Hard to believe that Christmas is over. What a whirlwind day! Luckily there are still more celebrations to come with New Year’s, The Rose Bowl and hopefully the SB (sorry, I  don’t want to spell it out and jinx it).  So, here are my picks for “cheers” sparklers and big RED wines.

Cooper Station Zinfandel

This California Zin is the perfect wine for hearty game day faire. It opens with concentrated blackberry aromas. Flavors of rhubarb, strawberry and vanilla with lingering hints of toast and smoke make this wine a great match for grilled or roasted meats, pizza, sausages, ribs, hambugers, jambalaya and chili.

La Corte Prosecco

A light, aromatic and crisp bubbly with overtones of citrus, especially lemon, melon, almonds and honey. Yummy in wine cocktails like Orange Cream Mimosas or a Pomegranate Bubbly Cocktail. Perfect with hors d’ouevres like an anti-pasto platter. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will all need a little extra Sparkling wine left after New Year’s to toast a Bucky win on the 2nd.

Polkadraai Road Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

This South African Hermitage- styled blend offers exceptional fruit that is complemented by white pepper, spices and a subtle smokiness. Ripe fruit and acid blend with big tannins for a complex and rich red wine with a long finish. Great with ribs or ribeye.

Casali Viticultori Lambrusco Amabile Frizzante

Frizzante means slightly sparkling, and Amabile means semi-sweet. So this Lambrusco is effervescent much like a Moscato d’ Asti, but not as fully sparkling like a Prosecco.  So, this semi-sweet Italian red is packed with aromas and flavors of plums.  A wonderful match for pizza, BBQ and red-sauced pasta dishes.

Have a safe and Happy New Year’s! Go Badgers!

Mark Jones

Last week we had Tony Soljan from New Zealand’s North Island . This week the South Island is representing. Mark Jones from Sherwood Winery will he here tasting the South Island collection they make exclusively for Brennan’s. He’ll be sampling his best-selling Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and more. Stop by our to meet Mark and learn more about New Zealand wine!

Friday September 16

11:30am- 2:30pm- University Avenue

3:00- 5:15pm-  Watts Road

Saturday September 17

11am- 1:30pm- Brookfield

2pm- 4:30pm- Oconomowoc

Tony Soljan of Soljans Estate Winery

That’s right. Tony’s coming back to see us!  He hasn’t been here in 2 years,  so please join our wine selectors in giving him a big welcome back to the Badger state.

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! Plus, Tony and his wife Colleen will be taking a site seeing trip around Wisconsin after their visit with us. So, bring your Wisconsin travel tips!

Friday September 9

11:30am-2:30pm: University Avenue

3:00pm- 5:15pm: Watts Road

Saturday September 10

11:30am – 5:30pm: Oconomowoc

Sunday September 11

Noon – 5:00pm- Brookfield

Post Familie Vineyards Vignoles

Many compare it to German Riesling because of its luscious floral aroma and fruity flavors of citrus, pineapple and apricot. So, it is no surprise that the Post Family produce one of the best. You see, the Post Family is of German descent and has been making wine in the U.S. since the 1880′s. Currently, in their 5th generation, the Post family makes a number of German inspired wines in Arkansas. You may be thinking, “Arkansas? They make wine in Arkansas?” Well, we make wine in Wisconsin, so why not Arkansas? Fortunately for them, their climate is a bit more hospitable for growing grapes.

Post Vineyards is located in the Altus AVA (American Viticultural Area) in Northeast Arkansas. Atlus is part of the larger  Arkansas River AVA and then the larger Ozark Mountain AVA. Altus is located on a plateau above the Arkansas River to the south and below the Boston Mountains to the south. The soils is gravel and loam with high acidity. Great for growing wine.

Ok…  enough background already… I know. I was a history major, so I always have to include just a little bit. So, Post Familie Vignoles is made in a semi-sweet style with an appealing, slight effervescence.  It has a honeysuckle nose and bursts with pear, apple and citrus flavors. Finally the finish is velvety smooth.

For sweet Riesling fans, this is a must-try wine. For white wine fans, this in an excellent summer sipper on your back deck. It pairs wonderfully with spicy Asian cuisine, pork on the grill, fresh fruit and fruit desserts like pies, tarts and crisps. Enjoy!

People usually have one objective when they open a bottle of wine, drinking it! Of course, I’m all for that!  You  may use a little here and there while cooking (“some for me, some for the sauce”) . Great. But if you stop there, you’re missing out.  So, be adventurous and try these amazing and easy recipes with wine.

1. Brennan’s Raspberry wine over ice cream- Wine and ice cream? Yes! Give the chocolate sauce and caramel topping the night off and drizzle some sweet Raspberry wine over a scoop or two of creamy vanilla ice cream for a sundae all grown up. You won’t regret it.  If you just can’t totally give up your chocolate, shave some dark chocolate over the top for a pretty and tasty garnish.
2. Poaching pears in a sweet Riesling- Riesling makes such a great poaching liquid for pears because a lot of the flavors are mirrored, and the wine adds a perfect amount of zip to each bite. The trick is to get a sweet-styled Riesling, like Hyatt from Washington State. My favorite version of Riesling Poached Pears is served with cardamom cream.
3.  The perfect sauce for your steak- There is no better companion to a steak than a great Cabernet, but it doesn’t have to be in a glass. First, cook your steak in a pan on the stove until done to your taste. Remove it from the pan and let it rest. While it’s resting throw two pats of butter in the still hot pan, and add equal parts red wine ( I like Viu Manent Cabernet Sauv) and coffee. Whisk together, and let it reduce a bit.  Then, pour over the steak and enjoy!  Pair with a glass of the same red wine and taste how the flavors unite .

So, these are just a few of the fun ways I use wine.  While drinking wine will always be #1 in my heart, these are a close second!

For a lot of  people, buying wine is a simple process of picking a bottle of their favorite varietal and taking it home. Easy, right?  But when selecting wine this way, people miss out on the real fun of buying wine–trying new things.

One my favorite categories of  wine is Italian wines. Why? Because they are meant to be enjoyed with food, not just gourmet meal food either…think pizza, pasta and more. Unfortunately, Italian wines can be easily passed over because they are most often labeled by region, not by varietal. This is more confusing, but with a little bit of knowledge you can go a long way in expanding your wine horizons.

Our lineup of Italian wine goes beyond the traditional amazing Chiantis to include some gems many have never heard of or tried. Here’s my cheat sheet for lesser known Italian wines that I’m drinking right now.

• Cantore Nero D’Avola- This medium-bodied red is a Sicilian dream. With smooth dark red fruits and a hint of spice, this wine pairs well with red-sauced pasta, beef and even some game.
• Abbona Dolcetto Di’Dogliani- Another amazing red, but this one comes from the  famous Piedmont region of Italy. With a slightly dry medium body, nice lively fruits and good smooth tannins, you can’t pass this up. Meant to be drunk young, pair this with simple deli cuts, pasta dishes or your favorite pizza.
• Trevisani Bali Bianco- This blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay is phenomenal. With a rich body and stone fruits from the Chardonnay and a crisp citrus from the Sauvignon Blanc, this wine pairs well with almost anything. It goes great with chicken, salads, fresh fruits and lighter pork dishes.

These are only a few of the fun Italian wines we carry. Stop in and talk to one of our wine selectors to explore the wines of Italy and beyond. Ciao for now!

Admittedly Thanksgiving is all about the side-dishes for me. The turkey plays only a very minor role on my plate, usually found buried underneath some cranberry relish or mashed sweet potatoes. I don’t think that anyone who knows me would argue that I will take squash casserole over turkey anyday of the week.

I would have to say that second to side-dishes on my Thanksgiving scale is wine. While this time of year many wine writers delve into finding ideal pairings, I simply say drink what you like. Thanksgiving is such a diverse plate of sweet, savory, buttery, rich, and spicey (think sage, cinnamon and nutmeg) flavors that perfect wine is elusive to say the least. That being said, I do have a few favs that I go to year after year and a few new wines that I’m looking forward to this November 25, o’ holiest of holiest foodie days.

Secreto Viognier (Chile): Floral and fruity with peach, mango and pear flavors combined with low acidity and no oak make this wine a great T-Day pick

South Island Riesling (New Zealand): Off-dry with crisp lemon and lime flavors make this a crowd pleaser. Sweet enough for sweet wine fans, but not too sweet as to put of most dry wine fans.

Carlson Gewurztraminer (Colorado): The heady, captivating aroma notes are lime candy, spice and rose. The taste is tropical fruit, honey, and oriental spice. Wonderful with the chaos of a T-Day plate.

Pomona Winds Syrah (California): Light for a Syarh with cranberry, black tea, red berries and black pepper flavors. The hint of cinnamon at the end sealed the deal for this wine to be a part of my Thanksgiving.

Three Alarm Zinfandel (California): Packed with intense, plummy, jammy flavor. Velvety smooth finish with a hint of black pepper.

Italia Prosecco (Italy): It’s always fun to have something sparkly at the holidays. Too often, Sparking wine gets relegated to just New Year’s toasts when in fact, it is great with food. This Prosecco  is delicate and well-balanced with a combination of baked apple, lemon curd and grapefruit, with a lightly creamy mint mineral texture in the mouth. Serve with the meal or with dessert.

Well, that was more wines than I had planned on listing, but I had a hard time narrowing them down. My point being, that no matter if you’re all about the turkey, side-dishes, or the desserts, there’s a wine or two for you.

Happy Thanksgiving from Brennan’s!

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!

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.