La Spinetta (top of the hill) was founded in 1977 by Giuseppe and Lidia Rivetti in Castagnole Lanze, the heart of Moscato d'Asti country in Italy's Piedmont. The Rivetti family story begins in the 1890s, when Giovanni Rivetti, grandfather of the three Rivetti brothers, Carlo, Bruno and Giorgio, left Piedmont for Argentina. Like many Italians of that time, he dreamed of returning a rich and powerful man, perhaps even one day able to make a great wine in his homeland. He never did, although his son, Giuseppe (nicknamed Pin) did return home to make great wine. Pin married Lidia, bought vineyards and began to make wine, dedicated to proving that Moscato had the potential for greatness. They began making red wines in 1985, and their blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo, named for Guiseppe, was first bottled in 1989. It is comprised of 65% Nebbiolo from their Barbaresco vineyard and 35% Barbera, from their Castagnole site. The wine is produced under the Monferrato Rosso DOC. Deep dark red in color with a complex and intense nose, this wine comes off as exotic and luxuriously textured, with notes of black plum, currant and black cherry; smoke and spice reveal the influence of well-integrated barrique. Warm on the palate with perfect tannins, a healthy swathing of alcohol allows a long sweeter finish. The Wine Spectator gave it 87 points and said "Bright and fruity. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicious finish." Pin would make a great wine pairing with grilled and elaborate red meat dishes, as well as strong cheeses.

 

LA SPINETTA PIN 2004, Piedmont $47.97 (regular $59.95)

In 1969 Angelo Dubini and his wife Maria Locatelli bought this property known as Palazzone and reconstructed the virtually abandoned casa colonica on the property for use as a family home. The following year, they replanted the unused vineyards to varieties that they thought would make wine of great complexity and character. In 1982 their two sons, Giovanni and Lodovico, made the first small vintage from these grapes. In 1988 they built a winery. Today their wine is regarded as one of the most significant labels in Umbria. Orvieto Classico is a traditional blend of native white grapes from the southwestern part of Umbria, about an hour from Rome. They select the grapes from small portions of estate land on which the five varieties grow and then ferment the grapes together in stainless steel. It has an elegant, vivid bouquet with a definite scent of hazelnut. The impact on the palate is intense yet refreshingly dry and the finish is a perfect balance between the perfume of the fruits and a touch of bitterness. Robert Parker gave this vintage 88 points and said "It is a soft, caressing white with lovely perfumed fruit and a generous personality that carries through to the long finish." Wine Spectator also reviewed this wine, calling it "rich and delicious" and gave it 89 points when they declared "Hard to find a serious Orvieto like this."

 

PALAZZONE ORVIETO CLASSICO "Terre Vineate" 2006, Orvieto $15.97 (regular $18.95)

Petit Verdot is the least known and least grown of the five red Bordeaux grape varieties. It is rarely bottled anywhere as a stand-alone variety. Winemakers usually use Petit Verdot as chefs would use garlic as a seasoning. The contribution this grape adds to wine is dense fruit, dark color, powerful flavors, and heavy tannins. However, in sunny Australia, PV is being planted in warmer areas where ripening isn't such a problem. De Bortoli is one of our favorite Aussie producers, and this red comes from the warm climate vineyards of southern New South Wales. Following its aromas of plum and black currant, the taste offers rich mocha, dark berry fruits, sweet pepper and silky tannins. The wine was aged for twelve months in new and used French and Hungarian oak barrels, adding a slight extra spiciness to the wine. Wine Spectator gave it 87 points and said it has "a supple, velvety style, with pretty currant and floral flavors. Finishes with a long, haunting echo of the fruit." At this price, and with this much taste packed into one little bottle, it's a no-brainer for weeknight burgers.

 

DEBORTOLI PETIT VERDOT 2005, Australia $10.97 (regular $13.95)

Several years ago when I spent a couple of months working at Alexander Valley Vineyards dragging hoses and learning a lifetime about California winemaking, I remember all the wines we tried. Flight after flight of unmarked samples appeared as they tried to show me how they assembled their finished products. But at the end of the day I really remember the Sierra Nevada! Now that was amazing. A bucket of cold bottles was set out under a tree, and then another. And then the conversations started and we all had a lot of fun! Sierra Nevada's Summerfest is one of their seasonal brews, and the light style doesn't mean it's not complex. Sure to be a big hit this summer!

 

Due to shipping limitations, we are unable to sell this item online, but you can order it via email and we will hold it for you to pick up in our store.

 

SIERRA NEVADA SUMMERFEST, Chico, California $7.99/six-pack

The perfect barbecue begins with top-quality ingredients, the best hardwood, your tongs in one hand, a beer (or wine) in the other, and tasty and unusual sauces.

 

Anna Mae's Smoky Sweet Oven & Grill Sauce is one more terrific creation from the folks at Robert Rothschild Farm in Urbana Ohio. The Rothschilds are famous for all things berry: mustards, vinegars and sauces. They have so many great products it's impossible to pick a favorite. This sauce sure makes the top of the list. Smoky Chipotle peppers combined with seasoned tomatoes, onions, honey mustard, spices and, of course, red raspberries, make this sauce extraordinary. It's sweet, smoky and spicy. Brush it on shrimp or chicken. Baste it on pork chops or beef kebabs. Anna Mae's also makes a great dip for finger foods especially chicken tenders and wings.

 

ANNA MAE'S SMOKEY SWEET SAUCE $7.97/12 oz (regular $8.99/12 oz)

 

Fischer & Wieser is a Texas company. Their flagship product, its award-winning Original Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce®, helped put the family business on the specialty foods map. Through its national marketing campaign, the company was one of the first to put a chipotle pepper product on the shopping lists of home chefs from coast to coast. "I had been wanting to try a new product using raspberries, and we knew that fruit and pepper was a nice marriage in our preserves," Case Fisher said. So he got busy in the company's research kitchen and came up with a raspberry sauce with different kinds of peppers in it. He sent samples to friends in the restaurant and grocery businesses for their feedback. Their verdict: it's okay, but it needs something. One suggested using a Chipotle pepper, a smoked jalapeño produced exclusively in Mexico. Today, The Original Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce® is the number one specialty condiment sold in Texas! It's excellent basted on grilled chicken or poured over a creamy cheese. We've been known to pour the jewel-red sauce over a creamy piece of brie, stir it into baked beans and mixed it into a Razzmatazz Margarita, but this smoky sweet sauce seems to be just made for beef brisket.

 

F&W ROASTED RASPBERRY CHIPOTLE SAUCE$8.97/15.75 oz (regular $9.99/15.75 oz)

 

Maker's Mark Bourbon Gourmet Sauce is made with, surprise, America's award-winning Maker's Mark Whisky. The bourbon is crafted in very limited quantities in a tiny, picturesque distillery by a 7th generation Kentucky distiller. This 15 oz bottle of sauce adds its own unique twist and taste to any recipe. The Maker's Mark bourbon flavor perks up just about everything grilled, especially pork. It is also delicious on a roast beef sandwich.

 

MAKER'S MARK BOURBON GOURMET SAUCE$7.97/16 oz (regular $8.99/16 oz)

 

Last but not least, one of our all-time favorite sauces is made in Raleigh, North Carolina. The tangy, smoky, sweet sauce is fabulous, all natural, fat-free, high fructose-free. It is a BBQ, grilling and marinating sauce true to its name. "We're Talkin' Serious" Bone Suckin' Sauce. The name says it all! .

 

BONE SUCKN' SAUCE (THICK) $5.97/16 oz (regular $6.99/16 oz)

 

Want more bbq tips and help? Try our friend Craig's great ribs site at www.amazingribs.com

It's summer and as sure as that means enjoying wine al fresco, mistakes will happen. The problem I have with friends is getting the bottle to stay upright. Sound silly? Maybe for you, but between the wind and the seams in my backyard table I've lost a decent amount of wine. I can even show you the spot where a great bottle of Mitolo Shiraz poured out last summer. The cork never goes back in but this really neat little stopper, Haley's Corker, does the trick. Haley's Corker™ is an inexpensive stopper that combines five different uses in one clever piece of plastic: re-corker, pourer, aerator, filter and stopper. That last is what sold me, but all the rest count too. It's completely odor-free and is dishwasher safe.

 

HALEY'S CORKER™ $5.99 

Join us this week in our Tasting Room as we fight the heat with cool whites and both spicy and soothing reds. See you here! FREE, 11:00-5:00.

That's all for this week. If we may be of any further service, please stop by our store at 9965 Gross Point Road in Skokie (for directions, click here), visit our website at http://www.schaefers.com, give us a call at 847-677-WINE (9463), 800-833-WINE (9463), or click here to contact us.