Terrapin on the way

Terrapin brewery of Athens Georgia will be arriving the third week in August – just before Octoberfest beers, can you believe it! I tasted through a few beers last night and thought I’d share my thoughts.

A quick tour of their website www.terrapinbeer.com, provides the historical context for the four beers I’ve got: Sunray Wheat, Rye Pale, Indian Style Brown, and Rye Squared. I’ve heard great things about their seasonals as well. I know Jonathan at TJ’s in the Jefferson is planning a Terrapin beer dinner in August, so we’ll keep you posted.

Sunray Summer Wheat – notably brewed with honey with a German hefe presentation. Solid for our kind of summer – appropriately (hefe) fruity with a honey lending to a plumper mouth-feel and richer finish. Session.

Rye Pale – the flagship ale – and theme? I was excited to try this because I adore Founders Rye PA and other Rye ales I’ve tried, but, alas, the bottle was not in top shape (not uncommon for samples), so I’ll pass on commentary.

Indian Style Brown – Pleasant bouquet, good balance, and not quite the mouthful of Dogfish Head’s Indian Brown, which isn’t a bad thing. I like this style, and I’m excited to see more breweries making it a core item.

Rye Squared Imperial Pale Ale – quite remarkable. Great arromatic nose without being a citrus bomb, lovely color and most importantly, for me the right malt structure for balance. Loved the caramel mid palate (swoosh it around your mouth a bit) and the depth of flavor through the finish (another tasty byproduct of the well balanced beer).

Look for a steady dose of the Sunray this summer, some shelf time for the Indian Style, and Rye Squared whenever we can get our paws on it.

Cheers!

Spencer’s Spotlight

A Few Notes on Picolit

Our Thursday tasting this week features the wines of Giorgio Colutta as presented by Lauren Tompkins of Grappoli Imports. The Colutta farm and winery is located in the farthest reaches of northeast Italy, in the rolling hills of the Colli Orientali. This area is closer to Austria and Germany stylistically than to the rest of Italy, and it’s no surprise that white wine grapes flourish here. However, the most highly prized white grape in the Colli Orientali, Picolit, produces lightly honeyed, sweet wines, but struggles annually and challenges growers:

-The grape itself is small, but with large pips (seeds).
-The vine is extremely vigorous, requiring time in the vineyard to restrain it.
-Early, sparse flowering, and late ripening combine for a long growing season, and exposure to unwelcome rain and hail.
-Picolit suffers from a genetic mutation that aborts flowers before pollination, resulting in precious few berries per bunch.
-Because of its flowering habits, late ripening and vigor, the vine requires some of the best hillside vineyard sites- those with excellent sun exposure, poor soils, and good ventilation.
-Many producers, including Colutta, dry the grapes to further concentrate sugars (the vine has already done a lot of the work in this respect).

The above challenges present themselves even in the best vintages. Growing and producing Picolit requires lots of time, attention and resources, and as a result, many producers have abandoned production. Total production is around 150,000 bottles, most of which are 375 or 500ml.- that’s 12,000 cases, in mostly small bottles!

Join us Thursday for a rare opportunity to try Picolit.

Beer Theater the drama behind the drama…

Why call it the Beer Theater? Originally, we planned on having an amphitheater like beer diplay where we could have different beers fight to the death in the center ring of the “Beeriseum.” However, the recent dip in the economy didn’t call for more of an expansion in our malty real estate, so we shelved the idea for the time being.

Enter the spring and our winemaker videos (two of which aren’t even up because of my novice video mistake of shooting sideways) and our burgeoning interest in mulitmedia. As with the winemaker videos I expected to shoot discussions on style, flavor, and quirky stories; perhaps, even include the occasional beer brawl.

I’m sure many people would enjoy us talking about the nuances of lagering versus ales and the specifics of style, but wouldn’t it be better to hear it from the brewers themselves?

This is not a particularly challenging question. Instead, let’s ask what never get’s asked – within the craft world, where is the deeper discussion of beer’s place and purpose?

Consider the legions of beer drinkers who also homebrew, and understand the process intrinsically. Given the opportunity people who are even modestly educated in wine will graduate from taste and flavor profile to food pairing, regional significance, cellaring, stylistic comparisons to other available examples. One has to wonder what’s next?

Certainly there’s a host of culturally significant topics to discuss when we move past beer tastes good… so where’s the discussion? More importantly, how do we find out what’s on the minds of the people who make it?

Now we have an interesting situation. Here, we get to speak to people who make what we love – leaders in the field, in fact. So what will you ask?

While I enjoy the flavor of the “Beeriseum,” pitting ale on ale in a flavor grudge match for supremacy, I think it would be at the cost of a more intriguing and impactful debate – both of which, would make good theater.

Virtual tasting preview – getting excited!

Just completed a test run for the Virtual tasting last night and I think you’re gonna be floored!

The Salient Features:
 Friday June 5th Join us at 5:00 for a tasting with Reed Renaudin via the Internet!
We’ll see Reed on our flat screen and Reed will be able to see you all through our webcam. Reed will lead us through X’s Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Red Blend, Napa Cabermet & Merlot.
 
Please arrive at 5, as we’ll start tasting promptly at 5:15. Hopefully we’ll finish up with a short Q&A.
 
Please pass this along to anyone who might enjoy the event!
 
Wine
X Winery presents some fine classic California styles… Robert Parker had this to say after reviewing some recent wines,
 
“The most obvious question with respect to X Winery and proprietor Reed Renaudin is how can these wines be this good at these prices? Everyone is looking for good values today, and here are some exceptional bargains.”
 
Join us Friday at 5 for the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Red Blend, Cabermet and Merlot.
 
Please Note, because of our Friday event, we’ll not have our usual Thursday tasting.
New Beer News…
Beer fans don’t fret, I have a something good in the works for you as well! In the meantime join us Wednesday June 3rd from 5:30 to 7ish for our monthly beer tasting:
 
Birrifico Montegioco Rex Grue
Birrifico Montegioco Tibir
Hitachino Classic Nest
Hitachino White
Legend Hefeweizen
Southern Tier Iniquity
St Peters Organic English Ale
 
Ran into to beer steward Eric Delia last night at An’s World War Beer, and I promised I would give a shout out. I’m happy to do it since Relentless Thirst is a well manicured and tended blog – Like beer, have time?
 
http://relentlessthirst.wordpress.com/
 
In other news, we will soon have a guest writer on the Weekly. Spencer will join us every couple of weeks for Spencer’s Spotlight – a quick update on Spencer’s newest, favorite wine and perhaps some info on the state of the Italian wine nation or cuisine pairings. Stay tuned!

Our First or Finest Hour?

I just finished posting our first Vitrual Tasting with X Winery’s Reed Renaudin on our Facebook event page; I’m excited and terrified. It’s a great feeling. Monday’s Richmond Times Dispatch article jump started the buzz – thanks Louis! – with new faces from places we’re not used to. In my first four years of ownership I’ve met many new people who undoubtedly ask the “Who are you, Where are you?” questions – so simple, yet this is the essence of our biggest obstacle. Now WBW’s firing back with, “Won’t you join us Friday June 5th to find out?”

We’ve got our prom tux on and we’re hoping our date and the limo will show…

Ironically, or friends and fans who have been with us the whole way, well, I think they’ve just been waiting for a day like this to happen. We don’t pretend to know everyting about wine and beer, but we strive to add inviting and entertaining nuances to your wine and beer experiences. We’ve got ideas and information and emotion that we’re trying to stuff into the precious few minutes we’ve captured your attention.

We’re going to keep pushing and finding new ways to enrich your experience beyond bringing you fresh ales and hot wines. And, guess what, we’re learning all the time too. If you’re just getting started with finer libations, you’re not too late to join us…

After all, you can buy wine and beer from just about anywhere – the thing is, that’s not just what we’re selling.

So this is Wine and Beer Westpark, and here’s my personal invitation to join us at perhaps your first, but our biggest event. June 5th at 5 pm.

Cheers,
Matt Lake

If you’re using Facebook, let us know if you plan on attending the event. I’ve also created a a new topic on the Discussion Board to find out what questions you would like Reed to answer, and I encourage you to begin your participation now.

We got a buzz from this Biz Buzz item in the Times Dispatch

Louis Llovio of the Times Dispatch got the inside scoop this week when we announced in his column our plans to host live, online tastings at the shop. If you’re reading our blog, you already know that we have been hosting webcasts with select wine makers. The next step is to take it live! But we couldn’t have said it better than Mr. Llovio, so check out his column here.

Calendar Updates

Just a few dates to keep in mind…

Sun- Mon May 24^th & 25^th – Wine and Beer Westpark will be closed for Memorial Day Weekend, please plan accordingly.

 Mon Jun 1^st – Wine dinner at Café Rustica!

 Wed Jun 3^rd – Beer Dinner at TJs in The Jefferson Hotel

 

Tasting Notes for Thursday 5-21

I’m gonna let the memories of Monday night’s beer dinner float me into this fine holiday weekend… perhaps you’ve got some R & R on your mind already, too?

Before you get there, consider a timely visit with Garry Moore this Thursday at our weekly tasting, 4-7. Then, see if you can’t find some time to join us at Café Rustica on the June 1^st or TJ’s in the Jefferson on the 3^rd for respective wine and beer dinners. 

If I might allow a short aside, the Café Rustica dinners are an adventure in dining (wine and beer). I’m not going to sell you on whether or not the price is modest (these days it’s all relative) – but the value is off the charts. We’ll be taking a break through the summer, but seriously give some thought joining us when we return in the fall…

You can find the full menu on our Facebook page and on the website soon.

 

Wine

We’re cashing in our Siema Wines rain check Thursday, as Garry Moore will join us for a little something old and a little something new…

 

2007 Borgo Viscone Friulano, $14

If we do get closer to the 90s then the 80s this weekend, you’ll be happy to have this crisp frisky, white – this one just seems to sail on and on.

 

2007 Borgo Viscone Chardonnay, $14

My notes are overshadowed by the enormous VIBRANT!!! next to this wine. I’m not usually one for noble grapes coming from Italy, but I can make an exception for this. Don’t pass this up if you’re picnicing this weekend – if you do, and someone accidentlally mistakes you for Eeyore, well… just sayin’.

 

2005 I Fabbri Chianti Classico, $20 (on sale from $28)

Susanna and Maddalena Grassi are lady heroes in Westpark’s wine world – come to think of it, we have quite a few. The Grassi sisters have reinvigorated an old, family spot and are moving their vineyards toward a fully organic operation. In the meantime we enjoy the fruits of their 2,500 total case production, and you will too.

 2001 Miguel Merino, $36

A rare find – a Rioja producer with a current release from one of the finest Rioja vintages in recent memory. A triumph in all respects.

 New Beer News…

Ok, so I know the website beer updates have been lame… we are workin’ on it! For now here’s the new list and the beer dinner menu. If you want my 2 cents, this will be the beer dinner that puts TJs on the map. So, yeah, I think you should go, $50 includes tax & tip and it just doesn’t get better then that.

 NEW: Founders Old Curmudgeon, Left Hand Pale, Smutty Hanami, Dogfish Festina Peche, Sierra Summer, Sam Summer, Sierra Southern Hemi Fresh Hop, Southern Tier Mokah, Great Divide Hercules, Oberon 5L tins, and Anderson Valley Summer Solstice. And yes, Buffalo Bill’s Orange Blossom returned.

 Allagash Brewing Beer Dinner, $50.00 Per Person Tax and Gratuity Included

Please contact Jonathan Kibiloski at 804.649.4672, kibiloski@jeffersonhotel.com or me at the shop

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 7:00pm

Executive Chef James Schroeder

 Artichoke Stuffed Hawaiian Prawn

Spinach, Country Ham, Grits, Mustard Sauce

Allagash White

 Pan Seared Chesapeake Bay Soft Shell Crab

Grilled Romaine, Semi-Dried Tomatoes, Pickled Water Mellon Rind,

Caper Menuire

Allagash Triple

 Pan Seared Georgia Quail

Morrel Mushrooms, Asparagus, Gnocchi, Truffle Cream

Allagash Cureiux

 BBQ Glazed Berkshire Pork Cheeks

Apple-Fennel Slaw, Buttered Green Beans, Roasted Shallots

Allagash Four

 Constant Bliss

Quince marmalade, Toasted Brioche, Warm  Blue Cheese and Onion Tart

Allagash & De Prouffe Les Deux Beux Brasseurs

 

New Video: Gonzalo Perez and the Maipe Wines

Below is our latest, exclusive video interview with Gonzalo Perez representing Maipe Wines.

Thanks to Gonzalo for visiting and taking to the camera like a superstar and thanks to distributors Kysela Pere et Fis for bringing Maipe Wines to Wine and Beer Westpark and organizing Gonzalo’s visit. Stop by soon to try these gems (lower case) from Mendoza, Argentina. But you’ll only find Gonzalo here. Cheers!

Peter Mathis and his Mathis Grenache

Peter Mathis is the head wine maker for the Ravenswood Winery in Sonoma, Cal.. Last month, while visiting Virginia to promote his personal venture - Mathis Grenache - Peter was kind enough to stop by Wine and Beer Westpark to share some thoughts on the journey to producing his first personal wine.

Check out Peter in the video below and be sure to keep an eye out for the distinctive Mathis label – coming soon to a fine Richmond wine retailer near you. Thanks Peter! And thanks to Cobblestone Cellars coordinating Peter’s visit.