Perfect Summer Tastings This Week

We are keeping busy this week with four public events plus a private tasting on our books, so if you are looking for a nice, air conditioned smoke-free spot to escape the heat, relax and taste some really great wines, we've got something for you!

flites & bites lets you choose your cheese, meats, accoutrements & wines!

First up will be Flites & Bites, an expansion of our Wednesday Nite Flite event where you can pair a tasting plate to your flite experience.  Our menu is simple; you assemble your own "bites" from a handpicked selection of 6 artisan cheeses, 6 meats and 6 accoutrements. You'll select from some of our favorite products like La Tur cheese from Italy, Mahon from Spain or a French tomme cheese; meats like smoked prosciutto, chorizo and pate; accoutrements like chocolate from Bittersweet confections, Mediterranean olives, or Spanish almonds.  Or if you don't feel like thinking, you can leave the decision making up to us and we'll put one together for you. Then you can choose three wines from our extensive and ever-changing list of wines to put into your flite OR leave everything to us and we'll choose for you based on your "bite" selections!  We'll be featuring a few new wines on our list tonight too including new rosés, reds and whites, so come in for  Flites & Bites! Wednesday August 1, 6-8pm.

Thursday brings The Wines of Markus Molitor, 5 cold, delicious Rieslings from Germany presented by Ariff  Jamal.  Beside being Molitor's CEO and right hand man, Jamal is an independent wine writer for various international wine magazines, a Chemist by profession and oenologist by trade, a professional taster and a member of various wine associations in France.  Needless to say, he brings a lot of expertise, knowledge and an amazing lineup of Rieslings to the table. 

Markus Molitor has been producing wine in the Mosel for over 20 years, since he took over the reigns from his father at age 20.  The largest estate on the Mosel with 94 acres of vineyard land, Markus is one of the middle Mosels most important growers. During the difficult years when the value of German vineyards fell dramatically, Markus had the conviction, knowledge and foresight to take advantage of the low prices and bought up a significant number of small parcels in the finest parts of the best vineyards. With extremely steep slopes, slatey soils and particularly long, slow ripening periods, a gifted producer can weave together that incredibly tense and vibrant mix of minerality, acidity, fruit and ripeness. Markus Molitor excels at this and is without doubt amongst the very best.  This tasting is free and a great opportunity to taste high quality Riesling from an important producer.  Thursday August 2, 6-8pm.

Friday night crowd @ swirl

And then there is our Friday Free For All featuring four free wines and delicious tapas by chef Richard Papier.  Josh Prados will be in the house tonight with four great West Coast wines and of course wine by the glass is always flowing at the bar.  Fun crowd, laid back atmosphere, great wine and food; what more could you want on a Friday night?  Friday, August 3, 6-8pm.

fall selections from the Hollygrove box

Saturday afternoon happy hour at Swirl from 4-6pm has become a popular event where you can drink anything on our extensive by the glass menu for 1/2 price and check out the Hollygrove Market produce pick up.  Swirl has become THE Midcity location to get your fresh box of local produce and if you want more details on how you can be one of the lucky recipients, click here, Hollygrove Box Pick up at Swirl.

So you have lots of excuses to drop by and this week!  We hope to see you soon!

Salute,
Beth & Kerry