50th Anniversary Grand Tasting at Quail Ridge

50th Anniversary Grand Tasting

50th Anniversary Grand Tasting. 50 Years, The Golden Anniversary. 50 Years of ‘Thank Yous’ in one great event.

That’s right, we have been in business for 50 years and we are still going strong. From our first location to 69 Great Rd, aka the Clock building, to our current location, one thing has remained the same, our service. We take pride in the services we offer and the gusto we do it with. We enjoy what we do, especially when we can share it with others. Thank you, all. Without past employees and customers, and current employees and customers we wouldn’t have made it this far.

The 50th Anniversary Grand Tasting is a way to appreciate all the years we have under our belt.

In a year of changes, we thought it would be nice to coordinate a tasting that took place at a venue that offered more room. Past Grand Tastings occurred over two consecutive Saturdays due to space. The lack of space pushed us to look elsewhere, and so we did. Proximity to the store was a large priority, as were scenery and accommodations. Quail Ridge has it all. From the space to accommodate 13+ tables to the lush green grass growing on the 1st fairway, Quail Ridge is the perfect spot. So we booked the venue, set the date, and we are now counting down the days to our 50th Anniversary Grand Tasting.

What does this mean for you? A bigger and better representation of what we enjoy doing.

Wine is all about enjoyment, and presenting great wines is what we enjoy doing. From classic regions like Piedmont to modern regions like Umpqua Valley in Oregon, a Grand Wine Tasting should have it all. More importantly, it should have the best. These are the reasons for going to Quail Ridge and for having a tasting unlike any before. 50 years is a long time to be in business, so what better way to celebrate than with a wine tasting with over 100 bottles of wine.

More importantly, we will have it all.

Sparkling, red, white, rosé, port wines, and more. There will be something for everyone. In addition, we will have plenty of finger food, water, and the opportunity to save on your purchase. This will be the event of the season, and we couldn’t have picked a better venue for it.

Put it on your calendar now because you won’t want to miss this tasting.

David Turcan Jermann Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia
Palazzo della Torre by Allegrini Rosso Veronese
Pieropan Soave Classico
Renato Ratti ‘Battaglione’ Barbera d’Asti
Renato Ratti ‘Ochetti’ Nebbiolo d’Alba
La Grola by Allegrini Rosso Veronese
Allegrini Valpolicella Classico
Solosole by Poggio al Tesoro Vermentinto Toscana
Rob George Abbot’s Table by Owen Roe Red Blend Columbia Valley
Messanges Rouge by Domaine de Pallus Chinon
Siete by Vinos de Terruños Tinto Rioja
Bohigas Cava Brut Reserva
Jones of Washington Pinot Gris Columbia Valley
Bigaro by Elio Perrone
Valdespino ‘Contrabandista’ Amontillado Medium-Dry

 

Nic Haegeli Micaela by Bodegas Baron Cream Sherry
La Sacristie de la Vieille Cure Fronsac
Antica Fratta Franciacorta Brut
Tamaral Tinto Ribera del Duero Reserva
Domaine Pierre Janny ‘Challand’ Bourgogne Chardonnay
Branko Friulano Collio

Rick Lacasse Black Stallion Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
La Crema Pinot Gris Monterey
Vina Alberdi by La Rioja Alta Rioja Reserva
Terrasses by Chateau Pesquie Rouge Ventoux
Eroica by Che Ste Michelle & Dr. Loosen Riesling Columbia Valley
Cascinetta by Vietti Moscato d’Asti
Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut NV
Elena Lucero Fable by Brack Mountain Pinot Meunier S.V. Russian River Valley
Ink by Judith Beck Red Burgenland
Lindes de Remerulli ‘Viñedos de Labastida’ Rioja
Uriondo Bizkaiko Txakolina
Navarro Vineyards Zinfandel Mendocino
Illahe Viognier Willamette Valley
Primo Bacio by Scagliola Moscato d’Asti
Dibon Cava Brut Reserva
Jack Boyle J Vineyards Chardonnay Russian River Valley
J Vineyards Pinot Noir ‘Black’ California
Martin Codax Albariño Rias Baixas
William Hill Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast
La Marca Prosecco
Inferno by Apothic Red Blend California
Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
John Grange Cuvaison Chardonnay Carneros
Cuvaison Pinot Noir Carneros
Three Broooms Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
Plan Pegau by Selection Laurence Feraud Rouge Vin de France
Selection Laurence Feraud Cotes du Rhone
Commanderie de la Bargemone Rosé Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
Dennis Kearney Naveran Cava Brut Nature
A to Z Pinot Gris Oregon
Trimbach ‘Cuvee Classique’ Riesling Alsace
Columna Albariño Rias Baixas
Groth Chardonnay Napa Valley
Caves des Vignerons de Buxy Rouge Cote Chalonnaise
Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles
Gundlach Bundschu Mountain Cuvee Red Blend Sonoma County
Liano by Cesari Umberto Rosso Emilia-Romagna
Roscato Rosso Dolce Lombardy
Sue Nordberg Chandon Sweet Star NV
Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc North Coast
Annabella by Michael Pozzan Chardonnay Napa Valley
Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico
Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Riserva
Chamonix Rouge Franschhoek
Mas Sainte Berthe Rosé Les Baux de Provence
Otima by Warre’s 10yr Tawny
Paul Magann Daou Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles
Six Ridges by Kenwood Chardonnay Russian River Valley
Meerlust Red Blend Stellenbosch
Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
Six Ridges by Kenwood Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Scharffenberger Brut Excellence NV
M. Chapoutier Banyuls Vin Doux Naturel

Summer Bash

Come one, come all!  Colonial Spirits will be hosting its annual Summer Bash!  Last year was a great time and we expect this year to be even better.  June 25th from a marathon 1-5pm, we will be tasting beer, cider, wine, and spirits all at the same time.  Weather permitting, we will set up the picnic area with a cornhole court and we’ll be grilling up hotdogs and hamburgers.  On top of all that, we’ll be raffling off multiple summer beer swag.  Coolers, beach chairs, and more will all be available for you to win.  All you have to do is come down and join us.  June 25th, 1-5pm.

Beers:

Victory Brewing
Harpoon
Jack’s Abby, Citizen Cider, Dogfish Head, Stone.
Notch, Castle Island, Far From the Tree, Captain Lawrence, Two Roads, Rising Tide.

Liquor:

Stolen Smoked Rum 1-3 PM
Avion Tequila, Glenlevit Scotch and more 3-5pm

Wine:

MatchVino w/ Stacey from 1-4 PM
Kono Sauvignon Blanc from 3-5 PM

Stirrings Mixers 3-5pm

Blends : A wine norm?

I’ve really been getting into blends.’ A phrase I often hear, and I wonder why? Blending of various varietals has been a norm in winemaking since before the Greeks! 99.9% of Bordeaux wines are blends, and how about the Southern Rhone with its holy trinity of grenache, syrah and mourvèdre?! Yet why is it that I keep hearing this phrase. Why does the concept seem novel? Let’s take a quick look.

Continue reading Blends : A wine norm?

Altos de la Hoya at the Lowest Price Ever!

Some of you may remember Bodegas Olivares’ Altos de la Hoya, the incredibly complex red from southern Spain that has gained a growing number of fans ever since we first wrote about it a few of autumns back.

Good news: Altos is back and is drinking well. As with the Mica, we made a substantial purchase that allowed us to offer it at the lowest price ever.

Why is this wine so good?  Let’s review… Continue reading Altos de la Hoya at the Lowest Price Ever!

Transformation of the Central Coast – Part II

Right now the Central Coast is demanding headlines. There are many reasons for this, but at the top of the list has to be their successful production of Pinot Noir.  While wine snobs may want to dismiss the influence of the movie “Sideways”, they certainly can’t deny the tremendous increase in the demand for Pinot Noir over the past two years as well as the increased number of tourists who are visiting the wineries of Santa Barbara County.  “Sideways” brought this up and coming wine region into the spotlight and today more people are trying wines from this region than ever before.  Last year more than two million people visited Central Coast wineries, drawn there by the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, the unique wines, and the warm hospitality that is not always present in the two more famous California wine regions. Continue reading Transformation of the Central Coast – Part II

Transformation of the Central Coast – Part I

Up until recently California’s Central Coast has suffered from what some would call “an identity crisis”.  This was largely because a small number of large producers used the area as a source for a vast quantity of uninspiring, inexpensive wine.  It was also a region that large Sonoma and Napa producers used as a grape source for up to 20% of their Chardonnay blends.  Another reason that contributed to this apparent lack of identity was that as late as the 1960’s nobody had a clue as to which grapes to plant and where to plant them. Many producers tried several varietals in many different locations, but the end result was mostly nothing special.  When knowledgeable wine consumers sought out quality wines from California they looked for wines from Napa or Sonoma.  What the heck is the Central Coast anyway?  How can a region define itself when it stretches the length of one-third the state of California?  How could a region define itself when it originally tried to produce Cabernets and Zinfandels that could never compete with Napa and Sonoma? Today however, thanks to a number of unique and quality producers, as well as a better understanding of this large viticultural area, wines from the Central Coast are starting to define themselves and slowly, but surely finding a niche in the market place.

To be continued…in my next post we’ll explore a few of it’s valleys.