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Juice Sale 2016

Juice Sale 2016

Juice Sale 2016

Juice Sale 2016

For all you home vintners: We’re having our annual Fresh Juice sale.

We’ve been getting a number of inquiries already about fresh juice. We are currently in contact with our supplier and hope to have details for you very soon.

Specific details should be available for you after Labor day, so check back with us after September 5th. We’ll post details on the Wines By Design web site!

This is for home wine making only, we are unable to help you make this wine in our store.

Note: Wines By Design acts as a shipping agent only and is not responsible for the quality of the juice.

All Sales are Final.

New: Honey Sale 2016

New: Honey Sale 2016

New: Honey Sale 2016

Honey Sale 2016

Mead (or honey wine) is the oldest alcoholic drink known to man. It is made from honey and water via fermentation with yeast.

It may be still, carbonated, or sparkling; it may be dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. Unlike beers and cider, meads (being wines) are drunk in small quantities.

This year, we’d like to try something new. In addition to our offering fresh grape juice, we’d like to offer honey (from a local honey farmer) for you to try your hand in making honey wine, better known as mead!

Mead has been found in numerous ancient cultures, from China (as early as 6500-7000 BC) to Europe (2800-1800 BC). Mead has been made (and drunk) in China, India, and Rome. It has been part of the heritage in Russia, Poland, Eastern Europe, and the Baltic states. Finally, numerous Celtic and Germanic cultures, as well as some African cultures (like Ethiopia) have enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) mead.

Interested in trying your hand at making mead?  We are currently finalizing details with our local supplier/honey farmer.  Details should be available for you after Labor day, so check back with us after September 5th.  We’ll post details on the Wines By Design web site!

WOTM – August 2016:

WOTM – August 2016:

WOTM (Wine of the Month) – August 2016
Carménère

This month, our Wine of the Month (WOTM) is a delicious Carménère from Chile.  

Along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, Carménère is considered part of the original six red grapes of Bordeaux, France.

(That said, there are others who indicate that it originated in Spain, then was brought to Italy by the Romans, and eventually made its way to France, but we’ll leave the origin stories to the movies.)

Regardless of its origin, everyone agrees that the Carménère grape eventually made its way to Chile, where it flourishes to this day. The climate and soil in Chile allow the Carménère grapes to grow and thrive.

Carménère wine has a deep red color and aromas found in red fruits, spices and berries. The tannins are gentler and softer than those in Cabernet Sauvignon and it is a medium body wine. Carménère imparts a cherry-like, fruity flavor with smoky, spicy and earthy notes and a deep crimson color. Its taste might also be reminiscent of dark chocolate, tobacco, and leather. The wine drinks very well while it is young and continues to improve with age.

The Winexpert Selection kit is described as a “Deep crimson, with dark cherry aroma, red fruits and berry notes running to a smoky, spicy finish with notes of dark chocolate and tobacco. With medium body and moderate tannins, Carménère drinks well young and improves with age. Drink with grilled beef, pizza, or dark chocolate”.

Interested in trying your hand at a Carménère, this month’s WOTM? We have lots of the Winexpert Selection kits in stock.

Stop on by!