Wine Adventures

In the years I have worked here at Spec's I have fallen in love with the adventure that wines brings.
Through my trips I have tasted many new and unusual wines and brought back some great stories to go with those wines.  Every wine brings a new adventure and I would like to take you on that adventure.

$6.99 with key card; cash price





Tasting Notes: This youthful, unoaked blend offers plenty of plummy,
dark fruit aromas, with light spicy, peppery notes, and bold fruit and a silky texture on the palate.
Serve With: A versatile wine that will complement most meals, Panarroz will pair especially well with tapas, grilled vegetables, flank steak, seared tuna, and teriyaki-glazed salmon.
$6.99 with key card; cash price

Aromatic kiwi and melon nuances on the nose. Plenty of delicious tropical lemon and citrus flavors. Nice midpalate with a lengthy finish that has a touch of spice.

Staff Picks

Here at Spec's we have a fun and interesting job.  Our staff has the oppurtunity to experiment with different food combinations, drink creations and try new wines from all over the world.  We love to share our experiences and new finds and we hope you do too!

Peach Bellini by Nikki and Lauren

2 cups Ivanabitch Peach Vodka
1 1/2 cups Alan Christopher Brut
1/2 cup Ready Rabbit Peach Puree
Ice to fill blender

Put all ingrdients into blender and blend to your liking.  To make drink thicker add more peach puree.


Alan Christpher Brut $7.99 cash

Ivanabitch Peach Vodka $10.99 w/ key card

What is Charles drinking?

Through this blog you will get to know our department heads a little better.  They will be featuring their favorites, recipes and ideas to help you experience new things.

First on our feature will be the head of our beer department, Charles Lyons.  He has been with our company for many years and LOVES to share his indepth knowledge of the fast growing beer industry.  Come in and chat with him and you will quickly see his love and knowledge of beer.



$8.59 cash price (per 6 pack)

At the moment, I cannot think of a more pleasant summer surprise than the subtle, fruity ale that is Alaskan Brewing's current seasonal.  It has come to me as no surprise that a region long reknowned for it's harsh winters and cavernous geography should foster such a resplendid Kolsch.  I find the bright, golden hues inviting - bordering on seductive.  In the eye alone one notices some flirty similarities with Czech pilsner and domestic but eurocentric pilsner.  Full and dry, yet soft, blonde and languid.  A lager-conditioned ale delivering excellent points of character from both sides.

Beat the heat with this great idea.

This is one of those "Why didn't I think of that!" ideas.  Freeze grapes and put them in your white wine to help keep it cool without watering it down.

Did you know?

Great *NEW* Sangria Wines

$8.99 cash price (1.5 liter)

Our sweet red is an expert blending of wine from several premium grape types.  It is medium-bodied wine featuring subtle flavors or raspberry, blueberry and sweet plum.

Great as an apertif, with desserts, both sweet and rich and marries well with medium weight spicy dishes and Bar-B-Q




$8.99 cash price (1.5 liter)

Our sweet white is an expert blending of wine from several premium white grape types.  It is medium-bodied wine featuring floral aromas and subtle pear and peach flavors.

Great as an apertif.  Fantastic with desserts, both sweet and rich and marries well with medium weight spicy Asian meals and other spicy dishes.

Need a laugh?

Try this cupcake!

The Michaels Irish Cream whipped cream frosting is such an important part of this cupcake that I am putting the frosting recipe first!

2 C heavy whipping cream
2/3 C sugar
2 T Michaels Irish Cream

1.  Whip heavy whipping cream until it looks like whipped cream.
2.  Mix in sugar and Michaels Irish Cream until just combined.

Note: You may find yourself wanting to double the recipe if you like gobs of frosting. I'd suggest stocking up on some extra heavy whipping cream.

Mudslide Cupcake Recipe Makes 12 cupcakes
2/3 C sugar
2 C flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
3 T ground coffee (your favorite kind)
3/4 C unsalted butter, room temperature
2 eggs
2/3 C melted vanilla ice cream (you could also make this with coffee or mocha ice cream) 
1/4 C Santa Teresa Araku Coffee flavored liqueur 
1/4 C Michaels Irish Cream A little bit of chocolate for shaving on top (optional)
12 chocolate-covered espresso beans (optional)

1.  Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and coffee in a bowl.
2.  Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl for 1 minute until light and fluffy.
3.  Beat eggs, ice cream, Santa Teresa Araku, and Michaels into the butter/sugar mixture until blended.
4.  Fold in flour mixture.
5.  Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full.
6.  Bake at 350 F for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the cupcake clean.
7.  Top with Michaels Irish Cream whipped cream (see above), shaved chocolate, and a chocolate covered espresso bean.

It's Still Summer!

With all the stores ALREADY getting school supplies out it starts us thinking

OMGoodness summer is over. 

 SUMMER IS NOT OVER!! 

Stay in the summer spirit with this tropical drink this weekend:

5 oz Ivanabitch Coconut (750 ml  $12.99 cash - with key card $10.99)

 OR  Tropic Isle Coconut Rum (750 ml   $11.99 cash)

1 can frozen lime concentrate

1/4 Watermelon cubed and frozen

1 Lime

In blender add rum or vodka, 1 can of frozen lime and frozen watermelon.  Blend until smooth.

Rim glass with sugar or salt (whatever your taste may be)

Cut lime into wedges and put on glass.

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

*NEW* Miranda Lambert Wines

Chardonnay ($16.69 cash price)
In 2009 Miranda released her single "White Liar" from the album Revolution. It became her fastest rising single and eventually reached number 1 on the country charts. In an effort to celebrate this great accomplishment we decided to honor her with our seventh wine, a chardonnay - aptly named "White Liar". Chardonnay is the most popular wine in America for a reason: It's cold, fruity and easy to drink. Our newest member of the wine line is dry and emphasizes oaked barrel and malolactic fermentation in addition to the fruit characteristic, which lends the wine a rounder and buttery taste. It's pleasant with just about any dish involving cheese, eggs, fish or fowl.

Sweet White Muscat Cannelli ($14.99 cash price)

An alluring radiant wine bears overtones of ripe pears, honey, and golden raisins. Lusciously aromatic it is perfect for those who prefer the sweeter things in life. It is so deliciously perfumed, it has been teased as dessert in a bottle! Just like a Crazy-Ex, you’ll be seduced over and over by this charmer. So mild it can be served with fruit, light cheeses, sorbets and other light desserts, it is also delightful with Sunday brunch on the patio, fruit-glazed chicken dishes and spicy Asian cuisines.



Sweet Red Cabernet (14.99 cash price)

In naming our wines, we wanted to select those that would reflect the spirit of the wine as well as the attributes of Miranda. Southern Belle came to mind. In defining the word Belle we found it to be the perfect fit for this sweet wine as well as for Miranda. Simply put, it means the most beautiful. With her true southern spirit, she epitomizes southern hospitality and beauty while being a just a little bit flirty. As you might sense in looking at the beautiful label, in like manner, this light-bodied sweet, red wine is a mouthful of ripe cherry and raspberry flavors that tingle the palate. The finish is silky smooth and leaves you wanting more. It pairs well with chicken, red meats, mildly seasoned pastas and Miranda’s favorite - wild game dishes. Serve chilled.

WHITE BORDEAUX AND CRAB LASAGNA!

Crab Lasagna - Delish! 

Ingredients:
Lasagna Noodles- cook and drain
Lump Crab Meat

Mix together:
1 can cream of shrimp or mushroom soup
1 package cream cheese
1 pt. ricotta
1 egg
3/4 cup green onions
1/2 cup chopped parsley
2 tsp. basil
1/8 tsp pepper or lemon pepper


3-4 sliced tomatoes
1 cup grated cheese

Simply layer noodles, cheese mixture, crab, tomato and cheese.  Repaeat layering until ingredients are
done.  Bake 1 hour @ 350.

Serve with crispy salad, crunchy bread and wine!

White Bordeaux to pair with this meal:

Château Bonnet Blanc. Entre-Deux-Mers Appellation.   Brand : Château Bonnet Colour : White Varietals : Sauvignon Blanc 50% Sémillon 40% Muscadelle 10% Appellation : Entre-Deux-Mers Area : 270 hectares, 120 in white Soil : Clay-limestone and clay-siliceous Rootstock : Riparia gloire - 3309C - Fercal - 101.14 Fertilisation : Traditional, limited impact Density : 3,000 to 5,000 vines per hectare Age of vines : 19 years   White Varietals : Sauvignon Blanc 50% Sémillon 40% Muscadelle 10% Pruning : Double guyot Harvest : By hand or manual sorting before machine harvest Fermentation : After skin- contact and settling, in temperature- controlled stainless- steel tanks Temperature : 18° to 20° C Malolactic fermentation : No Maturation : For 4 months in tanks on lees Fining : Tartaric precipitation by cold treatment Aging : 2 to 3 years Consultants : Denis GALABERT (Œnologique Center of Grézillac)

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!