Saturday, February 11
Maybe it’s a little corny to do a sparkling wine event in the proximity of Valentine’s Day but, hey, we didn’t invent the holiday (Hallmark did, right?), we’re just trying to give people some interesting new options.  To that end we are dedicating this event to bubbles.  Anything that sparkles, from anywhere, is fair game here.  That means Champagnes, Cremants, things that fizz  from America, Spain, France , Italy, where ever. We’ll cover as wide a range of sources, styles and prices as we can in 16-18 wines.  Cost is $18.00.

Thursday, February 16
Miljenko ‘Mike’ Grgich is an icon in the Napa Valley. It was his 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that stole the show at the famed “Paris Tasting” of 1976, depicted in the Alan Rickman/Bill Pullman vehicle, Bottle Shock, in 2008. Funny, we don’t recall Mike being in that rendition. No matter, his partnership with Austin Hills has consistently generated some of the finest wines from Napa Valley since the inception of Grgich Hills in the late 70’s. Thanks to recent changes in their farming practices, they are making some of the best wines in their history.  Melanie Kemp Lewis from Grgich Hills will be in the store to pour the current releases and answer any questions you might have. Cost is $7.00.

Saturday, February 18
An in depth look at one of our favorite parts of he worlds.  Striking landscapes, the smell of wild herbs and the sea in the air, earthy dishes and signs of antiquity, it’s a pretty cool part of the world.  OK right now it is winter, it’s pretty cold and the Mistral winds will cut right through your coat.  But, hey, we’re inside in Southern California and can still deliver the ambiance of the varied wines of the region. We’ll touch on the Languedoc, Roussillon, Provence and even reach into the Sudouest to places like Madiran and Cahors.  This is the people’s France, the France of farmhouses not castles and chateaux, and the wines are as individual as the inhabitants.  Cost is $16.00.

Saturday, February 25
A perennial Winex favorite. Like the name implies, we scour the stacks and shelves for wines that have been awarded at least 90 points, preferably more, by Wine Spectator, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and other reputable publications. Agree or disagree, this is a great opportunity to taste and evaluate a slew of value priced finds that have not only been recommended by the ‘Wine Elite’ but by our ‘distinguished’ buyers. Cost is $19.00.

Thursday, March 01
This is the year’s third installment for this tasting and though the format is always the same- 16 or so selections from the latest Stock Report- the wines are always different. You never know what you might find or where it’s going to be from but an interesting array of good values is always guaranteed. For a mere sawbuck, why not spend part of your Thursday night with us. $10.00

Saturday, March 03
Every year we like to devote a number of tastings to ‘The Boot.’ It’s difficult to cover the entire country in one tasting while giving each region its due, so from time to time we like to focus on a particular area. Why not kick off our first Italian event of 2012 with a staff favorite, Piedmont. Barbera from Asti and Alba, Dolcetto from Alba and Dogliani and the most noble of grapes, Nebbiolo from Langhe, Barolo & Barbaresco will be on the docket. We’ll round out the show with some refreshing Moscato and Brachetto. Needless to say, regionally appropriate nibbles will be in the mix. Cost is $29.00.

Saturday, March 10
The Loire Valley cuts through a large swath of France and though it doesn’t get the same international street cred as Bordeaux, Champagne or Burgundy, it’s one of our favorite areas. Besides producing some of the finest goat cheese known to man, the wines from this region (both white and red) are as diverse and terroir driven as any you will find anywhere. Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc from areas like Vouvray, Sancerre, Touraine, Chinon and Bourgueil will flesh out this tasting but we’ll leave room for Muscadet and any other pertinent appellations. This is always a fun format and we try to kick up the cheese and nibbles a notch or two to compliment the wines. Cost is $18.00.

Thursday, March 15
Malbec bottles come in many different shapes and sizes, literally, but the wines differ in flavor, structure, depth and price as well. This tasting will be a brief exploration of the varietal and though Argentina will certainly provide the backbone for the gig, we’re reserving a few slots for Cahors (that lesser known area of SW France) and perhaps a domestic or two if something turns up. $15.00

Saturday, March 17
If you have lived in SOCAL for a significant amount of time then you’ve probably devoted, willingly or not, some portion of your life to being on the 101. Drive a little north of Santa Barbara and you’re in the Central Coast wine country. Sure, you could keep heading north and hit some more wine regions but we have to draw the line somewhere. So the rules for this tasting are simple, if we carry a wine from the near vicinity of Route 101 that is from vines north of Santa Barbara and south of, say….San Miguel, then it might be in play. That means Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and ‘Rhône Ranger’ type blends might make it into the lineup. Should be a fun ride for $25.00.

Tuesday, March 20
Last year the Winex staff was treated to a whirlwind tasting of several wines from several German producers compliments of the Mosaic Wine Alliance. Winemakers or representatives were on hand to pour and talk about their wares in what ended up being a unique experience. This year, we decided to share. In house will be Stefan Bollig of Bollig-Lehnert, Karin Fischer of Dr. Fischer and Paul Anheuser, the purveyor of one of last year’s surprise staff hits- a still, slightly off-dry and smoky Blanc de Noir from the Nahe. Huh?
We know Tuesday isn’t the best tasting day, but we couldn’t convince them to stay until the weekend. Don’t miss this show! $10.00 

Saturday, March 24
Wine Exchange has had a long running love affair with wines from Spain. Their price per quality ratio is rivaled only by Italy and the south of France and there are consistent values in both red and white. Last year presented us with some less than stellar vintages and fewer wines passed muster than we would prefer. Now that some 2008’s and 2009’s are rolling in we need to take a look at the category. We’ll kick off the show with a Cava and some crisp snappy whites, Albariño, Godello and the like. Tempranillo in its various forms, Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Toro to name a few, will be the star. We’ll also offer a smattering of wines from other areas, Mencia from Galicia, Garnacha from Navarra, Aragon and Catalunya and maybe a sherry or two to round things out. Come in, sip some vino and nibble on some Marcona almonds and tortilla all for $24.00.

Saturday, March 31
Aah, the Pinot Aisle overfloweth and that’s a good thing. There are enough current and new offerings from California and Oregon for us to host a series of tastings so we’ll pull together 18-20 producers that need a looksy and go from there. Besides, it’s Spring, time for outdoor shows and grilling out. That means something in Poughkeepsie….Here in SoCal, we can do those things pretty much year round and Pinot is always a great compliment. As is our custom, the major areas of California will be the basis for the show but we’ll reserve some space for a few ‘08s and ‘09s from our neighbor to the north. Cost is $28.00.

Thursday, April 05
It’s time for the April installment of our first Thursday of the month Features Presentation. Curious to see what values our buyers have dug up this month? Come in, read a little, drink a little and maybe you’ll find something you like. Why not? Cost is $10.

Saturday, April 07
Holiday weekends usually create a bit of a quandary for us. We ALWAYS have a Saturday tasting and since we are never quite sure how many people are going to be in attendance, we know we’ll be here so why not pour some things that we like. We, the Dealers, will thoughtfully select a mélange of reds, whites and perhaps a rosé or bubbly or more if the mood strikes. This tasting always gives us the opportunity to pour some things that we might not have a chance to otherwise. If you’re in town or need a reason to slip away from the inlaws or just want to try some cool wines, come in. $12.00