Anthony Quinn's Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits Store Email He Wrote & Posted Tuesday, August 9th, 2011: ENJOY!

THESE ARE CREATIVE TIMES filled with hope and inspiration/ motivation , care and concern and doing things to help make a difference. We just finished raising some money with your help at our last Big-Theme Wine-Tasting for Metro TeenAIDS. That felt good. We are looking for another local cause/charity/organization that needs our help when we hold our next Big-Theme Wine-Tasting of the wines of New York. WE will have three tables of New York State wines and one of roses from around the world. Seeing as Greg Siebert that works with us here is from Rochester, New York I have asked him to be in charge of these wines from New York as he seems to know them pretty much inside-out. I can't wait to see what he arranges. I will work on the table of the roses from around the world which will include some sparkling as well I hope. SO : MARK YOUR CALENDARS and bring family and friends when you come. It's from 5:30-8:30PM and there is no charge for the tasting though we will be asking for $5 donations to whichever local cause we select. We would also like to extend this to schools here that need our help and start with some of them when school starts back. SO AGAIN : If you are reading this and have any ideas or suggestions please do share. LAST WEEK'S EMAIL GENERATED A FAIR NUMBER of responses and I am especially pleased and encouraged by that. I have delayed making any decisions on certain events as I want to hear from as many of you as I can before doing. Please do share any of your concerns or observations with us as we feel very much a part of this community and want to work as closely with as many of you as we can. Why not? We depend on one another so please respond to this email and let us know about the wine/beer/liquor events that we can do in your buildings/ any private tastings as well for smaller groups of you in your homes / and any causes-charities that are local and that you recommend that we team up with? Thanks for giving this some serious consideration. MY NEXT SATURDAY WINE-CLASS will be on dry roses from around the world as a small " teaser " for the one we will do later on Wednesday, August 24th, 2011. I will select some from Germany, Austria, California, France, Italy and more. It will be this Saturday, August 13th, 2011 from 11:30AM-1PM and because I will be using some fancier wines this time the cost will be $20 a person. Six wines and all dry and all pretty special. Come check it out. Please call us or respond to this email. I need a minimum of six people to conduct these classes and I can assure you that you will go away with lots of valuable experience in how to taste and evaluate the wines I have selected on your own terms and concerning your palate alone. That's what counts: what do you personally think of the wines? If I can get you to know and feel comfortable with your own palate then I have succeeded brilliantly. It's early to rise for such an experience and yet many of the most famous wine reviewers like Robert Parker, Jr. prefer to taste early in the day when their palate is the keenest. We can discuss this as we taste these fine rose wines. I may even include a sparkling one or two. Call: 202-363-4265 or simply respond to this email. Mary Beth one of the last of the contestants on the Food Network's current show : Top Network Star was just in the store this past week with her son. She was shopping and the last time I saw her was months ago when she stopped by and told me that she was going to be one of the contestants. My wife and I have been following the show and enjoying it and wishing for her continued success. When she came last week she could not reveal whether she had won or not and we missed last night's show so we will have to watch it tonight. ANYWAY, when I saw Mary Beth I mentioned that both the network and the show needed to mention and incorporate more wine ( or beer or liquor ) into it as they are all essential parts of any meal and deserve more attention. I think it's a big mistake not to include these more as they often make a big difference as in when there is a certain number of tastes in both the wine and also in the food and yet when you combine them there is another taste that is created by this union. That's what I have always understood is the " magic " in wine-food pairings. If you want to see pictures of Mary Beth here go to our Facebook page : Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and check it out. Cheers. It sure was great to see you once again Mary Beth and we hope that you win this. You are great no matter what the outcome. My wife said to me recently that she did not know you as we do here at the store but that she was proud of what you have accomplished and is a fan of yours. I like that. OVER THE PAST WEEKEND the Gallo's were in and mentioned that they had just seen Sheri in California. I asked : " Sheree with the pug-nosed dog?!? " And they said : " Yes ". And we got to talking and I learned that Sheri our customer from 3 years ago or so has now worked herself up from being in the tasting room at PEJU Vineyards to the assistant wine-maker there. A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to you Sheri. We all look forward to hearing all about it. Please do share. Are you still getting this store email even after all these years? You can respond to this email if you are. Tell us all about the experience and what wines you like the most at PEJU? Share! I did email you earlier Sheri at the winery and hope that you get that and respond there as well. Cheers. IT'S TIME FOR SANTOS RIVERA & His Beer : Here's what he has for us - 1) SPRINGHOUSE ALE , a Belgian-Style Farmhouse Ale ( On Special for $6.99, a 1 Pint 6 Fl. Oz bottle, Willimasburg Alewerks, Williamsburg, VA. www.alewerks.com ) WILLIAMSBURG ALEWERKS is " new and exciting " here in Cleveland Park. We did our dinner with them recently over at Dino Ristorante. Did any of you attend? Share here your observations. Just respond to this email. 2) Brewmaster's Reserve Grand " Illumination " Ale from the WILLIAMSBURG ALEWERKS ( On Special for $7.99 a 1 Pint 6 Fluid Oz. bottle, ) is a limited release : an American Barleywine-style ale. Come check it out. 3) WYLD Organic Extra Pale Ale ( On Special for $9.49 a six-pack, 12 Fluid Oz. bottles ) is " new and exciting " as well as kosher according to the label! Wow, this is exciting news. It's from FOUR & BREWING Company in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Come check this one out as well. WHERE THERE IS SANTOS Then Ravi Can't Be Far Behind. What LIQUOR Do You Have Ravi? 1) PRITCHARD'S Double Barreled Bourbon Whiskey ( $69.99, 750ml bottle, 45% Alc. by Volume, 90 Proof , Prichard's distillery, Inc, Kelso, Tennessee ) is barreled, aged and hand bottled. We will have to get the owner back here as he is a local and must spend time between us here and Kelso, Tennessee? Anyway, he's already been here once and we have to invite him back again for an official tasting here. The last time it was an impromptu visit that we enjoyed immensely but had no time to alert anyone in advance. 2) FIDENCIO Joven/Young Mezcal ( $49.99 , 40% Alc. By Volume, Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca ) is also brand new. " With a neutral-heat oven, we then roast the agave : sin humo " or " without smoke ". Distilled twice in a custom alembic still. Delicate yet flavorful, ideal for sipping or in a cocktail. Great price, too! Cheers. JUST MET RIKUS NEETHLING of Franschoek, South Africa ( that's where he makes wine ) and he tasted me with Jeremy on three of his excellent wines ( 2 BIZOE wines, BOTH sell for $32.99 : a white Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc dry white blend aged in old French oak barrels and the dry red Syrah that is grown in the worst soil ever ). The dry white Sauvignon Blanc, the third wine he makes for his friend and it's made in Elgin and has lovely overtones of apples and is perfect for this heat and humidity at $19.99. The word " BIZOE " comes from the French word for " little kisses ". I learned that Rijus did a harvest in France at the Caves De Pomerol where the famous Picpoul de Pinet that we sell ( $8.99 ) is from in France's Languedoc region. He was blown away to see it here saying that it, like his wine the Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc dry white BIZOE was only 12.5% alcohol by volume. He said that that is one of the things he learned in France : to keep the alcohol levels reasonable. He smiled this as he said this to me. I smiled, too understanding completely. Thanks Rikus. We will carry your wines here when everything is decided on the wholesaler level. Cheers and bravo to you. WINES From GREG & TONY : WHITES : 1) YELLOW & BLUE 2009 Sauvignon Blanc , Central Valley, Chile, 1 liter tetra box ( $10.99 ) is a great way to go green and to have something that's lighter and easy to transport and which is also a great value. 2) Chevery Loire Valley dry white Sauvignon Blanc blend, a 2010 ( $15.99 ) I opened on Saturday here and sure is tasting great. Everyone was pretty much warmed over by it's charms. Lovely, fresh and crisp and bright with great accents on minerals and zippy citrus acids, too. 3) Sangria dry white from BODEGA De San Antonio ( $7.99 ) is sangria with real character and taste. it's stimulating and makes you want to take another sip or two or three. It's good. Go to : www.sanantoniowinery.com for more info / a Riboli Family Selection 1-888-223-1401. Cheers. ROSE : 1) ZOE ( the Greek word for " life " ) 2010 from SKOURAS ( $16.99 ) is made from a blend of two popular indigenous grapes : Saint George and Moscofilero ) : dry and complex and quite satisfying. You have to check this one out. SKOURAS has been in the local press now for the last two weeks. REDS : 1) Petit Caprice 2009 Vin De Pays Vignerons De Caractere / Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, southern Rhone Valley ( On Special for $7.99, 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah ) is an absolute delight to drink now with all this intense heat and dollops of humidity. 2) SNAP DRAGON 2008 California Cabernet Sauvignon ( $8.99 ) was remarkably nice for so little money that Greg and I just had to buy some. Good value- pleasing. 3) RIOJA VEGA 2009 Rioja Spanish red was open here this past Friday and at $10.99 it was really well-received. it's got some extra weight and body that perhaps it got from the addition of some Cabernet Sauvignon grapes? It's a bit beefier and that pleased many. it's this medium-bodied and chilled slightly quite fresh and bright and excellent with food. 4) CHATEAU TUILERIE Pages 2009 dry red Bordeaux ( from a great vintage ) this dry red Bordeaux at $10.99 is a true delight and well-worth buying. It's open and enjoyable even now. Best with a meal. 5) ANCIANO Gran Reserva 2001 Tempranillo Valdepenas ( $12.99 ) is an absolute steal at this price from a great vintage and a great price and a place that Ernest Hemingway made famous in his literature. Wow, this has got everything going for it. Cheers. 6) CHATEAU MOULIN De FERREGRAVE Medoc 2008 ( $15.99 ) is showing really well now for a Cebernet Sauvignon-based Bordeaux that you may enjoy now. It's best with food as it still has a slight tartness and edge but it is a well-balanced wine at a very reasonable price. Cheers. 7) RAMSAY 2009 North Coast, California ( north of Napa and Sonoma ) Petite Sirah ( $16.99. 13% alcohol by volume - low for California ) is another " real find " " well-focused and flavorful and quite tasty. With all the interest today in Petite Sirah in California this is a true discovery and we are thrilled to have it here in Cleveland Park. UPDATE : JUST HEARD FROM SHERI Spang the assistant wine-maker at PEJU and this is what she wrote : " Hello Tony! Great to hear from you! I'm hoping to get back to DC for a vsit either when I'm back east for the holidays or later spring. I will certainly stop by when I do! " Sheri I will see about getting some of the PEJU wines from Ethan our local rep for them. This is all exciting! Years ago Sheri encouraged me to publish my poems and so I started putting them here on my email and now have transferred them my blog at : chatpoetry.blogspot.com. Thanks Sheri. WEEK'S TASTINGS : Friday, August 12th, 2011 ( 5-8PM ): We have Alison Somerville from WINEWORKS in Virginia ( under Michael Shaps, wine-maker- owner ) and we will taste both the wines from bottle and from the box of the Viognier and the red Cabernet Franc. We may include a third, too. We will talk to Alison tomorrow I hope. Saturday, August 13th, 2011 ( 2-6PM ) : We have Marci Weinstein here from Constantine Imports to taste a selection of her wines like those of VINI ( Cabernet and Pinot Noir, $9.99 both ) as well as TARGOVISHTE Riesling Dry White ( $10.99 )that is dry and clean and crisp and tart and tangy and I love it! Great value, too. We will also look at another wine or two tomorrow when we see Marci. Cheers. JOIN US : NEVER ANY CHARGE for any of our wine-tastings. bring family and friends and make it a real moment for you all! MY ART SHOW OF MY OWN ART WORK : It's still planned for Sunday, August 21st, 2011 from 1-5PM and everyone is welcome to come by and see what I have been up to very recently as since 1978 when I was working in Paris, France. It will be a span of many years and many of the works are for sale. I have etched in Paris, France and since worked back in the States with acrylics, watercolors, pastels and oil pastels, mixed media, pen and ink, too. I have done for years portraits and what I like to tern figurative landscapes. All sizes and styles and very colorful and very much a sense of action and movement and fluidity in my work. Come see and let's discuss art and relax and spend these four hours together. My address in Annendale Virginia is : 8702 Ventura Lane ( 703-978-1008 ). You can call me if you have any questions otherwise COME ON BY! You can check some of my work out at chatart. Go to : chatwine.blogspot.com to the main page and scroll down to VIEW COMPLETE PROFILE, click that and then scroll down to the blog posts and click on the chatart one. I AM SURE I AM FORGETTING SOMETHING but it's time to finally send this email and get some of you by tonight. I will open a bottle or two to share with you all this later afternoon-early evening. Come have a taste or two with me. Cheers and thanks for all your support. TONY Please visit our website below for more information, events and specials, and our calender of wine tastings! [1]www.clevelandparkwine.com If you have any orders, suggestions or questions, you may e-mail us at [2]sales@clevelandparkwine.com or call (202) 363-4265. References 1. http://www.clevelandparkwine.com/ 2. mailto:sales@clevelandparkwine.com