Monthly Archives: March 2016

Chardonnays for spring

28 Monday Mar 2016

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Sparkling wine

The flowers are in bloom and so are the aisles at Total Wine & More. Our shelves are blossoming with fantastic California Chardonnays at great prices, perfect for the mild spring evenings ahead.

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Some of our favorites are produced by the River Road Family Vineyards and Winery in California’s Sonoma region. We are Sonoma is an ideal everyday Chardonnay. Made by winemaker Joe Freeman, We are Sonoma is a great value for the region, with the classic Sonoma Chardonnay flavor profile of sweet apple, ripe lemons and roasted almond. It pairs well with seafoods and is a nice addition to hors d’oeuvres.

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River Road Chardonnay, a flagship wine of the same winery, is another Sonoma County standout. It boasts flavors of crisp pear and apple that meld with notes of butter and vanilla on the long, smooth finish. River Road sources a majority of its grapes from the prestigious Russian River Valley appellation, which drives the enticing flavors of many of its wines.

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Another great entry into River Road’s Russian River Valley series is River Road Chardonnay Russian River Valley Reserve. Vibrant, with a hint of vanilla and bright fresh pear flavors, it’s a full-bodied Chardonnay that will stand up to chicken or fish off the grill.

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Located in the heart of the Russian River Valley, Angeline Winery is another Sonoma County star. The ever-popular Angeline Chardonnay boasts flavors of tropical fruit and citrus, which are balanced by toasty oak and vanilla on the long finish.

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Similar to Angelina Chardonnay in its flavor profile, Five Branches Chardonnay offers up flavors of tropical and citrus fruit with a hint of vanilla oak that lead into a brilliant, clean finish. It’s a tasty addition to grilled fish, chicken or creamy pasta dishes.

With more than 1,000 Chardonnays to choose from, we can help you find just the right one. Stop by your neighborhood Total Wine & More today.

Taste Washington: Celebrating Washington Wine & Food

25 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by in Tastings and events, Wine

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Think you know Washington wine?

There’s plenty to know, of course. Washington produces more wine than any state save California, with an ever-increasing number of growers and wineries setting up shop here, each year turning out new and different wines that show off the excellence of the terroir and the talent of the winemakers.

There’s no better way to stay on top of Washington wine than spending an afternoon at Taste Washington, the annual festival celebrating the state’s flourishing wine and food scene. Now in its 19th year, the Seattle event will offer attendees a taste of 225 wineries, 70 restaurants and 60 culinary exhibitors from across the region at its Grand Tasting, April 2 and 3 at the CenturyLink Field Event Center.

taste-wa-large“It’s a great opportunity to sample every winery – well-known ones, some not-so-well-known ones – and you walk around a huge room and taste food and wine, filling your plate with little meals from the top local restaurants,” says Susan Prouse, manager at the Olympia, Wash. Total Wine & More, looking forward to her third festival. “You’ll never have that opportunity anywhere else.”

Taste Washington is billed as the nation’s largest single-region wine and food event.

Winemakers from across the state will be pour samples for attendees, providing the chance to meet the folks who create some of Washington’s most buzzed-about wines. Premier event sponsor Total Wine & More will also be there, with Prouse and other Total Wine experts offering visitors a taste of some very special wines carried in our stores.

taste-washington“We set up a couple of barrels at the Total Wine & More booth, we’re pouring, we have an opportunity to talk to people who are getting to know our stores in the Seattle area. And we give away free stuff!” Prouse added. Attendees may snag the latest edition of Total Wine & More’s Guide to Wine, wine tote bags or special offers that can be used on their next trip to a local store.

The Taste Washington festival officially begins Thursday, March 31 with the gala Red & White Party and continues through the weekend with more events, educational seminars and the two-day Grand Tasting. For more information and tickets, visit http://tastewashington.org/.

Spring for seasonal cocktails

21 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by in Cocktails, Rum, Tequila

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Cocktail making

We’re shaking up great cocktails for spring, featuring some of our favorite spirits and ingredients. Light and refreshing drinks like these are the perfect way to toast the official start of a new season. And you can save now when you pick up the spirits you’ll need for spring at Total Wine & More.

Every town has its favorites when it comes to cocktails. However, when we think spring our minds can’t help but go to a Margarita. This season, we love a twist on that classic cocktail: the Tequila-Berry Twist.

 

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Tequila-Berry Twist

3 oz. El Padrino Blanco tequila

2 oz. strawberry liqueur

Dash bitters

Dash freshly squeezed lime juice

Splash club soda

Lime slice, for garnish

Pour tequila and strawberry liqueur into tall glass with ice. Stir. Add bitters, lime juice and club soda. Stir and garnish with lime slice.

 

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The gimlet dates back to the 18th century, but it accrued true cultural cachet when it appeared in Raymond Chandler’s famous crime novel “The Long Goodbye.” This easy recipe calls for fresh lime juice plus sweetener, instead of the more conventional bottled lime juice, because hey – it’s spring.

Gimlet

2 oz. Blysk Vodka

¾ oz. freshly squeezed lime juice

¾ oz. simple syrup

Lime wheel, for garnish

Add spirits, lime juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass, or strain over ice into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

 

tropical splash cocktail

Rum is a versatile spirit that adds great flavor to a variety of cocktails. This brilliantly colored drink offers juicy flavor and a preview of hot, sunny days to come.

Tropical Splash Cocktail

1 oz. Kaniche XO Rum

2 oz. mango juice

2 oz. cranberry juice

Maraschino cherry and mango, for garnish

Add rum to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Add juices and shake well. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry and mango slice.

Find additional cocktail recipes at the Total Wine & More Cocktail Corner.

Is your bar ready for spring? Find everything you need at your local Total Wine & More.

2016 Australian Harvest Update from Davey Estate

18 Friday Mar 2016

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The Davey Estate — producers of Davey Family, Aficionado and Shingleback wines — is in the throes of harvest! Last month, winemaker John Davey noted that picking began on the vineyard’s whites (Semillon and Chardonnay) and rosé components, and harvest has now begun on beautiful, perfectly ripened Syrah. Varieties such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and lastly, Mourvedre, will follow.

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Local South Australian news outlets are coining this year’s harvest as one of the most promising in more than a decade. Paul Evans, the chief executive of the Winemakers Federation of Australia, said earlier this year the optimal climate conditions in South Australia are leading to expectations of the 2016 vintage being highly regarded by critics, notably for its red varieties.

Watch John Davey as he ventures out into a vineyard to tell you all about the harvest!

St. Patrick’s Day beers that will make Ireland green with envy

17 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by in Beer, St. Patrick's Day

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guinness_shamrock

We have Irish beers on the mind today, but at Total Wine & More we know that great beers don’t have to hail from the Emerald Isle to be worthy of a St. Patrick’s Day toast. American craft brewers, inspired by the classic brews of Ireland, are making excellent Irish-style beer right here at home.

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4,000 miles from Dublin, Boulevard Brewing Co. of Kansas City pays tribute to the Red Ales of old Ireland with Boulevard Irish Ale. Offering a sweet aroma of roasted caramel malts with hints of earthy, floral and citrus hops, it tastes of caramel, toasted malts and a touch of hop-driven bitterness.

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While Ireland’s Guinness is the standard-bearer in the Stout category, American brewers also offer worthy examples of the style. Obsidian Stout from Oregon’s famed Deschutes Brewery is one of our best examples. Deep and robust, it has distinct notes of espresso, chocolate, roasted malt and black barley. It’s a beer that certainly lives up to its 93-point score from Wine Enthusiast.

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The nitro trend has produced a fantastic array of beers. The addition of nitrogen to beer results in smaller bubbles that give the beer a creamier, smoother profile. The Milk Stout Nitro from Left Hand Brewing Co. of Longmont, Colo. greets you with aromas of brown sugar, vanilla cream and hints of roasted coffee. Initially roasty, mocha flavors rise up with slight hops and roasted bitter notes. It is truly a dark and delicious beer.

While we’ve covered just a few great Irish-style beers for St. Patrick’s Day, we have more than 2,500 beers of all types waiting for you. Stop by Total Wine & More today and make your own St. Patrick’s Day beer menu.

Spring beers are in bloom

14 Monday Mar 2016

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Spring may not officially start until later this month, but at Total Wine & More we’re already well into spring beer season. Today, we’re sharing just a few of our favorites so you can get a head start on the season.

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Available from January to April, Red Chair NWPA from Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery is a robust IPA that offers a citrus punch. A variety of European and domestic malts give this beer, which boasts a 92-point score from Beer Advocate, lovely caramel flavors that complement its citrus and floral notes.

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While seasonal beers are typically offered by craft brewers, even some bigger breweries are getting in on spring. Blue Moon Brewing Co.’s First Peach Ale is an intriguing combination of classic Belgian sour brown Ale with American Peach Wheat Ale. True to its name, it offers flavors of peach, caramel and malt-driven sweetness.

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In New England, home of Harpoon Brewery, the arrival of spring is real cause for celebration. Harpoon’s The Long Thaw White IPA offers an abundance of flavors from orange to coriander and a spicy, clean finish. It’s the perfect way to warm up while evenings are still cool.

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We couldn’t talk spring beers without paying respect to a beer that celebrates the arrival of the season along with another milestone. The Shiner Birthday Beer from beloved Spoetzl Brewery is a hoppy, German-style Pilsner that celebrates the brewery’s establishment in 1909.

Shop our full selection of seasonal spring beers by stopping by your neighborhood Total Wine & More, or head to our website to see our entire spring beer selection.

We’re opening this week in Silverdale, Wash.

09 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by in Grand Opening, Grand Openings, Tastings and events

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1412-storefront-OThe windows are covered up, but Cathy Wheaton is working inside the new Silverdale Total Wine & More, and she sees you trying to take a peek.

“We’ve been getting a lot of calls, a lot of interest,” said Wheaton, assistant manager of the next store to open at The Trails at Silverdale. “We’ve had tons of people walking up and looking in the door, and at the chalkboard right outside.”

The wait is over for your new Total Wine & More, where we’ll uncover the windows and open the doors Thursday and welcome the community with a flurry of Grand Opening celebrations. The store is unlike any other in the Pacific Northwest.

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Step inside, and you’ll see miles of aisles stocked with more than 8,000 wines, 3,000 spirits and 2,500 beers from around the world. There’s a team of expertly trained specialists to lend you a hand. And right inside the front door is something really special: long shelves displaying the “Best of Washington,” a bountiful selection of Washington-made wines, artisanal spirits and hearty beers that show off the skill of the state’s winemakers, distillers and brewers.

We open Thursday, March 10, at 9 a.m., and will have special events going on all weekend. Stop by for tastings (starting at 4 p.m.) featuring Caymus, Camaraderie Cellars, River Road, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Heritage Distilling, Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Silver City Brewery and more.

The grand opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Total Wine & More store at Westfield Mall in Olympia, Washington.

Shop with us March 10-13, and we’ll donate a portion of our sales to support the Kitsap Great Give on May 3, a day of giving produced by the Kitsap Community Foundation and the United Way. That’s just the first way Total Wine & More hopes to give back to the community that’s giving us such a warm welcome.

“We’ll be going out and working with the community,” said Wheaton, whose previous volunteer efforts have ranged from highway cleanup to releasing baby salmon raised in local classrooms.

“We have a really good team, all from the community, and all very diverse in their backgrounds,” she added. “Some have a tremendous amount of wine knowledge” – including one staffer who once ran an area specialty wine shop – “and some are very smart about spirits and beer. I love that we’re going to get to know all the customers, and they’re going to get to know us!”

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Come say hello to Cathy and coworkers during our Grand Opening celebrations at The Trails at Silverdale, 11066 Pacific Crest Place NW. We’ll be posting to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media channels, so join us there, too, and share your Grand Opening impressions with us using #totalwineGO.

Check out our website for more information on upcoming events and tastings at the Silverdale store.