This month we’re proud to welcome Claire Cameron from Soljans Winery in New Zealand. She’s coming a long way to sample their fantastic lineup of wines, including several new wines- all great for summer.

Soljans Two Sisters Rose is packed with cherry and raspberry flavors. Pair with anitpasto platters, light salads and grilled poultry.

Soljans Fusion Sparkling Rose is a picnic wine if there every was one.  The color starts the strawberry theme that carries through on the nose and in the palate. It’s slightly sweetish but there’s an underlying savoriness and served chilled straight from the fridge on a  hot humid day, it really hits the spot. Delicious all alone or with appetizers or watermelon salad.

Soljans Pinot Gris is made in the Alsacian style, rather than the Italian style. Aromas of pears and peaches introduce this white that are then complemented by a palate of spicy, floral fruit. The finish is dry and crisp. Enjoy with mild creamy cheeses, poultry and pork

Stop by our wine departments, sample wonderful wines and help us welcome Claire to Wisconsin. We hope to see you!

Thursday August 26-

Parker Carlson

I’m getting excited about the week after Mother’s Day. Why… well, first, I know I will be enjoying my new wonderful Mother’s Day gift. Big hint. Second, Parker Carlson from Carlson Vineyards in Colorado will be visiting all of our stores to sample his wine. Lucky for us, Parker and Mary love Wisconsin and come here every spring for a vacation. They kindly stop and visit us on the way to their fishing destination, probably a top secret spot.

When not vacationing in Wisconsin, Parker is known for his award-winning Riesling and tasty fruit wines, including Peach, Plum and Cherry. In these parts, he’s quite famous for his Sweet Baby Red. 

I hope that you can stop in, meet Parker and try his wine . If you twist his arm, he may even tell you a few fishing tales. Cheers!

Saturday April 24, 2010 at 6:30pm 

Join Chef Michael Nevil and Brennan’s Wine Expert Brent Bloom Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. for a night of fantastic food and wine at the Chalet Landhaus Inn & Restaurant in historic New Glarus, America’s Little Switzerland. Enjoy the chef’s specially created Prix Fixe menu matched perfectly with Brennan’s New World wine selections.

Make a weekend of it!
The Landhaus is offering a special room rate** for those attending the dinner. The rate includes a full hot Sunday breakfast.  After breakfast, you can take full advantage of all New Glarus has offer. Visit the New Glarus Brewery or take of shopping tour of downtown New Glarus. For more ideas and information on New Glarus, check out http://www.swisstown.com/
Limited space is available so book early by calling the Chalet Landhaus at 800-944-1716. Be sure to mention the wine dinner to get special rate.

* $44.50 Dinner (per person)
** $79.00 Special room rate (per standard double room)

We are looking forward to a fun filled evening!

For more information on the Chalet Landhaus: http://www.chaletlandhaus.com/
801 Hwy 69, New Glarus, WI 53574

Prix Fixe Menu

Appetizer:  Lamb Kabob, served with Risotto and an herbed Butter Sauce.
Wine Pairing: Tre 2007 California Syrah, from the Guglielmo Family, Morgan Hill, CA

Salad:  Fresh Tossed Greens with Cracked Mustard Vinaigrette.
Wine Pairing: South Island Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Vintage “Brennan’s Cellars” created by Sherwood Estate.  From Waipara, New Zealand

Soup:  Cream of Asparagus Root Soup.
Wine Pairing: Secreto Viognier 2008 Vintage from Viu Manent, Colchagua, Chile.  Only 5,000 cases made.

Main Course:  Veal Chop with our very own Landhaus special sauce. Served with Vegetable Bouquet and Potato Croquette.
Wine Pairing:  J. Lynne Dry Creek Valley 2005 Vintage Cabernet Sauvignon – less than 1,000 cases produced!  From California.

Dessert:  Mixed Glace with Chocolate Waffles and a Raspberry Vanilla Sauce.
Wine Pairing:  Campo delle More Dolcemente Frizzante Malbo Gentile, Red Sparkling Wine from Italy.

What goes better than wine and cheese? Of course, some may argue beer and cheese or maybe chocolate and peanut butter, but they haven’t heard about our new promotion. After all, it is just starting today, so here it is… very simple really…

Buy $10 worth of our cheese and save 10% on your wine purchase*.  You may wonder, “Does this mean just one bottle or does it mean 4 bottles?” To answer, it means 10% off on however many bottles you buy. You’re likely thinking, “That’s a pretty sweet deal. Buying $10 in awesome cheese at Brennan’s is a snap. Not only is it a snap, it’s a weekly occurrence!”

Like all sweet deals, this one is only available for a limited time, so stop in and see our cheese gurus and wine selectors today!

*Excludes 1.5L wine and all wine priced under $7.00.

Every year we’re presented with the same questions during the second week in February…how should we spend Valentine’s Day this year?  Should we stay in or go out?  How should I show that special person in my life how much he/she means to me?  Hopefully we can give you some suggestions that will make these answers easier…. Wine, wine, and more wine!

Start your evening off with a crisp sparkling wine to celebrate each other’s company, like our very own Bootleg Bubbly for only $9.99.  The citrus and green apple flavors abound with just a hint of sweetness.  Delicious!

Next, try one of our fine wines.  Whether you’re looking for a gift or serving it with a gourmet dinner in, we have a very nice selection to choose from.  For example, one of our favorites is our J. Lynne Cabernet Sauvignon from the Dry Creek Valley in California.  This Cab, made exclusively for Brennan’s and priced at $19.99 was sourced from a single vineyard and is deep in color with rich flavors of blackberries that are complemented by a toasty vanilla oak and velvety finish.  This wine pairs exceedingly well with cheese boards, prime rib and sirloin, or hearty Italian dishes.  You can even enjoy with your favorite chocolate! 

To finish off the night, treat yourselves to one of our sweet dessert wines!  Wonderful alone or paired with a yummy dessert, these are just the right “splurge” to make your Valentine’s Day extra special.

Wine selectors are always available to help you choose the wines that will make this Valentine’s Day, and every other day, unforgettable!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is THIS Thursday? Wasn’t it just Halloween last week? Though I should have realized because my Halloween candy is somehow all gone. Not that I’m not excited, because Thanksgiving is ultimate foodie holiday– a day filled with food, tradition and no stress about gifts. You can read the Black Friday ads and imagine that you will finish your Christmas shopping in one glorious day. Note, I did say imagine.

Well, anyone who knows me well knows that side dishes are my passion, so Thanksgiving is my dream day. In fact, I’m not sure if there will be room for turkey on my plate! Maybe on my 2nd. If you’re not following us on Facebook, check us out because we are doing a countdown to Thanksgiving with a new side dish recipe everyday or you can visit our recipe page for more ideas.  

Of course, if you are looking beyond side dishes. Jacobson’s is stocked with fresh turkeys. Contact the Jake’s nearest you to reserve your bird. And.. we are fully stocked on fresh baked pies. Choose from Pumpkin, Apple, Cherry, Strawberry Rhubarb and more!

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving or traveling, wine is a must. Our wine selectors are sampling wines perfect for your holiday feast, including New Zealand’s South Island Pinot Noir, a true crowd pleaser. If beer is your thing, then you are in luck because we are fully stocked on Winter brews including Hales Wee Winter, Scuttlbutt 10 Below and Tommy Knocker Cocoa Porter. Just to name a few. Mix and match a 6-pack with some Brennan’s Amber or Pils and you’ll have something for everyone.

Because this is Wisconsin, you cannot talk about any holiday without mentioning cheese. Besides traditional cheese and sausage platters to snack on when watching the Packers take on the Lions, I add cheese into my mashed potatoes and even to my green bean casserole. If you are looking for a hostess gift our cheese boxes are on display and ready to take or ship!

OK… clearly I could go on forever. I will wrap up and say, “Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving from all of us at Brennan’s!”

That’s right. Tony’s coming back to see us! Last year he visited over Labor Day weekend and we had to convince him to sample in the stores and not take off with his new Harley friends down to the Summerfest Grounds to see Bruce!  This year he’s disappointed there aren’t any big Harley festivities, but he’s excited to see his Brennan’s fans, sample his wines and visit our new Oconomowoc store.

Now, I think listening to his accent is one of the best things about his visits, but then (duh!) I remember his great lineup of New Zealand wine. While his Legacy Brut Sparkling is my favorite,  his Pinotage is full of berry, cherry and mocha flavors. His Gewurztraminer is spicy and citrusy with just the right amount of sweetness. While he’s here, you can pick your own fav!

Friday October 9

11:30am-2:30pm: Watts Road

3:00pm- 5:45pm: University Avenue

Saturday October 10

11:30am – 5:30pm: Oconomowoc

Sunday October 11

Noon – 5:00pm- Brookfield

A great pizza, burger and spaghetti wine!

You’ve enjoyed them as a value buy in our Vineyards of Value, now get twice as much for only $9.99!  Our Bootleg Reserve Red and White blends are now available in 1.5 liter bottles-perfect for entertaining, tailgating parties, and just everyday drinking. 

The Mixed White is a unique blend with inviting aromas of melons, pears and citrus fruit.  It’s packed with flavors of honeydew, casaba melon and bosc pear with understated nuances of kiwi and lime, and finishes crisp with nice lingering fruit.  This wine pairs well with mild cheeses such as Colby, Brick and Farmer, as well as with poultry, pork, seafood, and egg dishes. 

The Mixed Red opens with aromas of wild strawberry and raspberry with hints of clove and leather.  The palate shows bing cherry flavors with nuances of dark red berry and mineral.  The finish is soft with more lingering fruit.  This is a great every night wine, pairing well with medium to sharp cheeses, pizza, spaghetti and burgers.

Join Paolo Milani and Brennan’s Wine Selectors

We’re thrilled to welcome back Paolo Milani, Italian Wine Guru Extraordinaire, to our stores this week. There are so many different Italian wines that it’s hard to know what’s what. No worries. Let Paolo and our wine selectors help you navigate the exciting world of Italian wine. We’ll be sampling some of his classics, as well as his newest offerings.

Thursday September 24

Stop by and say ciao. We hope to see you!

If you haven’t already tried it, now is the time.  Our Italian wines arrived recently, and with them came our previously sold-out Mastro Colombo Prosecco.  And it just so happens that this is the perfect wine for summer!   Drunk alone, it features flavors of apple and pear with a lovely effervescence and a delicate dry finish.  But it doesn’t stop there!  Prosecco is also the key ingredient in a few of our favorite recipes:

I’m sure by now you have fallen in love with our chin-drippin’ peaches, so why not enjoy them by the glass too?  For the best Bellini in town, puree one large chin-drippin’ peach, pour in the bottom of a champagne flute, and add 4 oz. of Prosecco.  Top with a fresh slice of peach and you have a terrific summer cocktail!  (One peach and 4 oz. Prosecco equals one serving, so just multiply by the number of friends you’re having over to serve a patio-full).  For something easier yet, just mix the Prosecco with our Wyman’s Blueberry Juice to taste. 

Also, don’t miss our recipes for Prosecco Popsicles and Strawberry Sparklers.  Hurry in today because once you try these cocktails you’ll want plenty of summer left to enjoy them many more times!