Weekend Wined Down

Tonight our free wine tasting fits the weather: gorgeous, creamy whites for sunny skies, and full-bodied sumptuous reds for cool, dark nights. Join us from 6 to 9pm to taste a Bordeaux Blanc (at 15% off), Sancerre Blanc, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon and a Ribera del Duero Crianza (the last three bottles at 10% off each). Whether the weather makes you crave a round white or a big, velvety red, Murray Hill Wines has you covered.
Chateau Bertranon Bordeaux Blanc Sec 2008, $16.99 (15% OFF today!)

The Semillon (55%) in this Bordeaux Blanc brings a calming, round touch to the lively and acidulous Sauvignon Blanc (45%) when blended.

Jean-Max Roger Sancerre Cuvee C.M. 2008, $19.99 (10% OFF today)

Creamy and well-rounded in the mouth, this Sancerre of full-bodied finesse comes from a small family-run estate in Sancerre within the Loire Valley region of France. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, the bright fruits of citrus and gooseberry are present though more mellow than a typical Sauvignon Blanc wine from the Sancerre region.

PONDER Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley 2004, $14.99 (10% OFF today)

Aged in new and old French oak hogsheads for 20 months, this Australian Cabernet Sauvignon is complex and sweet with hints of violet, spice and black fruits. Sublte notes of cedar and oak make this tannic wine that coats your entire mouth even more divine. The wine is grown on single site vineyards in Barossa Valley. The vintage ranked among most outstanding vintages from Australia in last 15-20 years, so grab one of these limited release bottles (only 2,400 produced).

Montebaco Semele Crianza 2007, $19.99 (10% OFF today)

Smooth, sensuous, medium-to-full bodied and deliciously perfumey and aromatic, this Crianza of Tempranillo (90%) and Merlot (10%) grapes from Ribera Del Duero in Spain is aged for one year in oak casks and one year in bottle -- the required aging period to be designated a "Crianza". At once delicate and yet bursting with dark fruit and oak flavors, this is the wine we'll personally be sipping after work.

Hanging on to Summer

Tonight, Friday, August 27, from 6 to 9 pm, we’ll remind you why you love summer. Take advantage of the last few weeks by bathing in the sunshine and drinking exceptional, cold, refreshing white wines, like our Albariño and Sancerre.

2009 Granbazán Albariño Verde

Rated 90 points by Wine Spectator, this pale yellow Albariño with greenish tints will keep you hanging on to summer. The perfect balance between fruit – green apple, apricot and grapefruit – and a roll in the hay (herbal fragrances of fennel and straw) define this beautifully balanced Spanish Albariño, completed by a fresh, citric, acidic finish. Stainless steel fermented for just under 8 months, it reaches the ideal maturity and softness.

Jean-Max Roger Sancerre Cuvee CM 2008

A Sancerre of undeniable finesse. It tastes natural and floral with minerality from its limestone soil and fermentation with native yeasts. Both floral and fruity, as well as light and fresh, this Sancerre delivers insatiable complexity.

White Cottage Ranch

White Cottage Ranch wines deliver that perfect touch … from the wine’s full body and balanced flavors to the way the labels are torn around the edges and hand-applied for a beautiful and sophisticated appearance. Taste the White Cottage Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 and Sauvignon Blanc 2009 tonight, Friday, June 25, from 6-9pm at MHW.

White Cottage Ranch is an organic, biodynamic estate located on the Howell Mountain appellation of Napa Valley with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon.

White Cottage Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $29.99

Powerful, rich and spicy with a fruit-forward body of ripe berry and black cherry, this is a California Cab lover’s dream. It is exceptionally smooth with a long finish – perfect to pair with a steak on your grill or a nice burger.

White Cottage Sauvignon Blanc 2009, $18.99

The high elevation of 1500 to 2000 feet above sea level and the rugged winters reap rich, full flavors in Sauvignon Blanc with a distinct minerality from the soil, which mingles with light flavors of tropical fruit and green pepper. Crisp and refreshing, this well-rounded Sauvignon Blanc needs to top your list of wines to taste this summer season.

Man O’ War

On the coastal hillsides and high cliffs of Waiheke Island in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, the Man O’ War family-owned estate has grown grapes since 1993, making beautiful wines of excellent flavor components. Today 6-9pm, we will taste the Man O’ War Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Syrah 2008 and Merlot-Cabernet Sauvginon-Cabernet Franc-Malbec 2008.

Man O’ War Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Grown high on the hilltops of the Man O’ War Station, this is a classic cool climate Sauvignon Blanc: very aromatic, juicy and fresh. It undergoes cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks and is topped with a touch of natural sugar to balance the tannins. Experience notes of lemongrass and fresh herbs with tropical guave notes, leading into a palate of vibrant acidity and slight sweetness with a spicy finish.

Man O’ War Syrah 2008
This Syrah is earthy with flavors of wild game, pepper and black olives, meeting a floral nose of blueberry and spice. The finish delivers dark-chocolate and espresso – dark and lingering. Allow the wine to open up in the bottle and in your glass – the complex flavor profile will surprise you.

Man O’ War Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec 2008
The make-up: 42% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc, 19% Malbec, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. This Bordeaux-style blend from New Zealand’s Waiheke Island combines florals, dark berry fruits, asphalt and tar for an ideal full-bodied red blend. Each grape was hand-harvested and kept separately in the winery to achieve its best qualities like the softness and fragrance of Merlot and Malbec, the savour and cassis of Cabernet Franc and the structure and power of Cabernet Sauvignon. After 11 months of aging on lees, it was blended and bottled for your drinking pleasure.

*Remember you can purchase wines in-store, over the phone or online at MurrayHillWines.com for free delivery within a 15-block radius in NYC or for shipping nationwide! Just follow the above links or search "Man O' War" on MurrayHillWines.com.

Bordeaux in a Box and a Languedoc Cabernet

Tonight, Thursday, June 10, from 6-9pm, taste two delicious Bordeaux wines straight from the box (one white and one rosé) and also an excellent cabernet sauvignon from South West France.

Wine in a Box: the equivalent of four regular wine bottles fits into a vacuum-sealed bag inside a nice wooden box (the wood is grown in Bordeaux) with a spout – perfect for parties or to keep in your fridge for your daily fix.

Château Les Maines (Box) Bordeaux Rosé is a blend of Cabernet Franc (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%). A bright pink hue, this rosé is an easy-drinker with flavors of strawberries and herbs. It’s the perfect drink for a summer night gathering. Or keep a box on hand for yourself – it preserves practically forever with its air-tight seal.

Château Les Maines (Box) Bordeaux Blanc "Cuvée Soleil d'Or" is made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Aromas of pineapple and apricot lead you to a rich, medium-bodied wine with a generous finish.

Domaine La Croix Belle Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Languedoc is fire truck red with intense aromas of black fruits and spices. Well-structured and balanced, it is ready for drinking now but can also be kept for several years.

Craving Bibich Debit

Bibich Debit 2008 from Northern Dalmatia in Croatia never looked so tempting ...
Order your own bottle at: http://www.murrayhillwines.com/searchresults.aspx?mode=2

Argentine Sun

Argentina’s desert-like climate produces tiny grapes packed with intense flavor. Taste three wines: a Chardonnay-Viognier blend, a Malbec-Syrah blend, and a Cabernet Sauvignon tonight from 6 to 9pm at MHW.

XumeK Zonda Chardonnay-Viognier 2009

XumeK means “Sun” in the language of the Huarpe people, which is a fitting name for this consistently hot region. The rich and soft Chardonnay and Viognier grapes grow in the Zonda Valley at the foot of the Andes Mountians in Southern San Juan, Argentina. The valley gets its name from a constant dry wind referred to as the Zonda. This wine is very different and intriguing—an excellent mellow and round blend with florals and soft fruits.

XumeK Reserve Malbec-Syrah 2006

This Malbec-Syrah blend reaps black cherry, dark pepper, chocolate, sweet oak and game. When people request an excellent Argentine Malbec, we always point them in this direction, because the syrah adds just the right touch of deep berry flavor and bold tannins. Steve Tanzer, publisher of Wine Cellar, rated this XumeK at 88 points. Pesticide-free and low in sulfites, it is aged for 12 months in medium-toast French oak barrels, then 12 months in the bottle.

Umbral Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Grown in Mendoza on 33-year-old vines in rich, sandy soil, this vibrantly violet Umbral Cabernet Sauvignon smells like a spice box with dark fruits like black currant and blackberry. In 1973, inspired by Napa Valley, Sigifredo Alonso became the first winemaker in Argentina to plant single varietal vineyards (a total of 130 hectares). Last year, his wines were finally released to the public to the excitement of wine critics and drinkers worldwide.

We Are OCD

Sip on some complex wines from Marlborough at tonight’s free wine tasting from 6 to 9pm. Otto’s Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir pack a medley of flavors from fruits to herbs and minerals, making for an interesting and deliciously fun experience. Read on, and join us tonight …

Otto’s Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc 2009

New Zealand sauvignon blancs are known for bright tropical fruits. OCD Sauvignon Blanc delivers that and so much more. The nose smells a little grassy and fresh. The palate offers that expected and delightful taste of passion fruit. Surprisingly you can taste a bit of blackcurrant fruits as well, and then OCD tops it off with a definite hint of sage and a lemon zest. This wine is awesome with pan seared fish. When we cook fish at home, we like to pick the best quality fish at our neighborhood Wild Edibles on 3rd Ave. just a half block away from Murray Hill Wines.

Otto’s Constant Dream Pinot Noir 2008

Sautee some chorizo in a pan to eat with this raspberry-cherry-plum-flavored pinot noir with toasty oak. Vegetarians will love it with sautéed mushrooms. The wine’s other interesting flavors like thyme and rosemary come out even more with the right food pairings.

Take home these Marlborough wines tonight and share them with family and friends!

Lambrusco: Sparkling Red Wine

What: Lambrusco tasting
Where: Murray Hill Wines, 516 3rd Ave., b/w 34th and 35th St.
When: Friday, May 27, 6-9pm

For red wine lovers seeking something lighter or more effervescent for summer, Murray Hill Wines is here to bring you three of the best sparkling Italian red wines you’ll ever taste. Straight from Emilia-Romagna, our wine importer’s homeland and where he sources his lambrusco, we will taste you on Roberto Balugani Lambrusco di Castalvetro, Il Maglio Lambrusco, and Vezzeli Lambrusco di Sorbara.

Lambrusco greatly varies in taste and body. Some lambrusco offer dark berry fruit flavors, similar to a full-bodied cabernet with added carbonation. Others are reminiscent of coca-cola, bubblegum or strawberry. Others provide a deep oak-y or smoky component. Decide for yourself what memories our three lambrusco wines bubble up for you.

From Germany to France and Spain in one tasting

Tonight, Thursday, May 27 from 6 to 9, we’ll taste a German Riesling, Bordeaux blend and Spanish Macabeo—all three unique and impressive.

Winninger Bruckstuck Riesling 2007
In this semi-sweet Riesling, stony fruit and minerals overpower the palate followed by a touch of ripe melon. This German Rieslings offers the best of both worlds: mineral with hints of sweet fruit.

Pago de San Gabriel Pradomayor de Zubiola Navarra 2007
This Bordeaux blend—from Navarra, specifically—mixes flavors of raspberry, cherry and spices from the oak. Gentle in body, it builds to a slightly spicy, long, sappy finish.

Lo Brujo Macabeo 2009
The most commonly planted white grape in northern Spain, Macabeo grows in the middle of the Sistema Ibérico mountain range by the river Jalón. Crisp and playful, it offers a tropical fruit and citrus medley.

Croatian Craze

Join us tonight from 5:30 to 8:30 at Murray Hill Wines to taste three Croatian wines and native varietals.

Zdjelarevic Grasevina 2008

This Graševina--a type of Riesling planted more than any other white grape throughout Croatia--comes from Slavonia in the Croatian mainland. Perfected by master vintner Davor Zdjelarević, the golden wine exhibits flavors of apricot, peach, honey and apple.

Toreta Posip 2007

The great-grandson of the founder of the Toreta winery, Frano Banicević, age 25, has relaunched the family-run winery, which began at the turn of the 20th Century and stopped producing wine during Communism. He ages his Posip in Slavonian oak to create a sweet nose of honey, appale and pear with an unusually full body and a lemon finish.

Bibich Riserva 2007

From North Dalmatia, this blend of native grapes Babich, Plavina, Lasin--all related to Zinfandel--is aged one year in American oak. While light and smooth, the flavor is intense with strong dark fruits and berries, spices and black pepper.

živili!

French Friday

Pick up your weekend fix and taste three French wines perfect for this much-welcomed warm weather—tonight at MHW, 6-9 pm.

Domaine de la Grenaudiére, Muscadet 'La Grenouille', Loire, France 2009

The Grenaudiere vineyard has been passed down father to son since the 17th Century. On 10 to 50-year-old vines, the Muscadet gets its distinct mineral taste from the clay and gravel-rich soil. You can also taste ripe nectar and citrus, and a fun mandarin-orange finish.

Saint Lion, Mâcon-Villages, Burgundy, France 2006

This golden chardonnay is citric and nutty with a little sweet pear. The nose is incredible. The palate is more clean and refreshing with a long finish. Drink it alone or with grilled fish or chicken.

Domaine de Chantegut, Vacqueyras, Rhône, France 2007

Vacqueyras is between Gigondas to the east and Beaumes-de-Venise to the south. The wines from here tend to the rustic, concentrated and distinctive.

Domaine de Chantegut is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah. Grenache brings the aromas of dried orange peel, crushed plum, powerful licorice, tobacco and truffle. The Syrah delivers the black pepper, smokiness and leather.

Tasting: Sonoma, Argentina and France

Tonight’s tasting covers the bases: Sonoma pinot noir, Argentine malbec and a Sancerre from the Loire Valley. All three wines will suit your Thursday and weekend night needs, whether you’re in search of something crisp and fresh (Sancerre), something toasty (pinot noir) or something inexpensive yet delicious (malbec). See you tonight, 6-9, for your free tastes at MHW.

Laguna Ridge Pinot Noir 2006, $23.99
This ruby, garnet pinot noir with a violet rim packs more body than your typical pinot with the perfect touch of French oak (aged 16 months in French oak barrels). Sourced from the best vineyards in Sonoma and the Russian River Valley, the wine delivers juicy red and black fruit with spicy cinnamon notes. The toasty oak lingers on the finish.

Alma Mora Malbec 2008, $9.99
Grown in the 10-year-old Alma Mora vineyard in Tulum Valley - San Juan, Argentina, the Malbec grapes thrive in the rocky, mountainous area and its warm, dry climate. The vineyards are drip irrigated with meltwater from the Andes. The grapes are aged in American and French oak barrels for 8 months.

The result: a soft, full-bodied wine with ripe red berries and fleshy plum flavor and an elegant touch of smoke and vanilla from its contact with wood. Great served with roasted red meats and pasta with tomato sauce.

Florian Mollet Sancerre 2008, $18.99
Planted on the southwest hillsides of the Loire River, these sauvignon blanc grapes grow on vines between 30 and 35 years old. Aged in stainless steel vats, the wine results in a crisp and citric Sancerre, ideal for sipping in summer. Pair with oysters, seafood, asparagus or any light antipasti for a delicious combination.

Greek Goddess and South African Beauty

From Santorini, a small group of volcanic Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, come two dry white wines you’ll be craving all summer. Next, a South African red blend will shock your taste buds.

Nykteri
The white-blend Nykteri means "stay up all night,” because the winemaker practices the ancient vinification process of harvesting during the early part of the day and staying up all night to make the wine. It combines 75 percent assyrtico, 15 percent athiri and 10 percent aidani. After the all-night winemaking marathon, it is aged 3 months in oak. Only 400 cases of Nykteri were produced.

Ageri
Ageri, meaning "light wind,” contains the same exact grape-make-up (all indigenous to Greece and all hand-harvested), yet it goes through stainless steel fermentation. It’s fashioned in more of a semi-dry style. Similarly, just 400 cases were produced.

Audacia Coeur de Rouge
Moving on to South Africa, Coeur de Rouge, meaning "red heart," combines hand-harvested cabernet sauvignon (90 percent) with a touch of malbec (10 percent) on vines that have been growing since

Toreta Posip tastes like the Adriatic Sea

Toreta Posip 2007 is a teaser. It smells like your typical sauvignon blanc: a little grassy with some green apple, pear and lychee. Yummy... but typical. Take a sip and you can taste what you smell. Then suddenly, the wine evolves into something salty, mineral and dry. It's like you're swimming in the Adriatic Sea off the island of Korcula in Croatia, basking in the sun and tasting the salty water on your lips. A little olives mix with this undeniable ocean flavor. Every sip repeats the same experience: sweet fruits, leading to fresh seawater and a final sun-parched dryness.

The experience creates a craving for more and more of this chameleon wine.

Now available at Murray Hill Wines. Inquire within.

Collision Point

Taste these Collision Point wines tonight at MHW, 6-9pm, because a) it's a cool name, b) they're good wines at awesome values, and c) Lake County Red Hills is an up-and-coming region you'll be drinking more and more of, so get familiarized.

Collision Point Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Cabernet sauvignon vines weave through the volcanic and gravel soil in Lake County Red Hills, CA, creating a blackberry, blueberry-dominant flavorful wine with fresh acidity. High elevation and cool night temperatures give it that nice minerality.

The total production is 2,500 cases for 2007, so snatch a bottle before they disappear.

Collision Point Sauvignon Blanc 2008

This sauvignon blanc comes from Lake County in Northern California. Due to the elevation of 1,400 feet above sea level with volcanic soils, you get a clean, crisp, acidic white. The soil contributes to the soft mouth feel and texture. Flavors of citrus and tropical fruits on the palate make this wine perfect to pair with seafood.

The total production is only 385 cases for 2008 ... so, get ya one.

Otto's Constant Dream

Taste OTC (Otto's Constant Dream) Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir tonight for FREE at MHW, 6-9pm.

From Australia and New Zealand, Otto’s Constant Dream brings you fun, unpretentious wines bursting with flavor—just what we need in the heat of spring and summer.

OTC Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough delivers crisp apple, citrus notes and lemongrass. The packaging catches your eye just like the lively taste.

The ruby red Pinot Noir brings cherry and plum flavors followed by some toasty oak and a little raspberry and rosemary. It's a deep yet easy to drink Pinot we'll be savoring tonight.

Croatia & Hungary wine class today!

Wines of Croatia & Hungary (April 8)
Date: Thursday, April 8
Location: 167 West 23rd Street
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Price: $90
Special Guest Appearance!

Here’s your chance to discover Croatia and Hungary. These countries have been making wine for centuries and are finally getting noticed by more and more wine drinkers.

We at Murray Hill Wines will be attending the Wines of Croatia & Hungary class tonight at 167 West 23rd Street, hosted by NYC Wine Class with guest Cliff Rames of the PR firm Wines of Croatia (also the Sommelier at the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at the Plaza as well as a 'Certified Specialist of Wine', CSW). On a recent trip to his Croatian homeland, Cliff sourced the distinct bottles we’ll taste today.

Wines from the Mediterranean Sea, the Dinaric Alps and the Adriatic Sea offer such unique diversity. The exploration of wines from the coast versus the mountains reveals how much of a role climate and soil play in wine. Take word from Robert Parker, Oz Clarke and Jancis Robinson, who have all applauded these Eastern European varieties. You’ll also learn about the link between Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Croatia, amongst entertaining tidbits of Croatia’s winemaking history.

Andrew Harwood, founder of NYC Wine Company, will discuss Hungarian wines. A former winemaker in Tokaj, Andrew can reveal stories of the fabled zone, while sharing his favorite grapes and regions (Bull’s Blood, Furmint, Hárslevelű, Kékfrankos, Kadarka and more).

French Friday

Tonight we’re offering the perfect solution to New York’s fickle weather. One minute it’s sunny and we want a crisp white, the next it’s cold and dreary, and we’re ready for a Malbec. These three wines, served at our tasting tonight from 6 to 9pm, will match your weekend weather forecast woes and cheers.

Domaine Jean Ginglinger Gewurztraminer 2008

Floral and bursting with wild litchi fruits, this sweet Gewurztraminer from Alsace in northeastern France pairs well with light appetizers or dessert.

Domaine La Croix Belle Le Champ du Coq 2007

Ranked 87 points by Wine Spectator, this blend of Syrah and Grenache from the Languedoc region of southern France first delivers a complex nose of blackberries and spice, then brings you to notes of thyme and rosemary on the palate. Interesting and rewarding.

Chateau du Cedre “Cedrus” Malbec 2007

Round and soft with intense berry fruits, this Malbec from southwestern France offers jammy fruits while young, and will continue to age and improve over the next five years.

Croatian whites for your rooftop sipping pleasures

You’ve been caged in that office all day … Now it’s time to grab a chilled bottle of white wine at Murray Hill Wines and enjoy it on your balcony, roof top, or at home with the windows wide open after an evening of gallivanting around the city this gorgeous spring night.

Pick up the bottle on your way home from work between 7 and 10pm, so you can taste our Croatian favorites at our free tasting…

Bibich Debit 2008 ($16.99, plus 10% off)
A dry white from the coast of Croatia (Northern Dalmatia, if you want to know the specifics) made from the native Debit grape. Fermented in stainless steel, it’s incredible paired with white fish, lobster, or spicy chicken. Or simply drink it alone on a warm night, like tonight of course.

Toljanic Zlahtina 2008 ($16.99, plus 10% off)
This zesty and citric Žlahtina (that’s the grape) grows on the island of Krk off the Croatian mainland. It’s comparable to a sauvignon blanc, with more racy lemon and spicy orange hints.

Bibich Riserva 2006 ($19.99, plus 10% off)
Here’s a light, smooth red for those of you not ready to jump on the white wine bandwagon. A blend of Babich, Plavina and Lasin grapes, it is aged for one year in American Oak. Dark fruits, spices and black pepper make this red the perfect wine pairing with cold cuts and cheeses.

See you guys soon … Let us know where the rooftop party’s at.

Just love this photo.
Photo borrowed from the entertaining blogger Dale Cruse from drinksareonme.net.

Sip of Slovenia

What: Slovenian and Croatian wine tasting
Where: Murray Hill Wines, 516 3rd Ave, between 34th and 35th St.
When: Friday, March 12, 6 to 9pm

Slovenian wines are gaining worldwide recognition, especially after taking home dozens of medals at last year’s Decanter World Awards. And most of our customers know about our ardent efforts to encourage the heavy drinking of Croatian wine, which is hugely successful in Eastern Europe and being imported to the United States from small-production vineyards more and more. Please swing by MHW on your trek home from work to taste a Slovenian pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon and a Croatian riesling.

Sanctum Pinot Noir, $17.99 (plus 10% discount tonight)

Now is your chance to taste a Slovenian pinot noir, grown in a cool climate like Burgundy and French-oak-aged. What does that get you? A supple, fruity pinot with a touch of smokiness.

Mansus Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $19.99 (plus 10% discount tonight)

Another Slovenian wine of a traditional grape variety, Mansus Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in the Vipava Valley, an area known for unique terroir. Raisin and black currant scents come together with soft, sweet tannins.

Enjingi Grasevina 2006, $24.99 (plus 10% discount tonight)

You might have tasted this wine reaping of autumn fruit flavors last Friday. We’re bringing this 100% Welschriesling from Slavonia, Croatia, back for a second-taste tonight. A late-harvest white, this full-bodied Riesling is silky-smooth, dry—and a white wine of warm apple, blueberry, fig, pear and plum notes hits the spot on a rainy Friday like tonight.

Italian Trio

What: Italian wine tasting
Where: Murray Hill Wines, 516 3rd Ave, between 34th and 35th St.
When: Thursday, March 11, 6 to 9pm

If you’re like us, you’re ready to switch out the dry, full-bodied reds for a zestier and lighter red and some gulp-able whites. This Italian trio is just what you need for the onset of spring—something softer and easier to drink down. Just imagine, soon you’ll be baring skin and toes and craving warm weather treats like fresh seafood, fruits and chilled wines like this elderberry-flavored Soave for just $14.99! Read on…

Stefanini II Selese Soave 2008, $14.99

Clean and refreshing, this chilled white of 90% Garganega and 10% Chardonnay goes well with many lighter dishes or as an aperitif. Fermented in stainless steel, notice the delicate violets, hawthorn and elderberry. It is dry, medium-bodied and smooth with almond notes at the finish.

Angelarosa Greco di Tufo 2007, $19.99

A racy and addictive Greco di Tufo with the complex taste of hazlenut, almond and grape with a very long finish. The aroma and flavors make this golden wine with a small touch of Coda di Volpe for a spicy bite dangerously good.

Mustilli Piedirosso Agata dei Goti 2008, $19.99

A zesty, light-bodied red with a clean, refreshing finish, this 100% Piedirosso is ideal with pizza and spaghetti or bolognese. Red-fruit mingles with lavender and thyme, and the finish turns bright red fruits into dried, earthy berries.

Around the Mediterranean

Join us tonight 6 to 9pm to taste three new additions to our shelves: a new Montepulciano, Tempranillo and Grasevina (kind of like a Riesling, but from Croatia) from three beautiful countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Italo Pietrantonj Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2006 -$14.99 (plus 10% off)

Earthy with flavors of black berry and grape fruits and florals, this rustic Montepulciano comes from one of the oldest wineries in Abruzzo—300 years old! The winery uses 80-year-old oak barrels and concrete tanks for fermentation.

Pago Senda Misa Tempranillo 2003 -$19.99 (plus 10% off)

This Tempranillo is grown on very old, bush-trained vines in the Ribera del Duero region. Unfiltered, rustic and a little smokey with excellent fruits and hints of chocolate, it is aged six months in mature oak and fermented with native yeasts.

Enjingi Grasevina -$24.99 (plus 10% off)

From Slavonia in Northeastern Croatia, a Riesling-like grape called Grasevina grows, creating elegant, dry, full-bodied wines with the taste of warm autumn fruit. Don’t be fooled by the name—it’s a mouthful. This wine is truly rewarding and pairs well with a variety of foods, especially poultry and pork.

Tasting Train to Spain

Join us tonight from 6 to 9pm, and we'll start you with an effervescent and refreshing sauvignon blanc from Navarra, Spain: Inurrietta Orchidea 2009. The name appropriately translates to north orchid, which reminds us of flowers and spring, when we'll definitely be gulping down this wine. It's refreshing and tropical with hints of lime and pineapple. This chilled white may be ideal for warmer weather, but sometimes we just get tired of the heavy reds and could really go for something pleasantly light, even in mid-February. This Sauvignon Blanc rings in at just $11.99.

Next, we'll pour you a taste of the Conde de Jauregui Rioja, Vendimic Selecionada 2008. Comprised of 75% Tempranillo and 25% Garnacha, this ripe Rioja offers an incredible fruity and robust nose. Enjoy the ripe berries and plum flavors with a hint of oak from American oak aging. At $9.99, there's no reason to pass this beauty up.

For something more aged and intense, try the Conde de Jauregui Rioja Riserva 2004 of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo. American oak aging and time in the bottle rounded out the ripe tannins for a smoother and heavier Rioja. Bring home the Riserva for $17.99.

See you tonight.... Jump on our tasting train like a holiday in Spain.