May 2016 Wine Bar

We have lots of great tastings this month at the wine bar... hope to see you here!

[click the calendar to see a larger version]

Greek Winemaker To Visit Hi-Time April 28th

Next Thursday, April 28... Just in time for Greek Orthodox Easter, Hi-Time will host winemaker Apostolos Spiropoulos who will be present from 5-7 pm (the tasting runs from 4:30-8:30pm) to discuss his family's wines and organically farmed vineyards. $20. We will taste 6 wines-- come down & taste!

The Spiropoulos family has maintained close ties with vineyards and wine since 1860.
The family’s vineyards are located on the Ancient Mantinia plateau in the central Peloponnese at an altitude of 650 meters, and in the vicinity of Ancient Nemea.  Α total of over 86 acres of vineyards are cultivated with grapes ranging from Moschofilero, Agiorghitiko, Lagorthi and Merlot to Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Syrah.

Since 1993, cultivation in Domaine Spiropoulos vineyards has met the “Organic Farming” requirements of EU Law 2092/91, and since 1996 the grapes of Domaine Spiropoulos have been certified for organic cultivation by DIO, the authorized agency in Greece for certification of organic produce.

The target Is producing high-quality grapes and wines, and protecting the ecosystem and the environment.

For more on Domaine Spiropoulos, please visit their website:

http://www.domainspiropoulos.com/

Wine Bar This Week

 Hello!

Tonight (Wednesday, April 20th) we are tasting 7 Sakes with Liloa "Loa" Papa from Young's Market Co. for our monthly Sake Tasting.  It runs from 6-8 p.m. and costs $20.

Thursday, April 21st - Sangiovese
It's not only grown in Brunello and Chianti! While we may take a look at some wines from these famed areas, some other less famous examples may sneak in...
$30, 4:30-8:30 p.m.



Friday, April 22nd - Yalumba
With roots going back to 1849, South Australia's Yalumba is a great intro to Aussie wines, if you're unfamiliar, and a benchmark Barossa winery to the already-converted imbibers. Plus we'll have Yalumba’s travelling historian & story-teller, Jane Ferrari, joining us at the wine bar. She is known for her deep knowledge of Yalumba and sparkling wit. $25, 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 23rd - Saint Cosme
This historic winery in Gigondas, in the southernRhône region of France, has roots dating back to the early 15th century and a stable of wines as rich as their history. $30, 2-8:30 p.m.

Wine Bar This Week

We are having a great class on Wednesday, April 13th, as Professor Todd Johnston hosts Cheese 101, a primer on wine and cheese pairing.  The class costs $20 and goes from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 14th: Domaine St. Préfert & Friends
Excellent high-scoring wines from Isabel Ferrando in Châteauneuf-du-Pape & other tasty French wines, all from H. Mercer Imports. $25, 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Friday, April 15th: So You Think You Don't Like Euro Wines? & Trivia Night with KissKissBangsBangs!  
Don't like Euro Wines? We will taste eight "modern style" wines from Europe that just might change your mind.  Trivia portion starts at 7 p.m. $25, 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 16th: Rosé Champagne
More popular than ever, we will sample 9 Rosé Champagnes including faves from Billecart-
Salmon, Laurent-Perrier, Andre Clouet, Gosset and Larmandier-Bernier. $30, 2-8:30 p.m.

Next Week:

Our monthly Sake Tasting is next Wednesday, April 20th, from 6-8 p.m., $20. Our guest host is Liloa "Loa" Papa from Young's Market Co. who will join our regular host and sake buyer Veronica Castro.

Thurs. 4/21: Sangiovese, $30
Fri. 4/22: Yalumba, $25
Sat. 4/23: Saint Cosme, $30 

Wine Happenings

Burgundy
Gregory Patriat, winemaker for Boisset pouring some of his white and red wine from Burgundy. Reasonably priced, elegant wines. -Gary Faust

Wine Bar!
Ancient Peaks is a stunning property in Paso Robles. The owner and winemaker will be at our wine bar Thursday evening, April 7th,  pouring their wines, talking about their vineyards, and just having fun! Just $20, open 4:30-8:30 p.m. - Dan Williams

On Friday night (4/8), we will taste some newly released beauties from the Golden State! $25, 4:30-8:30 p.m.


On Saturday (4/9) we are tasting the wines of Herman Story and Desparada-- with both winemakers in attendance!

Both wineries have made HUGE splashes over the years, crafting intense & complex reds & whites from Paso Robles & Santa Barbara County. Tonight we'll have both Russell & Valia, respective winemakers for Herman Story & Desparada, pouring new releases! $30, 2-8:30 p.m.

Spring Paella Party, Saturday, March 26th

Wine Bar Notes - Tobin Sharp

Though he now has a proper stand to cook on, we could not pass up a chance to showcase Todd's ability to adapt to & overcome any obstacle attempting to keep him from his paella.

This is a good thing as we have a Spring Paella Party at the wine bar tomorrow, Saturday, March 26! We will drink Spanish wines and seize the day. $30, 2-8:30pm.

Next Week at the Wine Bar:
Ten Dollar Tuesday 3/29 - The Wines of Gérard Bertrand. 6-8pm, $10!

Thursday, 3/31 - California Chardonnays!
Spring is here, and we’ll kick it off by tasting some fantastic Chardonnays! What kind, you ask? Well, let’s taste Kistler, Hudson, Rochioli, Patz & Hall, and many more! $25, 4:30-8:30pm.

Wednesday Wine Workshop March 16th: California Rhone Rangers!

Up for some adventure, some excitement?!?
Wednesday Wine Workshop, Wed. March 16th
California's Rhone Rangers with Dan Williams!

  
What's the difference in flavor and body between Syrah and Petite Sirah? Why is Viognier
the Chardonnay drinker's alternative? Why is Grenache an alternative to Pinot Noir?
Our California Wine Buyer (the guy on the bike!) is going to talk about Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah and more during this class! He'll focus on wines from Paso Robles and Santa Barbara for this tasting, and since these are some of his favorite varietals, you can bet that he'll pour some fantastic wines! 7-8:30pm, $20.

Winemakers Visit Hi-Time Wine Cellars

Gary Faust reports: Winemakers David Duband from Burgundy and Jean-Louis Dutraive of Domaine de La Grand'Cour from Beaujolais, visited Hi-Time from France (...and lucky for us, they brought some of their wines with them! -ed.).

Winemaker Mark Fincham from Maison Marchand-Tawse Visits Hi-Time

Winemaker Mark Fincham from Marchand-Tawse, no stranger to the Hi-Time wine bar, was back again as we tasted through their Burgundy lineup, seen here with our own Gary Faust.  We had a nice crowd here last night (Thursday, 3/3) but that's not a surprise as it's a. Burgundy and b. Marchand-Tawse (always a crowd favorite).  Keep up with our wine bar schedule here.  Cheers!  -Tobin Sharp

Claudio Fenocchio Visits Hi-Time

"Claudio Fenocchio and his fantastic wines with Italian wine buyer, Patty Quick. The 2011 Bussia Barolo is deep, approachable and in stock at HT. The '13 Langhe Freisa and '13 Barbera Superiore will be in next week."
-Gary Faust

From Burgundy to Star Wars...

Gary Faust has this report: "Thanks to Troy and Atherton crew. Great to meet Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey and taste his wines. His wife, Caroline poured her inaugural release and she seems to have the Midas touch as well."

Praise for Colin-Morey:

“Colin has been on a roll and these are definitely wines to follow”
– Allen Meadows, Burghound, July 2007

“The quality of Colin-Morey's white Burgundy remains high—and there's more of it to go around”
– Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator, 6/18/07

"What he produces on his own account is pure, elegant and precise. He is a name to watch."
– Clive Coates, The Wines of Burgundy, 2008 

###

A few months ago we started working with Kiss Kiss Bangs Bangs for our trivia night needs and the reception at the wine bar has been fantastic!  On Friday night (2/26) we had a Star Wars-themed trivia contest with a full bar-- pictured are the winners: congrats!  Keep an eye on our wine bar page to see when the next event is.

Thanks for Tasting with Aurelien Suenen on Saturday! #Champagne

We had a great turn-out of Champagne and Suenen fans last Saturday (2/13/16) and just wanted to say thanks!  The Champagnes and crowd were fantastic... cheers!

This Week's Wine Bar at Hi-Time: February 10-13

We always have something going on at the wine bar and this week's lineup looks fantastic-- including our pre-Valentine's Day Deluxe Champagne tasting on Saturday featuring The Champagnes of Aurélien Suenen (hint: ladies love bubbles!).

Tonight (2/10) we start with our Wednesday Wine Workshop: "Under the Radar" Spanish wines with Connor Clarke. $20, 7-8:30 p.m. Come learn and taste!

Thursday 2/11, 4:30-8:30pm: Oregon Wine Trail
Oregon is on a hot streak of vintages, and we’re going to pour some show stoppers tonight! Mostly Pinot Noirs, but a few whites to start. $20

Friday 2/12, 4:30-8:30pm: Loire Valley, France
This French region along the Loire River is mostly known for white wines from the Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc and Melon de Bourgogne grapes, there are excellent red wines made (especially around the Chinon region) from Cabernet franc.  We will try a mix of whites & reds. $25.

Saturday 2/13, 2-8:30pm: The Champgnes of Aurelien Suenen
"...one of the up and coming stars in the world of grower Champagne." -John Gilman, View From the Cellar. Aurélien will be here (from 2 to 5 p.m.) to pour and discuss his Champagnes; we will taste seven in all. $25

About Aurélien
Semi-pro basketball player Aurélien Suenen made an about-face in the mid-2000s, leaving basketball and returning to the family estate to help his ailing father. And he hasn’t looked back since. He farms five hectares of Chardonnay vines in the Côte des Blancs (in grand cru AOCs Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry), and Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay in the St. Thierry hills, due northwest of Reims. Approaching sustainable viticulture with the same zeal as his athletic training, he has been seeing to the revitalization of his soils—implementing mostly organic practices.

Heavily influenced by Burgundian winemaking, as well as the savoir-faire of mentors Anselme Selosse and the Agrapart brothers, he seeks slow, gentle, temperature-controlled vinifications and a separation of cuvees by individual parcel to achieve rich, ripe, layered, vibrant and mineral-driven champagnes. Beyond those memorable traits, Aurélien’s wines are filled with a character that goes beyond mere taste. Seeing how ardently he directs his passion, it is clear that these wines are destined for greatness.

Peter Neptune Teaching Six Wine Classes at Hi-Time, February through July

by Tobin Sharp

We will be starting our wine education program back up this month at the wine bar. Our own Connor Clarke will be teaching a class on Wednesday, February 10th ("Under the Radar" Spanish wine, 7-8:30pm, $20) and we will have one class each month taught by the Hi-Time staff as Master Somm and store friend Peter Neptune will be teaching one class a month starting this month through July. See the schedule at the bottom of the page to see what he will be covering.

The bio below is from Peter's website (neptunewine.com) where you can find more information about furthering your wine education.

Peter Neptune is one of only 147 individuals in North America to hold the wine industry's most prestigious title: Master Sommelier. He is a 31-year veteran of the wine business, beginning as a sommelier in New York City, where he trained and worked for 10 years. Upon returning to his native California (he was born on 10 July 1956 at Newport Beach, CA), Peter entered into Wine Education full time, and has established a nationwide reputation as one of the premier wine educators in the USA.

In addition to his MS Diploma, Peter holds the title of Certified Wine Educator with the Society of Wine Educators (for which he was recognized with the Banfi Award for Excellence in 2003), holds a Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in London, and is an Associate of the Institute of Wines and Spirits. He also holds the credential French Wine Scholar, with Highest Honors.

Peter is one of the teaching Masters at the Court of Master Sommelier Intro and Advanced Courses, and is an examiner at the Certified, Advanced, and Master Sommelier Examinations. In 2003 Peter began the first WSET school in Southern California. Currently, Neptune School of Wine administers the WSET Level 2 Intermediate, Level 3 Advanced, and Level 4 Diploma Certification programs, as well as the French Wine Scholar program and exam. To date we have taught over 500 students at the various levels.

Peter Neptune Wine Classes At Hi-Time!

2/24 Burgundy
3/30 Rhône Valley
4/27 Bordeaux
5/25 Loire Valley
6/22 Sud
7/27 Champagne/Alsace

Classes run from 6:30-8:00 and cost $30.00.  We will have room for 35 people per class so please plan accordingly! You can purchase online, by phone or in-store; your receipt is your ticket to the class.

February 2016 Wine Bar Schedule

Lots of great tastings scheduled this month-- and the return of our wine classes!  Our own Connor Clarke gets us started then we have Master Somm and store friend Peter Neptune beginning the first of his six sessions running through July.  "Under the Radar" Spanish wines is Connor's topic on the 10th with Peter exploring Burgundy on the 24th.  Customer faves Champagne and Cal Cabs make their Saturday appearances and we will have a "Star Wars" trivia night with Kiss Kiss Bangs Bangs toward the end of the month.  We hope to see you here!

What's up at the Hi-Time Wine Bar?

by Tobin Sharp

In the center of Hi-Time, right at the entrance to our wine cellar, sits the wine bar.  Here we have featured tastings, wine classes, special events and a self-serve section with our automated wine machines...

1. The Main Event!

Our main featured tastings are on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  In general, Thursday tastings tend to be a bit more erudite, showcasing wines perhaps more pensive in nature (think 'deep cuts' instead of 'greatest hits') but certainly most worthy to taste; Fridays are more crowd-friendly (in general), with new releases and easy sippers but also the occasional curveball to feature certain areas or producers and spread the spotlight. as it were; Saturdays are definitely the 'greatest hits' category of wines-- where we schedule the Cabernet Sauvignon or Champagne tastings... when we have winemakers visit, we tend to try and schedule them on Saturdays (schedule permitting, of course). At the tasting, you will be given a sheet listing what you will be tasting (and with space for notes or rating the wine) and you will be served each of the (usually 8-10) wines in order (1 oz. pour per wine).  We would recommend giving yourself at least 30 minutes to taste the wines (i.e. don't show up at 8:25 p.m. when the wine bar closes at 8:30 p.m.).

2. Eat too, Brute?

We will sometimes have food featured with the tastings-- for example, we are tasting Austria and German wines tonight (1/21) and will be serving bratwursts with them.  We always provide either bread or crackers-- something to help cleanse the palate while also providing a buffer against accidental inebriation (tasting wine on an empty stomach? Non!).  Upstairs in our gourmet food area we do have a nice selection of cheeses and charcuterie for sale so we see many of our wine bar clientele purchasing fromage and/or sausages to pair with what they're tasting (we'll give you plates/plasticware at the bar!).

3. Schedule & Other Events & Self Serve Selections

a. Our Wine Bar Schedule is always available on our website, www.hitimewine.net, but we also tend to send out reminders via social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

b. The other events that take place at the wine bar include (mostly) monthly Beer Tastings (last Sunday of the month, 12-5 p.m., around $20-25), Sake Tastings (Wednesdays or Sundays toward the latter half of the month), wine classes (usually on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays-- February through November), and other special events, such as bottle signings, winemaker visits, etc.  Ten Dollar Tuesdays take place each Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. and offer 4-6 tastes for only $10.  Some of these nights may be sponsored by various distributors showcasing their portfolio or new goods while many nights will see our Wine Bar Manager Todd or other wine staff members pick some of their recent favorites.  

c. Our automated wine machines are available generally during our business hours-- there are 16 selections and you have the option to choose between three portion sizes (taste, half-glass, glass) at a variety of prices.  We will have many 'everyday' wines (where tastes may cost around $1) but also feature some higher end Cabs, French and Italian wines (and others) that may cost $25 to $100 (or more) per glass.  You will need to get a 'wine card' in order to use the machines-- ask one of the wine staff at the bar or in the cellar to get a card (think gift card where you load how much $ you want on the card). 

4. To RSVP or not RSVP-- wait, is that required??

There are times when we will not have the automated wine machines available-- the vast majority of our tastings do not require reservations but we do have a select few tastings a year with mandatory reservations required.  During such events, we will not offer the automated wine machines.  Also, regarding RSVP tastings, we will have them listed on our site/social media when they occur.

5. Other Useful Info

When attending our tastings, please do not wear perfume and/or cologne as they can adversely affect the nosing of the wines (for example, we don't want to smell "Old Spice" when we're trying to get our nose around a First Growth Bordeaux!).  As most of our tastings are on a "first come, first served" basis, there may be times when the wine bar is full and you may have to wait to get a seat.  In general, there is usually plenty of room for folks to have a seat or stand and taste at our back bar.  The wines we taste that night will be featured on the shelf near the entrance to the wine cellar if you would like to purchase your favorites.

This week's schedule:

Thursday, January 21st: German & Austrian Wines (with bratwursts) $20, 4:30-8:30pm.

 Friday, January 22nd: Louis Jadot 2013 (Villages, 1er Cru, Grand Cru), $30, 4:30-8:30pm.

Saturday, January 23rd: Cabernet Sauvignon & Celebrating Dan Williams' Birthday! Dan has pulled some stunners so this will be a showstopper event-- $30, 2-8:30pm.

The Golden Palate Update and Final Countdown Date

Our two semi-finals took place last month and we haven't done an update in a while...

Gabe Barakat was victorious over Gail Roberts in a highly contested match with an 18-16 score.  The top wine of the night ended up with a pair scoring the same, both selected by Gabe: O'Shaughnessy "Howell" 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon and Kobalt 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. We also had a tie for the next most popular wines of the night-- another tie, both wines selected by Gail: Malartic Lagraviere 2010 Bordeaux Blanc and Cheval des Andes 2010 Malbec/Cab.

John Pate came out on top after matching wines with Dan Williams (who had knocked out last year's 'Golden Palate' Zach Korhonen in his previous match).  The top wines of the night ended with a triple tie for 1st place: William Fevre "Vaudesir" 2013 Chablis selected by John and Kamen 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon & Law "Sagacious" 2012 Rhône Blend selected by Dan.

Our 'final countdown' showdown for The Golden Palate will take place in December so we have a bit of a breather before the combatants enter our wine bar ring: Thursday, Dec. 10th, 4:30-8:30 p.m., $35.

The Golden Palate Competition is Back!

The Return of The Golden Palate!
by Tobin Sharp
Last year, we tried a new series at our wine bar-- one that pitted our wine staff members against each other in a 'cage match' kind of wine competition, one we call The Golden Palate. In this competition, our wine staffers each select 5 wines from a preset price range ( 1st round includes wine under $20, 2nd round includes wines under $50, 3rd round includes wines under $100, the final didn't have a price range) and the wine bar customers, who don't know which staffer picked which bottles, votes for their favorite wines. Whomever gathers the most votes, moves forward. The "2nd place winner" goes home (sometimes in tears).
 
In last year's finale, in an 'Anakin Skywalker v. Obi Wan Kenobi' showdown, Zach "Le Champignon" Korhonen bested Dan Williams in a tightly contested round (with incredible wines!).

Our first match of the new year took place last Friday (2/20), pitting Gabe Barakat against Veronica Castro.
 
Here are the top vote-getting wines, and who picked them:
1. Pago Florentino 2010 Tempranillo (Veronica)
2. & 3. (tie) (both from Gabe)
• Bohigas Brut Reserva Cava
• Tarima Hill 2012 100% Monastrell
 
Even though Veronica chose the most popular wine of the night, it was Gabe Barakat who emerged victorious!

Here's the full list in the order served:

1. Bohigas Brut Reserva Cava

2. Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir

3. Cantina Terlano 2013 Pinot Grigio

4. Charles Smith 2013 Riesling "Kung Fu Girl"

5. Matthieu Barret 2013 Côte du Rhône Petit Ours Brun

6. Pago Florentino 2010 Tempranillo

7. Freakshow 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

8. Bodegas Aragonesas 2012 Coto De Hayas

9. Tarima Hill 2012 100% Monastrell

10. Ancient Peaks 2012 Proprietary Red "Renegade"

Coming up in April!
Todd v. Michael
Zach v. Beate

As always, check our Wine Bar page to find out the schedule!

2015 Bracket