Grape Collective

07/20/2021

New Arrivals: Summer Skin Contact Wines!

These skin contact wines are perfect for summer sipping. 🌞😎

Kobal Bajta Belo - This Slovenian🇸🇮 wine is a blend of Pinot Gris, Welschriesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay and sees 46 days of skin contact. With aromas and flavors of fresh fruit and white flowers, this is a crisp and refreshing summer wine!

Bloomer Creek Chardonnay/Grüner - This organic blend from one of our favorite producers in the Finger Lakes🇺🇸 has both fruity and savory elements. With notes of citrus, black tea, and honey and sizzling acidity, this wine is super interesting and fun! @bloomercreek

Gulp Hablo - This wine from Spain🇪🇸 is made of equal parts Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc, with one week of maceration on the skins. This wine is bursting with aromas and flavors of orange blossom, tropical jackfruit, citrus, and apricots. This liter sized bottle is perfect for sharing with friends!

New Arrivals: Summer Skin Contact Wines!

These skin contact wines are perfect for summer sipping. 🌞😎

Kobal Bajta Belo - This Slovenian🇸🇮 wine is a blend of Pinot Gris, Welschriesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay and sees 46 days of skin contact. With aromas and flavors of fresh fruit and white flowers, this is a crisp and refreshing summer wine!

Bloomer Creek Chardonnay/Grüner - This organic blend from one of our favorite producers in the Finger Lakes🇺🇸 has both fruity and savory elements. With notes of citrus, black tea, and honey and sizzling acidity, this wine is super interesting and fun! @bloomercreek

Gulp Hablo - This wine from Spain🇪🇸 is made of equal parts Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc, with one week of maceration on the skins. This wine is bursting with aromas and flavors of orange blossom, tropical jackfruit, citrus, and apricots. This liter sized bottle is perfect for sharing with friends!

07/18/2021

A special cheese and wine pairing - goat Gouda and Chenin Blanc! 0air our Midnight moon goat cheese Gouda with our Champalou Vouvray!

Midnight Moon hails from California but its roots are in Holland. Made at Cypress Grove amongst the Redwoods, this creamery specializes in goat’s cheeses. Typically making softer styles, Cypress Grove partnered up with a Dutch company to make a harder, aged cheese in the Gouda style but with goat’s milk for the Midnight Moon.

Aged anywhere between 6 months to a year, chock full of protein crystals for an added crunch, this cheese displays characteristics of nutty, brown butter and a sweet caramel finish. This cheese is upright savory but with a balanced touch of sweetness at the finish making it a perfect partner for the Champalou Vouvray.

Bird’s of a feather flock together so enjoy this cheese with:

2019 Champalou Vouvray which hails from the Loire Valley, France made by a husband and wife team named Catherine and Didier Champalou. The Champalou family farms twenty-one hectares of vineyards on clay, limestone, and siliceous soils. They embrace sustainable farming while also integrating the use of the lunar calendar more traditionally associated with organic viticulture. This wine is made with a grape called Chenin Blanc.

Vouvray is a style of wine made from Chenin Blanc grapes that come from the Tourainee region in the Loire Valley and can range from dry to sweet and sparkling to still. This particular Vouvray is made in the Sec method, meaning its a dry and crisp style. The 2019 Champalou Vouvray sec has notes of raw honey, apple and pear throughout and although this is drier style of Vouvray there is still a hint of pleasant sweetness throughout that will compliment the midnight moon perfectly. Stop by and talk to James out cheesemonger about great pairings.

07/16/2021

Is joy the mother of all virtues?

Is joy the mother of all virtues?

07/16/2021

Tastings in Wine Country Will Never Be the Same On the Menu: Deep Dives, Deeper Pockets and a VW Bus

Tastings in wine country will never be the same.
"Wineries are magical places. The vineyards are beautiful, the perfectly stored wine is often most delicious right there and the people who make it all happen are generally lovely." by Dorothy Gaiter John Brecher
https://grapecollective.com/articles/tastings-in-wine-country-will-never-be-the-same-on-the-menu-deep-dives-deeper-pockets-and-a-vw-bus

"With the pandemic receding in many parts of the U.S., your thoughts may be returning to a long-delayed visit to California’s Wine Country. If so, you should be aware of this: The tasting experience has changed and those changes, in many cases, will be permanent." Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Breche...

07/15/2021

Wine and Cheese Pairings

What is better than great cheese and a wine to match. Here are some basic pairing concepts that can lead to some unexpected flavor experiences. There is no wrong pairing but some pairings make sense for a number of reasons. By Brittney Abell
https://grapecollective.com/articles/a-guide-to-wine-and-cheese-pairing

Your guide to wine and Cheese Pairings

07/15/2021

How @vinscolombo transformed Cornas by @nycrestaurants read at GrapeCollective.com banner by @piersparlett

How @vinscolombo transformed Cornas by @nycrestaurants read at GrapeCollective.com banner by @piersparlett

07/14/2021

Happy Bastille Day!🇫🇷

Time to celebrate with some French wine🍷, like this lovely organic Cabernet Franc from Saumur-Champigny in the Loire Valley! Come by and check out our wide selection of amazing French wines for the occasion!

Happy Bastille Day!🇫🇷

Time to celebrate with some French wine🍷, like this lovely organic Cabernet Franc from Saumur-Champigny in the Loire Valley! Come by and check out our wide selection of amazing French wines for the occasion!

07/12/2021

Pair Heublumenkase cheese and Fendant!

Heublumen in German, means ‘Hayflower’, and Kase is German for ‘Cheese’. Put together, the name describes this cheese perfectly. Heublumenkase is a blend of herbs such as chervil, rosemary and oregano, combined with organic flowers such as marigold, safflower and blue mallow. It’s layered with an unrefined rock salt then sealed with an transparent wax.

The herbs add an important element to the cheese both visually and in terms of the aroma. The key to this cheese however is the organic Bavarian Cow’s milk. It adds a level of creaminess hard to find in many Swiss cheeses.

What grows together goes together so pair with:

Fendant La Mourzière in made in the Coteaux de Sierre appellation in Switzerland. The village of Miège benefits from the high-altitude conditions typical of the Alps. The soil is heavily infused with stones of all sizes set within a thin topsoil, conditions which create excellent drainage and provide a setting for wines to express an intense minerality.

In Switzerland, the Chasselas when grown in the proper zone by a serious vigneron like Caloz who prunes severely to limit harvest levels, the Fendant can produce wines with a steely character, bright acidity, exceptional length and vitality. Here, the cepage captures the essence of this mountain terrain.

07/09/2021

How Jean-Luc Colombo's Passion for Vin de Garde Transformed the Cornas Appellation

How Jean-Luc Colombo's Passion for Vin de Garde Transformed the Cornas Appellation
Since moving to the area in the early 1980s, Jean-Luc Colombo has been tirelessly promoting the wines of Cornas, tremendously increasing the wines’ popularity outside of France. By Lisa Denning
https://grapecollective.com/articles/how-jean-luc-colombos-passion-for-vin-de-garde-transformed-the-cornas-appellation

Since moving to the area in the early 1980s, Jean-Luc Colombo has been tirelessly promoting the wines of Cornas, tremendously increasing the wines’ popularity outside of France.

07/08/2021

Pinot Blanc and The Godfather - latest from @dottieandjohn check it out on GrapeCollective.com banner by @piersparlett

Pinot Blanc and The Godfather - latest from @dottieandjohn check it out on GrapeCollective.com banner by @piersparlett

07/05/2021

Get smarter, drink wine.

Get smarter, drink wine.

07/04/2021

Celebrate the holiday weekend with some American Sparkling wine! 🇺🇸🍾

We have a wide selection of bubbly wine from the USA including Sparkling Riesling from Michigan, Sparkling Rosé of Cabernet Franc from Long Island, a Blanc de Noirs from New Mexico, and a Sparkling rosé of Pinot Noir from Oregon! We are open from 12-8 today for all of your wine needs, so stop by and check out our selection! 🎆🥂

Celebrate the holiday weekend with some American Sparkling wine! 🇺🇸🍾

We have a wide selection of bubbly wine from the USA including Sparkling Riesling from Michigan, Sparkling Rosé of Cabernet Franc from Long Island, a Blanc de Noirs from New Mexico, and a Sparkling rosé of Pinot Noir from Oregon! We are open from 12-8 today for all of your wine needs, so stop by and check out our selection! 🎆🥂

07/02/2021

Leave the Gun, Take the Pinot Blanc: Why ‘The Godfather’ Inspires Ram’s Gate’s Joe Nielsen

Leave the Gun, Take the Pinot Blanc: Why ‘The Godfather’ Inspires Ram's Gate Winery's Joe Nielsen
"We had a Pinot Blanc that made us sit up. “Seriously good wine,” we wrote. “It has a real intensity to it, like it’s very ripe, so it pops in our mouths. And yet it’s also very easy to enjoy. Fleshy white fruit, maybe some melon.” Dorothy Gaiter John Brecher
https://grapecollective.com/articles/leave-the-gun-take-the-pinot-blanc-why-%E2%80%98the-godfather-inspires-rams-gates-joe-nielsen

We had a Pinot Blanc that made us sit up. “Seriously good wine,” we wrote. “It has a real intensity to it, like it’s very ripe, so it pops in our mouths. And yet it’s also very easy to enjoy. Fleshy white fruit, maybe some melon.” This was the Ram’s Gate Winery 2020 Estate Pinot Blanc ...

07/02/2021

Preparing for the holiday weekend? Our new July Wine Club picks are perfect for any celebrations on the 4th and hot weather sipping throughout July!🌞😎

The wine club this month features wines made in the USA🇺🇸 as a celebration of the 4th of July! Each of these wines are made using organic and biodynamic practices. Here is some more info on this month’s selections!

Cruse Wine Company Petite Sirah Powicana🍷 - This wine was crafted with grapes grown in Mendocino, California. This wine offers complex and elegant flavors of fresh turned soil, plum, black pepper, cocoa, and cinnamon. A really pretty wine to potentially pair with any backyard BBQs!

La Clarine Farm Viognier - This Viognier from the Sierra Foothills has a lush texture with notes of white flowers, lemon, almond, and a strong sense of minerality.

Broc Cellars Love Sparkling Chenin Blanc🍾 - This wine is made with Chenin Blanc grapes sourced from the Shell Creek vineyard in Paso Robles. It is made in the pét-nat method, giving it a gentle fizz. You can expect bold tropical fruit flavors and a lovely creamy texture.

Come by our Broadway location to pick up this thoughtfully selected 3 pack, perfect for the holiday weekend! 🎆🎇

Preparing for the holiday weekend? Our new July Wine Club picks are perfect for any celebrations on the 4th and hot weather sipping throughout July!🌞😎

The wine club this month features wines made in the USA🇺🇸 as a celebration of the 4th of July! Each of these wines are made using organic and biodynamic practices. Here is some more info on this month’s selections!

Cruse Wine Company Petite Sirah Powicana🍷 - This wine was crafted with grapes grown in Mendocino, California. This wine offers complex and elegant flavors of fresh turned soil, plum, black pepper, cocoa, and cinnamon. A really pretty wine to potentially pair with any backyard BBQs!

La Clarine Farm Viognier - This Viognier from the Sierra Foothills has a lush texture with notes of white flowers, lemon, almond, and a strong sense of minerality.

Broc Cellars Love Sparkling Chenin Blanc🍾 - This wine is made with Chenin Blanc grapes sourced from the Shell Creek vineyard in Paso Robles. It is made in the pét-nat method, giving it a gentle fizz. You can expect bold tropical fruit flavors and a lovely creamy texture.

Come by our Broadway location to pick up this thoughtfully selected 3 pack, perfect for the holiday weekend! 🎆🎇

07/01/2021

Drink the whole bottle.

Drink the whole bottle.

06/29/2021

The Alpine Nebbiolos of @arpepe1860 read the interview at grapecollective.com by Stefanie Harris banner art by @piersparlett

The Alpine Nebbiolos of @arpepe1860 read the interview at grapecollective.com by Stefanie Harris banner art by @piersparlett

06/27/2021

On a recent trip to Verona🇮🇹, the Grape Collective also got to catch up with Maddalena of Musella Winery. If you are interested in trying the thoughtfully crafted, organic, and biodynamic wines of this producer you can check them out at our Broadway location!

Musella Valpolicella Superiore - This wine is a blend of Corvina and Corvinone, Rondinella and Barbera. It is medium bodied, with flavors of cherries and spices.

Musella Valpolicella Ripasso - This wine is made with the ripasso method, meaning that grape skins used to make Amarone are added to the Valpolicella wine to add complexity and body to the wine. This wine has red fruit flavors with well integrated aromas of wood and spices.

Travel to Italy through the glass with these wines, come by and pick them up today! @musella_winery_relais

06/26/2021

"Crystal Clear" - The Alpine Nebbiolos of Ar.Pe.Pe with Isabella Pelizzatti Perego

"Crystal Clear" - The Alpine Nebbiolos of ARPEPE with Isabella Pelizzatti Perego
"Long maceration times in neutral oak vessels, single vineyard expressions from Valtellina’s major crus, and proper aging time at the winery are the fenceposts of Ar.Pe.Pe.’s overall philosophy. " Stefanie Harris
https://grapecollective.com/articles/crystal-clear-the-alpine-nebbiolo-of-arpepe-with-isabella-pelizzatti-perego

An interview with winemaker Isabella Pelizzatti Perego of Ar.Pe.Pe in Valtellina, Lombardy, Italy.

06/25/2021

The Grape Collective got to meet some amazing winemakers and try some beautiful Italian wines on a recent trip to Verona, Italy🇮🇹. If you are interested in sipping along with us, you can find some of these wines at our Broadway location!

We have two wonderful wines from the Benazzoli Winery in Bardolino, Veneto, Italy. These wines are made with the Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes. These main grapes that are used to produce Bardolino are also the main grapes used to produce the wines of Valpolicella. However, in Bardolino the wines tend to be lighter, with bright fruit flavors and some spice. Claudia Benazzoli suggests that their Bardolino is served slightly chilled and usually goes well with their local fish from the lake.

The Bardolino Chiaretto (which is a local term for rosé made from the grapes of Bardolino) is another beautiful option from this winery. Featuring aromas of red cherries and juicy oranges and a refreshing, peppery, testiness on the palate. This is a lively rosé perfect for summer sipping.

Here are some photos of our recent visit to Claudia at the Benazzoli Winery.

06/24/2021

Alex Clark Pens a Love Letter to Rye at Fort Hamilton Whiskey in Brooklyn

Alex Clark Pens a Love Letter to Rye at Fort Hamilton Whiskey in Brooklyn
"A cocktailian bartender with Big City Restaurant chops and a South London accent, he stepped out from behind the stick a few years back to pen a love letter to 19th century New York rye whiskey." By Michael Longshore
https://grapecollective.com/articles/alex-clark-pens-a-love-letter-to-rye-at-fort-hamilton-whiskey-in-brooklyn

1985 might not seem like much of a year as years go--‘Take on Me,’ by a-ha, was on the charts for 27 weeks; you might have played the cassette in your IROC-Z Camaro or your Prelude. That said, it’s a critical time in the evolution of the spirits trade in the United States. The story goes like ...

06/23/2021

Remember Al Capone’s Vault - the column from @dottieandjohn at GrapeCollective.com banner art by @piersparlett

Remember Al Capone’s Vault - the column from @dottieandjohn at GrapeCollective.com banner art by @piersparlett

06/21/2021

Arrivederci Verona - it was fun.

06/20/2021

Amazing commitment and purpose i. The winemaking, stunning estate wonderful visit with Maddalena @musella_winery_relais beautiful biodynamic wines - thank you to @monty_waldin for the tip

Amazing commitment and purpose i. The winemaking, stunning estate wonderful visit with Maddalena @musella_winery_relais beautiful biodynamic wines - thank you to @monty_waldin for the tip

06/20/2021

Remember Al Capone’s Vault? We Open an 18-year-old Nouveau

Remember Al Capone’s Vault? We Open an 18-year-old Nouveau
"We never intended to age a Nouveau long enough for it to be eligible to vote. For years, we hosted a Nouveau party on the day it is released, the third Thursday in November. In 2003, we had a bottle left over and we thought it might be fun to see what it would taste like in a year. Then, it kind of got lost in the cellar." Dorothy Gaiter John Brecher
https://grapecollective.com/articles/remember-al-capones-vault-we-open-an-18-year-old-nouveau

Nouveau is the ultimate drink-this-minute wine. It’s a celebration gulper, meant to age only as long as it takes to get it home. In fact, one way to know you’re in a bad wine store is whether it’s still selling last year’s Nouveau well into the current year. We never intended to age a Nouvea...