Meet Real Housewives' Kathy Wakile THIS WEEKEND!

"Real Housewives of NJ" star Kathy Wakile
Special Appearance and Bottle Signing!
Joe Canal's of Woodbridge
Saturday, June 2nd
1:00pm - 3:00pm

Don't miss your chance to meet this NJ reality star!  "Real Houswives of NJ"'s Kathy Wakile will be at our Woodbridge location THIS SATURDAY, signing bottles of her Red Velvet Cosmo!  It already won a medal in a national tasting competition. People who try it say it tastes and smells just like red velvet cake and some even swear they can taste cream cheese frosting. Those of us in the office who just enjoyed a sip agree -- it's spot-on! This delicious new beverage would be a great after-dinner treat on a mild spring night.

Kathy Wakile of The Real Housewives of New Jersey is known for her delicious desserts. Kathy took the taste of her red velvet cakes and infused it into a prepared cocktail called Red Velvet Cosmo.

Kathy Wakile will be making a special appearance in our Woodbridge store on Saturday, June 2nd from 1:00pm - 3:00pm! We hope you can join us as we welcome her to our store! Kathy will be signing bottles of her Red Velvet Cosmo, which will be available for purchase at the event. (No personal memorabilia, please.)

Suds in the Summertime

The mercury's pushing 90 here in Central Jersey, and the summer beers have begun flowing at Joe Canal's.

What makes a summer beer special? I talked with Zack Goldberg, beer manager of the Woodbridge store, about what's so different about the summertime suds.

He told me that seasonal beers for summer are lighter, crisper and more refreshing than their year-round counterparts. Many summer beers include ingredients like lemon, citrusy hops or passionfruit in their brewing. Each brewery has their own style and method to creating their version of a thirst-quenching summer sipper.  One popular summer beer, Sam Adams Summer, is brewed with Lemon Peel and grains of paradise.

Types of beers that are great to drink in the summertime are Wheat beers, IPAs and Pale Ales. Also terrific are lagers such as Shiner Bock, Longboard Island, Brooklyn Lager and Stoudt's Gold.  Styles that do not lend themselves to a summertime heatwave would be styles such as stouts or porters, although Zack does admit that he doesn't conform to that, and enjoys those styles year-round.

Next time you're in the market for a refreshing summer sipper, try one of Zack's seasonal favorites:

Fegley's Hopsolutely Triple IPA: This “triple” India pale ale is utterly smooth with a powerfully hoppy presence and pleasing 11.5 percent content of alcohol by volume. Its Chinook and Amarillo hops are at once earthy and floral, and its full malt body provides a sweet, sticky finish that isn’t so cloying that you wouldn’t take a second sip. That next gulp soothes the palate with a softness you wouldn’t expect from any IPA. You might even find honey and fruit notes that are sweet as melon. - Fegley's Brewworks

The Shore Wines Have Arrived!

Just in time for summer in New Jersey, "The Shore" wines are now in stock!  Pick up a few bottles of these exclusive new gems to enjoy with your backyard barbecue! The Chardonnay and Cabernet will be priced at just $8.96 in our Bottle Club, while Moscato and Red Blend will be $9.96 in the Bottle Club.

Chardonnay
A nose of green apple, slight "buttered toast", pear and a hint of honey. Pear fruit and slight pineapple, good creamyness with slight citrus note on the palate, carrying nicely into the finish.

Cabernet Sauvignon
ON the nose: cassis, dark plum, wild berry, slight dried herb. Lingering fruit flavors (plum, cassis) carry through mid and late palate; berry notes and soft tannins in finish.

Moscato
Fruity aromas of lychee, lemon zest, tangerine, candied pear and peach. Floral notes carry in mouth, soft mid palate, good acidity on finish, fruit notes continue long after.

Red Blend
Aromas are ripe red and dark berry fruit notes, slight black pepper/white pepper and crème de cassis. Red fruit notes in entry, full fruit into middle, finish is lush and fruit flavors linger through the aftertaste.

Memorial Day Weekend @ Joe Canal's!

This Memorial Day, our Growler station will be the center of the action! Both stores are having great breweries come in and take over our taps, and we have a great offer for you!

Tonight, Thursday May 24 from 5 - 7 in Woodbridge, Victory Brewing will be in for a free tasting and tap takeover.

Victory is one of only a few breweries in the country that uses whole flower hops. While almost all other breweries used pelletized hops, Bill and Ron insist on using the whole-flower varieties. This unprocessed form of hops imparts better flavor and aroma to beer.

The following will be featured on tap:
Headwaters Pale Ale
Hop Devil
Hop Wallop
Summer Love
Storm King Imperial Stout
Whirlwind Wit

In Lawrenceville tonight from 6 - 8 will be Weyerbacher!

Weyerbacher Brewing Company was born in a livery stable in downtown Easton, PA. Launched in August of 1995. The original concept was to make some mainstream microbrews, like a Pale Ale and ESB. In 1997 we brewed our first big beer, Raspberry Imperial Stout, which happened to be one of Dan’s favorite homebrew recipes. As hard as it was to get people to care about another “Pale Ale” in a sea of pale ales, people seemed to stand up and take notice of Raspberry Imperial Stout. The following year we brewed Blithering Idiot Barleywine and began brewing Belgian beers as well, like our Merry Monks’ Ale (originally called “Belgian Style Tripel”). This was the time when our path was set. “Let’s make full-flavored high-quality brews for a discerning customer.” We haven’t looked back.

The following will be featured:
Heresy
Insanity
Old Heathen
Blithering Idiot
Blanche
Big Ern's IPA
Blasphemy (bottles only)

TOMORROW, Friday May 25, each store will be tapping specialty kegs at 6:00pm! Woodbridge will be tapping Great Divide Hercules and Lawrenceville will be tapping Dogfish Head Aprihop.

And all weekend long, Friday-Saturday-Sunday, just print out the coupon below and get yourself a FREE 64oz. growler glass! (Beer not included.)

Joe Canal's Presents Adult Limeade!

Adult Beverage Co. the nostalgia-inspired, innovative spirits company launched by lifelong friends and busy moms who reinvigorated the pour-and-serve category with the blockbuster Adult Chocolate Milk®, proudly announces the launch of their latest creation: Adult Limeade®. Adult Limeade is a premium pour-and-serve cocktail and the only one in the category to feature 100% Blue Agave Reposado Tequila – which is among the best tequilas on the market, available and bottled exclusively in Mexico.

"Adult Limeade is the perfect balance of tart limes, sweet agave nectar and the kick of 100% Blue Agave Tequila," says Tracy Reinhardt, co-founder of Adult Beverage Company and creator of the proprietary recipe. "We've taken the classic taste of summertime favorite limeade and turned it into an adults-only beverage that is refreshing, nostalgic and high-quality – while offering versatility to any well-stocked bar this summer and year-round."

A sampling of Adult Limeade cocktail recipes include:

Adult Limeade Margarita 43
1 1/2 oz. Adult Limeade
1/2 oz. Licor 43
Mix Adult Limeade and Licor 43 with ice in a shaker. Pour into a Margarita glass. Salt rim if desired.

Adult Limeade Key Lime Pie
3/4 oz. Adult Limeade
1 1/4 oz. vanilla flavored vodka
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 lime wedges
Graham cracker crumbs, for rimming the glass
Pour the graham cracker crumbs in a shallow dish. Rub a lime wedge around the edge of a martini glass and roll the edge in the graham cracker crumbs. Chill the glass for 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Combine the Adult Limeade, vanilla vodka, pineapple juice, and cream in a shaker. Fill the shaker half full with ice and shake until well blended. Pour into prepared martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.

We've got Adult Limeade in stock and waiting for you to pick up a bottle to try for only $16.49!

Summertime, Sangria time!

This Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial kickoff of the summer season!  Why don't you whip up some nice, cold, refreshing Sangria for your friends and family to enjoy while they sit on the patio? White or red, this refreshing iced wine drink is a favorite at barbecues, and pitchers full of fun!

Sangria was born in Spain and is traditionally made with red wine, brandy and fruits. While Sangria was only introduced in the United States at the World's Fair in 1964, the drink has been around for centuries. A few weeks ago I posted about how beer was considered "safe" to drink because water was often contaminated - well, the same is true for Sangria. Many families would make their own wine from fruits and berries, and then they'd add other fruits and spices to change the drink up and add new, interesting flavors.

Although traditional Sangria is made with red wines, white Sangria, known as zurra in southern Spain, is becoming more popular.

Although pre-made Sangrias are available and popular, the best Sangrias are the ones you make yourself, with things you like! At Joe Canal's in summers past, we've whipped up batches of the following two recipes for tastings. This 4th of July weekend in our Woodbridge location, we'll be serving it again! Come visit us on Friday from 4 - 6 or Saturday from 1 - 3!

Protocolo Red Sangria
-2 bottles Protocolo Red Wine (750 mL)
-1/2 cup Cointreau
-1/2 cup Christian Brothers Brandy
-1/2 cup Iceberg Silver Rum
-Juice of 1 large lemon
-Juice of 1 medium lime
-2 tablespoons sugar
-1 1/2 tablespoons Tabasco Sauce (optional)
-Club soda or ginger ale to taste
-1 small orange, sliced thin
-1 small lemon, sliced thin
-1 small lime, sliced thin
-1 can of chunk pineapple

Mix the wine, Cointreau, brandy, rum, citrus juices and sugar in a large pitcher. Refrigerate overnight. Immediately before serving add in the Tabasco sauce (if you like), club soda, ginger ale, orange, lemon and lime slices and chunk pineapple. Serve over ice.

Zack's White Sangria Recipe

-2 bottles Gazela Vinho Verde
-2-3 cups Pinnacle Vodka (to taste)
-3 cups Stirrings Peach Bellini
-2 bunches basil, plus more for garnish
-1 pint blueberries
-4 large, ripe peaches, diced

Bruise one basil bunch with a muddler and combine it in a small saucepan with the Stirrings Peach Bellini. Let it slightly boil, then simmer until basil is infused. Pull out the basil leaves and let the mixture cool. In a large pitcher or punch bowl, mix in vodka, the peach/basil concoction and the Vinho Verde. Mix thoroughly; add the peaches, blueberries and the fresh bunch of basil.

Wine and Cheese: Stilton Edition

This stunning blue cheese is known as "The King of English Cheese" with its deep, rich flavor steeped in history. The first references to the cheese show up in the 1720s first in a newsletter and then by reference in Daniel Dafoe's (author of Robinson Crusoe) Tour through the villages of England & Wales where he referred to it as the "English Parmesan." Stilton is an EU Protected Food Name ensuring that the cheese conforms to certain unique characteristics including place of origin (the English counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire or Leicestershire), shape (cylindrical) and bluing in veins.

As the cheese ages, like wine, it grows more mellow while developing its crust and a certain buttery texture. It is a versatile cheese that goes particularly well with pears, celery, steak or green salads, and, of course, on its own with some wine.

What wine to have with Stilton? The classic pairing is port but the flavor profile of the cheese will be terrific with a full-bodied, robust Shiraz, a sweet Oloroso Sherry or other dessert wines such as Sauternes, Late Harvest Gewurztraminer or Muscat.

As an added bonus, enjoy this delicious soup using Stilton and pair with Champagne for an extra measure of luxury!

Roasted Pear-Butternut Soup with Crumbled Stilton

- 2 ripe pears, peeled, quartered and cored
- 2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 2-inch chunks
- 2 medium tomatoes, cored and quartered
- 1 large leek, pale green and white parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced and washed thoroughly
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 4 cups vegetable broth, or reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
- 2/3 cup crumbled Stilton
- 1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh chives, or scallion greens

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Combine pears, squash, tomatoes, leek, garlic, oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper in a large bowl; toss to coat. Spread evenly on a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 40 to 55 minutes. Let cool slightly.
3. Place half the vegetables and 2 cups broth in a blender; puree until smooth. Transfer to a large saucepan. Puree the remaining vegetables and 2 cups broth. Add to the pan and stir in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
4. Cook the soup over medium-low heat, stirring, until hot, about 10 minutes. Divide among 6 bowls and garnish with cheese and chives (or scallion greens).

Serves 4

Weekend Wine Sampling!

Here's what we'll be pouring in our stores this weekend!  We'd love to see you stop in and enjoy some free samples of great wines! 

WOODBRIDGE
Friday, May 18 - 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Saturday, May 19 - 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Try these patriotic wines in honor of  Armed Forces Day!

US Warrior White and Red
Never leave a fallen comrade.  That is the premise shared by everyone in the military.  This is our commitment to that premise.  A portion of the sales of this wine will go to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation which supports our military warriors who have been wounded in combat, or helps the families of our fallen warriors.  This outstanding wine can be enjoyed by everyone as it is delicious and easy to drink.  Thank you for supporting this wine and our military warriors.
Regular Price: $12.99 / Bottle Club Price: $9.99

Warre Warrior Port
Deep red colour, with intensely rich aromas of ripe red fruits and spices. On the palate well balanced and full-bodied, with a long and complex finish.
Regular Price: $15.49 / Bottle Club Price: $13.59

Lucky Country Chardonnay
A lifted bouquet of lemon zest, melon, sherbet, pineapple, peach and musk. The palate starts out quite creamy with a lovely mouth-watering appeal. The soft acid is bountiful and gives the palate a lovely citrus lemon burst that powers the fruit effortlessly to a nice round and soft finish.
Regular Price: $13.99 / Bottle Club Price: $11.99

*************************

LAWRENCEVILLE
Friday, May 18 - 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Saturday, May 19 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Banshee Sauvignon Blanc
This summertime beauty flashes subtle hints of orange blossom and spring meadow on the nose. On the palate there are elements of citrus, melon and sweet grass. There's a beautiful tension created in the mouth between the medium body texture and the refreshingly brisk finish.
Regular Price: $19.99 / Bottle Club Price: $16.96

Enanzo Rose
This Spanish rose has a light, pink color with a pungent nose of roses and strawberry. It is quite light with some crispness and displays flavors of bright red fruit.
Regular Price: $8.99 / Bottle Club Price: $7.96

San Felice Perolla
A youthful wine that melds together sangiovese and merlot: fruity and fragrant, it is a wonderfully easy-drinking delight.
Regular Price: $10.99 / Bottle Club Price: $8.48

Domaine St. Prefert Auguste Favier Reserve Chateauneuf du Pape
a youthful wine that melds together sangiovese and merlot: fruity and fragrant, it is a wonderfully easy-drinking delight.
Regular Price: $52.99 / Bottle Club Price: $47.99

Sour is Sweet

There are a few staples you need to keep in your home bar to keep it well stocked. A selection of spirits and glassware is a good start, as well as a variety of juices and garnishes, but if you keep yourself stocked with one versatile ingredient, your options will be greatly expanded.

That ingredient? Sour mix.

There are plenty of pre-made sour mixes available to buy, but it's really just a mixture of approximately equal parts lemon and/or lime juice and simple syrup. If you're making a specific cocktail that you want perfected you might not want to generalize, but if a wide menu of options to satisfy many different tastes is what you're going for, then a supply of sour will be perfect.

What can you make with sour mix? The options are seemingly endless.

Add rum and ice and blend it all together and it's a Daiquiri! Serve them plain or add strawberries, bananas or mango for a fruity flair.

In a blender, combine sour mix, tequila, a little lime juice and Cointreau. Add ice and blend, or serve it on the rocks and you've got yourself a margarita. (I prefer mine on the rocks, with salt, please.)

Put away the blender, but keep out the sour mix. It goes beautifully with so many different types of liquor. Take out your shaker and lowball glasses and please your guests with Amaretto Sours, Midori Sours (which also happen to be delicious frozen) or Whiskey Sours.

Highball glasses get along well with Sour Mix as well: Long Island Iced Teas combine a powerful combination of Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Triple Sec, Sour mix and a splash of Coca-Cola. A Short Island Iced Tea is SoCo, Captain Morgan Rum, Sour Mix and Coca-Cola.

What are your favorite Sweet and Sour drinks?

Revisiting Sushi Wines

Our office manager, Karen, is indulging in a sushi dinner tonight at a local restaurant. She was asking around for suggestions, and of course the first thing to come to mind is the traditional sushi beverage, sake!

Sake is a traditional Japanese wine made from rice. Its roots are debated, but sake was first documented in the Kojiki, Japan's first written history, which was compiled in 712! Sake is made with a special kind of rice that's different from other rices that are made to be eaten. Sake rice has less protein and fat, and a special inner layer of starch. Sake rice is polished before it's brewed to remove the outer coating and leave only the starch, since it improves the taste of the starch dramatically. Different types of rice make different types of sake, and over 80 varieties of sake rice are grown in Japan!

Sake is unlike traditional wine, where the sugars present in fruit are converted to alcohol through fermentation. Sake, like beer, gets the sugars that are converted to alcohol from starch rather than fruit. Sake is traditionally higher in alcohol than other wines, averaging at around 15% - 16% alcohol.

I'd heard that sake was pretty much an acquired taste and that it was kinda harsh to drink. At first sip, I understood what everyone meant. However, like the acidic red I wrote about a few weeks ago paired with my spaghetti sauce, the sake transformed into something wonderful when I took a sip after I had a bite of sushi. What was very strong and tannic became almost sweet on my taste buds. It was delicious!

I also advised Karen that a wine I've enjoyed many times with sushi is the great, every day value Fado White. At only $4.99 a bottle in our Bottle Club, you can't go wrong choosing this easy-drinking Portuguese blend. It's crisp, dry, and full of refreshing citrus fruit that will pair beautifully with your Japanese feast.

Give Mom a Time Out on Mother's Day

This Sunday is Mother's Day, and today we're featuring Mommy's Time Out! These fun Italian wines will make any mom smile on her special day.

We all know that being a Mommy is a difficult job. A Mommy's Time Out is a well deserved break. These wines are delicate and fruity. They come from some of the finest vineyards in Italy where the best grapes are vinified, resulting in a long lasting finish. They are a great complement to food, or may be served as an aperitif.

Pinot Grigio This delicate and fruity wine is a sure pick-me-up for anyone who’s had a long, busy day. The bouquet has notes of pear, citrus and almonds. The first impression upon tasting it is crisp and refreshing, with added body on the midpalate and length on the finish. Regular Price: $8.99

Rosso This primitivo from the Puglia region of Italy has tastes of jammy raspberry fruit and lots of spice. It is fresh, fruity and has well-balanced acidity.
Regular Price: $8.99

Moscato (Woodbridge location only) This wine is delicate and fruity. It comes from some of the finest vineyards in Italy where the best grapes are vinified, resulting in a long lasting finish. It is a great compliment to chicken or fish or may be served as an aperitif.
Regular Price: $8.99

Cameron Hughes Visits Joe Canal's Woodbridge!

The past couple weeks have been quite the treat at the Woodbridge Joe Canal's! We've had three winemakers visit us recently: Jeffrey Stambor from BV wines, Joel Gott, and yesterday we had a surprise visit from none other than Cameron Hughes!

Thankfully we had our video camera at the ready and were able to shoot a quick shelf talker. Thank you, Cameron for stopping by!

Joe Canal's Announces Skinnygirl Wines!

Joe Canal's is pleased to introduce three new Skinnygirl products -- wine! The wines will be: red blend made primarily with Syrah, a white blend made primarily from Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, and a rosé blend featuring Grenache and Syrah.

The Skinnygirl brand is the brainchild of entrepreneur Bethenny Frankel, who parlayed her fame as one of the original Real Housewives of New York into multiple reality spin-off series on Bravo, three books and a career focused on healthy living. Skinnygirl became one of the fastest-growing brands in the spirits industry on the strength of its flagship low-calorie ready-to-drink margarita, introduced in 2009.

"I wanted [Skinnygirl] to taste approachable, not too dry and not too sweet, a very drinkable blend," Frankel told Wine Spectator.

The wine's lower caloric content and 12 percent alcohol is controlled by a combination of grape variety selection and ripeness at harvest. "We look to manage the fermentation process and when and how we harvest grapes to make sure that we're getting good ripeness but not overly ripe, and the Skinnygirl wines certainly show balance," said winemaker Kurt Lorenzi. "The goal is good flavor and good balance without overly high alcohol."

Skinnygirl wines are priced at $12.99 in our Bottle Club, so be sure to try all three!

Bloody Mary: The Drink That's a Meal

Bloody Mary is a tomato-based concoction that's often so lavishly garnished with vegetables and even seafood, that it can almost be considered a meal within itself. (Well, an appetizer anyway, at least.)

There are several stories about its creation, but all of them involve a man named Fernand Petiot, a bartender who worked in many bars, including Harry's New York Bar in Paris, where expatriats such as Ernest Hemingway were known to frequent. One legend says that he created the drink at this bar, and another says that he created the "Red Snapper" (another name for the Bloody Mary) at the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis hotel in New York City (which is still there, by the way, and very swanky).

Petiot himself said that the idea for the drink originated with a gentleman named George Jessel, who added vodka to tomato juice. Petiot claimed he merely added the spices.

However the drink originated, the most common recipe for the Bloody Mary is as follows:

-1 oz. to 1½ oz. (30-45 ml) vodka in a highball glass filled with ice.
-Fill glass with tomato juice
-1 dash celery salt
- 1 dash ground black pepper
-1 dash Tabasco sauce
-2-4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
-1/8 tsp. horseradish (pure, never creamed)
-Dash of lemon or lime juice

Garnish with celery stalk and shake vigorously, or stir lazily - whichever method suits your taste and your mood.

There are some variations on the Bloody Mary that you also might like to try:

Bloody Maria or Bloody Murray: Substitute the vodka with tequila
Bloody Margaret or Ruddy Mary: Substitute the vodka with gin
Bloody Molly: Substitute the vodka with Irish Whiskey
Bloody Pirate: Substitute the vodka with dark rum
Bloody Scotsman: Substitute the vodka with scotch
Michelada: Substitute the vodka with Mexican Beer (Author's note: If anyone has tried this I would love to hear about it, please leave me a comment!)
Bloody Bull: Add beef bouillon to the drink
Bloody Mariyaki: Substitute the Worcestershire sauce with teriyaki sauce

One more interesting fact about the Bloody Mary: In the 1950s, vodka was scarce so bartenders began making Bloody Marys with gin instead. Once vodka became widely available again, the traditional vodka-tomato drink was known as a "Red Hammer" for a while.

Winemaker Jeffrey Stambor Visits Joe Canal's Iselin

I love my job! I know I just said that a few days ago! On the heels of a visit from winemaker David Moreau, Jeffrey Stambor, winemaker for Beaulieu (pronounced Bull-U) stopped in today. This was by appointment, and boy were we excited to meet him.


Jeffrey walked our staff through a tasting of the 2009 BV Napa Cabernet (in stock for $18.99), 2009 BV Rutherford Cabernet (coming soon - the 2008 is in stock for $25.99), 2008 BV Tapestry Reserve red blend (in stock for $38.98 in the Bottle Club), 2009 BV George de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet and a new product not yet in the market. Jeffrey was nice enough to lead our staff through this tasting two separate times so we didn't leave our customers in the store stranded with no help while we were all enjoying his delicious wines.


After the tasting, Jeffrey signed 12 bottles of BV Tapestry. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot and made mostly with French oak. I enjoyed the character of this wine with notes of dark fruit, clove, licorice and leather. It has warm, earthy aromas and this blend is drinking fantastic right now. Wouldn't this make a great gift for mom or dad for Mother's Day or Father's Day? Hurry! He only signed 12 bottles and they are only available in the Iselin store! They are on sale in the Bottle Club for only $39.98.


And, of course, we couldn't let Jeffrey leave without getting him to make one of our new video shelf talkers. I asked Jeffrey about both the Napa & Rutherford Cabernet's. Click below to watch us!

Cinco de Mayo Weekend @ Joe Canal's!

It's Cinco de Mayo weekend and Joe Canal's of Lawrenceville and Woodbridge is your party headquarters!

To celebrate the festivities, we'll be pouring some Cinco de Mayo favorites in both of our stores.

In Lawrenceville, our staff is mixing up a variety of margaritas for you to try, including a low-calorie option! It's Margarita Madness!

In Woodbridge, our tasting table will be adorned with three fantastic tequilas:

KAH Tequila Blanco
Intense sweet notes of the cooked agave, followed by a spicy white peppery punch. It is silky and delicate, leaving a sachet of spices on the palate.

Camarena Reposado
The aging process lends a touch of soft spice to the natural sweetness of the agave in our Reposado Tequila. The result is a smooth, refined barrel aged Tequila with an elegant, robust finish.

Del Maguey Mezcal Vida
The "Vida" is still produced 100% according to the 400 year old local tradition of small-batch distillation and using nothing but the agave heart and water in the mezcal.

We will also be offering samples of Stirrings Margarita Mix to inspire your cocktail creations!

David Moreau Visits Joe Canal's Woodbridge

I love my job. I know I say that a lot, but today, after a day off, I come into a regular day at the store and in walks Winemaker David Moreau, unannounced, to just say hi and let us taste some of his 2010 wines. It happened to be a day when we were all fortunate enough to be here. The General Manager, the Woodbridge Store Manager, both Woodbridge Wine Managers, Internet Manager, Website Manager, Wine Sales Associate and the Senior Wine Manager from the Lawrenceville store all happened to be here. What luck!



David Moreau is the Winemaker of Domaine de la Buissere in Burgundy’s Santenay region. He took over the winemaking duties from his father and the 2010 vintage marks his 2nd vintage. And what a stellar vintage it is! We tasted through 5 of his 2010s and each one was better than the last.



While the 2010s have not yet been released, the 2009 David Moreau Santenay Vieille Vignes is still available for $29.99 at both the Iselin and Lawrenceville stores. The Vieille Vignes is a single vineyard wine made with small berries that do not have seeds. The wine, therefore, becomes really concentrated and spicy. Grab a 2009 before they disappear and get geared up for the 2010 Burgundys!



David has a flight back to France tonight, and on his way out said, "See you in Santenay!" Is my boss reading this?

Two new French vintages!

This week we're featuring two new vintages of some great French wines!

Cave de Rasteau Dame Victoria 2010
Cotes du Rhone, France

"Ripe and lush, but showing finely beaded acidity to add length and definition to the delicious cherry compote, linzer torte and blackberry fruit flavors. A graphite edge marks the finish. Drink now through 2013. 8,000 cases made. Score: 89" -James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Regular Price: $19.99 / Bottle Club Price: $13.96





Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme Haut Medoc 2009
Bordeaux, France

"Offers a dark, plush feel, with roasted fig and warm currant preserves notes flowing over dark tobacco and bittersweet cocoa flavors, followed by a solid, tarry-edged finish. Drink now through 2019. 18,750 cases made. Score: 90." -James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Regular Price: $21.99 / Bottle Club Price: $18.99




Stop in and pick up one of these special French gems today!