January 29, 2010
D’Amore Wine Selections recently had the pleasure of tasting with one of the top Italian wine buyers in the U.S., Joseph “Grappa” Kemble (above), the Italian wine buyer for Specs, the largest retailer of fine wine, spirits, and specialty foods in Texas.
A pioneer in the field, Joseph is one of the leading promoters of Italian wines in our country. He travels to Italy 3 to 4 times a year and is one of our country’s top experts on Italian wines and new trends in Italian winemaking today (he’s about to leave for New York to attend Vino 2010, the largest conference devoted to Italian wines ever organized outside of Italy).
One of the most exciting things about tasting with a wine educator like Joe is experiencing the breadth of knowledge possessed by Joe and his team of Italian managers. When we visited with him, his colleague rattled off the 12 appellation of Calabria like they were baseball stats! Amazing.
Grappa Joe supports a number of D’Amore products, like the 2008 Nerello by Terre Nere (Sicily), above, available for retail sale at Specs.
Our hats off to you, Grappa Joe!
January 26, 2010
Above: Pommes Frites with Shaved Gruyère and Malt Vinegar Aioli are just $2.50 during happy hour at Jeffrey’s in Austin! Benaza 2008 Mencía is $9 by the glass. You can’t beat that!
D’Amore Wine Selections paid a visit yesterday to one of Austin’s top dining destinations, Jeffrey’s, where haute Americana cuisine and intimate, elegant décor come together to create one of the hottest tables in town.
While most folks think of Jeffrey’s for special occasions, date night with that special someone, or even that “impress the client” dinner, one of Austin’s best-kept secrets is Jeffrey’s daily happy hour: every item on the bar menu is half-priced, like those tasty Pommes Frites above. (Next time we’re going to go for the burger!)
Jeffrey’s is currently pouring Benaza 2008 Mencía by the glass ($9 glass, $36 bottle). In case you don’t already this wonderful and wonderfully versatile grape from Spain, it is one the country’s top “easy-drinking” reds, light in color, fragrant on the nose, bright in the mouth and low in alcohol content, with a delightful freshness and balanced acidity.
It pairs well with a number of dishes on the bar menu but wine director Greg Steiner tells us that one of his favorite pairings is chocolate and the chocolate desserts on Jeffrey’s menu.
Chocolate and red wine? Sounds like the perfect date night to us!
January 22, 2010
Lisa and Stan Duchman, owners of D’Amore Wine Selections, hosted an excellent tasting of José Pastor Selections wines at the Galleria Tennis and Athletic Club last night.
Guests tasted 12 red wines from Spain, including the Benaza 2008 Mencía (far left), a gorgeous, light red, made from old-vine Mencía in the Gallicia mountains. Fresh in the mouth, with bright acidity and dazzling red fruit flavor, easy to drink, and wonderfully food-friendly ($15 suggested retail price).
In fine form, as always, D’Amore President Julio Hernández is a top ambassador for Spanish wine in Texas. He and his wife have traveled extensively in Spanish food and wine country and Julio is perhaps one of the leading authorities on Spanish wine in Texas.
The D’Amore staff was thrilled to catch up with some of its regulars at this first tasting of 2010.
And we were also thrilled to make some “new friends of Spanish wine”!
Rum-infused mascarpone topped with fresh raspberries made for a sweet finish.
But the Verve Restaurant chef had a special surprise for a very special guest last night, as well! 
A special thanks to General Manager Lauren Hernández and all the staff at Verve for making the D’Amore tasting series such a fantastic success!
January 21, 2010
Above: The Mencía grape is grown primarily in the Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra regions of Spain, where it can make for a wonderfully fragrant, light red wine, with a lip-smacking “grapey” flavor, an excellent food-friendly wine that pairs exceedingly well with a wide variety of dishes.
Please join D’Amore Wine Selections President Julio Hernández this evening at Verve restaurant at the Galleria Tennis and Athletic Club for a tasting from D’Amore’s Spanish red wine portfolio!
Verve Restaurant
Galleria Tennis and Athletic Club
7:00 p.m.
$25 (plus tax and gratuity)
12 wines and passed tapas will be served
5015 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77056
(832) 325-5100
For reservations, please email Verve General Manager Lauren Hernández by clicking here.
Benaza Mencía Monterrei 2008
Guímaro Mencía Ribeira Sacra 2008
Bielsa Garnacha “Vinas Viejas” Campo De Borja 2008
Clos De Noi Samsó Montsant 2008
Zaumau Garnacha/Samsó Priorat 2008
Vinos De Terrunos “Tpg” Almansa 2008
Verasol Monastrell “Mcs”j” Jumilla 2008
Vinos De Terrunos Monastrell “Lamilla” Alicante 2007
Verasol Tempranillo “Tn” Navarra 2007
Vinos De Terrunos “Esencia De Monte” Yecla 2008
Señorío De P. Peciña “Cosecha” Rioja 2008
Federico Roble Ribera Del Duero 2008
Filed under D'Amore products, Events, Spain, wine education
Tags: Benaza Guímaro, Bielsa, Clos De Noi, Federico Roble, Señorío De P. Peciña, Verasol, Vinos De Terruno, Zaumau
January 18, 2010
Photo by The New York Times.
Please join Vino Vino and local musicians on Tuesday, January 26, 7 p.m. to raise money for victims of the recent tragedy in Haiti.
Austinite Kat Edmonson will be joined by some of our town’s top local musicians for a special evening of songs, remembrances, and hopes for the victims of the earthquake and reconstruction.
On the night of the event, VINO VINO WILL DONATE 50% OF ALL RETAIL SALES TO PARTNERS IN HEALTH.
KAT EDMONSON AND FRIENDS
BENEFIT FOR HAITI
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26
7 P.M. – 10 P.M.
VINO VINO
4119 Guadalupe Street
Austin, TX 78751-4222
(512) 465-9282
