The Winnetka Wine Shop http://winnetkawineshop.com Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:50:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Wine and Football http://winnetkawineshop.com/2011/01/wine-and-football/ http://winnetkawineshop.com/2011/01/wine-and-football/#comments Wed, 12 Jan 2011 23:31:38 +0000 emily http://winnetkawineshop.com/?p=127 I enjoy watching football and I am as happy as the next person that our Chicago Bears made it to the playoffs but I won’t try to fool you – pretty much all I know is that the Bears are hosting the Seahawks this Sunday and hopefully this game goes much better than the last. What I can help you with is selecting what wines and beers to pair with your chicken wings, guacamole, burgers and other playoff menu items you might be indulging in this weekend.

The burger: When trying to pair a wine with a burger it’s really all about the toppings; do you like strong blu cheese, smothering it in sweet ketchup or like to add heat with jalapenos, these toppings are really what you’re pairing. For our sake let’s go with a traditional ground chuck burger, American cheese, grilled onions and lettuce. The 2006 E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone is Syrah 50%, Grenache 40% and Mouvedre 10% and retails for $14.00. The wine offers fresh fruits with red berries and spices on the nose. Full-bodied and rich on the palate the wine has a long finish of balanced tannins and fruit. The savory mouth feel and bright fruits make it a great wine to pair with a burger.

Guacamole: The recipe for guac in our house is simple: a couple avocados, lots of fresh cilantro, a few ripe tomatoes (diced and separated from the juice and seeds) a jalapeno pepper, salt and pepper to taste with lots of fresh lime juice. With this rich and fresh dish a full bodied white works well. 2009 Vina Mein at $20.00 a bottle from Spain is a great bottle. A very aromatic white it is a blend of various Galician grapes. The wine is dry and its crisp expression of fruit helps it stand up to the guacamole.

BBQ: Now my favorite is the North Carolina style pulled pork which is mustard and vinegar based. I would pair a fruity Pinot Noir or savory Cabernet Franc but unfortunately you just don’t see much of that style BBQ around here. We’ll assume you might be making a sweet, smoky and spicy sauce which a fruit forward Cabernet Sauvignon from California would be the right wine. 2008 Broadside Margarita Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, $19.00 a bottle, offers black currants and spice right off the nose and on the palate has an abundant of intense fruit such as red and black berry and plum. A very fresh and balanced wine that will pair well with most BBQ dishes.

The Veggie Plate: Maybe you’re still going strong and sticking to your New Year’s resolutions of treating your body like a temple. Well after you get back from your 10 mile run through the snow, wind and ice why not enjoy a glass of zesty 2009 Beckmen Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, $16.00 a bottle. It’s clean and fresh with great acidity that works well with crudités and the sugars and carbs will help your body reload! Right?

Join us Thursday January 13th and/or Friday January 14th 4pm -7.00pm as we taste these and other great party wines, beers and cheeses, crackers, dips and other tasty snacks to serve this weekend. Don’t forget we always offer a 10% full or mixed case discount! We’ll see you soon at 726 Elm Street.

]]> http://winnetkawineshop.com/2011/01/wine-and-football/feed/ 0 How to Select the Perfect Hostess Gift! http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/12/how-to-select-the-perfect-hostess-gift/ http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/12/how-to-select-the-perfect-hostess-gift/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2010 20:23:58 +0000 emily http://winnetkawineshop.com/?p=120 Ideas for the Perfect Hostess gift from The Winnetka Wine Shop

Holiday parties are now in full swing and whether you’ve accepted an invitation to dinner with your in-laws, a holiday party at your co-workers home or celebrating new years at your friends a bottle of wine is the perfect hostess gift to show your gratitude. However there are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a bottle of wine to take as a gift that won’t leave the recipient wondering if you just grabbed a bottle off your wine rack on the way out the door:

Anything with bubbles says celebration! You don’t have to spend a fortune to give a great bottle of Champagne; Launois Grand Cru Cuvee Reservee is a richly flavored Champagne made from 100% Chardonnay. Pop the cork and let the celebration begin!

For the Foodie: These days it seems like everyone is into cooking at home or eating fresh and local when they go out. If you’re attending a dinner at some ones’ home select a wine that’s versatile in its food pairings. Syncline Pinot Noir 2008 from Columbia Gorge WA has a bright finish and is sure to accompany many rich foods. Only 275 cases are produced so it will also be a unique wine to share with your host.

The Big Red Wine Lover: 2007 Laird Family Jillian’s Blend from Napa is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. Another smaller production wine with only 825 cases made this Napa blend is sure to be a hit shared among friends on a cold night.

Remember to Accessorize: We hear it all the time but keep it in mind when picking your wine! Add some cheese or crackers, appropriate wine accessories such as a bottle of Champagne in an ice bucket beautifully wrapped or a big red wine with an aerator. Finally, don’t forget the beer lover in your life! Craft Beers are hot these days so don’t be afraid to give beer this year.

For more helpful suggestions at all price points and for any occasion, stop into your independent, locally owned and operated wine shop.

The Winnetka Wine Shop
726 Elm Street Winnetka IL
just East of Green Bay road
847-446-2716

Every wine and beer is hand selected, taste tested and ready for you, and your host, to enjoy every sip. We also carry a large selection of wine accessories and gourmet foods.

See you soon at 726 Elm Street!

]]> http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/12/how-to-select-the-perfect-hostess-gift/feed/ 0 Portobello Mushrooms with Couly-Dutheil Chinon Blanc Wine http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/06/portobello-mushrooms-with-couly-dutheil-chinon-blanc-wine/ http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/06/portobello-mushrooms-with-couly-dutheil-chinon-blanc-wine/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:43:21 +0000 emily http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/06/portobello-mushrooms-with-couly-dutheil-chinon-blanc-wine/ I love to grill and cook sometimes the dishes are amazingly wonderful but other times things don’t turn out the way I expect them to.  I know exactly why this is; I think of recipes as starting points, suggested road maps that should be as enjoyable to work and play with as the final destination, enjoying the finished meal.  This thought process sometimes leads to over flavored seafood or wonderfully creamy decadent white cream sauce with chicken.  As I’ve grown to appreciate wine over the past several years I have also come to appreciate balance.  Things don’t have to be HUGE to have a big impact on a meal.

The Meal:

Last night I made a dish inspired by two different recipes, stuffed mushrooms and Portobello mushroom cap pizzas.  Delicious (and yes that word was even used by my husband Steve when it was finally ready at 8pm!) I love stuffed mushrooms but sometimes they can get a bit heavy with meats, butter, breadcrumbs and strong cheeses.  I recently read a recipe for Portobello mushroom pizzas that caught my interest.  I had always been under the impression mushrooms were mostly water so worried with all that marinara sauce they might get soggy and the texture of the meal would be unappealing.  So I decided to try combining parts of the Portobello mushroom cap pizza and stuffed mushrooms. 

First I made a marinade to brush on the tops of four large Portobello mushroom caps.  This marinade included: Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinaigrette, a few cloves of garlic, pepper, thyme and a very small pinch of salt.  I blended this in my small food processor.  It took a few tries to get the right balance of item;, don’t be afraid to taste your sauces!  I placed the mushrooms gill side down on a baking sheet, brushed them with the marinade and put them in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for about 15 – 20 minutes. 

Filling:

I wanted something fresh and light for the filling. Spinach, tomatoes, roasted tomatoes seasoned with a little more thyme sounded perfect.  I cooked frozen chopped spinach and drained out all the water I could.  Returning to the food processor I removed the liquid leaving a small coating with the pepper, garlic and thyme bits.  To this I added about 2 tablespoon of the cooked spinach, 3 chopped roasted red tomatoes, half of a chopped tomato and a little more thyme. (I think tomatoes and thyme go so well together!)  I blended this and had just enough to cover a thin layer on top of the gills of the four large Portobello mushroom caps.  This worked as the sauce, for the toppings I used a few more fresh diced tomatoes, the rest of the cooked spinach and toped with just a sprinkle of fresh grated parmesan cheese. I put the mushrooms back into the oven for about 10 minutes until the cheese started to brown slightly. 

The Wine:

Portobello Mushrooms have very big and meaty texture; as I’ve recently learned this becomes more pronounced the longer they are cooked.  The tomatoes provided some nice acidity and the spinach had leanness to it in this dish.  People often jump to red wine first when thinking about meat pairings but there are so many wonderful rich white wines that have the acidity and body to stand up to this texture.  A Sauvignon Blanc would provide some great citrus notes but I was looking for something a little different.  I wandered over to the French section of the store and immediately decided on the Couly-Dutheil Les Chanteaux Chinon.  This is a white wine 100% Chinon Blanc from Loire region in France.  In this region the grapes tend to be lighter, crisp in style with citrus flavors and often have a creamy texture.  Everything I was looking for! 

The first pairing was a raging success!  Steve had been a little skeptical about the lack of meat in this meal but we both found the Portobello Mushrooms were filling and tasty.   The ingredients really worked well together.  Great balance of acidity from the fresh and roasted tomatoes a freshness in the thyme and leanness in the spinach.  The Portobello’s stayed much firmer than I expected.  The wine was elegant, rich and worked really well with all the components of the dish.  The wine and the meal really complimented each other nicely and we can’t wait to share this one with friends! 

I hope you enjoy this pairing as much as we did – if you have any questions or comments please write, call or stop in!  I’m here six days a week!  Cheers!

Emily Link

6/16/10

]]> http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/06/portobello-mushrooms-with-couly-dutheil-chinon-blanc-wine/feed/ 0 Practice makes perfect or at least better.. time to explore wine and food pairings! http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/06/practice-makes-perfect-or-at-least-better-time-to-explore-wine-and-food-pairings/ http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/06/practice-makes-perfect-or-at-least-better-time-to-explore-wine-and-food-pairings/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:44:33 +0000 emily http://winnetkawineshop.com/?p=83 Lately, I’ve noticed people being more interested and inquisitive about what wine goes with what food or what meal would (or should) go with what wine.  I always freeze up a bit when people come in and show me the menu they are planning and ask, what wine?  There are several reasons for this moment of pause as I try to think through what wines to recommend; first of all there are so many wines with flavor profiles that could easily complement or contrast any number of dishes sometimes it just depends on what each individual likes.  Sharing a meal is an intimate experience.  You gather with friends and family around the table to catch up on the past few busy months or to celebrate an accomplishment.  The cook has taken the time to plan the menu, pick the ingredients and prepare the meal and then they come to me to put the final touch on the table, the perfect bottle of wine.  

I’ve always loved cooking and entertaining but my husband has a full time job and I’m just three months into owning and operating the wine shop it’s usually much easier to pick up a pizza on the way home (a spicy Primitivo goes so well with a vegetable pizza)!  I know I am not the only busy person in the world and many people with more hectic schedules than mine find the time to plan meals for the week.  So I’ve decided, why can’t I?  It will be a great way to spend time doing something I love (cooking, writing and thinking about wine) and help me better understand the world of wine and food pairing.  I’ll also have a bit more direction in posting to the blog and hopefully answer some questions you all have.  So stay tuned – last night we had Portobello mushrooms filled with spinach, roasted red pepper, thyme and garlic.  We enjoyed Couly-Dutheil Les Chanteaux Chinon with dinner.  This is a white wine 100% Chinon Blanc from Loire region in France.  More coming soon!!  Cheers

]]> http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/06/practice-makes-perfect-or-at-least-better-time-to-explore-wine-and-food-pairings/feed/ 0 Black Dogs Pick of the Week http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/04/black-dogs-pick-of-the-week/ http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/04/black-dogs-pick-of-the-week/#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:07:01 +0000 emily http://winnetkawineshop.com/?p=60 The Black Dog’s Pick of the Week:

When Murphy (Jean’s dog) and Hobart (Emily’s dog) learned the wine shop was opening the dog’s of course wanted to be a part of the adventure.  They helped in the various ways they could and decided they would offer their recommendations based on their personalities each week.  We think this is a fun way to share a little information on different items in the shop.  If you’re not a dog person and/or think this is totally weird just skip to the paragraph that talks about the wine.  Otherwise we hope you enjoy!

Hobart is a one year old Labrador retriever.  He loves everything life has to offer and is willing to try anything once (or for other lab owners the truth – he tries things multiple times because Hobart cannot always remember what he has and has not done.)  Hobart appreciates living in the moment and gets satisfaction running alongside a bike, swimming in the lake, or chasing a tennis ball around the back yard.   Hobart has recently learned how to open the gate of his back yard and loves exploring the neighborhood.  He never goes far, just a quick survey of the neighbor’s yard for any squirrels to chase through the bushes or to run with other dogs.

For those of you, who like Hobart, enjoy trying new things and appreciate the sights and smells of the world around you Hobart would recommend 2007 Some Young Punks, Passion has Red Lips.  Cabernet 51% & Shiraz 49%, this wine is ripe and round.  It pours out an inky ruby and like its label is seductive with raspberry and blackberry flavors.  It is immediately appealing and finishes with flair, just how Hobart likes it.

Murphy is a 16 year old Cockapoo.  He is extremely smart and only has taste for the finer things in life.  He enjoys long naps in the sun and walks through the neighborhood but what Murphy really loves is a good dinner party.  Anytime family and friends gather around the table Murphy is a happy dog.  Now, Murphy understands the work that goes into a successful event and is not opposed to helping.  He stands guard as you prepare the salad and bread to catch any crumbs that might fall to the ground, you don’t want guest to see a dirty kitchen floor, do you?  He’ll watch the oven to make sure you don’t overcook the meat, and taste the pre-dinner snacks just to make sure they’re good enough for company.  Murphy is really best at is clean up.  No dish goes in unchecked before hitting the dishwasher and fear not; if you cannot finish your beef tenderloin or macaroni and cheese Murphy will help you out.  

For those of you, who like Murphy, enjoy the simple things in life such as a good Sunday afternoon nap, great conversation and good food Murphy highly recommends the Bruno Paillard Brut Rose Champagne Premiere Cuvee NV.  The wine spectator review: “Smells and tastes like macerated red berries, with hints of pastry and mineral adding interest.  Elegant yet vigorous, this leaves a dry, mouthwatering impression on the finish.”

Cheers!

Hobart and Murphy

]]> http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/04/black-dogs-pick-of-the-week/feed/ 0 Come Celebrate with The Winnetka Wine Shop http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/03/come-celebrate-with-the-winnetka-wine-shop/ http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/03/come-celebrate-with-the-winnetka-wine-shop/#comments Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:04:39 +0000 emily http://winnetkawineshop.com/?p=48 Grand Opening Celebration

The Winnetka Wine Shop is celebrating its Grand Opening!  To kick off the party join us with the Winnetka Chamber of Commerce for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday April 8 from 5pm – 7pm.  We’ll have tastings, food and a fun evening getting to know, The Winnetka Wine Shop at 726 Elm Street Winnetka. 

The party continues on Saturday April 10 at The Winnetka Wine Shop.  There will be a full day of special tastings.    Check out the invitaion for more details.  No reservations needed just show up and enjoy!

11am -12pm Bubbles around the world

12pm – 2pm California, Washington, Oregon Wines and Local Beers

2pm – 4pm Summer Whites and Summer Beers

4pm – 6pm Red Wines and Beers from Around the World

6pm -8pm Wine and Beer Pairings with cheese and desserts

]]> http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/03/come-celebrate-with-the-winnetka-wine-shop/feed/ 0 We are open! http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/03/and-we-are-open/ http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/03/and-we-are-open/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:48:19 +0000 emily http://winnetkawineshop.com/?p=32 We are open!!

Wow. I still cannot believe that after ten months, The Winnetka Wine Shop is really open. I remember my first phone calls to distributers asking about the process of buying wine in Illinois, my first phone call to the village asking how to propose a new liquor license because they had never had a bottle shop in Winnetka before, and first pitching the idea of opening a wine shop to my husband, aunt (who co-owns the shop with me), who neither of seemed to even hesitate a second before pledging their time and/or investing, Thank you!

Friday March 12, 2010 was an awesome day. The sun was shining and we had lots of visitors stop in to take a look at our collection and even buy some wine!! (what a relief)

We tasted several wines, Errazuriz Single Vineyard Carmenere 2008 from Chile ($13.00) which was a big hit! This wine portrays classic traits of the variety. The nose is ripe and complex with big aromas of fresh blackberries and sweet spice. The wine offers a touch of black pepper, creamy texture with well-rounded tannins. All around great bottle of wine and you all must have thought so to, we sold out on Saturday, but, don’t worry it will be back tomorrow!

Another big winner this weekend was 2007 Passion Has Red Lips by some young Punks in Australia ($22.00.) This wine not only has a fabulous label but a beautiful wine inside. 51% Cabernet & 49% Shiraz this wine is ripe and round. It pours out an inky ruby and like its label is seductive with raspberry and blackberry flavors. It is immediately appealing and finishes with flair.

There are those of you who are starting the move from big reds to whites in hope that summer time soon will be here, so for those folks we had a great Pinot Grigio, 2008 Alois Lageder Delle Venezie Riff ($13.00.) This wine offers dried peach and citrus fruit on the nose. Good fruit and a simple finish.

Of course there had to be something that had a little sparkle, Vietti Cascinetta Moscato d’asti from the Piemonte Region of Italy ($14.00) was just the thing. Light to medium bodied with flavors and aromas of wild flowers, thyme and honey. Yum! I can’t wait to start eating outside and enjoy this with some fruit for a great summer dessert.

This Friday March 19 we will be offering a special tasting from 4:30 to 7:30. I hope to see you all there!!
Cheers!

]]> http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/03/and-we-are-open/feed/ 0 Welcome!! http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/01/welcome/ http://winnetkawineshop.com/2010/01/welcome/#comments Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:38:32 +0000 emily http://winnetkawineshop.com/?p=29 We are so excited to announce the opening of, The Winnetka Wine Shop! Friday, February 12, 2010 will be the big day. The Winnetka Wine Shop will be the place to taste and purchase the finest wines, champagne, and craft beers from the best producers. We will also offer food from the gourmet kitchen of Wilmette’s, A La Carte!

We can meet your catering needs for that special event you are planning. We will also offer a variety of wine related gifts and accessories. Please stop by to taste wines and beers at our tasting counter and enjoy a bite to eat. We will be able to answer your wine and beer questions and help you in selecting wines to purchase.

We look forward to seeing you!

Jean Sheridan and Emily Link
Co-Owners

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