- Clearance Sale
- Wine Trivia Challenge
- Recipe of the Month
- Health & Fitness

February 2008

7 - Veronique's Birthday
14 - Valentine's Day
16 - Full Moon
18 - President's Day
22 - George Washington's Birthday
29 - Leap Day

Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you
play it is free will.
-- Jawaharial Nehru

A Heart Wrenching Moment

About this time last year I met Didier Cabanes with his wife and discovered his wines. His unusual presence and touching conviction as well as the quality of his products easily convinced me to share this discovery with you as soon as I would be able to. In short order Veronique and our close friends developed a strong connection with the man and his unique approach to life and winegrowing techniques.

Going to Millesime Bio in January, the annual French rendez-vous of hundreds of Organic winemakers, I was eager to meet with him again and expand our collaboration. Imagine then my shock and dismay when I called his home only to learn he had suddenly and unexpectedly passed away! Nobody said that life was supposed to be fair and it is certainly the conclusion we can come to when we see the amount of energy, passion, dedication and generosity displayed by this man Didier all of a sudden turned off like a simple switch!

Being exposed to death is tough enough but when it touches people who seem to have so much to give, share and live yet it is a trying moment. Our hearts extend to the family, his wife and two kids, who have to live through this ordeal while we will on our end mourn the loss of someone who seemed to embody so well all our hopes for an intelligent relationship to the Earth and the living world. Good Bye, Didier! We will drink your wines and remember you fondly for many vintages to come!

A French homage.

In Vino Veritas
(Wine reveals the Truth).
-- Latin Proverb

Inventory Clearance!

Coming to the end of our corporate year gives us the opportunity to clear our shelves while giving you the chance to fill up yours at great prices! However hurry up as we have to ship everything before our inventory takes place (2/29) and there won't be enough for everybody at those prices anyway! (Final prices, no quantity discounts)

Veronique's Wine Club

Join the Club today and we'll deliver 3 bottles of fine wine made from organic grapes to you each month! Talk about convenience and fun! We'll expand your wine repertoire by selecting three bottles of wine and shipping them directly to your home. Be it for a few months or longer, this is a great way to discover wines you might never have thought of trying by yourself!
Only $49.99/mo (+ S&H).

Club members receive an email presenting the wines selected and privileged access to some rare products and a continuous 10% discount (on top of the regular discounts) on any order they place from the General Catalog. Our members are delighted by our personalized service! (Thank you for the praise!)

Each month, you'll try some of the best wines we carry. And, as a welcome gift with your subscription, you will receive an extra bottle of wine, FREE! Currently a Château Bousquette Prestige 2003!

As a great gift idea, you can order it for a few months and cancel at any time without a fuss. Try it, you'll like it!

Click here for more information.

There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.
-- Pablo Picasso

Wine Trivia Challenge

Question 1.) What term refers to a wine that is ready to drink?
a.) Accessible
b.) Chilled
c.) Open
d.) Public

Question 2.) A defined, controlled grape-growing area is known as what?
a.) A reserve
b.) A label
c.) An appellation
d.) A cognomen

Question 3.) The extraction of colour, tannin and aroma from the grape skins by alcohol during fermentation is referred to as what?
a.) Fermentation
b.) Fading
c.) Mutage
d.) Maceration

Question 4.) What do you call a wine that is old, and past its best time for consumption?
a.) Dull
b.) Passé
c.) Dated
d.) Flat

Question 5.) What is the name for the space or air between the cork or cap and the wine in an unopened bottle of wine?
a.) Shortage
b.) Mutage
c.) Lockage
d.) Ullage

TOP | ANSWERS

If you cannot convince them, confuse them.
-- Harry Truman

Seafood Fettuccine

This alfredo sauce tastes great with seafood. And it's quick; about 35 minutes total time. Serve with a Caesar salad and garlic bread for a real treat.

Ingredients - Serves 6

• 16 ounces fettuccine noodles
• 3/4 cup green onions -- chopped
• 3-4 garlic cloves -- peeled and minced
• 1-1/2 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 pound shrimp -- peeled and deveined
• 3/4 pound sea scallops
• 1-1/2 cups half-and-half cream
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1+ tablespoon cornstarch (optional - to thicken)
• 1/2 cup wine and mushrooms (optional)

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of lightly-salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
2. Melt butter in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add shrimp and scallops, stirring to combine, and cook 3 minutes more. Reduce heat to medium-low. If the sauce is too thin for your liking, add a bit of cornstarch until it is the right consistency. If using frozen seafood, be sure to thaw and drain it before adding it to the sauce.
3. Add cream, salt, and pepper (wine, mushrooms) into the pan and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Do not boil. Gradually sprinkle 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese over seafood mixture and continue stirring another minute. Remove from heat.
4. Toss cooked pasta into the pan, coating thoroughly. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese, and serve.

Wine Pairing

• Delmas Limoux, Oak Aged Chardonnay '02

TOP

The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a
thousand things well.
-- Horace Walpole

10 Tips for Better Mental Health

Society spends a lot of time focusing on physical health. While this is important, it's equally significant to focus on your mental health. What's the point of looking good if you don't feel good? Try some of the following ideas to raise your spirits.

1. Value Yourself -- Don't be too hard on yourself. Treat yourself with kindness and respect. Make time everyday to do something you enjoy and broaden your horizons.
2. Build Confidence -- Identify your abilities and weaknesses, accept them, and learn to make the most of it.
3. Take Care of Your Body -- Exercise, eat nutritious meals, drink plenty of water, get a good night's sleep, and avoid smoking and excessive drinking.
4. Accept Compliments -- If someone gives you a sincere compliment, enjoy it, and remember it when you need it.
5. Hang Out with Good People - Don't take your family and friends for granted. Make plans with good people and seek out positive activities together. Nurture these relationships.
6. Live Within Your Means -- Financial problems cause stress, often leading to other problems.
7. Volunteer -- Give your time and energy to help someone else. You'll meet new people, and you'll feel good about yourself.
8. Manage Stress -- Stress is a part of life. Learn to deal with your stressors head on and practice good coping skills. Try to find some humor in your problems.
9. Seek Help -- Sharing a problem with others who have had similar experiences may help you find a solution. You're not the first person to have a problem. Seek professional help if you have a mental or substance abuse problem.
10. Shake It Up a Bit -- Routines may make you more efficient and feel more secure, but they get monotonous. A change of pace, such as a road trip, mini-vacation, trying a new restaurant or learning something new is good for your mind.

TOP

Wine Trivia Answers
#1. a.) Accessible; #2. c.) An appellation; #3 d.) Maceration; #4. b.) Passé; #5. d.) Ullage