Gnarly Vines

Join us at Gnarly Vines this Wednesday September 1st, 6-9pm, to welcome local artist Lionel Carre, Jr.

We will, of course, also be tasting wine…see below for the lineup – 15% off during the event.

Work by Lionel Carre, Jr. Gnarly's new artist

2008 Alois Lageder Lagrein Rosé – Alto Adige, Italy – $14

A fresh and fruity rosé from the Lagrein grape, which makes its home in Alto-Adige. Smooth red-fruit flavors linger through a long finish that carries an interesting, elegant twist. Drink as an apertif with starters like smoked fish and pâtés, or add some nice color alongside an everyday chicken dish.

2007 Sawbuck Chardonnay -  Mendocino County, CA – $12.50

Ripe, buttery CA Chard nice pineapple/peach fruit and creamy vanilla flavors. Try with chicken, swordfish, grilled veggies.

2008 Alois Lageder ‘Vogelmaier’ Moscato Giallo – Alto Adige, Italy – $24

Moscato Giallo is a mutation of the more well-know Moscato grape, which often makes sweet wine. Not in this case. From a vineyard named Vogelmaier, alongside Lake Caldaro, this wine is medium-bodied and dry. Fresh, floral aromatics with intense tropical fruit flavors make this an excellent match with a Tuna steak or Pad Thai. For a more geographically correct pairing, try it with a hunk of Speck.

2008 Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre – Contra Costa County, CA – $18

Sustainably-produced Mourvedre with delicious ripe berry and plum flavors. Full-bodied with dry tannins and some peppery herbacious notes.  Great wine with lamb, grilled pork and steak, or even a square of dark chocolate. Otherwise a treat all by itself.

15% off featured wines at the tasting

More about the artist: Lionel Carre, Jr. was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.  His paintings reflect a profound knowledge of the history and development of New York graffiti, as well a nod to early, hard edged, abstract expressionists. He explores letter forms through compositions built from multiple perspectives, and playful juxtapositions of bold color. He’s challenging himself to translate wall to canvas and brush, while maintaining the very essence of the graffiti art form. In the show, entitled Lineage, Lionel reflects on his life’s influences – an upbringing in a Haitian family, the drive necessary to develop a successful career as a self trained artist, and loved ones who have been there to support the solidarity of his vision.

A dry, delicious white from Hungary that’s over 1,000 years old. A cross-bred, chillable Austrian red named for the doctor who devised it. A Sicilian beauty made from indigenous grapes grown on the slopes of a dormant volcano. And, finally, an oddball Australian blend that mixes Dolcetto with Cabernet (among others).

The hodgepodge of wines we’ll be tasting this Saturday are all a little  funky and a little fresh – each in their own way. If the world of wine were an album, these are some of the deep tracks that are worth listening to – join us to hear what they have to say.

2009 Pannonhalmi Apatsagi ‘Tricollis Cuvee’ White – Hungary – $12

A blend of 40% Welschriesling, 40% Riesling, and 20% Tramini, made by Benedictine monks since 996, that’s right, over 1000 years! This is a dry, aromatic white wine with a nose of white flowers and ginger followed by ripe lychee.  Medium-bodied with crisp underlying acidity, it’s a versatile wine that pairs well with everything from cheese and spicy Asian cuisine to white meats.

2009 Berger Zweigelt – Niederosterreich, Austria (1Ltr) – $14

The Zweigelt grape variety is a cross of Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent named after the good Dr. Zweigelt, its breeder. Berger is a practicing organic producer and their Zweigelt has a fresh raisin and prune nose, a touch of CO2, medium body and soft tannins.  This juicy wine would be delicious served with a slight chill.

2008 Terre Nere Etna Rosso – Sicily, Italy – $21

Made from indigenous Sicilian varietals – Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio – grown in high altitude vineyards on the slopes of the Mount Etna. It’s a fascinating wine with bright red fruit flavors, crisp acidity, smoky and spicy notes as well as a hint of ash on the finish.

2008 Heartland Stickleback Red – South Australia – $12

Bending Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon with a little bit of Dolcetto sounds like trying to stick a clarinet onstage at a Stones concert. But, somehow, it works. This is a a delicious wine with complex flavors of dark berries, a hint of chocolate and just enough spice to keep things exciting. Fun, fresh, and ready to drink now.

15% off during the tasting!

Read the rest of”A Taste of Brooklyn – Saturday, August 14th, 5-8pm” »

Much has been made of the merits of “Old World” versus “New World” in wine circles. Proponents of the former argue that traditional winemaking techniques and less intervention yields more expressive, terrior-driven wines. Those on Team New World say that modern advancements in production allow winemakers to have more control over their product, keep prices competitive, and make wine more accessible outside of wine growing regions. While the distinction is typically made between wines from Europe versus wines from the Americas, Australia and South Africa, it can also be read as “modern” versus “traditional” winemaking. Bring up the issue to any stuffy wine snob and the debate can get pretty intense. Where is the love?

Call us hippies, but we like to stay above the fray. We welcome wines of all colors, sizes and countries of origin with open arms. In an effort to bridge the gap, we’ll be pouring wines from California and Italy, representing both modern and traditional styles- all together, side by side.

2008 Bastianich Friulano – Friuli, Italy – $18

2007 C&T Cellars ‘Skinny Dip’ Sauvignon Blanc – Napa Valley, CA – $18

2007 C.S. Cellars Hammer Merlot – California – $17.50

2007 Layer Cake Primitivo aka Zinfandel – Puglia, Italy – $18