New Product Spotlight

Happy Monday to you. Might as well start the week with a positive attitude, right? Let's take a peek at today's New Product Spotlight, since we're a little unfocused under-caffeinated this morning.

First, an important reminder for anyone celebrating Halloween in the coming days. Masks, face paint or anything else that obscures your identity is not permitted at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. We appreciate your cooperation.


Les Dimes Vouvray. Semi-sweet with a smooth palate filled with apricots, peaches and hints of acacia, with the perfect touch of acidity for structure. This versatile, crowd pleasing white wine can be served on its own, or paired with spicy foods, desserts, cheese plates and fruit cups. 100% Chenin Blanc. Only $11.97 in the Bottle Club®.


Day Sonoma County Zinfandel. Day is the new Zinfandel project of Ehren Jordan, the mastermind behind such amazing labels as Turley, Neyers, and Failla. Four acres are currently planted, with the original vines hitting the dirt in 2011. Zinfandel is, for Ehren, a return to his roots, having been the wines that established his reputation as a talented vigneron. Similar to the approach at Failla, most of the Day Zinfandel wines are sourced from Sonoma County; an area largely unexplored during Ehren's tenure at Turley.

Zinfandel, a true American varietal, is a great choice for your Thanksgiving table. We have a limited supply of these wines, so we recommend shopping soon. Priced at only $26.99 in the Bottle Club®.


Domaine Chene Macon Milly Lamartine. This vibrant, flavorful, unoaked Chardonnay should be your everyday white. Shimmering bright, light gold color. Almost Riesling-like nose of ripe, juicy yellow peach, mouthwatering crisp apple, honey and wet stones. Mouthfilling, yet extraordinarily light on its feet. Peach, pear, and apple mingle and leads to a stony, honeyed finish. Crisp acidity wraps the whole thing up. Drink over the next year for its liveliness. Only $14.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Yards Rival IPA. Contrary to its name, Rival’s ingredients work in perfect harmony for a bold, balanced IPA. The recipe starts with a base of pale crystal and rye malts, and Bravo and Nugget bittering hops. Then whole flower Chinook hops go into the hopback, extracting that signature pine character. Finally, Rival is dry hopped with Centennial, Citra, Simcoe and Columbus hops, giving this amber-colored IPA a complex citrus profile. 6.2% ABV.


Rival IPA is a bold ale that can go toe-to-toe with spicy foods. Enjoy with an Italian hoagie and long hots or kung pao chicken with dan dan noodles. This is a seasonal beer that will not last long.

We'll Make Shopping Easier

Sometimes we're just looking for something new. Sometimes we need to stock the bar for a party. Sometimes we want a nice and different wine for dinner. We'll cover all of that today as we review some of the newest products in our stores.

Villa Aix Rose. Enjoy rose season while you can. This Provence rose is crisp and elegant with a light-bodied palate showing delicate red berry flavors balanced with pleasant minerality, ending in a clean and refreshing finish. Enjoy on its own, or pair with seafood, salads, or roasted white meats. On sale in the Bottle Club® for only $10.97.

Moonbeam Riesling. This is the counterpoint to the Moonbeam Sweet

Riesling, which we've been carrying for a while. Medium-bodied with a pleasant off-dry sweetness showing honey suckle, apricot and ripe lime notes balanced by mineral undertones. The perfect everyday wine that can be enjoy by the glass or paired with spicy dishes, poultry or seafood. Like the Sweet Riesling, this is from Washington. On sale in the Bottle Club® for only $8.97.

Pierre Moulin Chardonnay. A great value from the South of France with a perfumed nose of citrus and acacia, followed by a round and supple palate of apple, pear and tropical fruit flavors. The wine is structured with natural acidity and a long finish. Enjoy on its own or pair with fish, poultry and soft cheeses. This might be the value of the week, at only $8.97 in the Bottle

Club®.

Greenhouse Cabernet Sauvignon. An incredible buy from the Central Valley in Chile. Violet with ruby highlights in the glass. The nose is intense, with aromas of berry cobbler and currant. Ripe berry flavors continue on the full-bodied palate, where they are complemented by ripe tannins and balanced acidity. Pairs well with pasta tossed with your favorite sauce, grilled burgers or soft cheese. $6.97 in the Bottle Club®, and that's not a misprint.

You can't buy this next item, but you could win it at the end of the summer. It's the Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Harley Davidson. This will be on display at our Woodbridge store until the end of June, and then it will be on display in a couple of other locations before the drawing is held in early September. No purchase is necessary to enter the drawing. Stop at Customer Service in Lawrenceville or Woodbridge for details.

It's National Drink Wine Day!

We can't argue with the Internet declaring today to be National Drink Wine Day. If you ask us, that's every day, but that's another story. There's also a saying in California's wine country that it takes a lot of beer to make a good wine, so we thought we'd discuss both today.

Cabernet Sauvignon is called the King of the grapes, as it is the most popular varietal. Lawrenceville's Senior Wine Manager Brandon Bartfalvi recommends celebrating National Drink Wine Day with the 2013 Robert Storey Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It's an even better value right now, as it's on sale for only $22.96 in the Bottle Club®.

One of the top offerings of the year, do not miss this great Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Burgess Triere Vineyard and their signature hillside estate on Howell Mountain. Napa Valleys Burgess is one of our most requested Cabernets and this wine from their Estate Vineyards and a great vintage is one of the most incredible offerings yet from wine industry icon Robert Storey.

While the Cabernet will satisfy you during your meal, consider the 90+ Cellars Lot 2 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc as an aperitif, with salads or with lighter fare. The wine is expressive on the nose, with bright citrus, lemon zest, and grapefruit notes and subdued green bell pepper and fresh cut grass undertones. The mouth feel is incredible with racy acidity and fruit. It’s very crisp and clean and varietaly accurate of Sauvignon Blanc, with almost a hint of minerality on the finish. Only $7.94 in the Bottle Club®.

We like to focus on seasonal beer here, due to the interesting character of the beers, along with their limited availability. One such beer that's new this week is the Smuttynose Rhye IPA.

In craft beer, there are almost as many bad rye puns as there are bad hop puns; Smuttynose is happy to spare you from more of either. Instead, we’ll tell you about our new Big Beer, Rhye IPA. We brewed it because we like drinking hoppy American-style beers and we wanted a chance to brew with rye. The rest, as they say, is history. The result is a 7% hoppy IPA, with rye spiciness and big hop character. This beer will really get under your armor...

The image on the Rhye IPA label is a famous drawing of an Indian rhinoceros by 16th century German painter and printmaker, Albrecht Dürer. Dürer had never seen the creature before and

created the drawing based on one description and a crudely scribbled sketch. $8.89/6-pack, 12 ounce bottles.

Flying Dog Tropical Bitch Belgian-Style IPA. Pineapple and mango dominate with subtle passionfruit and sticky sweet, yet crisply bitter, hop notes. Give this beer a whirl with spicy Mexican and you'll never go back to a mango margarita again. 8.0% ABV, 55 IBU's. At this time, only available in Woodbridge. $10.99 for a 6-pack, 12 ounce bottles.

Celebrate National Drink Wine Day with a real stunner, the 2010 Chateau Barde-Haut St. Emilion. 93 points from Wine Spectator: "Still a bit compact, with blueberry coulis, fig and blackberry paste notes tightly wound, backed by tangy black licorice,

singed apple wood and tar on the finish, which features a very sleek structure and a buried iron note. This has good vivacity and should unwind nicely in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2030."

92 points from Wine Advocate: "Loads of blueberry, black cherry and dusty, loamy soil notes as well as hints of herbs, licorice and incense jump from the glass of this well-endowed, supple wine. Tannins are sweet and the acidity sufficient to give delineation to the wine. Full-bodied and impressively endowed, it should drink well over the next 10-15 years."

"The 2010 Barde-Haut is a delicious, seductive style of St.-Emilion made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Proprietress Helene Garcin-Leveque purchased the estate in 2000 and has been pushing quality ever since."

James Suckling, 91-92 Points: "This is very concentrated, with a treacle tart and chocolate character. Almost raisiny. Full and velvety. Intense."

Each store has a limited amount of this wine, for $39.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Finally, as we noted yesterday, we're less than 4 weeks away from the New Jersey debut of New Belgium's Fat Tire Amber Ale. Stay tuned for updates.

Euro All-Stars

Your blogger spent yesterday on jury duty, well, waiting to be called for an actual jury, so we missed our usual posting time. But with our inventory closure this week and most of our wholesale distributors going on shut-down next week, we're all off schedule.

One other scheduling note. This Monday, January 18, is the Martin Luther King Day Federal holiday. Both of our stores will be open regular hours that day.

Today, we'll look at several new and returning products, all with scores of 91 points or higher.

Donnachiara Falanghina Beneventano 2013. This one is returning to our shelves. Donnachiara's new Concept Winery is located in Montefalcione, an ancient small village in Avellino province. The location is south-central Italy, east of Naples. This ancient land was a specific choice of the  Petitto family for the production of the three DOCG wines of Irpinia: Fiano di Avellino,Taurasi and Greco di Tufo, in addition to the DOC wines: Aglianico, Falanghina, and Coda di Volpe. The vineyards have been in the  the family for 150 years.

James Suckling rates this 92 points: "Beautiful aromas of mangoes, dried papaya and hints of cream follow through to a full body with dried apples and minerals. Lots of lemon zest. Excellent Falanghina. Drink now."

Made from 100% Falanghina grapes, this pairs with pasta with light sauces, seafood and fresh cheese. Only $9.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Pinino Brunello Di Montalcino 2010. The Pinino wine estate was founded in 1874, and the Pinino philospophy is very simple. Brunello and Rosso are produced according to the old traditions of Montalcino and finished in large oak wood barrels from Slavonian oak. A clear focus on achieving the highest possible quality for both the vineyard and the wine-cellar will allow Pinino to reach the objective of becoming one of the leading Italian winemakers.

One characteristic of the Pinino Brunello di Montalcino is the long obligatory aging (four years) before it can be sold. Production, refinement and bottling must take place in the municipality of Montalcino. According to the best of traditions our Brunello matures in large oak barrels.

93 points from Wine Advocate: "Pinino's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino sees fruit sourced from the northern half of the appellation near the Montosoli single-vineyard. The wine opens to medium consistency and a pretty ruby color with dark garnet hues. It takes a few minutes to start its engines, but once it does it operates with a slow, steady pace that promises longevity over immediacy. This cellar-worthy Brunello should continue its evolution over the next ten years. The tannins are tight, but they already deliver attractive silkiness on the long finish. This promises to be a very enjoyable wine after 2017."

$34.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Ste.-Claire 2014. 91 points from Wine Spectator, and #47 on their Top 100 of 2015. "A textbook flinty aroma gives way to green apple, lemon and mineral flavors in this white, which shows fine depth and richness, offset by vibrant acidity. Excellent length. Drink now through 2020." 100% Chardonnay.

Located near the city of Auxerre, in the valley of the Serein river, Chablis is the center of one of France's oldest wine-growing regions. We place the vine at the heart of its environment and use preparations made from beneficial plants to stimulate its immune system. The work in the vineyards and in the cellars is carried out according to the lunar cycle.

The principles of biodynamic and organic culture are applied to the majority of our vineyards. We continue our work always with the aim of improving the quality of our products.

The release price was $22, but it's available in the Bottle Club® for only $15.99.

Seasonal Notes

We hear that there might be a Halloween party or two this coming weekend. Allow us to offer a few suggestions on how to improve the atmosphere with appropriate choices from Joe Canal's.

If you missed it, click here for a few cocktail recipes, including an easy-to-make punch. Today, our focus will be on wines that fit the season perfectly.

Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon. Full-bodied with Blackberry and Dark Cherry aromas, with just the right amount of Oak flavors leading to a lingering finish. Classic, small-lot fermentations, followed by aging with Oak, gives full expression to the rich varietal flavors in this wine.

Vampire Merlot. Smooth and medium-bodied with a fresh, black cherry aroma, and hints of herbal spices. Aged in oak, our Merlot develops graceful fruit flavors in the cellar, complemented by subtle shadings of vanilla and toast from the oak.

Vampire Pinot Grigio. Melon, citrus, and tropical fruits accented with a pleasant floral note lead to an easy-drinking and lively wine full of youthful,

refreshing acidity.

Curious Beasts Blood Red. Deep ruby in color; dominated by ripe red berry aromas; the palate is dry and full bodied, with refreshing acidity and flavors that reflect the aromas. Tannins add texture while remaining supple, driving to a long finish. Try this with dishes like, pork loin, or roasted rack of lamb.

Werewolf Cabernet Sauvignon is noticeable for its dark red color. It has a scent of bell peppers and spice. It has an imposing taste with good structure and fine tannins.

Werewolf Merlot has a bouquet of aromas filled with dark fruits, plums and

cherries, with a hint of spice. On the palate, it is medium bodied with soft tannins and a light finish.

Werewolf Pinot Noir is scented with a distinctive, fruity aroma. Notes of strawberries and raspberries top off a medium and light bodied wine. The finish is delicate.

You may prefer to drink local for Halloween. We do have some New Jersey wine options for you.

Tomasello Broomstick Brew. A delightful blend of red wine and mulling spices. Served warm from your Cauldron, this wicked concoction is perfect in

front of a roaring fire with baked brie, toasted almonds and sugared apples. Delicious on Goblin nights when a howling wind chills your soul. Broomstick Brew warms your heart and embraces this special time of year.

Look also for Valenzano Pumpkin Spice and Jersey Devil Port.


If you're supplementing you wine choices with beer and ale, we have choices for you, such as:

Southern Tier Pumking. All Hallows Eve is the time of year when

spirits can make contact with the physical world, and when magic is most potent. It is thought that we harness this magic to brew our powerful pumpkin ale. Not so, but it is with the great respect to the magic og their trade that our brewers produce this fine beer. take a whiff of this complex ale and your journey has just begun. At first sip, a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds, yet another victim enraptured by the Pumking.

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale. Our Pumpkin Ale blends the spices of the harvest with full-bodied sweetness for a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie. Pounds of pumpkin form a malty foundation that supports the fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

While pumpkin beers were produced in the early days of the American colonies, they were different from the pumpkin beers we know today.  Colonists used pumpkin and squash as the fermenting medium, since malted barley was scarce. Once malt became more readily available, it replaced these alternatives to grain. In the 1990’s, American craft brewers reintroduced the style to the delight of pumpkin beer drinkers.

Our Pumpkin beers are seasonal products, so hurry in for some before they're gone. Happy Halloween!

Gearing Up

Since we are a retail operation, we have to look ahead to the holiday shopping season. Certainly, Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, but the next 2 1/2 months offer other favorites as well. And when you think about gift shopping, we hope you'll include a stop at Joe Canal's. In addition to what we have available on our shelves, we always have Gift Cards ready for purchase, in any denomination.

Shop early for the best selection. Please note that many of our products are available only in limited quantities. Here are some of our newest additions, perfect for a #WineWednesday.

Molly Dooker

The good news is that we are getting an allotment of Molly Dooker wines as soon as today. The better news is that there's a new sparkling wine in the shipment. The bad news is that we're getting a very small shipment. That means if you want any Gigglepot, Enchanted Path or Carnival of Love, you should speak to Brandon or Kevin (Lawrenceville) or David or Dave (Woodbridge) right away. We simply will not have enough Molly Dooker supply to meet demand.

Molly Dooker Girl on the Go Sparkling Verdelho. Girl on the Go stands on it’s own as a unique and intriguing sparkling, captivating anyone who snags a sip. It’s delicate yet crisp floral tones and tropical fruit highlight the best qualities Verdelho has to offer. A sophisticated wine that’s not afraid to have fun as waves of citrus and pineapple nectar join with hints of spice and creamy vanilla to send your taste buds on quite the adventure. Perfect for celebrating life with friends and family.

2013 Fattoria del Cerro Manero Rosso di Toscana IGT. Aromas of flowers, lemon rind and dried cherries follow through to a full body, soft tannins and a savory finish. Really delicious. Drink or hold. -James Suckling, 93 points.

Manero has a very concentrated and deep ruby color. Intense aromas with touches of wild berries, hints of spices and vanilla undertones. Dense, with rounded decisive flavor and excellent persistence. Pairs well with roasted red meats and stews and aged cheeses. 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot.

Only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Line 39 Pinot Noir. Line 39 is a selection of varietals from the Central Coast and North Coast Appellations of California. The 39th parallel runs through the heart of California wine country and is home to Line 39. Here we craft wines expressive of their dynamic regions.

This fruit driven Pinot Noir has delicate aromas of strawberries with rich fruit flavors of raspberries and cherries on the palate and  soft, supple tannins.  This Pinot Noir pairs well with lamb, pork and pasta dishes.

90 points from Wine Enthusiast: "Aromatic and elegant, generous and supple, this tastes rich while feeling polished and complete. An enticing, light aroma of oaky spice and raspberry mixes with tasty red cherry and black currant flavors on the palate. It is medium bodied, smooth in texture, and has a mild finish."

$10.99 in the Bottle Club® .

So What's New?

That's certainly a familiar greeting, and it's also an apt question as we review our delivery schedule. Below are just a few of the new items at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Flying Dog Sriracha Pale Ale. This brew blends a lighter bodied beer (a pale ale) and a mix of chili peppers. 5.5% ABV. There is limited availability for this Brewhouse Rarity.

Kutch 2013 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. "Dark red cherries, plums, spices, menthol and rose petals meld together in the 2013 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. Dark, mysterious and supple in the glass, the 2013 is super pure and pretty today. Expressive savory notes from the 100% whole clusters add lift and nuance on the finish. The 2013 is a blend of fruit from Sonoma Stage, where the terrain is rich in clay, and McDougall, which is characterized by sandier soils. This is one of the best artisan Sonoma Coast Pinots readers will find for the money." - Antonio Galloni, 93 points. $40.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Victory Summer Love Ale, in cans. Canned craft beer is a must-have for the summer, since cans simply travel better than bottles.

With the sublime, earthy familiarity of noble European hops backed up by fresh, clean German malts, Summer Love Ale ends with a surprising burst of lemony refreshment from fistfuls of American whole flower hops. Love Summer, now. Pair with pizza, chicken and salads.

Chateau D'Esclans Rock Angel Cotes de Provence Rose. Another summer specialty, a quality rose like this is an ethereal experience. This rose will elude the boundaries between being a superb aperitif rose and a fine wine. It enjoys the versatility of being successfully paired with a range of fine cuisine.

Layer Cake California Sauvignon Blanc. Layer Cake is one of our popular and interesting brands. Layer Cake Wines always over-deliver, and are about affordable luxury. Layer Cake Wines are made on four continents and in five countries. This Sauvignon Blanc is another cure for the summer heat, as the wine is light, fresh and packed with flavor.

As always, if you're looking specifically for new items, simply ask any store associate for assistance.

A Six-Pack of New

Every vendor of ours was rushing to make deliveries in time for Easter. If it's Thursday, then they just made it. And while we're on the subject of Easter, our stores will be open from 9am to 4pm on Sunday. Here are six of the newest products to grace our shelves.

Great Divide 20th Anniversary Ale

This Belgian-style Ale is a golden example of Great Divide's traditional bold character, but with a little something special to commemorate this milestone. Fermented with Viognier grape juice, 20th Anniversary is both delicate and assertive. Big without being brutish, cunning without being cloying, this is a grown-up beer for a big-time celebration. 8.2% ABV.

Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti

Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout is another revered incarnation of their legendary imperial stout. They toned down the hops a bit to allow cocoa nibs to contribute some pleasing bitterness, while vanilla notes from the oak combine with the cocoa to create an aroma and flavor akin to a gourmet chocolate bar. A dash of cayenne keeps things lively, adding just a bit of heat to the finish. Another great Yeti? Hell yes. 9.5% ABV.  Both Anniversary and Yeti are available in 22oz Bombers.

Now the "Six-Pack" reference in the title of this post refers to the total number of new products that we'll discuss; it's not completely about the beer today. For our beer lovers, please watch our social media on Monday's, as that's when we'll highlight most of the anticipated deliveries.

Stickybeak Cabernet Sauvignon

From the winery notes: "They say curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. There are so many sides to Napa Cabernet, although we lean toward the least trodden path - true Cabernet aromatics of violets, blackcurrant, perfumed spice and leafy notes with a seamless palate that is not overdone. Well, it almost got the better of us, but finding both a Napa valley floor and hillside vineyard to express this seamless balance was the reward we needed.

Our objective is to create a seamless Cabernet Sauvignon - nothing overdone, especially the oak. To achieve this, we sought vineyards from both the valley floor in Rutherford and Oakville, and the high reaches of Diamond Mountain. The blend of earthy, fruit driven Cabernet from the valley floor combined with chiseled hillside tannins and acidity is very appealing. This, along with a small parcel of Merlot, gave us our desired palate weight and texture.

2011 was a cooler year in Napa, which is reflected in the earthy notes and minerality on the nose. On the palate, the wine is fleshy and ripe, with notes of red currant, chocolate and coffee. Rich and deep, the wine has finely structured tannins and just a hint of eucalyptus on the finish." Only $14.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Efe Raki

From the "you haven't tried this yet?" files, we introduce Efe Raki. Raki is an unsweetened, anise-flavored alcoholic beverage that's often enjoyed as an aperitif. Raki is closely associated with Turkish culture, and it is the national drink.

Efe is the first privately-run Raki producer in Turkey, and we'll carry their Classic (Blue) and Fresh Grapes labels. 

Efe Fresh Grape Raki is produced from fresh grapes ripening under the Aegean Sun, Efe Fresh Grape Raki has an indispensable taste for Raki lovers with a flavor that appeals to different palates.

Efe Fresh Grapes is the premium and smoother version of Classic Blue Efe.
 
Selected top-quality grapes and anise seeds of the Aegean coast gives Efe Raki its distinct taste and unmistakeable aroma every time. Triple-distilled grape alcohol is re-distilled in pot stills to offer the quality that is appreciated by even the most discriminating Raki drinkers. 

Banshee Rose of Pinot Noir 2013

Seriously, summer will be here, and you'll want a beautiful Rose on hand.  

2013 was a great year for making rosé and the summer of 2014 will be an even better time for drinking it.  The vintage offered Pinot Noir possessing nuanced layers of fruit and great tension, enabling Banshee to make the kind of lively, pale, fragrant and vivacious rosé that everyone loves.  It is an absolute knockout.

This is a wine of flirtatious hints.  The flavors are all early spring freshness as opposed to mid-summer lushness.  White flowers and apricot blossom aromas lead into kumquat, wild mountain strawberry, stone fruit and mint flavors all riding atop a pringly spine of acidity.  Open bottles disappear quickly. 

Only $17.96 in the Bottle Club®.

So there's the 411 on 6 new items. Please stop in on Friday for the Grab Bag.

Snow Grumble Grumble Snow

We don't remember moving to Siberia; that's our best explanation for this weather. Can we please trade this mess in for a warm summer day?

So if we're going to get you to come visit us, we'll make the trip worthwhile. In Lawrenceville, we have a free wine tasting today, from 4-6pm. The tasting menu is here. Also today, at 5pm, we're tapping Matilda, from Goose Island, our featured brewery in February, at the Growler station. You can find tasting notes and pricing information here. The scheduled events wrap up on Saturday, with another free wine tasting, from 2-4pm.

At our Woodbridge store, things are similar, but still different. Our free Friday wine tasting also runs from 4-6pm, and the tasting menu is here. At 6pm, while the wine team is cleaning up, our beer team steps up with a double tapping of Slumbrew, our Featured Brewery for February. We'll tap Trekker Tripel and Sittin' On Hop of the World. Tasting notes and pricing information can be found here.

The Saturday wine tasting in Woodbridge is a departure from our routine. The time is different (5-7pm), and the wines will be different than what we're tasting on Friday. We'll offer samples of four different wines from 90+ Cellars. 90+ Cellars offers Saturday night taste at a Tuesday night price. To see the full menu, with pricing information, please go here.

At Joe Canal's, we're committed to offering the best products at the best prices. And having the opportunity to sample products before you buy is one great way for you experience that. Because at Joe Canal's, the Good Times Start Here...For Less!

Olympic Spirits

Image by Benziger Family Winery

With the Olympic Games taking over prime time TV, we thought we'd offer a guide for those who might enjoy an alcoholic beverage with the television coverage.

To stay true to the choices normally associated with the host country, saying "Na zdrovya" (To Your Health) with vodka (think Stoli or Russian Standard) is appropriate. And since the Olympic Games started in ancient Greece, a nice bottle of Greek wine would also be fitting.

The rings are normally blue, black, red, yellow and green, on a white flag, so that at least one color of every nation's flag is included. So to really get into the spirit of the Games, drinks in those same colors are suggested. With an assist from Rachel Ray, here are some recipes:

Blue
Rim the glass with blue sugar
1 1/2 oz. vodka (Stoli or Russian Standard)
3/4 oz. orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Cointreau
3/4 oz. cranberry juice
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
Combine the vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into a martini glass. Makes 1.

Yellow
 Rim the glass with Lemon Jell-o powder
2 oz. vodka (Stoli or Russian Standard)
1 oz. simple syrup
3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz. Cointreau
Combine the vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into a martini glass. Makes 1.

Black
Rim the glass with black salt

Make a margarita:
1 lime wedge, plus 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
Ice
2 1/4 ounces Camarena  silver tequila
1 1/2 ounces triple sec
3/4 ounce Simple Syrup

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice; add the lime juice, tequila, triple sec and Simple Syrup. Cover; shake vigorously until cold, about 15 seconds. Strain into the salt-rimmed glass and toss in the lime wedge. 

 

Green

Rim the glass with minced fresh mint & sugar 

Make a pineapple mojito (serves 8):

1 bunch fresh mint, stems discarded
2 limes, cut into 8 wedges
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup canned crushed pineapple
1 cup Bacardi Silver Rum
4 cups ice cubes
1 cup club soda

In each of 8 highball glasses, crush together one-eighth of the mint leaves, 2 lime wedges and 1 tbsp. sugar. Stir in 2 tbsp. pineapple juice, 2 tbsp. crushed pineapple and 2 tbsp. rum until the sugar is dissolved. Add 1/2 cup ice cubes and a splash club soda into each glass. 

 

Red

Rim the glass with Old Bay 

3 oz vodka (Stoli or Russian Standard)
1 oz Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
1/2 oz olive brine

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with cracked ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with an olive, and serve.

After all that effort, give yourself a Gold Medal and relax!

 

 

Locavore, Locavino

The term "locavore" traces all the way back to 2005, and its central concept is eating food that's locally produced, typically within 100 miles of one's location. This perspective is considered to be beneficial to the environment, while also being supportive of local businesses.

On the other hand, there are any number of important products that are just not grown here in New Jersey, or in nearby parts of Pennsylvania and New York. Coffee and pineapple top my list, and you probably have your own list as well. In our business, we are fortunate to have a range of excellent choices in local products. So while we're pleased to be able to offer the best wines, beer and spirits from around the world, some of the top selections are found in our general area.

Come in to Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville or Woodbridge and you can find New Jersey brewers such as Cricket Hill, Kane, Carton, Flying Fish, and River Horse. Our neighboring states offer us Weyerbacher, Brooklyn, Bronx, Fegley's, Yards, Neshaminy Creek, Prism, and Victory. Several craft brewers are just outside of that 100 mile limit, including Butternuts, Ithaca, Ommegang, Sly Fox, Southern Tier, Troegs, and, of course, Dogfish Head. There are major national brands brewed close by, with Anheuser-Busch being one. And Yuengling falls just outside that 100 mile limit as well.

While you can brew, package, ship and sell beer within a few days, it generally takes just a bit longer with spirits. Most people prefer spirits that have aged for a while, but white spirits (vodka, rum, etc.) don't need aging. We've also seen a renewed interest in unaged whiskeys, especially rye. Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey comes from nearby Bucks County, PA. We also sell Busted Barrel Rum, from Jersey Artisan Distillery, the first distillery to open in NJ since Prohibition. Brooklyn Gin? Bluecoat Gin (Philadelphia)? On our shelves.

We also need to give props to the local wine industry. According to the New Jersey Winegrowers Association, there are roughly 50 wineries across the state. To be sure, visiting a tasting room is a great experience, but not always a convenient one. So we keep all of our New Jersey wines (and New York too!) together in one part of the store. We carry some of the sweet, fruit wines that are produced here, as well as more traditional table wines. Currently, we stock wines from Alba Vineyards, Four Sisters, Tomasello and Valenzano Wineries.

Falling into the sweeter category is one of our newest wines, Tomasello's Cranberry Moscato.

Tomasello Cranberry Moscato is a blend of 100% Cranberry wine and Moscato. This blend combines the fruity and delicate character of New Jersey Cranberries with the spicy perfume of Moscato. So easy to drink character with a hint of sparkle. Priced at only $8.99, this is an easy and delicious decision.

Great when served chilled and garnished with fresh Cranberries.

So what's your perspective on the locavore/locavino question, and our regional offerings in wine, beer and spirits? Please post your comment on this blog.

Ripped From the Headlines!

ICYMI, a few news items that are important to our industry.

Wine Counterfeiter Convicted

A man named Rudy Kurniawan was convicted of selling counterfeit wines and defrauding a finance company. He became the first person in the US to be convicted of selling fraudulent wines. You can read the details at the Wine Spectator http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show?id=49396.

Contract Brewing Controversy

Contract brewing is a process by which a brewery with excess capacity can keep their facilities operational by brewing beer for another company. That approach appears to have generated some disputes within the beer business. Read this article for more information: http://beerpulse.com/2013/12/contract-brewing-will-be-the-death-of-craft-beer-controversial-statement-riles-brewers-2121/.

Burgundy-Based Producer Buys Oregon Vineyard

Oregon wineries have made the state synonymous with Pinot Noir. That makes this recent purchase by the Drouhin Family (their second Oregon property) completely understandable. Here's the link to the full story: http://www.winemag.com/Web-2013/Drouhin-Family-Purchases-279-acre-Oregon-Vineyard/.

Thank you for being a part of our success in 2013. We extend our wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year to our readers.
 

Gift Giving Wrap-Up

We're down to the last two shopping days, so we thought that a quick summary of gift ideas would be a welcome time-saver.

1. Gift Cards. These handy stocking-stuffers are available in any denomination that you choose. Simply ask a cashier for a gift card, and you'll be finished in no time.

2. Gift Sets. Whether you're giving a gift set of beer, wine or spirits, we still have many options for you. Ask a store associate where they're located, if you need that assistance. And as a bonus, many gift sets are priced the same as the item is outside of the gift set.

3. Gift baskets. Our stores have a limited number, and they're only available while supplies last.

4. Food items. As we detailed in the BottleBlog last week, both stores have an amazing selection of cheese, meat, and related products.

5. Outstanding values. At both stores, our associates can help you find the best values, including some highly-rated wines at exceptional prices.

6. The newest products. Please scroll though this blog to find recent postings on our new products. Our associates can help you find these items in the stores.

7. Fun products. Our stores also have items like these candy canes, filled with 50ML spirits bottles.

From our family to yours, we wish you a happy holiday season.

Cooking with Joe Canal's

It's the time of year when home-made everything seems to be a first choice, even with our busy lives. We thought we'd share a few recipes with you that include ingredients that you can find at our stores.

Bourbon Chocolate Bread Pudding (from food52.com)
Serves 6

•     2 cups whole milk
•     4 eggs
•     1/3 cup bourbon
•     8 ounces 72% dark chocolate, chopped
•     4 cups day-old French bread cubes (packed)
•     1/2 cup turbinado sugar

-Preheat oven to 350.

-Whisk together milk, eggs, and bourbon. In a large bowl, combine the liquids with the chocolate, bread cubes, and sugar. Toss to coat and set aside to soak for about 45 minutes. Gently stir once or twice while soaking.

-Pour mixture into a 1.5 quart baking dish. Bake for about 40 minutes or until the custard has set and the top of the pudding is slightly crispy (be careful not to overcook). Serve warm or at warm temperature.

If you need Bourbon for this recipe only, ask at Customer Service for 375ML ("pint") or 200ML ("half-pint") bottles. We carry Knob Creek in the pint size at both stores, and Jim Beam and Woodford Reserve are available in Lawrenceville.

Pasta with Shrimp, Spinach and Lemon Garlic

Several Joe Canal's team members visited St. Francis Winery, in Sonoma County, earlier this year. They have an award-winning restaurant there, and were just voted Best Restaurant in the US by Open Table readers. This dish, which will pair beautifully with the St. Francis Sonoma Chardonnay, is best viewed at their web site: Pasta with Shrimp, Spinach, and Lemon-Garlic - Pasta - Categories - Recipes - Culinary - St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

If you enjoy cooking, you should definitely check their many other recipes.

 

Corn-Jalapeno Cakes with Smoked Salmon

From Chateau Ste. Michelle. Follow the link to the recipe and pair with their Sauvignon Blanc.

http://www.ste-michelle.com/wine-and-food/recipes/corn-jalapeno-cakes-with-smoked-salmon

 

Main Course Suggestions

Castello Banfi, a winery that this writer was fortunate to have visited last year, offers a number of recipes for all courses on their web site. Follow/copy and paste this link for main course suggestions from the heart of Tuscany:

http://www.castellobanfi.com/pdf_files/MainCourses.pdf

 

Beer Braised Shrimp with Louisiana Salsa and Rice

From Abita Beer, who learned this from Rachel Ray. Again, follow/copy and paste the link. You'll be happy that you did:

http://abita.com/brews/recipes/beer-braised-shrimp-with-louisiana-salsa-and-rice

 

With just this small sampling of recipes, we've illustrated how the wine, beer and spirits that are available at Joe Canal's can add sop much to your meals. And we've also shown that our partner wineries, brewers and distillers can provide crowd-pleasing recipes on their own web sites. So when you need a fresh meal idea, check the web site for your favorite brand; they just might have the answer for you.