Tis the Season for Champagne!

This just in from Salem Wine Imports, where there is a wine tasting this Saturday from 3-6:00 PM.

Just about everyone likes a good Champagne now and again and now there's a reason to drink it other than pure pleasure. A recent article from the British Journal of Nutrition, states that drinking the elixir daily (oh to be so fortunate) with its polyphenols, raises the nitric oxide in blood and, consequently, leads to better arterial function. So, drink Champagne and help your heart along with your mood!

Salem Wine Imports is stocking two very affordable styles made by small independent, family wineries. No corporate board room decisions here, these wines are created by mom and pop, with maybe a sibling or other relative chiming in creating unique, one of a kind wines. Legras & Haas for $32 and Paul Laurent (Gruet family) for $29.99. Both traditional styles with Pinot Noir dominating for fruit flavors, Chardonnay for style and structure.

A Grand Wine Tasting!

Salem Wine Imports is holding their second annual Grand Tasting on Thursday, November 12, 2009 from 6:30-9:30 PM at Old Town Hall in Salem. Come celebrate one of life's great pleasures, and stock up for the holiday season. Try over eighty international wines, light appetizers and music. Reconnect with old friends and make new ones too.

Advance tickets are available at Salem Wine Imports and Historic New England’s Phillips House, located at 34 Chestnut Street, Salem. The price is $35.00 for the general public and $25.00 for members of Historic New England, Historic Salem, Inc., and the Salem Athenaeum. Advanced purchasing is strongly recommended.

For questions about the event, please contact Eric Olsen, owner, Salem Wine Imports, at (978) 741-9463.

North Shore Wine Tour at Sixty2 on Wharf

On Sunday, August 23rd, Sixty2 on Wharf is teaming up with Natasha Bansfield Events to bring you an Italian wine dinner. This dinner will be a part of the Northshore Wine Tour, which features 3 dinners in the region.

Sixty2 on Wharf will be the first dinner in the series and we're lucky enough to have Eric Olsen from Salem Wine Imports to moderate and describe all of the night's wine selections.

The menu for that evening, is of course, subject to slight change:

Spuntino:
Red snapper crudo with shaved fennel, citrus oil and sea salt

Antipasti:
Fiore di Zucca
Fried zucchini blossoms, stuffed with whole milk ricotta with a roasted grape tomato vinaigrette

Primi:
Garganelli
Hand-rolled garganelli with white wine braised rabbit, rosemary and picholine olives

Secondi:
Anatra
Thyme-smoked duck breast, roasted sweet corn, cippoline onions and fregola with a pomegranate vinaigrette

Dolce:
Peaches
Summer peaches in a red wine syrup and biscotti

Tickets can only be purchased through Natasha Bansfield Events (not through Sixty2 on Wharf or Salem Wine Imports) and they are sure to go fast, so order yours today!

Winter chill, meet Salem Wine Imports

One of my favorite mailing lists in Salem (of which there are many, as you know) is from Salem Wine Imports. Eric Olson, the proprietor, sends regular updates on what wines are in stock, what is a good accompaniment for an upcoming holiday meal, and what tastings are scheduled. Eric always has wines available for tasting (see the photo to the right - eight wines on tap!), so you know what you are "getting yourself into," as it were.

This week Eric is recommending the following wines:

• The Heron Merlot, ($10) from So. France has a fairy simple flavor profile it was easy drinking with a medium light body and dry finish.
• A more extroverted wine is the Vega Sindoa, Tempranillo Merlot mix ($10) from Navarro, Spain. It had a nice cherry and spice nose with a medium body, high acid finish and some elegance that would pair well with richer dishes of red meats, game or cream sauces.
• The white Viognier "La Maroutte"($12) from So. France is nicely balanced with good grip, clean, lively floral and spice notes and fully bio-dynamic make for a fun, interesting aperitif.

Coming up in the Salem Wine Imports event department, they have an Italian winemaker visit next Wednesday, the 21st at 6:00 til 8:00. Great chance to chat with the real deal from Piedmont and try some exquisite Barberas.

They host Thursday tasting events for $20 per person. We will try wines that rock stars covet. That's at 6:30 pm.

Salem Wine Imports is open 7 days, 12:00 noon until 8:00 PM. (Eric warns that he sometimes finds himself drawn home about 7:50 ish in the evening when things a real slow and the wind chill is minus something -- If you want to come after 7:45 or so, give him a call and I'll he'll be there.)

Make sure to sign up for Eric's email list when you stop in!

32 Church Street, Salem MA 01970 (They validate daytime parking in the Church Street lot)

Tel. 978.741.9463