Orange Wine This Week at Swirl!

This Week at Swirl Wine Bar & Market

Happenings

Ramato, Traditional Friulian Wine

While Ramato wine in the US is a pretty recent phenomenon, it is actually an ancient tradition from the Republic of Venice where a special vinfication process was used to give Pinot Grigio a beautiful copper color.  Pinot Grigio grapes are purple with a greyish tinge (grigio = grey) and with a few hours to a few days of skin contact the wines take on a copper (rama in Italian) hue.

The effect of the skin contact is remarkable giving it an intensity in both aroma and flavor.  Rich and weighty, with a little tannic structure, more robust fruit but still with crisp acidity, they are in complete contrast from the light, delicate wines that Americans know of as Pinot Grigio.  In fact until the 1970's, when the Santa Margherita craze began in the US, Ramato was the traditional style of Pinot Grigio in the Friuli region.

Curious? This Wednesday Kimi & Walter will be pouring a flite of 3 Italian Ramato wines plus a little surprise wine from the US.  The tasting is $15 for a flite of 4 wines and there will be killer cheese/meat plates to pair with the wine!

No reservations required, just show up and taste some delicious orange wine with us!

Upcoming Events

Food Truck Tuesdays @ Swirl! August 27, 6-8pm 

The Fat Falafel food truck pulls up at our front door every Tuesday and you can bring your food inside and let Magic Matt and El Casey pair it with our favorite wines by the glass! Theresa and Gavin do an amazing job with fresh, Mediterranean style food and in fact were named by Zagat as one of the top 10 "must try" food trucks in the country! 

Ramato! Wednesday Nite Flites, August 28, 6-8pm

Kimi & Walter will be pouring a flite of 3 Italian Ramato wines or orange wines, plus a little surprise wine from the US.  The tasting is $15 for a flite of 4 wines and there will be killer cheese/meat plates to pair with the wine! No reservations required, just show up and taste some delicious orange wine with us!

Friday Free for All, August 30, 6-8pm

Jared Breaux is in the house with 4 free wines from Spain and Portugal.  Plus chef Walter will be dishing out his amazing small plates!  

Saturday Happy Hour, August 31, 4-6pm

Join Erin & Matt for our weekly happy hour where all of our 25 wines by the glass are half off!

Closed Labor Day Monday, September 2!

New Orleans Wine Club Tasting & Selection Pick Up, Monday 9/9

Each month NOWC carefully chooses two exclusive wines for your exploration and enjoyment! These wines are hand-selected to fit the season, the right event or just for fun. Whatever they select each month is always exclusive to New Orleans Wine Club Members and not available anywhere else! These unique selections come with pairing ideas, wine descriptions and more. Check out their website for more info on membership & exclusive tastings: New Orleans Wine Club

Italia Nord & Sud - Back to Back Italian Wine Dinners, September 23 & 24!  

Italia Nord @ Mariza, September 23 features wines of the Veneto winery Maculan with Angela Maculan presenting the wines paired with Chef Ian Schnoebelen's regional menu. Italia Sud @ Ancora, September 24 features wines from Southern Italy with Ann Zankin, President of Marc di Grazia Imports presenting the wines paired with Chef Jeff Talbot's regional menu! I'll keep you posted on the details!

In the works...

~September 11: Wednesday Nite Flites + Trunk Show with our friends from Queork!

~Priorat, Eric Solomon Selections with Sommelier Liz Dowty, October 17, 6:30 Importer Eric Solomon is renowned for his Spanish wine selections, especially those from Priorat where his wife happens to be the winemaker for one of the top estates.  Tonight we will feature 5 stunning wines, red & white, from the region paired with regional cheeses presented by Casey Foote of St. James Cheese & Swirl fame :) $30, reservations are required, call 504.304.0635

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