Intro to Wine 101 at Vinea

Vinea City of Wine, Omni Beverage Company & Fido present

Intro to Wine 101

A Beginner's Guide to the History, Styles, and Methods of Wine and Winemaking

No expertise required!

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Wednesdays from May 20 - June 24 - 7:30pm to 9:00pm

Come to one class or attend all six classes.

One class - $25 / Three Classes - $60 / All Six - $100

Classes held at Fido - 1812 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212 - in Hillsboro Village

Email events@cafefido.com for more info or to RSVP

Week One - Evolution of Wine - May 20
5,000 years ago - Middle East (Persia, Egypt, etc)
2,000 years ago - Roman Empire, wine expansion across Europe
1,000 years ago - Middle Ages, monks reinventing wine
300 years ago - European colonisation, wine to the world
30 years ago - Euro-centric industry
Today - Global industry

Food Focus:
Traditional heritage inspiring today's modern industry. The concept of fusion in food has the same foundations, evolution through traditional inspiration.

Week Two - The Vineyard - May 27
Where are the vineyards? (latitude connection globally)
Stages of growth of vines
Climate
Soil
Ripeness
Varietal
Fruit-driven vs Terrior-driven
Trial and error

Food Focus:
Terroir, sense of place, character, inspiration, personal philosophies.

Week Three - The Winery - June 3
Vintage/harvest
Crush
White vs Red - difference in fermentation
Malolactic fermentation
Tools - Oak Barrels / Stainless Steel tanks, etc
Balance - Fruit, acid, sugar, tannin, oak

Food Focus:
Playing with elements to achieve harmony. Showcase this with food as well, same concepts apply, different medium.

Week Four - Fruit - June 10
Practical laying out of a whole heap of different fruits and presenting the concept of taking flavors and using them as descriptors to help communicate thoughts on wine.
Describing wine as you would describe a personality.
Character
Building a basic vocabulary to communicate wine.
Freeing up the experience of "talking in wine speak" and giving them a sense of confidence to say whatever comes to mind.

Food Focus:
key flavors matching well with certain food styles (ie Sauv Blanc and sushi! Oh Man!!)

Week Five - Structure - June 17
Fruit
Acid
Sugar
Tannin
Oak
More in-depth session on this.
Helping people look into a wine's components and make a genuine assessment of its individual parts and how they work together.

Food Focus:
Showcase the same concept with food: breakdown the individual structural elements (flavor, texture, etc) and how they work together.


Week Six - Blending - June 24
The Art of Blending
Single Varietal Blending ("barrel selection")
Multiple Varietal Blending (Bordeaux)
Look at the structural differences of individual varieties and see how they can either complement each other or destroy each other when blended together.

Food Focus:
Blending components with food, how to apply the same idea in the kitchen.

Free pinot noir wine tasting today at Corrieri's

From 2pm until 5pm at Corrieri's Formaggeria (1100 Caruthers Avenue, behind Vinea) to sample pinot noirs from California, New Zealand, Argentina, and Oregon.
And now a little about the wines.

Cycles Gladiator (California) - $13.99
A versatile wine: Try it paired with grilled fish with risotto, or enjoy with Chinese takeout such as egg rolls with plum sauce or Kung Pao Chicken.

Alfredo Rocca Mendoza (Argentina) - $13.99
An understated pinot noir with a bright garnet color. Wonderful aromas of black cherry, vanilla and roasted aromas that will stimulate your appetite! A nice complexity without overwhelming senses of oak.

Heron (California) - $15.99
Dark, rich and smooth, this pinot noir has it all. Made in California from French-sourced grapes, the wine shows dark red fruit with red and black licorice hints, plus some vanilla from barrel aging.

Lobster Key Marlborough (New Zealand) - $20.99
Dry with medium body, bright acidity and soft tannins, this Kiwi red offers flavors of cherries, black raspberries, vanilla, spice and smoky oak. Enjoy it with roast pork, lamb, grilled salmon and cheese.

Spindrift Willamette (Oregon) - $21.99
There's plenty of ripe fruit here, and it is not a light-weight at all. Balanced by fresh, lively acidity, with very little wood and soft tannins. This wine very drinkable now and it will continue to cellar for years to come.

Saturday, January 17 at Corrieri's Formaggeria
2 - 5pm
1100 Caruthers Avenue (behind Vinea)

And now a word from Vinea wine shop

Beginning this week, we will be running daily specials offering 10% off various wine collections throughout the store.

We are also continuing with our popular 10% case discount. When purchased in conjunction with the daily special, the case will be 12% off.

Mondays: From delicate whites to fruity summer delights, ALL our wines are on special.

Tuesdays: Craving a taste of Barbera or Sangiovese? Receive a discount on all our ITALIAN wines.

Wednesdays: Wines from Bordeaux and beyond. All FRENCH wines will be 10% off.

Thursdays: Does our nation's birthday have you feeling patriotic? Today's the day to receive a deal on any DOMESTIC wines.

Fridays: We carefully hand select our favorite wines for you to enjoy, and on Fridays all our STAFF FAVORITES are on special!

Saturdays: Love what you're sipping at our taste-testing sessions? Well, you can get our TASTING wines at 10% so why not take home a few bottles to enjoy later?

Free wine tasting at Corrieri's Formaggeria- June 7 @ 2-5pm

The wine tasting will be located at
Corrieri's Formaggeria
1110 Caruthers Avenue, behind Vinea
Vinea's Website

Free Wine Tasting today at Vinea

Today from 2-5 at Corrieri's Formaggeria (1110 Caruthers Avenue, behind Vinea) to enjoy excellent wines from Sicily.

MandraRossa produces estate-bottled wines near the historic town of Menfi, in Sicily's southwestern corner.

These wines continue the ancient tradition of winemaking on Sicily, and showcase the great quality of wines produced from a variety of grapes.

Taste a range of MandraRossa wines, all perfect for summer grilling. And they're all great values at $10.99 each.

- Chardonnay -
Full-bodied, textured and dry with balanced acidity. This wine offers a structured palate with peach, apple and lemon characteristics and a fresh acidity.

Enjoy with chicken, pork, salmon and mild cheeses.

- Pinot Grigio-Grecanico -
An excellent full-bodied white wine. Fresh fruit flavors, reminiscent of melon,
papaya, grapefruit and lime, lead to a crisp, dry, uplifting finish.

Serve with shellfish, fish steaks, pan-fried chicken and veal. Also a masterful pairing with robust, slightly spicy pasta dishes in the Sicilian style, as well as artichoke and asparagus dishes. An excellent and original match with Asian and Asian-inspired cuisine.

- Fiano -
Medium bodied and dry with elegant balance. The fruit and citrus aromas on the nose evolve on the palate in an array of fruit flavors.

This wine is a perfect wine for grilling season! Enjoy with chicken, fish and grilled vegetables.

- Nero d'Avola -
This native grape produces "the Godfather of Sicilian red wines." Smooth, with black cherry and licorice.

Try this with rich pasta dishes, grilled red meats, and spicy cheeses.

- Shiraz -
This wine offers jammy fruit and nice tannins with a smooth finish.

Break out your favorite Sicilian recipe for this one! Great with pizza, grilled tuna steaks, and pastas with red sauce.

Wine Tasting at Vinea; Saturday March 22 from 2-5pm

Free Wine Tasting at Corrieri's- Saturday March 15

We're focusing this week on excellent Italian wines from Sicily and Tuscany. Each of these wines captures the history and rich winemaking tradition of these areas, and is an excellent value.

Taste them with us at Corrieri's Formaggeria (12th Avenue South on Caruthers Avenue behind Vinea) from 2 - 5 this Saturday. See you then!

Planeta, La Segreta Bianco - $15.99
Primarily a blend of Grecanico and Chardonnay, with a bit of Viogner and Fiano. This wine is lively and versatile, ideal as an aperitif or at parties.

Planeta, La Segreta Rosso - $17.99
50% Nero d'Avola, blended with Merlot,
Syrah, and Cabernet Franc.
Fruity, vibrant, and spicy. The spirit of Sicily!

Fonterutoli, Poggio alla Badiola IGT - $15.99
A blend of 75% Sangiovese - the grape of Tuscany - and 25% Merlot, with intense fruit aromas
and a long, smooth finish.

Zisola, Sicilia IGT - $19.99
Made from 100% Nero d'Avola, Sicily's indigenous grape, this wine features rich blackberry and dark cherry flavors with subtle spiciness.

Fonterutoli, "Siepi" Toscana IGT - $99.99
50% Merlot, 50% Sangiovese from a single vineyard. Aging for over a year in new oak before blending produces a lush, velvety texture.
- Available for pre-order -

Planeta, Syrah - $37.99
100% Syrah from southeastern Sicily.
A spicy nose - look for pepper, cloves and rosemary
- leads to rich fruit in the mouth.
- Available for pre-order -

Corey talking about La Petite Frog wine

We enjoyed this at the horse show and yes I know this is goofy as can be but we were just having fun.

Tasting Baumbach Wines this weekend

Vinea has something special this week, particularly for those of us in Nashville. They will showcase wines from California's Baumbach Winery, a small winery in the Sierra Foothills.

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This family-run winery, in a unique part of California outside of the usual wine hotspots, produces excellent wines using traditional old world methods.

The 300-500 cases that Baumbach produces each year are available only in Nashville and Northern California. Meet Rebecca Baumbach Saturday at Corrieri's Formaggeria (12th Avenue South on Caruthers Avenue behind Vinea) from 2 - 5 and sample these excellent wines.

Produced away from California's well-known wine centers of Sonoma and Napa, these wines reflect the terroir of the mountain foothills where the grapes are cultivated.

These reds are a mix of new takes on familiar varietals, and lesser-known varietals that prove their worth.

Zinfandel - $19.99
Zinfandel was likely brought to California by Italian immigrants, and Baumbach Zinfandel is produced from the harvest of only 100 vines.
Great color, a plum nose, and a light vanilla finish.

Charbono - $19.99
Similar to the better-known Dolcetto of Italy's Piemonte region.
Charbono enjoys cult-like devotion in California - taste it to see why!

Aglianico - $21.99
Grown on fewer than 50 acres in California, Aglianico is a dark, bold red.
Blackberry with leather undertones.

Barbera - $22.99
An excellent medium-bodied wi

ne with hints of toasted almond and vanilla.

Vinea
2410 12th Avenue South

Nashville, Tn 37204

615-269-6880

Vinea's website

German and Austrian Wine Tasting at Vinea; March 1 from 2-5pm

Rieslings from Germany

The two Rieslings from Germany are from the same producer, and each offers a different take on dryness that will change your perception of these wines as overly-sweet.

Selbach Riesling Kabinett - $16.99
Dry, and loaded with lots of fruit.

Selbach Dry Riesling - $15.99
Okay, this one is really dry! Nice minerality.

And from Austria

Not to be outdone, Austria is home to some excellent producers. Our featured Austrian's offer a Riesling and a Gruner Veltliner.

Gobelsburg Riesling 'Gobelsburger' - $19.99
Our importer wonders whether "there is a better Riesling at this price on earth?" So do we!

Hirsch Gruner Veltliner 'Veltliner #1' - $17.99
We'll end with a different varietal, grown in a similar region. Rich and ripe - not unlike a Riesling, but different enough to make your choice difficult!

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Vinea Wine Shop

Located at 2410 12th Avenue South between MAFIAoZA'S & Corrieri's Formaggeria

HOURS:

Monday - Saturday, 9AM - 11PM

A Quick Taste of the Beer Tasting

Excuse the talking about the cheese but do be envious if you weren't there because the beer was really good and they offered some good variety. It was a very fun but relaxed atmosphere with people sampling, talking, mingling and just enjoying the social scene.
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Below is a list of the beers tasted.

Popperings Hommel - $9.99/750 ml
A light, sweet, fruity beer from Belgium.

Petrus Blonde - $15.99/4 pk
Another light ale from Belgium. Compare it to the Hommel and let us know what you think.

Petrus Dubbel Bruin - $15.99/4 pk
A dark ale with a subtle caramel flavor.

Petrus Gouden Tripel - $10.99/750 ml
Smooth, rich and golden. Perfect as an aperitif - or with desserts.

Ettaler Curator Doppelbock - $4.99/500 ml
A dark, complex German beer with figs, cherry, raisin and toffee flavors.

Fort Collins Double Chocolate Stout - $6.99/650 ml
Loads of chocolate, just as you'd expect. Not to be missed!

Free Beer Tasting at Vinea this Saturday, February 23

If you've tried strong, hoppy microbrews or mass-produced beers and didn't like the taste, we hope you'll come see us this Saturday.

We're sampling beers from Belgium, Germany, and Colorado that pair well with great food, and dispel many of the traditional notions you may have about beer.

These are full and rich, with flavors and aromas that make them a nice choice instead of wine.

We'll be pouring Saturday from 2-5 next door at Corrieri's Formaggeria. See you Saturday.

Popperings Hommel - $9.99/750 ml
A light, sweet, fruity beer from Belgium.

Petrus Blonde - $15.99/4 pk
Another light ale from Belgium. Compare it to the Hommel and let us know what you think.

Petrus Dubbel Bruin - $15.99/4 pk
A dark ale with a subtle caramel flavor.

Petrus Gouden Tripel - $10.99/750 ml
Smooth, rich and golden. Perfect as an aperitif - or with desserts.

Ettaler Curator Doppelbock - $4.99/500 ml
A dark, complex German beer with figs, cherry, raisin and toffee flavors.

Fort Collins Double Chocolate Stout - $6.99/650 ml
Loads of chocolate, just as you'd expect. Not to be missed!

Featured Wines This Week; Episode One

Free Wine Tasting at Corrieri's Formaggeria- February 16 from 2-5pm

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

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.