Do you ever get really busy? I mean really, really busy with work & home & life. I’ve been so dang busy. Football season is finally here, I thought It’d be fun to re-do my gameroom before it started. Yeah. Sooo much fun. Now, I hesitate to show you pictures of my Packer obsession as I know Packer’s Fans are really not my audience here. Though, I’m sure you can appreciate commitment to your team and even the warm hospitality if you’re not a football fan.
Rediculous to have this your in your house? Perhaps. Em, but I don’t think so. Can you feel the warmth of the neighborhood pub where everybody knows your name? Well, I’m bad with names, but you get it. Many a game will be watched here – by 49er’s fans, a couple Stealer’s fans and we don’t discriminate, even Raider’s fans are welcome if they’re on their best behavior (you know who you are – Caroline). The food is good, we serve Leinenkugels and cheese curds , and the company is even better. It’s more than just football. It’s about hospitality.
Hospitality, noun
- the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers
- the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way
The word ‘hospitality’ in the New Testament comes from two Greek words. The first word means ‘love’ and the second word means ‘strangers.’ It’s a word that means love of strangers. ~Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Even those who don’t care much about football, can enjoy themselves here on gameday. However, this is our second favorite place to watch football. Second only to Lambeau Field, where the hosipitality among strangers is unique and must be experienced – put it on your bucket list. You can read an un-biased perspective on what game day in Green Bay is like by clicking here. Here’s my favorite quote from the article: ‘Next door to Brett Favre’s Steakhouse, a warehouse-size merchandise outlet called the Jersey Store offers the mind-bending sight of a man clad in a Favre jersey buying a Favre jersey. One, presumably, for laundry day.’
Here’s some great wine picks from the Front Porch – two weeks worth again – enjoy them with friends!
Clayhouse Sauv Blanc ~ Hidden Cellars Chard ~ Bay Leaf Pinot ~ Victor Old Vine Zin
Hawk Crest Chard ~ Roblar Chard ~ Oak and Vine Pinot ~ Stonehedge Merlot
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2011 Clayhouse Sauvignon Blanc Paso Robles $4.99
Elsewhere price $14.99
Arvin noticed this Sauv Blanc had a nice aroma. Kerri thought it tasted very fruity – good on a hot day. Scott commented that it was not too sweet and asked the crowd if we all thought it would be good at a wedding. Terry said it would please a lot of people 🙂 We paired this Sauv Blanc with raspberry jam ($1.99 in our natural/organic section) and brie ($2.99 in our deli case).
87 points from Cellartracker.com
From the winemaker: Made in a refreshing aperitif style, Clayhouse Sauvignon Blanc exhibits a bouquet of starfruit, green pear, honeydew melon and grapefruit, with a hint of grass. There’s a touch of minerality that enhances the floral notes contributed by the Musque clone, and the wine finishes with a creamy mouthfeel (from sur lie fermentation and aging) and mouthwatering acidity.
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2012 Hidden Cellars Chardonnay Mendocino County $4.99
Elsewhere price $12.99
I thought this California Chardonnay was very light. Larry said he tasted butter, and Steve said, mmmmm buttery. What? They agreed, how weird. Connie said this was an excellent Chardonnay and Kerri agreed. Terry said she liked both the white wines tonight. We paired this Chardonnay with all natural teriyaki & Pineapple meatballs ($3.99 in the deli case).
4/5 stars on Vivino.com
87 points from Cellartracker.com
Apple and pear nose. Buttery start on tongue, turns to lemon-apple green apple tart. refreshing. Good appetizer for fish or chicken.
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2008 Hawk Crest Chardonnay Monterey $.99
Elsewhere price $12.99
We paired this wine with spicy nachos ($3.99 in the freezer), it was a great compliment. Terry commented that this was a pleasant Chardonnay, a little sweet, but not too much. Steve thought he noticed a floral aroma, and surprise, Larry agreed.
81.6 points from Cellartracker.com
Winemakers notes: This wine opens with soft aromas of white peach and lemon alongside subtle notes of jasmine and oak spice. Styled after a Macon Village Chardonnay, the wine has a rich silky mouthfeel, medium body, and finishes with bright acidity laced with minerality. Open a bottle with a lightly dressed Shrimp Louie and a chunk of sourdough bread.
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2012 Roblar Chardonnay California $4.99
Elsewhere price $14.99
Terry thought the aroma was like a citrus tree. She found it fruity and said it finished with a slight tartness. Arvin called it lemony – not a bad chardonnay. Larry tasted grapefruit and pear, and wait for it ….. Steve agreed.
91 points from Cellartracker.com
WineEnthusiast.com: A citrus-inflected, vanilla-leaning nuttiness consumes the aromas of this offering, which makes for a very pleasant sipping experience. There is good acidity, with apple, lemon and a bit of tropically, including nicely rounded fruit in the midpalate. A dazzling zest continues to the finish as well.
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2013 Bay Leaf Pinot Noir California $5.99
Elsewhere price $18.99
Steve commented (for real) that he liked the oaky aroma, Scott agreed. Arvin also noticed the oaky oakyness, he said, ‘this is the kind of wine I can hold in my mouth and enjoy for 5 minutes. Larry said it had nice legs and Kerri agreed. She noticed blackberry current in the aroma and said that this pinot goes down like velvet and tastes of plum with a pepper bite at the end.
The only tasting notes I could find on-line is from one of my favorite wine snobs, you can read it here
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2011 Oak & Vine Pinot Noir California $4.99
Elsewhere price $14.99
Larry started us off and said he tasted black cherry and plum. Steve thought this Pinot had an aroma of licorice, Larry added – Anise. Yeah, that is the same thing. We snacked on some treats from our new line of nuts, dried fruits and snack rack that you can find by our fresh produce department.
Tasting notes from Wine Wire: Along with the dark color, aromas strawberry cedar, and crème fraiche meet the wine drinker. Focused tannins and a long finish are complemented by flavors of black cherries, lychee and pomegranate. Oak aging adds hints of vanilla, nuances of toast and a soft, smoky finish.
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2012 Stonehedge Reserve Merlot Napa $10.99
Elsewhere price $39.99
This one got everyone commenting at once! It was hard to keep up… Terry said her nose wriggled and it made her shoulders raise with a shrudder (like she just got a warm hug) ‘it’s good’, she said. Steve said it’s got legs and is very moist & smooth, Arvin agreed. Larry said it was a bit sweet, Arvin agreed. This would pair very nicely with Devil’s Food Cake. Arvin added that this Merlot had long sexy legs and had a lot of sugar from the fruit, almost a dessert wine. So great with berries & chocolate.
From the Winemaker: The Napa Valley Merlot starts with aromas of black cherries and plums followed by tobacco and vanilla. It is very strong in mid pallet and finishes with notes of ripe strawberries and a hint of toasty oak. This is a strong but elegant wine that can be enjoyed now, and also laid down for long cellar aging that will highlight the fine attributes of this wine.
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Victor Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi $5.99
Elsewhere price $16.99
Becky said this zin was like a flavor explosion in her mouth. Steve found it dry and Kerri tasted cherry. Becky added that it had long lingering flavor with a peppery finish. Everybody was happy.
On-line review: Our Old Vine Zinfandel is rich with brooding complexity – supple tannins frame the dark raspberry, blackberry, and cherry flavors rounded with brambly spice and hints of mocha, black pepper, and lightly toasted oak
From the winemaker: Victor Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel is crafted from grapes grown on our Lawson vineyard and other selected vineyards with vines aging from 35 to 112 years old. Our Old Vine Zinfandel is rich with brooding complexity—supple tannins frame dark raspberry, blackberry and cherry rounded with brambly spice and hints of mocha, black pepper, and lightly toasted oak. Appellation: Lodi – Blend: 85% Zinfandel , 15% Petite Sirah – Vineyard age: 35 – 102 years old
Front Porch Wine Tasting 