Tag: vintage

We’ll Raise a Glass of Guidobono Extra Brut Segretevigne to Toast October
Later today we will get together with some of our favorite people and raise a glass of Guidobono Extra Brut Segretevigne. Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. This Italian sparkler from Piemonte is made with 100% Nebbiolo grapes. This happens to be one of Ed's favorite varietals.

Here's what we have learned about Guidobono Extra Brut Segretevigne
- A retailer writes, "100% Nebbiolo (the name means secret vines because the wine laws in Italy for now do not allow for the name of the varietal to appear on the label for sparkling wines vinified with classic champenois method). Early harvest, 36 month on the yeasts, zero dosage. Bone dry, but rich and zesty. Fine mousse and long finish."
- The importer notes, "Guidobono is the creation of the Faccenda family, and reflects their obsession with terroir. They make a range of wines from the Roero and Langhe hills, all of them outstanding value. Their vineyards are scattered through the area, with Castellinaldo in the Roero and Monforte in Barolo being particularly prized. The family has a knack of outperforming in almost every vintage."
- One CellarTracker member – RICHARDP wrote: 90 Points
  "This is something unique: A sparkling white Nebbiolo. Yeast on the nose; on the palate, yellow apple cider and notes of flowers, yeast, and minerals on the medium finish, with strong acidity and a fine bubble. It would be interesting to put this up against a bottle of cheap Champagne to compare and contrast; this is better than most Champagnes at the same price point. Good value for a bit under $30."
We found our bottle at City Liquors in Cambridge.

What's your favorite sparkler?

One of our favorite assignments is finding a sparkling wine to toast the upcoming month. We have a few favorite places to look for sparklers that we have not tried before and reliable retailers we count on to know what we like, especially grower Champagnes and biodynamic bubbles. But, we are always open to suggestions. Do you have a favorite sparkling wine to suggest? Let us know in the comments below!

UPDATE: (10.01.17) While Ed’s fondness for the full, rich body and substantial fruit of a Nebbiolo influenced our choice of Guidobono Extra Brut Segretevigne, we didn’t expect this white, sparkling version of the varietal to be quite so un-Nebbiolo like.

We think the review above is most accurate, describing this wine as “Bone dry, but rich and zesty,” with a “fine mousse and long finish."

It’s a good sparkler for our friends who like extremely dry, Blanc de Blancs. If that’s you, drink it chilled to around 55º F. If you prefer a fuller-bodied wine, let it warm into the 60s.

We found Guidobono Extra Brut Segretevigne to be a particularly good match with our Vietnamese lemongrass chicken Saigon salad – a big pop of flavor followed by a sip of wine to cleanse the palate … a nice balance.

And, most importantly, guard against pre-judging this impressive sparkler. Take your time and enjoy!

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, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover's Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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Where to Buy or Rent Costumes in the Boston Area: Our Updated Resource Page
Whether you only think of altering your appearance on Halloween or also like to dress up for holidays, special events, parties, or other reasons, this post is for you. We've even included a couple of places that carry party goods and elegant seasonal home decor.

This post was updated for Halloween 2017.

Just before Halloween and the traditional holiday seasons seems like the best time for us to make a list and check it twice to help you locate places to buy or rent costumes for most any occasion. Costume season gears up at Halloween and continues for Santa time, New Years, Saint Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras, and beyond!

Please let us know if we've missed one of your favorite sources of costumes and accessories. And tell us about your all-time favorite Halloween Costume in the comments below.

The Garment District in Cambridge has a floor devoted to Boston Costume. This is probably the best-known spot to outfit yourself for any costume party.

It's open seven days a week. And "Open 'til Midnight ALL October!"

They sell and rent costumes and have lots of vintage & secondhand clothing, if you want to create your own.

They also sell items to finish the look, like:
- washout hair color in tones of atomic turquoise and cotton candy pink
- prosthetics like scars, bullet holes, horns, pointed ear tips, and witch noses with the materials to attach them
- masks from simple gold or black eye masks, to elaborate Venetian designs or feathery carnival styles
- heads to transform you into a bear, lion, or gorilla
- an endless selection of wigs includes: mullets, afros, clown colors, pigtails, geishas, ragdolls, cornrows, dreadlocks, flappers, and glam styles
- accessories include: hats, boas, go-go boots, and wings
Their "Boston Costume" division rents full rigs for the likes of Batman, Green Hornet, and Marie Antoinette. Or you can be a minute man, cowgirl, knight, or belly dancer.

Dorothy's Boutique

Soon you'll find people lined up (above) waiting to enter Dorothy's Boutique on Mass Ave. near Symphony Hall. They call themselves "Boston's Halloween Headquarters" and display masks, scary arm stumps, strange shoes, and accessories in the window. The website makes it clear that these are costumes for adults. Risque is their specialty.

If you want a quick look before you get in line, you can click over to the Google view of the store's fully stocked interior.

For luxe Halloween decor and fun accessories, visit Blackstone's of Beacon Hill. They have a fabulous selection of fun and tasteful decorations, masks, and accessories for the holiday.

Party Favors in Brookline in Coolidge Corner has lots of holiday party goodies!

New additions to our list.

Here are a couple of places recommended by our social media friends and readers. We have not checked these out personally but confirmed they are open this year.

Oona's in Harvard Square has this photo featured on their site. Vintage costumes can be fun.

Great Eastern Trading Co. in Central Square Cambridge sell vintage if that is the direction you would like to take with your costume.

The Costume Company in Belmont.

Note: These Are Closed

In case you have visited New Millennium Costumes on Tremont Street in the past, they have closed.

Reflections on Newbury Street had some great holiday items in past years but is now closed. The good news is that if you loved their style, you can get similar items at Blackstone's of Beacon Hill.

If you're more of an Internet shopper, you can find costumes for the entire family from this one page: Visit the Costume Store At Amazon.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2011-2014 Ed & Penny Cherubino plus a screenshot from The Garment District and top photo from iStockphoto.com
October 14, 2016
Where to Buy or Rent Costumes in the Boston Area: Our Updated Resource Page
Whether you only think of altering your appearance on Halloween or also like to dress up for holidays, special events, parties, or other reasons, this post is for you. We've even included a couple of places that carry party goods and elegant seasonal home decor.

This post was updated for Halloween 2017.

Just before Halloween and the traditional holiday seasons seems like the best time for us to make a list and check it twice to help you locate places to buy or rent costumes for most any occasion. Costume season gears up at Halloween and continues for Santa time, New Years, Saint Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras, and beyond!

Please let us know if we've missed one of your favorite sources of costumes and accessories. And tell us about your all-time favorite Halloween Costume in the comments below.

The Garment District in Cambridge has a floor devoted to Boston Costume. This is probably the best-known spot to outfit yourself for any costume party.

It's open seven days a week. And "Open 'til Midnight ALL October!"

They sell and rent costumes and have lots of vintage & secondhand clothing, if you want to create your own.

They also sell items to finish the look, like:
- washout hair color in tones of atomic turquoise and cotton candy pink
- prosthetics like scars, bullet holes, horns, pointed ear tips, and witch noses with the materials to attach them
- masks from simple gold or black eye masks, to elaborate Venetian designs or feathery carnival styles
- heads to transform you into a bear, lion, or gorilla
- an endless selection of wigs includes: mullets, afros, clown colors, pigtails, geishas, ragdolls, cornrows, dreadlocks, flappers, and glam styles
- accessories include: hats, boas, go-go boots, and wings
Their "Boston Costume" division rents full rigs for the likes of Batman, Green Hornet, and Marie Antoinette. Or you can be a minute man, cowgirl, knight, or belly dancer.

Dorothy's Boutique

Soon you'll find people lined up (above) waiting to enter Dorothy's Boutique on Mass Ave. near Symphony Hall. They call themselves "Boston's Halloween Headquarters" and display masks, scary arm stumps, strange shoes, and accessories in the window. The website makes it clear that these are costumes for adults. Risque is their specialty.

If you want a quick look before you get in line, you can click over to the Google view of the store's fully stocked interior.

For luxe Halloween decor and fun accessories, visit Blackstone's of Beacon Hill. They have a fabulous selection of fun and tasteful decorations, masks, and accessories for the holiday.

Party Favors in Brookline in Coolidge Corner has lots of holiday party goodies!

New additions to our list.

Here are a couple of places recommended by our social media friends and readers. We have not checked these out personally but confirmed they are open this year.

Oona's in Harvard Square has this photo featured on their site. Vintage costumes can be fun.

Great Eastern Trading Co. in Central Square Cambridge sell vintage if that is the direction you would like to take with your costume.

The Costume Company in Belmont.

Note: These Are Closed

In case you have visited New Millennium Costumes on Tremont Street in the past, they have closed.

Reflections on Newbury Street had some great holiday items in past years but is now closed. The good news is that if you loved their style, you can get similar items at Blackstone's of Beacon Hill.

If you're more of an Internet shopper, you can find costumes for the entire family from this one page: Visit the Costume Store At Amazon.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2011-2014 Ed & Penny Cherubino plus a screenshot from The Garment District and top photo from iStockphoto.com
October 14, 2016