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Sour Grapes
Sour Grapes? Not so much!
A few weeks ago I took a much needed weekend trip with some girlfriends. Boston was the destination and I was very excited. Not just because I would get to sleep in and get ready in the morning without someone tugging on my towel. I was excited that I would get to visit another eco-friendly wine store owned by a woman. The Wine Bottega in Boston is owned and run by Kerri Platt and the stores inventory is amazing. Lots of fun, esoteric imports, a few tasty domestics, and a handful of fun wine spirits and dessert wines. I saw a number of wines we carry, and few I’ve never seen. Most of the wines I hadn’t seen before came from wine importer Savio Soares. I had to purchase a few of these unknown labels to see if it was worth hunting down the importer. I purchased 6 wines and 3 of the ones belonged to Savio. The most interesting was a cool looking French red that had a black and white cat on the label which was very graphic, similar to a tattoo. I purchased an “ornage” colored wine from the Jura Region and made from the Poulsard grape. I decided after the first Sip… I had to find this importer of natural wines and quickly. When I got back to NC I added Savio Soares to my “To Do” list, knowing I would have no time to speak with them as I was preparing for an organic and biodynamic event in Chapel Hill that Saturday.
Terra Vita was the event and I was very excited about sharing a table with my favorite French Wine Importer, Thomas Meunier. Thomas was pouring 2007 Moreau Naudet, Petit
I was pouring 2009 Oko, Pinot Grigio, Italy, 2007 Millton, “Te Arai Vineyard”, Chenin Blanc, New Zealand, 2007 Baileyana, “Firepeak Vineyard”, Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, CA, 2009 Chimango, Tempranillo, Argentina and 2008 Cantine Ceci, “LaLuna”, Lambrusco, Italy.
Before leaving that morning I knocked my computer bag off the counter and my “To Do” file spilled on the floor. As I cleaned it up, I noticed my last listing…Savio Soares. I definitely had to find this importer. Anyway, setting up a table for a tasting event is usually very easy, but this one took a little more work. I had to fit 8 wines, 2 ice buckets, 2 store displays with information, tasting notes and discount cards with two people behind a 6 foot table. Boy, was it tight. When I was almost finished, I noticed the table next to me was staffed by some wine distributors I’d never meet. I might not know every wine rep in town, but I know the distributors names. Sour Grapes was the name of this distributor. Suddenly I noticed a label that he pulled out of his bag…The Tattooed Cat! Ohh, I gushed like a silly school girl with a crush. Who were these guys, when did Savio Soares selections arrive in town and how do I get them. Turns out they are from Ashville and have only been in business a few months. This was their first visit to the triangle. There names are Devon Price and Lyndon Smith and Savio Soares rep was there too, his name was Michael Nelson. Lyndon was so sweet, he held his young daughter the whole tasting. The little girl just smiled and was perfectly happy. As a working mom, who sometimes brings her girls to work, it was nice to see another working parent making the best of what life is like…complicated, but joyful. Devon is tall, very funny and also a daddy of a 2 year old girl. He showed me a video of his daughter saying I love you to him on his I phone. So sweet and he was very proud. My only regret was that everyone was going to get to taste these amazing wines and I wanted to be the first one in town to carry them. Well, you can’t always be selfish….I guess. A week later I tasted through Sour Grapes Portfolio. I didn’t buy the Tattooed Cat, yet, but I did buy some great value wines and our first Red Burgundy. Everything I sampled was amazing, Natural, Organic and Biodynamic wines that not only tasted great, but had a wonderful since of place. This visit helped me fill in some holes in the shop and all of you will have a chance to taste these amazing wines THIS SATURDAY, November 13th from 3 pm to 7pm.
We will be sampling: Zum Martin Sepp Weinviertel, Gruener Veltliner
Domaine St. Felix VDP D'Oc Blanc (60% Vermentino 40%Sauv. Blanc)
Domaine Valensac VDP D'OC Chardonnay
Zum Martin Sepp Weinviertel Zweigult
Remi Jeanniard Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Schloss Muhlenhof Dornfelder Trocken
Domaine De Boissan Côtes du Rhone Cuvée Prince D'Orange(50%Grenache 40% Syrah 10%, Mourvedre)
Three of these wines are liter bottles and every one of them will be great at your thanksgiving dinner. We will be sampling some light appetizers all day as well. See you all Saturday.
