We have so many ways to help you show your love! What are you serving on Valentine’s Day? Market 32 Sutton has everything you need to show you care – inspired meal ideas, wine, beer, and now… spirits! Find your sweetheart’s favorite rum, gin, tequila and liqueur, or toast each other with some sparkling bubbly. Visit our bakery and pick up a chocolate covered strawberry… we have a sweet assortment of treats that will touch her heart. Nothing says “I love you” like a dozen red long-stem roses from our floral department. Market 32 also offers an array of greeting cards, plush toys, chocolates and more to make your Valentine’s Day complete. For more information, click here.   Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, so there’s no better time than now to start planning your upcoming feast.  While you may be more focused on prepping the food menu, make sure you don’t forget about the wine!  Thankfully, with a traditional spread of appetizers, savory meats, mashed potatoes, yams, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pickled this and peppered that, all the way to pumpkin or pecan pie, there are dozens of wine pairing possibilities.  Make the most of your Thanksgiving dinner with a few easy and classic wine selections sure to please any palate. Founded by world-class sommelier Joseph Carr, Josh Cellars wine was created and named in honor of his Dad.  With 6 varietals in the portfolio, Josh Cellars wines are bold yet approachable, affordable and perfect for your Thanksgiving celebration. For those who prefer white wine, offering a crisp Chardonnay with ripe fruit flavors is always a good idea.  Josh Cellars Chardonnay is balanced with hints of citrus and subtle oak that can stand up to rich foods like corn pudding and green bean casserole.  It also pairs particularly well with stuffing, especially if it’s made with apples. Fruit forward and food-friendly, Pinot Noir is a classic favorite and common fixture at the Thanksgiving table.  Josh Cellars Pinot Noir is bursting with flavors of cherry, strawberry and a hint of chocolate.  Balanced with bright acidity, this medium bodied wine won’t overpower the delicate flavors of turkey or holiday ham. Last but not least, try serving a more robust wine to round out your meal.  Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon is bursting with dark fruits and flavors of cinnamon, clove and toasted oak. It has firm tannins and a long finish that complement a flavorful holiday roast or rich chocolate dessert. While there may be many competing flavors on the Thanksgiving table, selecting a versatile wine doesn’t have to be a challenge fit only for a sommelier.  You can worry less and enjoy more this Thanksgiving by selecting affordable, quality wine like those from Josh Cellars. Cheers! Written by: Kevin Schulke, Senior Category Manager Beer & Wine Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving for the first time or the twentieth time, or if you are a guest looking for a great wine to bring to your holiday festivities, we have three wines that will please someone in every crowd and pair wonderfully with traditional Thanksgiving foods.  It is no wonder they are among the most popular wines during this holiday. Red wine enthusiasts will love Mark West Pinot Noir.  With aromas of spice, dark fruit and smoky oak it pairs wonderfully with the abundance of herb-infused dishes Thanksgiving offers. The black cherry, cola, strawberry and plum flavors will go great with dark turkey meat, ham and stuffing.  Mark West is the #1 Pinot Noir in America and a great value for the money! If you want to impress your guests with a new-age red wine, Beaujolais Nouveau is for you.  Beaujolais Nouveau is a young red wine made from handpicked Gamay grapes grown in the Beaulolais region of France.  While most red wines improve as they age, Beaujolais’ allure is all about freshness.  Fermentation is so short that the resulting wine exhibits fruity flavors and light tannins.  Under French law, this wine may be released at 12:01 on the third Thursday of November, just weeks after the wine’s grapes have been harvested.  Producers race to deliver this wine to retailers throughout France and the world where it is popularly enjoyed with Thanksgiving dinner.  Beaujolais Nouveau should be consumed within a year of being made and is best served slightly cooled.  We recommend enjoying this wine chilled to bring out the strawberry, raspberry and cherry flavors. When hosting any event, you should always have a white wine as well as red.  Chateau St. Michelle Riesling is a blend of Riesling from throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley. If you’re looking for a refreshing, flavorful, medium-dry Riesling, this is the one for you!  The wine offers crisp apple aromas and flavors with subtle mineral notes. This “everyday Riesling” is a pleasure to drink and easy to match with your Thanksgiving dinner. The Riesling’s innate flavors of apple and its clarifying acidity give it a significant pairing edge with the likes of sweet potatoes, turkey meat and spice-laden or herb-filled stuffing.  Rieslings are typically sweeter than most white wines so it may be a good idea to have a drier white wine as well, such as a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Cheers! Kevin *Please note Price Chopper only carries wine in Vermont, New Hampshire and the following Massachusetts stores: Pittsfield, Shrewsbury, Lenox. Written by: Kevin Schulke, Senior Category Manager Beer & Wine It’s always sad when you realize that the nights are getting darker earlier and summer is really over!  Before winter gets the best of us, we should really try to enjoy the glorious autumn season to its fullest.  I suggest the following outside activities to truly take advantage of everything the season has to offer:

• Plan a late season BBQ- even on a cloudy day!
• Take a bike ride and enjoy the foliage
• Rake leaves (and don’t forget to help your neighbor too!)
• Pick the perfect pumpkin

The looming fall season will also bring a number of seasonal beer offers.  Remember, these are limited time offers, often quite unique, and provide the perfect opportunity to try something different!  While I’ll try to tell you about a few seasonal beer products that will be on our shelves this fall, keep in mind that these products are made seasonally, which means they may differ slightly from years past.  They’re limited editions so they may not be in every location and they will certainly not last long! Today there are seasonal beer offerings for every season, but the roots of seasonal beer are traced to October 12, 1810, the marriage of Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Bavaria. There was a special Oktoberfest Beer produced to celebrate their wedding and we are still celebrating now over 200 years later! Samuel Adams Octoberfest– The list must start here as in this country this is the number one fall seasonal beer. It has a deep red amber color, slightly sweet malty aroma, and the flavor is roasted caramel with a slightly hoppy toffee malt. Enjoy it with sausage, roasted chicken or a delicious roast pork, but do enjoy it. Brooklyn Oktoberfest-Brewed with German malt and hops, it is true to the German style with a little “Brooklyn” know-how. It pairs well with roasted foods or great with a burger. Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale– Certainly and singlehandedly responsible for the huge popularity of the pumpkin style beer today. It boasts hints of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It is a crisp and refreshing beer that pairs equally well with food or while socializing with friends. Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale– Orange amber in color, with a pumpkin aroma and crisp clean finish. It is perfect for your Thanksgiving Dinner; the trick is to avoid drinking it before Thanksgiving Day. Saranac Pumpkin Ale– Brewed with real pumpkin and the same spices you’d use to make pumpkin pie. The results are delicious and you might serve this with roast duck, hearty soup, or pumpkin pie. It’s scary good! Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale-This fall seasonal has its roots in Colonial days; where pumpkin was added in place of traditional malts. This version has over 17 pounds of pumpkin in every barrel. The results are a dark amber brew, full bodied and with subtle spice notes. It is perfect with the traditional holiday meals! While my suggestions for fall activities and limited time fall malt beverages will not stop this winter from being extremely cold with potentially record snowfall ,they may provide some pleasant memories to help you make it until spring!

Written by Kevin Schulke

Category Manager of Beer, Wine and Salty Snacks

 

Well, that tiny bit of snow that all of us in the Northeast experienced this winter is now but a fading memory.  The days are getting longer, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, (hopefully you’re getting this picture) and it’s time to turn our concerns to some of the more important things in life, that is the next Great Barbecue and of course planning the all important adult beverages to go along with it.

The first rule of beverage planning is to go for something a little different. After all, if you want your guests talking about the great barbecue that they went to over the weekend you’ll definitely need to include something more than your typical drink options.

For starters, we’re recommending a blast from the past- Sangria. At one time this was a very popular wine offer, now it’s just the retro beverage offer to start your BBQ event, and strangely enough you’ll find that even non-wine drinkers will enjoy your efforts. Here is a simple recipe that takes almost no time to prepare and has a great balance of alcohol and fruit with an acidic backbone to stand up to any spicy rub or BBQ Sauce and other strong grilled flavors.

Simply Simple Sangria 1 Bottle Red Wine (medium body dry red wine) 1 to 2 cups Brandy – Start with 1 cup and adjust after sampling 1 to 2 cups Price Chopper sugar – Adjust to your taste as you sample 1 lemon 1 lime 1 orange 5 strawberries 1 apple 2 cups Price Chopper club soda

Method: Slice the fruit and place in a large pitcher with all ingredients except for the club soda. Allow to sit for at least 2 hours. If you have the foresight, make it the night before. Just before serving, add club soda and plenty of ice cubes. If it tastes too strong, just add more club soda.

As a time saving alternative, purchase the fresh fruit as noted in the recipe above and pick up a couple bottles of Madria Sangria. It’s inspired by an original Spanish recipe and really quite good.  You’ll still need to pre-chill the wine and don’t skip the fresh fruit. Be certain to have a back-up supply as everyone will love your “starter” beverage and you’re going to need more than you think.

Let’s turn our attention next to a wine to serve with the food. Be bold and try something intensely fruity with deep color and fruit aromas followed by a palate of dark plum, blackberry, and spice; let’s try Brazin Zinfandel. The vines are old, the grapes are small, and the fruit is quite intense. The Lodi Region where Brazin comes from is known for the blistering daytime heat which is always followed by the cooling ocean breeze that floats along the Sacramento River and arrives late every afternoon just in time to cool the grapes before a good night’s sleep. The winemakers efforts speak for themselves and your guests will love it. 

Additional recommendations:

Don Miguel Malbec is full bodied with deep violet color aromas and flavors of blackberry, blueberries, plum, dark cherry and a heavenly hint of mocha.

Alamos Chardonnay enjoy its flavors of ripe apple, apricot, and peaches with a pinch of spice and butterscotch.

We all know it would not be a barbecue season if we did not include the beer. Before we select our special beer make certain your plan calls for a cooler with plenty of ice as your beer is not to be kept in the refrigerator, never ever in the refrigerator.  Our highlighted selection has been around for quite awhile; in 1842 this pilsner marked its debut and is actually the first pilsner beer ever. In spite of its 160 year history it’s unlikely that many of your guests will be familiar with this brew full of malty, buttery flavor, and a crisp, clean finish. The bitter finish is from the hops and it is the perfect contrast to the common sweetness of barbecue sauces, it’s a virtual palate cleansing with each and every sip. Allow me to introduce Pilsner Urquell, its home is in the Czech Republic but you’ll be happy to have it visit your home any day.

Additional recommendations:

Long Trail Double Bag is a dark amber strong ale, also known as “Stickebier” German slang for “secret brew”. It isn’t secret anymore….

Killian’s Red is made with a unique level of bitterness and carbonation from its caramel malts that will tantalize your taste buds while it compliments dishes with traditional barbecue sauces.

We all know what an involved process it is to plan a successful outdoor party; it would be a shame to have your best efforts wasted because you didn’t plan the all important beverage accompaniments!  The secret to a good plan is simple:

• Change is good, try something different
• Choose beverages that both complement and enhance your food menu
• Barbecue beer never goes in the refrigerator, in a cooler with ice only

Most important note, have numerous outdoor grilling parties this summer and enjoy each and every one, as next winter we’re all going to need bigger shovels.  Cheers, and always remember to celebrate responsibly!