The Friday Night Tango, Malbecs and Mojitos Too, at diseno bos

Friday night.

Long week.

Need to blow off some steam.

Tonight, do it Latin style in an unexpected place with some unexpected company.

diseño bos in the South End is a home accessories shop dedicated to the warmth, richness and texture of life in South America.

Tonight they're opening a show by Argentine painters and -- true to the nature of diseño bos' owner's previous career in food, wine and hospitality -- they're serving up Malbecs and Mojitos just to be sure the mood fits the atmosphere.

As if you don't immediately feel the love the moment you step through diseño bos' door. But you'll see that for yourself.

Party starts at 6 p.m. It costs nothing to attend, and the discount of 20% extends to home accessories and furniture floor models.

Get your weekend off to the right style of start.


WHAT: Five-Course Dinner with Austrian Wine
WHERE: diseño bos, 409 Harrison Avenue, Boston
WHEN: TONIGHT from 6 to 8 p.m.
COST: $0


DAILY TIDBIT:

A Mojito is a traditional Cuban highball cocktail made of five ingredients -- white rum, sugar, lime, sparkling water and mint. Ernest Hemingway in particular had a thing for them and probably helped to their introduction to Key West.

Eleven Wines, Six Courses, Great Price: Austria TONIGHT at UpStairs

Wine from Austria -- Austria -- just does not come our way very often.

Partly that's because Austria does not produce a huge amount of wine.

Partly it's because Austria has had a hard time finding a toehold in the American market.

And partly it's because the Austrian wine industry is still -- still -- recovering from the diethylene glycol scandal (don't ask) in 1985.

It's time to move on, people.

There is a veritable PARADE of young (and handsome, thank you very much) winemakers making waves in Austria these days and -- get this -- four of the best of them will be at UpStairs on the Square in Cambridge tonight.

Six courses. And eleven -- eleven (11) -- wines. For one bargain price (just $65).

Some of the grapes may have crossed your palate, like Gruner Veltliner and Zweigelt.

But some of them -- like Traminer and Gelber Muscateller -- are as unknown as, well, most wines from Austria.

Check out the full menu here.

Then RSVP, and prepare to get yourself up to speed.


WHAT: Five-Course Dinner with Austrian Wine
WHERE: UpStairs on the Square, 91 Winthrop Street, Cambridge
WHEN: TONIGHT at 6:30 p.m.
COST: $65
RSVP: Call 617.864.1933

Eric Asimov, chief wine critic at the New York Times, describes Austrian wines as "focused" and "utterly distinctive." Plus upwards of 70% of Austria's wine production in consumed inside Austria. In other words, here's your chance to taste more Austrian wines in one night than most people taste in a lifetime!

South African Wines at Blue Ginger in Wellesley

Lots of buzz about South Africa these days and no, it does not all have to do with the World Cup.

It has to do with a country's wine business coming into its own. Not an easy task, especially not when said country is burdened by a lengthy history of questionable vine-planting decisions, especially when it comes to the reds.

Perhaps that's why Ming Tsai and Blue Ginger have partnered with Mulderbosch Vineyards out of Stellenbosch to put on a four-course wine dinner tomorrow night.

Mulderbosch is best known for their WHITES, as in Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

And Ming, being Ming-who-takes-wine-pairing-very-seriously, crafted his menu for the night to highlight the affinity of Asian flavors with these prime South African offerings.

Check out the menu. The food ingredients mirror those flavors and aromas that make high-quality South African wines so distinct.

Then sign up for the dinner.

And see what all the buzz is about.


WHAT: Wine DInner with Mulderbosch Vineyards
WHERE: Blue Ginger, 583 Washington Street, Wellesley
WHEN: Tuesday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m.
COST: $100
RSVP: Call 781.283.5790



DAILY TIDBIT:

"The US market is a very trendy one and people always look for something new, either a new varietal to sell or from a new growing region. South America has been covered and Spain is pushing hard as well, but I feel that the buyers and people here wants South Africa to do better and to be the next big thing."

-- Colyn Truter, Rietvallei Wine Estate, in an article posted April 29, 2010

The Human Side of Wine, at a Discount, This Week-End at Andover Liquors

Plenty of wine shops around town give lip service to caring about their customers.

We want to get to know you, they say.

Look how unpretentious we are, they say.

We feel the pain of your budget crunch, they say.

But then they offer faceless communications that are difficult to understand and "sales" that don't save much of anything.

Enter Andover Liquors, for two big reasons that counteract all of the above:

1. Their brand new blog, with entries on topics like the importance of adventure in beer tasting; coveting whiskey; and scary sulfites. Spend just a few minutes on it, and your faith in Real People who write it and live it will be reaffirmed.

2. Their Cash and Carry wine sale that's happening this week-end, May 1 and May 2 only. This one hits you in the sweet spot that is your wallet. Pay cash for any wine and get 21% off. Use a credit or debit card and get 17% off. You get the discount whether you're buying a case or a bottle.

A wine store that gives you a significant discount AND communicates with you on a Real Person level?!

That's worth noting.


WHAT: New Blog and Cash and Carry Wine Sale
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2
WHERE: Andover Liquors, 209 North Main Street (Route 28), Shawsheen Plaza, Andover
DISCOUNTS: 21% if paying in cash, 17% if paying with a card

DAILY TIDBIT:

The first written reference to Champagne was English, not French. In 1676, Etherege wrote in praise of "sparkling Champagne" which, as he wrote,

Quickly recovers
Poor laughing lovers,
Makes us frolic and gay,
and drowns all our sorrows.

When One Wine Changes Your Life: Giampiero Bea at The Wine Bottega

Every once in a long while, something happens that spins your world.

You catch a fly ball at Fenway.

A child comes into your life.

You witness an extraordinary act of kindness.

Something like that happens, the clouds part, and the way forward is clear.

For Kerri Platt, that something that spun her world were the wines of Giampiero Bea.

"They're why I'm doing what I'm doing today," Platt says, which happens to be owning The Wine Bottega in the North End, which happens to be where Bea himself will be visiting on Monday evening.

Will Bea's wines spin your world too?

You'll never know unless you try (for free, by the way).

But given Bea's track record for world-spinning, we doubt you'll emerge unscathed.


WHAT: Very special tasting and visit by Giampiero Bea
WHERE: The Wine Bottega, 341 Hanover Street, Boston
WHEN: Monday, May 3 from 5 to 6:45 p.m.
COST: $0


DAILY TIDBIT:

The Paolo Bea Winery is located in the hilltop village of Montefalco in the Umbria region of Italy. It traces its history back to the 16th century. Much of the harvesting is still done by hand, the farming is organic, and the wines are unfiltered. As a result, the wines are exceptionally expressive.

Mid-Week Grand Tasting, at Blanchards

Love it when a local shop throws a wrench into the usual run of things.

Take Blanchards in West Roxbury.

They've decided to have a grand tasting, which is not so unusual.

The unusual thing is that they've decided to do it TONIGHT.

Mid-week.

On your way home.

Tasting -- think Shafer, Caymus, etc -- is free.

Purchases are not, but they are 20% off regular price.

Sounds like it's time to follow suit and throw a wrench into your own usual run of Wednesday-evening things.


WHAT: Grand Wine Tasting
WHERE: Blanchards, 418 LaGrange Street, West Roxbury
WHEN: TONIGHT from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
COST: $0


DAILY TIDBIT:

"American consumers' right to order wine from out-of-state producers and have it shipped to their homes is again under siege, this time in the form of a bill introduced in the US House of Representatives that could end direct shipping of wine, beer and spirits in America and prevent the filing of lawsuits that have previously been successful in overturning discriminatory state laws regarding direct shipping."

-- Linda Murphy, writing on JancisRobinson.com, April 21, 2010

How 96-Point Wines Are a Value at BOKX 109 This Friday

Walk into the Newton Vineyard wine dinner at BOKX 109 on Friday night and they'll hand you a glass (or two, if you ask nicely) of the 2008 Red Label Chardonnay.

Retail price: $20/bottle.

While you're getting settled, catch a server (or two, or three, it won't be hard) and indulge in the passed apps of poached oyster shooters, lobster & ricotta cavatelli, and wing confit.

Once you're seated, they'll place your first unfiltered wine of the night in front of you -- the 2007 Chardonnay -- to pair with the seared Petrale sole with spring peas and morel cream.

Retail price for the wine: $45/bottle.

Then comes the second course with another unfiltered wine -- this time it's the 2005 Merlot -- along with BBQ'd pork belly with Boston baked beans and sweet corn nage.

Retail price for the wine: $45/bottle.

Next up is Newton Vineyard's iconic Bordeaux blend, called The Puzzle (2005) at $78/bottle retail. It's matched up with Long Island duck served two ways -- smoked breast and confit thigh -- with melted leeks & lentil fondue in a red wine and shallot jus.

For dessert you'll drift back to the unfiltered wines with the 2006 Cab and a dark chocolate tart with drunken berries and toasted meringue.

Retail price for the wine: $40/bottle.

Is a $95 five-course wine dinner worth the price?

Here's what you'd pay otherwise, course by course (and this doesn't even include the food):
$20
$45

$45
$78
$40

You do the math.

Then pick up the phone and make your reservations.


WHAT: Newton Vineyard Wine Dinner, hosted by Dr. Su Hua Newton
WHERE: BOKX 109 American Prime, inside Hotel Indigo, 399 Grove Street, Newton
WHEN: Friday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m.
COST: $95/person + tax and gratuity


DAILY TIDBIT:

"The 2005 The Puzzle plays it closer to the vest than the 2004. It is a beautifully textured, pure wine, but obviously needs time. It won't be bottled for at least another year. The wine has a deep ruby/purple color and notes of subtle smoke intermixed with underbrush, black currant, cherry, licorice, and lavender. It is medium to full-bodied, has good acidity, and prominent tannins. Based on the way the wine was tasting when I was at Newton, this wine will need 4-5 years of bottle age [WHICH BRINGS US TO RIGHT NOW] and should drink well for at least two-plus decades."
-- Robert Parker