Wine Tasting Every Weekend

Killer wines by European Cellars
Seated & guided tasting event Hosted by Nick Bland, Regional Midwest Manager
Next Tuesday, September 25, 6:30-8 pm, $10*

If you would have asked a young Eric Solomon what he wanted to do when he grew up, he would have told you he wanted to be a rock drummer, or a classically-trained percussionist, in earshot of his parents. So at 18 he found himself in London as the understudy tothe principal percussionist for the London Symphony Orchestra as well as a rock-drummer in several bands. Neither position paid well, so it was pure luck that walking into hisneighborhood wine bar looking for employment, he would discover his true vocation.

Wine importer Eric Solomon lives in Charlotte, N.C. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that Mr. Solomon owns a house in Charlotte, since he spends over two-thirds of his time on the road, traveling by plane or train or car. The landscape varies–from large cities to small villages–as does the setting: restaurants, bars, hotel lobbies, vineyards and wine cellars. They’re all places where Mr. Solomon, founder of European Cellars, has located some of
the world’s top winemaking talent and where he still searches for more.

Most of the bottles of wine that bear the stamp, Eric Solomon Selections, are exactly the same as you find in Europe – inside and outside the bottle. They are selected by Eric for import into the United States.

It’s been two years since our last class with Nick Bland and we’re super excited to welcome him back and guide us through a lovely series of wines by European Cellars.

Featured wines: Lafage Miraflors Blanc, Burgans Albarino, Castaño Alcaria Red, Black Salte Vilella Alta, Château Pesquié Edition 1912M and Gilles Troullier Tandem

Tickets Here
Limited Seating
*free for wine club members


Friday, September 21, 5-7 pm

Carpineto Dogajolo Bianca
Blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Grechetto and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. The name Dogajolo was invented by Carpineto’s founders, derived from the Italian word doga, meaning “stave” — the narrow strips of wood used to form oak casks. A medium-bodied white with pleasant citrus aromas and flavors, Carpineto Dogajolo Bianco is a young, fresh wine with a balanced acidity and clean, delicate finish. Tuscany, Italy

Carpineto Dogajolo Rosé
This wine comes from grapes selected from Central Tuscany; Dogajolo Rosato is an elegant and structured product with fruity and vivacious floral aromas. Floral characteristics, particularly rose, myrtle and grape flowers; hints of fruity fragrances like apple, currants and sour cherry.

Carpineto Dogajolo Toscano Rosso
Blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 70% Sangiovese. The name Dogajolo was invented by Carpineto’s founders, derived from the Italian word doga, meaning “stave” — the narrow strips of wood used to form oak casks. A young wine that boasts fruity aromas with hints of cherry interlaced with coffee, vanilla, and spice. Each varietal is vinified separately in stainless steel in this Sangiovese-based baby Super Tuscan. The blend is briefly aged in oak rendering a medium-bodied red that is soft on the palate with a balanced acidity.

Saturday, September 22, 3-5 pm

Burgans Albarino
Burgans is a custom cuvée made for European Cellars by Martin Codax, the largest cooperative in Rías-Baixas. Founded in 1986 by about 50 families with small plots of Albariño around the village of Cambados, it has grown to include almost 600 families and well over 3000 small parcels of Albariño. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe melon, nectarine and mango, with hints of lemon pith and ginger adding urgency and lift. Smooth and broad on the palate, offering juicy tropical and pit fruit flavors plus a suggestion of honeysuckle. Becomes more vibrant with air, picking up a mineral quality that carries through a very long, seamless finish, with the nectarine and floral notes echoing.

Chateau L'Ermitage Auzan Blanc
A blend of 60% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc and 10% Viognier. Opening notes of dried herbs and smoke lend a savory shadow to this wine's crisp yellow peach, apple and pear fruit. Full bodied yet freshly balanced, it's a satisfyingly rich dry white that finishes with a twist of lime zest. Costieres de Nimes , Rhone Valley, France

Chateau L'Ermitage Auzan Rouge
Blend of 40% Syrah, 40% Mourvèdre and 20% Grenache. A spicy, southern and characterful wine. Wild thyme on the nose this dark, full-bodied wine has lots of red ripe fruit, sweet licorice and roasted coffee flavors plus peppery, savory characters from the Syrah and Mourvèdre. Costieres de Nimes , Rhone Valley, France


Wines from Slovenia
Seated & guided tasting event with Randy from Blue Ice
Tuesday, October 2, 6:30-8 pm, $10*

Join us on October 2 for an orientation to the wines of Slovenia from
famous winemaker Vinakoper, one of the largest wine producers in Slovenia.
Did you know that Slovenia, with a population of only 2 million people,
has a winemaking tradition that precedes France, Germany and Spain?
Plus Slovenia has the world’s fifth highest per capita consumption of wine,
so very few of the country’s wines are exported.

We will be sampling unique and indigenous sparkling, white and red wines.  These wines are absolutely smashing and will be greatly appreciated by friends and family members for the upcoming holidays – plus they are all new to the Twin Cities market through local importer
​and distributor Blue Ice.   

Limited Seating
*free for wine club members

​
4th Annual Italian Opera & Wine Event
Saturday, October 6, 3-5 pm, $20*

Buongiorno!
To all our beloved members and guests, Patti and I invite you to our 4th annual Italian Opera & Wine Tasting! Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Brachetto, Soave, Cortese, Dolcetta, Barbera, Nebbiolo, and lively Prosecco await to tantalize your taste buds. Rich, earthy reds and crisp white wines will guide you through Tuscany, Piedmonte, Veneto plus Abruzzo, Puglia and Sicily. Our Baritone Opera star and Minister of Wine Marcus Hanson leads the event.

​Tickets Here
*free for wine club members


The First of Three Series of Italian Wine Classes
Classe del Vino Italiano del Nord
Northern Italian Wine Class
Featuring LLS Portfolio Expert Nikki Erpelding
The north is home to some amazing and prestigious wines and spirits from Piedmonte and the Veneto

Thursday, October 11, 6:30-8 pm
$15 wine club members* / $20 non-wine club members
Tickets Here
*Members register in store