Curious Grape Tastings & Events Nov 14-20

                        CURIOUS GRAPE EVENTS
                                                   November 14-20

 Stop by the tasting bar TONIGHT (Fri, Nov 14) and Take A Step Up, with an interesting, comparative tasting of inexpensive and more expensive wines from the same producer!  PLUS:  Reserve now for Saturday's FREE Spanish seminar!  
(For details, see "On The Tasting Bar" & "FREE Seminar" below)

In This Weekend's Issue: 

• ON THE TASTING BAR THIS WEEKEND
• **Take A Step Up** (Fri, Nov  14, 6-8 pm)
• FREE IN-STORE SEMINAR
• A Whirlwind Tour Of Spain (THIS Sat, Nov 15, 1 pm)
• HOT TIP
• Don't Miss This 2000 Bordeaux That You Can Afford to Drink Right Now!
• FREE IN-STORE EVENTS
• Red & White Burgundies (Wed, Nov 19, 6-8 pm)
• Spectacular Rhone Values (Thur, Nov 20, 6-8 pm)

ON THE TASTING BAR THIS WEEKEND

**TAKE A STEP UP** (Fri, Nov 14, 6-8 pm) -- Ever wonder whether a winery's pricier wines are worth the extra money?  Then you won't want to miss tonight's special FREE in-store tasting!  It's a unique, comparative tasting of inexpensive, entry-level wines paired with their more expensive (though not expensive) siblings.  What makes one wine more expensive than another?  Could be a variety of factors.  Higher-end bottlings may come from a better or more select vineyard site, may be made up only of the best barrels of a particular batch, or may receive extra aging in expensive oak barrels.  Why not stop by and explore the ins and outs of quality and price?  You'll sample: 

• a pair of delicious German Rieslings from the outstanding 2007 vintage -- one a basic QbA bottling and the other a Kabinett
• a gorgeous pair of rich, plummy, Argentine Malbecs, one with twice the time spent in oak barrels
• a pair of jammy Australian Shirazes -- both offering outstanding value

Of course, you'll enjoy the tasting bar discount on your favorite wines, or mix up a case of the wines being tasted and enjoy a special discount of 15% off!  Don't miss it!

FREE IN-STORE SEMINAR

WHIRLWIND WINE TOUR OF SPAIN (THIS Sat, Nov 15, 1 pm) -- Want to take a whirlwind wine tour of Spain?  Sign up now for this Saturday's FREE in-store seminar!  Selected as one of 15 out of 600 educators to take an in-depth look at five of Spain's most important wine regions with the Spanish Wine Academy, Certified Wine Educator Suzanne McGrath is fresh from her own whirlwind tour.   This week's seminar recreates the journey.  You'll begin with the experimental, up-and-coming wines of the Penedes region, located just south of Barcelona, then continue to Rioja, Ribera Del Duero, and Rias Baixas in the northern half of the country.  Then fasten your seat belts as we move to the historic region of Jerez, with a 3000 year wine history, culminating in Sherry wines as we know them today.  Of course, you'll enjoy a guided tasting of some of the country's most exciting wine values, plus each wine will be paired with authentic regional Spanish cheeses and specialty foods presented by Certified Specialist of Wine Katie Park.  In addition, you'll receive informative reference materials, as well as the tasting bar discount on all your favorite wines.  While the tasting is FREE, space is limited so reservations are required.  To reserve, just give us a call at 703-671-8700.   

HOT TIP

Like Bordeaux?  Like 2000 Bordeaux?  Like 2000 Bordeaux that you can afford to drink right now?  Don't miss this Hot Tip on the 2000 Chateau Les Moines "Prestige", a surprisingly impressive, little-known Bordeaux that just arrived!  This tiny estate is located in the prestigious Medoc, north of the city of Bordeaux, where all the great appellations of Margaux, St-Julien, Pauillac, and St-Estephe are found.  Labeled simply Medoc, it's located just outside St-Estephe.  Typical of the region, the vineyards are made up of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, which approximates the blend of the wine in each year (Bordeaux wineries usually tell you the mix of grapes in their vineyards, not in a particular wine).  What makes the wine so great?  Everything that made the 2000 vintage so great:  deep purple-red color, intense, generously ripe red fruit, a fabulously silky texture, long, lingering flavors, and true Bordeaux character, with notes of tobacco and licorice.  Amazingly fresh after 18 months of barrel aging followed by about 6 years of aging in the bottle, it's a delight to drink right now, but still has several years ahead of it.  And if it's so great, why haven't you heard of it?  That's the magic of the 2000 vintage (and other great vintages, like 2005).  In a great year, virtually everyone makes great wine, especially producers in areas just outside the best appellations.  Although not rated by Wine Spectator or Robert Parker, the wine received a gold medel at the 2004 Decanter World Wine Awards, sponsored by Britain's Decanter Magazine:  "Dark red, Dense, closed nose, but ripe fruit. Medium full, firm without being coarse, rich – complex. Harmonious." 

Best of all, this is a perfectly-aged Bordeaux from a great vintage, that you can afford to drink!  At just $22.99, it's a tremendous value. 

Want an even better deal?  Just mention this email to receive special, email only discounts:

• $21.99 by the bottle
• $19.99 for 6 or more bottles
• Best Deal:  $17.99 for 12 or more bottles

Want to give it a try?  Just stop by the tasting bar this Saturday and ask for a taste.  In the meantime, if you would like to reserve any of this wine, just give us a call with a credit card number at 703-671-8700.  If you don't like it, bring it back and we'll drink it ourselves!  Offer good Friday, November 14 through Thursday, November 20, or while supplies last.

FREE IN-STORE EVENTS

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we're already lining up some fabulous tastings to audition wines for your holiday celebration.  Mark your calendar now and plan to stop by the tasting bar for these impressive options. 

RED & WHITE WINES FROM BURGUNDY (Wed, Nov 19, 6-8 pm) -- If you're like a lot of wine drinkers, you sure enjoy a nice Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, but choosing a good wine -- let alone a good value -- from Burgundy is like a minefield.  But it's a shame to overlook the wines from one of the world's top wine regions!  If you'd like to get a better handle on Burgundy and pick up a top choice to enjoy over the holidays, don't miss Wednesday's special FREE tasting featuring reds and whites from the region.  We're focusing on reasonably affordable options from lesser-known villages that may be overlooked but still offer great Burgundy character.  Reservations are not required for this tasting; just stop by between 6 and 8 pm.

SPECTACULAR RHONE WINE VALUES (Thur, Nov 20, 6-8 pm) -- Here's another region not to be overlooked!  With the exception of the washout 2002 vintage, France's southern Rhone Valley has been on a roll, with excellent wines vintage after vintage for over ten years!  Plus, it's hard to think of a better option for holiday, fall, and winter drinking than the spicy, herbal, red and black fruit flavors of a Cotes du Rhone or Chateauneuf du Pape.  Add to that reasonable prices and exceptional value and you have plenty of reasons to stop by for next Thursday's star-studded tasting of stellar Rhone values, including:

• an aromatic, 90-Point White Chateauneuf du Pape
• a spicy, highly-rated red from Cotes du Ventoux
• a pair of 90+ Point reds from Chateauneuf du Pape -- just perfect for your Thanksgiving table or holiday wish list

Plus, you'll enjoy the tasting bar discount on these magnificent selections, or mix up a case of the wines being tasted and enjoy a special discount of 15% off!  Reservations are not required; just stop by anytime from 6 to 8 pm.  Hope to see you there!

 ***********************************************************************************************

This email has been sent to you because you have asked to receive information about Curious Grape promotions and special events.  If you know someone else who would enjoy receiving our email, by all means, pass this along.  If you would like to unsubscribe, please see the link at the bottom of this email or reply with the word "Unsubscribe" in the reference line. 

The Curious Grape
4056 Campbell Avenue
Shirlington Village
Arlington, VA 22206
703-671-8700
FAX 703-671-0100
tcgrape@earthlink.net

Bringing wine back down to Earth

You are currently receiving our mailings in HTML format. If you prefer to receive plain text only message, please visit: http://zenmail.corporatezen.net/mysettings.cfm?tne=C4CA4238A0B923820DCC509A6F75849B.
To unsubscribe, please visit http://zenmail.corporatezen.net/mysettings.cfm?tne=C4CA4238A0B923820DCC509A6F75849B.