I’m excited to announce that this coming Friday, January 27th, is International Port Day 2012 organized by the Center for Wine Origins. This is a great way for people to explore the often misunderstood world of port wines, as well as taste the various delicious styles of port. Participating is easy – consumers can join Port Day online by blogging, tweeting, posting and sharing their thoughts about this exceptional wine by using the #PortDay hashtag. Or, they can host or join one of the numerous retail and restaurant tastings that are being planned in locations across the United States. To stay up-to-date on the most current news regarding Port Day or to register an event, click here, and enter to win an iPad 2!

There are events taking place in several US cities where consumers can learn more about port leading up to, and on the day of the event;

January 26th: Gallery Tasting at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art - Ft. Lauderdale.

January 26th: Port Day Radio Interview – WLRN, Miami.

January 27th: In-store tasting at Garnet Wines & Liquors, New York.

January 27th: In-store tasting at Astor Wine & Spirits, New York.

January 27th: 12 different in-store tastings throughout the Chicago area, Binny’s Beverage Depot, Chicago.

January 27th: “Pot luck N’ Port,” Seattle, which is being hosted by our good friend Roy Hesh from For the Love of Port. Read Roy’s post here about how you can win an all expense paid (airfare not included) for a weeklong vacation/port education tour in Portugal this April with Roy!!! 

The event I’m most looking forward to is taking place on Friday the 27th at Pinot Boutique in Philadelphia from 6 to 7:30 PM (EST). I’m excited because I will be there to personally pour several styles of incredible port wines from Quevedo, who we’ve been working with for several years now. Pennsylvania has several of Quevedo ports available through the PLCB luxury stores, so this is a great chance for anyone living in the Philadelphia area to come taste these unique items that are available in Pennsylvania! There will also be many other port wines from various producers on hand to taste. Leading the tasting will be the Philadelphia area port ambassador, Brian Freedman, who takes the snobbiness out of wine and creates an open, fun environment to learn more about wine. So, come taste some amazing, unique wines and learn more about this often misunderstood wine.

Hope to see many of you in Philadelphia!

Cheers-

Michael

Just in time for Christmas and New Years, all our wines on Flickingerwines.com are on sale for the holidays! There is a great selection of red and white wines from Spain, France and Portugal available, so there is definitely a wine for everyone at an incredibly low price. Flickingerwines.com ships to all states where legal to do so, so save yourself one extra stop during your Christmas shopping and order online!

To order some of these wines, click here!

Below are the tasting notes for all the wines on sale:

2009 Quinta de Gomariz Alvarinho: 90 POINTS – Wine & Spirits Magazine (Vinho Regional Minho, Portugal) 

“There’s lush and delicious peach flavor at the center of this wine, but it’s covered over at first by jittery acidity. It bristles with green apple tartness, needing time in bottle to settle down. For sautéed prawns finished with ginger and cream

2009 Quinta de Gomariz Loureiro: 90 POINTS – Wine & Spirits Magazine (D.O.C. Vinho Verde, Portugal) 

“Cut a grapefruit in half and the scent of citrus oil in the air is similar to this wine’s fragrance, here layered with litchi, nectarine and spice. It’s clean and pure, the acidity integrated without and talcky feel. It finishes plump and cool, ready to serve with pan-seared scallops”

 2010 Quinta de Gomariz Espadeiro: 88 POINTS – Wine & Spirits Magazine (D.O.C. Vinho Verde, Portugal)

“Imagine what a wild strawberry blossom might smell like and you’ll be close to the delicate red fruit character of this rosé. It’s mildly sweet, with acidity to cut it, finishing peppery and clean. For a picnic with cured sausages.

 2006 Bodegas Ondalan Crianza: 87 Points – Josh Raynolds, Tanzer’s IWC (D.O.Ca Rioja, Spain) 

“(80% Tempranillo and 20% Graciano) Medium red. Redcurrant, cherry and brown spices on the nose. Light-bodied, spicy red fruit flavors are inviting fresh and tannin-free, with good back-end lift and cut. The finish is brisk and firm, repeating the sweet red fruit notes.”

2007 Bodegs Miguel Angel Muro Crianza: 88 Points – Josh Raynolds, Tanzer’s IWC (D.O.Ca. Rioja, Spain)

“Vivid ruby. Subdued, youthfully medicinal aromas of cherry, blackcurrant, licorice and herbs. Juicy and energetic but also supple and ripe, with fleshy cherry and dark berry flavors and subtle spiciness. Finishes with soft tannins and a suggestion of dark berry preserves. Pretty much a fruit bomb and very easy to like.

2005 Bodegas Medrano Irazu Crianza: 87 Points – Josh Raynolds, Tanzer’s IWC (D.O.Ca. Rioja, Spain) 

“(100% Tempranillo) Deep, saturated red. Pungent, intriguing aromas of cherry, blueberry, botanical herbs and fresh rose, with a building leathery note. Sweet red and dark berry flavors are firmed by dusty tannins and pick up the leathery quality with air. Distinctly wild wine with good finishing sweetness and lingering herbal and floral qualities. I worry about the leathery thing though.”

2008 Coto de Gomariz Blanco: 90 Points – Josh Raunolds, Tanzer’s IWC (D.O. Riberio, Spain) 

(80% treixadura, 10% godello and 5% each of loureira and albarino) Light gold. Pungent, mineral-laced aromas of citrus pith, green apple and herbs, plus a hint of white pepper. Then surprisingly ample on the palate, offering deep but energetic orchard fruit and bitter citrus flavors and a sexy floral quality. Closes on a firm mineral note, with very good spicy persistence. This is powerful enough to work with buttery dishes but has the vivacity to give pleasure on its own.

2007 Domaine du Gros Pata “Cuve Sabine” (Cotesdu Rhone, France)

Brilliant, intense and limpid cherry color. Fresh notes of mature dark and red fruits, with notes of vanilla and a spicy finish. Flavors of ripe red and dark fruit such redcurrant, blackcurrant and blackberry. Supple tannins that help pair this wine perfectly with white meats and game birds such as pheasant.

2006 Mirdor Iberico (Vino de la Tierra, Spain)

Intense Red-Garnet color. Fresh red fruits, with well balanced notes of light oak, vanilla and spice. Medium bodied, with well-balanced acidity and smooth tannins. Notes of red fruits and vanilla with a persistent, velvety finish.

2006 Gloria Reynolds “Tinto Real” (Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal)

Deep pomegranate. Mix of old and new Portugal. Ripe red berries, subtle oak notes, hints of exotic spice, earth and barnyard. Round and chewy palate, with red berries and dried cherries on the finish.

Just in time for Christmas, EDMwines.com is offering free shipping when you purchase a 12 pack case of 2008 Oscar’s Douro Red. This is a perfect rustic wine for all your holiday feasts and parties, not to mention a great price ($13.90/bottle) after you’ve burned a hole in your pocket buying all those presents. So, buy yourself a present, or split a case with friends!

Here is what Roger Voss from The Wine Enthusiast said about Oscar’s;

Oscar Quevedo, a new star of the Douro, has produced a stylish wine, suffused with tannins, fresh acidity, solid black fruits and a lively bright feel. It is ready to drink, but could age 3–4 years. (11/1/2010) – 88 POINTS

To order online click here, and don’t forget to use the code “NO SHIPPING” at the checkout page!!

Hello all!

I’m excited to announce that our good friend Oscar Quevedo from Quevedo Port Wine will be here in the U.S and Canada next week for some very special events! Events will be held in Toronto, Los Angeles, and I’ll be joining Oscar for the event in San Francisco.

Oscar will be traveling here to attend the screenings of a wonderful documentary by Zev Robinson, “Life on the Douro.”  Zev is a skilled documentary producer, and his latest effort features the world famous Douro Valley from Portugal. There are several dates & locations for the screenings, which will also include a Q&A session with Oscar, as well as Roy Hersh from “For The Love of Port.” , considered one of the leading Port wine and Madeira authorities and journalists in the United States. There will also be a tasting session after the documentary, with some of the best ports and still wines from the Douro Valley, which will include several Quevedo items.

To learn more about the documentary and the screening dates, as well as to purchase tickets for screenings, please visit ZevRobinson.com!

Cheers,

Michael

Our online distributor, Flickingerwines.com is having a huge sale that ends at noon (CST) this Saturday, September 17th! They have some smoking deals on wines from all over the world- France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Australia, Argentina, and many wonderful domestic wines as well!

To see the full list and to order online, click here!