Friday, August 14, 2009
Wine The Wandering Wino-Vespucci Edition
Posted by Chris Chamberlain on Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 11:30 AM
With a name like "The Wandering Wino," as you'd expect, I drink a lot of wine. Which means I buy a lot of wine from a lot of different wine shoppes. But of course, you know you're my favorite.
That also means I'm on a lot of email lists, which I encourage you to sign up for with your preferred grape monger. I'll do my best to distill (heh) them into a more palatable (heh, heh) form for you as a continuing part of this weekly missive.
But first, a restaurant deal that you might want to check out. To celebrate their 18th year in Middle Tennessee, Amerigo is offering full bottles of 18 of their wine offerings at $18.00. This offer is valid at both the West End and Cool Springs locations of Amerigo. Keeping in mind that this price includes the mandatory 24.25% state and local tax, these bottles are at close to retail pricing.
Nationally, many restaurants are experimenting with "wine shoppe pricing" to attract diners during these trying times. Amerigo's offering includes several nice Tuscan reds as well as a Baroncini Vernaccia di San Gimignano that would go nicely with any of their seafood or chicken pasta entrées. California is also well represented on the 18 for $18 list if you're worried about tongue-tying Italian appellations.
Fully embracing the new media trend, Amerigo's West End location has jumped on the FaceBook and Twitter bandwagon. Friend or follow them at @amerigowestend or on that Bookfulla Faces for daily specials and wine tasting announcements. I'm holding out to try their Hot Chicken Pasta Wednesday special some time soon.
On the special event front, the calendar is crowded so I recommend you put your drinking knee-pads on and consider our list of alternative transportation before you proceed any further.
- For the fourth year, Nashville RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) will host their annual "Baselines and Grapevines" wine tasting event at Miro District Food and Drink on August 20 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. To purchase tickets in advance, contact Eric Ward at eward@mpf.com or (615) 259-4000.
- Grace's Plaza Wine & Spirits is sponsoring a tasting of Organic Chilean Wines intorduced by winemaker Fernando Pavon as well as heavy hors d'oeuvres prepared by Chef Toby Willis at Macke's Restaurant on August 18 6:00 p.m. for the utterly reasonable tariff of $20 per person. While it can't replace the old Mack's (Country Kitchen) in my heart, Macke's take on haute southern cooking is usually quite interesting.
RSVP to the restaurant at (615) 292-3838 or mackesrestaurant@bellsouth.net.
- From Woodland Wine Merchant comes news of a "Farm to Blanket Dinner."
"Get ready for our most unique and fun wine event yet - it's unlike anything we've done before, and should be a fantastic experience. Co-hosted by Margot Café & Bar and Hungry Gnome Farm, all proceeds go to benefit Eaton's Creek Organics who supply Margot with their amazing produce. We'll be dining on food straight from the farm, prepared by chef Margot McCormack. Bring a blanket, flashlight, and bug spray. Dress for the farm. Farm tours begin at 4pm with dinner at 6pm. Please call 227-4668 to reserve your spot."
Sunday, September 13th - $50 per person (add $15 per person for accompanying wines).
At Hungry Gnome Farms in White's Creek.
- Vinea's tasting this weekend at Corrieri's Formaggeria on Saturday from 2:00-4:00 will feature Sauvignon Blancs. No RSVP is necessary, but get there early unless you want to feel the sharp stab of my pointy elbow between your shoulder blades as I muscle my way to the front of the mosh pit for a cheese sample. There's a reason I'm barred from Sam's Club, y'know...
Drink safe!
