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  • Cranberry Liquors
  • Hours and About
  • Get Educated
  • Shop Now!

Blends

Home Tasting WineBlends
chambord+champagne
14 Feb
0

It’s Valen Times!

Posted by Cranberry Liquors About Us, Around Town, Best_New_Products, Best_New_Wine, Blends, Champagne, Cranberry_Liquors, Cranberry_Liquors_Promotion, Featured, Organic, Tasting Wine, Wine on trend, Wines for Occasion No Comments

Which, if you were wondering, is sort of like morphin’ time. Happy Valentine’s Day, Cape Cod!

Cranberry Liquors is celebrating – especially today, the great month that is February. If you haven’t yet, swing by and check out our awesome selection of wine. Why should you?

From $8 Rioja to $50 Rosé, our wines from all over the world are 20 percent off.

So if you’re a bit stuck on flowers, or don’t have the time to laminate that card you were making, we have some grape ideas.

GRAPE IDEA #1

If Your Heart is in Cham-bles…

chambord+champagne

chambord+champagne

Make a pink drink that will leave Rosé looking shameful.

If you are looking for a great way to soirée this evening, my go to idea is Champagne + Chambord.

The nice thing about cassis is its ability to compliment a white or sparkly wine. Buy a small bottle of that stuff -heck, even a miniature bottle (aka a nip) and *bam*! You’ve Lagasse’d that drink and officially kicked it up a notch.

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(FYI, we gift wrap – for free! We also have the coolest blank cards you’ll find in Harwich Port for a buck. They were designed with these days in mind… just in case you don’t have the time, we’ve got you covered.)

Enough about the raspberry drink that is my favorite…

GRAPE IDEA #2

If you’ve got plans this evening or are waiting around for a dinner reservation, I highly recommend taking your date to peruse the aisles!

Even without our Winter Wine Sale one of my favorite things to watch is any couple making their way through our selection.

Think you know your valentine? Watch that person consider our selection. The way in which a nervous date spouts off everything they know about a varietal… we’ll leave you alone to lurk, but let’s just say, you can learn a lot from shopping wines.

(Did you forget reservations? This is your reminder if so!)

GRAPE IDEA #3

If you are alone this evening, welcome to the club! Come on by, where we can ameliorate your woes and remedy that thing we call loneliness. Maybe you’ll bump into that person you’ve been stalking on Facebook!

Jokes aside, we have determined, with countless repeat customers over the year, your plans for this evening can be a visit to your favorite spot. It’s an inexpensive way to enjoy something together…

You are never alone with Cranberry Liquors <3!

GRAPE IDEA #4

teetotaller_strongbad_obscure_reference

Obscure Strongbad Reference

If you are dating a teetotaler, we carry cigars and other things that fit inside an envelope (but don’t buy her scratch tickets… in case you are reading this dad…)

As I mentioned earlier, we’re here for you today and everyday, Cape Cod.

May George Thorogood wail louder than the wind as you read this: “Who Do You Loooooove?”

Oh! That reminds me! Best of Cape Cod is coming soon and we’re going to need your vote!

Happy Morphin’ Valentine’s Day Everybody.

Love,

Cranberry Liquors

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Giglio_wine_blend
19 Sep
0

New Wines – 5 out of 5!

Posted by Cranberry Liquors Around Town, Best_New_Products, Best_New_Wine, Blends, Cranberry_Liquors, Tasting Wine, Wine on trend, Wines for Occasion No Comments

It isn’t very often at all that we taste a new family of wines and decide to bring in all of the wines we taste. Usually, one or two stand out. One or two are, frankly, ‘duds.’

That said, we’ve selected some of our favorites to tell you more about: the Casale del Giglio family of wine.

Not so with the new (to Cranberry Liquors) wines from Casale del Giglio. Located 50 kilometers south of Rome, Casale del Giglio has been making red and white mono-varietal wines for almost 20 years.

So without further ado, Cranberry Liquors is pleased to introduce our favorite, most recent favorite: Casale del Giglio

C.Liquor’s 5 Out of 5

 

Satrico ($15.99) 

A blend of 40% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon and 20% Trebbiano Giallo grapes*. This elegant blend reveals a fruity, lightly aromatic yet mineral nose, confirmed on the palate by a pleasing crispness and a lengthy finish.  Satrico is a very drinkable white blend. Great with appetizers and fish dishes.

Chardonnay ($15.99)

 his white wine is produced exclusively from Chardonnay grapes cultivated in densely planted rows (over 4,000 vines per hectare) and harvested in early September. A low yield per vine ensures that the grapes will be rich in sugar without losing crucial acidity. This wine reveals acacia flowers, peach and banana on the nose. Serve with grilled fish dishes or white meat casseroles. This chardonnay is authentically and varietally on point, which is a lot to say about your tried-and-true chardonnay.

Petit Manseng ($18.99)

A unique if not obscure varietal, the wine is intensely aromatic, fruity and spicy on the nose, fresh, crisp and flinty on the palate. An exquisitely structured wine which bows out on a seductive, fruit-filled finish. Like all good whites, this one pairs well with your favorite fish dinner.  If you enjoy the adventure of discovering something new, Petit Manseng is your next stop!

Petit Verdot ($18.99)

Usually a minor player in certain red blends, this 100% Petit Verdot is a deep crimson wine which displays an intense, lingering aroma of red berry fruit, cherry, myrtle and juniper. Elegant and full-bodied, with rich velvety tannins, the wine presents a spicy, white peppery finish. Very good with oven roasted meats. This Petit Verdot = a red blend built for spicing things up.

Mater Matuta ($52.99)

 A red blend of Syrah 85% and Petit Verdot 15%. A deep, dense, ruby-red wine which displays outstanding personality both on the nose and on the palate with its aroma of coffee beans, violets, ripe black cherry, coriander, nutmeg and cinnamon. Silky and seductive, but perfectly supported by fine tannins and a pleasing astringency. Mater Matuta Lazio Rosso delivers a long, lush finish.  Mater Matuta is a fine wine as a crowning touch to any gourmet dinner.

If you’re in the mood for trying something new, give this wine family a closer look. As they say at del Giglio:

The future of Italian viticulture relies not only on consolidating the image of its traditional wine producing zones but on its ability to produce top quality wines at favorable prices in areas whose potential is still relatively unexplored.


Hopefully this post finds you warm in a wonderful way on this breezy (dare we say chilly?) day.

Stop in and check these out for yourself, quick before they all fly off the shelf!

Until next time,

Cranberry Liquors – The Spirit of Harwich Port

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corks_cranberry_banner
18 Jan
0

Portugal… the Grape

Posted by Cranberry Liquors Best_New_Wine, Blends, Featured, Tasting Wine, Uncategorized, Wine on trend No Comments

A while back, I posted a pretty lengthy read detailing the different wines from Spain, a little known powerhouse in the wine industry.

Similarly to Spanish wines, Portuguese wines have historically been overlooked as well. There are the few customers I know who swear by certain inexpensive varietals specific to Portugal.

From Madeira, to Douro, to another unpronounceable-yet-cool grape varietal, Portugal literally has hundreds of “types” of grapes… sometimes even within the same vineyard.

Also, lest we forget, the wine known as port;  the fortified wine (read – concentrated, like orange juice before you add the water to the Creamsicle content within the can) was invented because of Portugal’s excellent grapes.

Cranberry Liquors invites you to “Forget what you know about Portuguese wine” 

because you are likely missing out on some awesome bottles. Plus, this time of year can be budget -challenging on an island that is 3/4th’s of the way shut until May. (Insert clever Winter Wine Sale marketing here. 20%! All February! Get your wines, here. Drive in, call in… jk)

TLDR: If you want really, really good, “Old World” wine on a scamp budget, I would lead you by the hand to our Portuguese wines.


We’ve got wine that is friendly to both your wallet and your palette.

My reasoning? Similarly to the highly underrated wines from Spain, wines from Portugal are:

  • 1. Dominion controlled ( hence the D.O.C. on certain labels.)
  • 2. Highly undervalued
  • 3. The best and freshest wine on the market, especially if your palette is privy to Old World Wine.

1. Dominion controlled. What does it mean?

Like tequila, or anything that is awesome, certain precautions must be taken to ensure a standard of excellence.

Similarly to tequila, Portuguese wine is classified by region as well as preservation (age) status. Without quality control there is no standard of quality!

2. Highly Undervalued


Most of Spain’s grapes get exported to chi-chi countries like France. In this same way, because Portugal wines are less “cool”, much more emphasis is placed upon the wine quality… as opposed to say, the label around the bottle.

3. Wines hailing from this part of South America are as fresh as Bel-Air’s Prince.

Vino Verde – if you haven’t heard of it, get familiar! I recommend them highly to our white wine drinkers. Vino Verde is the Portuguese equivalent to a French white table wine. Dry (but not too dry) and not sweet.

But onto the red wines! Cranberry Liquor has selected 4 of our best, least expensive wines from Portugal.


Starting at the top of the alphabetical list we’ve got

 

Colossal, by Casa Santos Lima


At 10.99 a bottle, it is hard to screw this decision up…
From Wine Spectator:

“Colossal Red Reserva 2014 is made from a blend of three different grapes: Syrah, Touriga Nacional, and Alicante Bouschet. Alicante is often found as a blending grape in wines from the Rhone Valley in France.

Colossal_riserva_portugal

Click the image for more info on this wine!

 

Touriga Nacional is a typical Portuguese grape, also used in Ports, and Syrah is a modern choice to use as part of a blend in Portugal. In fact you could look at this wine as a Portuguese homage to a Rhone Valley red!”



Rated at 1 point higher than the coveted 90 points, this Colossal Riserva is not to be missed.

 


Up next is an awesome, little known C. Liquor’s find.

 

 

 

 

 

Spirit_of_harwichport_cranberry_liquors_wine_portugal

From Left to Right: Paxis, Colossal, LAB and Grilos

 

Prefer a fruitier wine? I get it, I love my perfume because it smells like blackberries and raspberries. I definitely fall into this category.

As a result, I would steer you to the Paxis red blend. This wine is another 90+ points wine (actually, all four of these wines are.) This vintage (is an awesome flipping vintage) is older and may appreciate a ride in your decanter. Sediment aside, the un-corking of such a vintage is worth the wait.

 

Paxis_red-Blend_portugal

Click the image for more info on this wine!

Last two? A D.O.C. “Dao” by Grilos (a personal favorite), which is often compared to French Burgundy, except without the French Burgundy price tag.

Also, we have LAB, a highly recommended vintage and varietal with a blend of grapes native to Portugal.

 

LAB_portuguese_red

Click the image for more info on this wine!

IMPORTANT STORY-time: Once I had a customer who was determined to buy “French Pinot Noir” and I’d be damned if I let the challenge beat me. It turns out, French Burgundy is another way to say “FRENCH Pinot Noir”.

If you liken yourself to a good pinot noir, a lighter, fruiter red wine that can stand on its own, unaccompanied by an entrée you are probably going to have your mind blown by an Old World red “table wine.”

Why might I suggest this? Considering the facts that:

 

  • Old World Wines lack the “stringency” (or bitter/ makes-your-mouth-go-mlah taste) that certain domestic reds have.

  • This has a lot to do with the aging and barreling process of these wines… without calling any of our domestics out, or, to put it another way…

  • Maybe your 12 dollar red just got replaced by a more pleasing 12 dollar red “table” wine from our Portuguese underdogs, if only because the varietal of grapes is such a better buy for the money…

And if you’re wondering how I can make such an assumption about that ~ let’s assume you aren’t stuck in your ways (no shade!**) ~ perhaps consider what I said before regarding “dominion controlled” territories and the consequential regulations therein. As lame as it is for the winemakers, these regulations prevents marketing ploys from trumping good quality… at least, for now.

(**my mom may be French, but I see her drinking La Vielle Ferme!)

Maybe the best way to put it is like this:

If it seems too good to be true, it may just be from Portugal…

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Cranberry_liquors_harwich_entrance_cliquors
16 Nov
0

Hours Hors D’oeuvres, Happy hour/ Holiday Hints

Posted by Cranberry Liquors About Us, Around Town, Best_New_Wine, Blends, Event, Featured, Tasting Wine, Wine on trend, Wines for Occasion No Comments

It’s the holiday season…

To quote a CLiquor store owner:
“Holy smokes Batman, it’s less than a week from Thanksgiving!”

A week from today, people across America will be celebrating the most American thing since High School prom night: Thanksgiving …

Fortunately, we’ve got some excellent wine pairing suggestions, as well as other great information regarding the upcoming holiday.

That’s right folks, we are T Minus 6 Days away from school vacations,  in-laws and spending frenzies.

[This is your (THAW THAT TURKEY) warning.]

In years past, sweet whites, inexpensive reds and those all-year-friendly roses have been hugely successful, to both our customers and our own guest’s delight. We also have that which refuses to die: the beaujolais nouveau.

Wine Suggestions – Thanksgiving 2018

This year, not only do we have suggestions for your holiday meal, but I got Joe the owner to write them! Then, all I had to do was build a post and add some images to this post.

In the time it took to write the post, that post died when our website crashed. Fortunately,  Joe’s reviews were sent to me via email.

In a nutshell, what I wrote yesterday made the point that these wine suggestions aren’t picked out of a hat.

  1. We find a great wine
  2. We get a great price on said wine because we buy a lot when we find good wine.
  3. We can then offer same wine to our customers at an equally excellent price.
  4. Because we paid less, and we want you to have great wine, everyone wins.

tl;dr: In all seriousness, the selection a store makes is what makes a store great.

Without further ado, Joe’s Word…

White Wines

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier Blend ($12.99) What started out as an experiment at Pine Ridge Vineyards has long been recognized as a successful white wine blend enjoyed by many and highly recommended at Cranberry Liquors.

 

A food-friendly wine, CB+V (their designation, not mine)pine_ridge_chenin_blanc_review pairs well with turkey and all the trimmings. It presents ripe fruity flavors which are balanced by a natural acidity thus complementing your meal, not competing with it. At $12.99, the Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier presents a unique and sophisticated alternative to typical white wines served for Thanksgiving Day dinner.

 

 

 

 

Dr_loosen_red_slate_reviewDr. Loosen Riesling ($11.99) If you’re not feeling in an experimental mood, Dr. L’s Riesling is the go-to white wine for your Thanksgiving.

 

Long a traditional favorite, the fruity sweetness of Riesling goes with turkey like cranberry sauce does.

If your serving wine to folks who aren’t typical wine-drinkers at mealtime, this is the can’t-fail choice.

If you prefer a drier wine but don’t want to abandon the Riesling motif, Cranberry Liquors also has the Dry Riesling ($13.99) and Red Slate Dry ($15.99) from Dr. Loosen as well.

As mentioned before, rosé has evolved from “all day” to “all year,” and can be an excellent compliment to your bird.

 

Red Wine Pairings

_red_wine_pairing_thanksgiving

All winery information listed at the end of this post!

The Crusher Pinot Noir ($10.99) The Crusher (who doesn’t like saying “The Crusher”?) is a California vinted and bottled pinot noir that exhibits all the classic elements of a great pinot at an excellent price: Bright, strawberry rhubarb on the nose and moderate tannins to deliver a nice, long finish. The winemaker’s tasting notes even describe a taste of cranberry in its flavor profile. What better red wine to serve with turkey? 

Thanksgiving_pairing_red_wine

 

Folie a Deux Zinfandel

($17.99) For the wine drinker that likes a good cabernet with a good steak, the Folie a Deux Zin provides a robust, full-bodied red wine experience for your Thanksgiving. Jammy berry aromas give way to mocha and cedar.

Medium tannins, and a round mouthfeel make this a wine which will stand up to turkey or pork.

Just in case you are doing something a little different this Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

 

*Cue applause track*

 

 

If you can’t take Joe’s word for it, take mine. 

If you can’t take my word for it, take LeVar Burton’s.

dont_take_my_word_for_it_reading_rainbow

Reading Rainbow (or best gif ever)

If you trust no one (not even LeVar?!)
We will be tasting the wines listed below tomorrow, Saturday November 17 from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM. (click here for that information…)

Additionally (rather, before I forget) can I interest you in my all time favorite drink? If none of the above appeals to you, drink what I’ve never heard anyone refuse to!

champagne_cute_cartoonIf you are beyond lost in our aisles (and not dancing like Levar and crew,) please ask for help!

C.Liquors celebrates all sorts of ways this time of year, and nothing it is very difficult to surprise us with your recipe or familial tradition.


Special Hours

Wednesday, November 2018

Thursday: Legally, liquor stores are required to be closed!

Friday: Back to normal, open at 9:00 AM until 10:00 PM.


 

Regarding the additional seasonal holidays, we will post them as soon as this one is over!

XOXOXO,

C.Liquors

 

For more information on the wines being tasted tomorrow: See event

Wines

Pine Ridge Chenin Blend

the Doctor Loosen Brothers – US website

The Crusher

Folie a Deux Zin

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rainy_day_tree
22 Aug
0

On Cape Cod Today? When in Rome…

Posted by Cranberry Liquors Best_New_Wine, Blends, Featured, Tasting Wine, Wine on trend No Comments

It’s raining on Cape Cod.

Some may ask “What’s new?” and others may ask “What now?!”

Never fear – C. Liquors is here.

A few years ago I had a customer tell me I would love Burning Man and should consider going. I should have listened to him! Last night I was reading about the upcoming Burning Man Festival August, 2018.

Today, Burning Man is not as it was. Once known to some as the cool hippy music and art festival in the middle of the desert. it was a little-known festival famous for leaving no mark: as in, all festivities left no litter, structures or art in commemoration.

Today, not very different from Coachella or even Lollapolooza, more people know it as a social gathering for celebrities and other elite. What caught my eye in this article was not the obscene amount of money, man-power or produce (crates of eggs? In the desert?). #ew

Rather, I was curious about the alcohol being served at the tents of this celebrity chef, cooking for Silicon Valley attendees.

400 cases of Whispering Angel (as well as Dom Perignon) are on this celebrity chef’s menu.

Four hundred cases. For those of us who cannot count (watch me do this math wrong!) that is 3600 hundred bottles. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Like Burning Man, Cape Cod is often at full capacity this time of year. If you are one of the lucky people on the beautiful island we call Cape Cod today, please note these things:

  1. This weather is oh-so-typical. Finnicky gray skies, rainy forecasts and ruined outdoor plans all come part and parcel with our little pied-à-terre of lush, beautiful forests, deer ticks and cranberry bogs. You are getting the full Cape-Codder experience.
  2. Speaking of Cape Codders, you’re better off playing local favorites. Plus, Dark and Stormy’s are sort of played out.

Mostly, if you are bumming out really hard about that cancelled nautical experience on Cape Cod today, making lemonade out of those lemon wedges isn’t all that hard! The Italian girl in me is screaming “make a sauce,” and the French girl in me is screaming something fatalistic involving red wine.Orin_Swift_Machete_Wine_Cranberry_Liquors

If you haven’t already poured through our selection (see what I did there?) may I suggest the Orin Swift?

We still have Mercury Head, Papillon (which means butterfly in French) and the Palermo in stock.

We also have the Machete – a head turner and an excellent bottle.

At $47.99 for a 750ml bottle, the Machete is Orin Swift’s more affordable buy.

This Wednesday is screaming red wine to me, but we do have Whispering Angel Rose as well. At 750ml, for 21.99 and 350 (split) for $13.99.

If that is more up your alley, you are more than welcome to try to make those rose gummi bears you saw on Pinterest.

Either way, Cranberry Liquors hopes you enjoy the beautiful gray skies Cape Cod has grown to love!

  1.  As you busy yourself trying to salvage your day today, Cranberry Liquors invites you to be a local today. What might that mean?Besides making the most of a grey day on Cape Cod?

What Cape Codders Do On Rainy Summer Days – Including but not limited to:

    • Drinking red wine because you can.

    • Sitting in your car at the beach

    • Complaining about this gosh-forsaken weather

    • Enjoying the day off

    • Taking a long drive… nowhere in particular (believe it or not, the roads should be clear as the majority of the population may or may not be at the grocery store)

    • Going to the beach in spite of the rain

      papillon_wine

      Papillon by Orin Swift

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Allen Harbor - Cranberry Liquors
27 Apr
1

Toasting the Local Spirits: Cape Cod Beer and First Crush Winery

Posted by Cranberry Liquors About Us, Around Town, Blends, Craft Beer, Drinking Beer, Featured, Local Spirits, Seasonal Beer, Tasting Wine No Comments

If you haven’t noticed already, there are a few celebrated local companies that have helped keep Cape Cod in the proverbial loop.

Craft beer lovers everywhere rave about Cape Cod Beer, a brewery smack dab in the middle of Hyannis. Cranberry Liquors’ staff remembers when people would see a few guys cruising around, hand delivering their growlers of Cape Cod Red. Since then, an IPA, Amber Ale and Beach Blonde, as well as several limited edition and seasonal beers have been added to their selection.

Oh… and they’ve outgrown their growlers (but they are still available on tap!)

Cape-cod-beer-localCape Cod Beer will be doing what they do best this Toast of Harwich; actively supporting their community with time and product. The people at Cape Cod Beer continue to succeed with their innovative beers and events (does anyone else have a ‘Race to the Pint’ sign in their front yard?)

One visit to their website and you’ll understand… with these guys “It’s All About the Beer” …and being good to the Cape that’s been so happy to have them.
Find out more about Cape Cod Beer’s and what they are up to this month by clicking here.

A little bit newer to the scene, rapidly winning over locals and visitors alike is First Crush Winery. When Cranberry Liquors first came into contact with First Crush Winery, we knew that this Harwich native was onto something great. Dr. Frank D. Puzio, formerly known for his optometry business, began importing grapes from his friends in Northern California, and First Crush’s excellent product started winning awards soon after.

During Cranberry Liquors’ first summers carrying First Crush we had a hard time keeping their wines on the shelf! Curious locals and visitors looking for something local alike swooped up whatever Sauvignon Blancs, Red blends and “Cape Cod cranberry” infirst-crush-wineryfused wines we carry. Fortunately for us, Dr. Puzio’s winery is only a few miles from our store on Main St Extension in Harwich.

Read all about First Crush’s award winning wines by clicking here.

First Crush Winery and Cape Cod Beer will be pouring at Mooncussers Inn and Tavern this Toast of Harwich. Both the brewery and the winery will be donating to the silent auction, and tasting their local products.

Remember: Mooncusser’s Inn and Tavern is where the V.I.P. reception and silent auction will be held this year! Read more about the event and get your tickets here today!

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why-is-rose-pink?
31 Mar
0

Rose All Day?

Posted by Cranberry Liquors Blends, Tasting Wine, Uncategorized, Wines for Occasion No Comments
Image

Rose: The prettiest way to make women like you

Despite a massive jump in popularity over the past year, rosé wines are still widely misunderstood. If they aren’t being desecrated with gummy bears or some other Pinterest shenanigans (yes, that’s a thing,) rosé wines are misconstrued. As Dry. Or Sweet. Or, dare I say it, a white zinfandel.

So why the sudden bump in popularity? There are a couple of real reasons for this, not the least of which being the attractive price point that a rosé usually adorns.

  • Millennial Pink – the tl;dr on Millenial Pink is that it’s a new neutral, and guess what? Rosé fits this color scheme wonderfully.
  • Rosés are approachable. With an average price of $10.00 rosé is…
  • Inexpensive- which everyone loves, and makes it a great summer pick!

So, what the heck is the difference is between white zinfandel and rosé wines? After all, they look almost identical in color, and weren’t it for little old ladies and some budget wineries, you may have had no idea there were different varieties of pink wine!

The main difference between a white zin, a blush and a rosé is the quality and types of grapes used to make the wine. Maybe more helpfully, the white zin, blush and rosé have one thing in common: these wines are all colored with grape skins.

Without getting way too detailed, the color of any wine, including pink ones, can be accomplished by using the grape skins.

The “pink” comes from the skins coming into contact with the “macerating” wine, which is busy getting delicious in a barrel.

Wine makers have been experimenting with grapes and colors for hundreds of years. This “coloring” is called “sangeé” or “bled” in French. When a shortage of white wine grapes occurred in 1975, Sutter Home Vineyards used a tried and true method of using red wine grapes to make white wine, and the batch accidentally got “stuck” in “fermentation.”

As a result, this accident – in all of its pink prettiness, was bottled and upon tasting, the vineyard owner decided he enjoyed the taste of his accidental by-product.

With that little story in consideration, we can acknowledge that winemakers throughout the centuries used supply, demand and their crop to create some fabulous things out of necessity. We know that rosé wines are colored by the grape skins (the process is called maceration) and those skins do more than just color up the wine!

Have you ever heard that wine is good for you? Articles will note that drinking a glass of wine, specifically red wine, can be healthy for a person, and they tell you it’s good for your heart, your life span, etc. But why, exactly? The answer is that a necessary element to our bodies natural free radical conquerers: antioxidants. Any wine has antioxidants, however, some wines have more than others. During this maceration process, when the skins of the grapes come into contact with the wine being fermented, the wine becomes enriched with all the nutrients the grape skins have to offer (haven’t you ever been told the skin of most fruit and vegetables is where the nutrients are?)

This antioxidants aren’t added for our health, either! Although it’s a wonderful, natural benefit to the process of winemaking, the maceration/incorporation of wine skins into wine is namely for preservative reasons. When a wine utilizes the saigneé process, antioxidants allow a given wine a much longer shelf life, as they prevent further oxidation of the wine.

So what does this have to do with the color pink?

Everything. The last time you went searching through (Cranberry Liquors’) wines, did you notice the varying shades of pink as you scanned the rosés?

Because of the wine skins, because Europe calls any pink wine a rosé, rosés are often only properly suggested by someone who has tried it, or Googled it, first. More often than not I will have a customer ask me for my suggestion when it comes to a “dry” or a “sweeter” rosé.

How about upon the label, did you see the words “Cote De Rhone”?
Customers know that a Cote de Rhone is drier, and lighter in color, and ask me whether or not there is a correlation between the two variables.

The answer: Not really, but almost! In a previous blog, we mentioned that the largest wine exporters often have to follow semi-ridiculous rules, some of which are laws regarding a wine’s classification by village/region. Often times, a white wine from Cote de Rhone, a region of France, will be drier. With that said, we know:

  • Rosés can be a hodge-podge – they are not created by one specific varietal of grape, nor are they necessarily created from a single grape at all!
  • Rosés are colored by a process wherein the skins of a grape are in contact with the fermenting wine.
  • Europe calls all the pink stuff “rosé” – no white zins, no “blush wines,” no further definition by sugar level or any other factor, for that matter.
  • Rosés can be further “colored” or “dyed” by this bleeding process, thereby negating any real correlation between coloring and “taste,” let alone other definitive components of a “strict” varietal like a moscato, for instance, which is made from moscato grapes.
  • So how do you know which rosé you would like?

As I mentioned before, the region from which the rosé originates is likely your best bet when searching with no Cranberry Liquor guidance. However, if you happen to make your way into Cranberry Liquors, we are happy to determine what you would like by virtue of what you already know you like!

As a starting point, we’ve selected a few of our favorites off our impressive tower of rosés to expound upon for our wonderfully loyal patrons.

Whispering Angel

What do you do with what has been called the “World’s Greatest Rosé”? Well, you definitely don’t make wine soaked gummi bears. Some might suggest you drink it. From the famous region of “Provence,” Whispering Angel has been slated as the “ World’s Greatest Rosé,” but if you haven’t tried the next wines on this list, I definitely suggest expanding your horizons! At $21.99, it isn’t insanely expensive, but we can definitely point to less expensive rosé wines. However, none of which are “The World’s Greatest”…

Chateau Montaud

Perhaps a bit more budget friendly, and only slightly less impressive is the Chateau Montaud – this rosé was massively successful last season, and I expect even more of a following this year. The traditional rosé shaped bottle lures you in, but the taste, at an excellent price, will keep you coming back all summer.

Oh! Also, new to this year, Chateau Montaud is stepping their game up with a magnum size bottle, so you don’t pay for twice the packaging, and so you look bitchin’ rolling up to your friend’s party with a bottle that screams “Party Sized”. This is a drier rosé, and the producer is quoted as saying

“A well-defined core of dried cherry, herb and mineral flavors features hints of white pepper that linger on the crisp finish. Drink now.” 

Just so you know, there is no white zinfandel on this earth that could ever be described as such.

Get Chateau Montaud for $11.99 (750ML) or $22.99 for the 1.5 ML mag size.

New this year and, in my opinion, one of the most promising is the “La Porte du Caillou” Sancerre rosé – described as “vibrant” and “very juicy” as well as “refreshing,” I cannot wait to try this Sancerre rosé as they suggest to serve it – as an aperitif, or with Asian food. Yes, and yes, please. At $17.99, this French rosé is not cheap, or even inexpensive. But judging by the distributor, it’s reviews, and every website I’ve researched thus far, it is ☆☆☆☆☆ across the board.

Last, and certainly not least, we want to know YOUR favorite rosés. Any pink wines that we don’t get in Massachusetts? Are you more of an “All Day” or a “No Way” Rosé?

Whispering_Angel_Rose_Cranberry_Liquors
Manon_Rose_Cranberry_Liquors
La_porte_du_caillou
Sacrilege!

tl;dr: Roses are as good as the grapes that make them. Don’t know what to get? Don’t gauge by color! Rather, pick a winery or a varietal you know you like and go from there!

 

Really tl;dr: Shop at Cranberry Liquors! We can help you find the rose we know you’ll love.

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Barefoot Refresh Spritzer
25 May
0

Barefoot Refresh Spritzer

Posted by Cranberry Liquors Blends, Tasting Wine, Wine Spritzer, Wines for Occasion No Comments

Have you ever been on a boat? How about a fisherman’s boat? Did you know that fishermen have crazy rules you must follow if you want to remain one their boat?

Well, they do. Some of Cranberry Liquor’s patrons are fishermen, and I got the run down! No pig (hotdogs, pork), for instance. No bananas. Absolutely NO 13’s – as in, you get to the 13th pickle, you toss it overboard.

Although those rules may be superstitious, there is a well-known rule for boats as well. No glass. No glassware. Why? It’s pretty straightforward – glass breaks.

So what to do if you’d like a glass of wine while watching the sunset on beautiful Cape Cod?

Barefoot wine is releasing a spritzer for the upcoming season. This summer, 2016, spiked seltzers and spritzers are now trending.

Barefoot Winery has been in business for over 30 years – but when they made the “Top 20 Wines” in 2005, they easily became the most popular wine in their category. With all of the awards they’ve accumulated, their brand noterietay and public footprint, not to mention their moscato (and their sweet red, crisp whites and bubblys easily trumped all of their competition.)

Fast forward to 2016 – Barefoot is taking it to a whole ‘nother ballgame… literally?

They’ve taken their most popular varietals – Crisp White and their Summer Red, made it “spritz,” and voila!

The owners of Barefoot Winery seem like great people. They actually did an AMA on Reddit! Both the “Ask Me Anything” and their website sort of expound on Barefoot’s origins, their business model, and their ultimate goal: To get wine into the hands of as many people as possible, affordably, deliciously, and comfortably.

And Barefoot’s new spritzer does exactly this: Unlike most ‘splits’ of wine (187ml), they’ve upped the amount to 250ml. They’ve got an amazing product, they’ve put the same great taste in a more casual container, and now you can drink your wine poolside, in a stadium, or, if you’re on Cape Cod this summer, on your boat.

To top it off, Barefoot’s winemaker Jen Hall says they’ve met a need.

“They are a true, original-style spritzer, designed to be lively on the palate,” explains Wall. “What we found was there were not any refreshing, outdoor, daytime occasion wines.”

Right now, Barefoot offers the Crisp White ( a blend of Chenin Blanc and Riesling) and their Sweet Red (blending white Moscato grapes and Pinot Noir Rose,) now spritzer style! They’re shareable and they’re a company known for great wine at an almost unbelievable price. These Refresh Spritzers are super summertime friendly.

Plus, it’s much easier to cut your foot on broken glass than an empty can.

Want to learn about these Spiked Seltzers I keep referring to? Leave me a message in the comments if you’re feeling bold!

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07 Mar
0

The Blend Trend

Posted by Cranberry Liquors Blends No Comments

Usually, folks like to characterize their preference in wine, apart from red or white, by referencing a single varietal.

“I drink Cabernet.” Or even, “I only drink Chardonnay.”

You may be missing out on some excellent wines that are blends of two, three, four even five varietals. So let’s talk about these…

First, blends are surging in popularity however, this is a fairly old idea. Australia has put a new twist on an old-world blend known as GSM (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre). GSM  originated in France and is the common basis for Chateauneuf de Pape.

Blended wines allow the winemaker to adjust the characteristics of the wine to accommodate the qualities of the various grapes of a given harvest. Need more fruit? Add Syrah. Need more tannins? Add Mourvedre. This in turn, creates a wine with a greater shelf life and aging potential.

American winemakers have undertaken some very high quality blends under the name of Meritage (rhymes with ‘heritage’). These Bordeaux-style wines represent some of the best blends California has to offer often comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and other varietals.

Listed below are some blends worth trying — All of which are available at Cranberry Liquors.

Hook and Ladder- Station 10

Buena Vista- The Count

Klassen- Big Mouth Red

Tamarack Cellars- FireHouse Red

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17 Feb
0

Buena Vista – The Count

Posted by Annemarie Blends No Comments

This is a proprietary blend most similar to an Italian red wine:

“The wine is full in body and somewhat on the soft side, but that softness is never overdone, and it stays in balance while allowing easy access to its deep personality even at this youthful juncture. Less in need of aging that many of our other top picks, this wine will be fully enjoyable today and should hold up well for a few years yet.” – Connoisseur’s Guide to California Wine

Palate: The 2011 Founder’s Red Wine is a balanced and structured wine that exudes seductive red fruit aromas that lead to a pleasing palate of red currant, blackberry jam and just a hint of dark chocolate.

Food Pairing: This food friendly wine is the perfect complement to a variety of light pasta dishes – try it with Cavatappi topped with prosciutto and Parmesan.

Available at Cranberry Liquors for $19.99

For more information, click here for the winery’s website.

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