Thursday April 23, 2020
Will we still be allowed to go to work like this when it's all over? Asking for a friend.
This week: GQ gave some really awful wine advice and wine people all over the world are shaking their firsts, Stanley Tucci shook a disproportionate negroni on Instagram, giving bartenders something to complain about too. More on all of that below. We released another round of pre-picked cases on Tuesday - reach out if you missed that email and are curious what we had to offer.

In other good news, we will be announcing two dates for virtual tastings in the next 2 weeks: Central Coast winemaking champ Andrew Jones of Field Recordings, Wonderwall, and Alloy will be hosting a virtual tasting on Zoom next Wednesday, April 29 at 7pm. Mark your calendars! We will be offering a 6PK Kit to accompany the tasting - look for that email on Sunday.

AND - Monique Huston will be returning online to host a class on Whiskies of the World + happy hour during the week of May 4th. Keep an eye out on more details for that as well.

Spring is springing and at least we're allowed to be outside (at distances and not in groups). This could have all happened back in November, locking us up in the winter - so let's be thankful for that. Keep an eye out for new canned cocktails and wine hitting our shelves. Despite everything that's different right now, glass still isn't allowed in parks and cans are just nicer for boats.

Sending a big cheers to all of the essential employees and healthcare workers out there. Stay safe and everyone keep washing your hands.

Salud,
The Team at NL
NORTH LOOP 6PK PICKS OF THE WEEK
You already have the email - so we won't go into detail. Just two picks this week:

Pick 1: The Surprise Pack of Really Good Everyday Drinks - $103.45 + tax
Pick 2: Drink & Support MSP Restaurant Relief Fund - $94.45 + tax
(all about takeout pairings from local restaurants with a virtual tasting)

All prices are pre-tax and listed at a discount. All available through the week!
Email northloopwine@gmail.com or phone in 612-338-5393. Pick up curbside or use our delivery options.
A (QUICK) PRIMER ON NEGRONIS

Cocktails have a lot of rules and for every rule, there are countless rule breakers - enter Stanley Tucci. The Negroni has always been a *stirred* staple classic with less debate, having a fairly standard equal parts ratio with 3 ingredients, whose exact makings you might swap out. It is much loved for its balance of refreshing bitter sweetness and has spawned countless variations that are now also classics: the Sbagliato, Boulevardier, Old Pal, etc.

Origins are unknown, but we are pretty sure that it emerged in Italy in the early 1900s.. legend says it all started when Count Camillo Negroni asked his bartender to strengthen his normal Americano (vermouth + sweet vermouth + soda). The very basic standard negroni is a stirred cocktail, equal parts gin + sweet vermouth + Campari. Creative license is in the ingredients selection: what type of gin, which sweet vermouth, and even which bitter red liqueur. Garnish with an orange peel.

The Stanley Tucci Method: 2 oz. Gin + 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth + 1 oz. Campari. Shake with ice and serve up. Garnish with an orange slice and make sure you give it a squeeze for a little extra juice.

*DISCLAIMER: we aren't picking sides here. You do you :)
Don't Listen to This.
GQ came in hot with some iffy wine advice last week. The text started at promising with some good points but then it all boiled down to this list. And as a PSA, we just want to make sure you don't believe everything you read. Who let this go to print anyways?

Also, like the Negroni.. You do you. Keep putting ice in your vacation vineyard wines!
1) Pinot noir can be a big wine. Warm climate can mean more sugar and higher alcohol. Some have a good bit of new oak added on top of that. Of course, it boils down to winemaker's choices.. but if they want it to be big, it certainly will be! Sure, it isn't going to have tannins like cabernet sauvignon. And yes - it can be "big" and still great.

2) Pinot Grigio/Gris is grown all over the world in so many different styles - this is just an offensive assumption to make. From the easygoing Veneto values to the $100+ Alsatian late harvests to the skin contact Ramato's of Fruili. Don't put PG in a box.

3) PUT ICE IN YOUR WINE AND DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT IT. Sometimes the wine is simply too warm. Maybe you just like a little bit of dilution. The ancient Greeks diluted their wine with water and considered it abominable to drink it straight. It's actually part of the origins for the word "barbarian". It was a "barbaric" trait to not dilute your wine.

4) Merlot isn't a good grape? Tell that to everyone spending literal $1000's on Petrus.

5) Is this the worst point here - that wines only taste good because you're on vacation? For one, many smaller European producers do not charge tasting room fees and depend on your wine purchases. So it's actually just rude to visit and not buy. Secondly, just false.
ALSO VERY IMPORTANT...
Just some good dogs that visited us recently.
(We hear dog photos are a great way to spread cheer)
CALL AHEAD FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP,
SOCIAL DISTANCE WITH DELIVERY.
... remember to have faith that it won't be long before we can take this message outta here :)

Call in your order: Give us a ring or send an email .. tell us what you'd like, and pay over the phone. Call as you're pulling up and just let us know front door or back door and we'll wash our hands and drop your goods in the trunk or the backseat. Easy, just like that.

Don't know what you want? Ask for help, take our recommendations. Tell us what you like, what you're interested in, and your budget. We'll put something good together for you. Pull up and pick up. Again, easy, safe and sanitary.

Call for delivery: The most responsible thing you can do is stay home and let us leave your goods outside your door. C all in your order and have us deliver. Delivery is free for orders over $25 (pre-tax) for anyone within a 5 mile radius. We will deliver outside of this radius for a small surcharge. Of course, with higher volume of delivery demand, we need your patience and understanding that your order's ETA may be longer than usual. Don't forget to tip your driver.. they are going out so you don't have to.

For delivery and curbside.. email northloopwine@gmail.com or call 612-338-5393.
Cheers everyone!
-The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits