We’ve chosen our favorite hot-weather reds from among this year’s Summer Top Ten Wines, our selection of top-notch summer wines at easy-to-swallow prices. Ranging from recently popular off-dry reds to classic Bordeaux to Côtes du Rhône, these wines sizzle with summer foods and are all less than a cool $20 per bottle.

And if you’re a devoted white wine drinker, or just want some great new ideas for pairing whites with summer foods, check out our blog on white wine pairings.

Cupcake Red Velvet

A casual, slightly sweet California red that brims with grape, plum and a hint of strawberry jam that can be enjoyed slightly chilled. An additional touch of cinnamon spices things up and makes this wine a good choice for hamburgers, especially Gorgonzola and Sun-Dried Tomato Bison Burgers.

Andes Crossing Malbec

This signature red from Argentina is as hot as the summer sun. Dense and full of jam and spice, the Malbec tastes of stewed fruits with hints of ripe cherries and is a perfect companion to barbecue. Make your own Slow-cooked Pulled Pork Sandwiches with ease using a slow cooker.Perrin Nature Côtes du

Rhône

Made using organic practices, this classic French red expresses its rich, fertile terroir with cherry, blackberry and earthy notes, a hint of black pepper, and elegant tannins. Sip with hearty summer salads such as the classic Mediterranean composed salad Grilled Tuna Niçoise Salad.

Vitiano Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese

Enjoy the ripe plum and black cherry notes in this medium-bodied “Super Tuscan” from Italy that is deep ruby red in color. With a smoky, western-inspired balance of fruit and mineral-driven Italian acidity, this red goes beautifully with summer’s best: tomatoes, basil and fresh salmon. Summer never tasted so good as with Grilled Salmon with Mediterranean Salsa.

Château Paradis Casseuil Bordeaux

This beautifully priced French red with youthful notes of plum and cassis can be enjoyed now after decanting, or better yet, tucked away for a special occasion as this one ages really well. With pronounced, yet supple, tannins, each sip gets better. Celebrate summer and any occasion with this amazing wine and Lamb Chops with Persillade and Sea Salt.

Evodia Old Vine Garnacha

Thanks to 100-year-old vines, this ripe Spanish favorite is a complex, round wine with flavors of strawberry preserves, black raspberry and a hint of violet. Exposure to new oak softens its edges, mellowing its smooth character with gobs of fruit. Both balanced and juicy, this big red wine sings a beautiful summer duet with Turkey Sausage-Stuffed Grilled Portobellos.

So these are our favorite summer wine and food picks. What are yours?

Cheers!

Here are some of our favorite summer companions for white wines included in our Summer Top Ten Wines, all less than $20. Stay tuned – we’ll share our summer red wine pairings and recipes on this blog July 28.

Elios Mediterranean White – From Greece, this crisp, fresh, dry white wine has mineral notes and ripe citrus on the nose. Perfect for sipping on the porch or served at brunch. With its tangy-sweet, citrus-honey marinade, Grilled Tempeh Kabobs really highlight the citrus notes of the Elios. Chicken or seafood also work well in the recipe and the pairing.

Innovac!ón Torrontés Pinot Grigio – Made in Argentina from sustainably farmed grapes, this liter-size value bottle is irresistibly floral and tart. The hints of lush peach and apricot pair perfectly with creamy pasta dishes or roasted chicken. Farfalle with Roasted Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce brings together both for an appealing summer sensation. Serve with grilled or roasted vegetables on the side.

Allan Scott Millstone Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc – Made with organically grown grapes, this New Zealand white wine is elegant, crisp and tastes of ripe grapefruit and lemon sherbet. Its plump, well-integrated oak brings out the best in fish tacos, such as Halibut Tacos with Creamy Corn and Tomoto Slaw. The fresh corn slaw in the tacos is a true taste of summer!

Vega Sindoa Viura Chardonnay – This Spanish favorite is full-bodied with crisp acidity like a bright green apple and delicate floral aromas. With a fresh and dry finish along with a touch of mintiness on the nose, this white wine makes for a great pairing with pizza. Don’t miss the chance to try grilling pizza with this recipe for Grilled Pizza with Spinach and Ricotta Salata which takes advantage of the summer bounty of tomatoes.

Simi Chardonnay – A classic Sonoma County Chardonnay with caramel apple and pear notes and a touch of buttery popcorn on the finish. Excellent balance and a seductive golden color make any simple picnic foods, especially fried chicken, taste like a meal fit for royalty. Serve this Oven-Fried Chicken either hot or cold and for a real summer treat, pack it in a basket to serve in the park, beachside or even the backyard!

Presto Moscato Dolce – This delicate, sweet summer sparkler from Italy has honeyed peach and apricot flavors and it’s just right for sipping or drizzled over fruit. This delicious sparkling wine is luscious at brunch, with vegetables and hollandaise or as a refreshing finisher with a light berry dessert. Strawberry Fool, a classic English dessert made by folding pureed fruit into whipped cream is a summer dream for the Presto Moscato Dolce.

Give these summer-perfect food and wine pairings a try and let us know what you think!

Cheers!

The Summer Top Ten Wines are just perfect for pairing. In fact, they’ve become quite compatible and cozy with an amazing selection of artisan cheeses. So much so, we’re pronouncing this the Summer of Love…for wine and cheese!

We’ve worked with our Global Cheese Buyer Cathy Strange to perfectly match cheeses that are delicious companions to our top-notch summer wines at easy-to-swallow prices. These specially selected Top Ten Summer Wines, all priced under $20, hail from the world’s top wine-producing countries. From alternative whites and recently popular off-dry reds to classic Bordeaux and Côtes du Rhône, these wines are well suited to romance their cheese counterparts from France, England, Spain and the U.S.

For your summer enjoyment, we offer you our love notes for Top Ten Summer Wines and cheeses:

Elios Mediterranean White – This crisp, fresh, dry white Greek wine has mineral notes and ripe citrus on the nose. Perfect for sipping on the porch or served at brunch.
Pair with — The mushroom aromas and luscious creaminess of Isigny Ste. Mère Brie, the best of Normandy, tame the fresh acidity of this summer sipper.

Allan Scott Millstone Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc – Made with organically grown grapes, this elegant crisp white tastes of ripe grapefruit and lemon sherbet.
Pair with — Bucherondin, a soft, dense goat’s milk cheese, is a silky companion for this New Zealand wine and the cheese’s white, birch-like rind hints at its name, which is French for “woodcutter.”

Vega Sindoa Viura Chardonnay – This Spanish favorite is full-bodied with crisp acidity like a bright green apple and delicate floral aromas.
Pair with — Manchego, a traditional Spanish cheese, is a great partner to this summer white as the sheep’s milk used in the Manchego brings a touch of sweetness for a true Spanish romance.

Simi Chardonnay – A classic Sonoma County Chardonnay with ripe apple and pear notes and a touch of buttery popcorn on the finish, this wine offers golden color and excellent balance.
Pair with — It goes hand-in-hand with Farmhouse Gouda, an exclusive to Whole Foods Market. The raw cow’s milk Gouda is aged 9 months, making its nutty, gently sharp notes distinctive with Simi Chardonnay.

Cupcake Red Velvet – A casual, slightly sweet California red that brims with grape, plum and a touch of spicy strawberry jam that can be enjoyed slightly chilled.
Pair with — Rogue Creamery Oregon Blue, a sweet, buttery blue hand-selected for Whole Foods Market, brings out and balances the rich, spicy flavors of the Cupcake Red Velvet.

Andes Crossing Malbec – This signature red from Argentina is dense and full of jam and spice with hints of ripe, dark cherries.
Pair with — Grafton Village Classic Reserve Cheddar, a mature, two-year cheddar, is a real Vermont charmer that pairs well with the big vibrant Malbec to smooth its tannins.

Get ready to discover your summer love story, one glass and nibble at a time. Cheers!

From Boca Raton to Washington DC and across the country to Chicago and Los Angeles, wine-loving tweeters raised their glasses and typed their tweets in harmony to celebrate the Top 10 Summer Wines in last week’s Twitter Tasting.

We traveled the world to find these top-notch wines at easy-to-swallow prices and, judging by the 100 or so wine lovers joining in the Twitter Tasting, tweeters were glad we did! The Top 10 Summer Wines traveled from some of the world’s best wine countries including Greece, Argentina, France, Italy, New Zealand and Spain for a collection of wines that are well suited for sipping at the beach or poolside, paired with grilled foods or other summer favorites, and all are less than $20.

As the corks popped, the tweet parties began at Whole Foods Market stores across the nation while others hosted their own Twitter Tastings in their homes and backyards. In one short hour, we tasted six of these summer-licious wines and the Twitterdom was buzzing with tweet after tweet sharing comments, photos and kudos for the Top 10 Summer Wines.

@WineFoodTravel showed how it was done kicking off the Twitter Tasting with a photo of all six wines, glasses lined up on a patio table outdoors, laptop at the ready. Weighing in early with Elios Mediterranean White as a favorite and noting the Greek white wine is “very crisp” with hints of pineapples and citrus and “a great nose!” Whole Foods Market Global Cheese Buyer Cathy Strange joined the party at Austin’s landmark store sharing Isigny Ste. Mère Brie, whose mushroom aromas and luscious creaminess perfectly complemented the fresh dry Elios.

Our Twitter tasters could barely contain themselves at the value and irresistible floral notes of the Innovac!ón Torrontés Pinot Grigio, an Argentina white made with sustainably farmed grapes. The liter-size value bottle gives two extra glasses worth of this summer sipper that one Chicago tweeter dubbed as “refreshingly crisp” and tweeted his surprise “as a great value Argentinian white.” Blogger WineFashionista noted “lots of beautiful stone fruit and white flowers in the Torrontés” with Winesellers, Ltd loving our pick and proclaiming it “a patio pounder.”

Our first summer red that we tasted was the Perrin Nature Côtes du Rhône, a gorgeous classic French Rhone made using organic practices that expresses rich, fertile terroir with cherry, blackberry and earthy notes, a hint of black pepper and elegant tannins. Blogger FoodDrinkLove was “diggin’ the earthy notes of the Perrin and the tart cherry.” Cheese buyer Cathy Strange suggested the French Fourme d’Ambert cheese as a great summer companion to the Perrin as the cheese “brings out the cherry and blackberry fruits” and deems this one a “nice and user friendly wine!”

Next stop on the journey for our tweet fleet was Spain as we tasted the Evodia Old Vine Garnacha. Thanks to 100-year-old vines, this ripe Spanish favorite is a complex, big, round red wine with flavors of strawberry preserves, black raspberry and a hint of violet. San Francisco blogger Lucious Lushes commented on the “rich, spicy baked cherries and plum tart in the Evodia. Leather, earth, PURE Spain and delicious. Excellent value!” We agree! We bought all we could of this special wine and love the dark fruits, medium to dark color and the finish is classic. Yum!

The summer Italian-French duo of Vitiano Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese, a medium-bodied “Super Tuscan” red from Italy, and the P’tit Basque, a subtly sweet sheep’s milk cheese from the French Pyrenees, resonated with the tweeting crowd with comments such as “a sharp package” and “we can’t get over the P’tit Basque with the Vitiano.” Big cheers for this summer romance! Deep red in color, the Vitiano has ripe plum and black cherry notes with a balanced acidity. We love to drink the Vitiano with summer favorites such as a burger with Stilton cheese, pasta with a cream or red sauce, and mussels are a must! One of our favorite tweeter comments on this wine described it “like drinking a glass of Tuscan sunshine.” Sì!

To conclude the Twitter Tasting, the Presto Moscato Dolce, a delicate, summer sparkler from Italy, had the crowd loving the bubbles! A tad sweet, with honeyed peach and apricot flavors, the Presto is priced right at about $11 and is light and refreshing. @WineFoodTravel raved: “Wow – the moscato delivers! Nice taste with apricot flavors!” Another tweeter pronounced the Presto “perfect! Just the right amount of sweetness. I think I need a case!”

We covered a lot of ground – literally from Europe to New Zealand to Argentina – in a short one hour for this Twitter Tasting and the Twitter-verse seemed to enjoy the journey. According to Winesellers, Ltd, “I’ve been on a lot of wine tweet-ups and I’ve got to say…This is the best so far! Everyone here rocks #wfmwine.”

And WineFashionista gave parting words of advice to us all: “Buy in quantity and save some moolah. Makes good wine sense.” We’ll toast to that! Thanks for all those who joined us and stay tuned for our next Twitter Tasting. Cheers!

Ready to get summer started? So are we! Join us for our next Twitter Tasting featuring the Top 10 Summer Wines. We’re so excited to introduce you to these top-notch wines at easy-to-swallow prices that we’re once again going viral. So let’s get the party started!

You and six of our Top Ten Summer Wines are invited to Whole Foods Market’s summer Twitter Tasting tomorrow, Thursday, June 9. Join us from 7 to 8 pm Central (8 pm Eastern, 6 pm Mountain or 5 pm Pacific) to taste and tweet! We’ll be there to lead these virtual tasting and share stories about these summer-perfect wines. And the best part is we get to see what you think!

Our Twitter Tastings have become hugely popular as we bring together wine lovers from around the country to taste and tweet. Simply pick up one or more of the featured wines and join the fun online or check with local stores for Twitter Tasting events. Follow along with us @WFMWineGuys and #WFMWine. We’ve got a handy tasting notes sheet for you to download and print that includes suggested cheese and food pairings and our own notes on each wine’s characteristics.

Tomorrow’s Twitter Tasting will feature these summer pleasers:

Elios Mediterranean White

Innovac!ón Torrontés Pinot Grigio

Andes Crossing Malbec Perrin Nature Côtes du Rhône

Vitiano Cabernet Sauvignon

SangiovesePresto Moscato Dolce

Also don’t miss the chance to win all of the cheese and wine to host your own virtual wine tasting party! Correctly answer one of our wine trivia questions tweeted from @WholeFoods. One winner will be chosen daily from June 1 – 6, 2011.

We look forward to having you join us and can’t wait to hear what your thoughts are on these amazing summer wines.

Cheers!

In fact, no passports are needed as you can enjoy a taste of exotic locales without leaving your own backyard or spending a pretty penny with these top-notch summer wines at easy-to-swallow prices are under $20.

These specially selected and priced wines include something for everyone’s summer enjoyment. “New World” meets “Old World” in this new lineup of summer sippers. From alternative whites and recently popular off-dry reds to classic Bordeaux and Côtes du Rhône wines, the Top Ten Summer Wines are well suited for sipping at the beach or poolside, pairing with grilled foods and other summer favorites, and sparking conversation with friends.

And speaking of tasty conversation, please join us for the Top Ten Summer Wine Twitter Tasting on Thursday, June 9 from 7 – 8 pm CT when we will lead a virtual tasting of six* of the summer wines. Our Twitter Tastings have become hugely popular as we bring together wine lovers from around the country to taste and tweet. Simply pick up one or more of the featured wines and join the fun online or check with local stores for Twitter Tasting events. Follow along with us @WFMWineGuys and #WFMWine.

Also don’t miss the chance to win all of the cheese and wine to host your own virtual wine tasting party! Correctly answer one of our wine trivia questions tweeted from @WholeFoods. One winner will be chosen daily from June 1 – 6, 2011.

Ready to take a tasty tour? Here are a few destination wines included in the Top Ten Summer Wines that you won’t want to miss:

Elios Mediterranean White – This crisp, fresh, dry white Greek wine has mineral notes and ripe citrus on the nose. Perfect for sipping on the porch or served at brunch.

Innovac!ón Torrontés Pinot Grigio* – Made in Argentina from sustainably farmed grapes, this liter-size value bottle holds an irresistibly floral, tart white with hints of lush peach and apricot.

Perrin Nature Côtes du Rhône – Made using organic practices, this classic French red expresses its rich, fertile terroir with cherry, blackberry and earthy notes, a hint of black pepper, and elegant tannins.

Evodia Old Vine Garnacha – Thanks to 100-year-old vines, this ripe Spanish favorite is a complex, big, round red wine with flavors of strawberry preserves, black raspberry and a hint of violet.

Presto Moscato Dolce – This delicate, sweet summer sparkler from Italy has honeyed peach and apricot flavors and is perfect for sipping or drizzled over fruit.

Sit back, relax and enjoy your summer travels – one sip at a time.

Bordeaux wines are some of the most refined and sought after wines in the world. This geographic region in southern France has a centuries-old wine producing heritage, and the wines coming out of the area typically exhibit flavors that provide a real sense of place, exuding tastes of the specific vineyards or Chateaux where the grapes are grown. Curious about where Bordeaux is and the mystery of “terroir”? Check out our map of this amazing wine-growing region.

We selected this special shipment of Bordeaux to introduce them to shoppers who may have previously been tentative about sampling these French wines because of their imposing reputation and often impressive prices. The two whites and seven reds featured in our wine departments until the end of April are hand-selected from small, family-owned properties – or “petits châteaux” – in the Bordeaux region. We were so impressed with these wines we bought the entire vintage of all but one of them and each is priced under $20.

When great romances end, they usually leave lovers with wonderful memories. For example, there was that incredible Friday evening in March, when hundreds of you joined us at our second-ever Twitter Tasting. You might consider having your own analog tasting, in person with friends and family, using our notes. We promise it will be your own affair to remember!

Then there was the enchanted evening when our wine selections met up with exquisitely paired French cheeses each one carefully selected by our global cheese buyer, Cathy Strange, to complement the unique character of our wines. Yes, the marvelous flavors danced across our tongues until long after midnight.

Finally, you may remember the golden glow of our own matchmaking efforts that featured easy-to-prepare, delicious recipes. Make your own memories last longer. Most of these dishes will allow you to sail through summer without overheating the kitchen.

Speaking of summer, while you may wish to obtain several each of these wines to put away for later, the two featured whites will be ideal for drinking in the warmer months of the year. The Château Magence Graves Blanc has a lively floral and citrus nose. This crisp white balances the acidity of key limes with round notes of Meyer lemon and sweet peas. That’s the closest description of summer in a bottle we’ve ever seen!

If you’d like something slightly sassier, the Château Bonnet Entre-Deux-Mers Blanc is zingy, juicy and expansive on the palate. This white balances vibrant, ripe aromas of grapefruit and peach with well-balanced minerality.

We hope you’ll make the most of the next few weeks and Discover Bordeaux before the end of April. We’re pretty sure you’ll be thrilled with what you find. Look for Bordeaux wine displays throughout our Whole Foods Market wine departments, along with recommendations for pairing with tasty dishes and the season’s best cheeses.

Cheers!

To guide you in this springtime matchmaking, we have secured a limited supply of Bordeaux wines from the sought-after 2009 vintage. Bordeaux wines are some of the finest and most desirable wines in the world and their flavors provide a real sense of place. We’re excited to bring you a selection of these astonishing wines at true bargain prices – under $20, during March and April while supplies last. Discover more about these special wines on our Discover Bordeaux site.

Hand-selected from small, family-owned properties, these Bordeaux wines are not only amazing to drink by themselves but they pair so well with food, especially springtime favorites. We’ve pulled together what we think are the perfect pairing so that you have just what you need to cook up something special with a French flair!

Château Magence
Graves Blanc
The lively floral and citrus nose of this crisp white balances round notes of Meyer lemon and sweet peas with the acidity of key limes. Spring Pea Risotto really highlights this wine for an amazing spring-infused meal.

Château Le Touzinard
Bordeaux Rouge
The ripeness of tart cherries and cranberries with a touch of black olive, menthol and oak offer a striking nose and clean flavor for this red wine, that pairs perfectly with Quinoa with Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms. Mushrooms roasted in a simple oil-free pear balsamic dressing are delicious tossed with quinoa, spinach, green onions and almonds.

Château La Gravière
Bordeaux Rouge
An earthy, structured red with hints of white and black pepper in the nose and a gripping minerality, the Château La Gravière is just the right companion to a soulful and satisfying Roasted Vegetable Stew with White Beans.

Château La Fleur Dallon
Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux Rouge
This medium-bodied red enjoys deep plum fruitiness and aromas of currants and a hint of toasted wood, with good structure and balance. A perfect accompaniment to a hearty, steak and goat cheese salad with spring fresh greens.

Château Bonnet
Entre-Deux-Mers Blanc
Zingy, juicy and expansive on the palate, this white balances vibrant, ripe aromas of grapefruit and peach with just the right minerality. The Château Bonnet Entre-Deux-Mers Blanc showcases the flavors of spring when paired with fresh greens and lightly sautéed fish in this recipe for Bibb Lettuce with Sautéed Sole and Dijon Vinaigrette.

Château Picau-Perna
Saint-Émilion Rouge
Rhubarb and ripe blueberries fill the nose with notes of green ferns and fine-grained tannins. A hearty companion to this luscious deep red Bordeaux is classic Steak with Red Wine-Herb Sauce.

Château Moulin de Mallet
Bordeaux Rouge
With dark rich claret color and a bouquet of red fruits with surprising hints of vanilla, licorice and blackberries, this red is rich and round with a lingering finish. Try these hearty and flavorful Gorgonzola and Smoky Bacon Burgers that are impressive enough to serve guests for spring gatherings.

Château Robin
Lussac-Saint-Émilion Rouge
A subtly powerful red, with sweetly smoky notes and a rich touch of tobacco and leather in the nose, this red is a perfect choice to accompany Lamb Chops with Red Wine-Glazed Spring Vegetables for an elegant yet easy spring dinner.

Château Haut-Laborie
Bordeaux Rouge
A red wine with brilliant ruby color and the seductive fragrance of crushed red berries and vanilla. For a truly classic French dinner, match this wine with Cassoulet-style French Bean Stew.

We hope you fall in love with these exciting spring pairings. Cheers!

Grab your beret, pick up a bottle (or four) of the limited-time-only 2009 Bordeaux vintage and get ready to taste and tweet. We’ll lead a virtual tasting of four of the featured Bordeaux wines that represent what some experts call the best Bordeaux vintages in the last 30 years! We are excited to share these exceptional French wines at bargain prices – all under $20.

We’ll also be joined by Cathy Strange, Whole Foods Market’s global cheese buyer, who will talk and tweet about an amazing selection of French cheeses that are perfect soul mates to these exquisite Bourdeaux wines. Check out details for the Twitter Tasting and get ready to taste and tweet. It’s easy and ever so tasty! You can follow us on Twitter @WFMWineGuys and #WFMWine and check with local stores for Twitter Tasting events.

To guide you in the tasting, we’ve designed a Bordeaux Twitter Tasting sheet so before the tasting begins, print out the tasting sheet so you can make notes about your favorites. As you sip and swirl, we want to hear from you! Share your thoughts on TweetChat or use the hashtag #WFMWine with your tweets if you use TweetDeck or another tool. Follow @WFMWineGuys and #WFMWine to see what others have to say about the wines.

What should you tweet? Whatever comes to mind as you taste the wines and cheeses! Feel free to comment on the smell (nose), taste profile, color, price and cheese pairings. Any thoughts are welcome – tasting and enjoying wine is all about your personal preferences.

We’re so excited to share these limited-time-only deals from this sought-after 2009 Bordeaux vintage. These wines will be featured for only two months at Whole Foods Market stores and are true bargains but they drink like they cost a fortune.

We look forward to tasting and tweeting with you tomorrow! Cheers!

We’ve got a lot to say about these fabulous Bordeaux wines but even more importantly, we want to hear what you have to say. Our first Twitter Tasting for our holiday wines was so successful that we couldn’t wait to throw another party after we tasted these exceptional French wines at bargain prices! Better yet, we’ll be joined by Cathy Strange, Whole Foods Market’s global cheese buyer, who will talk and tweet about an amazing selection of French cheeses that are perfect soul mates to these exquisite Bordeaux wines.

So how does a Twitter Tasting work? It’s easy and ever so tasty! We will lead a virtual tasting of four of the featured Bordeaux wines and accompanying cheeses. You can follow us on Twitter @WFMWineGuys and #WFMWine and check with local stores for Twitter Tasting events.

We’ll sip, swirl and tweet about these selected Bordeaux wines and we look forward to hearing from you as, together, we enjoy some of the finest and most desirable wines in the world. So here’s the party plan:

Pick up one or more of the four Bordeaux wines that we will feature, all are priced under $20, or invite some friends to join the fun and have everyone bring a bottle to share. Don’t forget to pick up a selection of our favorite French cheeses (see below) to really get the party going.

Featured wines and cheeses are:

• Château Magence Graves Blanc, a crisp white with a lively floral and citrus nose, paired with Ossau Iraty or P’tit Basque
• Château Le Touzinard Bordeaux Rouge, a red with the ripeness of tart cherries and cranberries and a clean flavor, paired with Comté
• Château La Fleur Dallon Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux Rouge, a medium-bodied red with deep plum fruitiness and good balance, paired with Hervé Mons Lavort de Chèvre
• Château Picau-Perna Saint-Émilion Rouge, a red showcasing rhubarb and ripe blueberries with fine-grained tannins, paired with Seaside Cheddar or Cabot Clothbound Cheddar

To guide you in the tasting, we’ve designed a Bordeaux Twitter Tasting sheet so before the tasting begins, print out the tasting sheet so you can make notes about your favorites.

So you’ve got your wines, opened them up and set out your glasses. Now, get online. You can send and receive Twitter messages, or tweets, equally well from your desktop, laptop or your mobile phone. If you don’t have a Twitter account, it’s free and easy. Sign up for your own Twitter account at www.twitter.com.

Next, follow the conversation by going to the TweetChat room set up for this event. It’s free and no registration is required. There, you can tweet directly from TweetChat.

When the Twitter Tasting starts, pour the first wine and we (the Wine Guys: Whole Foods Market national wine buyers Geof Ryan and Doug Bell) will tell you a bit about the wines and our thoughts on taste profiles, pairing and more.

Then, we want to hear from you! Share your thoughts on TweetChat or use the hashtag #WFMWine with your tweets if you use TweetDeck or another tool. Follow @WFMWineGuys and #WFMWine to see what others have to say about the wines.

Tweet about whatever comes to mind as you taste the wines and cheeses —the smell (nose), taste profile, color, price and cheese pairings. Any thoughts are welcome – tasting and enjoying wine is all about your personal preferences.

We’re so excited to share these limited-time-only deals from this sought-after 2009 Bordeaux vintage. These wines will be featured for only two months at Whole Foods Market stores and are true bargains but they drink like they cost a fortune.

We look forward to tasting and tweeting with you on March 11. Vive la France!