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Decanter's World Wine Awards at UGCH and UGSE!

 

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We're four days into UGSE and....woah. It's been INCREDIBLE! Thanks to everyone who has come out from Chestnut Hill to see the new store. And thank you to all of our fabulous new clients. For those of you who are new to UG, welcome to our monthly newsletter! 

 

For the second October in a row, The Urban Grape has been selected as one of just thirty world-wide retail partners in Decanter Magazine's World Wine Awards. This means that for the month of October, you can sample 16 of the magazine's award-winning wines in our Enomatic tasting machines, and pick up affordable award-winners in this month's "Sip of Decanter" Urban Sampler. Decanter is one of the most well-respected wine trade publications in the world, and we're beyond thrilled to be their partner in this fantastic promotion. 

 

In addition to the Decanter wines, our Tasting Coordinator Chelsea has put together one of the best months of tastings that we've ever seen at UG. Below is a sampling of our tasting events, but be sure to visit our website for the full listing, and to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for day-of updates and late additions. 

 

See you at the Grape!

 

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

Urban Tastings

 

Be sure to join us on Thursday and Friday nights from 5-8 and Saturdays from 3-6 for our regular tastings. Below is a sample of tastings at both of our stores this month. "UGCH" indicates the tasting will take place at Chestnut Hill, while "UGSE" indicates our South End store. 

 

Thursday, October 4, 5-8 PM at UGCH: Almost nothing gets us as excited as the Backlash Brass Knuckles. One year into their beer making journey, Helder and Maggie have added a new beer to their collection. (Backlash will also be tasting at UGSE on Saturday, 10/6 from 3-6 PM)

 

Thursday, October 4, 5-8 PM at UGSE: This is an amazing tasting opportunity! Lance Winters, the Master Distiller of St. George Spirits in California, is in town and tasting at UGSE! Stop by to taste Absinthe Verte, St. George Gin, St. George Single Malt Scotch, and the Breaking and Entering Bourbon.   

 

Friday, October 5, 5-8 PM at UGSE: Casa Dragones is a 100% Blue Agave Joven Tequila, handcrafted in small-batches by Mexico's only female Maestro Tequilero. This is the ultimate sipping tequila! 

 

Thursday, October 11, 5-8 PM at UGCH: This is a first! Stop by tonight to taste Fabrizia Limoncello, an all-natural, hand-crafted Limoncello made in Southern Italy. 

 

Saturday, October 13, 3-6 PM at UGCH: It's pumpkin time! Ben has been carefully curating our pumpkin beer collection, so stop by for our Pumpkin Beer Tasting and discover a new favorite! (UGSE will also have a Pumpkin Beer Tasting on 10/21 from 3-6 PM)

 

Sunday, October 14, 7-9 PM at UGSE: It's Two Chef Tables and a Microphone, our first chef pop-up at UGSE, and tickets are already long sold out. Thanks to our friends at Russell House Tavern and The Gallows for helping to make this an event people won't soon forget! 

 

Wednesday, October 17, 5-8 PM at UGSE: Join wine educator Jo-Ann Ross and the team from American Mussel for the ultimate pairing - muscadet and oysters! Oysters are first come, first serve, so stop by early! (Jo-Ann will also be leading an oyster and muscadet tasting at UGCH on 10/27 from 3-6)

 

Thursday, October 18, 5-8 PM at UGSE: Time to cozy up to one of the best Brunellos in Tuscany, Ciacci Piccolomini. This is pure Tuscany in a glass. 

 

Tuesday, October 23, 5-8 PM at UGSE: David Hirsch, Pinot Noir winemaker extraordinaire, will be tasting through his line-up at UGSE. This is an incredible tasting opportunity that you definitely don't want to miss!  

 

Thursday, October 25, 5-8 PM at UGSE: Come taste Fire Puncher Vodka and Wire Works Gin with the guys from Grand Ten Distilling! Boston is buzzing about these locally made spirits. 

 

Friday, October 26, 5-8 PM at UGSE: After wowing UGCH with her amazing Champagne, Celine from Thienot Champagne is back to show the South End what she's got. This is seriously fantastic bubbly.

 

Sunday, October 28, 7-9 PM at UGCH: Join The Urban Grape and the team from West Bridge, the new restaurant sensation in Kendall Square, for a night dedicated to all things Pinot Noir. Five different 100% Pinot Noir wines - sparkling, rosé and red - will be paired with West Bridge's Modern French food. Tickets are $20 and are available by clicking here. Act fast, tickets are limited! 

 

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

Spotlight Wine: 2000 Renaissance Cabernet Sauvignon (Sierra Foothills, CA)

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This is a wine with incredible taste and value that, for a almost a decade, had a serious problem. It was young. Despite careful aging and release, year after year, reviewers universally praised the wine while remarking that it tasted very young. Now, 12 years after harvest, this wine is starting to come into its own. 

Today, with its flavors of ripe black cherry and plums, espresso, tobacco and black pepper, this wine is ready to go. Except that it's pretty much sold out everywhere, no doubt sitting in people's cellars as they wait to hear the wine is ready to drink. We've got a stash and we've got it at an incredible price, nearly half of what the vineyard sold it for ($50) before they ran out. 

But don't mistake this wine's confusing youth and basement price with a lack of quality. This is a wine that, thanks to its acidity and tannins, will taste great over several nights. It's a wine you can continue to lay down, and a wine that will get a California Cab on your table for under $30. All that adds up to a spectacular Spotlight wine!

 

 

Regular Price: $38

 

15% Bottle Discount: $32.30

 

25% 6-Bottle Discount: $171 (a savings of $57, at $28.50 a bottle)

 

 

  

Tuesday Tweets

 

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NV Nino Franco "Rustico" Prosecco (Valdobbiadene, IT)

Don't confuse this wine from the Veneto with Ramona Singer's Pinot Grigio from the same region. Creamy, refreshing and balanced, with a pleasant crisp flavor, this sparkling wine works equally well as an aperitif or a dinner of risotto. 

 

Regular Price: $15

 

Tuesday Tweet Price: $12

 

 

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2011 Wrongo Dongo Monastrell (Jumilla, SP)

Okay, the name is tough. But the wine is awesome. Made from old Monastrell vines, this wine displays vibrant fruit flavors and soft tannins. At $8 a bottle and tasting this good, you better believe we can forgive a silly name! 

 

Regular Price: $10

 

Tuesday Tweet Price: $8

                                   

 

Mamapreneur

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TJ is the public face of The Urban Grape, and, believe me, we wouldn't have it any other way. And as I am the family photographer, he's also the only face ever seen in pictures with our kids. I think I have one picture of of myself with each of our kids on the day they were born, and then not much else.  
 
Given these two things, you can imagine how thrilling it was to be featured in Stephanie Piscatelli's pictorial Mamapreneur blog. Not only did the kids and I get to spend a fun day together, but we also walked away with pictures we will treasure forever of both our family and UGSE. And yes, for all of you who have been asking, she did take some pictures of TJ, they just aren't on the blog! It was especially gratifying for me to be able to talk with Stephanie about the amazing job all mothers do in maintaining sanity despite the many demands on us. 
 
Stephanie is a gifted photographer, especially of newborns and young children. Please check out her website or Facebook page for more information! 



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