Gobelsburg, Dry Rose

"If you are a brave explorer who enjoys testing the fabulous flavors of the 

global culture, then join us on this weekly exploration. These posts will cover 

everything from the latest cocktail craze to the wonderful world of wine." -Chad

Gobelsburg, Dry Rose

Easter is coming up this weekend and that gives us an excuse to talk about one of our favorite topics in the wine world: DRY ROSE! This category of wine is often misunderstood because consumers have been conditioned to think that everything that is pink is sweet. Not only are most pink (or rose) wines dry, but they are very popular around the world. This trend is slowly catching on in the United States as wine geeks like us champion the awesomeness of dry roses to customers. Most of the dry rose wines start arriving in the US around this time and pair extremely well with the usual Easter dinner foods.

Chad the Tie Guy's Drink of the Week: I love dry rose wines, but this one blew me away. The combination of indigenous Austrian grapes (Zweigelt and St. Laurent) give this wine super aromatics of rose petal, cherry and strawberry with a really clean finish. This is one of those wines that just disappears from the glass. If you try one dry rose this year, make it this one!

Grape Varietals:  Zweigelt and St. Laurent

Wine Region: Osterreich, Austria

Alcohol Content: 12%

White Horse Wine Color Code System:       DRY ROSE WINE      

Food Pairings: Try this wine with our Montchevre Goat Cheese on a fresh baguette with salty black olives and marinated roasted red peppers.

Items in italics are available at the Market at White Horse Wine & Spirits

Ciders for Wine Lovers

"If you are a brave explorer who enjoys testing the fabulous flavors of the 

global culture, then join us on this weekly exploration. These posts will cover 

everything from the latest cocktail craze to the wonderful world of wine." -Chad

Ciders for Wine Lovers

Now that Spring is here and the weather is beautiful, it is time to spend more time outside. One of the most refreshing but little understood categories of beverages is ciders. Much like the Rieslings of the wine world, most people assume that all ciders are sweet. In fact, most ciders are made in a dry style with a super complex flavor that will amaze white wine lovers of Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. 

One of our favorite producers is Farnum Hill out of Vermont. These guys are not just cider makers who buy apple juice (like most of the big cider makers). These are apple farmers who use their ancient apple groves to produce ciders of exceptional quality that are well balanced and dry. If your in the mood to enjoy a Spring evening with a good drink, then pick up a bottle of Farnum Hill Farmhouse Cider.

Chad the Tie Guy's Drink of the Week: I love farmhouse ciders because this is the original style of cider simply made from fresh pressed apples and natural wild yeast (used to ferment the sweet apple juice). These ciders are not overly syrupy and sweet like the newer ciders can be but are very easy drinking with a hint of sweetness. This makes the cider taste, well like fresh apples that are juicy but not overly sweet. Think of this as a liquid apple with a little bit of a buzz as a bonus. Enjoy with the gorgeous Spring weather!

Food Pairings: This pairs well with soft cheeses (such as goat cheese) drizzles with fresh honey and topped with toasted salty almond. Try this with a slow cooker pork and sauerkraut topped with crisp apple slices for a real sweet and sour treat!

Cocktail Ideas:

Basic Recipe (aka Kick it Up a Notch): Combine 6oz of Cider with 1oz other flavor

Some Classic Examples:

     Apple Blossom= 6oz Farnum Hill Farmhouse Cider + 1oz Elderflower Liqueur

     Irish Apple= 6oz Farnum Hill Farmhouse Cider + 1 oz Irish Whiskey 

     Apple Pie= 6oz Farnum Hill Farmhouse Cider + 1oz Fireball

     Carmel Apple= 6oz Farnum Hill Farmhouse Cider + 1oz Caramel Vodka

Drink of the Week: Ballast Point Artisanal Cocktails

Ballast Point Artisanal Cocktail Cans

As Spring approaches I want to spend more time outside with a delicious drink! If you are a brave explorer who enjoys testing the fabulous flavors of the global culture, then join us on this weekly exploration. These posts will cover everything from the latest cocktail craze to the wonderful world of wine.

Chad the Tie Guy's Drink of the Week: We want to spend more time outside at picnic spots and less time making craft cocktails. That definitely does not mean we want to resort to the overly sweet and artificially flavored premade cocktails that have been available in stores for years. Now with the craft cocktail movement we are seeing more premade cocktails with natural ingredients that we would use to make cocktails at home. These spirits are of high quality spirits and no weird chemical preservatives. 

These cans contain nothing but the best spirits made from scratch at Ballast Points distillery in San Diego, California and mixed with their made on premise mixers (bloody mary mix and homemade sodas). A great way to drink easily without having to make and transport everything to your next awesome picnic!

Ballast Point Cocktail:

FUGU BLOODY MARY 

Like the venomous namesake fish this Fugu Bloody Mary packs a sting. We’ve combined our signature Fugu Vodka with our award-winning Bloody Mary mix, featuring ripe tomatoes, exotic spices and a heavy dose of pepper, to make a spicy cocktail that is dangerously drinkable.

ALC. BY VOL. 10% 

Food Pairings: This cocktails spicy bite goes well with our Market's General Sandwich for your next picnic (18 month aged Prosciutto di Parma, mozzarella, vine ripened tomato, house made basil pesto, & field greens on a panini roll).

THREE SHEETS RUM & GINGER 

This Rum & Ginger is like none you’ve ever tasted. We blend our Three Sheets White Rum, crafted from pure cane sugar, with our fresh and spicy house-made ginger beer to create a robust yet balanced craft cocktail. It’s a storm of flavor that is sure to warm your pallet.
ALC. BY VOL. 7% 

Food Pairings: This cocktails rich spice palate really shine with our Market's Surfer Sandwich (The Market's curried mango chicken salad with organic field greens on a multigrain roll).

Three Sheets Rum & Cola 
This cocktail instantly transports you to the tropics. Our smooth Three Sheets White Rum crafted from pure cane sugar blends with earthy cardamom in our house-made cola to create a uniquely exotic yet inviting flavor. The mix of sweet and spice will have you feeling the waves wherever you may be.

ALC. BY VOL. 7% 

Food Pairings: This cocktails sweet and spicy flavor really pop with our Market's Boxer Sandwich (Prosciutto di parma, sweet soppressata, sharp provolone, hot goathorn peppers, arugula, and stone ground mustard on a panini roll).

Drink of the Week: Bee Irish

Bee Irish

*St. Patrick's Day Cooking Class @ White Horse (3/10)*

As Spring approaches and the bees are buzzing, it makes me want some new refreshing drinks! If you are a brave explorer who enjoys testing the fabulous flavors of the global culture, then join us on this weekly exploration. These posts will cover everything from the latest cocktail craze to the wonderful world of wine.

Chad the Tie Guy's Drink of the Week: In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we will be teaching an Irish Cooking Class (Space is limited, so sign up early) lead by our chef Colleen McAvaddy. To get everyone in the "Irish Spirit" we will be starting class of with a Artisanal Shot which we lovingly call BEE IRISH. This is a drink of our own invention that combines The Knot Irish Whisky with Quince & Apple's own Honey Lemon Syrup and a splash of fresh Lemon juice to invigorate you. This will be a great class, but if you can't make it, at least you can celebrate like us. Slainte! 

BEE IRISH COCKTAIL RECIPIE

2 oz The Knot Irish Whisky

1 oz Quince & Apple Honey Lemon Syrup

1/2 oz of Fresh Lemon Juice

Pour The Knot, Quince & Apple Honey Lemon Syrup and Fresh Lemon Juice into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Pour into a few shot glasses and share with friends! 

Food Pairings: This is the perfect shot to get a good Saint Patty's Day party started. Pair this with fresh Irish Soda Bread with Raisins topped with Irish Aged Cheddar Cheese and the Market's Tait Farm's Fig and Honey Conserve.

December 21st

Marques de Grinon, Cabernet Sauvignon

Only $39.99

As the holidays approach, we do so much running around and entertaining it is nice to relax and treat ourselves to a nice bottle of wine that we might not usually open. This is the second in our two part wine of the week series looking at really delicious wines that over deliver flavor for their price point. Nobody likes to be disappointed when they open an expensive bottle, so we give you tried and tested wines that we love and drink on special occasions (like finishing the holiday shopping!).

This wine is made by Carlos Falcó Fernandez de Córdova who has pioneered the modernization of vine growing and wine-making in Spain. In 1974, he introduced Spain to the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grape varieties. This was but the first step in a series of daring pioneering innovations by the man responsible for the great wines of Marques de Grinon. 

Carlos has created a huge Cabernet Sauvignon  that bursts from the glass with aromas of black cherries, wild berry fruits and sweet spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate and tobacco. It is expansive on the palate, being full-bodied, well-structured with fine, integrated tannins, and outstanding depth.

Chad the Tie Guy's Review: This is a clear winner for one of the best wines we have tasted this year. Every once in a while we taste a wine that leaves a lasting impression of how delicious it was (most of these are in the upper price limits of my budget). This one was one that blew me away when I found out it was less than $50 AND it was in the Top 100 Wines of 2014. A great wine and the perfect treat for celebrating the holidays!

Grape Varietals:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Region: La Mancha, Spain

Alcohol Content: 14.5%

White Horse Wine Color Code System:       RICH RED WINES      

Food Pairings: Try pairing this wine with rich, red meat dishes such as prime rib, osso bucco or filet mignon. For a real treat, try this with traditional spanish wild game meats such as wild boar ravioli or venison steaks if you get the chance.

Cheese Pairings: 

Aged Asiago Cheese- A nice salty, flavorful aged Asiago tang.

Italy $5.49 (8oz)

Moody Blue Cheese- A smoked blue cheese with a sharp flavor 

Wisconsin $7.49 (8oz)

4 Year Aged Gouda- A hard aged cheese with caramel flavors 

Netherlands $8.99 (8oz)