Real Wine. Junk Food.

Wine writers are often suggesting that certain wines are best when paired with a particular delicacy, like roast duck, foie gras, kobe steak tartare. Really, how many times this year have you eaten rabbit?  Tonight we will navigate away from the three stars of Michelin, and wade through the depths of American gastronomy into the genre of culinary delights affectionately known as ‘junk food’.  We have unofficially partnered with some of the North End’s premier sources of our own guilty pleasures (White Hen Pantry and CVS) to procure a veritable feast, full with natural and artificial flavors and colors.  How will our favorite new Lambrusco fare when put to the test against the intensely satisfying, slightly alarming flavors in pizza-flavored Combos?  Let’s find out!

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The man. The myth. The legend. The Bea!

Psssst! Can you keep a secret?

Sherry was the best-kept secret in wine.  The curiously oxidized, briny, fortified wines of the southern coast of Spain are like catnip for wine geeks.  The newly-founded Secret Sherry Society is hoping to spread the words fino, manzanilla, amontillado, et cetera to the uninitiated millions.  The S.S.S. will host a midday repast on Tuesday the 18th, from noon until 2 p.m., at The Wine Bottega, featuring tapas from Taberna de Haro in Brookline.  Shh!  Don’t tell!  FREE!

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Real Wine

Terry Hughes of Domenico Selections

We were thrilled to host the fantastic Terry Hughes, founder and partner of Domenico Selections at last Friday’s tasting.  His portfolio has found its way onto our radar recently in our unending quest for “real” wines.  His company’s focus is on Italian artisan producers whose wines tell the story of their land, so clearly we have a lot in common.  It’s always refreshing to bring in an outside voice to our Friday events, especially someone with firsthand knowledge of conditions on the ground.  Terry did not disappoint with his exuberance, joie de vivre, and clear passion for his discoveries!  We can’t wait to see what he finds next!  Oh yeah, the wines rocked too!  Read on for the lineup …

the Art of Eating

“Tradition, simplicity and a sense of place”.  If this little mantra seems familiar to you, our loyal Wine Bottega customer-friends, that’s because it is an underlying theme that has been the pillar of our philosophy for many years now.  We love to share stories about where a wine has come from, who crafted it and why.  In keeping with our dedication to discovering and sharing the context of great wines we have begun a collaboration with one of the finest publications on the topic of food and wine; The Art of Eating.  Based in Peacham, Vermont Edward Behr and his dedicated team of editors and multi-cultural contributors put together a focused, erudite and enjoyable quarterly publication.  Filled with in-depth articles, commentaries and recipes The Art of Eating is a no-hype, page turner that we know you will be anxious to read each time it is issued.  The Wine Bottega will become one of the very few retail outlets for you to find The Art of Eating in Boston and Massachusetts!