Gordon's Fine Wines and Liquors

Cheese 101 (postponed, rescheduled date TBD)

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST

This event has to be rescheduled due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict. Sorry for any inconvenience. The rescheduled date TBA asap.

This comprehensive class for cheese lovers, taught by cheese enthusiast/expert and three time award-winning specialty team leader Mike Clark will include:

I Background:

A. How cheese is made

B. Classifications or types of cheese

C. Seasons and butter fat

II In the Store and at the Table:

A. How to buy cheese

B. How to eat cheese

C. How to serve cheese

III American cheese society winners you can find at River St Whole Foods in the following categories: Unripened, Soft ripened, Cheddar, Blue, Farmstead, Fresh goat.

IV Then you'll get to dig into Mike's favorites! from Triple creme goat brie, Rogue River blue, Brie de Meaux, Epoisse, and more!

A total of 9(!) cheeses will be tasted.

For all culinary center events after 6 PM, we ask that you park in the fenced-in lot behind the culinary center off of Prospect St. You can enter the culinary center through the doors under the maroon awning. If you park in the Main St lot, you will be asked to move your vehicle. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Date: 3/11/2010
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11345

Wine Trivia: Spain

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

We're bringing wine trivia back, and who else better to host than Michael Murray, supreme wine geek, achem, I mean, genius!

The 2nd Friday of every other month, we will host this trivia event, each one around a different wine region. Of course tasting is involved - 6 wines will be featured, corresponding to the theme.

People will get into teams of two (max of 14 teams or 28 people). You can come as a twosome or get paired up when you get here. There will be 20 questions, some open-ended, some multiple choice. This will pretty much function much like bar trivia. You will write down each answer, it will be collected, and at the end we tally the correct answers to find a winner. The two people on the winning team will each get a bottle of one of the featured wines.

Michael is quite the fountain of knowledge when it comes to all things wines, so be prepared to get "schooled." You will definitely leave here with more wine knowledge, probably more than you even cared to know. But this is meant to be fun - a great Friday night date, group outing, or a way to meet new people! And it's educational!

Special discounts will apply to featured wines.

Snacks will be served.

Date: 3/12/2010
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11146

Cali (class 3): Napa (rescheduled from Feb 16)

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EDT

This class was originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 16th, but was moved due to bad weather. Everyone knows California wine, right??? You got Sonoma, Napa, Santa something, some others, and wherever they filmed "Sideways." If those are your thoughts exactly, don't feel bad, you're not alone! California is quite complex - it's practically its own country when it comes to wine production. California constitutes about 90% of US wine production and if it were a country, would be the 4th leading wine producer, behind France, Italy, and Spain! With over 2,800 wineries and 4,600 grape growers, California has more than tripled its wine production in the past 20 years, making it a $60 billion business for the state! Nothing to scoff at for a group of farmers, who before the infamous Paris Tasting of 1976 were just seen as a bunch of hicks, trying to compete with the French. They've proved their worth time and again and are certainly worth closer inspection...

This series will help familiarize you with the "deeper tracks" of Cali wines and reacclamate you to the more famous counties of Sonoma and Napa.

A different wine professional will teach each class, while presenting bottles from the respective regions. The instructors will include Trevor Nelson of Classic Wines, Stefanie Korman of United Liquors, Terrance O'Neill of Harborside Wine Co, and Michael Murray of Gordon's. Around 5-8 wines will be featured in each class. Cheese and crackers will be served.

The classes can be purchased individually for $20 per class or as a package of 5 for $85.

Tues Feb 2 - Mendocino, Lake County, San Fran

Tues Feb 9 - Sonoma

Tues Feb 16 - Napa

Tues Feb 23 - Sierra Foothills, Central Valley, Lodi

Tues Mar 9 - Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Paso Robles, Santa Cruz (changed from Mar 2)

Also, Mike Clark of Whole Foods in Cambridge will be supplying different California cheeses to go with the wines each week! :-)

Date: 3/16/2010
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11888

Sommelier Smackdown!

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EDT

This time you be the judge: Sommelier Smackdown

Who has the sharpest nose, an impeccable, palate, the widest breadth of knowledge for all things food & wine�.find out at the Sommelier Smackdown! If you think Sommeliers are all frilly, posh, and high-brow, think again. On this night, the sleeves will be rolled up, the corks popped, and the pairing wars will begin! Chef Paul Turano of Tryst Restaurant will be cooking/mediating while the winner of the February Smackdown Michael Meagher will go up against challenger Brahm Callahan of Post 390. Both will be grappling for the satisfaction and agreement of your taste buds. Four courses, 8 wines, two wines with each course�.you be the judge of who is the master of food & wine pairing. Let the games...begin!

Menu TBD

See Sommelier Smackdown article in the Weekly Dig.

Burgers & Burgundy! (is back)

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EDT

Finally, these two objects of our (collective) affection have found each other...it was only a matter of time. Join us for this shabby chic version of a food & wine pairing, featuring a selection of ~10 Burgundys, along with some casual fare, featuring burgers and more prepared by Chef Matt Maue of Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro in Foxboro in our culinary center. (These guys did a Sicilian wine dinner here back in January and it was awesome! We're psyched to have them back!)

Menu TBD

*This will be a casual walk-around style event. Online registration is required. Hope you can join us! Special discounts will apply to featured wines.

Date: 3/20/2010
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11787

Passover Tasting

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EDT

Walk around tasting of over 100 kosher for Passover wines! And not just your Bubbie's Manischewitz. Worth checking out! You'll be the hit at your seder.

*registration not required

Date: 3/21/2010
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/12108

Bourbon for Beginners

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EDT

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The rationale for the course title is exactly that: a chance to experience small batch and single cask Bourbons and ask questions. And who doesn�t need to ask a question in this expanding world of fine spirits. What is Bourbon? What percent corn? What else, a little barley and wheat or rye , but not both? How is it distilled? How is Bourbon aged, and what is the strange relationship between Kentucky and Scotland? What is Tennessee whiskey?

We will sample at least 8 different bottlings, maybe more. But the main theme is Drink Better and Drink Less. We will nose our way through the offerings and put a little in your glass. I�ll suggest a little water to open up the spirit, bottled not Branch, and we will try to express our common reactions to what is in the glass before us.

Date: 3/22/2010
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11126

Italian Series, Class 1: Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria, Basilicata, and Campania

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EDT

Beyond the popular Pinot Grigio's, Chianti's, Barolo's and "Super Tuscans," there is a myriad and surprising array of wines in the Twenty provinces of Italy. And in additions to the over three hundred classified wines, there are proponents of the traditional, modern, international, modern traditionalist. So, to deal with the profound complexity of Italy, in April we are offering Six classes that will focus on most of Italy's wine provinces. Furthermore, these classes will be taught by six different professionals from the world of retail and wholesale with a combined experience that will present a comprehensive view and taste of this complex wine area.

Italian cheeses, sourced by our good friend Mike Clark of River St Whole Foods in Cambridge, will accompany the wines.

Single classes available for $25 a piece, package of three for a discounted $65 (1st half, 2nd half), or package of six for a discounted $130.

*Special discounts will apply to the featured wines.

Tu Mar 23 - Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia

Tu Mar 30 - Lazio, Marche, Abruzzo, Apulia

Tu Apr 6 - Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto

Tu Apr 13 - Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Friula-Venezia Giulia

Tu Apr 20 - Trentino-Alto Adige/Suditrol, Valle D'Aosta, Liguria

Tu Apr 27 - Piedmont

Date: 3/23/2010
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11856

Port & Chocolate

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EDT

A crowd favorite! Thought we'd squeeze one more in before the weather (maybe) turns warm...

This time around Didier Boutet will be showing off some stellar ports from Quinta Santa Eufemia.

And a representative from the River St Whole Foods in Cambridge will be showing an array of artisanal chocolates to pair with the ports.

*Special discounts will apply to featured wines

Date: 3/24/2010
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11862

Food & Wine of Dordogne with Lora Brody

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EDT

We are very excited to have culinary superstar, Lora Brody, here for a wonderful food & wine tour through the lesser-known region of Dordogne in southwest France.

Best known for its signature sweet wine, Monbazillac, Dordogne is also home to dry red wines from the Bergerac appellation, made mostly from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and dry white wines from Montravel, chiefly from Semillon.

Dordogne is also known for its culinary delights, particularly truffles. Lora will be preparing and serving a few Dordogne-inspired dishes including a cream of asparagus soup, truffle risotto, and sumptuous chocolate cake. Dordogne wines will accompany each dish.

Lora Brody has taken her place among America's most respected culinary personalities as an author, spokesperson, lecturer, cooking instructor and multi-media personality. For nearly two decades she has been an influential force in American food trends, as well as a guide and mentor for the home cook. Read more...

Date: 3/25/2010
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11791

Sideways Viewing & Wines from the Movie

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EDT

The ideal date night or Friday out with friends...

Get inside the head of Miles (Paul Giamatti), the protagonist of Sideways as we view the 2005 dark-comedic hit on our 50-inch plasma screens. We'll watch the ground-breaking film, set in Santa Barbara County, which demoralized merlot and put pinot noir on the map, while pausing periodically to highlight and assess the featured wines. We'll simultaneously analyze the subtlety, dryness, and development of both the characters and the vino! If that's not up your esoteric wine alley, I don't know what is! Come one, come all Pinot Noir snobs and novices alike...you're in for a real treat!

Wines will include Fess Parker, Hitching Post, Andrew Murray, Firestone, and more...bottles will be available for purchase at a discount after the event. Also, we'll be popping popcorn, fresh for the viewing!

Date: 3/26/2010
Time: 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11133

3 Hours of Sour Power: A Sour Beer Tasting with Cheese Pairings

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EDT

Gordon's Beer Department presents...3 Hours of Sour Power! Come celebrate the beginning of spring and get your sour on! Multiple tables will be set up with an array of sour beers. Cheeses will also be paired with the beers.

A perfect way to spend the afternoon!

*This is a walk-around tasting, similar to the Black Beer Affair back in January. Come and go at your leisure. Registration required.

Date: 3/27/2010
Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11916

Italian Series, Class 2: Puglia, Abruzzo, Marche, Lazio

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EDT

Italian cheeses, sourced by our good friend Mike Clark of River St Whole Foods in Cambridge, will accompany the wines.

Single classes available for $25 a piece, package of three for a discounted $65 (1st half, 2nd half), or package of six for a discounted $130.

*Special discounts will apply to the featured wines.

Tu Mar 23 - Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia

Tu Mar 30 - Lazio, Marche, Abruzzo, Apulia

Tu Apr 6 - Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto

Tu Apr 13 - Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Friula-Venezia Giulia

Tu Apr 20 - Trentino-Alto Adige/Suditrol, Valle D'Aosta, Liguria

Tu Apr 27 - Piedmont

Date: 3/30/2010
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11858

Dessert & Dessert Wine Pairings with Sweet Solutions

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EDT

THIS EVENT WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, BUT WAS POSTPONED TO THIS DATE, DUE TO IMPENDING INCLEMENT WEATHER.

Join Judy Mattera, pastry chef/owner of Sweet Solutions for a pairing of desserts with dessert wines just in time for Valentine�s Day. Judy will be presenting categories of dessert wines, along with producers, styles, and numerous possibilities for creating memorable end-of-dining experiences. Class will include demonstrations, recipes, and four dessert tastings with paired wines.

Something sweet for your sweetie! A unique gift you and your loved one can share. Special gift certificates can be issued for this class, along with any other class/event.

Pairings:

Mixed Berries with Cassis Sorbet

Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d'Acqui

Passion Fruit Cheesecake Gelee

Innisklillin Vidal Ice Wine

Apple Raisin Cake

Chateau d'Arche

Chocolate Hazelnut Torta

Graham's "Six Grapes" Reserve Porto

*Special discounts will apply to the featured wines.

For all culinary center events after 6 PM, we ask that you park in the fenced-in lot behind the culinary center off of Prospect St. You can enter the culinary center through the doors under the maroon awning. If you park in the Main St lot, you will be asked to move your vehicle. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

Date: 3/31/2010
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/11775

Italian Series, Class 3: Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EDT

Italian cheeses, sourced by our good friend Mike Clark of River St Whole Foods in Cambridge, will accompany the wines.

Single classes available for $25 a piece, package of three for a discounted $65 (1st half, 2nd half), or package of six for a discounted $130.

*Special discounts will apply to the featured wines.

Tu Mar 23 - Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia

Tu Mar 30 - Lazio, Marche, Abruzzo, Apulia

Tu Apr 6 - Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto

Tu Apr 13 - Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Friula-Venezia Giulia

Tu Apr 20 - Trentino-Alto Adige/Suditrol, Valle D'Aosta, Liguria

Tu Apr 27 - Piedmont

Date: 4/6/2010
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
URL: http://center.gordonswine.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/4125