Treasure Valley Food and Wine Blog

The Buzz August Wine Club Dinner

2012-08-15T11:57:00.000-06:00

The Buzz presented another in a great series of Wine Club Wine Dinners! A different selection of foods this time. Very adventuresome and good. Cristi and Tom did their usual great job in the kitchen. And Austin and Bailey did super in serving. Thanks too, to Paul Colwell, BRJ Distributors, for working with Cristi in selecting the wines. My score are based on the [20] point scale. Here are the wines and the food parings that w had. Hope to see you there next month. Maybe a surprise menu. At any rate, you can't beat the $15.00 per person price for a five course meal and 6-8 wines. Call the Buzz for reservations. Cheers and enjoy!

Paul Colwell, BRJ Distributors, describes some of the wines.

Egg Roll

2012 Fabre Montmayo Malbec Rose
13.0% alc. light appearance and body. went well with the spiciness of the egg roll. [16] $14.00

Freezer Zucchini Soup
(Made with frozen shredded zucchini. Delicious!)

2010 Turn 4 Cellars Blend
14.5% alc. good dark appearance somewhat heavy taste. [17] $15.00

Green Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

2010 Luna Pino Grigio
14.1% alc. great golden color. wonderful pear on the nose perfect taste and finish [19] $14.00

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells
Quinoa Burritos
Normandy Vegetables

2008 Heredad Ugarte Crianza
13.5% alc. intence aroma. bread yeast. perfect finish [19] $16.00

Cheesecake and Brownies

2010 Montgras Quatro
14.5% alc. good aroma but light on body and taste. went well with the cheesecake but the brownie overpowered the wine. [18] $18.00

What Wine Would You Serve With Sand Dabs?

2012-08-03T14:10:00.000-06:00

Friends of ours are in California and they wanted to have some Sand Dabs. They will have to wait until the season is correct. Fall? Here is some information that Robin found about Sand Dabs. They remind me of flounder on the east coast which are usually available in the fall.

"What is the history of the sanddab? Where is it caught and when is the season?

As with all fish, you get a different answer depending on whom you ask. Alan Davidson, author of The Oxford Companion to Food and one of the world's foremost authorities on seafood, refers to the sand dab as a European fish, found in the North Atlantic. It is a flatfish, with a brown back, and can reach 16 inches in length, although is often closer to 10. He says it is "a good fish, with a pleasing flavour, well suited to being fried."

Davidson says that English colonists conferred the name dab on other species that they found in their travels that appeared similar to the original dab. So a dab becomes a lot less specific on this side of the Atlantic. There is a species of sand dab found in the Pacific Ocean from California to Alaska, with a market weight of 4 to 12 ounces. There is another flatfish found in the Atlantic, with a market weight of 2 to 3 pounds, that is known as the sand dab, but is more correctly named American plaice. The plaice has also been called a flounder and a sole, although Davidson says its scientific name (hypoglossoides platessoides) suggests it is a relative of the halibut. So you are likely to find various varieties of flatfish being referred to a dabs or sand dabs.

Dabs caught in the spring and those that lived on a sandy seabed (as opposed to mud) are said to have the best flavor. They are best poached, fried, or grilled."

Good article and information. Want to try this fish? Look at this cooking suggestion I found. Enjoy.

Here is a recipe for Sand Dabs from Giovannio's Fish Market & Galley in Morro Bay, CA. that I found. The recipe and this photo are from there. This looks great!

Panko Fried Sand Dabs
Ingredients:
2 pounds Sand Dab Fillets
1 egg (beaten)
2 cups Panko Bread Crumbs
Salt & Pepper
Butter (for frying)
Lemon Wedges for garnish

Cooking Directions:
Dip the sand dabs into the beaten egg; season with salt and pepper, roll in panko bread crumbs. Heat a large skillet, add butter and fry until golden brown and crispy. Serve with lemon wedges.

Bitner Vineyards Visit

2012-07-30T12:52:00.001-06:00

On Sunday, July 29, we visited the Bitner Vineyards in Sunny Slope. A good party to celebrate the re-start of the College of Idaho, the Coyotes or simply the "Yotes", football team. Ron played for them early in his collegiate career. It was a great party. Do enjoy these photos. We enjoyed this wine, a good Chardonnay. Cheers!

Good wine. Good appetizers. All make for a fine day!

Mary and Ron Bitner with Robin.

Wonderful entertainment on the porch deck.

A good 2002 Rohn-Bitner Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.

Beautiful visitor - American Goldfinch.

After the party, we had to go to the Orchard House for an Idaho comfort food dinner. The restaurant is located right on the hiway that goes to Marsing from Nampa in the Sunny Slope area of the Snake River AVA. Enjoy it!

2012 Syrah Released at Indian Creek Winery

2012-07-27T10:10:00.000-06:00

Such a great evening at the Indian Creek Winery! Robin describes it far better than I can. "As a "cork dork", I enjoyed the 2010 Syringa riesling, gewurtz and chard white blend and the 2009 Syrah at the Indian Creek Winery release party tonight. Even though the temp was 100 F, there was a good breeze and a rockin' band - "After Abbey" with oldies , goodies and original tunes - look for a CD in Sept. Mike made winetini's - frosty glasses of fruit and there was great local food. Mama Mui got to relax and enjoy the evening and her new favorite garden plant = Indian Feathers. Bill did a great job mowing the 'park' and Tammy was the perfect hostess pouring glasses and selling bottles. It is a paradise for kids, dogs and people of all ages."

She says this about the wines released - pictured here, "The Syringa is always a refreshing summer white. The Syrah is a big red, easily drinkable now and may age well for a 5-6 years." I totally agree with this as did Mike McClure, the winemaker at Indian Creek Winery. Enjoy these photos of the evening. Cheers!!

Oh yes! "Planning to watch the Olympic opening ceremonies tonight with Fish N Chips from Chef Lou's Westside Drive-in. Don't forget the malt vinegar and maybe a Guinness," says Robin.

If you ever have the honor of hearing and seeing this group, by all means do so. They are fantastic! And buy their albums.

Some of the crowd that was there. I would guess about 100 winery guests were there.

TVWS Holds Their Annual Picnic

2012-07-12T10:05:00.000-06:00

The Treasure Valley Wine Society held their annual picnic at the Indian Creek Winery in Kuna on Wednesday. We thank the winery for allowing us to use their facilities and for their wonderful wines. The flower pictured here is one of Tammy Stowe McClure's in her garden.
The pot luck was as good as ever and the diversity and selection of the offerings was great. Here are some photos of the evening and of some of the folks who were there. Cheers!

See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil, aka, Elaine, Robin and Bridgette.

And now the guys ....
Dan, Howard, Larry and Jerry standing.

Some of the crowd that was there.

And at the end of the picnic, this beautiful and vibrant sunset, caused by all the smoke in the air. Wonderful colors! Almost collegiate.

The Buzz July Dinner - Fields of Flowers

2012-07-11T14:09:00.000-06:00

Another great monthly wine dinner at the Buzz - Edible Flowers and Wine! I'm glad that Cristi duplicates the menu and wines two nights in a row - Tuesday and Wednesday - so that we can always make one. Tuesdays seem to work best for us. Here Peggy displays the 2010 Sun Garden Riesling that was a good wine. We bought some. Look at what we had for dinner and the wines to accompany the courses and all for $15 per person. Thanks, Cristi and Tommy for an awesome dinner.

Four Season Pizza
artichoke, olive, mushroom, salami

2010 Twin Vines Vinho Verde
10% alc, [13] $10.00

Cream of Dandelion Soup

2010 Bila Haut Cotes du Roussillon Villages
14.0% alc, [17] $15.00

Spring Mix Salad
(Beautiful!)

2010 Sun Garden Riesling
9.5% alc, [18] $13.00

Lavender Crusted Pork
Caprese Salad
Roasted Rosemary Red Potatoes

NV Basel Cellars Earth Series Volume 2
14.6% alc, [18] $20.00

White Cake
with
Rose Water Icing
(Beautiful presentation!)

NV Willamete Valley Oregon Blossom
11% alc [17] $11.00

7 Wine Paring Suggestions

2012-07-06T11:46:00.000-06:00

From the Food and Wine - Wine Club, we received this very timely post. Do enjoy and think about these suggestions at your next party or dinner or BBQ. Left-Click this graphic for a larger view.

TVWS Holds Another Wine Tasting Party

2012-06-14T13:35:00.001-06:00

The Treasure Valley Wine Society had a great and adventuresome trip to Hawaii with Bridgette Gibson Hull and Cheryl Gibson, who were excellent tour guides. We thank them for the time and effort that they invested into this program. Enjoy these photos from this Wine Dinner. The list of wines that were presented are listed below. These wines can be purchased at Cost Plus World Market, except where noted.

Mimosa
The perfect brunch wine! Mimosa is a fresh squeezed, sweet orange juice, blended with a crisp, dry Champagne. Alc 8% $11.99

Peach Sparkletini Italian Spumante
This is a fun, refreshing peach Champagne. Great enjoyed by the pool side. Alc 5% $6.99

Bellini
A light sparkling white wine with a hint of peach and white grape juice. 7% alc. $`12.99

Gazela (Portugal)
A fresh, young and floral, light and smooth wine with a touch of sparkle. Alc 9%. $6.99

New Age (Argentina)
Most popular white wine with a refreshing blend of 10% Sauvignon Blanc and 90% Torrontes. New Age should be enjoyed by pouring over ice and garnished with a lime wedge! Alc 9%. $9.99

2009 Edna Valley Chardonnay (San Luis Obispo County)
This Chardonnay has an amazing flavor of lush white peach and sweet spice with a crisp, clean finish. Alc 13.9%.$11.99

Burgoyne Chardonnay (France. Boise Co-op)
A nice dry unusual Chardonnay with a beautiful finish. Alc 12.5%. $15.99

Bridgette Hull

Chef Jake who prepared this challenging buffet. It was great. Thank you, Chef.

Here are some of the 28 people who attended the event.

Cheese and Fruit Tray

Deep Dish Salad Bowl

Some of the desserts that Chef Jake prepared

More desserts

Plated Meal
Deep Dish Salad
Roasted Asparagus
Mac and Cheese with Shrimp
Hawaiian Pizzas

Great Wine Dinner at The Buzz

2012-06-13T09:35:00.002-06:00

On June 12, the Buzz Coffee and Wine held another in their line of fantastic wine dinners. This one was very timely: Picnics, Outings and Fun! The dinner was based on a warm, maybe hot, summer evening. There are photos below of the offerings. Paul Colwell, from BRJ Distributing in Boise, did a great job in paring the wines with dinner.

The event started by Cristi pouring some fun box wines. Yes, box wines! One was a red Shiraz and the other was a white. I can't say much more; They are what they are. I scored them each [12]. The graphic here shows what my score sheet looks like at the end of the evening. Very busy and full of notes. Scoring is based on 20 possible points and I have placed my score for each of the wines offered tonight in [20]. You won't find me giving a wine a score of [20] many times, but tonight there was an exception. Enjoy!

Pork and Sauce
spicy Thai red sauce and mustard

2009 Renwood Petite Sirah
13.5% alc, best with the spicy Thai sauce, cherry and fruity [17] $15.00

Iced Black Bean Soup

2009 Durigutti Malbec (Mendoza)
14.0% alc, chocolate and vanilla. I'm not a Malbec fan, but this was awesome. Buy a case! [20] $17.00

Couscous Salad
(A very good salad.)

2011 Apaltagua Chardonnay (Chile)
13.5% alc., lemon and citrus hints, great with the salad but poor without food. [18] $13.00

Pasta with Gorganzola, Mint and Chicken
(This was delicious. I tried to get a second. No luck. You gotta try.)

2010 Leese Fitch Merlot (Sonoma)
13.5% alc., well paired with the entree, great with the Gorganzola [19] $13.00

Grilled Pound Cake

2010 Besitos Spanish Moscato
10.0% alc., yes - a Spanish Moscato, wonderful with the strawberries. [18] $11.00

Feast of Hawaii at the Castle Ranch Steakhouse

2012-06-10T13:49:00.000-06:00

What a great event at the Castle Ranch Steakhouse in the Boise Hotel and Convention Center. Another great wine dinner with a Hawaiian influence. Thanks to Chef Jack Charles and his Staff for such a wonderful dinner. And thanks also to Winemaker Neil Glancey of the Woodriver Cellars for providing some really great wines to accompany the dinner. The parings were really tremendous. Look at what we had. My wine scores are in brackets [20] and rated out of 20 maximum points. Left-Click any of these graphics to see full screen. Enjoy!

Bob and Robin at the dinner.

We met Karen Ausburn and her husband there. Here Karen enjoys her dinner.

Even Buddy went with us. Here he relaxes in our room. The Boise Hotel and Convention Center is pet friendly.

Wonderful background music was provided by Keegan Sablan.

Gingered Crabmeat and Tobiko Napoleon
Wasabi Creme Fraiche

Sparkling Chardonnay
2 years on French oak, 60-80 cases per year. orange, citrus. awesome wine [19]

Island Pork Tostada
Kalus pork, black beans, goat cheese pineapple salsa, flour tortilla

2009 Chardonnay
mango citrus, honeydew melon, vanilla. aged in new French oak. this one can age. [17]

Grilled Eggplant Salad
with
Mixed Greens and Goat Cheese Crostini and Balsamic Vinaigrette

2008 Cabernet Malbec
velvety and full bodies. chocolate and black cherry. soft and mellow 40% can sauv, 60% malbec [18]

Sesame Beef Kabobs
with
Spam Fried Rice
Marinated Double-R Ranch New York Steak

2009 Malbec
100% Malbec probably good with lamb chops. summertime red, smoke and BBQ. [18]

Mango Sorbet

Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi-Mahi
Potato Cakes
Sauteed Spinach
Chili-Coconut Butter Sauce

2008 Cabernet Franc Limited Release
bright, black licorice and spices. rabbit in mustard sauce would be good with this wine. if you can find it, buy it! [19]

Haupia Cake
with
Tropical Fruit Salad
sponge cake with coconut pudding filling and topping

2009 Riesling
pear, cinnamon, spiced apples. crisp and apricots. [18]

Empty glasses. Full tummy. The end of a perfect night.

And if you missed this wine dinner, there will be another in the Fall. October 6, 2012 to be exact. Here is a flyer and the contact information for the event. I would suggest that if you are thinking of going, call for reservations now as these events fill up quickly and they are extremely popular. They also offer a special on rooms for this party. $39 for a room. That's not per person .... That's per room! I hope they offer this again and I think they will. It's worth thinking about as there is a lot of food presented and even more wine. Enjoy!

June Events at The Buzz in Boise

2012-06-02T20:04:00.000-06:00

This info just in from Cristi at The Buzz. Great time and dinners. Appropriate themes for the summer weather.

Summer has Finally Arrived.
Dear Bob and Robin,
School is out and the weather is beautiful. We have a lot of fun activities planned for the summer at Buzz, so if you are in town, have guests visiting, or are just on your way home from work, stop by and see us at the Buzz. Customers like you make doing business a real pleasure.

Things to do at the Buzz..

We will continue our music and wine nights on Fridays and Saturdays in June. Music starts each night at 7. June 2 Mike Cramer, June 8 Jim Lewis, June 9 Thunder Mountain Boys, June 15 Gayle Chapman, June 16 Matt Mieghan.

Buzz will soon be a Bountiful Baskets pick up site. Start date is 6/16 not sure of the time, for information on Bountiful Baskets Coop go to their website at www.bountifulbaskets.org, for questions ask Tom or Cristi and we will try to answer all of your questions. A great way to feed a family and enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables.

Conundrum at the Chateau summer game starts June 2nd. This is our annual summer puzzle game, every Saturday we will be giving out the next "clue" to who did it. the cost is $20 for an individual or $30 for a team, this includes the end of game party on August 11 at 6:30. Stop by or email for more information.

Our quarterly dinner is July 15th reserve your tables now, cost is $30 per person we will be showing off some of the fantastic Idaho wines and comparing them to wines from other regions of the world.

June 12 and the 13th are our monthly wine club dinners. Please call or email for reservations. Dinner is at 6:30. This months dinner theme is Picnic Foods and Wines. Please let us know of any food allergies or intolerance.

Be sure and check out our new deli case features and our grab and go ice cream treats.

Reservations can be made at (208) 344-4321 or buzzwine@cableone.net.

Thanks for your business and let us know if there is anything we can do for you over the summer.

Sincerely,
Cristi and Tom Takeda
Buzz Coffee and Wine

Davis Creek Winery is scaling back!

2012-06-01T14:22:00.002-06:00

We just received this from Gina Davis, winemaker at Davis Creek Winery in Marsing, ID.

Dear Robin,

I am writing to let everyone know that the tasting room will be closed the rest of the summer. After 5 years of business, I have decided to pursue another line of work. I have enjoyed my time as the owner and winemaker of Davis Creek Cellars and will miss seeing everyone. Even though the tasting
room will be closed, we will still be at the Capital City Farmer's Market on Saturdays until further notice. Either my parents, George and Gayle or I will be there selling a selection of our wines at the market in Downtown Boise.
We have also discontinued our wine club, but members who were in good standing will still receive their discount at the market or for special orders that can be picked up at the market.
Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions about how to get our wine or for more information about the market in Boise.
Cheers from Gina Davis of Davis Creek Cellars!

Davis Creek Cellars / 409 Main Street / Marsing, Idaho 83639 /

American Craft Beer Week

2012-05-18T13:56:00.000-06:00

I know, it's almost over. Sorry I missed it. But there are still 3 days to celebrate and to help you do that, look at American Craft Beer Week in the Boise Weekly. Here is some more information on the remaining events from the Boise Weekly.

-Crooked Fence will feature specialty beers on its Garden City taps Wednesday, May 16, through Saturday, May 19, including Sins of Our Fathers Imperial Stout, Trainwreck Red, Derby Oatmeal IPA and Dark Unicorn Black Ale. Also on Saturday, May 19, Crooked Fence will host a Craft Beer Week Finale from noon to 10 p.m., featuring Calle 75 Street Tacos and a free concert by The Ringtones from 7-9 p.m.

-Highlands Hollow is offering rotating daily specials for Craft Beer Week, including Bratwurst and a Full Moon Stout for $8 on Thursday, May 17, and a Brewers Dinner on Saturday, May 19, for $11.95.

-Payette Brewing is involved in a number of other Craft Beer Week events, including a pizza and beer night at Sun Ray Cafe Tuesday, May 15, a sold-out brewer's dinner at The Front Door on Thursday, May 17, and a blind IPA tasting at the Boise Co-Op Wine Shop on Friday, May 18.

-Tablerock Brewpub will showcase an array of aged specialty brews on its taps all week, including a port barrel-aged Winter Cheer on Wednesday, May 16, and the Hopocalypse pitched with Belgian strong ale yeast on Friday, May 19.

Craft Beer Week is a national celebration of craft beer's culture and community. In Boise, it will include collaborative and specialty beers on tap, as well as events and specials at bars.

Craft Beer Week is also a rare opportunity for brewers to work together to carve out a niche for local craft and specialty brews in a market flooded with mass-market domestics like Budweiser, Coors and Miller.

So there is still some time left to join in on this event, albeit, short. I feel confident that the breweries listed in the articles referred to here, will be more than willing to share some of their craft with you. Cheers!

Pinot Grigios At The TVWS Tasting

2012-05-10T10:48:00.000-06:00

The Treasure Valley Wine Society held another Wine Tasting with Pinot Grigio being the featured wine. Many thanks to Lisa Gaddis of the Idaho Wine Merchant for giving the presentation. And look at this photo - Melissa won the 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards 2008 Riesling! Congratulations to Melissa.
Here is some information about Pinot Grigio from different sources that some of you may find useful.

Pinot Grigio

Definition: Italy's most popular white wine is produced from the * Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris grape varietal. This wine hails from the northeast region of Veneto and Friuli. A light, crisp white wine that is intended to be consumed early on. This particular white wine grape, goes by several different names, depending on which country is talking about it - Pinot Grigio (Italy), Pinot Gris (France), Grauer Burgunder (Germany). Pinot grapes are grown in small clusters and, shockingly, produce a gray or brownish-pink fruit. Pinot grigio is thought to be a mutant cousin to another famous grape, Pinot noir.

Flavor Profile: Pinot Grigio flavors can range from melon to pear and some even offer a subtle tropical or citrus fruit, often there is a honey or smoky flavor component as well. As for color, Pinot Grigio is typically a pale, straw-like yellow with some golden hues thrown in. The texture of a Pinot Grigio is worth noting, as it has very smooth, almost silk-like overtones that leave an impression on the palate. A crisp, dry white wine made in the Italian style with a fragrance of aromatic herbs and a hint of mineral and earth in the nose.

Food Pairing: Pinot Grigio pairs nicely with seafood, light pastas and cheese cracker combinations. Since this wine is fairly acidic itself, avoid pairing with foods that have high acid contents, like citrus fruits or tomato-based recipes.

Look what we had for dinner and the wines we tried. The wines listed are the ones that we tried and they are not necessarily listed as a pairing. Scores were on a [20] point system. All of these wines are less than $20.00 Enjoy!

Cheese and Fruit Tray
2011 Yalumba "Y Series" Pinot Grigio (Australia)
12.5% alc., big for a pinot grigio but well balanced and great with food [18]

Caesar Salad
2011 Oxford Landing Pinot Grigio (Australia)
11.5% alc., weak nose and palate, overpowered by the roasted vegetables [15]

Roasted Vegetables
2010 Milbrandt Vineyards Pinot Grigio (Walla Walla, Washington)
13.5% alc., lite and weak flavors [15]

Chicken and Artichoke Alfredo Penne
2011 Dusted Valley "Boomtown" Pinot Grigio (Walla Walla, Washington)
13.5% alc., watery, lemon, sharp acidic. might be good with a sorbet [16]

Tiramiso
2010 Pend d'Oreille Winery Pinot Grigio (Idaho)
13.4% alc., lacks fruit and not long lasting [16]

Dinner is plated
2010 Witness Tree Winery Pinot Grigio (Oregon)
13.2% alc., strong sulfur, tart, sour [14]

Tiramiso
NV Torre di Luna Pinot Grigio (Italy)
13.8% alc., sharp and tart, lite sweetness. might be good with grilled salmon [17]

So there you have the wines and the dinner that we had. Our thanks to Chef Jake and his staff for the fine dinner - I don't think that the 33 people who were there left anything. Overall score for tonight for the wines was [15]. All of the folks who were at our table pretty much agreed on the wine scores. Cheers!

May Wine Club Dinner at The Buzz

2012-05-09T09:24:00.000-06:00

I just loved this evening sunset sky in Boise as I was leaving the Buzz after a wonderful Monthly Wine Club Dinner - Magazines. Cristi did a great job in explaining to everyone the magazines that are available about wines and also on the rating systems.
She did a blind tasting tonight, a change from her normal format. I liked it. Here is the dinner we had and the wines that Cristi paired with the food. Remember: The scoring is based on 100 points. Enjoy!

Opening Wines
These two wines, from South Africa, were really very good. Of the two, I preferred the Chenin Blanc, but the Cab was still good. Using the 100 point scoring, I rated both of these at 92.

Appetizer
Asparagus Pesto Brochette

2009 Pinot Grigio
13.0% alc, crisp and clear, lemon [92]

Soup
Wild Mushroom Ragout
(An awesome soup!)

2008 Red Blend
14.1% alc., deep red, big and bold. Great with the soup [95]

Roasted Vegetable Salad
(Super good salad!)

2008 Pillar Box Red Blend (Australia)
14.5% alc., cinnamon, roast beef. well balanced [97]

Lemon Herb Chicken
Brown Rice Mixture
Broccoli
Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

2010 White Knight Viognier
13.9% alc., light color almost white, good with the cucumber and broccoli and the herbs on the chicken [95]

Pear/Pecan Flop Cake

2008 Dugagutti
13.9% alc., red and tan, chocolate and plum. great with the cake [98]

Joe's Road House Port
deep chocolate color. wonderfully smooth
(Thanks Joe for sharing!)

Taste 208 Event In Boise

2012-04-17T12:26:00.000-06:00

Coming soon to Boise! Taste 208! May 12, 2012 (Sat) from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Boulevard. From the Juice Site, "TASTE208 is a tasting event focused on the “spring release” of the best local beer, wine, spirits, and food in Idaho, the PacNW, and the West Coast region. We partner with the best and biggest names in craft production and locavore sensibilities, focusing on several craft brewers, wineries, and distilleries to bring you the best samples." Also from their site, food will be offered. "At Taste 208, not only will you get more than fine drinks. Nosh on gourmet food truck fare inside the event. Yes, the $25 ticket price will include the opportunity to sample food as well from Boise’s best! Stay tuned as we will be updating the list as we add more partners. We can’t have you drinking on an empty stomach." For any further information, please check the web sites listed. Cheers and maybe we'll see you there!

Treasure Wine Society Holds A Night of Rosé Wines

2012-04-12T13:42:00.000-06:00

Hats off to Robin for selecting some awesome Rosé Wines for the tasting tonight. And then for her working with Chef Jake to create an great, and different, buffet line. This was a super good evening! Look at what we had for dinner. Some of tonight's wines are pictured to the left. Robin's comments are listed alongside of the food photos. Left-Click any of these photos to see them full screen. Cheers!

Some of the 37 people who were there.

Cheese plate

Traditionally, a dinner tasting of wines is done in some proscribed conventional order of dry to sweet, older to younger, simple to more complex, lower alcohol to higher alcohol, lighter to bolder, whites to reds, less expensive to more expensive. With wines of the same varietal, or as in these pink styles, I admit to being a lot less knowledgeable about the correct order to present them. Random abandon of the rules may follow.

Why rosés you ask? I have been reading wine articles from people I admire in the trade who claim to love them for the fun they bring to life. They are paired with foods from the sea, BBQ’s, ham, light cheeses and Asian fare. Help yourself to the foods on Jake’s Asian Buffet while we pour you the first Spritz of pink.

Asian Salad

Blood Orange Mimosa [a Brunch Wine] Blood Orange Mimosa is a wine cocktail made from grape wine and the juice and pulp of the celebrated, crimson-fleshed Sicilian blood oranges. Light, fruity, refreshing and flavorsome.

2. NV Gazela Rosé Portugal Alcohol 10% $5.99

Gazela Rose is a lively, refreshing, young and floral light wine. In the mouth, it is well-balanced with a soft and slightly fizzy finish. Varietals: Baga, Rufete, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca

3. 2011 Chateau de Campuget Tradition Rosé Costieres de Nimês A.C. $10.99

S. Rhone – France = Syrah 70% Grenache Noir 30% Alcohol = 13 %

Asian Stir Fry Vegetables

4. 2010 La Vieille Ferme Rosé Perrin Mont Ventoux A.C. $ 8.99

S. Rhone – France = Grenache and Cinsault Alcohol =13.5 %

5. 2011 Coppola Sofia Rose Monterey, CA, USA $14.99 Francis Ford Coppola [Godfather filmmaker] named this wine for his daughter. “Sophia by Coppola more resembles an old world wine.” California - 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache Alcohol = 12.5 %

Fried Rice

6. 2011 Crios Rosé of Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina Alcohol = 14 % $11.99

7. NV Pomula Wine Spritz – Wellington

S.A.

Alcohol 5.5% $5.99

– a white wine base with added Pomegranite and Marula juice. The Marula tree is indigenous to South Africa and Elephants as well as Baboons and other wild life like to eat the Marula fruit – especially once it is ripe and begins to ferment. S. Africans often make a beer from the fruit. Amarula is a beverage similar to Bailey’s Cream Brandy and found in some Boise liquor stores. Look for an elephant on the label.

Asian Duck in an Orange Ginger Sauce

Presented by Robin and Bob Young – an April foolish mystery in Pink to keep you out of the Red as Tax Day approaches. All wines purchased at Cost Plus World Market.

Tapioca Mango Dessert
This was awesome!!!

Wine Club Dinner at the Buzz

2012-04-11T10:52:00.000-06:00

Wow! What an exceptional wine dinner. Cristi you outdid yourself! The theme tonight for the April Wine Club was Social Media Wine Dinner. Cristi went through a fairly complete list of the social media that is available and the pluses and minuses of each. Interesting. The wines were very good also. With six wines presented, including Cristi's Choice, the point spread was 1 point! A very close race. You will see my point spread as we progress through this post.
Cristi also had flowers and herbs that she has put into wine and beer bottle vases with a self-watering system. Here is Greek Oregano that I picked. It looks nice on our kitchen window.
Cristi's Choice: 2010 La Cryma Christi Feudi di San Gregoro. A very pleasing and easy to drink wine. 12.5% alc, $20.00 [17]

Along with the wine, we have had folks who bring in one of theirs to share. Tonight was no exception as Joe brought in an Alaskan Blueberry and Merlot blend. I know, you say "Yuk!" But try this first. It is really surprising and not overpowering with blueberry. At least give it a try.

Appetizer
Crab Cakes
2010 Dry Creek Chenin Blanc
12.5% alc, great taste and finish, slightly lacking on aroma. [17] $14.00

Black Bean and Chorizo Soup
2008 Duragutti Bonardo
13.9% alc, full bodied and awesome taste. good finish [17] $16.00

Carrot and Ginger Salad
(loved these flavors!)
2010 Les Jemelles Viognier
13.1% alc, a wonderful Viognier, full of fruit and flavor that went very well with the salad. [18] $14.00

Brown Butter Sage with Ravioli
Chicken
2010 Fratelli Montepulciano
12.5% alc, another wonderful wine. easy to drink and was pared very well with the ravioli. [17] $14.00

Bourbon and Banana Crepe
Chocolate Cream
Morse Code Shiraz
great paring with the crepes [17] $14.00

Those scores are so very close. A great salute to Chisti's ability to choose a wine that pairs well with any course. The wines were great and this was probably one of the top meals from the Buzz. Great job!!!

Let's Have a Bowl of Soup. What Wine Do I Serve?

2012-04-06T13:13:00.000-06:00

I just received this from Snooth and it is an interesting article on Paring Wine With Soup. Here is an excerpt. To read the full article, click on the link above or cut and paste the link below. Cheers!

Spring is just beginning, so it is time to get your delicious winter soup fill while you still can! Soups are often thought of as lighter fare meals, but along with stew and chili, these dishes can be quite hearty and fulfilling.
Pairing wines with these winter staples can be a bit tricky. A great way to make this a bit less intimidating is to break down your meal ingredients and view them as you would a pasta sauce or something similar.
Just in the nick of time, we gathered our favorite soup, stew and chili dishes and paired them with wines that are ideal for keeping warm and comforted. Read more: http://www.snooth.com/articles/pairing-wine-with-soup/#ixzz1rHyRh76d

And if you are interested, there are some really good recipes associated with the different wines. You not only get a suggested wine, but you get the recipe, too! Enjoy!

TBA Information

2012-03-26T11:54:00.000-06:00

We hear a lot about TBA wines. How they make an awesome dessert wine. How expensive they are! How smooth and sweet and a fruit orchard in your mouth. Here is some information I found about a TBA. The photo here is of one such wine from our cellar. AP right now? $427.00 for this magnum. The purchase price - purchased several years ago - is listed in the photo. This is a magnum. Usually you can only find it in 375ml bottles. Enjoy the information. Cheers!

What is TBA?

Trockenbeerenauslese (literal meaning: "selected harvest of dried berries") is a German language wine term for a medium to full bodydessert wine.
Trockenbeerenauslese is the highest in sugar content in the Prädikatswein category of the Austrian and German wine classifications. Trockenbeerenauslese wines, often called "TBA" for short, are made from individually selected grapes affected by noble rot, i.e. "botrytized" grapes. This means that the
grapes have been individually picked and are shrivelled with noble rot, often to the point of appearing like a raisin. They are therefore very sweet and have an intensely rich flavor, frequently with a lot of caramel and honey bouquet, rock fruits note such as apricot and distinctive aroma of the noble rot. The finest examples are made from the Riesling grape, as this retains plenty of acidity even at the extreme ripeness. Other grape varieties are also used, such as Scheurebe, Ortega, Welschriesling, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer and many are more prone to noble rot than Riesling since they ripen earlier.

These wines are rare and expensive due to the labor-intensive method of production, and the fact that very specific climatic conditions (which do not necessarily occur every year) are required to create botrytized grapes. Some of the best wines of this type are sold almost exclusively at the various German wine auctions. They are usually golden to deep golden in colour, sometimes even dark caramel. The body is viscous, very thick and concentrated, and arguably can be aged almost indefinitely due to the preservative powers of its high sugar content. Although TBA has very high residual sugar level, the finest specimens are far from being cloying due to high level of acidity.

Trockenbeerenauslesen have also been in common production since the 1960s in Austria. Most TBA wines from Austria come from Neusiedlersee, Burgenland. On both sides of lake Neusiedl those wines are produced. East of the lake, the village of Illmitz is known for the production of "liquid gold". At the western side of the lake in Rust and St. Margarethen, wine of exceptionally good quality can be found. This region is known for its wide and shallow lakes which can lose more than half their volume due to evaporation. The mists created by these lakes provide a very conducive climate for Noble Rot to shrivel grapes. The style is similar to, but much more concentrated than, Sélection de Grains Nobles from Alsace. In comparison to Sauternes, the wines are considerably sweeter, have a lower alcoholic strength and are usually not oaked. As with most other premium grade dessert wines, Trockenbeerenauslese is to a large extent sold in half bottles of 375 ml.

Notes from The Antique Wine Cellar: The product of unusual climactic conditions – which do not happen every vintage – Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) wines are some of the most labour–intensive in the world to produce. Translated from German as, "select harvest of dried berries," when the autumn weather does cooperate, botrytis slowly spreads through the hillside vineyards, shrivelling the fruit and concentrating the flavours. The grapes for these intensely sweet wines are then picked one at a time and only the most perfect berries are utilised.

A collector's dream, TBA wines may be cellared almost indefinitely due to their high sugar content. These sugars serve as a natural preservative and, in concert with Riesling's high acidity, allow TBA wines to provide drinking pleasure for centuries. More intense than Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) wines from Alsace and generally sweeter, lower in alcohol and without the oak influence found in Sauternes, TBA wines compete only with Essencia from Tokaji for the title of world's longest–living sweet wine.

Normally, due to the production of such minute quantities, TBAs are only available by personally visiting producers or through one of the elite German wine auctions. [Generally that is a true statement, but not always!] However, we have now been given access to an exclusive collection of TBAs and we are making them available to you. Dating back to 1921, the selections include copious cases from the recent 2003 and 2010 vintages – both banner years for TBA wines. With 13 different producers to choose from, take this opportunity to stock away several cases for your grandchildren.

Backyard Chicken Farmers Program

2012-03-20T14:30:00.000-06:00

I received this information from Gretchen Anderson (thebycf@gmail.com) and thought I would pass it on. For you Backyard Chickeners, this might be an ideal event. You grow the chickens ... we will buy the eggs. Left-Click the graphic to see a larger view. Contact Gretchen directly via email for more information. It should be a fun time!

April In the Buzz!

2012-03-20T14:13:00.000-06:00

Because of the "non-static" nature of information from the Buzz, I am going to post their articles on this main page. I think it works better. With that in mind and since it is snowing outside and the Irish Soda Bread class that we held is over, here is the latest from Cristi and Tommy at the Buzz. Cheers!

Greetings!
As the first day of spring has arrived with blowing snow covering the budding trees, we at Buzz are getting ready for our spring, which is full of events and fun. Hopefully, you will be able to join us during these activities.

Up and Coming Events -

April Fool's Day Dinner
On April 1st at 6:30 PM Buzz Coffee and Wine will host our April Fool's Day Dinner, no joke. We will feature a five course meal with each course being paired with two different wines, we will then discuss which wine pairs better with the food. This is a Quarterly Event hosted by the Buzz. Reservations are required, space fills quickly so be sure and call early for your reservations. The cost is $30 per person and reservations can be made at (208) 344-4321 or buzzwine@cableone.net.

Upcoming Music
3/23 Blaze and Kelly
3/24 Sandy Sanford
3/30 Johnny Shoes
4/6 Gayle Chapman
4/7 Lee Penn Sky

Music starts at 7 PM and ends at 9 PM with wine tasting starting at 6 PM. As always we will feature a dinner special each night along with the wine tasting and music.

April Wine Club
The wine club dinners continue to focus on wine and media. For April our focus will be social media and wine. The wine club dinners will be April 10 and 11 at 6:30 PM. Please make reservations early as spaces fill up quickly. Hope to see you there.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your business along with our hope to see you soon. If you have any catering needs this spring do not hesitate to call or email and let us be part of your festivities throughout the season. We will be hosting our annual Mother's Day Brunch on May 13 so watch for more information to be coming. Also, don't forget we carry a complete line of take and bake meals, the menu is posted on our facebook page so give us a call so we can have your take and bake meal ready and waiting for you. Free delivery on any order in Boise over $50 or Caldwell and Nampa over $75.00. (24 hour notice requested). Thanks again.

Sincerely,
Cristi and Tom Takeda
Buzzwine@cableone.net or (208) 344-4321

TVWS - Wines From Around the World Tasting

2012-03-15T11:48:00.000-06:00

The Treasure Valley Wine Society, held a wine party on March 14 with Wines From Around the World. This was a great tasting to add some more grape varieties to your Century Club list. For instance, Garnacha Tintorera, Monastrell, Lamancha and Tinta Cao. The wines were from Portugal, Germany, Washington, California and others. Here is what we had. Robin did a great job working with the kitchen staff and selecting the menu to go with the wines. Enjoy!

2010 Crios Torrontes - Very similar to a Viognier with hints of peach pit, white pear, flowers and orange citrus fruit. Out of 5 I rated this a [3]. 13.8% alcohol, $14.40
2009 Two Princes Riesling - A perfect balance between fruit and acidity. Oldest winery in Germany. This went extremely well with the roasted vegetables. [5] 10.5% alcohol $13.40

Tasting - www.tastingsboise.com

2009 Camas Pinot Noir - Very light wine with some fruit, strawberries and raspberries. Went well with the fruit and cheese platter. It just was not one of my more favorite wines tonight. [3] $12.50
2008 Laya - Imparts aromas of black fruits, licorice, espresso and pepper. Dense, savory, rich, round and succulent. Hints of copper, though. [3] 14.5% alcohol $9.95
2008 Gifford Hirlinger Stateline Red - Blend of Merlot, Cabernet sauvignon, malbec and a touch of Tinta Cao, tempranillo and petit verdot. [3] 14.5% alcohol $14.40
Quinta Do Vallado Douro D.O.C. - Mature red fruits and hints of violets. Good structure, full bodied with matured round tannins and a long finish. [4] 14.5% alcohol $23.55
2009 Morgan Syrah - Beautiful deep, dark red-purple color. Pomegranate, plum, black pepper and orange blossom on the nose. Firm tannins folded into rich black cherry, fig and black tea flavors. Does not over power the food. A touch of vanilla. Goes great with Lasagna. [5] 13.8% alcohol $17.95 (A good buy. Lay some down; It will last)

Tandy Weishaupt from Tastings in Boise, presented the wines tonight. Thank-You Tandy for a job well done!

Tandy checks the wines before the presentation.

Some of the 35 people who attended. The expressions says it all!

Lettuce and Fennel Salad with Shrimp

Fruit and Cheese Platter

Roasted Root Vegetables

Lasagna

10 Barrel Brewery Breaks Ground

2012-03-08T12:30:00.004-07:00

(Photo 10 Barrel Brewery)

The 10 Barrel Brewery out of Bend, Oregon, is opening a Brew Pub in downtown Boise at 9th Street and Bannock on the Northeast corner across from Yen Ching. The photo to the left is from them. The pub is scheduled to open - the last time I heard - late summer. Their web page says, "... tentative opening date for Aug 1st". This is a photo that I saved off of their FB page. Their comment was, "Demo started yesterday on the Boise Pub. What a mess...." The ceiling has been opened and the insulation removed. This will be one very large brew pub; maybe the largest in Boise. I for one, am really looking forward to the opening. In My Not So Humble Opinion (IMNSHO), their Apocalypse IPA is by far one of the best I have ever had. They have other brews, too, but this one is superb. I put it up against a Deschutes Inversion IPA and the Apocalypse took the challenge. It's not that the Inversion is bad, I always have some in the refrigerator waiting to be liberated, it's just that the

Apocalypse IPA is better. It was great to see that the Boise COOP started to carry the 10 Barrel brews.
The photo to the right, I took this morning. Beautiful blue sky! This is the building at the corner of 9th and Bannock in Boise. It used to be a woman's clothing store. Sorry, but it now has another use.
So now, I guess we wait for the Grand Opening. I do hope they keep me informed, or I am lucky enough to get some "fresh" information from the brewery. I will do what I can to keep "on top" of this fabulous event. Below is the artists rendition of the brew pub. Not too much difference, but enough. It's the interior which will change the most. It is a very large area. Cheers!

(Artist Drawing 10 Barrel Brewery)

Renwood Winery Special Dinner Feb 23

2012-02-24T11:07:00.001-07:00

The Renwood Winery Special Dinner at the Buzz Coffee and Café was a great adventure in the paring of wine and food. Thank you Paul Colwell, BRJ Distributing in Boise, for supplying the wine. And thanks also to Jeff Peda, Northwest Regional Manager, from Renwood Winery for describing the wines for us. And I would be remiss if I did not thank Cristi Takeda for preparing the awesome food. Cristie's Choice for the evening, one of the "extra" wines she always offers, was a 2009 Renwood Cabernet Sauvignon that is a good afternoon wine. I rated it a [15] out of [20] which, I believe, is a good rating for this light bodied wine. Not a big and bold cab like most. Light on taste and finish. Buy it. Drink it. Here are some photos from the evening. Left-Click on any photo to see a larger view. Cheers!

Jeff Peda, Renwood Winery Northwest Regional Manager, explains a finer point about the winery.

Piri Piri Shrimp and Devil Dates

2008 Renwood Barbera
14.5% alc, light on the aroma and taste, [15] $10.00

Pepperoni Supreme Soup

2006 Renwood Syrah
13.5% alc, smooth and fruity, great paring with the spiciness of the soup. [19] $10.00

Wild Rice Salad
(I did like this one!)

2009 Renwood Petit Syrah
13.5% alc, nice body and aroma, went well with the salad [18] $10.00

Peppercrusted Beef
Thoram
Potato Bakes

2008 Renwood Old Vine Zinfandel
15.0% alc, the only thing I did not like about this wine was the appearance - it was a little light. Buy some of this. Well worth it. [19] $16.00

Hot Chocolate Cake

2008 Renwood Grand Pere Zinfandel
15.0% alc, almost the "perfect wine" - almost. It just lacked that intence zinfandel deep purple color. But buy some anyway and lay it down for a while. Yes, you really can lay a zinfandel down! [19] $38.00

2-ounce glasses

2009 Renwood Amador Ice Wine
9.0% alc, 26% sugar (41 brix at picking) 375 ml bottles. If I were inclined to easily give a perfect score, and I am not, this would be it! An awesome wine. Great with orange zest floated on top. This wine was served in the glasses pictured above. You need some of this in your cellar for those "special times". [19] $30.00

So there you have our evening. Great food and great wines. See you at the next one. Cheers!