Sip & Shop for Toys for Tots! (Nov. 28, 2012)

Please join us on Wed., November 28th from 6-10pm at the annual Holiday Mingle Jingle marketplace and benefit for our last BIG event of the year. Enjoy complimentary wine tastings and craft beer, live entertainment, food trucks and more while finding the perfect gift for the foodie, fashionista or wine enthusiast in your life. Donate a new unwrapped toy and YOU could be the winner of a free home or office wine tasting party (valued at $500), tickets to see the Cake Boss (LIVE in Atlanta) and other cool prizes! MORE INFO




Cheers!

The Grape Girls
http://facebook.com/grapegirlsatlanta

Host a Wicked Wine Tasting Party!

Halloween heralds the start of the holiday season - and where there is a party, there is wine! A wine tasting party doesn't have to be a stuffy affair, so mix things up a little by throwing a unique Halloween bash that is sure to be a treat.

Host a wicked wine tasting party in 5 easy steps:


1.Invitations - Get crafty and make your own wine bottle shaped party invitations. Use construction paper or poster board, flat sheets of cork to make a life-like cork stopper for the top, a label in the middle of the "bottle" should provide party details.

2.Decor - Create your very own haunted wine cellar with equal amounts of sophistication and spook factor. Use old wooden barrels to hold platters of food and wine and decorate with large glass jars, grapes, pumpkins, gourds, faux leaves, lots of candles and scary touches like fake spider webs and spiders.

3.Food - Set up a nice assortment of fruit, cheese, crackers, bread, nuts and a few heavier appetizers (think stuffed mushrooms or a hearty pumpkin soup). Be sure to label your assortment with toothpicks that have labels attached - use a ghoulish computer font or eerie hand writing for maximum effect!

4.Wine - Use an old wooden door, wine crates or designate a large coffee table to display your wicked wine collection. Be sure to include some spooky brands like Vampire Wines (from Transylvania!), Poizin Zinfandel (comes in a coffin shaped box), Owen Roe Sinister Hand or Evil Cabernet Sauvignon. Add some dry ice to the display area for a ghostly effect!

5.Attention to Detail - Be sure to have great music, lots of candy, plenty of dump buckets and bottled waters handy. Place small gift bags or containers near your candy station so guests can help themsleves to take-home treats as parting gifts.

Wine & Candy Pairing Tips:

• Almond Joy and Sparkling Wine

• Snickers and Sangiovese

• Three Musketeers and Ice Dessert Wine

• Hershey’s Dark Chocolate and Syrah

• Caramel Apples and Sauvignon Blanc

• Candy Corn and Chardonnay


With these spook-tacular tips from the Grape Girls you are sure to pull off the perfect Halloween wine party. So, dress up, party down and enjoy the wine.

Want to have more fun and less work? Well, book a private Halloween wine tasting party for your home, office or venue!

Send an email to tastings@grapecrushevents.com to ask about our special rates for a professionally guided wine tasting experience now thru October 31st.

Cheers!

The Mama Mimosa

Toast Mom on Mother's Day with the Mama of all mimosas...

Take your traditional Mimosa recipe and add a delicate splash of an orange liquer topped with crushed raspberry ice - this Mimosa is not called the "Mama Mimosa" for nothing!


Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
Orange Juice (1 half gallon carton)
Champagne or Sparkling Wine ( 750 mL Bottle)
Orange Liquer
1/2 cup fresh raspberries

Preparation:
Pour the carton of chilled orange juice into a 3 quart pitcher and then add the full bottle of chilled Champagne or sparkling wine. Next add 2 shots of orange liquer and stir the orange juice, Champagne and orange liquer until thoroughly mixed. Just before serving add the raspberry ice* to the pitcher and pour about 4 ounces of the mimosa mix into Champagne flutes or if you'd like to show off more of the raspberry ice pour the mimosa mix into regular wine glasses. * Raspberry ice - crumble fresh raspberries and place the crumbles into narrow ice cube trays, fill with water and freeze. Adds a very nice touch to any Mimosa... Cheers!



Recipe courtesy of About.com.

Cheers to Earth Day!

April 22nd is Earth Day, toast with a glass of organic or biodynamic wines!


The good news is that organic wines are becoming much more widely available making it easy to discover the great taste and many benefits of "green wines" wherever you reside. These wines have come a long way in quality and acceptance, and that's great for the planet since grapes are among the most pesticide-laden produce.

So you can feel confident at a wine store or when dining out, here is a simple guide to what these emerging labels mean:

100% Organic carries the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic seal (the certifying agency must be listed) and indicates the wine is made from 100% organically grown ingredients and has been monitored throughout its entire production process. This wine can contain only naturally occurring sulfites (or sulfur dioxide, an antimicrobial substance) in less than 100 parts per million (ppm).

Organic also carries the USDA organic seal and indicates the wine has 95% organically grown ingredients (the other 5% must not be available organically). Again the certifying agency must be listed and the wine has the same sulfite requirements as 100% organic.

Made with Organic Grapes or Made with Organic Ingredients means the wine contains at least 70% organic ingredients. It can have artificial sulfites added, but it may not contain more than 100 ppm. (It does not have the USDA organic seal.)

Biodynamic is based on the precise observation and an attempt at balance of nature, a concept originated by the early 20th-century Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. So, biodynamic wine is not only 100% organic, in addition, the grower has gone beyond to try to bring the farming process more closely in tune with nature. For instance, biodynamic wine growers may make their own compost and/or watch the stars and planets to time what they do.

How are you celebrating Earth Day? Do you have a favorite organic or biodynamic wine? We'd love to hear from you!

Cheers!

You're Invited: Sunday Wine Socials at St. Regis!

SIP. SAVOR. SOCIALIZE.

Sunday Wine Socials
Upcoming Events: Jan. 16, Feb. 13



Join us on select Sundays from 4-6pm in the St. Regis Wine Room for personalized tastings around the marble-topped sommelier counter! Learn about the subtleties of fine wine and its history and traditions as we sample artisan wines from around the globe.




The January event features a special preview of the Atlanta Winter Wine + Jazz Festival (coming Feb. 20th!) including a live performance and ticket giveaways. Plus, great door prizes from our partners at Taste of Atlanta, High Museum of Art and more!

Tickets & Info: http://www.winesocial.eventbrite.com

Hosted by Grape Crush Productions and Harry Constantinescu, Wine Director at the St. Regis.

Thanksgiving Delights

DID YOU KNOW? American wine drinkers consume more wine on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. Wow!







On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for Our blessings all year through,

For family we dearly love,

For good friends, old and new.


For sun to light and warm our days,

For stars that glow at night,

For trees of green and skies of blue,

And puffy clouds of white.


We’re grateful for our eyes that see

The beauty all around,

For arms to hug, and legs to walk,

And ears to hear each sound.


The list of all we’re grateful for

Would fill a great big book;

Our thankful hearts find new delights

Everywhere we look!


Happy Thanksgiving from the Grape Girls!

Please be safe and drink responsibly.

What's the deal with screwcaps?

Screwcaps, actually known as Stelvins in the trade, are quickly replacing natural cork in many wine bottles. Natural corks are, well, naturally irregular. Some produce great seals, others less so, resulting in different bottles of the same wine behaving differently as they age. In addition, natural corks are prone to becoming corked: a chemical reaction, which can happen when bleaching corks, that imparts wines with a taint known as TCA. Screwcaps are perfectly uniform and provide a perfect seal for your wine, avoiding the issues that might arise with cork-finished bottles. Many high-end wines now use screwcaps, and they are the wave of the future.


Click here for answers to more commonly asked wine questions.

Follow the Grape Girls on Facebook and Twitter.

Cheers!

You're Invited: New York Life - Atlanta VIP Reception!

VIP CLIENT RECEPTION
SIP. SAVOR. GET INFORMED.

You are cordially invited to join us for a special evening featuring an exciting tasting of fine wines from around the globe courtesy of Grape Crush Productions, live entertainment and an informal presentation from New York Life.





Thursday, November 18, 2010
Cellar 56 Bistro & Wine Bar
-Buckhead's Andrews Square-
56 East Andrews Drive, Atlanta, GA 30305

Complimentary wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres from 6-8pm.

RSVP today: Send an email to RSVP@GrapeCrushEvents.com including your full name, address and phone number along with the full name of each guest. Space is limited!


Complimentary valet parking and street parking along East Andrews Drive.


Cheers to the good life!

------------------------------------
This is an informational and sales presentation. Neither New York Life nor its agents provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult with your professional advisors concerning tax, legal or accounting advice.

Ga Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan - Book Signing & Wine Tasting on November 16th!

Georgia Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan will be on hand to sign copies of her book No Apologies: Powerful Lessons in Life, Love & Politics at The Colors of Wine on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 6pm.



First elected at age 23, Representative Morgan quickly ascended as a political star on both the national and regional stages. Now, in her signature “truth-telling” style, Rep. Morgan’s debut book offers no apologies for standing up for what is right and provides practical insights for how other leaders can “live life unapologetically.”

“I’ve learned and experienced a lot during my eight years of service in the Georgia legislature,” said Rep. Morgan. “I’ve learned being a ‘trailblazer’ means more than meets the eye and that challenging the status quo can mean living through some very lonely seasons, but more than anything, I've learned to never, ever, apologize for my convictions.”

Visit The Colors of Wine to meet Alisha Thomas Morgan and enjoy a wine tasting with the Grape Girls featuring a variety of fine wines from around the globe. Click here to read an excerpt from the book No Apologies: Powerful Lessons in Life, Love & Politics.

RSVP now to attend the No Apologies book signing and wine tasting. Send an email to VIP@GrapeCrushEvents.com with your full name and the full name of any guests. The Colors of Wine is located at 2355 Cumberland Parkway Boulevard, Atlanta, Ga. 30339. A $5 donation is requested for the wine tasting.

Join us for Sunday Wine Socials at St. Regis!

SIP. SAVOR. SOCIALIZE.

Sunday Wine Socials
Upcoming Events: Nov. 7, Jan. 16, Feb. 13








Join us on select Sundays from 4-6pm in the St. Regis Wine Room for personalized tastings around the marble-topped sommelier counter! Learn about the subtleties of fine wine and its history and traditions as we sample artisan wines from around the globe.

On, November 7th we're featuring Italy's best grapes. Plus, enter-to-win fabulous door prizes including tickets to Friday Jazz at the High Museum of Art, a FREE home or office private wine tasting party (valued at $500) courtesy of the Grape Girls and special giveaways from William David Salon in honor of their new location in Buckhead at the Terminus building.

For more information and to RSVP, visit www.winesocial.eventbrite.com.

Hosted by Grape Crush Productions and Harry Constantinescu, Wine Director at the St. Regis.

Taste of Atlanta 2010 Photos!

Did you know? Grape Crush Productions provides more than 100 wine volunteers and professionals for the Taste of Atlanta VIP Wine Experience each year!

The 2-day foodie fest was filled with great food, fun and wine.
Cheers to Gil Kulers and Bob Townsend for great educational seminars all weekend including the Brashness of Barolo and Refinement of Ribera del Duero, American Craft Beer and Farmstead Cheese, Greatness of Greece, Passion of Paso and more!

Click here or visit us on Facebook for more photos.

Event Pics - Sunday Wine Social!

Thanks for joining us for the October Sunday Wine Social featuring Antonio Hildalgo- winery owner and importer of Spain's best grapes.

Next event is Nov. 7th featuring the best of Italy!
More info: http://winesocial.eventbrite.com.
Use discount code BACCO to save $5 OFF tickets!

More pics: http//tinyurl.com/grapegirls

Join us for Sunday Wine Socials at St. Regis!

SIP. SAVOR. SOCIALIZE.

Upcoming Events: October 17 & November 7











Join us on select Sundays from 4-6pm in the St. Regis Wine Room for personalized tastings around the marble-topped sommelier counter! Learn about the subtleties of fine wine and its history and traditions as we sample artisan wines from around the globe. Plus, enter-to-win fabulous door prizes including tickets to Friday Jazz at the High Museum of Art, Taste of Atlanta VIP Wine Experience and a FREE home or office private wine tasting party (valued at $500)! For more information and to RSVP, visit www.winesocial.eventbrite.com.

Hosted by Grape Crush Productions and Harry Constantinescu, Wine Director at the St. Regis.

Cheers!

Taste of Atlanta VIP Volunteers

WANTED: ENTHUSIASTIC WINE VOLUNTEERS!

Grape Crush Productions is seeking experienced volunteers for the VIP Wine Experience at Taste of Atlanta on October 23 and 24, 2010.

The popular foodie event features "tastes" from the city's best restaurants, cooking demonstrations from national and local celebrity chefs and live entertainment. The event takes take place in an 8-block area of Tech Square located in the heart of Midtown.

A highlight of the 2010 festival is the VIP Wine Experience, open only to VIP ticket holders over the age of 21. The "Experience" will feature a series of highly anticipated wine tastings and educational seminars led by top industry professionals. Wine enthusiasts and experienced volunteers are encouraged to register to help with this one-of-a-kind event. Volunteers are rewarded with "taste" coupons to enjoy the festival after their shift.

VOLUNTEER:
Interested participants should send an email to volunteers@GrapeCrushEvents.com for more information.
Registration deadline is October 8th!

TICKET DISCOUNT:
Purchase tickets at www.tasteofatlanta.com.
Use our special discount code GRAPE to save $5 OFF VIP or General Admission advance online tickets!

Taste of Atlanta dishes up flavors to satisfy every taste. So, grab a fork and a glass and prepare to stimulate your mind, body and taste buds. Cheers!

Wedding Wine Tips

Say "I Do" to fabulous wine on your wedding day...

Every bride and groom wants to put a mark on their memorable day. Set the tone of your wedding simply by personalizing the details. What is meaningful to you as a couple? A love of travel, or a memorable song or color... Use what is meaningful as a starting point for developing a theme that will carry through your wedding, reception and even the pre-event activities.

Here are tips for incorporating your love of wine into your wedding:


The First Impression
When guests arrive at your reception, the first thing they will look for is a beverage, which becomes the first impression of what's to follow. Why not have servers line up at the entrance with beautiful flower-adorned trays filled with sparkling wine.

Reception Wines
Wine tasting bars at receptions add an element of elegance, and can serve as an icebreaker at the beginning of the reception. Consider hiring a local expert, such as Grape Crush Productions, to help your guests with their wine experience. The wine station can be a preview of your honeymoon destination, favorite region or a collection of the couples' favorite varietals. We'll even take into account the food you are serving to ensure great pairings!

Cost-Cutting Tips
Doing it yourself or on a budget? Keep it simple by selecting one white and one red to serve. Best Bet: Chardonnay & Cabernet or Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir for wines your entire crowd is sure to enjoy.

Gift Ideas
When choosing wine for gifts, take the packaging into consideration as well as the taste. Choosing one with an attractive label can eliminate the need for gift bags - just tie a beautiful bow and personalized card around the neck. For an even more useful favor, simply attach a corkscrew engraved with the couple's names. A great gift for engagement parties or bridal showers is putting together the couple's first "wine cellar" by filling a wine rack with different bottles of wine designated for special occasions. Attach tags with pretty ribbon and notes such as, "Enjoy on your one-month anniversary" or "For a romantic movie night in." A group of friends can give this gift together, or family members can each contribute one bottle of wine with a special note.

Before the Big Day
If the bride or groom is a wine lover, consider making the bridal shower or bachelor party a private wine tasting event. Grape Crush Productions can bring the tasting room to YOUR living room or venue!

Contact us today for help in making your wedding or pre-event activity a wine lover's dream! Send an email to info@GrapeCrushEvents.com.

EXCLUSIVE EVENT INVITATION: Join us on June 9th from 6-8p.m. at Bloomingdale's Lenox Square for a "Pre-Wedding" Wedding Party with Get Married Media!
Click here to read our latest newsletter for RSVP details.

You're Invited: A Spring Wine Tasting & Bites on May 4th!

Join Us for a Spring Wine Tasting...


Tuesday, May 4, 6:30PM
Social - 12 West Peachtree Place Atlanta, GA 30308
http://www.Socialintown.com

Located in downtown Atlanta, Social is comprised of two sprawling floors of scintillating Euro-Mediterranean flavors. A 25 foot marble bar and communal tables are perfect for an after-hours drink or neighborhood gathering. An elegant split level dining room overlooks the trees below on West Peachtree place, resulting into a perfect private culinary experience. Don't miss this fabulous tour of great wines from Bacco paired with yummy bites for only $25/person!

Wine Pairing Selections:

Giribaldi Gavi, Piedmont, Italy
Eggplant Caviar

Printhie Chardonnay, Orange, Australia
Mussels au Pernod

Mas de Bazan Rosado, Utiel-Requena (Valencia)
Roasted Portabella Mushroom

Heredad Hidalgo Tinto, Rioja
Grilled Chicken Livers on Toast

Mas de Bazan Bobal, Utiel-Requena (Valencia)
Andalusian Meat Balls

Bodegas Hidalgo Marqués de Pagollano, Cigales
Cheese Plate

RSVP:
Telephone: 404.525.2246
E-Mail: info@socialintown.com


Cheers!

Food Network - Atlanta Open Call!

Are you a hopeless home cook? Or is someone you know totally incompetent in the kitchen?

Food Network is looking for the most disastrous home cooks in Atlanta to participate in a very different culinary competition show and they've come to Grape Crush Productions to help spread the word!

This is the opportunity of a lifetime—to work with the best chefs in the country and learn to cook like a professional. Seeking people with a genuine inability to cook, but a need and desire to improve!

NOMINATE YOURSELF
• Has your wife told you it was probably better if you ordered take out?
• At the big potluck dinner, are you always asked to “just bring the napkins?”

NOMINATE SOMEONE YOU KNOW
• Is someone you know constantly offering you food that you have to turn down?
• If you know a dad/mom who can’t scramble an egg, a colleague who can’t convince anyone to try their culinary creations, or a guy friend who tries but can’t seem to get it together in the kitchen, this is your chance to get them the help you BOTH need!

OPEN CALL ATLANTA
W Atlanta Midtown
188 14th Street NE, Atlanta GA 30361
Saturday, May 1st
9am – 3pm
*Please bring a dish that represents your cooking

HERE’S HOW TO APPLY:
CASTING PHONE INTERVIEWS ARE THIS WEEK, SO PLEASE APPLY ASAP!
• Send an email to worstcooksatlanta@gmail.com
• State why you (or the person you are nominating) is the most disastrous cook in the country
• Include name, age, hometown, occupation, contact phone number, and a recent photo of the hopeless cook

Additional information and application available at http://worstcookscasting.com.

Artisan Wine Dinner at Paces 88!

April 1 - 30, 2010


St. Regis Atlanta Turns One!

Their anniversary is your lucky day...


SPECIAL PRIX FIXE MENU

$50/person prix fixe menu; $75/person with wine pairing

Join us on April 14th at Paces 88 American Bistro (located inside the St. Regis Atlanta Hotel) to celebrate with an amazing four course Artisan Wine Dinner complete with amazing prizes and giveaways throughout the evening. The price is $50/person plus tax and gratuity or $75/person with wine pairing:

APPETIZER
(Choice of)

Lobster Bisque
Maine lobster and mushroom duxelle
2008 Albert Mann Pinot Blanc – Alsace

Goat Cheese Tart
Roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, arugula
truffle & lemon vinaigrette
2007 J.L.Chave Crozes-Hermitage “Sybele” – Rhone

Intermezzo
Sorbet

ENTRÉE
(Choice of)

Osso Bucco
Red wine braised veal shanks, saffron risotto
2007 Margerum “Colson Canyon” Syrah – Santa Barbara

Scottish Salmon
Sweet corn & bacon ragout, spinach, basil oil
2007 Persimmon Creek Cabernet Franc – Georgia

CHEESE COURSE
A selection of 3 artisanal cheeses
Kluge Estate “Mélange Nouveau” – Virginia

HOMEMADE DESSERTS
(Choice of)

Crème Brulee
Chocolate Caramel Bar
Quinta do Portal 10yr tawny Port

Mention the word Anniversary and receive a discounted rate for your stay at the St. Regis for $199/night!

RESERVATIONS:

Please make your reservation today as seating is very limited.
Call 404.563.7910 or click here to visit Open Table for online reservations.

Complimentary valet parking available.

This is an official Atlanta Food & Wine Month event.

Join the Food Revolution!

Ryan Seacrest and Jamie Oliver invite you to take a stand and change the way America eats, in our home kitchens, schools and workplaces with the thought-provoking new series, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.

Premieres: Friday, March 26th
9/8c on ABC

In the six-part series, Jamie heads to Huntington, West Virginia, the unhealthiest city in America. Through his efforts in this one town, he hopes to start a chain reaction of positive change across the country.

Click here to watch the trailer. Join the Grape Girls and sign the petition to show you care about this important issue.

Cheers!

Eat Wine...

Wine Cellar Sorbet - My New Favorite Find!



I can never leave Whole Foods without spending at least $80. I know, my husband doesn't get it either. I usually walk in the store with a short list of must haves for a quick dinner or impromptu gathering, but I simply cannot resist picking up and trying new things as I'm browsing the aisles. Which brings me to the point - Wine Cellar Sorbet. Yes, they have found a way to turn fabulous wines into a fabulous new treat!

Wine Cellar Sorbet creates sorbets with varietal wines as the main ingredient. A great selection of bold flavors include Sangria Rojo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Riesling and Champagne. Dave Zablocki, the world's first Sorbet Sommelier, worked with vintners around the world to find the right wines to later spin into festive sorbets. The result is an extraordinarily refreshing frozen confection bursting with fruit flavors without being overly sweet. Did I mention the dessert is fat-free, dairy-free AND gluten-free?! The sorbets pair extremely well with a variety of foods (try the Riesling or Sangria flavor to cool off after a spicy meal) and are a great palate cleanser between courses. They can even be an interesting accompaniment for cheese. The petite one-pint packages retail at $6.99. For more information, visit www.winecellarsorbets.com or check the frozen section of your nearest Whole Foods Market.

A tasting of these fabulous sorbets will definitely be on the menu for my next dinner party!

Cheers!