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UPCOMING
EVENTS
WINE FUNDAMENTALS CLASS AT MEZZANOTTE
Tuesday 4/21 at 7:00 p.m. $20/person. Reservations Required
ENTERTAINMENT
AT MEZZANOTTE
Terry Parker
Friday 4/17
7 to 10 p.m.
This week we have the chance to see Terry at both restaurants. He will be at Mezzanotte on Friday and at Capriccio on Saturday.
Ronnie Stallwarth Saturday 4/18 7 to 10 p.m.
Ronnie is a very accomplished saxophone and clarinet player. His extensive repertoire of cool jazz includes great melodies from Grover Washington Jr., Stanley Turrentine, Kenny G and many others. His music mixes real well with good wine, food and company.
ENTERTAINMENT AT CAPRICCIO
GUILLERMO SERPAS Friday 4/17 - 7 to 10 p.m.
Evoking the influence of legendary guitarist Carlos Santana and popular folk players, Guillermo produces the electrifying rhythms of salsa, Latin jazz, and bolero, representing his Latin American roots and pumping vigorous life into his virtuoso classical-guitar performances.
TERRY PARKER
Saturday 4/18
7 to 10 p.m.
The Port Arthur born native of Texas has been mesmerizing audiences for more than 20 years, with his silky smooth renditions of some of the world greatest legends, such as Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Little Anthony, Smokie Robinson and The Platters. Known as Mr. Entertainer, Terry brings the candle of love to any party, by taking us back down memory lane, with Unchained Melody and Sixteen Candles |
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WINE FUNDAMENTALS CLASS AT MEZZANOTTE - TUESDAY 4/21
We will be offering the Wine Fundamentals Class at Mezzanotte next Saturday 4/21 at 7 PM. Here is the program for the evening:
- Things to know and remember
- Life cycle of the vine
- Wine producing regions
- Red wine production
- White wine production
- How to taste wines
- The "Big 8" wine tasting
The cost is $20/person and reservations are required (limited seating).
Hope to see you then! |
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OUR TRIP TO FREDERICKSBURG - TX WINE COUNTRY
We took a short break last week and went to Texas' Wine Country in Fredericksburg. Our dear friends Phil and Cici came along and made the trip a lot of fun (thank you Phil for driving the 4 hours each way!).
Overall the experience was wonderful - just getting away for a couple of days was wonderful in itself!
This is a trip that you should make as it is close by but far enough to allow you to forget about the daily routine. We were very fortunate that had very good weather every day. We left at 8 am on Tuesday and arrived there a little bit after noon. Here are some pointers in case you are thinking of going:
- There are lots of B&Bs in the area but be very careful who you choose. We decided to stay at the Rose Hill Manor in Stonewall, TX. The place is beautiful, the suites are huge and very comfortable. The owners' demeanor, however, was not the best. Warmth and desire to please was very much absent. I should have caught that when I spoke to one of the owners on the phone to make the reservation but I thought maybe they were having a bad day.
- The town is virtually shut down until Thursday (most good restaurants don't bother to open between Monday and Wednesday).
- We tried August E's restaurant. Trendy style place (white leather chairs and sofas, etc). The service was extremely good. Food was just OK (they serve steaks, sushi, and Thai food - maybe they should concentrate on one cuisine?).
- Next day we tried Cotton Gin. Food was different but a bit better and service was good. But we almost missed dinner!! Thanks to the bartender at Lincoln St. that told us that we should close our bill and run (at 8 PM in a tourist town??)!!
- I really wanted to try Nest but they are closed Monday - Wednesday (must be nice). If you have a chance to try it please let me know how was it.
- The best part of our trip was the discovery of the Lincoln Street Wine Shop in downtown Fredericksburg. We tried very good French, Italian, and California wines. They let us bring in our own cigars (thanks Phil for those Cubans!) and the service was perfect. We enjoyed different kinds of cheeses and cold cuts, along with very nice bread, etc. We liked it so much that we returned on Wednesday! They sell wines by the glass, bottle or case.
- And, of course, the wineries. We took a 5 hour tour with Texas Wine Tours and, although a little expensive for what it was, we really enjoyed the fact that we could drink as much wine as we wanted and didn't need to drive! Jim (the proprietor) is a transplant from New Haven, Connecticut, but he knows the sites and the local history very well. The long tour (which we took) was $139/person and I would recommend it. The bus (looks like an airport shuttle) is fitted with leatherette couches, wine glasses, etc. Very comfortable.
Overall, we had a lot of fun and we rested (primarily) the mind. Here are a couple of pictures of the trip:
The gang at Lincoln Street wine shop ^
Sipping wines at the Pedernales Winery ^
Can't get much better than this! ^ |
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FEATURED WINES
We have an exciting array of new wines at Mezzanotte and Capriccio this week. I am particularly excited about the California choices we have at Mezzanotte and the 2 big wines (one from Argentina and one from Spain) at Capriccio. The value of these wines is tremendous so I hope you enjoy them.
MEZZANOTTE
Brotherhood Carpe Diem Moscato Spumante - Hudson Valley, New York - Bottle $26, Glass $7
Sweet, sparkling wine. Aromatic moscato grapes are partially fermented in a closed tank to retain carbonation and natural sweetness. This unique sparkling wine has floral aromas and is deliciously sweet. Perfect with light meals and appetizers. A beauty of a wine to start the evening!
Merlot, Praxis - Alexander Valley, California - Bottle $32, Glass $8
this is a BIG Merlot. Ruby highlights dance in the deep red liquid while aromas of plum, red currant, toasty vanilla and violet fill the glass. Rich berry and black cherry notes are complemented by mocha and dark, unsweetened chocolate flavors. The wine has balanced, mouth filling flavor with good depth, finish and round firm tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Benziger - Sonoma, California - Bottle $40, Glass $10
Wow!! This wine is incredibly well integrated from start to finish! It has aromas of dark fruit and rich earth. In the mouth the wine is smooth and balanced with soft tannins and flavors of blackberry, coffee, toast and tobacco. It shows a very full body and lasting finish. Enjoy this Cabernet with grilled meats, hearty stews or red sauce pastas. CAPRICCIO
Cabernet Sauvignon, Graffigna - San Juan, Argentina - Bottle $24, Glass $6
Opaque garnet amethyst color. Currant, pecan nougat, and creme brulee aromas. A supple entry leads to a ripe, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body of blackberry, clove, and cedar flavors. Finishes with baked red apple and moderate oak tannin fade. A crowd pleaser that should do nicely with a grilled meats.
Rioja Gran Reserva, Campo Viejo - Rioja, Spain - Bottle $36, Glass $9
This is just an outstanding value!! Garnet cherry-red in color with aromas of stewed fruit, wood, and spicy nuances a lot of character and a long finish. Made from a special selection of Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano grapes and only produced in exceptional vintages. Aged five years (two in oak casks, three in the bottle). An elegant wine that is a wonderful complement to beef and sauced meats. | |
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