Corey talks about what is coming up on Webbspun Ideas

Wine Tasting at Vinea on Saturday, February 16

Join the folks at Vinea this Saturday, February 16, for a Chilean treat.

From 2pm-5pm at Corrieri's Formaggeria they will be showcasing - and sharing tastes of - select wines from Santa Rita, one of Chile's most respected producers, and one of the first to plant European grape varieties in Chile.


Santa Rita Reserva
Youthful, fruity wines, perfect for any occasion.
Join us to sample the following varietals.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Enjoy with beef, pork, pasta, and cheeses.
Merlot
Concentrated and balanced - a perfect pairing with casseroles, pasta, and paella.
$13.99


Santa Rita 120
A tribute to 120 soldiers who fought during Chile's 19th century fight for independence from Spanish rule, these wines are an excellent value.
Enjoy tastings of the following varietals.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Smooth, great with winter comfort food.
Merlot
Perfect with burgers, pastas, and pizzas.
Sauvignon Blanc
Great as an aperitif or with seafood.
Carménère Excellent with lamb, chicken, or stews.
$8.99


Banfi Rosa Regale
An Italian sparkling wine that's perfect for Valentine's Day.
Lightly bubbly, with soft hints of raspberry, strawberry, and rose petals.
$14.49 (375ml)
$26.99 (750ml)


Gruet Blanc de Blancs
We still have a few bottles of this elegant, crisp sparkling wine from New Mexico.
When they're gone, they're gone.
Don't miss out!
$25.99

Wines for the Holidays with Mark Johnson

Wines for the holidays with Mark Johnson

Nashville Experience Newsletter 1st edition; Coming soon for only $5.95

Things included in the newsletter:

Webbspun Wine with sommelier Mark Johnson
Get some ideas on which wines to pair with your holiday meals and enjoy the wine of the week.

Coupon for Muddea's Famous Chicken & Waffles- 20% off any order of $10.00 or more.
Recipe- 1 Southern recipe

Nashville Pictures- Photos from around Nashville that can be used as wallpaper for your computer.

Nashville Architecture- Local landmark in pictures and words.

Music- Local writer/singer will be highlighted

Holiday Travel Tips from a local concierge

and more

Visit Webbspun Ideas to sign up or email me at corey@webbspunideas.com for more information.

$20.00 gift certificate for Ellendales will be drawn for from the names of people who purchase the first newsletter.

Wine and Art at Vinea

Hey there lovers of wine and ceramics...

On Saturday we have more than wine to show off. Corrieri's Formaggeria is also having an art show featuring Nashville's premiere potter and old friend, David Rhine.

In celebration of David joining us on Saturday, we will be opening several 90 +/-point boutique Australian wines from master importer Dan Phillps of the Grateful Palate. Believe me, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to just drop by and sip great wines!

The tasting will begin at Corrieri's at 2 pm and end at 5 pm. The tasting is FREE. All you need bring is a love of world class wine and a couple of great friends.

Drink Great Wine,
MJ the Sommelier


David Rhine

David developed and perfected a coil/throwing method of construction to create large outdoor and indoor planters. These distinctive andsturdy vessels are made to evoke prestige and integrity for centuries to come.Made with durable high-fired stoneware, they are completely frost proof and will never fade or crack.The planters are embellished with handmade stamps, creating designs and patterns inspired by various forms of nature. The complexity of each unique piece results in a quality which exceeds the usual industrial, mass produced planters. Slight nuances of form, surface design, texture, and glazes make every piece a one of a kind work of art.

David Rhine, an exceptionally talented potter from Nashville, received a bachelors degree in education from Middle Tennessee State University. Hewent on to a residency program at the Appalachian Center For Crafts in Smithville where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts.


Treusner Shiraz $32.99 a Bottle

The 2006 Joshua is an unwooded cuvee composed of 65% Grenache, 25% Mataro, and 10% Shiraz. Dark ruby-colored, it offers expressive, fruity aromas of violets, black cherry, and black raspberry. Supple-textured, layered, and sweetly fruited, the wine has no hard edges straight through to its pure finish. Drink it over the next 6 years.

91 Points R.P.


Troll Creek Shiraz

Usually $87.99 but on Saturday $49.99
The 2005 Shiraz was sourced from 40- to 60-year-old vines. The wine spent 30 months in French and American oak, 30% new. Opaque purple-colored, it exhibits aromas of toasty oak, spice box, saddle leather, licorice, blueberry, and chocolate. Sleek and racy on the palate in spite of its ample size, the flavors reveal succulent blue fruit and chocolate, and a long, savory finish. Give it 3-5 years in the cellar and drink it through 2024.

95 Points R.P.


Loan Semillion $19.99 a Bottle

The dry-grown 2005 Semillon was tank-fermented and spent 8 months in seasoned French oak. Medium straw-colored, it offers an expressive perfume of mineral, melon, spring flowers, and candle wax. This leads to a medium-bodied, ripe, well-balanced Semillon with good depth and length. Enjoy it with shellfish over the next 2-3 years. Loan was the second farm planted in the history of the Barossa. Today the Loan property is the only certified organic vineyard in the Barossa.

89 Points R.P.

A Message from the Singing Sommelier and Vinea

To the True Lovers of Great Wines

Just a reminder, tomorrow night, Tuesday October 30th, we have a true Count (not the one that counts on Sesame Street or sell Coco Pebbles) coming to Nashville for a tasting at Sunset Grill. Again, this is a sit down tasting with 6 wonderful wines from northern Italy and a plate of food prepared by Chef du Cuisine, Dustin Prichet. It starts at 6 pm and only costs $15.

We still have about 25 seats available so make a reservation with me here at the shop 269-6880.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that he did his under grad work at Texas A & M, so if your a true Aggie you have to come.

Drink Great Wine
Mark Johnson the Sommelier

Conte Brandolini Merlot
$15.99 a bottle

Starting in the mid-1980s, Count Brandino Brandolini set about realizing his ambition to produce world-class Merlot at his family’s picture-perfect 500-acre estate in the Friuli district of northeast Italy. Several years of study at the University of Bordeaux, in addition to time spent at the family’s Bordeaux estate, the highly regarded Château Greysac, convinced Brandolini that Friuli possessed the ideal terroir for production of superb quality wine. Significant investments were made in the construction of a state-of-the-art winery and cellars.Consumers will recognize this much more readily as an Italian wine than a Merlot, as it is dead dry and nicely structured with acidity -- unlike many vaguely sweet Merlots. The fruit recalls plums and dried cherries, with medium-bodied weight leaning toward the light side, making this a promising partner for chicken dishes or relatively robust fish preparations.

Conte Brandolini Treanni
$20.99 a bottle

Count Brandino Brandolini, a native Venetian, grows top quality Cabernet Franc, Refosco and Merlot grapes at his family’s picture-perfect Vistorta and Cordignano estates in the Friuli district of northeast Italy. From these historic properties, he proudly presents TREANNI (treh-ahn-ee), or “three years,” an inventive red blend uniting select batches of wine from three consecutive vintages.Much as a painter relies on different hues from a palette to create a work of art, Brandolini judiciously brings together the freshness of a young wine, the complexity and concentration of a two-year-old wine, and the elegance of a mature wine to yield this seamless composition of aroma, flavor and texture.


Conte Brandolini Pinot Grigio
$15.99 a bottle

Conte Brandolini owns the 325-acre Cordignano estate in the Province of Treviso, where Pinot Grigio, originally cultivated throughout northeastern Italy, is grown. Soil in Friuli creates a distinctive Pinot Grigio style which is richer and more complex. This historic estate has been owned by the Brandolini family since 1780. This line of estate-bottled wines represents the history and versatility of winemaking in Friuli.


Conte Brandolini Refosco
$16.99 a Bottle

The 2005 Brandolini Refosco has everything to recommend it: clear, bright, eye-appealing red color; enticing fruit aroma that reaches a midway point of strawberry meeting cherry; and a fresh, clean cherry flavor. Like many northern Italian red wines, the 2005 Brandolini Refosco has a noticeable acidity; it appears behind the excellent fruit giving the palate a constant refreshing cleansing for the next taste. This combination of fruit and acidity makes the 2005 Brandolini Refosco wonderful with food. During our lunch it was served with a variety of hors do'oeuvres: black olive pate, cured pork cheeks and copa ham. But I found myself returning to it with the northern Italian dish of risotto cooked with red wine, onion and radicchio. I'm sure the Texas A&M-educated Count Brandolini d'Adda wouldn't object to it accompanying a plate of barbecued spare ribs or a tex-Mex grilled pork chop with rice and beans. And ground beef empanadas or grilled chicken quesadillas would be good choices, too. Combining the quality of the 2005 Brandolini Refosco with the reasonable price gives the wine all the components of a good value wine.

BIBO Wines, Gauthier Family and So Many Others in the Tennessee Reining Horse Family

We worked, showed and enjoyed a very busy weekend in Murfreesboro. A Tennessee Reining Horse Association show is always fun and becomes more so for me with each show. I know more people, I know the patterns that they have to run better and I learn more with each show.

The scores could have been a little better for us, I could have used a little more rest and would have enjoyed more food but the sights, sounds and yes...even the smells are incredible. I'd say this weekend was a great success, overall.



We spent the weekend getting to know Sylvan Gauthier and the others from the Francois Gauthier Reining folks. We shared some BIBO red and white wines with new and old friends and we had such a great time. Wine truly brings friends together and it helped us this weekend as we all enjoyed the show but also worked hard.

I can't wait til the next one even though I couldn't keep my eyes open last night but now that I am refreshed and rested again...let's go.


BIBO is packaged in a compact, convenient 3L bag-in-box (equal to four 750 ml bottles). It’s easy to carry and pour – no corkscrew needed – and retains its freshness for weeks after opening.

Fall Wines courtesy of Vinea Wine

Bottega Vinia Lagrein
$22.99 a bottle

This was hands down everyone's favorite wine of the day. Deep ruby red with a youthful sparkle, aromas of blackberry robed with vanilla, obviously derived from time in large barrels, tannins are subordinate to the fruit. Deliciously smooth on the finish.


El Burro "Kickass" Granacha
$12.99 a bottle

Has Aromas of Kirsch and Garrigue, ripe cherry and jammy red currant flavors and enough structure to last 3 to 5 years.

89 points Robert Parker


Anselmi San Vincenzo
$13.99 a bottle

A well-balanced, round wine with soft citrus fruit. Composed almost entirely of the noble Italian grape, Gargenega, the San Vincenzo is a great alternative for all those white-wine drinkers who are tired of Chardonnay. Clean and crisp with a smooth tropical finish; you really can't beat this value.


Au Boin Climat Hildegard
$36.99 a bottle

I could argue that this is the best White wine in all of California. This is a unique, textural, and complex wine with hints of lavender, marzipan, violets, and white chocolate aromas. A great food wine popular with restaurants. An historical blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Aligote.

A Taste of Europe by Corey's Culinary Club

June 19 was the cutoff date for this event but check back at Webbspun Ideas for upcoming events on the calendar.

Vinea Wine Tasting- Saturday June 16

Welcome back everyone...We have word of a possible wine tasting at Vinea this weekend. Mark Johnson is on location and lets send it over to him to find out what is going on.

Take it away Mark!

~~~~~~~
Hello Fellow Lovers of Wine!

Two terrific opportunities this week for great wine: The ever-popular Wednesday Wine Class, and the Saturday Wine Tasting. That's right, you heard me - it's back! Free tasting and great company.First up for Wednesday, we are having such a great time with these classes, and this week promises to be no exception! Pinot Grigio - Soft Tropical white wine will be the juice we study.

The featured wines are Cavit, Zenato, Kris, Botega Vinaia, Santa Margherita, and they are perfect for your weekend grilling and hanging out on the patio.

Class is $15 and will run from 6 pm to 7 pm, just call me at 269-6880 for reservations.

Saturday, we will feature August Kesseler Rheingau 2004 (90 points Robert Parker), August Kesseler Trocken (89 points Robert Parker), Cycles Gladiator Merlot and Pinot Noir, and finally Hahn Cabernet Sauvignon 2005.

It will be at the Formaggaria from 2 pm to 5 pm and don't forget to bring your palate.

Drink Great Wine
MJ the Sommelier

P.S. I have a few bottles of the 2004 Caymus Special Select available to me. At $129.99 please call me soon. You know they will be gone by this weekend.

Cavit Pinot Grigio

100% Pinot Grigio. Bright straw gold. Delicate and pleasing with floral and fruit scents. with a Dry, light and crisp taste. Highly versatile. A wonderful aperitif and equally splendid with pasta in cream sauces, risottos, veal, chicken and fresh seafood dishes. Enjoy well chilled.

Zenato Pinot Grigio 2005
Pale yellow in color with soft greenish highlights. A wine to be enjoyed while it is young and shows the freshes fruit. Refreshing and soft with a smooth, dry finish. Very balanced and harmonious. Recommended with lightly grilled preparations, hearty soups and risotto dishes.

August Kesseler Trocken 2004
Kesseler has long tried to champion the Silvaner from these slopes, since there is a lot of it in great locations and the vines are mostly very old. (Who in their right mind would plant Silvaner nowadays?) Now he has hit on a better idea, a 2004 Riesling – Silvaner trocken, a blend that has unfortunately been all but neglected in modern Germany. Simply labeled, and with a screw-top closure, this exceptional value smells of lime, almond and flowers. Juicy and vivacious on the palate, with persistently invigorating notes of apple skin, lime zest, and mineral salts, its sappy Silvaner fruit and brothy, nutty notes dovetail perfectly with the minerality of Riesling. When you taste this infectiously juicy and versatile wine

Cycles Gladiator Merlot 2005
Lovely aromatics of Emperor Cherry, blackberry, and cedar in the nose underscored with a subtle hint of pencil lead shavings. Lush red fruits fill the mouth in increasing intensity finishing with plums and a pretty green thread over the background. The tannins are substantial but melting, offering more of a velvet richness as opposed to the harsh, bitter character that many Merlots can have. And then there is the unique cool-climate acidity that suspends the entire sensation well into the finish. This is a Merlot that can pair with a broad spectrum of foods. Try pairing with a dinner consisting of a variety of finger foods: Mushroom and sausage over polenta squares, pepper teriyaki beef on wooden skewers, and lamb kabobs with a cherry balsamic marinade reduction.

Wednesday's Letter Was M

Moss Wright Park-Took Smokey the "caninecierge" there for some exercise and to play in the water and Mud.

Mambu-This was our lunch destination for the day.
Mahi-Mahi on a bed of chorizo sausage, corn, red potato hash with peach chutney.
Wasabi-crusted Tuna Salad, (Medium rare)

Midtown Corner Pub while waiting for Manuel.

Manuel-Visited him after lunch

Mark Johnson-Stopped by Vinea for a little wine advice.
Our wine selection? Tatone Montepulciano D'abruzzo 2003, Terra D'Aligi (Italian wine) It was very smooth, delightful on the tongue and was like velvet sashaying over our tastebuds.






Mile long walk through old town Franklin and to visit Xoconochco gourmet chocolate and than over to The Cocoa Tree for more chocolate. The chocolate we tasted at Xoconochco was some of the best I have ever had and they explained how the chocolate is made, what type is used and was just so very pleasant and willing to help. The Cocoa Tree offered delicious chocolate but the young lady behind the counter was not able to offer any information and they were out of the menus.

Dinner-
Meatballs, Mozzarella Salad w/ broccoli and tomatoes, Mashed potatoes and Mushrooms. Dessert was Mango and WaterMelon.

Bedtime at Midnight

Wine Tastings This Week to Note by Mark Johnson the "Singing Sommelier"

C.S. Webbspun- Mark, Would you please tell us about some upcoming wine tastings?

Mark- Hey there lovers of wine that will change the world!

We've got great, life altering wine tastings this week.

Wednesday, June 6th at Mafiaoza's. It's Week #3 of the ever successfully growing wine class. Last week was a hit with the sparkling wines, and this week we have Lighter Mood Swings (Perfect Patio Wine) featuring Cavit Riesling, Fetesca, Jewel Vioginer, Feudi Falanghina, and F Coppola Sauvignon Blanc. $15 a person and you will be completely satisfied with terrific juice and knowledge!

Last, but certainly not least is on Thursday, June 7th from 6:30 - 7:30 pm at Mafiaoza's. For you guys looking for a woman that can appreicate a fellow that loves good wine, come join us for Nashville's premier monthly singles wine adventure that rotates to the city's coolest wine spots. Sorry ladies, this month is already full.) It's a high energy, low pressure way to meet other wine loving singles and taste some great vino! This is not speed dating. However, you will be asked to participate in a scavenger hunt that will have you scouring the room for a perfect mate. Come thirsty, open minded and ready to have fun! $29 in advance, $34 48 hrs. before.

Register at http://www.metropolitannites.com/

Corrieri’s Formaggeria in the Nashville Winepress

To find out a little bit about Brett Corrieri and his amazing cheese shop in the 12South area, please visit Nashville Wine Press