December 1, 2010 -- Wednesday Wine Tasting

We're pretty sure our December tasting will be one of the most eclectic wine tasting you've ever attended. We're serving blueberry wine slushees (frappes), sparkling wine with 24 karat gold leafs (I call it Sparkling Snow Globe wine), mulled wine with spices, ice wine, ChocoRaspberry, and Mouton Cadet Red Bordeaux.
For the last 5 years or so, our December wine tasting has been reserved for our Sparkling wines. We don't want to "burst your bubbles" but this December we're thinking outside the box (or bottle, if you will), and doing something a tad bit different. We're going to serve a variety of both traditional seasonal and holiday-type wines and non-traditional drinks. It'll be fun and unique.
--A Blueberry Wine Slushee -- Officially known as Frappe Vino, this is like a wine margarita! You take a bottle of your favorite wine, a bottle of water, and a bag of Frappe Vino mix, combine and freeze for a couple of hours. You'll get a frozen, slush delight!
--Chocovine Raspberry -- Last year around this time, the brand new Chocovine Chocolate wine was all the rage. This year, the same company has created a Chocolate Raspberry heaven in a bottle. Delicious chocolate, with a raspberry zing. Hint...this would make an incredible frappe.
--Augsburger Christkindlmarkt Gluhwein -- Popular around the world, mulled wine is wine (usually red) served warmed and spiced with cinnamon, vanilla, and cloves. At home, you can add a little brandy or vodka to "spice" it up even more.
--Schmitt Sohne Ice Wine Eiswein -- Ice wine is a type of dessert wine made from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. The sugars and other solids don't freeze, but the water in the grape does. The end product is a more concentrated, very sweet wine. It's a labor intensive and risky production process, so icewines are typically quite expensive.
--Peter Brum Goldsparkler -- Personally, this is the coolest thing I've seen in awhile. It's a sparkling, drinkable snow globe! No, not really, but it is a sparkling wine with real 24 karat gold leafs -- the goldslager of wines. Your instinct is to pick up the bottle and shake it like a snow globe -- something you really shouldn't do with a bottle of sparkling wine.
--Mouton Cadet Red Bordeaux -- To bring some normalcy and refinement to the tasting, we will also be pouring a solid red wine that will pair well with your upcoming holiday meals.
Tasting will be held from 6-7:30 pm. Cost is $15 and includes drinks, appetizers, printed tasting notes, and lots of fun!

December 3, 2010 -- Catdaddy

Rare, Kickin' & Classic with Catdaddy Palestrant. If you like Uphill the Band, you will certainly enjoy the classic rock, bluesy, and uptempo performance of Catdaddy on Friday evening at City Wine Sellar. Chris is bringing his energy, excitement, and "theatricality" to his performance where he'll wow you with his singing talents solo keyboard talents. Chris will perform from 7-10 pm. Deli fare served from 6-9 pm; 252-335-1163. http://www.chrispalestrant.com/gigs

November 26, 2010 -- Just 3

Just 3 will be playing at City Wine Sellar from 7-10 pm. With Barret Kidd on Keyboards, Tom Hodges on Lead Guitar and Dave Knight on drums, Just 3 all contribute to lead vocals and 3 part harmonies to deliver a rich sound and a high energy performance. Just 3 is a spinoff band from two local favorites Audio Slide Show and Midlife Crisis. They specialize in rock and blues. Find them on Facebook. Deli fare served till 9 pm. 252-335-1163.

November 19, 2010 -- Deacon Blues

Uphill The Band spinoff duo is on the docket this Friday night at City Wine. Deacon Blues (aka Adam Nixon) and Tim Orton will let the blues flow through their musical veins with their mellow vocals and will demonstrate instrumental magic. With a repertoire of acoustic and electric blues, as well as some dittys from The Grateful Dead, Johnny Cash, and even Jim Croce, they will have you tapping your toes and very likely singing along. Be sure to request "Budweiser Romance," one of their originals. Music from 7-10; Deli fare served till 9 pm. 252-335-1163

November 12, 2010 -- Paper Mountain

Paper Mountain is an acoustic duo comprised of singer/songwriters Alice Conner and Sean Parker. They have been performing together for years melding their different musical influences into a soulful package of blues, folk, country, jazz, rock, and everything in between. They are most at home playing at vineyards, weddings, in cozy coffeehouses, private parties, and festivals. They have had a great deal of success from their debut CD entitled, "View from Above" (recorded at Flat Five studios in Salem, VA.) and have performed live in-studio sessions on 93.7 BOB FM, 89.5 WHRV, and 100.9 WRRW.

During the day, they are both full-time private music instructors in Virginia Beach, Va. with almost 25 years combined experience --Sean teaches bass, mandolin, and guitar and Alice teaches voice, piano, and guitar. Sean has been playing in many bands for over 15 years and grew up in the Roanoke area where he has performed alongside such well-known musicians as Dave Matthews, Cool and the Gang, and KC and The Sunshine Band. Alice was born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA., and in 2004, earned a B.A. in Music from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. She was fortunate enough to perform with the university choir at Carnegie Hall and to study abroad in Germany while attending O.D.U. Since graduation she has been busy teaching, writing, and performing her own music with Sean. Together Alice and Sean form Paper Mountain---Two musicians meeting in the middle of the same art form from different directions...

November 5, 2010 -- Pairadocs

Dr. Tom Vinick has brought on a partner in his practice of music making! Dr. Wes Smith will be joining Tom on stage this Friday night at The City Wine Sellar. Together, they are known as Pairadocs (Get it? Pair of Docs?) and will diagnose and cure your musical malodies with melodies and pop tunes from the 40s through today.
Versatile, talented, and always full of energy, these two doctors of entertainment will be "in" from 7-10 pm. Have dinner and a glass of wine and a musicalicious night at City Wine. 252-335-1163. Music 7-10 pm; Deli fare served till 9 pm. Call 335-1163 for more information.

November 3, 2010 -- Wednesday Wine Tasting

Learn about new wines, meet new people, have a group night out! For our regular monthly tasting, we try to choose a good variety of reasonably priced wines -- A taste treat for your palate and your pocketbook. We provide three whites and three reds for your tasting pleasure.
This month's tasting will feature South African wines from Robertson Winery -- Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Cabernet, and Shiraz. Cost is only $15 per person, and includes tasting, really good appetizers, printed tasting notes, and lots of fun. 6-7:30 pm. RSVP not required, but requested so we know how much food to prepare. 252-335-1163.