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.

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.

TR in the Freep!

Check it out here.

75 years of Grape-Stomping Goodness

75 years ago, on December 5th, the collective consciousness of this country heaved a sigh of relief and reached for its corkscrew. Yes, Prohibition was repealed and we are celebrating that glorious moment this Dec 5. We will be open till 10pm (yes, it's Midnight Madness around town, we know) and we will give you 15% off all the wine accessories in the shop.

In the immortal words of the Home Shopping Network: But wait! There's more! All through the month of December, our loyal everyday-wines bag-toting customers will also get 15% off case purchases (that's 12 bottles to a case). What's that, you walked here and can't carry a case home? We'll deliver it for you. You want all the whites chilled before we drop it off? We can do that too, talk to us.

And a big thank you from A Knife's Work to all you for your support, feedback and encouragement. They are now featuring weekly desserts, along with the soups, sides and entrees. And, for the month of December, you get 50% off your second entree Sundays and Mondays. Check their weekly menu at http://www.aknifeswork.com

Of course, there's always something new and interesting (like a Champagne taste-off coming up) that slips between the email cracks, so do visit us and say hello.