Many of us dream of a steady diet of $50 Willamette Pinots, I sure do. Really. Or maybe your fantasy is a case or two of Opus One. Grab a bottle, then another. No, no! Wake up, man! It's only a dream. If you're the one at the register when the long tape spools out of the printer and the clerk turns and asks you to sign your name to your latest charge, and it occurs to you that, ohmigawd, the party's going to cost a lot, we have the answer. Whether or not Washington wants to say it, there's a recession happening. Give up the extra trip to the gym in the SUV? Maybe. Give up wine for tonight's dinner? Never!

 

Here is a great selection of real wines for real people (our patented name) that won't break the bank. I set an arbitrary limit of $13 a bottle and surprised myself at how many I found I really. really like. You will too. Next party let us help find the real wines you should be serving. No kidding, these are outstanding values.

 

This honest little white Bordeaux has good balance and great flavor. It's what Sauvignon Blanc should taste like without all the New Zealand asparagus. Crisp, dry, light; a terrific ice-breaking first glass of wine.

CHATEAU HAUT-RIAN 2006, Bordeaux [blanc] $12.95

 

This is the white version of one of our all-time favorite reds, and it's taking off. The more people try this straightforward white, the more they like it. Dry, light and oak-free.

PROTOCOLO 2007, Tierra de Castilla-Spain [white] $7.99

 

What's a party without a Pinot Grigio? And this one's as good as any! Delicate, with a hint of floral in the background, this uncomplicated white is the perfect match for an eighty-degree patio night.

LORIELLA PINOT GRIGIO 2007, delle Venezie $9.97 (regular $12.95)

 

The folks at this Sonoma winery have been doing this wine right for a long time. Not overweight or ponderous, this has plenty of the light, mixed greens summer salad flavor to say "Sauvignon" without a hint of under ripe fruit. Another oak-free example that works well on a summer evening.

SIMI SAUVIGNON BLANC 2005, Sonoma County $12.47 (regular $14.95)

 

We've been huge fans of this Chardonnay for a couple of years. Combining the spot-on fruit of the cool Russian River Valley with a judicious dab of oak, the folks at Martin Ray have made a consistent version of this style of Chardonnay from the get-go.

ANGELINE CHARDONNAY 2006, Russian River Valley $11.97 (regular $15.95)

 

Give up on mouth-filling, rich reds when the budget calls for sticking to wines under $13? Heck no. The Hope offers up layers of simple, ripe fruit like a young plum, not overly complex, but not overweight either. The almost-inky color and soft tannins make this a great pick for grilled lamb.

HOPE SHIRAZ 2006, Hunter Valley-Australia $12.95

 

Our friends at Boekenhoufskloof make one of the greatest Cabernets and one of the most amazing Syrahs in the Southern Hemisphere. But we're not always in the mood to pay the $65-$75 it takes to enjoy those greats. They've also put this baby Cote-Rotie together by blending Syrah and Viognier and even throwing in a little Mourvedre. If you've ever tried it you know what we're talking about. A hint of a few months in oak rounds out the gentle tannins. Can you say slow-smoked ribs?

THE WOLFTRAP 2007, [Syrah, Mourvedre, Viognier] South Africa $11.95

 

Every time we go back to this we like it more. Like listening to the Beatles' "Lady Madonna" for the 400th time, there is nothing about this Veronese red to get in the way of enjoying it. First cousin to Valpolicella, we find the way the Cavalchina folks put this together there's a nice, bright, soft fruit component that makes it easy to enjoy. Great with a chill. Blue cheese and Nueske's bacon cheeseburgers.

CAVALCHINA BARDOLINO 2006, Verona $12.97 (regular $15.95)

 

It's just not fair. How can Spain make such an embarrassingly good red for so little money? Haven't they heard about the Euro pounding the crud out of the dollar? Don't they understand that if you get it right for a vintage or two you should double the price? This 100% Tempranillo from Castilla is earthy and subtle while still being obvious and uncomplicated. We're big fans and have trouble keeping it in stock. Here's to a steaming pot of beer and onion-soaked, grilled lamb brats.

PROTOCOLO 2006, Tierra de Castilla [red] $7.99

After whetting the beer-drinking appetite of the great city of Sandburg and Royko, Bell's, one of Michigan's and the Midwest's greatest micro-brewers, pulled out of the Chicago market at just the wrong time. They had just become a name brand, asked for by anyone who knew brews. But there were distribution snags, and Chicago's a rough market to make money in. But hey! Wait a minute! Kalamazoo Royal Amber Ale is here. Brand new and a great ale. And the end of the six-pack says it all: "Brewed especially for the people of the great state of Illinois." Indeed! Make mine a twelve-pack. This is proof that Santa was hard at work in one of the hottest, beer-drinking months of the year. Thanks Bell's!

 

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.

 

BELL'S KALAMAZOO ROYAL AMBER ALE, Michigan $9.99 / six-pack

For a terrific summer supper, try two of our favorite Spanish specialties.

 

Spanish Sausage On The Grill Butifarra Catalunya Catalonian Sausage is made from a traditional recipe from Catalonia, and is a favorite of Spaniards. This is a tender and juicy pork sausage, excellent when it's grilled and served on crusty bread. This tasty sausage is incredible with eggs, with white beans and in the classic Madrilenian cocidos or "stew" made with chickpeas or white beans and vegetables. The historical origin comes from an old Jewish recipe that was prepared in a covered pot on Friday night to honor the sabbath. The stew cooked all night and was ready to eat the next day without having to reignite the flame, and in doing so the family observed rest on the sabbath. Much later, Spanish Christians added pork products to their cocido. It is absolutely delicious and one of our favorite kabob ingredients. Piquillo Peppers are not like any other red pepper you have ever tasted. Pure piquillo peppers carry an exclusive seal of authenticity, granted only to those peppers that are hand-picked in the Ribera del Ebro region of northern Spain.Slow roasting over open wood fires gives these unique peppers a complex, rich and teasingly spicy-sweet flavor. Stuff them with seafood or use them in salads like the one below.

 

Chickpeas with Piquillos, Lemon & Herbs

4-6 servings 

If using dried chickpeas, soak 1/2 pound (about 1 cup) in cold water overnight in the refrigerator. To cook, pour off soaking water, top with fresh cold water or vegetable stock, add a peeled carrot, a stalk of celery, a halved peeled onion, a few cracked garlic cloves, and a bay leaf. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer until done, about 2 hours. During the cooking process add salt and black pepper to taste.

 

When beans are tender, drain and cool. Place in a mixing bowl.

 

Remove the yellow portion of peel from the lemon with a vegetable peeler and chop it finely. Cut lemon(s) in half and squeeze the juice over the chickpeas. Add chopped herbs, lemon zest, and piquillo peppers to chickpeas. Toss with olive oil and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Chef Lynn Sheehan from Vertigo in San Francisco

 

CATALONIAN SAUSAGE $7.97 1 lb/4 pack (regular $8.99 /4 pack)

MATIZ PIQUILLO PEPPERS $7.97/7.58 oz (regular $8.99/7.58 oz)

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.