NEJAIME'S Complimentary Wine Tasting Schedule for November from 12-5pm except November 23rd by Philip S. Kampe

Nejaime’s Wine Tasting Schedule

The Lenox Wine Cellar

The Stockbridge Wine Cellar

Saturday 11/16 Some more of our best deals for the month: Exclusive to Nejaimes FROM pROVENCE: BANQUETTES COTES DU RHONE $14.99 $11.99Sale! BANQUETTES RASTEAU $19.99 $15.99 Sale! ROCALIERE LIRAC ROUGE $19.99 $15.99Sale! FLAUZIERES GIGONDAS  $19.99 $15.99 Sale! ROCALIERE TAVEL ROSE   $16.99 $13.59 Sale! Exclusive to Nejaimes FROM Maison Jadot (Burgundy): CHASSAGNE MONT. MORGEOT $49.99 $39.99 Sale! SAINT AUBIN LE CHARMOIS $49.99 $39.99 Sale! FIXIN CLOS MOREAU  $34.99 $27.99 Sale! Saturday 11/23 Big Malbecs and Argentinians blends  presented by Jeff Hadley from 11.30 to 3pm BENMARCO MALBEC 2010 BENMARCO EXPRESSIVO RED 2010 BALBO BRIOSO 2009 LUCA BESO DE DANTE MALBEC/CAB 2010 93 Points Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, 2012 91 Points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, 2013 BODEGA TACUIL RD 2011 90 Points Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, 2013 Saturday 11/30 All California wines!!!     Prestigious Cabs and Chardonnays will be presented as well as some new generation californian wine!

Saturday 11/16   Thanksgiving Thoughts Chateau Lanessan - Haut Medoc (Bordeaux)    Chateau La Doyenne - Cotes de Bordeaux   Flauzieres -  Gigondas Sean Minor - Pinot Noir Carneros    Piesporter Riesling Saturday 11/23   Trimbach Trimbach Pinot Noir Trimbach Riesling Trimbach Pinot Gris Trimbach Gewurztraminer Saturday 11/30   December Discoveries Dumaine - Syrah   Rocaliere - Lirac    Talosa - Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano Stolpman - La Cuadrilla Rocaliere Tavel

PATRICK MATA visits the Berkshires and Pours 'Spains Best Wines' by Philip S. Kampe and Maria Reveley

Patrick Mata, a founder and partner with Spain resident Alberto Orte, will visit the Berkshires--specifically Lenox--this weekend to host a Wine Dinner on Saturday, 16 November (Call Spirited for the details 413 448-2274).
In honor of his visit, Patrick will pour 'Twelve' of his exceptional wines from his 'Award Winning Portfolio'.
The tasting will take place at SPIRITED, 444 Pittsfield Road, at he corner of Holmes Road in Lenox.
Ole Imports has an extensive portfolio of wines from throughout Spain--from all corners of Spain's map.
My favorites include 'Cava Naveran' and all of the wines from winemaker Raul Perez, an icon in the industry.
Patrick, also, is a gourmand and will gladly discuss what food goes best with the wines that you will be sampling.
Jim Nejaime's staff  always introduces an array of cheeses, salami's and numerous other products that compliment the wines. They are available for you to sample while you are drinking your wine.
There isn't a better way to find out if a food pairing works for you or not?
Complimentary food and complimentary wine--that is exactly what the doctor called for!
As an added bonus to Patrick Mata's table of twelve wines, two other tables of wines will be set-up plus a Gordon & McPhail Single Malt table with eight selections and a SixPoint Brewery and Craft Brweres Guild table paired with sausage from Les Trois Petits Cochon.

When: Saturday, November 16th
Where: SPIRITED  444 Pittsfield Road in Lenox
Time: 12-4pm
What: Ole Imports wine tasting plus others

Philip S. Kampe
Maria Reveley
TheBerkshireLife@gmail.com

Back in the Berkshires by Philip S. Kampe

I am finally back in the Berkshires after spending nearly a month and a half visiting Argentina and most recently, Portugal.
My travels involved food, wine and culture.
In fact, Maria, my wife, and I rented an apartment in Buenos Aires for ten days. We stayed in the Bohemian section of the city named San Telmo. Couples danced Tango, nightly, in the square a block from our apartment. We would order a bottle of Malbec and watch the danceers.
Life has been good.
The trip to Argentina also involved numerous winery visits in the Mendoza area, as well as one of my dreams-Patagonia.
In Portugal, I met a Countess at her vineyard and rode one of her prize winning Lusitano horses during the afternoon.
More to follow-----

Philip S. Kampe
TheBerkshireLife@gmail.com

Wine Events in Berkshire County by Philip S. Kampe

Saturday, October 12th
OCTOBERFEST in Montery featuring beer, wine and bratwurst.
12-5pm

SPIRITED Octoberfest
1-4pm
Under the tent at SPIRITED (Holmes Road and Route 7)
Beer Beer Beer from craft to pumpkin.
Free entrance

KELLY'S Package store in Dalton
12-6pm
Beer and cider tasting
Free entrance
++++++++++++      +++++++++++    +++++++++++    ++++++++++++
WORLD OF WHISKEY CLASSES
$45 for both classes
at Kelly's Package Store  (413) 684-0870 for information
October 17th  North American Whiskeys
October 24th  British Isles Whiskeys

Saturday, October 19th
LOCAL WORLD versus OLD WORLD WINES
A Master Class led by BALDERDASH winemaker Christian Hanson.
$30
RSVP at:(413) 684-0870




Sunday, October 20th
Wine Dinner at Chez Nous Bistro featuring Kermit Lynch Wines
Sommelier Lyle Railsback will be the guest speaker
6 wines
4 courses and appetizers
5:30pm
$65 per person plus tax and gratuity
Contact Chez Nous for reservations: (413) 243-6397

Saturday, October 26th
Co-Op OCTOBERFEST
Free beer tasting at Kelly's sponsored by Pittsfield's Co-Operative Bank
1-4pm

OCTOBERFEST is coming to Monterey on Saturday, October 12th (Noon-5pm)

Monterey will celebrate Octoberfest on Saturday, October 12th from noon to five pm.
This is a first for the town and its residents.
A detailed article will follow later this week.

I have just returned from three weeks in Argentina. I returned with a 'bug' and will be back on my feet shortly.
Philip S. Kampe
TheBerkshireLife@gmail.com

Wine mixes and All Natural Cocktail Mixes by Philip S. Kampe and Maria Reveley

 Time to Experiment with Wine and ‘All Natural’ Cocktail Mixes by Philip S. Kampe

I guess at times you think you have seen everything, then, all of a sudden someone has a brilliant idea to create a new product, in my case, specifically made for white, red or sparkling wine.

Once you sample this new wine invention, you wonder why it was never done before.

What I discovered was a company based in Atlanta, named Old World Gourmet, who has created some innovative wine and cocktail mixes that turn still wine into ‘Adult Slush Puppies’.
I know, it sounds ‘out-of-the-ordinary’, but, the reality is, a new world of wine and cocktail flavors now exists for the wine lovers of the world.
Vino-Licious, the name of the product, has created a whole new wine experience for both the new wine drinker and the wine geek.
They have created a new way to enjoy wine, as a frozen drink, like a slush puppie.
It is like tasting wine for the first time.
This unique frozen drink mix is easy to make. Basically you add the mix to a bottle of white wine, red wine or champagne or prosecco, fill the empty wine bottle with water, add together and freeze for 3-4 hours. The result is an amazing slush drink made in your freezer.

If you prefer non-alcoholic, just add grape juice or a bottle of non-alcoholic wine.

The flavors I tried were Sangria, Peach Bellini (made with Champagne or Prosecco) and Wine Ice.

The result was wonderful, even for a skeptic like me.

I have a few more flavors to try, Lemoncillo, Margarita and Blueberry Pomegranate, before fall sets in.

If you can’t find Vino-Licious locally, look online at www.owgshoponline.com
They retail for $8.99 per flavor.

Speaking of mixes, ‘Powell & Mahoney’ have created a line of ‘All Natural’ cocktail mixes that are made in small batches and are of top quality. Recently I had the opportunity to sample a group of cocktail mixes and found the ones made by Brian Powell and Mark Mahoney as the cream of the crop.
The founders explained that there is a need for a true natural cocktail mix that would replicate the classic cocktails of the world with a few exotic twists.
Literally, after twenty years, the duo of ‘Powell & Mahoney’ have introduced their line of cocktail mixes to the world.

At a recent sampling, I had the opportunity to try their combined expertise in several mixed drinks. What I learned was that their passion and diligence for turning your home into a bar was a reality.

The cocktail mixes retail for $6.99 each and can be found at select stores or online at:

www.powellandmahoney.com
I had the opportunity to try the whole line of natural cocktail mixes and have to believe that there is none better in the market. As a wine drinker, I find that the transition to alcohol based drinks was simple because of the high quality of the mixes. The drink tastes ‘real’ and not like one that is made with a mass-produced mix.

The Blood Orange, their newest mix, really knocked me out. Add Mojito, Lemon Sour, Pomegranate, Ginger, Peach Bellini, Cosmopolitan, Margarita and Bloody Mary to the mix and you have created an entire bar room in your house.

My married kids and my wife Maria always want products that are natural.
Brian Powell and Mark Mahoney have taken care of that.

Italy and My Thoughts about Wine and Politics by Philip S. Kampe

ITALY and My Thoughts about Wine and Politics by Philip S. Kampe

ITALY is a kaleidoscope of varying images, colors and sounds, all passing you by as you breathe in the odor of tomato sauce from a nearby open window.  Cats lie on the open window sills, smelling the anchovies in the tomato sauce, while staring aimlessly at strangers as they pass by.

Restaurants are full of locals searching for the best, original, regional  pasta dish that is being offered.

Sipping wine, while eating antipasto, the locals talk about life, politics, food and love.

Berlusconi, although toppled, is often the topic…wives, women, power and money.

My life is different.

Wine dominates my thoughts.

Food is a close second.

Growing up in New Orleans has taught me about life’s essentials.

Normally food, politics and the Saints are the topic of the day in the ‘Big Easy’.
In the Berkshires, we speak daily about the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Patriots.
Politics are another issue.

I rarely get involved.

Politics scare me.

There is never a right answer, only a judgment.

The same is true for wine.

Sure, I think that I know a lot about wine, but, the reality is, I don’t. I only have my judgment and opinion. It is the same as everyone else, trained or not.

Who judges wine competitions or dance competitions. Isn’t it someone like you or me?

Sure, I pass along my opinion and many follow my advice, but, I am only one person advocating a specific wine for your evaluation and consumption.

Certainly, there are others who are better versed in the wine industry.
The reality is, after so many discussions with sommeliers, the winemaker has the absolute final word about the wine he makes.
He knows the grapes, the profile he is after and how to get the needed end result.

We, only, comment, on his results for discussion.
People like Robert Parker and Steve Tanzer make a profession as the voice of the people. Their thoughts surface, often, in discussions about wine.  What I have learned in the past several years is the voice for your wine choice comes from you. Your voice dominates. Your palate dominates.

What is the best way to find your voice?

The answer is simple.
Attend the weekly complimentary tastings that our local wine shops offer.
Go to Spirited, Nejaime's or Kelly's on any given Saturday afternoon.
Your palate is the judge, not the person pouring the wine.
They just recommend.