Ladies, Let's Wine!

I was recently reading an article about the importance of women communities.  What I was reading evoked images of screened in porches with swings where women came together to talk about their children, families, and celebrated one another's victories.  It was a communion of sorts where they were free to be themselves.

When my friends and I get together, we have great conversations and wine (and food) are always included.  It's comfort!!!  We laugh, cry, and laugh some more.  We connect on a different level, without competition.  It's authentic, and it's real.

March is Women's History month.  The Vine Wine Club is going to do its part to celebrate that history by kicking off  powerful programming with topics and activities to inspire and empower women and fosters sisterhood.   We are also kicking off "Ladies, Let's Wine", our monthly social gathering for dinner, wine, and great conversation on March 18, 2016.  If you attended The Exclusive Blacklist, you have a free admission to one, compliments of Indigo Salon.  Our special guest is none other than 2016 People's Choice Award winner Gwen Hurt.  The topic is "Changing The Game:  Walking Away from the Job and Into Your Dream."

Our radio show "Off The Vine with Benita and Terricinia" (airs every Friday at 3:00 pm on the May We Help You Radio Network) will feature powerful female guests all month including fan favorites "The Grape Girls".  Spirit Journeys Radio (airs at 8:00 pm on MWHY Radio) will devote March to exploring positive female relationships.

Be ready!  Whether you are a Beyonce "Formation" kinda girl or "I am Woman, Hear Me Roar", March is bringing it for the ladies!  So raise your glasses and let's wine.

The Exclusive Blacklist...A True Story

I want to tell you a true story.  Just a little over a year ago, I called an old friend who had been one of my wine reps when I first got into the industry.  I called him because I was looking for a particular brand of wine that I knew his distribution company carried.  How did I know that they carried it?  Two reasons.  Our ABC board has a website that will list every wine, spirit, and beer that is approved in the Commonwealth.  I also knew because I had reached out to the winery owner to find out which distribution company had it and just how many cases they had in its warehouse.  I called my friend because I was surprised when I was told by another person at the same company that they didn't carry it.  Because I knew that my friend would tell me the truth, I called him.

At first, my friend told me that they didn't have it.  When I explained to him how I knew that they had it, he asked for some time to look into it.  The following day, he called me back to tell me that they had it in a warehouse in Norfolk and no one was interested in getting it here to Richmond.  Because my friend realized that it made no sense and wanted the sale, he made sure that his company transported my order to the Richmond warehouse so that I could pick it up.

I've always wondered had this wine not been owned and produced by an African-American would I have had to jump through such hoops.  I could understand if it didn't sell well.  But it seemed to be selling just fine in Total Wine and other big box stores.  Hmmm.

I do not believe that this story is unique.  So what can we do about it? I know, it's wine.  Doesn't seem that important.  But it is important.  The Exclusive Blacklist is important and events like it are lifelines for those brave souls who dare enter this tough industry.

I've charged myself with hosting an event to celebrate African-Americans in the wine industry.  The purpose is to introduce these wines to my family, friends, and colleagues and passing the assignment on to them.  If we like the wines, we should buy the wines and ask the wine retailers and restaurants that we support to make these wines available.  Just how much Yellow Tail can we drink?  We deserve the best!  And many of the wines that you will taste at The Exclusive Blacklist are rated high and receive critical acclaim by wine aficionados everywhere.  We invite you to be the judge!

This year, cast your vote to decide who goes home with our beautiful People's Choice award.  In order to vote, you must be present.  Here's how:

The Exclusive Blacklist
The Shoppes at The Renaissance
101 W. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220

Call 804-993-4130 for tickets or email me at thevinewineclub@gmail.com for more information.

Never Forget Your First Love

I remember my first introduction to Riesling.  I was at one of my favorite restaurants back in the mid-nineties.  At the time, my wine experience was limited to White Zinfandel.  I asked my server to introduce me to something new.  I was ready to move on from the pink stuff.  He introduced me to Johannesburg Riesling.  Like a lot of folks (some may not be willing to admit it), I initially thought this was a wine from South Africa.  But, nope.  It wasn’t.  It is merely a varietal of the grape.  This particular wine, I remember, was from Washington.  I fell in love with Riesling on that day.  My server may have coached me but I tasted hints of peach and honey and loved the overall fruitiness of what I was tasting.  My new wine, Riesling.  I remember shopping every Friday for Rieslings.  More and more, the wines that I selected weren’t quite like the ones that I had tasted that evening at the restaurant.  I have had some that are bone dry and others that are almost dessert wine clones.  Why?  Because I was tasting wines from various parts of the world.  Yes, they were all Rieslings but why did they taste so different?  The Rieslings from Washington tasted different from the ones from New York.  And they tasted different from the ones grown in Germany.  And then the Germans made them in their own range of styles that they identify on the bottles as Kabinett, Auslese, Spatlese, Beerenauslese…STOP!!!  That seemed so overwhelming for me to learn.  This was one grape, for goodness sake!  But Riesling was my first teacher on how grapes grown in various parts of the world can make such a difference in the bottle.  Most Rieslings are great food wines with their unique balance of acidity and fruit. ‘Tis the season for Riesling.  Because of its versatility, it is a perfect food wine that pairs well with your traditional holiday fare.  Try it with your turkey and sage dressing.  Riesling…my first love.

Revelry Riesling is our November Wine of the Month at The Vine Wine Club.  Use code “November” for free shipping on two or more bottles. 

Have You Listened to the Radio Show?

Join us each Friday on the May We Help You Radio Network at 3:00 pm for wine education, helpful tips, and fun.  "Off The Vine with Benita and Terricinia" can be found on Blog Talk Radio or you can listen on your phone at 646-652-2512.

Click here to listen to one of our podcasts.

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"Something to Wine About"

All That Sparkles isn't Champagne

Picky, picky, picky are those folks in a little town in France that make some of the finest sparkling wines in the world.  But hey, they have a right to be.  They have a process that has been proven to delight our taste buds and heighten our senses for centuries.  Champagne!  Even the name sounds rich.  In the season of celebrations, lots of bottles will be popped and the bubbles will fly.  But not all can afford to let the Champagne flow.  Thankfully, there are some great alternatives.  Each year for Mother's Day, we enjoy brunch with mimosas.  Now when I have Champagne, I won't add orange juice.  So I typically opt for a Cava, Spain's offering to sparkling wines.  Made mostly of xarel-lo, it is traditionally made in the champenoise method.  Because of its citrus notes, I think it is perfect with mimosas.  Another option is Prosecco, grown from grapes primarily from the Veneto region of Italy.  Like Champagne, it is a great aperitif.  Can I be frank?  Most of us who do not study wine or make this a part of our daily lives cannot blind taste the difference between Champagne, Cava, or Prosecco, and that's being real.  But where we all can see the difference is the price tag.  Cava and Prosecco are far more budget friendly.  So when you are celebrating with friends, family, at a wedding, or just because it's Monday, you don't have to bust the bank account.  Try a Cava or Prosecco.  Ain't nothing wrong with ballin' on a budget!

Congratulations to our newest Virginia State University Alumnus...Navi Lewis Johnson!

Mark your calendars!  June 6 kicks off "Off The Vine with Benita and Terricinia" on May We Help You Radio.  Our show will air weekly at 3:00 pm.  More details to come.

Benita

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How Much to Pay for a Rose'

We are still at it....selecting the best wines for our online club and store.  Yesterday, we were introduced to everything from a fruity, sparkling wine from Hungary to a bold red blend dominated by Zinfandel from California.  One of the wines that we tasted with a Rose' made of Grenache. When I asked the cost of the wine, I quickly realized at normal retail markup, this would have to retail for $30.  What!  A $30 Rose???  I had never paid $30 for a Rose' and wondered... would I?  And more importantly, could I sell it.  With yesterday's wine tasting, we had grilled foods that ran the gamut.  We had vegan black bean burgers with guacamole, lemon pepper salmon, and delectable New York Strip steaks as our showstoppers.  The Rose' held its own with the evening meal, not that we were actually trying to pair anything in particular.  But the question was raised...just how much would you pay for a Rose'?  This particular one had a great balance of acidity and the essence of strawberry.  Slightly chilled, it was a star under a beautiful sunset.  But at the end of the day, a decision had to be made.  This is business and as far as Rose' are concerned, I've tasted better for less! This one didn't make the cut.  But still looking!  So we want to know...what's your favorite Rose'?

Shout out to The Tipsy Sommelier for helping to make my job fun!  If you are looking for fun wine classes, visit her site at ttswine.com.

Benita

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Bratwurst and Wine?

I cook with wine often.  My thought is that if what I'm preparing requires a liquid, make it something that has flavor.  Water works as it meets the liquid requirement but falls far short in the taste category.  Of course, I'm not saying that water can be replaced...you know what I mean.  Anyway, this weekend my sons wanted Bratwursts.  No problem.  I had poured myself a glass of wine already because, as I've said, I cook with wine often. Typically when I cook bratwursts, I simmer them in beer first before I finish them on the grill.  Those lucky "brats" got to simmer and soak up one of my favorite beers, Hoegaarden.  Nothing but the best for my "brats".   As the beer simmered out of the pan, I added Vidalia onions.  Once the brats had graduated to the grill, I wanted to make something extra special out of those pan drippings and caramelized onions.  So I decided to share what I was drinking with what was left in the pan.  With a little butter and a drop of Worcestershire Sauce, I poured in some Pietra Santa Sacred Stone's Master Blend.  Masterful!  Those onions were the perfect accompaniment to the brats but I bet they would have been fantastic on the bun by themselves (if you've ever craved an onion sandwich).  In the glass, the wine is bold, a little earthy, but filled with hints of cherries and plum.  It would go great with your grilled meats this summer!  

Membership to The Vine Wine Club will open in June.  Be sure to join because Sacred Stone's Master Blend will be one of our monthly featured wines.  Stay tuned for membership information and upcoming events by following us on Twitter and on Facebook.

Benita

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Palate Pleasing Wines

One of the tasks of opening any new business is selecting quality products that you believe will attract and retain customers.  In the wine business, like others, that's a huge responsibility.  For about the last 45 days, my partner and I have tasted wines from every corner of the world.  Putting personal preferences aside, we taste and search for the descriptors that will help our customers understand what is in the bottle that they've selected.  First, let me clarify...I am no wine critic.  I like what I like, and I make an effort to discern my personal taste from the nuances that others find appealing when selecting wine.  My partner, on the other hand, has two categories when making selections...good or not good.  Together, we understand that our fans and future customers may not share our palates.  What we like is not directly related to what our members will enjoy.  Our hope is that when you become a part of The Vine Wine Club family, you will follow our blog and communicate with us on our various social medias and tell us what you like.  We promise to recommend something that will please your palate.

Upcoming Event:  Wine and White Party, July 5, 2014.  Tickets $40, Food, Wine, and Dancing

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wine-and-white-party-tickets-11440331339


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Benita

The Vine Wine Club is Coming!!!

I miss my wine friends!!!!  Closing down Grapes & Barley in December 2009 was bittersweet.  I met so many people who have since become family to me.  We went on the best "business" trips to Napa, Italy, The Biltmore, and many other places disguised as excuses to drink wine.  What an experience!  Well, now I am coming back to the profession that I have missed tremendously.  Talk about turning your love into your living! This is the countdown to The Vine Wine Club!  The website will launch in July.  In the meantime, I am building my social media accounts and setting everything in motion for a successful launch.  Details of how you can join are coming soon.  So join me on Google + at Vine Wine.  Give me a few days and I will have Pinterest and Twitter accounts too.  I will keep you posted.

The Vine Wine Club

www.thevinewineclub.com

Site launch in July.

Follow the blog for updates on pre-launch parties and early membership deals!

Benita