Three for the Holiday

Before you break out the grill for the long 4th of July weekend, stop by Sun Singer to consider all your options. With a great selection of beer, fine wine and spirits, we've got almost everything - except the meat - to make the holiday memorable. Try on these three reds for size, we thinks they'll be just the right fit!

Andrew Rich 'Cuvee B' Pinot Noir 2008, Wilamette Valley, Oregon
With its dark color and deep aromas of graphite, crushed red and black berries, and a hint of wild herbs, the Cuvée announces itself as a wine that is altogether more “serious” than the Prelude. In the mouth the wine seems more savory than overtly fruity, with a round, sweet, rich mid-palate. It is full and lush with any excess weight (a hallmark of 2008). There is excellent length here, with well-integrated tannins and vibrant acidity to keep the wine focused and fresh. 90 pts. Wine Spectator

Corvidae 'The Keeper' Cabernet Franc 2009, Columbia Valley, Washington
Plush and velvety, full-bodied and easy drinking. The scent and flavors knock you out - spice joins black tea, fresh tobacco, thyme, sweet cedar chips, black berries and cassis. When Cabernet Franc is made from well ripened fruit, (as this wine is) it combines plush fruit and interesting accent notes with body that stands well with rich roasted and grilled meats. 

 Orin Swift 'Saldo' Zinfandel 2008, California
The word "saldo" has many different meanings in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. In Spanish, it mainly refers to "balance on hand", and sometimes it can mean "from here and there." This wine represents the best of the best lots made by Dave from vineyards all across Northern California.

Through the success of his Prisoner label, Orin Swift Cellars owner/winemaker Dave Phinney has gained access to some of the best Zinfandel vineyards in the Northern California growing community. The 2008 Saldo is rich, ripe, and full-bodied, with aromas of black cherry and bramble fruit. The tannins are soft but the wine has a huge mid-palate. The soft, lush finish lingers. 2008 was a perfect vintage for Saldo. The hot weather was ideal for creating ripe zinfandel. Drink now and enjoy over the next five years.

Ready for the Weekend: Go Green with Oenophilia

Oenophilia Greenophile™
100% Sugar Cane Entertainment Plate

This Oenophilia 100% Sugarcane Party Plate is an environmentally-friendly, affordable way to feed a room full of people. Constructed from renewable, resilient sugarcane - a great alternative to styrofoam and plastic, the party plate is sturdy enough to handle even the heaviest and messiest hors d'oeuvres. It also features a reinforced notch that can securely hold even the most imposing wine glass. Plate is also disposable, compostable, microwaveable and freezer safe. Measures 8" W x 8" L. Comes in package of 12.

Beer Can Chicken Roaster

A great way to get that moist, seasoned chicken, you'll never want to cook a chicken any other way.  This vertical roasting Rack holds a seasoned 12 oz can of beer inside the seasoned chicken. After seasoning a chicken inside and out with this rub and adding it to a 12 oz can of beer, roast the chicken vertically on this rack for a moist and flavor-seasoned chicken. Place a cooking pan under the roaster to catch the drippings.

Original and Blackened Cajun Seasoning available.

BBQ: Head West to Head Country!

What makes Head Country unique? Cattle drives, land runs, ranches, rodeos, Oklahoma history. The proud heritage that shaped the state and Head family is in every bottle.  So come on. Head west. Head Country!

The year was 1945. Donovan Fred Head, known affectionately as "Uncle Bud," was home from World War II and his service as a cook on a naval destroyer. Getting back into the rhythms of Oklahoma ranch life felt good, but so did tinkering at the stove and recalling the recipes he served up to his fellow sailors.

One such recipe was for a bar-b-q sauce that used wholesome ingredients easily found in a Navy ship's kitchen: ketchup, brown sugar, distilled vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and spices. Uncle Bud's "Head Country Bar-B-Q Sauce" proved just as popular with the neighbors as it was with his sailors! So many neighbors made the trip to buy fruit jars of the stuff that Uncle Bud decided to make it easier on his adoring fans. Head Country went retail in feed stores.

This is the original ranchhouse recipe sauce from over 50 years ago! This secret family recipe is fat free, cholesterol free, and preservative free! There are no gums, starches, or other fillers to cheapen this incredible spicy-sweet taste. Make Head Country BBQ Sauce your secret family recipe!

Also available in “SMOKEY” :  Slightly less sweet than the original with a blend of onion, garlic, and hickory smoke spices.

Woo-Hoo Bamboo!

Greenophile's Bamboo Hors D'Oeuvres Plate is a reuseable, attractive party tray constructed entirely from bamboo. Perfect for entertaining and stand up parties, these hors d'oeurves plates from Oenophilia feature a natural bamboo body which is both attractive and eco-friendly. Featuring reinforced raised edges and a built-in wine stem holder designed to securely hold a piece of stemware, this plate will make sure neither wine nor food escapes while leaving you and your guests with a hand free. Ideal for outdoor parties or other functions where table and counter space is hard to come by. Comes in a set of 4. 8" X 7".

Last Minute: Dad's Little Helper!

Style: Black IPA       
Food Pairing: Pork, Hot & Spicy 
 
Tasting Notes: Dad’s Little Helper Black IPA is deep mahogany in color with roasted malt and hop aromas and dense creamy head. It enters the palate with intense hop flavor and coats the tongue with a rich maltiness from the Rogue Farms Risk Malt.

 Dad can always use a little help, 
can't he?

6 Ingredients: Malts:Malteries Franco-Belges Carawheat, Weyermann Melanoidin, Wyermann Carafe Special II, & Rogue Micro Barley Farm Risk Malts Hops: Newport, Chinook & Rogue Micro Hopyard Rebel Yeast & Water: Czech Pils Yeast & Free Range Coastal Water.

Specs: 15º PLATO 70 IBU 73 AA 77º Lovibond

Welcome to the Renaissance

Renaissance Brewery crafts intensely rewarding ales
for the enlightened palate. Their beers are made from the pure waters that flow from the southern alps and they only use locally grown hops from their own backyard.

Situated in the heart of Marlborough wine country, Blenheim, at the top of New Zealand's south island, their aim is to make beers that rival their grape based cousins.

The brewery is situated at the old Grove Mill on Dodson Street, which is the oldest commercial building in Blenheim. Over the years it has housed an ice cream factory, a malt house, two very famous Marlborough wineries (Grove Mill and Whitehaven) and more recently a craft brewery.

Straight from the brewery:
"We do not make sugar water, in fact unlike most commercial beers, we only use the naturally occuring sugars from malted barley. We do not compromise on flavor and believe that teaspoons of sugar should only be added to cups of tea.

Renaissance Elemental Porter  500ml Bottle, 6% abv
This award winning ale is called "Elemental" porter. It is a classic English porter. It is a medium bodied beer with chocolate, and roasted notes. Extremely well balanced and hopped using a New Zealand hop variety.

Elemental is their most awarded beer, it has won gold medals in Australia and New Zealand as well as being consistently rated New Zealand's top beer .

Originally the beer of choice for workers in London’s produce markets, the beer was a mixture of the previous nights slops that the "porters" would drink when they clocked off at dawn. Porter is also Andy's all time favorite beer style. Brewed in the modern ‘robust’ style, Elemental Porter is a rich, full bodied brew with plenty of dry, dark chocolate and roasted malt flavors which gradually give way to a cleansing hop-driven finish.

Not intuitively thought of as a food beer it is a surprisingly effective accompaniment for:

• Dark chocolate
• Coffee or berry-based desserts
• Blue cheese
• Barbecued meats 

And although historically it was a sunrise beer, we think nowadays it is probably more suited to an be served after dinner with desserts and cheese, although if you want to drink it at day break, we're not going to stop you.

98 RateBeer

Renaissance Stonecutter Scotch Ale 500ml Bottle, 7% abv
Multi award winning Stonecutter Scotch Ale is the big, hearty, ‘red wine’ of the range. This amazing modern Scotch ale has won awards in New Zealand and Australia. The brewers are very proud of the full bodied complexity and surprising stealth this beer characterizes. This one slips down so easily you almost can’t detect the alcohol.

The Scotch Ale style is believed to have originated in Edinburgh in the 18th century and is colloquially known as "wee heavy" due to its higher strength than its paler siblings.

They use nine malts blended together to produce layers of caramel, toffee, licorice, chocolate and roasted flavors. These layers are balanced by a tart, raisiny fruitiness that gradually gives way to give this dark beer a lingering dry finish.

Rich, full bodied, warming and moreish, Stonecutter pairs well with the following dishes:

• Venison
• Roast beef or lamb
• Hearty casseroles and stews
• Crème brûlée
• Scottish shortbread

And for those of you who want to know about where the name Stonecutter came from, you will need to know the secret handshake.

Join the Renaissance and demand more from your beer.

Ice Melts...Whisky Rocks

Enjoy your whiskey "on the rocks", literally, with these ingenious Soapstone Whisky Stones. These natural soapstone cubes are ideal for chilling your favorite beverage without diluting it. Just add three chilled stones to your drink, let sit for 5 minutes, then enjoy. When you're done, just rinse 'em, dry 'em and throw them back in the freezer for next time. Milled in Vermont by one of the oldest soapstone workshops in the United States. Stones range in size from 3/4" to 7/8". Set of 9 stones with muslin storage bag.

Bring in the Crop!

Crop Organic Cucumber Vodka
90-95 points Wine Enthusiast

Starting with the purely finest ingredients available, our Crop Harvest Earth Vodkas are USDA certified organic, artisanal vodkas produced from grain grown on America’s plains. Crop organic grain is harvested from fertile, healthy soil free of artificial fertilizers, pesticides and chemicals, and Crop Vodkas are distilled so efficiently that no carbon treatment or charcoal filtering is required.

"The bouquet offers delightful lush, gently vegetal and garden-fresh scents of cucumber with subtle hints of spices. Palate entry is balanced, elegant, fresh and off-dry; midpalate features just-sliced tastes of cucumber and a tangy pepperiness that nicely complements the vegetable element. Finishes clean, veggie-like, off-dry and savory."

Cucumber Dill-icious

• 2 parts Crop Organic Cucumber Vodka
• 1 part fresh lime juice
• 1/2 part agave nectar

Muddle cucumber and dill with lime juice. Add vodka and agave nectar. Garnish with sliced cucumber and dill leaf.

How Rye?

Sazerac Rye Straight Rye Whiskey
88 Points - Malt Advocate

This is a fragrant and flavorful rye whiskey perfect for mixing an array of traditional cocktails. Malt Advocate described it as "youthful and very lively. Bold, crisp, spices (mint, cinnamon, vanilla) are softened by soothing, sweeter notes (candied fruit, coconut, caramel, and rum notes), becoming dry, flinty, and spicy on the finish. It is very clean and polished, and it is superior to other rye whiskeys in this age range." This is the ideal main ingredient for New Orleans' classic cocktail--which some claim to be America's first--the Sazerac.

Bulleit Rye Whiskey

Founded in 1987 and first released in 1999, Bulleit Bourbon is the go-to bourbon for fans who enjoy its signature spicy profile, derived from a distinctive mash bill (grain mixture) with a rye content of 28%, among the highest of any bourbon on the market. Tom Bulleit based his modern bourbon on the 150 year old recipe developed by his great-great-grandfather Augustus Bulleit, who mysteriously disappeared in 1860 while transporting his bourbon from Kentucky to New Orleans.

A Bulleit rye whiskey had been in development for seven years, a logical step considering the bourbon’s high rye content. Noting industry and consumer demand for rye whiskey, Tom Bulleit decided the time was right to launch his company’s second release. Bulleit Rye Whiskey made its national debut early in March, and it looks poised to garner the same devotion and acclaim as its predecessor.

Enters with soft mouthfeel. Mild tobacco and some cherry notes hit first. Mid-palate the rye becomes buttery smooth and well rounded between the sweet and spicey characteristics. This is an incredible sipper straight or on the rocks.  Some cinnamon red hot candy with a bit of kick and hints of candied fennel with medium dry finish. Additionally, the balanced spice will make it an excellent mixer as we suggest enjoying it in a Manhattan or a Vieux Carré.

New! Lolita Stemless Wine Glasses

To put it simply, at Santa Barbara Design Studio, they make what they love and love what they make. 

Lolita Stemless Wine Glass features an assortment of original Lolita designs from the Santa Barbara Studio Collection. Each glass is carefully hand painted with meticulous detail; the inside of the glass is fully detailed, too. Perfect for a large glass of wine with an easy to hold base and no risk of breaking a fragile stem. Every 20 oz. Lolita stemless wine glass is distinctively packaged in a signature gift box. Join Santa Barbara Design with these unique gifts that recognize and commemorate each milestone with fun and original products that make you say "WOW".

Today, many of the original handcrafted pieces produced by Santa Barbara Ceramic Design in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s have become sought after collector’s items. Likewise, the beauty, high quality and precision with which the company creates its current glass and ceramic products may make them the collectibles of the next millennium. Lolita recommends that glasses be hand washed to assure quality and longevity.

June is for Weddings!

Take the Leap with Santa Barbara Design!

Did you Know 2.3 million couples wed in the U.S. every year... that's 62 thousands weddings per day!

Designed for the young and hip Brides of today...Santa Barbara Studio Wedding Collection includes:

Mr. & Mrs. Votive Holders
3" tall / set of two

Mr & Mrs Champagne Set
Wedding champagne toasting glass measures 6 oz. glass / 10" tall

Mr. & Mrs. Photo Frame
Picture frame holds 4" x 6" photo

Do you know anyone ready to tie the knot?  Every item in this wedding collection comes beautifully packaged - ready now for gifting!

Fine French

Betts & Scholl is a joint effort between Master Sommelier Richard Betts and contemporary art collector Dennis Scholl. Betts & Scholl have forged relationships with several wine making legends in France, Australia and the United States who are passionate about making expressive, elegant and terroir driven wines. The Hermitage wines are a collaborative effort between Betts & Scholl and the legendary Chave family.

Betts & Scholl Hermitage Blanc '05
Cote du Rhone, France
Ripe and showy, but with good underlying grip to the dried papaya, creamed peach, fig, yellow apple and brioche notes. The long, juicy finish has a nice gilding of toast. Drink now through 2013. "

93 Points  Wine Spectator

Betts & Scholl Hermitage Rouge '06
Cote du Rhone, France 

"Very juicy, with lots of fig, currant paste and crushed plum fruit flavors that race ahead of dark tar, licorice and bittersweet cocoa notes. The long, toasty finish has plenty of grip. Best from 2010 through 2017. "

92 Points  Wine Spectator 

    

You might remember the Gangloff Condrieu white Rhone we featured in the newletter and in our features page on the Sun Singer site. Here's another selection from this revered producer:

Mathilde & Yves Gangloff 'La Barbarine' '06
Cote Rotie, France
(includes 5% viognier) Bright ruby. Floral aromas of fresh red berries and cherry underscored by suave minerality. Racy and focused, with sweet red fruit flavors, barely noticeable tannins and good back-end snap. An energetic, almost light bodied wine that is already delicious.
91 points  Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Jan/Feb 09

A Few New Brew

Smuttynose is named for Smuttynose Island, the third largest of the nine islands that comprise the Isles of Shoals, a small, rocky archipelago that lies seven miles off the coast of New Hampshire and Maine. The name appears on nautical charts going back as far as the seventeenth century, so its true origins are lost to time. Prior to the arrival of Smuttynose Brewing, the island was best known for a brutal double axe murder that occurred there in 1873.

SMUTTYNOSE Summer Weizen

Light, tasty & full of character, our summer wheat ale is brewed with a combination of domestic and continental wheat and barley malts, lightly hopped & fermented with a Belgian wit yeast, resulting in a delightfully tangy & refreshing flavor. This beer is brewed for warm weather enjoyment. Bring some to your next picnic, barbeque or Frisbee game.

Southern Tier Brewing
In operation since late 2002, Southern Tier Brewing Company of Lakewood, New York, has grown to produce over 30,000 barrels of beer annually. The hand crafted ales are now available in more than half of the United States, as well as Australia, Denmark, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Ontario, British Columbia, and parts of the United Kingdom.

Southern Tier Raspberry Wheat
A golden wheat beer brewed with the finest North American malted barley and wheat. It’s then lightly hopped with the choicest European varieties. This smooth, crisp golden wheat beer is then finished with a hint of raspberry. Enjoy this beer any time of year.


Avery Brewing is dedicated to making beer from the inside out: we brew what we like to drink--with utter disregard for what the market demands-- and search out fans with equally eccentric palates (We learned long ago that expressing your true self is much more fulfilling than giving in to outside pressures. Don't you agree?) If you think your taste buds can keep up with our brews, we invite you to check out our entire lineup of more than twenty different beers.

AVERY Karma

Avery believes in Karma. We suspect most of you do, too. It truly is a global concept. Very simply put, "you get what you give." Inspired by this principle and the wonderful farmhouse and pale ales of Belgium, we've created Karma Ale, a decidedly fruity and estery ale, intricate in body and nose, all driven by a unique Belgian yeast strain. Remember, good things DO happen to good people. Here's to being good! Food pairing: Grilled pork chops and traditional Belgian favorites like mussels are excellent pairings for our Karma Belgian Pale Ale. Seasonally from April to August.
 

SIERRA NEVADA Ovila Dubbel 
In 2011, Sierra Nevada and the Trappist-Cistercian Abbey of New Clairvaux are working to bring this centuries-old tradition to America with Ovila—the nation’s only authentic Trappist-style Abbey Ale. This will be a series of three Belgian-style Abbey ales is made in accordance with the centuries-old tradition of the monks. Each beer will be only be available for a limited time and will rotate through the seasons. The first beer in the series, scheduled for release in March, will be a Belgian-style Dubbel brewed with authentic Trappist yeast. The second beer in the series, scheduled for release in July, will be a Saison, the traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ale made in honor of the Monk’s dedication to labor in the fields surrounding their abbey. The third will be released in time for the holidays. It will be a Trappist-style Quadrupel rich with dark fruit flavors and the unique wine-like characters of these strong Abbey ales.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these beers will go toward the restoration of the historic Ovila chapter house building on the grounds of the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, California, just a few miles north of Sierra Nevada’s home in Chico.

Somethings New

Table 5 Napa Red 2008, Napa Valley, California
Table 5 is a food friendly blend pairing perfectly with rich pastas, steaks and braised meats. The color is dark, deep purple and opaque with a nose of raspberry, blackberry and black licorice. The fruit follows through on the palate accompanied by chocolate, ripe black currant and the subtle toast of French oak. All of this is buttressed by firm tannins that provide a long and ethereal finish.

Triton Tempranillo 2008, Castilla y Leon, Spain
At the dawn of Roman Mythology, Neptune and his son, Triton, were gods of rivers and lakes and were depicted astride gallant stallions which represented waves upon the waters. The river Duero plays a very important role in the history of the wine. The ancient vines were planted in gravel strewn sandy soil created by the river. The wretched soil prevented infestations that devastated vineyards throughout the world. Today you can enjoy this elegant wine created from old vines of Tempranillo from the best areas in the south of Zamora province. Meticulously vinified in small lots and aged in the best French oak for fifteen months, the wine has a distinctive balance of ripe red fruit flavors and a delicate spiciness. A hint of dark chocolate completes the long finish.

El Castro de Valtuille Mencia Joven ‘07, Bierzo, Spain
Mencia is one of those interesting grapes that is just starting to gain the spotlight. A handful of DOs in northwest Spain produce the grape varietal, but the most famous is Bierzo. And one of the top producers in Bierzo is Castro Ventosa. The Perez family founded the estate in 1752 and has owned it ever since. They have 75 hectares and their best parcels are planted in the sandy soils of Valtuille de Abajo. Old vine fruit dominates here, with some pre-phyloxera vines that are more than 100-years-old. The oldest parcels are reserved for another wine so the Joven is made from the youngest vines, which happen to range from 20 to 40 years of age.

100% Mencia. Reveals an enticing perfume of baking spices, eucalyptus/pine notes, black cherry, and black raspberry. This leads to a smooth-textured, sweet, forward wine with no hard edges. Drink this lengthy effort over the next several years.

Westrey Pinot Gris 2009, Willamette Valley, Oregon
The wine displays a variety of floral aromas, combined with white peach and a subtle hazelnut character. On the palate there is beautiful robust fruit and lively, citrusy acidity. This weighty fruit is fleshed out with a talc/mineral note and a dash of fresh ginger. A classic Willamette Valley Pinot Gris, the wine has plenty of weight on the palate from low yields, exceptional fruit concentration and crisp, refreshing acidity. With a long, clean finish, this wine is perfect with rich foods such as lobster and scallops, or other strongly flavored, spicy dishes.

Glunz Family May Wine, California
This spring wine is an old family tradition starting over 100 years ago. The wine is made of a sweeter wine and steeped with dried Woodruff. This light sipper is perfect accompanied with a few slices of fresh strawberry and a touch of Champagne!

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout

Founders

Kentucky Breakfast Stout  $8

What we've got here is an imperial stout brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year to make sure wonderful bourbon undertones come through in the finish. Makes your taste buds squeal with delight. 11.2% ABV  70 IBUs

Founders KBS is an extremely rare breed these days, but you can get it now at the Sun Singer Wine Bar Cafe. This is the real thing!