Mo's Wine & Spirits

Sun Winefest 2008 is coming to Uncasville, CT January 19th and 20th. The event – touted as the largest wine and food show in Connecticut –  will feature an all-star cast of celebrity chefs plus wine, spirit and ale experts. One well-known name in the line-up of prestigious culinary talent is Robert Irvine, chef and host of the Food Network’s hit series Dinner: Impossible!

The Winefest’s main event is the Grand Tasting which will comprise over 1,000 fine wines, specialty spirits and ales. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear from winemakers and experts. Scheduled events also include a “Celebrity Chef Dine Around” where world-famous chefs prepare signature dishes paired with premium wines. Visitors can also enjoy live cooking demonstrations and seminars.

For more information on this upcoming event, visit  http://sunwinefest.com/

With the Holidays just around the corner and the weather feeling a bit more seasonal its time to think about what your going to give out as gifts. Wednesday December 12th Mo’s Wine & Spirits will hold a tasting of some fantastic California Cabernet’s. The main goal is to taste with our customers so they may buy some wonderful gifts for their friends, family, and colleagues.  Its not everyday you get to taste great Cabernets all at once.  It can be an eye opening experience.  You may even learn at you truly like and dislike, and you might be surprised.              

The tasting will be informal and be from 5-8pm.              

The following wines will be tasted.

Dominus ‘04, Shafer One Point Five ‘04, Juslyn Spring Mt ‘03, Heitz ‘02, Beringer Private Reserve ‘02, J.Davies Diamond Mt. ‘03 and Grgich Hills ‘03      

Cheers Mark 

Entertaining with wine doesn’t have to be intimidating. Whether you’re searching for advice on a theme or basic how-to’s, a number of on-line resources provide the tips you need for a successful wine party.

Like the Wine Weekly blog which bills itself as “for the Non-Snob.” There, Vino Joe discusses the importance of having a theme. He suggests choosing a particular country or region to organize your event around.

When choosing your theme, consider using vertical or horizontal tasting. According to Greg Meserole of DamnGoodWine.com, vertical tasting features wines from several different vintages that were produced by one winery. “A nice example of this,” he says, “would be tasting Cabernet Sauvignon from Joseph Phelps Winery spanning the “90,” “91,” “92” and “93” vintages. This would let the tasters see how each vintage compared to the next.” Horizontal tasting, by comparison, features wines from the same vintage or year, but produced by different wineries.

Who springs for the wine? Vino Joe says “there are two ways you can do a wine tasting; either YOU can buy all the wine, or all of your guests bring a bottle or two each.” If you chose the latter, follow Meserole’s advice and “fill [guests] in on the price range you have chosen.”

With the question of wines covered, what food do you serve? Matthew Amster-Burton, writing for MSN Lifestyle, suggests avoiding foods that “require last-minute fussing … This is a good time to pull out the stereotypical matches,” he states. Pairings like “oysters and Muscadet, pinot noir and salmon, port and chocolate.” His last word?  “Avoid classic wine enemies like artichokes and pickles.”