January 4, 2012 - Wednesday Wine Tasting

It's wine tasting time! Every first Wednesday of each month we gather at City Wine and sample a few wines, nosh on a little food, gab with old friends, make new friends, and just have a responsibly fun time. Join us, won't you? You don't have to know a lot about wine. In fact, you don't have to know anything about wine. We sample a selection of 3 whites and 3 reds, and provide you with printed tasting notes. There's no pressure to buy anything. Just come and enjoy.
Tasting time is 6:00-7:30 pm (we usually go a little later than that). It's floating, so you don't have to arrive exactly at 6:00; however, arrive early enough to sample the wines without rushing. Cost is $15 per person and includes wine, appetizers, printed tasting notes, discounts on the wines and great socializing. RSVP not required, but requested (so we know how much food to prepare). Call 252-335-1163 for more info. or to RSVP

November 2, 2011 -- Wednesday Wine Tasting

It's wine tasting time! Every first Wednesday of each month we gather at City Wine and sample a few wines, nosh on a little food, gab with old friends, make new friends, and just have a responsibly fun time. Join us, won't you? You don't have to know a lot about wine. In fact, you don't have to know anything about wine. We sample a selection of 3 whites and 3 reds, and provide you with printed tasting notes. There's no pressure to buy anything. Just come and enjoy.
Tasting time is 6:00-7:30 pm (we usually go a little later than that). It's floating, so you don't have to arrive exactly at 6:00; however, arrive early enough to sample the wines without rushing. Cost is $15 per person and includes wine, appetizers, printed tasting notes, discounts on the wines and great socializing. RSVP not required, but requested (so we know how much food to prepare). Call 252-335-1163 for more info. or to RSVP

October 5, 2011 -- Wednesday Wine Tasting

It's wine tasting time! Every first Wednesday of each month we gather at City Wine and sample a few wines, nosh on a little food, gab with old friends, make new friends, and just have a responsibly fun time. Join us, won't you? You don't have to know a lot about wine. In fact, you don't have to know anything about wine. We sample a selection of 3 whites and 3 reds, and provide you with printed tasting notes. There's no pressure to buy anything. Just come and enjoy.
Tasting time is 6:00-7:30 pm (we usually go a little later than that). It's floating, so you don't have to arrive exactly at 6:00; however, arrive early enough to sample the wines without rushing. Cost is $15 per person and includes wine, appetizers, printed tasting notes, discounts on the wines and great socializing. We're shooting for the moon and tasting Lunetta Prosecco; Alta Luna Pinot Grigio, Phases (red), and Pinot Noir; and Luna di Luna Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio and Shiraz/Merlot blends.
RSVP not required, but requested (so we know how much food to prepare). Call 252-335-1163 for more info. or to RSVP

September 7, 2011 -- Wednesday Wine Tasting

It's wine tasting time! Every first Wednesday of each month we gather at City Wine and sample a few wines, nosh on a little food, gab with old friends, make new friends, and just have a responsibly fun time. Join us, won't you? You don't have to know a lot about wine. In fact, you don't have to know anything about wine. We sample a selection of 3 whites and 3 reds, and provide you with printed tasting notes. There's no pressure to buy anything. Just come and enjoy.
Tasting time is 6:00-7:30 pm (we usually go a little later than that). It's floating, so you don't have to arrive exactly at 6:00; however, arrive early enough to sample the wines without rushing. Cost is $15 per person and includes wine, appetizers, printed tasting notes, discounts on the wines and great socializing.
RSVP not required, but requested (so we know how much food to prepare). Call 252-335-1163 for more info. or to RSVP

July 6, 2011 -- Wednesday Wine Tasting

Wednesday, July 6th, is the first Wednesday of the month. You know what that means? First Wednesday Wine Tasting! July's tasting is always extra fun and splendid, as it is reserved for Summer Wines and Sangrias! We will be serving our now-famous white wine Sangria and maybe our Mint Julep Sangria that folks enjoyed on Kentucky Derby Weekend in addition to some great summer wines. Tasting is scheduled from 6-7:30 pm. $15 per person. RSVP requested.

June 1, 2011 -- Wednesday Wine Tasting

It's wine tasting time! Every first Wednesday of each month we gather at City Wine and sample a few wines, nosh on a little food, gab with old friends, make new friends, and just have a responsibly fun time. Join us, won't you? You don't have to know a lot about wine. In fact, you don't have to know anything about wine. We sample a selection of 3 whites and 3 reds, and provide you with printed tasting notes. There's no pressure to buy anything. Just come and enjoy. This month's tasting will feature Italian wines from Arancia Winery.
Tasting time is 6:00-7:30 pm (we usually go a little later than that). It's floating, so you don't have to arrive exactly at 6:00; however, arrive early enough to sample the wines without rushing. Cost is $15 per person and includes wine, appetizers, printed tasting notes, discounts on the wines and great socializing.
RSVP not required, but requested (so we know how much food to prepare). Call 252-335-1163 for more info. or to RSVP

May 4, 2011 -- First Wednesday Wine Tasting

Join us for the First Wednesday Wine Tasting held each (first Wednesday) of the month (May 4th). Six wines are sampled -- three whites and three reds -- along with hearty appetizers. The cost is $15 per person, which includes the wine, food, printed tasting notes, and special disounts on wines. Always a good time.
This month we will be tasting flipflop wines (They're flippin' good!). On the list is Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet, and Pinot Noir. California wines, they are poised to be the wine industry's #1 Brand Launch of 2011. flipflop wines will donate $1 per bottle sold to Soles4Souls, who will donate a pair of flipflops to someone in need.
The food is always delicious...AND always decided at the last minute. We'll post the menu in the next day or so. An RSVP isn't mandatory, but helpful so that we know how much food to prepare. 252-335-1163

Join us for the First Wednesday Wine Tasting held each (first Wednesday) of the month. Six wines are sampled -- three whites and three reds -- along with hearty appetizers. The cost is $15 per person, which includes the wine, food, printed tasting notes, and special disounts on wines. Always a good time. This month we will be doing a horizontal tasting where we sample the same types of wines, but from different wineries. The whites will all be blends: --Sokol Blosser Evolution Blend --Kendall Jackson White Summation --Peter Lehmann Layers White Blend The reds will all be Carmeneres: --Calina Carmenere --Concha Y Toro Casillero del Diablo Carmenere --Mont Gras Reserve Carmenere The food is always delicious...AND always decided at the last minute. We'll post the menu in the next day or so. An RSVP isn't mandatory, but helpful so that we know how much food to prepare. 252-335-1163

March 2, 2011 --Wednesday Wine Tasting

Join us for the First Wednesday Wine Tasting held each (first Wednesday) of the month. Six wines are sampled -- three whites and three reds -- along with hearty appetizers. The cost is $15 per person, which includes the wine, food, printed tasting notes, and special disounts on wines. Always a good time. This month we will be tasting wines from Washington State -- Two Ponds Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot and Cabernet, and Snoqualmie Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah. Call 252-335-1163 to RSVP so we know how much food to prepare.
Appetizers: Cheddar cheese apple loaf, White pimento cheese with crackers, Cucumber fruit salad, Spinach balls, and Warm sweet onion spread.

February 2, 2011 -- 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.
Cost is only $15 per person, and includes tasting, really good appetizers, printed tasting notes, special discounts on wines, and lots of fun. 6-7:30 pm. RSVP not required, but requested so we know how much food to prepare. 252-335-1163.

Wednesday Wine Tasting -- January 5, 2011

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.
Cost is only $15 per person, and includes tasting, really good appetizers, printed tasting notes, special discounts on wines, and lots of fun. 6-7:30 pm. RSVP not required, but requested so we know how much food to prepare. 252-335-1163.

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!

October 6, 2010 -- Wednesday Wine Tasting

This month's wine tasting will be the Pro-Am of tastings. We are featuring wines from the wineries of golf legends Greg Norman and Nick Faldo. Plan to drive on downtown Wednesday evening and dogleg at the corner of Main and Water Streets. You'll address your glass with the proper grip and a solid stance at the bar. Instead of a foursome of wines, we'll be tasting a foursome, plus two. The front three will be Norman's California Estate Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and Faldo's Australian Sauvignon Blanc. On the back three, we'll tap into the cup a Cabernet and a Shiraz by Faldo and a Zinfandel by Norman. You tell us which wines are up to par. There will be plenty of mulligans, and we promise to get everyone out of the rough by the end of the evening. Be sure to have your caddy lined up for the drive home.
Cost is $15 per person and includes tastings of six wines, appetizers, printed tasting notes, discounts on purchases, and lots of fun!
Our planned appetizer menu includes: Baked Cheese & Almond Crispers, Garlic & Brown Sugar Cheese Balls with Graham Crackers, Baked Peanut Butter & Bacon Stuffed Peppers, Baked Ravioli with Pumpkin Sauce,
Sweet Potato Bread with Pineapple Butter
RSVP not required but requested (so we know how much food to prepare). Email d_malenfant@yahoo.com or call 252-335-1163 to RSVP.

August 4, 2010 -- Wednesday Wine Tasting -- Wines from Spain

We have chosen Spanish wines for our August wine tasting, in honor of Spain winning the World Cup for the first time ever! ¡Felicidades, Spain. Some other interesting news in Spain this week: Michelle Obama and her daughter, Sasha, will be visiting the resort city of Marbella today. Santander, Spain’s largest bank is set to buy 318 branches in Britain from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). I guess they won’t have to change the initials. Beaches across Spain have been closed to swimmers as the jellyfish arrive in what is being described as the largest jellyfish invasion in two years. Ouch.
With regard to wine, Spain has over 2.9 million acres of grapes planted, making it one of the most widely planted wine producing nations, according to Wikipedia. It’s the third largest producer of wines (US is fourth), and it ranks ninth in wine consumption. Spain is known for their wines from the Rioja region, as well as their fine sparkling Cava. We’ll try those, as well as a few more! ¡Salud

Valencia La Loca Moscatel de Espumoso Cava
Montecillo Rioja Blanco, 2007
Opera Prima Chardonnay, La Mancha, 2008
Marques de Riscal Tempranillo, 2006
Penelope Sanchez Garnacha Syrah, Campo de Borja, 2008
Opera Prima Cabernet Sauvignon, La Mancha, 2008

June 2, 2010 -- Summer Wines Tasting

Summertime, And the livin' is easy. Fish are jumpin' And the cotton is high. –George Gershwin, Summertime
Our “Summertime” themed wine tasting ranks high on the list of favorites here at City Wine Sellar. Partly because it embodies that excitement of the end of a school year, vacation time, flip flops, sunglasses, straw hats, get-togethers on the deck, at the poolside, or surfside. It prompts one to visualize bumble bees, fireflies, starry nights, fireworks, bike rides, cornfields, holding hands, and an overall lightness and freshness.
Summer is also an awesome time to experiment with wine cocktails, especially for those all-day picnics and get-togethers. It helps you pace yourself. We'll provide a list of creative wine cocktails for you to try at home. We will even create a few for you to sample at the tasting in addition to the six tasting wines. We do recommend pacing yourself. Enjoy!

May 5, 2010 -- April Showers Bring May Flowers Wine Tasting

April showers bring May flowers, according to the happy spring poem. It certainly is the case with our wine tasting theme this month! We will be featuring floral-themed wines at our May 5th tasting (a Cinco de Mayo theme would have been way too predictable, don't you think?). Wines in our selection all have a floral label of some sort. We will taste two wines from the Chilean Killer Bee winery (Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec); two from the California Summerland portfolio of wines (Chardonnay and Vintners Select Pinot Noir); and German Bloom Gewurtztraminer and Red Petals Blend.

Our appetizer menu includes a raspberry/cheese spread with crackers, tomato and olive bruschetta, baked pimento cheese with pecans, mini hammy sandwiches with brown sugar and mustard sauce, and pulled pork with strawberry BBQ sauce.
A flower will be presented to every attendee while they last (while the flowers last, not the attendees). Tasting from 6-7:30 pm; RSVP please (so we know how much food to prep); $15 per person (includes wine, appetizers, printed tasting notes). 252-335-1163, http://www.citywine.blogspot.com/

April 7, 2010 -- Takeout Tastes Wine Tasting

Have you ever wondered what wine goes best with Sushi from Toyamas? Shrimp and Grits from Monteros? A Reuben from City Wine? In April, our theme will be "Take Out Tastes," wines that pair well with area take-out food. Cost is $15 per person and includes tastings of six wines (3 whites, 3 reds), appetizers, written tasting notes, and a fun time! RSVP Requested. 252-335-1163 for more info.

March 3, 2010 -- Wednesday Wine Tasting

Despite the silly and blatant overuse of prison references describing these wines, Big House winery offers a series of great tasting reds, whites, and even a pink (or rose, if you prefer). Located a stones-throw (or prison-break if you want to be corny) from the Soledad State Correctional Facility in Soledad, CA, the folks at The Big House love blending varietals to create one-of-a-kind tastes. According to The Warden Georgette Dane, "I look at making a wine as if I am putting together a perfume: base notes, middle notes, top notes, and essential oils." A mighty feminine approach, if you ask me, for a warden.
Join us for our monthly wine tasting this Wednesday, March 3, from 6-7:30 pm. $15 per person, includes the tasting of 6 wines, appetizers, printed tasting notes, and lots of fun. RSVP requested 252-335-1163

February 3, 2010 -- French Wine Tasting

They say the French know love like no one else. Or, maybe they just know kissing. Who is to say? Knowing and mastering are two different things. I'm pretty sure that we Americans can give them a run for their Euros on the whole love thing.

With Valentine's Day on the way, we thought it would be the perfect time to hold our French-themed wine tasting. We will taste a variety of wines from the serious side of love and wine, The Georges Dubeouf vineyards, including their Cuvee Saint Valentin Saint Amour Red Boujolais and their new Patchwork series (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay). We will also get a little more light-hearted with our love by featuring French Maid Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc. To round out our selection, we've chosen a Pouilly Fuisse by Georges Duboeuf. For those of you who don't know, Pouilly Fuisse was one of Natalie Woods favorite wines.

Join us at City Wine from 6:00-7:30 pm, this Wednesday, February 3rd for a romantic and fun evening of sipping. Please RSVP via email to d_malenfant@yahoo.com, by phone 252-335-1163, or via this evite. Feel free to forward this evite to friends and lovers. ;-)

January 6, 2010 -- A Conundrum with The Bitches Wine Tasting

A conundrum is "a paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma," according to Websters.com (one of my favorite web sites, by the way). We will be having what you might call a double-conundrum evening on Wednesday night. The first being whether to refer to my Guest Pourers by their real moniker (thanks, Websters.com Thesaurus feature ;-)), or to speak of them in more appropriate language so as not to offend anyone.
Our Guest Pourers have been known for years as "The Bayshore Bitches." It just doesn't seem right to call them anything else, such as "The Bayshore Babes" which I had to use in newspaper advertisements. These ladies will explain how they got their name as they serve you with attitude on Wednesday evening. Welcome Beverly Madrin, Tapp Robinson, Sue Thomson, Bea Southworth, Kathy Minschew, and Gwen Hedgepeth as our first Guest Pourers of 2010.
Our second conundrum isn't truly a conundrum. It's the wine selection for the evening. The Bitches will be serving wines from The Conundrum Winery in Monterey County, CA (Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Pinot Noir), as well as our popular Bitch wine, a red grenache from Australia.
Join us from 6:00-7:30 for a night of fun and wine. Cost is $15 per person and includes light appetizers, samples of six wines (we do allow second pours), printed tasting sheets, and loads of fun. RSVP requested. 252-335-1163.