaving the Kir Royale of yesteryear in the rearview mirror. Go to your local Farmer's Market and see what is in season then Google recipes on your phone while you consider what local ingredients to will make your party stand out from the rest. Need some other cool ideas? Every Saturday for the rest of the summer we will be adding a signature cocktail tasting to our weekend from 4-7pm at the store. Let us help you to find the next great thing.

It is summer 2015 people, let's have some fun!

50 Shades of Pink - a Primer on French Rosé

50 Shades of Pink - a Primer on French Rosé

by Scott Hill

With the arrival of spring comes longer, sunshine-filled days, the blooming of flowers and trees, refreshing breezes redolent of new growth; we eagerly put aside our bulky winter clothing in exchange for flip-flops, shorts and t-shirts. Spring is also the most exciting time in the wine business today - the beginning of Rosé season!

Over the past decade, sales of dry rosé have skyrocketed as Americans have put aside our sweet-tooth-inspired white zinfandels and discovered the delightfully refreshing, traditional styles long enjoyed around the world. In fact, dry rosé is the fastest growing wine category in the US today - while representing a small percentage of total wine consumed here, premium rosé (over $12 per bottle) sales grew by nearly forty percent in 2013 (the last year with data available), which followed a 33% jump in 2012. The exploding sales figures have led importers and distributors to carry more selections of more styles from more places than ever before, especially in the greater New York area, which enjoyed an astounding one in five of every bottle of rosé consumed in the US in 2013.

The reasons for this rapid growth are simple - dry rosé is possibly the most versatile wine in the world. Rosé matches perfectly with a wide variety of foods, ranging from-popular Mediterranean cuisine, to Asian, Indian, Tex-Mex, and of course the all-American love affair with backyard grilling. Rosé wines are delightful by themselves as well, especially in outdoor settings - at the beach, by the pool, on the deck or patio, with a picnic. Rosés are unpretentious, at least for now. For less than $25, the majority are an affordable thirst quencher. In the glass, they practically blaze with sanguine temptation and, most importantly, rosés are simply delicious!

With so many new arrivals to choose from, which rosés should you be enjoying this year? Let’s take a quick trip through the many wine regions of France, where rosé now outsells white wine, and find out!

The South

The heart of rosé production is undeniably Provence; the coastal region surrounding the city of Marseilles on France’s Mediterranean coast produces 10% of the world’s rosé, most of which is guzzled by tourists enjoying the beaches of the French Riviera. Here, rosé is pale in color, light- to medium-bodied, crisp, firm, and refreshing with fruit flavors such as strawberry, water-melon, and grapefruit. The wines are made from an assortment of grapes including Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Rolle, Tibouren, and sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon. Look for the subregions Côtes de Provence, Les Baux-de-Provence, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, and Coteaux Varois en Provence, as well as the world famous Cassis, Palette and Bandol, which make highly prized rosés. Although the best are expensive, rosé from Provence can be found for as little is $10.

Provence is also home to the world’s only research institute dedicated to Rosé wines, the Centre de Recherche et d’Expériment-ation sur le Vin Rosé, which has created an official color scale for Provence wines including Red Currant, Peach, Grapefruit, Melon, Mango, and Tangerine. [For more great info on Provence rosé, visit their websites at www.winesofprovence.com and www.vinsdeprovence.com]

Moving northwest from Provence brings us to the southern Rhône, near the medieval city of Avignon. This area, famous for Chateauneuf-du-Pape vineyards planted in riverbed stones called galet, produces Côtes-du-Rhône and Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages (including Rasteau, Chusclan, Sablet, Cairanne, Laudun, Sablet, Visan, and Séguret) rosés ranging from the Provençal style to the deeper, mineral-driven pinks from Tavel. Using many of the same grapes as Provence, usually with a higher percentage of Syrah in the blend, these rosés tend to be more intensely colored and boldly flavored - think raspberries, currants, blood orange, - making them ideal for heartier summer fare, like charcuterie, strong cheeses, and grilled sausages and meats. The nearby sub-regions of Ventoux, Vaucluse, Gard and Luberon also make delicious rosés that are outstanding values.

Westward we go, entering the Languedoc-Rousillon, with our first stop in the Costieres de Nîmes appellation and the Coteaux du Languedoc curving along the Mediterranean coast from Nîmes, with its ancient Roman arena, through Montpellier, to Béziers. Throughout the region we find the world famous garrigue influencing the wines, with essences of the wild flowers and herbs typical on the picturesque hillsides in every glass. Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre are the dominant grapes here, resulting in rosés that are fruitier than those of Provence, yet not as deep as the Rhône pinks. The Coteaux du Languedoc includes the up-and-coming wines of Minervois and Pic Saint-Loup, darkly colored rosés often comparable to the Rhône’s Tavels, with Syrah and Mourvedre dominating the blends. Other grapes to watch for are Carignan and Grenache Gris, a pale cousin of the red Grenache grape. Turning southwest, we approach the Pyrenees, finding Corbieres before reaching Roussillon; both regions make delightful, affordable rosés. Many ‘country wines’ produced throughout this region will bear the Vin de Pays appellation, which helps explain why the area has such a positive reputation for outstanding value. Simply put the array of bargains to found boggles the mind (and the palate)!

Let’s skirt the Pyrenees along the Spanish border and head towards the Atlantic coast; a quick stop in Gascogne in the South-West of France, discovers more very pleasant pinks, straightforward and well priced, often made from a combination of Bordeaux and Rhone varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan. Following the Garonne river to the sea brings us to Bordeaux, home of the world’s greatest Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot based reds. It’s no surprise that rosé, here sometimes called clairette, is made with those grapes, too, producing medium bodied wines redolent of pink grapefruit, red currant, and strawberries. More challenging to find than other rosés, Bordeaux are worth the effort!

The North

Northward we go, to the Loire Valley,the garden of France, which extends from the Atlantic coastline at Nantes to Tours and then into the very heartland, producing some of the most popular rosé wines guzzled by tourists in Paris’ cafés. Long the playground of wealthy Paris aristocrats, the Loire is littered with stunning Age of Enlightenment châteaux, and the rolling hillsides are covered in vines producing dozens of styles of rôse! The most common, Rosés d’Anjou are fresh, fruity wines made from the local Grolleau, Cabernet Franc and Gamay grapes that often have a subtle hint of sweetness on the finish, making them a great option for those just beginning their rosé journey. Those from the villages of Bourgueil and Chinon are often 100% Cabernet Franc, delightfully fruit-driven wines of vibrant pink color and flavors of fresh herbs, raspberries, currants, even blackberry and jam. Moving inland to the upper Loire we enter Pinot Noir territory, and many Pinot Noir rôses, blended with Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, or Gamay, designated as generic Touraine Val de

Loire or Coteaux d’Auvergne provide delightful quaffing for the budget conscious. The villages of Cheverny, Noble-Joué, and Saint-Pourçain, also make Pinot Noir based rosés that are delicious, while the more expensive 100% Pinot Noir rosés of Sancerre are some of the most desirable of each vintage. With it’s seductive wild strawberry and raspberry aromas and hints of chalky mineralogy from the limestone soils, Sancerre rosé is a not-to-be-missed taste experience! Farther east, there is at least one domaine still producing rosé in the village of Marsannay in Burgundy despite the top-dollar demand for Pinot Noir.

We can’t talk about rosé without discussing sparkling wines, so eastward we journey to Reims, in the heart of Champagne. Although not limited by seasonality as still rosés are, Rosé Champagne commands higher prices, with the best commanding hundreds of dollars per bottle. Made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grown on chalky soils, a well made Brut Rosé Champagne exhibits lean, tart berries and minerality brought to life by effervescence. If you are looking for value (and who isn’t?) traditional method sparklers from other areas of France can deliver big bang for the buck - especially watch for Cremant d’Alsace, Cremant de Loire, and Cremant de Bourgogne.

Whew! Now that we’ve covered so much ground in France, I’m feeling thirsty… anyone else ready for a glass or three?

A Fresh Bouquet of Rosés

Jolie-Pitt Miraval 2014 Côtes de Provence - $23.99

Caves d’Esclans Whispering Angel 2014 Côtes de Provence - $21.99

Minuty M de Provence 2014 Côtes de Provence - $19.99

Monmousseau 2014 Rosé d’Anjou - $11.99

Gerard Bertrand 2014 Gris Blanc - $11.99

Domaine de Fenouillet 2014 Ventoux - $13.99

Baronnie de Coussergues 2014 Pays d’Oc – $7.99

La Manarine 2014 Côtes du Rhone - $15.99

Chateau du Lancyre 2014 Pic Saint-Loup - $18.99

Commanderie de la Bargemone 2014 Coteaux d’Aix en Provence - $15.99

Domaine Pallus 2014 Messanges du Chinon - $12.99

Lucien Albrecht Brut Rosé NV Cremant d’Alsace - $17.99

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV Champagne - $79.99

Rosés in short supply already? But it's only July!

It is great to see how many people have discovered Rosé over the past few years. It is also nice to see that so many vineyards have picked up on the trend and are producing more selection and styles for us to discover. This year we topped out at more than 130 different selections on our shelves (an all time high) and we are presently at the top of that peak. Great news right?

Not so fast...

The month of June ended with some disturbing news, the supply chain is drying up for the season on some of our most popular selections! In fact, by weeks end our count will begin to dwindle a bit and some of the wonderful quaffs will be unavailble until next year. Things that are coming to a close might surprise you and all of our best efforts have not yeilded answers that we were hoping to hear so lets put the word out and help to make sure that our customers have the opportunity to stock up.

Chateau des Ferrages 2013  $9.99
This is this years best value and it is selling extremely quickly. No doubt that this little gem will be history this weekend. We have been warning all of our Rosé fans that it is "get it while you can" time. There is no more to be had and our storage room is just about empty of it.

Whispering Angel 2013 $21.99
We did a dinner with Chateau D'esclans earlier this summer and it has been a top seller for us this year and just like last year it is going to dry up much to early. Estimated time left on this one is also less than a week. So sad...

Chateau Miraval 2013 $23.99
We had a little more warning on this one from Brangelina and were able to stockpile some of this very popular one. Our storage area is presently stacked to the ceiling but the quality is very good this year and once the Whispering Angel goes this will really pick up steam. This should make it through July and into August if the trend that we expect holds.

Commanderie Bargemone 2013 $15.99
There is still a pretty good stack of this lovely, pale Salmon treat in back but there will be no more coming in on a truck to the store so consider yourself warned. If we are trying to put a out of stock date on it... August 1st is the latest I would be guessing. We likely won't make it to that date if people start to stock up though.

Gobelsburger Cistercien 2013  $16.99
One of our perrenial favorites from Austria and it is going to come to a screeching halt withing the next couple of weeks. It is another one that we bought a bunch of but our best guess when we filled the back room with it to get through the summer has been shown to be not enough. Estimated date of depletion? lets call it the end of next week.

Domaine Ott Clos Mireille 2013 $49.99
Lets just say that it could all be scooped up in one shot if the right customer walked in today. Less than two cases remain. Are you interested? Now is the time.

Charles & Charles 2013 $11.99
Perhaps our fastest moving domestic Rosé comes from Washington State and has a label that represents the amarican flag at first glance. The price is reasonable and if the current buying trend stands, it will be less than a month. If it picks up in sales, it could be quicker.

Last but not least...

A single bottle of robert Sinskey Vin Gris Rosé remains @ $34.99. Want it? You better get to it before I change my mind a take it myself!

The point is that we are right in the thick of Rosé season and some of our favorites will soon be gone. That is the bad news, the good news is that we are liking alot of what 2013 has to offer and we are enjoying many others too. No one needs to panic and skip out of work early to get their supplies but we will be wishing farewell to some of this seasons favorites far too early this year.

As William always says "There is always another vintage!" and we will enjoy revisting many of them again next year. For now, stock up and get yours while the gettin' is good.

-Cheers

Harry’s Expands to Make “Room for Rosé” . . .

. ., . or it certainly seems that way -- it’s only mid-April and we already have 80 selections of the the “pink stuff” in the store! During the five or six warm months of the year, the front of our store has that warm, glow of color from all the bottles of rosé that range in shades from the palest of pinks thru salmon-orange and finally towards shades of red.

Last year, the summer of 2011, we reached the triple-figure mark and had just over one hundred different bottlings of Rosé from around the world. This summer of 2012 has all the ear-markings of a record-breaking year as we expect to have around 125 different selections.

If you are not a Rosé convert yet, it may be time for you to come over to the “Pink Side”. Don’t be afraid, they are not sweet. . . let’s repeat that, ROSÉ WINES ARE NOT SWEET! They are deliciously dry and refreshing when served well-chilled, can be drunk easily on their own but also pair wonderfully with all kinds of food, and they are made from many of your already favorite grapes: Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sangiovese, Grenache, etc. The unique aspect about the production of Rosé wines is that the skins of these red grapes are removed from the just-beginning-to-ferment juice after only a few hours. This allows only the lightest pink color hue to be imparted to the wine and almost none of the tannins, resulting in a wine that is light-bodied, easy drinking, quite chillable, and DRY!

Len Gulino

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

2010 A Great vintage for rose'

2010 A Great vintage for rose'
To Say that we at Harry's enjoy rose' would be an understatement. For more than 30 years we have been supplying our like-minded fans with the best selection of great quality rose' from across the globe. This year we will top out with more than 100 unique choices.

France, USA, Spain and Italy are all well represented but the list goes on... Austria, Greece, Portugal and Argentina are on the menu too. Break down each country into regions and you really get to see the breadth of our selection. France has Provence (of course), Cotes du Rhone, Bordeaux, Gascogne, Languedoc, Minervois, Ventoux, Gigondas, Corbieres, Anjou, Costieres de Nimes, shall I go on? Then there is the good old U.S. of A. Where California, Washington, Oregon, and New York show up. Spain makes its mark with Rioja, Ribera del Duero, The Basque area, and Arianza, while Italy has put Sardinia, Campania, Marche, and Sicily on the rack.

It has been very difficult for us to say no because virtually everything we are tasting from 2010 vintage is good and many of them are very good or great. How can anyone ignore that ethereal pink hue I ask! Sophisticated enough for your evening cocktail party, simple and approachable enough for a picnic lunch and relaxed enough for a lazy weekend afternoon in the hammock. Personally I'll begin to drink it in early May and I don't hang up my Rose' glass until long after Labor Day. It is nice to see that the press has finally caught up with our fascination and for the last couple of years it has been nice to see that the enjoyment of rose' has moved into the mainstream where it belongs.

If you have not joined the legions of these summer quaffers, consider this your personal invitation to climb on board. For you skeptics out there let me say two things... This is NOT White Zinfandel and YES, you can drink rose' and still be cool. Stop in and see anyone on our wine staff for a great recommendation. I think you'll be happy you did.
-Patrick