Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Remaining December Tasting Events (only two left)

Updated 12/7.

Champagne and Oysters! Wednesday, December 9th, 6:30-8:30pm. Oysters from Monahan's Seafood, smoked fish from Durham's Tracklements, and of course, bubblies from Everyday Wines. Tickets are $35 and need to be purchased in advance. Call 734.827.WINE (we take Visa, MC, Amex and Discover) or of course, we'd love to have you stop by the store. The event will be in the SH\aut\ event space in Braun Court (next to the Kerrytown Concert House).

Every Other Day Wine Tasting. Wednesday, December 16th, 6:30-8:30 pm. Enjoy a special tasting of our splurge wines (>$30 per bottle). Find that last minute perfect holiday gift while tasting some fabulous wines (everybody wins). Tickets are $30 and need to be purchased in advance. Call 734.827.WINE (we take Visa, MC, Amex and Discover) or stop by the store. The event will be in the SH\aut\ event space in Braun Court (next to the Kerrytown Concert House)

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The Turkey Wall

Our annual Turkey Wall is up and running.

16 wines specifically chosen to meet any curve Thanksgiving throws your way. Eight reds, eight whites, a couple of Michigan wines, and half of them under $15 with the other half under $25.

Whether you're doing the traditional spread or making up your own rules, we're ready to put the perfect bottle in your hands.


Thursday, November 5, 2009

The Holiday Gift/Entertainment Pack Special

This hand-selected collection of wines is specifically chosen for holiday gift giving and entertaining.

Grab a six pack (one of each) and you'll get 10% off. Pick up a case (two of each), and we'll make it 15% off.

Cuvee des Ardoises Fitou 2004
Brophy Clark Santa Barbara County GSM
Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo D'Alba 2007
Domaine Monpertuis Cuvee Counoise 2006
Can Feixes Penedes 2008
Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 2008


Factor in the discount, and your gang of six costs only $95.34, or pick up a case for $180.07.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Oh, Douro!

Apparently the New York Times is monitoring our selections.

The Times had a nice write-up on emerging Portuguese red wines from Douro, and a handful of these great value wines are already firmly planted on our shelves.




2006 Altano from Symington Family Estates. Plummy, dark cherry, with cocoa notes. This does need a bit of air but it's worth the wait at $9.





Quinta do Coa. We've had a soft spot for the Coa for a couple years now. And, with loads of intense red fruit, a bit of spcie and soft tannins, it's easy to love. $24





2005 Quinta dos Aciprestes from Real Companhia Velha. Don't let the tannins scare you. Let it open up for while or have it over a couple of days. For $10, you'll get a lot of beautiful dark plummy notes intertwined with dark cherry and polished with just the right amount of oak.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

It's Baaaa-aaaack!

We've managed to get our hands on more of the elusive Chateau Des Annibals Rose from Provence - dry, just the right amount of fruit, and lovely minerality.

And, while supplies last, Everyday Wines Bag Members get 15% off six bottles.

Not an EDW Bag Member? Well, that's easily rectified. Swing by the store, purchase at least four bottles of wine (mix and match, fine with us), and receive a complimentary Everyday Wines Bag.

The EDW Bag holds six bottles, is great for additional shopping in Kerrytown and beyond, and is so sturdy that there will be nothing but EDW bags and cockroaches after the apocalypse.

Then, on all future visits, your Bag Member status will be duly rewarded. You'll always get 10% of any six bottles (whereas the rest of the world has to purchase a case to get that kind of discount), as well as special promotions (like the 15% off the Annibals).

EDW Bag Members also get 15% of cases during December. The gift that keeps on giving.

Monday, September 28, 2009

A Couple New Faces



Excelsior Shiraz 2006. Dark fruit, smoked meat, and a little bit of good stink. Quite a bit of complexity for a mere $10. Great for the cool weather coming our way. Think hearty autumn stews.




Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc '07. Owners John & Tracy Skupny have produced a lovely example of California Cabernet Franc. Hailing from the higher elevations of Lake County, this Cab Franc has bright cherry fruit, nice earthiness, pretty floral notes, and lively acidity. Think gift or fall/holiday food. $25

Friday, September 18, 2009

To Life!

Kosher wines are now in for the holidays.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Just A Reminder

The next two wine classes are filling up.

Exploring The Loire Valley - Thursday, September 17 - 6:30-8:30 pm

and

Wine & Cheese Pairing Class
- Thursday, September 24 - 6:30-8:30 pm

For complete descriptions, click here.

For registration information, click here.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

More Than Worthy


Some upcoming events to raise proceeds for some very worthy local organizations.

Growing Hope
-- the awesome Washtenaw County non-profit organization dedicated to helping people improve their lives and communities through gardening and healthy food access -- will be hosting their 5th annual Hope's Harvest Benefit Dinner on September 20th.

Savor the creations of featured local chefs and farmers, paired with outstanding local beverages. enjoy an afternoon in their garden and see the progress on their Growing Hope Center.

Also, tomorrow night (we hope we're not too late and tickets are still available) is the Ozone House's fundraiser right here in Kerrytown. Ozone House is a wonderful community-based, nonprofit agency that helps young people lead safe, healthy, and productive lives through intensive intervention and prevention services.

Join Ozone House for a festive open-air dinner with fresh food & drink (all provided by local merchants) at a unique local venue (that would be Kerrytown)! Featuring a four course meal, wine, beer, live entertainment & a silent auction.

Check out more details here.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Happy Labor Day

In an effort to make your Labor Day as labor free as possible, we've rounded up a few wines for the three-day weekend.

Clos La Coutale Cahors 2007. Pair this with a steak, ribs, or hearty grilled veggies. 80% Malbec, 20% Merlot. Dark plum, blackberry, and earthy. Full bodied and rich, but it has just the right amount of acidity and tannins to balance it. Also wonderful on its own. A gem at $15




Domaine La Bastide Syrah 2007. Another great barbecue wine. Let it breathe a bit and you'll be greeted with dark fruit, cassis, a little spice, black pepper, and a bit of bacony goodness. Well balanced with nice acidity. Definitely French, but bold. $12




Giocato Pinot Grigio 2008. Just over the Italian border(Friuli), this Slovenian wine will renew your faith in inexpensive Pinot Grigio. Chalky, mineral notes, lots of complexity for the dollar. For a limited time we have it at $11.




Can Feixes Blanc Seleccio Penedes 2008. Don't be fooled by the tall, skinny bottle, this is totally dry, with a cool stony shellfish nose. This comes from the Cava region of Penedes and combines the typical Cava grapes of Parellada and Macabeo with a smattering of Chardonnay and Malvasia that give it a lovely viscous texture. A great food wine (we're picturing a thick sword fish steak, but feel free to get creative). $14


Monday, August 31, 2009

Today Might Be The Day

Check out Ron Sober's latest wine article for annarbor.com.

We couldn't agree more that today just might be the day you've been saving that special wine for. Because, you know, it is Monday.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

September Wine Classes

In conjunction with our friends at the Ann Arbor Art Center, we're pleased to offer two classes coming in September.

Exploring The Loire Valley - Thursday, September 17 - 6:30-8:30 pm

People know the wines of Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the Rhone but often overlook the Loire Valley. Come explore the Loire appellations, taste wines (beyond Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc), and discover new French wines from this underappreciated region.


Wine & Cheese Pairing Class
- Thursday, September 24 - 6:30-8:30 pm

In this class, we'll provide a road map for matching various cheese types with wines. We'll introduce cheese basics, including milk types, textures and flavors, and then we'll guide you through choosing wines that complement each cheese type. And, of course, you'll sample
cheese and wine pairings, discovering matches that suit your own personal tastes.

Both classes will be held at the Ann Arbor Art Center and taught by wine yoda and all around dude, Ron Sober. The cost is $30 per class.

Register online at www.annarborartcenter.org (click on Workshops to find the classes) or call the Art Center at 994-8004, ext 101.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Taking Stock



Most of us talk a good game when it comes to appreciating the little things, smelling the flowers, and generally taking stock of the people and places that make Ann Arbor special.

But, wow, if you're not basking in the glories of the Farmers' Market in the Kerrytown parking lot these Wednesdays and Saturdays (7 a.m. to 2 p.m.) you might as well just hit yourself with something heavy.



Local fruit, vegies, breads, eggs, flowers, and so much more.

Treat yourself right. Grab a Roos Roast coffee, some Pilar's Tamales, and dive in.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

August Case Special

Due to the great response to last month's case special (15% off will do that), we're putting together another one for August. This case was inspired by the arrival of heirloom tomatoes in the Kerrytown Farmer's Market held each Wednesday and Saturday.

Unlike grapes like Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Syrah/Shiraz, we've chosen varietals that are not widely planted and, for the most part, grow in a very specific area. Just as efforts are made to pass down the heirloom tomato seeds from generation to generation, efforts are made to continue growing these grapes even though it will most certainly never lead to commercial stardom. These efforts do lead, however, just like heirloom tomatoes, to unique and tasty results.

Read on for the six grape varietals (three whites, three reds - two bottles of each). This case of wine would normally cost $175.83 but is only $149.44 through August 31. Think of it as only $12.50 per bottle (including tax) and a great way to expand your wine tasting horizons. Now bust out your Google Earth and let's go.

Le Fils des Gras Moutons. Let's start in Muscadet, an appellation in the Nantes region of France where the Loire meets the Atlantic. The grape is Melon de Bourgogne, and it's the sole ingredient in Muscadet.

Before we go any further, let's be clear - we're not talking about Muscat (in fact, it couldn't be much more different). Mistakenly interchange the two, and you'll be missing a fantastic wine
experience. This Muscadet is dry and crisp, with really lovely minerality and a generous array of white fruit and fresh briny flavors. Think oysters, seafood, or just sitting around on a warm
afternoon/evening.

Rondineto Passerina. The Passerina grape lives in the Offida appellation in the northern part of the Marche region of Italy in the province of Ascoli Piceno. How's that for specific. Think floral, with ripe melon, a peachy note, and finishing on a clean orange zesty note.

Fattoria Giuseppe Savini Colleventano Pecorino 2008. The Pecorino also hails from Italy's Marche region. Not to be confused with the cheese, this grape grows primarily in the higher altitudes of Abruzzo. This white grape brings light (but not wimpy) melon and white peach
on the nose and palate. The finish gives the wine complexity as it lingers on a salty note with a bit of minerality.

L'Astore Filimei Negroamaro 2007. Negroamaro is a red grape native to southern Italy and is grown almost exclusively in Puglia, particularly in the Salento Peninsula (the "heel" of Italy) where the grape has been planted for centuries. The wine has a lovely ruby red color and distinct nose with scents of red berries, herbs and a bit of earthiness. The flavors don't disappoint, with more of the same, soft tannins, and just the right amount of acidity to make your mouth start watering.

Domaine Monpertuis Counoise 2006. From the southern Rhone, Counoise is typically used as one of 13 grapes allowed in Chateauneuf du Pape. But on its own, it brings dark fruit nicely balanced with a bit of acidity, soft tannins, and a note of peppery spice.

Barbolini Lambrusco NV. Yep. Lambrusco. Gallo ruined our impression of wines with a screw cap, Franzia continues to ruin our impression of boxed wine, and Riunite ruined our impression of Lambrusco. But just as folks in the 70's had the good sense to retire their leisure suits, it's time to rid yourself of any preconceived notions you have about this grape. For those of you born in the 1980's, nevermind.

This Lambrusco is DRY, slightly spritzy and organic. It has wonderful aromas and flavors of dark cherry and plum, herbs, and a liberal dose of black pepper . Chill it down, pop the cork and you'll have a fabulous pairing for the last months of summer.


So that's August's Case Special. Swing by the store to pick one up or, if you're too jet lagged at this point, give us a call to reserve one. And, we hope you'll pick up an heirloom tomato or two while you're at it.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Words on Wine

As annarbor.com works to fill the void left by the Ann Arbor News, they've made the very wise decision to enlist the talents of Ron Sober to blog about wine for them.

Along with being a nationally recognized wine judge and a wine educator (if you've taken any of Everyday Wines' classes, then you know Ron), he's also generously donated his time for many of the fund raising events EDW has held in support of local nonprofits.

As if that weren't enough, he's also been an incredibly valuable member of the Everyday Wines tasting posse since, well, even before Day One.

But above and beyond all that street cred and cool dudidity (yes, we made that up, but it fits), Ron is a great friend.

Now go read what he has to say. Go.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Aloha

Look up "mixed emotions" in the dictionary, and the definition may well link back to this post.

We are thrilled for longtime accomplice and co-conspirator Giri Iyengar as he ventures east to study law at George Washington University.

At the same time, we will each miss his passion, creativity, and humor. Sure, in this facebook age, nobody ever seems too far away. Still, we'll miss seeing his smiling French-Italian-Trinidadian-Greco-New Guinea face on a daily basis.

However, because this is Giri we're talking about, there really is no official farewell. He'll be back. At least to visit.

In the meantime, kick lawyer ass, Giri.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Allegria del Cuore e Gioia dell'Anima *

Rosso Conero has been an official DOC exactly as long as Giri has been alive. (Woah! Ancient!) Of course, they've been making wine there since... ever.

It's a fairly small appellation, by the town of Ancona in central Marche, on the Adriatic coast. There are several local grape varieties planted here but Montepulciano dominates and any wine with the DOC on the label must have at least 85% Montepulciano in the blend.

Moroder "Aion" 2006 (100% Montepulciano) $16.99

Smells like violets and wet sand. No, really! Yes, in a good way. There's some spiciness on the palate, with soft dark fruit. Juicy and crisp without any oak, this would be a terrific Summer red. In Ancona, they drink it with everything, including fish, snails and shellfish. Or so it says on the bottle. We're going to have to go there to confirm this.

* "Gaiety of heart and joy of the soul." That's what that means. It's on the bottle. Giri used Google. No, he's not Italian.

Monday, June 1, 2009

YAALIFE

YAALife is a new website/blog covering life in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Take a look at their article on us.

Solstice Party!

everyday wines invites you to celebrate Summer Solstice with us.

Saturday, June 20, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, in the courtyard at kerrytown

$25/person

Come taste our selection of Summer wines from all over the world, beer from Michigan and Sangria, paired with delicious pizzas from Kerrytown’s very own T R Durham of Durham’s Tracklements. Just come, hang out, meet other interesting people, eat and drink some fun stuff and have a good time.

And while you're at it, you're supporting a great cause. All profits go to Growing Hope, a local nonprofit that helps people improve their lives & communities through gardening.
Learn more about Growing Hope here.

Stop in for tickets or call us at 734 827 9463


Friday, May 1, 2009

WIne Tasting on May 12

We are cohosting a tasting with the \aut\ Bar. We hope this will be the first of a series. Do let us know is you have requests for specific themes or other ideas. If enough of are you interested in Loire Valley wines (we had to cancel that one), we would love to set it up again.

Spanish and South American Wines
Tuesday, May 12th
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
SH\aut\ Cabaret and Gallery
325 Braun Court
Ann Arbor

$25/person, and that includes hors d'oeuvres. There will also be special pricing on the wines for that day. Order what you like and pick it up from us later the same week.

You can reserve seats with us or at the \aut\ or online, at the Common Language website.

Do come. We would love to see you there.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Deals to Make You Drool!

Yes, yes, we have some new wines in that make us smile:

Fattoria Casabianca "Sussingo" 2006.
A Cabernet/Sangiovese blend from Tuscany that really lets both grapes shine. Structured like a Bordeaux with plenty of... well, everything. Fruit, acidity, tannins, earth. We dig it. A steal at $12.99.

Marques de Somera Reserva 2002.
Grenache/Tempranillo from CariƱena. Cherries, leather, a hint of sweet tobacco, leather and cinnamon. Crisp and clean. Yes, we know we sound like wine writers when we talk like that but don't blame us. How often to do you get a wine that has aged well for 7 years... at
$10.99?!

Old Wines New Again!

Good news. A couple of wines that had disappeared for a while have returned after a relaxing vacation:

Pasolini dall'Onda Montepetri 2007
Another one from Tuscany, this is a blend of 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Grigio, a blend that works just right. Balanced, clean and medium-bodied, a great example of Italian table white. It works with almost any food and is great just by itself. Pour it at a party and you will be surprised when the white runs out before the red. $11.99.

Higueruela 2005
Bonus points if you can pronounce that correctly on your first try! This is from Almansa in Spain and may be the only wine around these here parts that is 100% Alicante Bouschet. The Higueruela is tangy, chewy, dark and bright, all at the same time. We don't know how it does that. Ask it yourself for $11.99.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Kosher for Passover

We tasted a whole mess of kosher wines and picked a few. (Yes, we do it so you don't have to.)

We have the following in stock, so come on in and get your kosher on!

Borgo Reale Chianti 2006 $17.99
Zakon Cabernet 2004 (Central Coast, CA) $13.99
Golan “Sion Creek Red” 2006 (Galilee, Israel) $13.99
Benhaim Cabernet 2002 (Galilee, Israel) $6.99
Lan Zur Chardonnay 2008 (Lontue Valley, Chile) $8.99

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Answers at the Art Center


Winter 2009: 493 - ORGANIC, BIODYNAMIC, SULFITES, HISTAMINES? WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? WITH EVERYDAY WINES

What does it mean to be organic? Biodynamic? What is "natural winemaking" and how does it affect taste? Do sulfites matter? What role do histamines play? If you're looking to learn more about organic and biodynamic wines because of health and/or environmental reasons, this class is for you.

Thu 03/12/2009 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Go here, and scroll down to sign up:

Members:$23.00
Non-members:$25.00
Lab Fee:$15.00

Saturday, February 7, 2009

The Hidden Italy (Updated - New Date, Feb 17)

Our first tasting event at the Performance Network Theater is coming up! We will be tasting a line-up of Italian wines.

While Italian wine is frequently considered just another way of saying "Chianti," the country has a long and remarkably diverse tradition of wines made from an amazing range of grape varieties. Join us as we taste Italian wines from unheralded grapes like Ortrugo, Croatina and Negroamaro, from small regions like Colli Piacentini and Friuli. You are sure to find some pleasant surprises in this round-up.

Join us this Tuesday, Feb 17.
6:30pm - 8:30pm
$20 for PNT members, $25 for non-members, $5 off if you buy a pair of tickets.

To purchase tickets, please call us at 827 9463
or the theater at 663 0681 or 663 0696.

The theater is at 120 E. Huron St., at the corner of Huron Street and Fourth Avenue.

<http://www.performancenetwork.org/>

Wine & Cheese at the Art Center

Winter 2009: 492 - BASICS OF WINE & CHEESE PAIRING WITH EVERYDAY WINES

In this class, Ron Sober will provide a roadmap for matching various cheese types with wines. He'll introduce cheese basics, including milk types, textures and flavors and then guide you through choosing wines that complement each cheese type. And of course, you'll sample some cheese and wine pairings and discover matches that suit your own personal taste.

Thu 02/26/2009 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Go here, and scroll down to sign up:


Members:$23.00
Non-members:$25.00
Lab Fee:$15.00

Alfajor Maitelates

Did you ever try the amazing Alfajores from Maite Zubia at the Farmer's Market? We did and we loved them. So now they're in the store! Come get some before we eat them all. (Alfajores are delicious confections made by dipping a biscuit/caramel sandwich in chocolate. Yum!) Take a look at Maite's website: <http://www.maitelates.com:90/maitelates/index.htm>

New Wines

We spent January looking for new wines for the shop, wines to make the cold and grey seem distant and irrelevant. And we've found several terrific ones, ranging from $7 on up. A pretty little Monastrell for $7, a delicious Friulano for $12, a remarkable Portugese red for $20, an outstanding Vino Nobile di Montepulciano for $25 and, on our Splurge Shelf, a gorgeous Santenay for special occasions, at $42. All great values at their prices. Of course, there are more but we try not to drone on and on here - do come in and ask us about them.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Wine Workshops

We're working with the Ann Arbor Art Center to create a series of Wine Appreciation Classes. Our friend, Ron Sober, will be conducting these sessions. Ron is a member of our staff tasting group and also a wine educator and judge. Not to mention a lot of fun.

There will be four classes, one every month from January to April. All classes are on Thursdays, 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Click on the link above to see the full schedule and to register. You have to register through the AAAC.

Hope to see you there.