It's turkey time. November is our favorite month of the year, unabashedly dedicated to all things food, family and wine. There is just nothing better. 

We have lots of events this month geared toward finding you the best possible bottle of wine for your Thanksgiving dinner. Looking for all in one shopping? Our "Grape Gobbler" Urban Sampler is four bottles of wine for $50 that will see you through your entire T-Day dinner - football, turkey and pecan pie! Looking for something more customized? Jump to the bottom of this email to learn about our on-line order form for Thanksgiving wines (don't forget some rosé - it's perfect turkey wine!). Whatever your needs, The Urban Grape is here to help.

Lots to share, so let's get right to it! Happy November and Happy Thanksgiving!

All Our Best,

TJ and Hadley Douglas, and the staff of The Urban Grape 

Make sure to join us on Thursday and Friday nights from 5-8 and Saturdays from 2-5 for our regular tastings. 

Below are a few event and tasting highlights for the upcoming month:

Friday, November 4, 5-8 PM: It's the Massachusetts launch of the 2010 vintage of The Prisoner by Orin Swift! Join co-owner Tom Traverso as he pours samples of this amazing cult wine, and bring a business card to try to win a free 1.75 L bottle of the 2010! This wine will be sold out in MA by early 2012, so if you are (or love) a fan of this wine, be sure to stop by.

Wednesday, November 9, 4-7 PM: The Urban Grape is so proud of our new partnership with North Hill, a living center in Needham that helps seniors live vibrant, culturally interesting lives. If you are 65+ and interested in learning more about their thriving community, please join us at their True North event (ps - we'll be pouring the wine!).

Thursday, November 10, 6:30 to 8:30 PM:  Join TJ and Hadley at the Boston Center for Adult Education as we expound on Progressive Shelving and teach you how discover your palate as it relates to the body of wine. We'll be tasting Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Syrah and...milk. Come see what that's all about!

Friday, November 11, 5-8 PM: Double the fun at UG as Cody from Trio Wines pours funky, yet approachable, selections and Mike gets our weekend started right with a cocktail demonstration for Fall.

Saturday, November 12, 2-5 PM: All apples all the time at UG. Meet author Amy Traverso, the author of "The Apple Lover's Cookbook," sip on Apple Ice Wine and Hard Apple Cider, and munch on Apple Pie from Rosie's Bakery. It's a good old fashioned Apple Festival!

Saturday, November 19, 2-5 PM: It's time to get serious about Thanksgiving. Taste ideal Thanksgiving wines with Ryan from Ruby Wines, sample Noah's picks for Thanksgiving Day beer and sample sweet and savory cookies from local superstar Lark Fine Foods. With this line-up you can ruin the turkey and no one will notice.

Sunday, November 20, 7-9 PM: It's a Hipster Thanksgiving at UG as we are joined by the delightful team from Trina's Starlite Lounge in Cambridge for a fun and tongue-in-cheek take on Thanksgiving dinner. You can expect at least two things that Trina's is known for - a special "dog of the day" and homemade pie. On the more serious side, we'll be pouring our picks for Thanksgiving Day, and the lucky attendees receive an additional bottle and case discount! Tickets are $15, click here to RSVP!

Tuesday, November 22, 4-8 PM: Menus are set, the kids are out of school, all that's left is to pick up your wine. Stop by tonight for a special Thanksgiving tasting with Frank from Caroline Wine & Spirits. He'll help you choose the perfect bottle(s) for your dinner!

Wednesday, November 23, 4-8 PM: Without a doubt, you've waited until the last minute. But that's okay, we're having yet another Thanksgiving wine tasting with Shirlee from United. Come on in, we'll have the music turned up and the whole staff on deck. Sample some wine and spend the evening with us before you head home to prep the turkey! 

As always, check the events page on our website for event updates and newly added tastings!

Websites about French wine are notoriously unhelpful. Either the site just doesn't exist or it contains almost no useful information. This wine is a prime example of that information gap, which makes it hard to tell a fun or interesting story about it, as you are used to us doing for our Spotlight wines each week. 

The technical information is easily gleaned - the Vieux-Guinot is seriously vieux. The vineyard has been in the same family and producing spectacular wines since 1729. Saint-Emilion Grand Cru has tighter regulations than the Saint-Emilion region, meant to produce even higher quality wines. 

This particular wine is a Bordeaux blend featuring 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has bright red fruit aromas with some lovely black cherry flavors enhanced by a toasted smokiness. It's a well-bodied wine that will pair perfectly with meat - especially meat braised in a red wine sauce. 

But the question always remains - why should we care? Here's why. TJ has been selling this wine for over six years, ever since his early days as a salesperson at Ruby Wines. It's like an old friend for him, one of the first French wines that he really related to and enjoyed. His favorite vintage is this, the 2005, which he describes as a fabulously fruit-forward, elegantly structured wine. This wine has the caché of Bordeaux without the price tag - the value is excellent. He feels it is a wine that everyone should try, especially if Bordeaux are a little intimidating. So no elaborate story today, but a heartfelt suggestion to be sure.

Regular Price: $44

15% Bottle Discount: $37.40

25% Case Discount: $396 (a $132 case savings at $33/bottle)

The Spotlight wine is available at this price until 10 AM, November 3. Respond to this email, stop by or call the store at 617.232.4831 to reserve your order.  

Please note that the Tuesday Tweets have been selling out quickly! If a particular wine peaks your interest please try to get to the store as soon as possible for the best selection.

2010 The Dreaming Tree Chardonnay (Central Coast, CA)

Musician Dave Matthews teamed with veteran winemaker Steve Reeder to produce this distinctly Central Coast Chardonnay. It has vibrant citrus notes with big fruit and lots of spice. Oaked but not super-oaky.

Regular Price: $16

20% Bottle Discount: $12.80

2001 Greg Norman "Reserve" Shiraz (Limestone Coast, Australia)

A favorite of the golfer Greg Norman's family, this wine is full bodied and elegant with dark plum and blackberry flavors complemented by touches of eucalyptus and mint. This is a finely structured and well-balanced Shiraz that was rated 91 points by Wine Spectator.

Regular Price: $28

20% Bottle Discount: $22.40