Fellini Bellini, Confessing Our Zins, and Clearance, Clarence

     The same year Federico Fellini started to write his first film in 1948, another Italian artist of sorts was experimenting at Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy with his favorite fruit - Italian White Peaches.  Head bartender, Giuseppe Cipriani, mixed pureed white peaches with Prosecco and behold, the Bellini was born.  Somehow the Georgia public relations machine gets all the peach press with 13% of the U.S. peach market, but our own California produces 60% of the peaches and some damn good ones at that.  Some recipes use additives like Peach Schnapps but a true Bellini is simply 1 ounce pureed White Peaches and 5 ounces Prosecco.  If you want a bit of a twist, try a dash of lemon juice, grenadine, or a tiny bit of raspberry puree.  We're now in peach season (May through September) and the Proseccos are waitin' to be mixed. 

Mionetto "IL" Prosecco - $8.99

(yes, after selling out twice in two weeks, the pop-top is back in again!)

Col Vetoraz Valdobbiadene Prosecco Brut - $14.99

Terre Serena Valdobbiadene Prosecco - $13.99   

Wine Tasting Schedule

Made in Italy 

This Friday the 8th 

Time: 5:30-8:30 (but you can show up anytime before 8pm)

Cost: $15/person

Cheeses, Breads and Crackers

(Reservations Recommended) 

   This Friday we're going to be pouring a selection of whites and reds from all over Italy with Italian wine expert, Guissepe Cossu (no, that's not his stage name).  Still think Italian wine is that jug with the basket on the bottom?  If Chianti is a region in Italy, how come some California wines call themselves Chianti?  With Italy as the largest wine producer in the world and one of the hardest wine classification systems to understand next to Germany, all questions are understandable and welcome.  Come sip some wine, sing "That's Amore" all night, maybe slurp a piece of spaghetti with a cartoon dog or ride a Gondola around Eagle Rock.                

Wines

(Our first white is TBD.  We're still searching for that last, perfect white wine

for Friday night!  Check back on the website later today in the calendar section )

Cantele Chardonnay 2003, Puglia, Italy

MandraRossa Shiraz 2003, Sicily, Italy

Castello di Monastero Chianti Classico 2001, Chianti, Italy

Secco-Bertani Valpolicella Valpantena Ripasso 2001, Valpolicella, Italy

Call (323) 478-1985 or email info@cowineco.com to Reserve Your Spot

Confessing Our Zins

This Sunday the 10th 

Time: 1-4pm

Cost: $10/person

Cheeses, Breads and Crackers

(no reservations necessary)

It's BBQ season and if you're not drinking light white wines to beat the heat, you're probably tipping rich, sweet reds to go with wings, ribs and steaks.  We're putting our best  and brightest California Zinfandels on the table this Sunday for you to imbibe and describe.

Wines

Three Thieves Zinfandel 2003, California (aka, the JUG)

Murphy-Goode Liar's Dice Zinfandel 2003, Sonoma County, California

Zingaro Benchland Zinfandel 2002, Mendocino County, California

Rosenblum Alegria Vineyard Zinfandel 2001, Russian River Valley, California

Clearance, Clarence

     Civilized travel seems to be a nice little nostalgic memory these days with meals getting cut from 5 hour flights and replaced with dry, $7 sandwiches on carts and pillows getting revoked to cut costs (how much can two sown together pieces of tissue paper and some dirty foam really cost?).  Well, thanks to the Wall Street Journal, we found out last Fall that there is one well-hidden secret about some airlines that will make your next flight a little more enjoyable-- you can bring your own wine on board, give it to the flight attendant and you'll not only be able to drink it with no corkage fee, you can even take home what's left in the bottle.  No, I'm not kidding.  American Airlines and JetBlue both allow this practice (American may limit this to business class/first class so call first).  So if the crack of the twist cap on those tiny little wine bottles makes you cringe, sock a bottle in your carry-on and treat your palate and fellow travelers with this newfound knowledge.

See You Soon,

John and Jen

    "Is anybody listening or did I NOT ask for Merlot?"

Cybil Shepherd as Martha Stewart in Martha Stewart Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart