A thousand decisions were made in order to get that beautiful liquid into your glass, and each one of them impacted the environment in some way.
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A thousand decisions were made in order to get that beautiful liquid into your glass, and each one of them impacted the environment in some way.
Continue readingMemorial Day is here, summer is beginning, and we’re embarking on a summer of pairing! Here at France 44, this is our favorite time of the year. We get to dust off our grills and pull some of our favorite summer bottles off the shelves.
Our talented butchers prepare gorgeous cuts of meat & house-made brats to grill, and lovely charcuterie to serve. If you have not checked out the case in our cheese shop yet, you absolutely must this weekend. Of course, you can also order online here.
Cookout style dining might feel casual, but you can and should still be intentional about the drinks you serve. Just as you may spend hours seasoning, marinating, smoking, and grilling meat, you should spend time finding just the right beverages that accompany and enhance your meal and take it to the next level. Luckily for you, Bennett, Tom, and Dustin of our beer, spirits, and wine teams, respectively, have put together a couple of beverage recommendations for you this week, to make your Memorial Day barbecue a night to remember.
Perhaps the most common Memorial Day beverage is beer, so we’ll start there.
When pairing beer with food there are a few main principles that you’ll want to consider. The first is to pair a beer and food that have matching intensities. Think about what contributes intensity to each. For beer: alcohol, hop bitterness, malt flavor (caramelized, bready, toasty, roasty) and residual sweetness can all add intensity. In food: fatty richness, sweetness, spices and cooking techniques (searing, roasting, broiling, etc) can add intensity. The browning process that occurs while cooking food, called the Maillard reaction, is also the process that changes flavors in modified malt.
Let’s use that to segue into our second principle: identifying harmonizing flavors. Choosing a beer and food with similar Maillard flavor components will create a natural bridge between the two. Consider other components, like how a citrusy or herbal hop character might accentuate a dish containing fresh herbs.
The last principle is to identify potentially contrasting or balancing elements. For me, the main focal point here is hop bitterness. Hop bitterness is great for cutting through fat and richness in food, achieving balance. On the other hand, when a hoppy beer is paired with spicy food, it will amplify the perceived spiciness which could cause imbalance. Other components to consider are carbonation and alcohol (which cut through and balance richness), and malt sweetness (which balances spice and acid).
May is the beginning of watermelon season, so why not have a big ‘ol slice at your Memorial Day cookout. I would suggest taking sips of a bright fruity and spicy hefeweizen as you enjoy your fruit. The tangy yeastiness, soft texture from high-protein wheat, and dancing notes of banana, citrus and clove match the refreshing qualities of watermelon.
Ahhh, the wonderful simplicity of grilled corn on the cob with a little butter. It still counts as a vegetable, right? Pair this staple with a Cream Ale, a lighter ale style that mimics some of the characteristics of lager. Similarly smooth and light, but with subtly more malt and sweetness from the use of flaked maize – no wonder it works so well!
IPAs get all the attention and glory these days, but let me remind you that Pale Ales were the foundation upon which that castle was built. A quality Pale Ale can be a sort of multi-tool for beer pairing, and it goes especially well with burgers and pizza. Softly-sweet crystal malt harmonizes wonderfully with a brioche bun while the citrus and pine-like hop bitterness cuts through the richness of beef and cheese. Perfect!
Our Raspberry Gimlet is bright and refreshing on a hot summer day, like the ones we will hopefully be getting this weekend. The bright fruitiness will blend right in with the fresh fruits served at the beginning of a cookout and will cut right through the char and salinity of grilled chicken. If served as a long drink with ice and club soda this cocktail can be enjoyed all evening long.
2.5oz New Harbour African Dry Gin
0.5oz lime juice
1oz Mathilde Framboise Liqueur
Shake & Strain into a coupe glass
OR
top with club soda and ice for a longer lighter drink
Garnish with raspberries
Peach and pork go together through the contrast of sweet and savory; this is also why peach glazes are so common. Both have milder flavors that blend together quite nicely, especially on a hot day. This drink also has the freshness of a mint garnish and the spice of bourbon to keep everything nice and balanced. if we didn’t need a reason for a peach cobbler for dessert, we definitely have one now!
2oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1oz lemon juice
1oz Mathile Peche Liqueur
Shake & Strain into a lowball glass
Garnish with a mint sprig
A thousand decisions were made in order to get that beautiful liquid into your glass, and each one of them impacted the environment in some way.
Continue readingWe want to highlight MISA Imports this week. With a focus on quality and sustainability, MISA Wine Imports sources excellent wines from renowned small to medium wineries in Europe and beyond. They carry a wide selection of styles, from full body reds, crisp whites, and beautiful sparkling wines, and offer an excellent value.
Of the dozens of excellent MISA wines that we carry, we’ve chosen a few of our favorites to share with you, all of which are available in our store!
Manciat Cremant de Bourgogne NV, Burgundy, France – $19.99
100% Chardonnay. Sourced from the neighboring villages of Pouilly-Fuisse. Nice yeast and baked bread notes on the nose. This is a deliciously fruity and rich Cremant, with fruit flavors of green apple and melon and chalky aspects on the crisp, clean finish.
Ronan by Clinet Blanc 2020, Bordeaux, France – $17.99
Ronan By Clinet White offers a bright golden hue, as a pleasant introduction to a fine wine. Hints of yuzu, grapefruit, white flowers, passion fruit, a succession of aromas, all promising freshness, elegance and complexity.
Berthaude Cuvee Laura Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2021, Rhone Valley, France – $17.99
85% Viognier, 15% Grenache Blanc/Marsanne blend. Vinified in stainless steel tanks. Exotic nose of melon, apricot and honeysuckle with a wonderful garrigue note. On the palate there is a focused mineral vein that runs through the wine, with ripe apricot, peach and honeydew.
Alberto Conti Chianti Classico 2019, Tuscany, Italy – $17.99
Displays an intense crimson color. This 100% Sangiovese has a delicate bouquet brimming with fresh aromas of iris and violets that evolve into forest berries at the end. On the palate, it has a powerful blend of dry, mineral notes that provide an intense, persistent flavor.
Domaine Bressy Masson Rasteau 2020, Bordeaux, France – $24.99
This complex wine has a beautiful black-purple color and offers a rich bouquet of blackberries, blackcurrants and violets. On the palate it is full-bodied, liquorice-like and ends with mineral and even salty notes.
L’Espirit de Chevalier Pessac Leognan 2018, Bordeaux, France – $44.99
The second wine of Domaine de Chevalier, this shows all the richness of the vintage, with weighty tannins and a generous future. Blackberry fruits and a core that promises plenty of potential as the dryness softens contribute to what will be a richly structured, complex wine.
written by Josh
Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special someone, a crew of pals or are practicing good self-love this year, treat yourself to a bottle of something delicious. This year we decided to highlight a winemaker that we have fallen head over heels for, Stolpman Vineyards.
Founded 20 years ago in the Ballard Canyon of Santa Barbara County, Stolpman Vineyards quickly made a name for producing outstanding Syrah and Roussanne. They now produce a wide range of wines from their impeccable estate bottlings to their delightfully gulpable “So Fresh” line of wine. It’s not only the quality of the wines that have made us lovestruck over Stolpman, but also their winemaking, vineyard practices, and their philosophy on sustainability.
Even while much of the wine industry is moving towards mechanization, Stolpman has continued to do everything in the vineyard by hand, all the way from pruning to harvesting. This meticulous work is done by the vineyard crew, “La Cuadrilla”. This crew is employed year-round, a major contrast to seasonal work that can be found in much of the wine world. Stolpman believes not only in sustainability in the vineyards, but also in labor practices that create stable employment. Employing a full-time work-force, even in the slow months, also allows the vines to be continuously and carefully cared for to produce the highest quality of fruit possible.
And if this wasn’t enough to get us falling for Stolpman, they took their employment efforts one step further with their wine named La Cuadrilla. This wine began when the vineyard manager, Ruben Solorzano, gave the vineyard crew a small vineyard block (a Cuadra) to learn and practice taking care of the land and the vines. The resulting wine, La Cuadrilla, and its profits go to the vineyard crew. This program has significantly expanded over the years, and now about 10% of the total Stolpman vineyard production goes into this wine, and the profits continue to be returned to the crew members.
This blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Sangiovese showcases notes of plum, ripe berries, mocha, and a hint of spice. It is generous and balanced with a long lasting finish. Great on its own, but made even better with [insert just about any protein here] over a flame. A must try.
The “So Fresh” lineup of wines from Stolpman are made using early harvested, whole-bunch clusters of grapes that are naturally fermented, producing lighter, ultra-drinkable, food friendly wines. The simplistic and fun labels are all made by the penmanship of the vineyard manager. Plus, what better way to tell someone you love them than with a wine that literally says “Love You Bunches”!
The Love You Bunches Red has quickly become one of our favorite wines from Stolpman. Named after the gentle ‘loving’ treatment that the whole-bunches of Sangiovese grapes get throughout the fermentation process, this wine has refreshing notes of bright raspberry, candied cherry, and red currant. It is meant to be served chilled! The perfect wine for any Valentine’s Day celebrations you have planned.
The Love You Bunches Orange is a relatively new addition to the So Fresh family. Made from Pinot Gris, Orange Muscat, Semillon, and Gewürztraminer, this skin-contact white blend is refreshing and energetic with flavors of apricot, grapefruit, lychee and orange blossom. The wine has a playful tropical vibe – an ideal beverage to reminisce about warmer weather and to look forward to sunnier days!
Another new So Fresh addition, GDG (a 100% Santa Barbara Gamay), was inadvertently named by the founder, Tom Stolpman. As the story goes, Tom drove past the vineyards one day and noticed that one of the vineyard plots had recently been replanted. When he asked what was being planted in this block, the response was, “oh, that’s the new Gamay!”. To which he replied. “You planted GOD D%MN GAMAY?”. Nevertheless, this infamous wine is delicious, and a personal favorite. It’s bright red fruit notes of cranberry and raspberry are balanced out by a lovely texture and a darker blackberry tone.
The world of non-alcoholic beverages has grown over the past few years, and we are happy to carry plenty of options for anyone trying to cut out or cut back their alcohol intake. We carry NA options all year long, but there is a movement called Dry January that was started in the UK to encourage people to reassess their relationship with alcohol by abstaining from drinking for a month. Even though we are a liquor store, we love this idea and have put together a sampler kit of some of our favorite products to get you started! Our staff can also help you find other NA beer, liquor, or wine that fits your vibe, as our selection has grown considerably over the past year. We assure that you can still be the life of the party without the hangover!
Our Non-Alcoholic Sampler Kit includes:
With juniper, citrus, and floral notes, the St. Agrestis Phony Negroni offers the same bitterness you would expect from a traditional negroni, but without the alcohol! Enjoy it chilled right out of the bottle or over ice with an orange twist.
TÖST ROSÉ is an all-natural, delicious, dry, sparkling non-alcoholic beverage with white tea, Ginger and Elderberry. This is the store favorite when it comes to NA alternatives to sparkling wine.
Ghia is a non-alcoholic apéritif packed with only pure, natural extracts. Potent plants. Heady herbals. Blithe botanicals. The Spritz includes yuzu, rosemary extract, and elderflower to temper down the natural bitterness, but still taste complex. The kit also includes the Ghia Lime & Salt Spritz and Ginger Spritz.
Athletic Brewing has been a pioneer in the non-alcoholic beer scene and is one of our most popular NA brands. The Free Wave Hazy IPA doesn't disappoint. It's juicy, citrusy and delicious.
This is the non-alcoholic wine I've always hoped for. So many N/A wines fall far short of actually tasting like wine and end up being sugary, unbalanced, and tasting like Kool-Aid. Studio Null makes a traditional alcoholic wine, distills out the alcohol to less than 0.5% ABV, and manages to keep all the great flavors, aromas, and acidity that I love so much in dry sparkling rosé.
This is such a fun and easy-going sparkling NA wine. It's juicy and refreshing with notes of citrus and white blossom. Delicious on its own, and also fun to use in NA cocktails like an Aperol Spritz (use the Abstinence NA Blood Orange Aperitif instead of Aperol).
I really enjoy Lovejoy's Thai Basil Bloody Mary Mix over Ice with a wedge of lemon and lime. It's such a great twist on the classic Bloody Mary mix and it's super easy just to skip the vodka and enjoy it without any alcohol. Plus it's locally owned and made.
Every product I've tried from Hella Bitters & Soda has been so delicious. Dry Aromatic is unsweetened with notes of clove, allspice, caraway, rose hips, star anise, and bitter root.
My favorite NA Beer is the Untitled Art Italian Pilsner. it's loaded with Hallertau Mittekfruh and Strata hops, making it a bit more hoppier than your standard Pilsner, but being less than 1% ABV, you still feel like you're drinking an actual beer.
By far my favorite NA beer right now. It is super juicy, refreshing, and just down right delicious. An all around tasty little beverage.
Deserving of grand cru classification, this water is sourced from the purest natural springs in the Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin appellation. These bountiful springs are naturally filtered by a roughly half-billion-year-old glacial formation, lending notes of vibrant purity and the distinct absence of terroir. Studies have shown that consuming fresh spring water is beneficial to your health!
There is never a shortage of reasons to open up a bottle of bubbly! This week we get to celebrate with a classic tradition (and of course a personal favorite), sparkling wine and New Year’s Eve. Read our guide to some of the iconic sparkling wine styles and regions around the world, and our recommended wines for New Year’s celebrations.
The Icon. Champagne is still the considered and recognized as some of the best sparkling wine in the world. The name and the wine itself is tied to celebration, luxury, and of course ringing in the New Year. Most Champagne is made of the following three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier (though several other grapes are permitted). The process to make Champagne, known as the Traditional Method, often exhibits toasty, brioche flavors in the wine. This method, in which the 2nd fermentation happens in each individual bottle, is also the hardest and most expensive way to make sparkling wine. This fact plus the prestige of the region is often reflected in the Champagne price tag, with Champagne wine prices starting around $40.
This festive pink bubbly is one of our all-time favorites, no matter what time of year. Best to get two bottles though, or your host gift will be gone before you even walk out the door to the party.
One of our favorite Champagnes returned just in time for the holidays! This Blanc de Blancs Champagne is impeccably well balanced and delicious. Notes of toast, green apple, and blossom linger on the palate with this nuanced bubbly.
Marc Hebrart has long been one of the favorite grower Champagnes here at F44. A pinot dominant blend that showcases notes of ripe apple and toast. An absolute treat.
CRÉMANT
Looking for a Champagne-style wine without the Champagne price? Look no further! Crémant is a category of French sparkling wines that are made using the same method as Champagne. There are eight different regions in France that make Crémant. The grapes grown in each region will be featured in that region’s sparkling wines. For example, Crémant de Bourgogne (Crémant from Burgundy) will be made with the key grapes of Burgundy: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The styles of wine within this category can vary dramatically, but often there is a high value-quality ratio, making it a fun category to explore.
One of my all around favorite sparkling wines right now. 100% Pinot Noir. Rich and biscuity on the palate - the perfect celebration wine.
This beautifully delicious and easy going bubbly is predominantly Chenin Blanc and shows notes of nectarine, baked apple and honey. One of the best sparkling wine values.
Hailing from the Northeastern region of Italy, Prosecco is a fruitier expression of sparkling wine. It is made using the “Tank Method”, which is faster and less expensive than the Traditional Method which is reflected in the price of the wine. Prosecco is made with the aromatic white grape, Glera. Offering notes of melon, pear, and tropical fruits, Prosecco pairs excellently with a wide range of foods. It is a playful, delicious, and fresh style of wine that is meant to be drunk shortly after purchase! When unsure of what bubbles to bring to a party, Prosecco is always a safe bet.
Technically not Prosecco, but same method of production & you’re going to love it. Notes of meyer lemon, peach, and pineapple.
A fresh and classic representation of Prosecco. Notes of pear, yellow apple, and a touch of blossom - with just the right amount of sweetness. Any leftover? New Year's day Mimosas!
Spain’s answer to French Champagne. Cava mirrors some of the qualities of Champagne. It is made using the traditional method, it has similar aging requirements, and often showcases rich, toasty flavors. Cava, however, is predominantly made with three Spanish grapes: Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are allowed, but are still relatively minor grapes to the style). A major difference between Cava and Champagne is the price. High quality Reserva or even some Gran Reserva Cava is still half or a third of the price of Champagne!
Avinyo, one of my favorite Cava producers, continuously delivers on all of their wines. Their Reserva Brut is a steal - with notes of nectarine, ripe apple, honey, and a touch of baking spice.
Raventos, considered the "First Family of Cava", has long been one of the icons of Spanish sparkling wine. The Blanc de Blancs has zippy aromas of green apple, lemon, and Marcona Almonds.
This might be my favorite sparkling rosé that we currently carry. It is elegant, yet complex - fresh, yet subtly toasty. If you are thinking rosé, choose this!
As they say, “everything old is new again”. The original method for sparkling wine production that has become fashionable in the past decade or so, and has made quite the splash into the market recently. A few short years ago we had a handful of Pét-Nat wines and now we have an entire section from all over the world! Although “Pét-Nat” is a loosely defined term, wines labeled as such often (though not always) follow these general rules:
Pét-Nats range in style from fresh and fruity to funky, sour, almost kombucha-like wines. The wines below fall more in line with the former.
This Slovenian Pet-Nat tastes like salted grapefruit and lemon zest. It's delicious, it's organically farmed, it has a stunning electric pink color, and playful packaging - it has it all!
The Il Mostro wines have been some of the most popular Pét-Nats since they arrived here a couple years ago. Certified organic, refreshing, and just tasty.
We know you’ve been waiting all year for this. We’ve got a gift box for everyone on your list, from the beer buff to the cocktail curious–even a non-alcoholic sampler pack! Check out our France 44-exclusive wine maps and drink coasters. There’s also a tried-and-true list of delicious and exciting wines that are sure to impress any host (and keep your party invites coming for years to come). And if you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, come talk to our staff for more ideas or fill out this nifty custom gift form. Cheers, and happy shopping!
Give the gift of education this holiday season with a class at France 44! We have more classes on our calendar than ever before. From Pizza Making to our 3-Part French Wine Series, there is a class for everyone! Check out all of our class offerings HERE.
Not sure which class to gift? No problem! Purchase a Gift–A–Class gift card and let the recipient choose the class!
Pick up our house blend of mulling spices or a three-bottle sampler pack of your favorite spirit.
We also have our very own Wine Region Maps and French wine region coasters! Grab one or all of them. Only here at France 44.
We have two store-pick single barrels from Stellum Spirits right now. We are so proud of how these barrels turned out.
F44 Stellum Single Barrel Rye
This 5 year old cask strength single barrel rye features a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It boasts sweeter notes of green apple and honeyed orange on the front end, with a warm finish of baking spice and black tea.
F44 Stellum Single Barrel Bourbon
This delicious France 44 selected single barrel bourbon boasts seriously big and bright notes of honeyed cherry, vanilla, and a touch of citrus, along with a sweet oaky finish. Bottled at 113.82 proof, it’s a bourbon for all bourbon drinkers.
Modist Brewing “Foeder 44” DDH Oak-Aged Pilsner
We teamed up with Modist again to make another great, exclusive beer. Is it a Hazy IPA?? Nope. It’s a Pilsner! But not just any Pilsner. This one is hopped with Nelson Sauvin & Wakatu, then aged in their oak foeders and then double dry-hopped with more Nelson Sauvin, Strata and Citra Cryo hops.
This festive pink bubbly is one of our all-time favorites, no matter what time of year. Best to get two bottles though, or your host gift will be gone before you even walk out the door to the party.
One of our favorite Champagnes returned just in time for the holidays! This Blanc de Blancs Champagne is impeccably well balanced and delicious. Notes of toast, green apple, and blossom linger on the palate with this nuanced bubbly.
A white wine made from red grapes? You bet! Through careful winemaking techniques Amity creates this beautifully fresh peach & citrus driven white that is perfect with just about any fare.
Domaine Carrette Pouilly-Fuisse is the perfect white for these chilly winter nights. This Burgundian Chardonnay is rich and round with notes of ripe peach and mango, toasted bread, and hints of cinnamon spice.
Powerful, yet well-balanced, the Ocnautic Cabernet delivers far above its price point. This Paso Robles Cabernet is herbaceous and juicy. Perfect for a holiday prime rib roast.
From the iconic Adelsheim estate, this wine is classic representation of Willamette Valley pinot. Sleek and slender, but fleshy enough to deliver cinnamon-accented cherry flavors, showing a hint of coffee as the finish lingers.
Beaujolais - a holiday food pairing classic. The Liger-Belair Moulin a Vent is an outstanding representation of the complexity, food pairing flexibility, and overall deliciousness that Beaujolais has to offer. With notes of blackberry, black currant, violet and sweet spices, it's a wine that will play well across a multi-course meal.
We know you’ve been waiting all year for this. We’ve got a gift box for everyone on your list, from the beer buff to the cocktail curious–even a non-alcoholic sampler pack! Click any of the pictures below to purchase your gift boxes or click HERE to see all of our gift offerings. Cheers, and happy shopping!
This is the perfect gift for pretty much anyone…anyone who loves to eat great cheese and drink great wine. We’ve selected a few of our favorite cheeses and paired them with amazing Minnesota honey, organic crackers from Wisconsin, spiced nuts from Minneapolis, and two perfect wines.
Planning for holiday gatherings can be stressful and complicated, so we wanted to take some of the stress out of your beverage shopping with our Thanksgiving Beverage Guide. Whether you’re planning for two or 20, we’re here help you choose the perfect lineup. Below you will find our quick list of sure-fire winning drinks for your Thanksgiving meal. And, as always, the F44 staff is here to help you select your wine, beer, and spirits for any occasion! Stop by this week and let us help you find the perfect bottles.
Loveblock is made by Kim Crawford, the inventor and namesake of one of New Zealand’s best-selling wines. After selling the company that bears his name, he and his wife started Loveblock. This wine’s bright acidity and flavors of lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, and white floral notes make it the ultimate refresher for the dishes at Thanksgiving. It also pairs particularly well with any vegetable dish (green beans? no problem!) or salad you may be having.
Chardonnay is one of the “Big Three” when it comes to Thanksgiving wine (alongside Pinot Noir and Gamay). Chardonnay is versatile, crowd pleasing, and often rich enough to stand up to Thanksgiving classics. The Frank Family Chardonnay comes from vineyards in Carneros at the southern end of Napa Valley. It is barrel fermented in partial new French oak, giving it a lovely hint of toasted oak and vanilla. The wine showcases aromas of brioche, baking spices, and candied lemon. On the palate, it is full-bodied and creamy yet balanced by its lively acidity with nuanced flavors of yellow apple, lemon curd, baked pear, and melon.
Planet Oregon Pinot is made by one of our all time favorite producers out of Oregon: Soter vineyards. From the highly regarded Willamette Valley, this pinot noir offers classic aromas of cherry, cranberry, and a hint of cinnamon. Light and lithe on the palate, fresh red fruits dominate a clean and mineral finish. Pinot is an iconic pairing to just about everything at your turkey dinner – especially the turkey!
The Icon. Champagne is still the considered and recognized as some of the best sparkling wine in the world. The name and the wine itself is tied to celebration and gathering together. Marc Hebrart has long been a favorite producer amongst our staff, and is sure to pair delightfully with just about anything on your Thanksgiving table.
Thanksgiving reds don’t always have to be a light & chillable. I have found that the wines of Rioja play particularly well with the traditional Thanksgiving dishes as a richer and more robust red wine option. Remelluri is one of the all time greats when it comes to wines from Rioja. The Reserva is somehow both powerful and elegant — youthful, yet still complex. It has notes of dark cherry, plum, tobacco, and dried herbs, with a long and dry finish. Not having Turkey? It’s a great wine for ham or lamb as well.
We teamed up with Modist again to make another great, exclusive beer. Is it a Hazy IPA?? Nope. It’s a Pilsner! But not just any Pilsner. This one is hopped with Nelson Sauvin & Wakatu, then aged in their oak foeders and then double dry-hopped with more Nelson Sauvin, Strata and Citra Cryo hops. Wow…..that’s a lot of hops.
Trust me when I tell you that this is pretty, pretty, pretty good!