Check it out: Boozy frozen treats! |
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This Week: Here's to the State Fair! We missed last year and the Delta variant has us in different camps of enthusiasm this year, but we're happy for all of the deep fried goodness and things on a stick. Kitschy sure, but we love imagining the pairing possibilities. What to enjoy with a deep fried oreo? The world is your oyster, although it may require sneaking some booze in.
There will be NO wine tasting this Friday. There's a good chance of rain and the thought of moving it indoors gives us the COVID scaries. We'll be back to it next week, weather permitting!
Nikola, our resident bartender, is upgrading your Moscow Mule - see recipe below. Not a vodka person? Swap in some whisk(e)y. The main thing is, add some homemade syrups to your bar repertoire. It is worth the extra effort!
Mask up. Especially if you've been to the Fair. Don't be bringing that Delta variant in to see us.
Cheers,
The Team at NL Wine & Spirits
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THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.
MN STATE FAIR TIME!
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The Minnesota State Fair is officially here! But, if the Great Minnesota Get-Together is feeling a little more like the great Minnesota super-spreader this year, don't worry, we've got your back! Maybe, like me, you've decided to skip it this year but missing all that great food is really a bummer. I mean, let's be honest, that's why we all go! I want to eat until I'm ready to pop, look at some goats, and then eat some more! This year I am going to tackle some of the most beloved foods at home and because I am a wine professional, class it up a notch with some wine pairings. So without further ado, here's our picks at the shop for some fanta-stick (sorry!) wine and spirits pairings for the classic foods on a stick or in a bucket....
The first thing I head for is the Pronto Pup stand for a Pup with "both" (mustard and ketchup) and whether you're team Corn Dog or team Pronto Pup, both will pair nicely with some bubbles! The Pere Mata Reserva Familia Brut Nature ($23.99) should do just the trick. Small Production Cava that is aged 2-4 years before disgorgement is toasty, crispy and delicious! This is one exceptional bottle of bubbs.
Next let's get the ever-popular porkchop-on-a-stick and pair it with the ever-popular pork pairing; Pinot Noir. Our pal Cole Thomas was at the shop recently and we fell in love with his wines from the hills of Santa Cruz . The 2019 Madson Winery Pinot Noir ($34.99) will bring the fruit and acidity you need to wash down that meat on a stick.
Deep Fried Pickles, or "Frickles" as I affectionately call them might be tough to pair with but never fear, Prost Dry Riesling ($14.99) is here! The soft floral notes and bright acidity will bump up nicely with the crunchy, sour flavor bomb and refresh your palate leaving you ready for more.
By now I might take a peek at goats and give my tummy a break but we are on the home stretch so there's no turning back now. It's time for that quintessential State Fair fare; Cheese Curds! Obviously, this is a job for Champagne. We have dozens to choose from but my go-to is Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve ($64.99). Made with precision and farmed Biodynamically, Bereche is complex, racy with laser-like acidity, perfect for washing down those deep fried chunks of heaven.
No stop to the fair is complete without some Sweet Martha's Cookies and we will forgo the milk and go with Bouchard Lot 120 Single Estate Cabernet ($22.99). Our hometown cookie should be paired with a hometown winemaker and Michael Bouchard and his fabulous red is just what we need to sip on after our cookies have been eaten as fast as possible, while they are still hot. A little bit Cabernet Franc, a little bit Cabernet Sauvignon and some Tannat to give it some edges is our strong cookie finisher. Hope we wore our stretchy pants!
-Angie
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State Fair Food + Booze, Todd's Picks
Cheese Curds - Rabbit Hole Cavehill Bourbon - $64.99 (750ml)
The sweetness from the corn and malted grains in Rabbit Hole Cavehill compliments the delicious fattiness of the fried cheese. Given the temperatures this weekend, enjoy your bourbon on the rocks.
Pronto Pup - Maker's Mark Bourbon $35.99 (Liter)
We'll skip the pronto pup vs corn dog debate and just encourage you to enjoy a pour of Maker's Mark with a pronto pup. The pancake-like batter on the pronto pup will pair nicely with the softer wheat profile in Maker's Mark.
Chocolate Chip Cookies - Four Roses Single Barrel $47.99 (750ml)
Chocolate chip cookies are a state fair staple, you know the stand I'm talking about. If you have any left in your bucket when you go home I highly recommend enjoying a glass of Four Roses Single Barrel with those cookies. Milk chocolate pairs well with most any whiskey, but the variety of the single barrel will give you a fun and unique experience.
Mini-Donuts - Michter's Straight Rye - $47.99 (750ml)
The spicy finish in Michter's Rye provides an amazing contrast to the sweet, sweet joy that is the mini-donut. The vanilla and butterscotch notes in the rye give you a nice compliment to the donuts and balance out the spiciness.
Bacon-on-a-stick - Lagavulin Offerman Edition - $79.99 (750ml)
I can't think of a more appropriate pairing with bacon than a whisky honoring the man that brought Ron Swanson into our lives. The fat and grease from the bacon pairs quite well with the initial smokiness from the Scotch. The creaminess imparted by the Guinness cask finish also goes quite well with the bacon.
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Spicy, Citrusy & Refreshing: the Moscow Mule
Moscow Mules are one of the vodka drinks I can really get behind. They are spicy, citrusy and refreshing. They were first made in the early 1940's by John Martin and Jack Morgan at Cock & Bull in Hollywood California. The Moscow Mule was one of the first popular drinks using the "new" spirit called Vodka. Before WW2, Vodka was not really around in the United States and was considered an exotic spirit.
There are recipes for Moscow Mules that basically are vodka mixed with ginger beer. We will be making an elevated version that utilises fresh Ginger Syrup, Lime as well as ginger beer. I am using Ida Graves Vodka from Alexandria Minnesota. What makes this vodka interesting is that it is distilled from Minnesota honey. That gives this very unique vodka a nice floral note, along with a creamines that finishes with a light sweetness. This is a seasonally made vodka so when it is gone, it is gone till next year. With no further ado...
Moscow Mule
2 oz Ida Graves Vodka
3/4 oz fresh Lime Juice
3/4 oz fresh Ginger syrup (equal parts ginger juice and sugar)
Top with Gosling Ginger Beer
Add Vodka, Lime and ginger syrup into shaker, add ice, give it a light shake (when adding soda, tonic or ginger beer to cocktail you don't want to shake too hard because it will over dilute the cocktail) Pour over ice into a tall collins glass, top with ginger beer give a quick stir to mix and garnish with a Lime or a piece of your favorite candied ginger.
That's it!
Cheers,
Nikola
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Staff Picks: What to Drink This Week
Things our staff thinks you should drink.
2015 Teutonic Bergspite Black Label Pinot Noir Willamette Valley - $24.99
From his beloved Rieslings to his endless underdog varieties - we fall in love with Barnaby's [of Teutonic] light-hearted sustainable wines every time; the Bergspitze Pinot Noir is no exception. Bergspitze is made from high elevation grapes from the top of Willamette Valley's Chehalem Mountains. Immediately you observe that this Pinot is surprisingly pale in hue, with delicate aromas of red berries and a dried pine cone earthiness. The texture has an unexpected viscosity with ripping acidity and a tart jellied cranberry sauce note that persists for eons. This is the effortless food friendly wine of your dreams, and we are selling it 40% under market value. Yes, yes, we love you too.
-Katrina
Dopff & Irion RosΓ© Cremant D'Alsace Brut - $26.99
Pairing wine with state fair food is a fun and kitschy pursuit and, if you work at it, I'm positive you can find unexpected matches for any of the signature foods that will blow your mind. If, however, you want a can't miss pairing for any greasy, meaty and/or sweet thing you may be tempted to stuff in your face, you'd be hard pressed to find a more suitable foil than quality pink bubbles. Dopff & Irion make a rose' from handpicked Pinot Noir grapes that combines the noble grape's naturally rich texture with a creamy mousse and a refreshing citrus finish. cheese curd beware. You've met your match.
-Dave
Pierre Chavin 'Zera' alcohol-free Sparkling Chardonnay, France - $18.99
Organically grown Chardonnay grapes go into this alcohol-free sparkling wine from the innovative French winery, Pierre Chavin. When you need to enjoy a more refined non-alcoholic sparkling wine for a celebratory toast or simply a refreshing worry-free summer sipper, this is a great choice! Aromas of crisp green apple, pear, and white flowers lead to a palate of melon and fresh citrus fruits wrapped in a creamy mousse. This also makes a lovely base for imaginative mocktails, like a Rhubarb & Ginger no-gin Fizz!
-Patrick
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VERY IMPORTANT: A few of our favorite furry visitors.
Last, but not least.
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Cheers everyone!
-The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits
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