Nope, these wines are not decked out in leisure suits but they are perfectly suited to sipping while lounging in a deck chair! Delicious pool-side, lake-side or any-side, these wines are great for hot days and leisurely sipping. Chosen from our popular “Top Ten Summer Wines” program, these can’t-go-wrong wines also sport prices that won’t make you sweat.

Here are our leisure wine picks: Read the rest of this entry »

Diletta Malenchini and her family have been producing estate grown Chianti varietals at their Villa Medicea (Medici) di Lilliano for many decades.  Their estate, originating in the 11^th century, was established as a lookout tower in the heart of the Chianti Colli Fiorentini region outside Florence.

(Diletta Malenchini on the left, Regina McDuffie, our wine specialist in the Middletown, NJ Whole Foods Market during a recent US tasting tour)

Diletta’s mother Marina is a Marchesa and fine host and cook.  We had the pleasure of her company and cooking in 2008, and the experience was an honor and a pleasure.  We toured the grounds and cellars underneath the estate, and can vouch for the true family presence and authenticity of this small business.

The Malenchini Estate is not just about making and selling wine.  Walking about the olive orchards, appreciating the gardens, smelling the lemons from hundred year old fruit trees, and soaking in the Tuscan views is a remarkable experience we hope all of you can someday see.

Diletta is in charge of making the wines, a Chianti of which was made for us exclusively at Whole Foods Market for our current Summer Top Ten wine promotion.  Made from young sangiovese vines, the wine is fresh, vibrant, full of fruit and good structure.  Goes equally well with Osso Bucco, pizza, or eggplant Parmigiano.

Try a glass of Malenchini “Red Label” Chianti, available only at Whole Foods Market stores (that carry wine), and perhaps it will help you to be transported to this special place in the warm Tuscan sun.

Looking for a great wine to take along on a picnic or other outdoor event? Well look no further than our popular “Top Ten Summer Wines” program. This is our second post about our carefully selected featured summer wines, perfect for cookouts, beach parties and backyard gatherings. These can’t-go-wrong wines also sport prices that won’t make you sweat.

Here are our picnic pleasing picks:

PRESTO ROSÉ BRUT (Italy)

• A rosy Italian sparkler
• Berry, strawberry and watermelon notes
• Ideal for brunch, dessert

Recipe pairing: Cherry Clafouti

Cheese pairing: Capricho de Cabra – a Spanish goat cheese with a gentle sweetness and creamy texture

PAZO SERANTELLOS ALBARINO (Spain)

• Expansive flavor and intense aroma in an affordable Spanish white
• Apricot and blood orange notes
• Ideal with Spanish favorites like paella

Recipe pairing: Seafood Paella with Crab and Sugar Snap Peas

Cheese pairing: Manchego – sheep’s milk brings a touch of sweetness to this traditional, piquant Spanish cheese, which becomes firmer and sharper over time

PISATO PINOT GRIGIO (Italy)

Made with Organically Grown Grapes

• Grapes from 90-year-old vines in Italy’s Veneto region
• Balanced, with lemon zest and green melon notes and a touch of minerality
• Pair the floral aroma with poultry, fish

Recipe pairing: Summer Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Cheese pairing: SarVecchio – this Wisconsin favorite, hand-selected and aged for at least 20 months, has a crumbly texture and nutty, slightly sweet flavor

MALENCHINI RED LABEL CHIANTI (Italy)

• The inaugural vintage for this rustic, Italian red
• Flavors and aromas of stewed fruit and cherry pie
• Mouth-watering with summer pastas

Recipe pairing: Fusilli Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and “Hidden” Zucchini

Cheese pairing: Parmigiano Reggiano – aged 24 months, hand-selected from single source farms and made with spring and fall milk, creating complex flavor and a nutty caramel finish

We’ll share more great wines throughout the summer on this blog. Can’t wait? Check out our Top Ten Summer Wines page for a complete list of our featured wines along with cheese and recipe pairings.

Celebrate sunshine, slow afternoons and paella suppers on the beach with our popular “Top Ten Summer Wines” program, including an effervescent Vinho Verde that tickles the tongue, an aromatic Albarino with a summertime crush on Manchego cheese, and a racy Tempranillo that loves backyard barbecues. We carefully select our Top Ten Summer Wines to make it easy for shoppers to find just the right bottle to take to cookouts, beach parties and backyard gatherings. These can’t-go-wrong wines also sport prices that won’t make you sweat.

Got plans for a Memorial Day barbeque? Here’s a sampling of wines from our Top Ten that’ll match up perfectly with your grilled favorites. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you checked out any of our featured Australian wines yet? We introduced you to our quality, priced-to-please Australian wines in our last post. You’ll find them highlighted in our wine departments through early May. 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.

Watch, tour and learn about what makes each Australian state and its regions special.

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 and Wine Australia who are offering a chance to win a trip Down Under through their Aussie Virtual Wine Challenge.

Enjoy this spring with a wine walkabout!

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Are you ready to ring in the New Year? We are! While our wine departments are stocked with many great Champagnes and sparkling wines perfect for toasting, we have to admit that we do have a favorite: J.P. Chenet Blanc De Blancs Brut.

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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!