It’s that time of year again…when things turn green: grass, trees and beer! It’s time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and all things Irish. There’s nothing more Irish than Guinness…well, maybe a leprechaun…and we have the pleasure of bringing you the adventure of this brewer’s famous Draught.

Way back in 1759, Arthur Guinness used a £100 inheritance to sign a 9,000-year lease on Dublin’s ramshackle St. James’s Gate brewery. The exact recipe for the stout’s mild hoppiness and dark, smooth, espresso-like richness is fiercely guarded, but water from the Wicklow Mountains, south of Dublin, and roasted, unmalted barley are always in the unmistakable mix. In fact, last year in 2009, we joined Guinness devotees worldwide in toasting the brewery’s 250th anniversary and the celebration continues, of course, this and every St. Patrick’s Day.

We encourage you to go all-out Irish and experience even more of the bittersweet malty, caramel flavor of this Draught by pairing it with our exclusive sweet, nutty Kilaree Irish Cheddar. Sourced primarily from milk that comes from small dairy farmers located in the South of Ireland, cows roam free in fresh air and graze in lush pastures of tender grass. Ireland’s unique climate lends itself to the exceptional milk, which in turn produces big Cheddar flavor. Now, you won’t find this to be green but this pairing will definitely get you feeling lucky for sure!

Sláinte! (To your health!)

Join in the fun this spring as we celebrate quality, priced-to-please Australian wines. Defined by a vibrant mix of cultures and an unmatched diversity of land and climates, Australia produces wine styles as rich and varied as the soil from which each grape grows.

In the past few years, Australia has earned a solid reputation for producing some of the finest varietals in the world. We’re excited to offer eleven of Australia’s highest quality selections at affordable prices. From an organically grown Chardonnay and a spritzy, aromatic Verdelho-Viognier blend to a dark chocolate cherry Pinot Noir and the continent’s best Cabernet Sauvignon, we have styles for everyone. Throw some barramundi on the barbie and grab a bottle of one of these Aussie gems.

Here’s a sampling of three of these fabulous wines that are featured through May 5th at our stores that sell wine:

Innocent Bystander, Pinot Gris, Yarra Valley

• A thoughtful and refreshingly zingy wine from Victoria’s first wine-growing district.
• Its aromas of lime leaves, honeydew and tart apples end with cashew notes and a nice dry finish.
• Enjoy with Murray Bridge Australian Cheddar or light main courses such as sashimi or oysters.

Shoofly, Buzz Cut, Adelaide Hills

• This wildly aromatic white is a blend of Riesling, Viognier, Verdelho, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.



• Spritzy, with an herbal edge, tropical flavors and citrusy crispness.
• Drink with spicy Thai or Vietnamese food, pork, whitefish or Cypress Grove Purple Haze goat cheese.

Big Woop, Red Wine, McLaren Vale, Riverland, & Limestone Coast (Coonawarra)

• This Grenache, Shiraz and Petite Verdot mix is a huge value in a huge (1-liter) bottle!
• A bold, gently spicy red with dark berry flavors and a deeply fruited but dry finish.
• Perfect with burgers, barbecue, pasta with marinara sauce or King Island Dairy Roaring Forties Blue or Rogue Anniversary Blue.

On our Aussie Wine page, you can find out about all of the featured wines, take a virtual tour of Australia’s diverse wine regions and download a “do it yourself” Aussie wine-tasting party with wine descriptions, cheese tray cards, recipes and more.

We’ve also partnered with Tourism Australia australia.com/now and Wine Australia wineaustralia.com who are offering a chance to win a trip Down Under through their Aussie Virtual Wine Challenge.

Enjoy this spring with a wine walkabout!

The adventure began in 1786 when John Molson brewed his first beer using the highest quality barley that he brought back from England. Over two hundred years later, the Montreal brewery that he founded is still the oldest on the continent. A successful entrepreneur with a focus on social responsibility, John Molson was dedicated to improving the world, in particular, by building hospitals and railways. Today, Molson’s commitment to crafting world-class beer remains unchanged. Brewed with pure Canadian water and the finest ingredients, it is an easy drinking premium lager that delivers the perfect balance of sweetness with a slightly hoppy bitterness and medium body for a smooth, refreshing finish. An extremely versatile beer, it pairs exceptionally well with spicy cuisines such as Thai and barbeque.

This value-minded – and utterly delicious – French Sparkler holds a coveted spot on our Top Ten Wines for the holidays. Fine bubbles and a golden hue make this delicate but powerful pour quite refined. Whether you pair its apricot and buttery brioche notes with Bon Homme Brie from Normandy or Hervé Mons Camembert cheese, pour for a toast or sip after a long day, it always shines.

Looking for dishes to serve with it? Our recipe gurus say these pair well:

• Arugula Salad with Seared Scallops
• Thai Steamed Snapper
• Stuffed Cornish Game Hens
• Potato Latkes

Confused about the difference between Champagne and sparkling wines? You’re not alone! Here’s a quick overview. Just as some wines and cheeses are only produced in a specific geographic area, only sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France can be officially labeled “Champagne.” Other European countries use other names for the sparkling wine they produce: Cava in Spain, Prosecco, Asti or Spumante in Italy and Sekt in Germany. Bubblies from California, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the several wine-producing countries of South America are generally referred to as sparkling wine or sparklers.

So, should you serve Champagne or sparkling wine? There’s really no right or wrong answer here – it’s truly a personal choice. We offer a variety of Champagnes and sparklers – you’re sure to find some perfectly suited to your party budget. Many sparkling wines rival true Champagne in taste and complexity and, like the Blanc De Blancs Brut, provide a nice value too.

Learn more in our Champagne Primer and always, always, always feel free to chat with our store team members who will gladly help you make a selection perfectly suited to your tastes. Cheers!

Holiday time is the perfect time to enjoy a delicious port wine! Port wine is a “sipper” kind of wine – it slowly warms your spirit and soul while you mingle and enjoy time with family and friends.

We brought in this delightful port wine called “The Portly Gentleman” from Buller Wines, a fourth-generation Australian winery. Made in the style of a Tawny port, this wine comes from Grenache, Shiraz and Cabernet grapes. It is oak-cask aged for three to five years, which gives it a beautiful almost Burgundy pale red color. With a bouquet of liquored berry fruits and flavors of strawberry and cherry syrup, it is delicious as an after dinner drink on its own or as an accompaniment for dessert. We love port wine with chocolate and this wine pairs deliciously with bittersweet Belgian chocolate.

Another part of this port wine that we love is its price tag. You will warm someone’s heart (and palate) if you show up with a bottle of “The Portly Gentleman” at your next holiday party. And you may as well pick up a few bottles so you can keep at least one for yourself – who said gifting was only for others? The time seems just about right for a little gift from you to you!

Today, American craft beers set the standard worldwide for innovation and quality, and Samuel Adams is no doubt the patriarch of these brewers. The just-released Samuel Adams Winter Classics variety pack quenches the desire of beer aficionados looking for something perfect for the cooler weather. It includes two bottles each of six Sam Adams styles: Boston Lager, Winter Lager, Old Fezziwig, Cranberry Lambic, Holiday Porter and a new brew, Coastal Wheat. These beers are rich in complexity and pair well with winter’s heartier foods.

Celebrate the holiday season with Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic. Brewed according to the classic Belgian style with fresh cranberries, this unique fruit beer uses a rare, wild yeast strain that imparts its special character and supports the complex sweet-sour balance.

If you are not familiar with Old Fezziwig, it is the beer equivalent to a “Christmas cookie” – full of holiday spices like cinnamon, ginger and orange peel. Taking its name from a jovial character in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” it is a wonderful, malty, nutty beer with aromas of candied fruit and spice – the perfect beer to enjoy while entertaining during the holiday season.

Sam Adams Holiday Porter is rich with a dark brown color and hints of coffee and chocolate. This is the beer to savor with a stew made with root vegetables or with some sharp cheeses in front of a crackling fire after a long day of holiday shopping.

Decades after brewing those first bottles of Sam Adams Lager and selling them by hand to bars in the Boston area, Jim Koch and the folks at The Boston Beer Company continue to brew world-class beers that tantalize our taste buds and keep us on the edge of our seats with their new creations.

For some reason people consider the words “holiday party” to be among the scariest in the English lexicon. Well, we don’t. Yes, you’ll certainly need to create the guest list, send invitations, plan the menu, pair the wines and decorate the house… maybe that is a lot of work. But with Whole Foods Market’s Top Ten Wines plus our great holiday recipes, you have a resource to make your holiday entertaining a snap. It’s like that extra set of hands you always wished you had to help prepare your holiday gala. (You’re still going to have to use your own hands to clean up afterwards – sorry we can’t help you with that!)

Helfrich Gewurztraminer, a floral and spicy wine with honey and tropical fruit flavors, is perfect to hand to your guests as an aperitif as they make their way to the food. Speaking of food, this wine is so versatile that it pairs perfectly with dishes as diverse as Lamb Tagine with Dates and Poached Pears with Fig Syrup and Bleu Cheese. So if you’re looking for a go-to white, this is definitely it.

As you’re pondering that guest list, go ahead and pop open a bottle of Pepperwood Pinot Noir. With aromas of freshly-baked cherry pie, this stunning value goes great with beef dishes, spinach and cheese lasagna, or look to pair it with a Gruyère Reserve or cranberry cheddar cheese. No matter what dishes accompany this wine both you and your guests will absolutely have a match made in heaven.

No holiday festivities would be complete without a little (or a lot) of dessert to end the meal. Whether you fancy some cheese to end on a savory note or a decadent Raspberry and Cocoa Linzer Torte, Sutter Home’s Muscat of Alexandria offers delightful honeysuckle and peach flavors to cap off the evening. But make sure to save some, so that long after your guests leave you can pour a glass or two of this nectar, prop your feet up, and revel in this wonderful time of year.

Making a list and checking it twice… Santa’s not the only one doing that this year. As you plan your holiday festivities, you no doubt have a budget in mind and are crunching the numbers. You want to provide a nice spread for your guests but you have to live with yourself-and your bank account-when the party’s over.

Well, we’ve been making lists and checking them a whole lot more than twice to find the hits for our Top Holiday Wines. We tasted hundreds of wines and chose the best in their respective categories considering both quality and price. Every one of our selections comes in under $15 a bottle! That’s right, wines that’ll please your guests’ palates and your pocketbook. Here’s a sampling:

Pisato Montepulciano

Made with Organically Grown Grapes

For turkey and other rich poultry consider this affordable alternative to Chianti with soft tannins and hints of dried fruit. Bold ruby color and dry, silky fresh tomato notes complement Italian food.

Red Truck Zinfandel

Made with Organically Grown Grapes

Think of this bottle as an old friend in a snazzy new pair of shoes! A balanced, organic California wine, its brambly berries, cracked pepper and dark chocolate finish keep your attention, whether you’re eating pot roast or pasta.

Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir

Warm cherry pie with vanilla ice cream and earthy oak dominate this bargain Chilean 2-pack from a brand you love. Enjoy a glass while you cook and still have enough for the table.

Marqués De Riscal Rueda Selección Especial

We bought all of this refreshing, full-bodied Spanish wine, but we’ll share! Old-world Verdejo comes alive in a straw-colored wine brimming with fruit and fennel. A huge value, serve as an aperitif or with tapas or roasted chicken.

What these and the rest of our Top Holiday Wines all have in common is that they represent the pinnacle of quality winemaking. So stock up and rest assured that you’re getting some of the best wine values in the marketplace this holiday season.

Mark your calendars, set your alarms or just watch the clock. On November 19th, the third Thursday of November, this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau is released to the world.

This festive once-a-year party wine is made for anyone and everyone. Light and cherry-berry fruity, but not sweet, this is no serious swirling and sniffing wine – it’s all about gulping and swigging and washing down your holiday foods. Just take a hint from the cheerful label, exclusively designed for our fun-loving customers.

For such a light wine, there’s a pretty heavy back story with lots of rules: The grapes used to make Beaujolais Nouveau must come from the specific region or Appellation d’origine contrôlée known as Beaujolais, which is located north of Lyon in the eastern part of France. The grapes, by law, must be harvested by hand. The wine is then made using a process called whole berry fermentation, resulting in a wine that is fruity and low in tannins.

Beyond the rules, Beaujolais Nouveau provides the first taste of the year’s vintage quality and is really meant to be about celebration: of the harvest, of the first revenue from a year of hard labor, and of another year past and the approaching winter holidays.

Best enjoyed fresh, or before spring returns, Nouveau is a terrific compliment to the rich, earthy and spicy flavors that come across the holiday table. The crazy complex flavors of roasts, game, mushrooms, squash, root vegetables and flavorings such as sage, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, peppers and the like are perfectly complemented by Nouveau’s grapey flavor and refreshing acidity.

It’s a great wine to serve at holiday parties or to pair with your Thanksgiving meal. Coming off of favorable summer weather conditions, the 2009 Nouveau is sure to deliver that characteristic red berry fruitiness. So ring in your holiday season with the Beaujolais Nouveau in your glass!

Traveling for the holidays can be appealing, but let’s be honest…not all of us can afford a trip to Europe, South America or even northern California. You can take a journey by bottle instead of by plane with our “top notch wines at easy-to-swallow prices.”

Your vinous passport to so many wonderful places minus the flight delays and inclement weather and – get this – all for under $15 a bottle. Now THAT is a deal that can’t be beat!
This year’s top wines offer something for everybody – a veritable cornucopia of flavors to suit a variety of palates, including both your Uncle Louie’s and Aunt Thelma’s. Reds and whites so versatile they’ll complement whatever you have on your menu.  Speaking of menu, we worked with our creative chefs to pair mouth-watering recipes with our wine selections so you need look no further to find just the right dish. Just go to our Top Ten Wines page and click on the different wine labels to show suggested recipe pairings. Maybe a Helfrich Gewurztraminer white served with Butternut Squash and Coconut Soup with Shrimp or a El Coto Special Cuvée Rioja with Spinach and Cheese Lasagna.

Delicious stuff!

If sparkling wine is what you need (and who doesn’t?) we have a wonderful selection for both sipping and toasting. Last, but certainly not least, we are really excited about the four organic wines included in our top selections. They are made with organically grown grapes and not only do they taste good but they do good too! Did we mention that all of these wines are under $15 a bottle?

We’ve searched the globe for amazing wines at amazing prices and developed outstanding recipes that will undoubtedly be the highlight of your holiday dining experience. You may be staying home for the holidays this year, but with our winter wine selections on your table, every sip will take your taste buds on an exotic voyage. Cheers!