Tag: Perry’s wine and liquors

  • Poured from On High, Txakoli Rose Is a Great Seaside or Seafood Wine

    We are welcoming May with a slightly effervescent bottle of Txakoli Rosé. April was a rosy month for us. Txakoli Rosé returned to the wine list at Select Oyster Bar. We enjoyed it there, both before and after our vacation in Provincetown.

    CHE_0470

    On our first day in Ptown, we asked our trusted, local wine merchants at Perry's Wine & Liquors if they had Txakoli. "It's coming in tomorrow," was the reply. We returned the next day to stock up for our own enjoyment and for any guests who happened to join us for a glass of wine and bit of cheese. (Some neighbors from Boston were in town during our stay and we may have added them to the list of fans of the Basque wines.)

    IMG_9615

    Perry's was carrying the Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli Rose. We paired its casual sparkle with a variety of foods from Spanish cheese to lobster and scallops, throughout our days by the sea.

     IMG_6452

    We loved and agree with the description of this wine from PJ Wine in NYC …

    "Txakoli rose is like salted watermelon juice. It's like the ocean air drifting through a raspberry bush. It's like… well, it's like heaven. For summer drinking, for salty fried things, for any grilled thing from the sea with olive oil and salt, the straight Txomin Txakoli is one of our favorite drinks. In rose form, it's even better! Think of the refreshing San Sebastian elixir with cranberry tartness in place of the limes. Not sure who wouldn't like this wine, it's that good and refreshing. With just a tiny spritz of bubbles it's also an ideal aperitif, so go ahead and drink this all year long. – PJ"

    IMG_6734

    Back in Boston, we slipped into a couple of bar seats at Select Oyster to enjoy Chef Michael Serpa's selection, UlaciaTxakolina Rose. On this visit, we matched it with shared plates of Gloucester Swordfish, Scallops Ceviche, and a side of Avocado Toast – another delicious combination.

    IMG_6740   IMG_6737

    Perhaps it's that the sea air is so close to where the grapes for this wine are grown. Or maybe it's the crisp flavor and low alcohol (11%) that make this gem a perfect match for spring, summer, and the best of living near the Atlantic Ocean. All we know is that we've become devoted Txakoli fans. 

    IMG_6169

    We've even purchased the special stoppers (traditional Spanish escanciadors) that aerate the wine as it's poured into a glass from on high. Above is Elisha behind the bar at Select doing the Basque high pour for us.

    CHE_0473

    By the way, Elisha did ask if we preferred it served in wine glasses or in the traditional tumblers used in the Basque region for both the wines of Txakolina and the area's famous ciders. This is an easygoing, fun wine perfect for summer on the roof deck, patio, or a chair by the sea. Those places can be windy and have you clinging to your stemware. So relax, hold a Txakoli on high, pour it splashing into a tumbler, and join our Sparkling Resolution as we toast May and look forward to the warmer days of summer 2016!

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post: Join Us as We Toast …

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, today's post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more. 

    What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

       

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Popping a Bollinger Champagne Cork for July 2012

    Tomorrow, we'll pop the cork on a bottle of Bollinger to celebrate July! "Happy New Month" to all. 

    PMC_1215 - Version 22012-04-14-bollinger-champagne-brut-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This month, we have a few extra reasons to celeberate, so we are splurging with a great bottle of French Campagne: Bollinger Special Cuvée. This is the standard that we use to measure all other French Blanc de Noir Champagnes. 

    PMC_1239 - Version 22012-04-14-bollinger-champagne-brut-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    One of the nice things about Bolly (as the Brits call it) is the consistant taste through the years and its wide availability. The photos here were taken in Provincetown where we usually find it at Perry's Wine and Liquors. But, I also recall buying a bottle, years ago, at an A & P in a small town in Maine. 

    This month's bottle is a treat. It is something we will enjoy at home or in a vacation cottage. If you hesitate to buy and enjoy a moderately expensive bottle of wine at home, think about what you have paid for wine in a restaurant. 

    PMC_1246 - Version 22012-04-14-bollinger-champagne-brut-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This is a toasty Champagne, full bodied, and ready to take on whatever you're serving with it. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier. And, each release has been blended with reserve wines from the Bollinger cellars to achieve the famous Bollinger house style.

    DSC_3644 - Version 22012-04-14-bollinger-champagne-brut-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The next time you're in a special place or have a special reason to celebrate, invite Bollinger to the party!

    ART-MmeBollinger1

    Portrait from Bollinger's Life Can Be Perfect site. You can read more Bolly stories there.

    We close with one of the great quotes about Champagne from Lily Bollinger (above) who managed this great house for many years and established its world-wide reputation.

    "I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it—unless I’m thirsty." Lily Bollinger

    Related Posts:

    Here's a video that will tell you more about this great Campagne House.

    Check out more of our Sparkling Resolution Winners among our Wine Posts. For years, we've kept our sparkling resolution to begin each month by toasting with a glass of sparkling wine. Some are special, some are bargains, all are delcious!

    More about Our Sparkling Resolution

    Finally, more of our Provincetown Posts!

    We have a new, favorite wine book that we are not only recommending to our readers, but buying as a gift for wine-loving friends. It's a treasure and we expect it to look a bit worn and well-used pretty quickly. It may even suffer a few wine stains but we doubt that Karen and Andrew will mind.

    The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

    Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     

    Here are more books from this team:

    The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs  

    What to Drink with What You Eat: The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine, Beer, Spirits, Coffee, Tea – Even Water – Based on Expert Advice from America's Best Sommeliers

    Becoming a Chef

    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino