Here's the Latest

Those of us who grew up around here know that this weekend is really the start of summer. Not the "unofficial start" that the media often refer to, because we can ignore the calendar when we need to. It's the start of weekends (or weeks) either down the shore, or at the beach, depending on whether you're discussing South Jersey or North. It's also the start of cookout season, and we'll all be outside when we can.

There are a couple of things that you'll want to enjoy while you're outside. Sangria is always on the summer list, as is an easy-drinking red wine. Sangria, with its cornucopia of fruit, is the quintessential summer wine beverage. Because we enjoy more meals outside, as well as just sitting outside people watching or star gazing, we tend to drink from plastic, unbreakable containers, so the easy drinking, very affordable red wine is the right call. Fortunately, we have choices for you in those categories.

Mija Sangria. Sure, we still have the old favorites, but we think you'll absolutely love this new sangria, which comes from the team at 90+ Cellars.

Mija Sangria is a fresh and natural bottled sangria made with 100% real fruit juice for a true homemade taste. Crafted without artificial additives or preservatives, it's packed with antioxidants from the juice of popular super fruits including pomegranate, açaí and blood orange. Mija comes in a reusable flip-top bottle, making it the perfect on-the-go beverage.

Mija is sourced, produced, and bottled in New York. And the bottle's 100% screen printing means you won't have to deal with any runny ink or wet labels next time you and your friends are sipping and savoring a bottle pool-side.

Only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®.

For your summer cookouts, we have a couple of incredible values in our stores. Depending on your palate, we have three reds from Funky Llama that will be the perfect pour.

Funky Llama Shiraz. Not your typical Argentine red. From the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "It is immediately an extremely juicy and mouth-coating wine, full of crushed black cherries, loganberries, huckleberry sauce, licorice root extract and black twizzlers. There is tremendous concentration through the midpalate that also shows a delineation not normally seen in wines of this level. It is well-structured to the finish that lingers surprisingly long with yet more anise, cherries jubilee and dry extract."

"This is clearly a complete overachiever at this ridiculous price point and worth the time and effort of going to the store for it." Only $4.98 in the Bottle Club® for the 1.5 liter size.

Funky Llama Malbec. Our wine staff in Woodbridge recently tasted this, and called it a "great buy". More: "Brick-ruby color, hints of berries and chocolate on the nose. Up-front fruit with an earthy, rustic, fruity finish. Perfect for pizza, pasta and barbecue. Make a great base for a home-made  sangria !!!"

On many occasions, we've noted our exceptional buying power, and how we pass those savings to you. That's all fully in effect with Funky Llama, which is available for only $2.98 in the Bottle Club® for the 750ml size.

Funky Llama Cabernet Sauvignon. The Llama is an icon of the high Andes, roaming the snow covered peaks between the pampas and the sky. Grown at 4,000 feet, in the shadows of these great mountains, these wines give a clear expression of the purity of the land where the grapes are grown: lively, fresh, and flavorful. Intense color and pleasantly dry with varietally true characteristics of black fruit and spices setting the stage for a solid Cabernet Sauvignon typically found in examples several times the price. Graceful and balanced on the palate with firm tannin.

Only $4.98 in the Bottle Club® for the 1.5 liter size.

Nebraska Brewing Black Betty Russian Imperial Stout. Black as night and every bit Imperial, this RIS was originally launched to tremendous accolades.  Aged in Whiskey barrels, this barrel aged version meshes the rich chocolates and the coffee-like aromatics with the sweet whiskey nose and drying character of the oak.  Slightly behind on the palate are the hops, held in restraint by the wonderfully full mouth-feel and broad flavors brought on by the perfect blend of so many malted barley varieties. Ready to enjoy now and perfect for extended cellaring. 11.3% ABV. $18.49 for a 750ml bottle. Very limited availability.

Rough Rider Cask Strength Rye Whisky. Locally harvested winter Rye is the cover crop that is planted on the farm land to maintain the sustainable characteristics of the soils, following the harvesting of Long Island's iconic potatoes. Bottled at cask strength (121 proof), this remarkable Rye reveals its true raw spirit with hints of spice, coupled with a touch of malty sweetness, followed by a long, warm and smooth finish.

From Long Island Spirits, the company that brought us Pine Barrens Whisky and LiV Vodka. Priced at $61.49, and available in limited quantities.

Finally, for our Fine Wine lovers, we present the 1964 Francesco Rinaldi Barolo. "The 1964 Barolo presents an uncharacteristically youthful dark red color. It used to be quite common for estates to blend a little Barbera into Barolo and my guess is that this wine is not 100% Nebbiolo. It is a richly structured wine that displays mature aromas and sweet dark fruit with good overall depth of expression, although it is not as well-balanced as the best wines in this grouping." - Wine Advocate, 89 points. $289.99 in the Bottle Club®.

The Rinaldi vineyards