July 13th, 2023
-Merrymaking In Minneapolis-
This weekend we rock our faces off at Twin Cities Summer Fest, hopefully drinking some killer wine or spirits before singing along with The Killers. Next Thursday, we have The Queen in town... of course, we're talking about Beyoncé. And to add even more fanfare, we have the Aquatennial Celebrations from July 19th - July 22nd. It's nonstop wild summer nights till September, so stock up your bar and get ready to party!
Drink Like Queen Beyoncé
What drink is worthy of pouring before seeing a 32-time Grammy award winning artist?
Champagne? Grand Cru Burgundy? Maybe a Texas Margarita in honor of her birthplace? Or Firestone & Robertson Texas Straight Bourbon, served on-the-rocks? We are "Crazy In Love" with all of these options, but scroll down to see our favorite options.
"I've been drinking, I've been drinking,
I get filthy when that liquor get into me"
Wine Pick:
QUEEN of the Sierra
"Queen of the Sierra" is a line of natural, organic wines made by Forelorn Hope. All estate grown, hand-harvested fruit that's co-fermented with native yeast in open tank, then transferred to large neutral barrel and bottled unfined & unfiltered with minimal SO2. The Rosé is made from Zinfandel, Grenache and Tempranillo — a textural rosé with bright acidity and notes of wild strawberry & watermelon rind. The amber wine is made from Verdelho, Albariño, Muscat and Chardonnay. This orange wine has nuanced aromas and flavors of clementines, apricots, black tea and guava.

Spirits Pick:
D'USSÉ
Did you know that BeyoncĂ©'s husband, Jay-Z, still owns a sizeable portion of the company D'USSÉ? He reportedly sold 50% of his stake back to Bacardi for a whopping $750 million last year, but he is still very much invested in this Cognac. D'USSÉ is known for its powerful bouquet with rich woody notes, floral notes, and a touch of cinnamon. Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter founded this company, and Michel Casavecchia, one of the world's greatest authorities on Cognac, crafts D'USSÉ in a 200-year-old Cognac house.
Cocktail of the Week: East Side Rickey
East Side Rickey is a tall sipper that has gin cucumber, mint lime and soda. This drink is kind of a mix of the southside cocktail and a Rickey. This is the perfect drink for the Aquatennial and hot summer days at the end of July and August. I like using more botanical or citrusy gins that gives a fresh, light flavor. Malfy Limone Gin is an excellent and refreshing choice!
INGREDIENTS
2oz Malfy Limone Gin
1oz Fresh Lime Juice
.75oz Simple syrup
3 slices of Cucumber
Small handful of mint
Club Soda

INSTRUCTIONS
Muddle 2 cucumbers in a shaker tin and add all other ingredients — except the mint and soda. Add ice, shake and strain into a tall glass over ice. top with soda and garnish with cucumber and sprig of mint.
Cheers,
Nikola
Friday Tasting Table
Friday, 07/14/23, 4 - 8 p.m.
Join Jack of Winebow for a FREE wine tasting this Friday!
Get 10% off any single bottle of wine from the tasting table.
6oz Pour
Wine Education Classes
France Pt 2: The B-Sides
Thursday, July 27
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., $60
As a companion to our “in 7 Glasses” series, we’re offering a series of tastings that focus on the incredible regions which are often overlooked or overshadowed by the larger producing blockbuster regions. While slightly more off the radar, these wines are in no way inferior. In "France, The B-sides," we’ll taste through the likes of Northern Rhone Syrahs, Muscadets, and Savennieres as well as other gems which while not usually in the limelight, certainly demand some attention for their singularity and quality.
Reserve your seats on Tock
Staff Picks - What to Drink this Week
Try these special, staff-selected libations!

2022 Von Winning Pinot Noir Rose - $25.99
What is the perfect bottle to pair with a picnic in the park? For me, this past weekend it was Von Winning Rose from the Pfalz in Germany. With its cooler climate, German roses are chalk full of bright acidity and crispy minerality and this is a winning example (see what I did there?). Fresh strawberries, rosehips and salty watermelon in the glass, this is a rose made for summer fare. Pack up the picnic basket and grab yourself a bottle. You won't regret it!
-Angie

2022 Domaine Philippe Gilbert, Menetou-Salon, Rosé - $33.99
Domaine Gilbert has been in the same family since 1768 in the heart of the Loire Valley Appellation of Menetou-Salon. The current generation is lead by Philippe, a former theater dramaturg and playwright. Leading the family's estate into the 21st century, Philippe brought the estate to Biodynamic viniculture practices and the estate is fully Certified Organic and Biodynamic today. Made from 100% pinot noir grapes sourced from the Clos des Morogues, his RosĂ© is made by the Direct Press method, resulting in a more delicate and nuanced RosĂ©. The wine goes through spontaneous fermentation and natural malo-lactic fermentation in stainless steel. The result is a RosĂ© of subtle floral aromas touched with raspberry, citrus, and peach. A light palate of pure crisp berry fruit is enhanced by vervy minerality and mouthwatering acidity. 
So, toast Bastille Day this week with this delicious French RosĂ©. 
Vive la France!
-Patrick

2022 Stirm Calcite White Wine - $24.99
Ryan Stirm farms some of the most unique and old vineyards in the Central Coast in California producing some interesting wines that are off the beaten path. Our wine team was recently floored by the deliciousness of his 2022 Calcite White Wine which is a 50/50 combination of Chardonnay and Riesling. The Riesling comes from one of the greatest Riesling vineyards in California, the Wirz vineyard. The nose shows aromas of honey and meyer lemon and the medium plus palate delivers rich, creamy apple fruit with refreshing acidity. The wine drinks more Chardonnay than Riesling, but the Riesling adds some great fruit and acid components. Try this wine with lemon herb roasted chicken. 
-Rob

Wild Mind Fiesta Fever - $14.99
Cinco de Mayo was over two months ago now, but there's never a bad time for a fiesta. Moreover, as long as the sun's out, it's never a bad time for Fiesta Fever, a Mexican-style lager from Wild Mind Ales. Whereas many lagers tend to have a sweeter taste, Mexican-style lagers like Fiesta Fever are less sweet and more crispy. At 4.5% ABV, it's a 16-ounce can that can (and arguably should) be crushed on a hot day. So whether your fiesta is going fishing, going to the pool, or actually partying hard, Fiesta Fever is the beer for you.
-Nick N
VERY IMPORTANT - Furry Friend Visits!
Cheers, Everyone!
The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits