Ladies Night Out June 6: Picnic on the Lawn
We'll help you
gear up for summer at our next Ladies Night Out program,
themed "Picnic on the Lawn." On
Monday, June 6th, starting at 7:30 pm, our focus will be on picnics and
summertime fun. We'll serve wines that work great with summertime
menus, along with several examples of picnic fare. In addition to
the great wine and food, we'll provide recipes, schedules for Chicago's
outdoor summer concerts, and special event-only pricing on wine / picnic
backpacks and the Riedel "O" series - stemless glassware.
Be sure to
attend, it promises to be a great evening. Who knows, maybe we'll
even inspire the weather to turn more summer-like?
The evening
includes wine tasting, paired with gourmet hors d'oeuvres, and
supporting materials. Cost is $25. Hurry and reserve
your space at this event; reservations are due by Thursday June 2nd.
Call us at 630-435-9463.
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In this issue:
Feature: Lighter Side of Pinot
Upcoming Events:
The View: May 31
Weekend Tastings
Ladies Night Out, June
6
Store Hours
Legal Notice on Ordering Wine
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Feature Article
The
Lighter Side of Pinot
With Pinot Noir smugly
ensconced as the current Cinderella of the vineyards, we thought it would
be fun to give a little play to her fair-skinned relatives: the
Pinots Gris, Grigio and Blanc. While noticeably lacking in leading movie
roles of their own, the white Pinots enjoy a predictable popularity surge
each year when the weather warms up and wine lovers look for something
refined and refreshing to accompany them onto the patio.
Before
the movie “Sideways” catapulted Pinot Noir to stardom, Pinot Grigio was
the darling of the family. Its name comes from the pine cone shape of the
grape bunches, and its progeny number over 100 named varieties (though
most of these are synonyms). The principal varietals are actually few in
number, and closely related genetically. Pinot Blanc, first identified in
Burgundy in the late 1800s, is a mutation of Pinot Gris, which is the
best-known white variant clone of Pinot Noir. The genetics of Pinot Gris
and Pinot Grigio are identical and, much like Syrah and Shiraz, the choice
of name is usually determined by geography.
The
Italians call it Pinot Grigio and produce oceans of it with cheerful
enthusiasm. Much of it is pallid, undistinguished stuff best left to the
locals, but at its best the varietal yields light, elegant, and
marvelously rounded wines with flavorful fruit and crisp acidity. It’s no
surprise that American wine drinkers, weary of over-produced Chardonnays,
were easily seduced by this sophisticated Italian. In 2002, propelled by
the highly-marketed Santa Margherita brand, Pinot Grigio was the best
selling table wine imported into the US from any single country in the
world.
To
appreciate Pinot Grigio at its finest, look to the regions of
Friuli-Venezio, Trentino and Alto Adige in northern Italy. The best wines
from this area balance vibrant fruit with racy acidity to produce the
perfect accompaniment to any summer menu featuring seafood or poultry.
Bollini is a consistent performer in this arena, and their 2003 release is
a delight. Medium-bodied, with notes of lemon rind and understated
minerality, this is a true Pinot Grigio.
Not to
be outdone by the Italians, winemakers of Alsace, in France’s northeast
corner, excel at producing honeyed, dry whites that are rich, spicy and aromatic,
composed of 100% Pinot Gris and labeled Pinot Gris, Tokay or Tokay Pinot
Gris at the whim of the producer. (The Tokay Pinot Gris and the Italian
Pinot Gris are distant cousins.)
Well-crafted Alsatian Pinot Gris boasts
the heady perfume of a Gewurztraminer and the perfectly balanced acidity
of a pedigreed Riesling, with the added bonus of longevity to seal the
deal. The best of these wines (often labeled “Reserve”) will cellar well
for 4-10 years, turning rich and buttery in the process.
As if
that weren’t enough, the winemakers of Alsace have taken Pinot Gris to the
next level, producing spectacular late-harvest wines to rival the finest
Sauternes. The labeling as either “Vendange Tardino” (VT) or “Selections des Grains
Nobles” (SGN) reflects either a blessedly long growing season or wines produced from botrytis-affected fruit. Most
of these are
finished sweet, though a few are fermented dry. More than one has earned a
perfect “100” score from the reviewers. On the whole these wines are
expensive, rare, and meant to be cherished.
Moving
a bit closer to home (and reality, for those of us on a budget), Oregonian
winemakers, frustrated by their inability to out-Chardonnay the
Californians, are turning their attention to Pinot Gris and finding it
more to their liking. Aiming for a wine style somewhere in between those
of Italy and France, Oregon’s vintners are actively promoting a uniquely
“Oregonian” Pinot Gris, richer than Italian Pinot Grigio but crisper and
less sweet than Alsatian Pinot Gris. In some cases the vinification
techniques are similar to those used for Chardonnay, with secondary
fermentation and oak barrels lending a distinctively American flavor to
these wines. The American efforts are paying off in steadily improved
ratings, and production levels are rising. Some producers, such as King
Estate, have set their sights high, releasing nicely balanced (and
affordably priced) late-harvest Pinot Gris to critical claim and an
expanding market.
The
last seat in our Pinot family portrait is occupied by Pinot Blanc, or
Pinot Bianco as it’s called in Italy. Pinot Blanc, which traces its
origins to mutated Burgundian Pinot Gris vines, languished for years in
obscurity, virtually indistinguishable from European Chardonnay. In recent
years, however, Pinot Bianco has truly come into its own in the Alto Adige
region of Italy, where careful yield management and oak ageing have
produced wines of extraordinary character for this varietal. The
winemakers of Alsace have also taken pains to develop the potential of
this grape, and producers such as Kuentz-Bas have released rich, balanced
Pinot Blanc wines redolent of apple and pear, perfect for your next
picnic.
So,
next time you’re thinking Pinot, think twice, or even three times. Better
yet, stop into the store and let us introduce you to something new and
delicious from this illustrious family of wines.
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Store Location
We are located in downtown Lisle at the southwest corner of Burlington
Ave. & Main St.
Extra parking is available behind our building.
Hours of Operation
Mon - Sat 10 am - 8 pm
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About
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Looking to add a new twist to your summer parties? Add a
wine tasting!
We can host your special event in our store, or conduct a wine tasting
at your location. We work with you to match themes and style of
the party, so your guests can enjoy a great wine tasting in a relaxed
yet elegant atmosphere.
Call us to get on our calendar!
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The View Tasting:
California Central Coast Wines:
Tuesday,
May 31
Join us at The View restaurant in Lisle as we present a sampling of some
of Central California's best wines. We'll present a tasting of six
wines paired with
great appetizers from The View's chef.
The event takes place at 7 pm on May 31st, at The View restaurant in
Lisle. Cost is $25 per person. Call The View to register, 968-1920.
Ladies Night Out: June 6
- Picnic on the Lawn
On June 6th, our Ladies Night Out event will highlight wines that work
well for summertime picnics and other entertaining. We'll pair the
wines with picnic fare, and add in recipes, summer concert schedules, and
special event-only pricing on wine backpacks and Riedel stemless glassware
("O" series).
Cost is $25 per person. Please register by Thursday, June 2.
Ladies Night Out:
Monday, June 6, 7:30 pm
$25 per person
Call for Reservations: 630.435.9463
or 888.656.9463
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Legal Notice
on Ordering Wine
You must be 21 years of age or older to order any alcoholic beverage.
By law, we are allowed to ship wine to the following
states: Arkansas, District of Columbia, California,
Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota,
Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and
Wyoming.
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