Indulge Me for a Moment Please...

Even though the majority of our inventory hits that sweet spot of $10-$25 a bottle, we've really been finding some excellent wines for our "Indulge" corner over the past few weeks.  Because like everything in the store, it takes time to find the right wines to fill our shelves and I think we've got some stellar selections right now.  And even though I don't buy based on scores, as I did research on some of the bottles for this post I found a few great reviews out there that I thought I'd share with you.  So indulge me for a moment please and look over the list or peruse the corner on your next visit; you never know when a special moment is going to call for a special bottle...Let me know if you see anything that interests you, but I'll warn you that none are under $40.  Of course there is very special case pricing available.  :)

2010  Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir la Neblina, WA Rating: 93
The 2010 Pinot Noir La Neblina is a gorgeous wine laced with expressive dark red cherries, flowers, licorice and sweet spices. It shows gorgeous depth and radiance in its fruit. Bright floral notes and an underpinning of vibrant minerality give the wine considerable lift and brightness. Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet roses frame an energetic finish layered with distinctly saline notes. This is a fabulous showing. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.

2007  Marcarini Barolo Brunate, WA Rating: 94
The estate’s 2007 Barolo Brunate sweeps across the palate with endless layers of expansive fruit. The Brunate shows fabulous intensity and depth in an uncharacteristically rich, opulent style for Marcarini. Despite the wine’s richness there is plenty of Brunate character, particularly on the finish, where menthol, pine, resin, spices and a host of other balsamic notes speak with great eloquence. Marcarini harvested Brunate on September 24 and 25. The wine saw 15 days of fermentation, followed by another 42 days of contact with the skins. The wine then spent two years in large, neutral casks prior to being racked into steel to rest before being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. These are some of the finest Baroli I have ever tasted from Marcarini and proprietor Manuel Marchetti. The warmth of the vintage has given the wines an extra level of generosity in the fruit that acts as a wonderful counterpoint to the firm tannins that are generally present in this estate’s young Baroli.

2009  Domaine Gerard Charvin Chateauneuf du Pape, WA Rating: 95
The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape (which tips the scales around 15% natural alcohol) is a great example of traditional Chateauneuf du Pape winemaking. A dense dark ruby color is followed by a sexy nose of raspberries, ground pepper, spice box, damp earth, kirsch and dark currants. Full-bodied, complex, elegant and already irresistible as the tannins have completely melted away, it can be drunk now and over the next 15+ years. Beautifully made, traditional wines emerge from Laurent Charvin’s estate in the northwestern sector of Chateauneuf du Pape, where the family owns 20+ acres of vines.

2009  Haut Bergey Bordeaux, WA Rating: 94
Deep color. Decidedly sweet nose is attractive with notes of cassis, black raspberry, leather, spice, green pepper, and smoke. Relatively large-scaled in the mouth. It’s chewy, chunky, concentrated, and tannic; a wine with superb structure and depth. This youthful wine will require some cellaring, but already shows the pedigree of serious success. Long, consistent, penetrating finish. Outstanding value and highly recommended.

2006  Allegrini Amarone Classico, WA Rating: 94
The 2006 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is the finest young vintage I have ever tasted of this wine. The 2006 is a beautifully balanced Amarone with great intensity in its dark fruit and the accompanying structure to support many years of cellaring. Hints of smoke, tar, licorice and incense linger on the tightly wound finish. The freshness, clarity and vibrancy are first-class. This is an exquisite Amarone from Allegrini. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026.



2009  K Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Stoneridge Vineyard, WA Rating: 92
Like its Merlot counterpart, unblended, and matured in barrel for more than two years, Smith's 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Stoneridge, nonetheless, gives a very different account of itself, featuring juicy, downright tart-edged cassis and elderberry fruit that more than rides out the wine's underlying tannin. Wild plum and fennel as well as pronounced salinity and alkalinity make it impossible for me not to imagine myself near an ocean. The combination of bright, sappy fresh berry intensity and mouthwatering salinity makes for an irresistible urge to take the next sip even before the long finish has faded. Look for at least a decade of delicious fascination.

2010 Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune White Clos St.-Landry, WS Rating: 91
Almost viscous in texture, this honeyed white sports peach, apple and lemon flavors. Both ripe and lively, this ends with accents of honey and mineral. Drink now through 2020. 150 cases imported.

2007  Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino, WA Rating: 95
The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is a gorgeous wine that brings together the richness of the vintage and the house’s continuing move to a more traditional style. Sweet red berries, flowers, mint, spices and anise are woven together beautifully in this large-scaled, generous wine. The wine gains volume and depth in the glass as the flavors built to a huge crescendo. The 2007 was aged exclusively in cask. This is a great showing from Fuligni. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.

2010 Elk Cove, Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Clay Court, WS Rating: 93
Light and sleek, with raspberry, cherry and delicately meaty flavors, mingling effortlessly against a light veil of tannins as the finish lingers. Drink now through 2018. 352 cases made

 2008 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto, IWC Rating: 91
Good full ruby. Deep, youthfully brooding plum and red cherry on the nose, with strong sweet spice notes of cinnamon and nutmeg building in the glass. Sappy black and red fruit flavors are complicated by pepper and sweet spices. Finishes long, with youthfully dusty tannins and tangy mineral notes. This has considerable potential, and is much more complex than the immediately charming Le Difese. Insiders know that Guidalberto, first made in vintage 2000, is often an excellent wine and a really smart buy, even if it's much less famous than Sassicaia. Depending on the vintage, about 20% of declassified Sassicaia finds its way into the Guidalberto.

2007  Collosorbo Brunello di Montalcino, WA Rating: 94
The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino bursts from the glass with freshly cut flowers, spices, rose petals and sweet red berries. The 2007 impresses for its poise and fabulous overall harmony, especially in the way expressive aromatics and fruit are woven together. I very much admire the wine’s feminine, gracious personality. This is a terrific showing from Collosorbo


Also many notables that don't have reviews like the Daniel Rion & Paul Garaudet wines from Burgundy, the Mara, Caldwell, White Rock and Vending Machine wines from California, Ca'Marcanda and Castiglioni del Bosco wines from Tuscany, Saint Cosme and Eric Texier wines from the Rhone, Gaja and Paolo Scavino from Piemonte, Terre Nere and Salvo Foti wines from the Etna, Tedeschi from the Veneto, Moises, Brittan, Lumos and J. Christopher wines from Oregon and many more...It is a fun section of the store to spend some time in if you never have.

Special Feature, Champagne Jean Velut Brut

Being huge bubbly fans ourselves, we don't ever need a holiday or special event to pop a bottle of Champagne.  However, I know many of you may be looking for a nice bottle to have for Valentine's Day and I'm here to tell you your search is over!  While we have a really great,carefully chosen stock of vintage, grower and big house champagnes, over the last few months the entire staff at Swirl has become quite enamored with the wines from Jean Velut.  So much so that we are featuring it in our special Valentine's Day Flite Nite!

Jean Velut is a grower Champagne from one of the lesser known villages sitting midway between the Cote des Bars and the Cote de Sezanne.  Montgueux is known as the “Montrachet of the Côte des Bars” for its fascinating and distinctive Chardonnays supported by area's uncharacteristic chalky, limestone soils. The growers around the region have long sold fruit to some of the marque houses such as Piper Heidsieck, but there are a few bottling their own wines from this unique terrior. 

Denis Velut’s grandfather Jean established this 7 hectare domaine as a récoltant/manipulant (grower) thirty years ago. He practices organic viticulture and does not use any insecticides or chemical fertilizers, instead opting to use organic compost. The wines are made entirely in stainless steel. 

His Non-Vintage Brut is made with 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Noir. It gets its structure from the steely austerity of the chalk infused chardonnay while the ripe Pinot provides a fruity lift. The chalky plateau on which the vineyards sit is unique to all of Champagne and imparts the Chardonnay dominant wine with that distinctive minerality.   Aromas of apple and pear with a touch of biscuity toastiness, this is super balanced with its bold and zesty palate.  Fairly opulent with fresh lemon, chalk and apples, it finishes with a refreshing burst of racy minerality.

You can try it on Valentine's Day during our special flite nite where you can try 4 bubblies for $15 anytime from 5:30 to 8pm.  Buy it at retail for $41 and share it with someone you care about or keep it all to yourself!  A dozen raw oysters and a bottle of Jean Velut?  Perfection!

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Dec 12
(85% chardonnay and 15% pinot noir):  Light yellow.  Ripe orchard fruits and toasted nuts on the fragrant nose.  Fleshy but precise, offering lively pear and Meyer lemon flavors and a hint of marzipan.  Finishes smooth and long, with musky herb and honey notes. 90 points

Wine of the Moment, 2010 Treasure Hunter Violet Whip

One of our reps wandered in about 2 weeks ago with a wine broker in tow and a bag full of wine.  It was early, I had just opened the shop with a fresh palate and clear head and was ready to see what they had to offer.  There were about 8 wines in the bag and as we moved down line, there was nothing I didn't like, but also nothing that made me pause and go back for a second taste until...

As soon as I put my nose in the glass I knew immediately that it didn't matter what it was or where it was from, but I had to have it.  Crazy aromas of ripe plums and blackberries, mocha, caramel and spice, I would have never guessed that it was Petit Verdot from California's famed Paso Robles region. Long a “secret weapon” in the Bordeaux winemaker’s arsenal, Petit Verdot is one of the five main varieties that are used in red blends in the Bordeaux style. Usually added in small amounts to add color, structural elements, and aromatic complexity, this grape variety is seldom seen on its own and rarely in California.

Rich and full on the palate, velvety texture, totally integrated oak and deep black fruit with a long finish;  I've never seen the label before, never tasted anything like it, ever, so needless to say I was intrigued. "So what's the story on this one?" I ask. Fittingly called "Treasure Hunter" it's basically from a virtual winery where a group of nine top sommeliers, winemakers and restaurateurs are taking advantage of lots of high end wines from noteworthy producers that, for one reason or another, need to be unloaded.  The group pours through hundreds of wines before they find something deemed worthy. Each wine is a small one-time offering and represents an extraordinary opportunity to drink amazing wines at a third of what they would usually sell for. Liquid rubies and drops of gold. Treasure Hunters we are - or so we are told. - from their website...

Super delicious, distinctive, and like nothing you've never had before!  They only made 180 cases of this and we've gone through almost five already!  We'll be getting more by the end of the week but you better get you some before it's gone!  Buy it by the glass at the bar or by the bottle on the shelves for $22 which is a steal for the quality of this wine.

2010 Treasure Hunter Petit Verdot Violet Whip Paso Robles
Tasting notes from their website:
Petit Verdot grape predates Cabernet Sauvignon. It ripens very late which means it has longer than almost any other grape to mature and gather intensity from the sun. In California it is rare and is the most expensive grape there is. We have been searching for three years for a perfect lot of Petit and we present it to you here. Only 180 cases made!
 
Darker than a pomegranate seed this wine shows so much intensity you may have to have someone tie you to a chair to truly appreciate the ravishing potency of this wine. The safe word here is “WHIP”. The nose on this wine explodes with violet, spice and molasses. On the palate it is an unfettered harlot showing voluptuous blackberry, black cherry and plum. This wines climax is long and oh so satisfying.

Driven by a passion for wine, food, travel and good company...

As I sat at my desk this morning putting all of our upcoming events into the calendar, I couldn't help but scratch my head and wonder how we are going to pull all of this off. While it would be so easy to sit back and just be a fun wine bar and market, I can't help myself. Because in sharing our love of wine, food and travel through our events and trips, we connect with others who share our passion; chefs, winemakers, importers, wine wholesalers, restaurant owners, slow food folks, farmers, customers and more. New friendships are formed and others deepened with delicious food, interesting wines and wonderful company. After all, isn't that what this is all about?

So I hope you'll join us sometime soon for a wine and cheese pairing night, a dinner or two, a flite nite at the bar or just wander on in for a nice glass of wine and some lively conversation. Besides our regularly scheduled events that we do each and every week like Fat Falafel Tuesdays (6-8pm), Wednesday Nite Flites (6-8pm), Friday Free For Alls (6-8pm) and Saturday Happy Hour (all wines on our menu are 1/2 off, 4-6pm), here are some exciting things on the books and in the works!

The Famed Wines of Montalcino with Antonio Molesini and St. James' Cheese Casey Foote. A seated tasting of Rosso di Montalcino, Brunellos and Super Tuscans from one of Italy's most famous hill towns. And since no Italian event is complete with out a little food, Casey will pair delicicous Italian cheeses and meats with the wines. $30, Reservations and prepayment required. Thursday, February 21, 6:30pm @ Swirl.

Premium Pinot, a special Wednesday Nite Flite featuring 12 artisanal Pinot Noirs that retail from $40 to $100 a bottle from California and Oregon. We are teaming up with our friends from Mystic Vines for this exclusive event limited to 25 participants. $20, Reservations and prepayment required. Wednesday, February 27, 6:00pm

Three Muses Supper Club with James Moises a small, intimate event featuring a special menu for the evening that we will pair with Oregon and Washington wines presented by our mutual friend James Moises. I sent a special email out on Friday with the menu, pairings and reservation details. We were sold out by Sunday, but keep an eye out for more events with Chef Dan. Tuesday, March 12 @ 7pm.

Italian Barrel Wine Dinner with Antonio Molesini will feature 5 courses with wine pairings with our favorite Italian Wine Guy, Antonio Molesini. The dinner will be prepared by Chef/Proprietor Samantha L. Castagnetti a native of Verona in her true Italian style trattoria. Menu and pairings TBA, but mark the date! Tuesday March, 19th at 6:30pm. $70 inclusive, only 20 spots available!

The Oregon Wine Road Show with Bizou Wines featuring 30 Oregon wines from artisan producers, most of who don't sell their wines outside of Oregon. James Moises represents a slew of small producers who make incredible Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, Viognier, Syrah and of course Pinot Noir that few in New Orleans have ever tasted. This is a don't miss tasting for all you Pinot lovers or any who wants to taste some amazing wines and learn about what is happening in Oregon. This tasting will be an extension of our Wednesday Nite Flites on March 20th. More info TBA!

Artisan Winemaking Tour with James Moises of Bizou Wines for a unique, hands-on experience of small production, artisanal winemaking at its best!  We'll take you to the stunningly beautiful Pacific Northwest for a five day tour to visit small, off the beaten path wineries and vineyards; meet, taste and dine with winemakers and witness one of the most exciting times of the year in wine country, the harvest!  You will get an exclusive, insiders look into what goes on behind the scenes as you'll have the opportunity to pick grapes, sort fruit and see many aspects of the grape harvest and early stages of production first hand. October 9-13th, details and pricing coming very soon!

Also in the works for March... an unforgettable event with Marco De Grazia Imports President, Anne Zakin on March 14th at a fabulous NOLA restaurant...and in early April a Slow Wine and Food Event with Slow Food NOLA featuring Italian wine, pasta and the new Slow Wine book!

See anything interesting?  Call us!  504-304-0635

Supper Club at Three Muses

Three Muses Supper Club

March 12, 2013 @ 7pm

Sold Out

Chef Daniel Esses
Wines supplied by Swirl Wine Bar & Market
Presented by James Moises, Bizou Wines

$75 inclusive

Amuse Bouche
Curried spinach and goat cheese bruschetta
The Portlandia, Blood Orange Juice, Rosemary, Aviator Gin (Oregon)

1st Course
Swiss chard roll with quinoa, red lentil and sultana raisins in a mushroom broth
2011 Lumos Wines Pinot Gris Rudulfo Vineyard, Oregon

2nd Course
Tikka masala salmon on a cauliflower and carrot fritter
2008 Moises Vieux Carre Pinot Noir, Oregon

3rd Course
Curry leaf and coconut milk braised oxtail over saffron risotto
Served with sides of almond turmeric green beans &
      pickled cucumber and red onion salad
2006 Dominio Sketches of Spain Tempranillo, Oregon

Dessert
Strawberry and mascapone Napolean with hazlenut tuilles
2009 Capitello Wines Dolcino

Finally, a New Wine by the Glass Menu!

Kerry's Kale and Ceci Soup

When we had that little cold, wet, dreary spell early in January, Kerry started making this delicious meal in a bowl soup.  And even though the weather has warmed up, we are still eating it weekly!  Ceci is Italian for chickpeas and they featured in many Italian soups.  Here's a link to one I did a few years back too, Pasta e Ceci.

Kale and Ceci Soup
•    Olive oil
•    3 to 4 strips of bacon
•    1 lb of Italian sausage
•    2 cups finely diced yellow onions
•    1 cup finely diced celery
•    1 cup finely diced carrots
•    4 cloves garlic, sliced
•    Salt and freshly ground black pepper
•    1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
•    2 (14-ounce) can chick peas, drained and rinsed well
•    2 quarts chicken or veg stock, plus extra water if needed
•    2 sprigs rosemary
•    3 sprigs thyme
•    1 sprig oregano
•    Red chili flakes to taste
•    4 cups greens (lightly packed), stems removed and cut into bite size pieces (Lacinta kale, dino kale, Russian kale, beet greens – any combination of)
•    Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated for serving
Directions
In a large soup pot fry the bacon until crisp, remove and leave fat in pot. Add a decent splash of olive oil and heat over medium heat. Saute the onion, celery, carrot and garlic for 5 minutes or until soft.
Meanwhile crumble the sausage and brown in a separate pan.
Season soup pot with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Add the diced tomatoes, then 1-1/2 to 2 cans of the chick peas, and the stock. Using kitchen twine, tie the herbs into a bundle and add to the pot. Season with the red chili flakes. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add the kale. Continue cooking until the kale is tender. Add the cooked sausage and all the drippings from the pan – deglaze the pan with a little wine to get all the good stuff. Simmer gently for a few more minutes, taste check for salt and pepper.
Put a handful of cooked pasta (small shells, elbows or similar) into a soup bowl then ladle soup in. Sprinkle with cheese and finish with a dash of olive oil on top.

Wine of the Moment: Bodegas Ordonez Nisia Verdejo

When you taste as many wines as we do a week, it is sometimes hard to find one that really grabs you.  It's not that we're tasting bad wines, it's just that the more you taste the more developed your palate becomes and therefore the pickier you get about what you buy. Which for you, our treasured customers, is a good thing because the quality of what you buy at Swirl at any price point has gone through our tried and true scrutiny.  The wine might not always suite your style, but I can promise, except in those rare occasions of an flawed or corked bottle, you'll be drinking a well made wine with its own charm and personality.

The down side of tasting all of these wines per week for me is that it takes a lot to get my attention.  Out of probably close to trying 75 wines per week, only 5-10% of those are considered for the store.  It's not about price, it's about quality for the money; it's not about just being "good" enough, but about over delivering.  And last week there were a few that met that criteria as we are looking for new wines for our wine bar list and were pleasantly surprised.

The Bodegas Ordonez Nisia was one such wine which is currently on our shelves and will have a spot on our new list which will be released on Wednesday.  The wine is a special project by importer Jorge Ordonez, who for the last 25 years has championed Spain, treasure hunting from La Rioja to La Mancha to bring its jewels to the world and especially America. Some criticize him for his new world style wines, a bit homogenized for old world palates, but there are some real gems in his portfolio no matter what your style.

Lately, over the past couple of years, Jorge and his sister, Victoria, have upped their investment by actually purchasing several Spanish estates and taking over every aspect of operations. The 2011 Nisia is the product of Ordonez' newest acquisition, a superb Rueda plantation of old-vines Verdejo just outside the city of Segovia. The harvest is done at night when the temperatures are much cooler than those during the day in September, the typical harvest month in Rueda. The vines used for Nisia are more than 60 years old, and you can taste the quality in this wine. The poor soils here, mostly river stones and sand, and low yields, results in a level of concentration that is seldom experienced in Spanish white wines.  You can buy this little beauty for under $15...what are you waiting for?

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points
The 2011 Nisia is made from 100% old vine Verdejo (the youngest vines were planted in 1942, and others are nearly 100 years of age). The wine is aged sur-lie, and fermented in both stainless steel and large format French oak. It is undeniably one of the finest Verdejos I have ever tasted. Yields were less than three tons of fruit per hectare, which is noticeable in the wine’s old vine intensity. Notions of caramelized white citrus and tropical fruit blossoms along with a naked, natural texture as well as finish make for a terrific dry white with loads of personality and complexity. This beauty sells for an absurdly low price. Enjoy it over the next year.

Fondue Recipes and Pairings

We had a wonderful evening on Thursday at the shop with our friends from St. James Cheese for our Fondue and Wine class. PJ Rosenberg from Uncorked poured some really fantastic wines to pair with the cheeses and a good time was had by all!

We were talking last night about how the American fad of fondue in the '70's kind of diminished the importance of this age old tradition in Europe.  Historically the first evidence of the practice is given to a reference in Homer's Illiad regarding a mixture of goat's cheese, flour and wine.  The middle ages in France saw the use of raw meat dipped in hot oil for a quick meal during the busy harvest season and in the18th century the Swiss created the mixture we currently use.  As a wintertime, communal meal, hard aged cheeses would be melted with garlic, wine and herbs while the hardened, stored bread could be softened by dipping into the mixture. And of course it was the Americans who popularized the dessert version where cake and fruit are dipped into melted chocolate!

But what we focused on for our event were more traditional recipes.  So here they are and also listed are the red and white wine pairings that were definitely a hit last night as well.  St. James recommends the Swissmar Fondue Sets which they sell at the their store or you can find them here at Amazon.  All of the cheeses, wines and the kirsch are available at Swirl.

The wine lineup for the evening, the Schoffit Chasselas was amazing!

Traditional Nuchateloise Swiss Fondue
Served with the 2010 Domaine Schoffit Chasselas Vieilles Vignes and the 2011 Pierre Chermette Beaujolais

1-1/2 Cup grated Gruyere or Comte
1-1/2 Cup grated Ementhaler
1/2 Cup grated Vacherin Fribourgeois
2-3 T. of flour
1 garlic clove, halved
1 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon lemon juice1 dash Trimbach Kirsch (cherry brandy available at swirl)
Salt & fresh pepper to taste
1 pinch nutmeg

Toss the shredded cheeses and flour together in a bowl until thoroughly combined.

Combine the wine and garlic in a 2-quart fondue pot or any flame-proof dish and bring to a boil over moderate heat. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes before removing and discarding the garlic.

Lower the heat so the wine barely simmers and add the cheese mixture a handful at a time, stirring constantly with a fork and letting each handful of cheese melt completely before adding another.

When all the cheese has been added and the fondue is smooth, stir in the kirsch, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

Place the fondue dish over an alcohol burner in the center of the table and serve with cubed bread. Traditionally, each diner spears a cube of bread with a long fondue fork and dips it in the cheese mixture to coat it completely before eating.

Fondue aficionados know that allowing a crust of burned cheese to form on the bottom of the pot results in a treat which some consider the best part of the meal.

Italian Fondue
Served with the 2011 Caggiano Devon Greco di Tufo and the 2010 Revello Barbera D'Alba
 
2 T. butter
3/4 Cup whole milk
3 Egg Yolks, lightly beaten
4 oz. Fontina Val D'Aosta, grated or diced
4 oz. Sottocenere al Tatufo, grated or diced

In a bowl whisk together the milk and yokes and stir in the cheese.

Melt the butter in a double boiler set over medium heat

Whisking constantly, slowly add the egg, milk and cheese mixture until it has thickened, 8-10 minutes

Transfer to a warm fondue pot and serve with bread and vegetables

Wishing you all the Best in 2013

As we locked up the shop last evening, literally closing the door on 2012, I felt a calmness about the coming year that I've not experienced since opening the shop in 2006.  We've had a great year, our best yet in many ways both professionally and personally, and I finally feel like I may be able to stop holding my breath just for a moment and take it all in...Owning a small business, and we are truly a small business, is tough.  You have to wear multiple hats while spinning many plates and juggle standing on one foot.  But both Kerry and I love what we do and we love sharing it with you.  So as I relax in the moment for just a bit before I begin working on an even better 2013, I wanted to take a minute to thank all of you for your support.  Because without you, your sense of adventure, curiosity, and willingness to try something new, Swirl would not exist.

We know you have many places to shop for wine in New Orleans and options seem to be increasing rapidly.  Grocery store chains are beginning to realize that New Orleanians are looking for something other than Yellow Tail and Sutter Home and many energetic entrepreneurs are jumping headfirst into opening small neighborhood retail shops.  We understand how easy it could be to fill your grocery cart with wines while you shop or just pop into the closest place with easy parking.

So for those of you who still enjoy the thrill of discovering a new producer or obscure variety, selected by people who truly care about the products we stock or who like to hear the story behind a particular wine on our shelves or who just like hanging out in the shop enjoying a glass with friends, we thank you.  We thank you for trusting us to make your selections, for sharing your company and for supporting us through the years.  And for those of you who haven't been in the shop in a while for some reason or another, come by.  You'll always get the same warm greeting, thoughtful help and quality wine whether you are spending $10 or $100.

Cheers to you, and here's hoping you have the happiest year of your life ahead!