The Piñata of Love, Getting Carded, and Our Love is Like a Pink Pink Rosé

     Of course the U.S. will jump on board any event celebrating the defeat of the French in anything.  It's in our competitive blood.  Proposal: we should barter Jerry Lewis for unpasteurized cheese.  Just a thought.  Cinco de Mayo!  Yes, Mexican independence day, where we celebrate along with our Mexican neighbors their defeat of the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862 by bravely drinking lots of margaritas (and maybe some wine).  Join us this Friday for our " Pinata of Love " tasting - 5 wines for $15 with the added bonus of guns being shot into the air and light-hearted banter about U.S. immigration policy (see schedule below for details).  Viva la Mexico!

Getting Carded

     For those of you that have purchased our not-so-well-thought-out, bought-at-Staples, no-information-showin' gift certificates in the past, you probably understand why we've moved on to something slightly more professional.  CoWineCo gift cards are here!  We know you've been staying up late at night, wondering when this glorious day would come.  Our cards can be used for everything in the store including tastings, so grab one for a birthday gift, wedding gift, or just as a way to keep tabs on your spouse's wine-spending habits.   

***The Spring Rosés are Coming! - Mother's Day Rosé Tasting - Sunday the 14th (see below for details***

Wine Tasting Schedule

The Pinata of Love: Cinco de Mayo Tasting  

This Friday the 5th

5:30-8:30pm

$15/person

5 wines, cheeses from Auntie Em's Marketplace

Reservations recommended!  Fridays have been busy lately and we hate turning people away, so call ahead anytime and get your name down in advance:   info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985

wines

Domaine de Puoy White, France

Laird Family Chardonnay, Napa, California

Colosi Nero D'Avola, Italy

La Terza Malbec, Argentina

Black Chook Shiraz, Australia

Lazy Sunday Tasting

This Sunday the 7th

1:00-4:00pm

$10/person

4 wines and gourmet cheeses provided by Auntie Em's Marketplace

No reservations necessary       

This Sunday we'll be pouring two whites and two reds.  Email or call on Sunday for specific wine selections info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985.

(Wines TBD)

Theme TBD

Friday the 12th

5:30-8:30pm

$15/person

5 wines, cheeses from Auntie Em's Marketplace

Reservations recommended!   Call ahead anytime and get your name down: info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985

wines

(check our website event calendar ( www.cowineco.com/calendar ) next week for wine selections or give us a call)

Mother's Day Tasting: Our Love is Like a Pink, Pink Rosé 

Sunday the 14th

1:00-4:00pm

$10/person

4 wines and gourmet cheeses provided by Auntie Em's Marketplace

No reservations necessary 

Questions:   info@cowineco.com or (323) 478-1985.

(Wine selection TBD.  Check back next week --> www.cowineco.com/calendar )

A New Week-O-Wine for May 2006!

We pick 4 affordable wines a month that we think deserve more attention than they're getting, put them in a pretty white box, take a couple bucks off, and include a write-up for your educational pleasure ($42.99/4-pack).

Mionetto ‘IL’ Prosecco de Veneto, Italy

Prosecco is a sparkling wine made from prosecco grapes from the Veneto region.  Lightly sparkling, or ‘frizzante’, Prosecco is the basis for Bellinis, invented and drunk copiously in Venice and the rest of the country.  Dry, sparkling wine is a good match for salty foods (Champagne and caviar…or bubbly and beef jerky) and enlivens the tastebuds, making it a great aperitif. 

Dr. Loosen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Riesling 2005, Germany

In the past decade, Dr. Loosen has become considered one of the more renowned estates of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer area in Germany and the majority of Loosen vineyards are planted with Riesling.  Ernst Loosen is making the long transition to sustainable farming – ceasing chemical fertilization and interfering with the winemaking process technologically as little as possible. The rocky, chalky soil of his vineyards grow vines that average 60 years old.
Andre Brunel Grenache 2004, Vaucluse, France
The land this Grenache is planted on produces wine humbly labled ‘vin de pays’.  It’s a name given to wine from areas that don’t lay within AOC boundaries – areas that the French government find produce finer wines.  But this land that famed Chateneauf-du-Pape producer Andre Brunel bought is only a few hundred yards from that invisible boundary, so the wine from these inexpensive grapes is as good as wines 6 times the price.  As good, if not better – Mr. Brunel is called one of the ‘leading lights’ of  Rhone varietals.  We love the peppery juiciness of this wine, perfect for lightly grilled summer foods.
Rocky Gully Frankland River Shiraz/Viognier 2004, Western Australia   
This Shiraz is a departure from the usual Aussie style.  It is totally unoaked.  The small amount of Viognier (5%) gives it greater richness and intensity on the nose, and the spicy finish balances its fruit.  We get a little mocha and plum and a little white pepper with a long finish. Great to drink now, but we think it’ll age beautifully, too.

See You Soon,

John and Jen

"No! He would kill you like a small dog. Let your anger be as a monkey in a pinata... hiding amongst the candy... hoping the kids don't break through with the stick!"

~ Master Tang, Kung Pow: Enter the Fist

(no, this quote has nothing to do with wine, but "monkey" and "pinata" in the same sentence trumps anything.)