Blizzard hits Breck and we are gearing up for a great winter!

This morning I had to get the shovels out of the boiler room...and do some work! The Alley is romantic and white...and another 12inches are anticipated tonite! At Ridge Street Wine/ Breckenridge Cheese & Chocolate we are super excited about the upcoming winter season!





New Wines: We have been doing our homework and have been stocking up on some great wine/ great buys this fall. We have a crazy amount of delicious Pinot Noirs in stock...from the much heralded 2007 vintage in California and 2008 vintage in Oregon. Adelsheim 2008. The Provocateur 2008. Lucia 2007. Littorai 2007. Plus, new Syrahs from Gramercy Cellars ("Best New Winery 2010" from Food & Wine Magazine)! Winemaker David O'Reilly is no slouch either in the NW. From his Owen Roe line-up we carry The Sinister Hand and Abbot's Table. We round out our selection with his outstanding values including: O'Reilly's Pinot Noir, The Rook, The Keeper (killer, modern, jammy Cab Franc), and Sharecropper's Pinot Noir.

DID YOU KNOW...MOST OF OUR WINES ARE UNDER $20!!

At Ridge Street Wine we have many tasty new acquisitions from Italy: Pardi Rosso di Montefalco (Sagrantino!!), Correggia Roero (the best 100% Nebbiolo value), Lagone Tuscan IGT (91 pnts from the Wine Spectator...Italian Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc), Scavino Langhe Bianco...juicy Sauvignon Blanc from Piemonte.





From Argentina: La Posta Cocina Blend (Malbec, Syrah, Bonarda)and its BIG brother...the Patriota (Malbec & Bonarda...92pnts from Robert Parker)! Luca's luscious Chardonnay...93pnts Parker...aged for 12months in French oak and everything you what in an elegant Chardonnay.


Spain: Jorge Ordonez's EPIC dessert wine. Muscat dried on mats in a barn high on the Malaga hillside. Pair this wine with our Spanish Cabrales blue cheese drizzled w/ some honey and Marcona Almonds and you are in HEAVEN. Plus...Borsao (the number 1 value for the year from the Wine Enthusiast) and Volver! 100% Tempranillo from La Mancha...a totally boisterous way to experience Tempranillo...and a great value to boot!@







French wines are HOT on the radar at Ridge Street Wine and By the Glass at Breckenridge Cheese & Chocolate...

From the Loire Valley: the outstanding Cazin Cheverny (a crisp and clean Sauvignon Blanc w/ 10% Chardonnay) and Baudry Chinon "Les Granges" 2007 (a righteous Cabernet Franc as the Old World intended it to be). And a new favorite...Chateau Haut-Monplaisir Cahors (100% knock out Malbec). Plus, Viognier from Triennes (one of my favorite wines of the year...a joint venture from two outstanding Burgundy producers who get this Rhone varietal right in Vin de Pays du Gard) and Syrah from Cuilleron (one of the coolest/trend-setting young winemakers on the planet from one of the coolest winemaking regions on the planet). Can you believe we have a Counoise (a random varietal resurrected and showcased here on its own) from Monpertuis? Plus fabulous values for your dinner tonite from the Cotes du Rhone. It is your lucky day @ Ridge Street Wine!


Great wine values to be had these days...Carpe Vino!


See you soon!

Vosges...INSANE new bars!

AWESOME new bars in stock!

Black Salt Caramel Bar with its thin liquid caramel center encased by dark chocolate and sprinkled with Black Sea Salt is out of control!

Blood Orange Caramel Bar...again...BLISS!

A liquid caramel center with sweet/tangy blood orange and Campari...

Passion for Pinot Tasting!

At the Passion 4 Pinot Tasting in September we sat down and contemplated 6 Pinots paired with a carefully articulated amuse bouche plate!

What is the secret to great Pinot Noir? Some say it is the cooling fog, afternoon winds and good sun exposure that lengthen the growing season. Hang time! This increased time on the vine allows the grapes to develop complex flavors while keeping their attractive, crisp acidity.
California and Oregon have made their mark...commanding attention across the globe. Amazing recent vintages have produced intensely structured, balanced wines allowing, small producers to showcase their talent!

California enjoyed a stellar vintage in 2007 (some say 2009 may rival it!) and the Willamette Valley in Oregon enjoyed one of their best vintages in 2008! Great Pinots are to be had at the moment...Carpe Pinot!

A to Z Pinot Gris Oregon 2009

Adelsheim Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, OR 2008

Handley Pinot Noir Mendocino, CA 2007

Lucia Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands, CA 2007

Hitching Post Pinot Noir Santa Maria, CA 2006

Adelsheim "Deglace" Pinot Noir Dessert Wine 2008

A fabulous night had by all...

See you at the next one!

Babes in the Backcountry Tasting & a Sat Nite full house!

Super fun night with Babes in the Backcountry! After they hit the trails all day ...they had earned their wine! Breckenridge Cheese & Chocolate hosted a "Wines Off the Beaten Path" wine tasting...and we all had a fabulous time! Super fun wines. Leslie, Babes in the Backcountry owner/innovator, was an old college classmate of mine @ Union College, Schenectady, NY. We've known eachother a long time...so it was great to do a joint event with her! If you don't know about her operation check out her web-site http://www.babesinthebackcountry.com/ and go on a women's mountainbike weekend or tele clinic!

Expansion Complete!

12 More seats and construction complete! The newly expanded Wine Bar @ Breckenridge Cheese & Chocolate !

June Demolition for Expansion!!

Long before June...the ideas were in our heads for our EXPANSION!

But...on June 1...the demo began...and our dream all of a sudden was becoming a reality!

After planning commission approval...we began knocking down the walls!

Larry created the arches and opened the space up with amazing results...much better than we had envisioned. Suddenly the ceiling seemed taller and the whole upstairs became a broader and more unified space. This is what the space needed all along!

We ordered 3 more tables, 12 more bar stools and more of our beautiful stemware!

Meanwhile Mike and Kenny got to work on the new bar...which will ultimately contain our gorgeous state of the art Wine Preservation System! The Enomatic from Tuscany will hold 8 reds and refrigerate 8 whites...while pressurizing and preserving the wines with an inert gas! This will keep our wines amazingly fresh...fresh enough to have them in the system for up to 3 weeks without fading due to oxidation!

4th of July Cupcake Extravaganza!

This July 4th we held the 2nd Annual Cupcake Competition and Bake Sale! Everyone did their best to outdo themselves! Amazing! What an array of fabulous cupcakes. And...we had 4 All-Star Judges...(the fabulous: Sam, Kelley, Dave and Susan) who examined, dissected and tasted every one of the entries! All 37 of them! They deliberated for hours...seriously...and came up with some great winners!

"Best Looking" Stacey Stang with her "Mariposa Butterflies"

"Most Interesting Ingredient" Alaina Smith with her "Mojitos"

"Most Delicious" Alex Kendall with her "Quadruple Lemon Delights"

"Best Theme" Stacey Stang with her "Popcorns"

and....DRUM ROLLLLLLL...

"Breck's Best Cupcake 2010"

Katie Warren with her "S'mores"

Great Job by all...411 SOLD and $822 raised for The Carriage House Early Learning Center and Team Breckenridge. 2 Great Non-Profits who do their part to enrich the lives of kids in Summit County!

Amazing time had by all...see you again next year for the 3rd Annual!

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter!!

Super Fun! Join us on Facebook...or Follow us on Twitter! Up to date tasting news...events...special pricing...new Wines by the Glass!
Keep current! Like life...wines are changing all the time! See you soon!

Terra Valentine Wine Dinner

Just making you aware of a great wine event happening in Breckenridge this Thursday, June 17th, 2010!

4 Course Wine & Culinary Experience

at

Hearthstone Restaurant

To Benefit the Gene Baker Outdoor Classroom

at Colorado Mountain College Breckenridge

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

6:00pm - Welcome Reception

7:00pm - Winemaker's Dinner

Featuring the wines of

Terra Valentine

One of Napa Valley's Premier Vineyards

"A Hidden Gem of Spring Mountain!"

with

Sam Baxter, Winemaker - Terra Valentine

Michael Halpin, Executive Chef - Hearthstone Restaurant

$125* per person - Limited Seating (75)

For reservations,please call:

Hearthstone Restaurant, 970 453 1148

For more information, please contact:

Joanne Casey (bhh Partners) 970 453 6880 jcasey@bhhpartners.com

Phyllis Martinez(Colorado Mountain College)970 485 0813 corkscrew@comcast.net

* $85 of each ticket is a tax deductable donation to the CMC Foundation to benefit the CMC Outdoor Classroom

Italian Intensive with Mario Scanu from Winebow Imports

On Monday, April 5th Mario Scanu from Winebow Imports presented our second Sit-Down Wine Intensive...wine lovers and locals contemplated and enjoyed great wines and great conversation while learning from one of the wine industry's most effusive educators. The topic...La Dolce Vita: The Italian Renaissance of the Vine!

Mario spoke of viticulture, native varietals and how wines are not "paired" with foods in Italy...they are simply the wines they drink with their regional cuisine. Local wines, local foods. In Breckenridge, Colorado we have no vines, nor native foods...so we, as wine and food lovers seek out complementary flavors and "perfect" pairings. And perfect pairings we had! A carefully articulated Anti-Pastini was paired with each wine...

#1 Argiolas “Costamolino” 2008 DOC: Vermentino di Sardegna

with a mini Caprese Salad: mozzarella, basil, grape tomato, cracker

*Isle of Capri...Isle of Sardegna...why not?

#2 Morgante Nero d’Avola 2007 IGT: Sicilia

with Robiola Bosina, Castelvetrano olive, cracker

*Sicilian olives with Sicilian wine!

#3Prunotto “Mompertone” 2006 DOC: Monferrato
with Pecorino al Tartufo, Prosciutto on a breadstick

*Truffles are famous in Piemonte!

#4 Maiana “Leone de Castris” 2006 DOC: Salice Salentino

w/ Ciabatta crostini smothered with Cannellini bean, chunky tomato, olive, spinach "minestrone" topped with shaved Parmigiano Reggiano and drizzled with gorgeous Tuscan EVOO.

*Because rustic Italian wine calls for rustic Italian fare!

#5 Allegrini “Palazzo Della Torre” 2006 IGT: Veronese

w/ herb salame, Mountain Gorgonzola, blueberry and thyme compote, cracker

*Big wines call for BIG flavors!

#6 Coppo “Moncalvina” 2007 DOC: Moscato d’Asti
w/ Aldo's Almond Biscotti dipped in white chocolate, fresh strawberry

*Refreshingly delicious and lightly sweet... Moscato's tiny bubbles paired amazingly with authentic Italian biscotti dipped in white chocolate...and fresh fruit! DELISH.

What we learned:

In recent decades Italy has seen a rapid improvement in quality as well as a revival of wines in classical regions and classical varietals.

Fearless Italian winemakers have made it their mission to improve quality (while respecting Italian heritage) and have adopted new techniques of vinification and ageing. It has been a veritable "Renaissance of the Vine." Regions such as Sicily, Piedmont, Collio, Sardegna and Umbria now flourish with wines that can stand along side the world's finest! Italy is vast landscape with a variety of microclimates and an abundance of unique and indigenous varietals. Today, there is a wealth of producers, modern and traditional, making a fascinating range of ancient and contemporary wines!

We tasted some amazing Italian Cheeses, Salumi andCrostini...and drank some interesting and wonderful Italian wines! We learned about varietals many had never heard of...which transformed the perception of Italian wines! We went on an Italian journey right here in Breckenridge!

Mario Scanu from Winebow Inc (wine importing company) was a wealth of wine knowledge. He waxed poetically about the inherent pleasures of Italian wines... and all things Italian! Thank you Mario! Viva Italia! Viva la Vino!

See you at the next Wine Intensive!

Bunnies Galore!

Bunnies have arrived at Breckenridge Cheese & Chocolate in all shapes and forms!!
We get excited for Easter to come around every year! It gets us jazzed for spring and warmer weather and of course give us chocolate lovers another reason to indulge!

Come check out our amazing selection of Easter treats!

Classic favorites from Lake Champlain Chocolates...solid bunnies in milk, dark and white chocolate plus mini bunnies and colorful filled egg boxes!

To Charles Chocolate's beautiful, mouthwatering, Fleur de Sel Caramels decorated with whimsical bunnies and ducks...

To Vosges Bacon & Eggs!

Yes! I said Bacon & Eggs!! A whole new translation...Bacon is the hottest thing going in chocolate right now...a heightened experience of the "salt & chocolate" trend. (We sell the Vosges Bacon Bar in milk and in dark and CAN NOT keep them in the shop.)

And...sooo much more!!!
We are are filled to the brim with good ol' classics...to exceptional, super fun delights to make your Easter the best yet!

See you soon!

February 1, 2010 Winery Intensive.

The Wines of Ehren Jordan: Turley and Failla.

Two Seatings: 5:30pm and 7pm Sold Out!

Join us for a focused, sit down winery intensive. These are epic, handcrafted wines with an outstanding reputation and quality level reaching cult-like status. This is an amazing opportunity to sit down with them, contemplate them, discuss them, enjoy them. Ehren Jordan, the winemaker at Turley Wine Cellars and Failla, is a self proclaimed "omnivore of wines." His voluptuous and powerful Zins at Turley put him on the charts...but his elegant, cool climate syrahs and pinots have won over hearts with their finesse, delicacy and purity.

Come for an enchanted wine focused evening. Step back from your whirlwind pace...pontificate great wine with fellow wine lovers. Discuss nuance and power, cherries and plums, stewed fruit and violets, pepper and grace.

Cathy Cohn of Synergy Fine Wines will be on hand to provide insight, history and winemaking techniques as well as add anecdotes about the winemaker.

In 1995 Ehren Jordan took over the helm and became winemaker at Turley Wine Cellars. These wines are unmistakable. Intense and layered with concentration, yet also distinct with their minerality and lively acidity. Power and gumption in a glass. These are the Big Boys of wine...teeth staining, memory making.

Yet, Ehren is also winemaker/ owner of Failla Wines...the opposite end of the wine spectrum. Established in 1998, these are cool climate, European-styled jems. Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay. The Failla wines embody artistry, subtlety and grace. The pinots are sourced from small parcels in the Sonoma Coast appellation... the wines are Burgundian in sensibility, but with a California fruit profile all their own. Native yeasts, natural fermentations...as raw, real and glorious as wine comes.

Ehren is a multifaceted winemaker as interesting as his wines. Between Turley and Failla, his obligations may seem staggering. Yes, he has roots as an east coast boy with a storied past, but it's his unwavering focus and masterful touch that sets him apart. Each wine he creates has its own sense of place and unique profile.

"Winemaker of the Year" -San Francisco Chronicle 2008
"#1 Wine of the Year" -Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines for 2008

5 Wines will be presented:
1)Failla Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2007
2)Failla Occidental Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2007
3)Failla Phoenix Ranch Syrah Napa Valley 2007
4)Turley Pesenti Vineyard Zinfandel 2007
5)Turley Ueberroth Vineyard Zinfandel 2007

As this is a seated tasting, spots are extremely limited.
2 seatings: 5:30pm and 7pm

Call Ridge Street Wine (970 453 7212) to RSVP.

$25 per person.

Jan 2010 San Francisco Trip to Fancy Food Show and Napa.

Whirlwind trip filled with amazing food and wine! In the Napa Valley,visited with Steltzner, Blackbird Vineyards, Palmaz Vineyards and Failla.

7 memorable meals/ moments on the trip:

1) A16 Funghi Pizza w/ wild arugula, proscuitto & egg w/ shared bottle of Montefalco Rosso 2) Michael Chiarello's (Bottega) Ribollita w/ the culinary legend in the house 3) Raj Parr's (RN74) pairing of Free Range Chicken Croquettes w/ Domaine de Montille Saint Aubin 1er Cru Bourgogne Blanc 4) Alli's (hostess w/ the most-ess) veggie frittata w/ coffee 5) Bar Tartine's charcuterie board w/ old friends 6) Palmaz Winery's array of masterful wines w/ a carefully articulated plate of amuse bouche 7) Roger's Collections "world of difference" comparision of Iberico ham and Prosciutto di Parma.