Join us at Julia's Garden Charity Wine Event this Friday!

Welcome to Cork’s weekly newsletter. Well I guess Summer isn’t here yet after all. I’m kind of regretting putting my air conditioners up 2 weeks ago when it hit 80. Oh well, I’m sure it will warm up again soon and let’s not forget the Pirates season opener is just 1 week away. OK…the Sox open up next week too. I’m going to try and get into the Red Sox again and I won’t bore you with Pirates talk all summer. But is it just my fondness for Tito Francona or is Valentine just a tough guy to warm up to? I’m sure once the season starts, I’ll get hooked again but it’s going to take a full year to erase last year’s debacle.

Let’s talk about Cork’s for a bit and the tasting we’re sponsoring for Julia’s Garden Charity Wine Event. It is this Friday from 7 to 9 PM and I hear there are just a few tickets left. You can check out the details and order tickets here www.gardenwinetasting.com . We have 7 wine tables…4 liquor tables…and 4 beer tables for this event. I’d like to thank the vendors for giving up their Friday for this worthy charity. Here is a glimpse at what they will be pouring…Mimosa …New Hemisferio wines from Argentina… Nachtgold… Sofia… Nine Walks… New Ensemble White and Red… Allegrini… Alan Scott… Prendo… Red Newt…Four Bears…Milbrandt…Viu Manent…Canella Bellini…Folie-a-Deux…Bogle…La Linda… Amalaya… Barefoot… Polka Dot… Da Vinci… Las Rocas… Apothic Red… Flying Winemaker… Shannon Ridge… Stray Dog… Diablolique infused Kentucky Bourbon… Cabin Fever Maple Whiskey… Diep 9 Genever… Drink Skinny Margarita Mix… Sam Adams… Newport Storm… Mayflower… and Angry Orchard Ciders.

I know not all of you can attend this event and some of you were disappointed we weren’t having our usual big wine tasting here at Cork’s. But we were asked to be the sponsor for this event and thought we’d try something a little different this time. But we are still getting new wines in for the Easter Season every day and I’ve asked the vendors that aren’t participating in this tasting to lock in a Friday night in April, May, or June to taste their “Spring” wines here at Cork’s. But have no fear - we will still have our big Customer Appreciation Day tasting event this Summer, our 2 big Football season Beer Tastings…and a big fall Grand Wine Tasting.

I don’t think Marc has a beer tasting lined up this week. But I know he has some lined up for Thursday nights as we head into the Summer beer season. I’m really not sure what’s new in the beer world these days so here is Marc our Beer Mgr. for a few words on what’s new in Cork’s Beer Land:

This week we received a few things on my radar. First is the new Harpoon 100 Barrel Series, Catamount Maple Wheat, described as a crisp wheat ale, mildly hopped with Willamette hops. The addition of pure Vermont maple syrup used in the beer comes from Baker Farm in East Dummerston and Scrag Mountain Sugar House in Waitsfield. The maple sweetness and body of this beer showcases one of New England’s most beloved traditions. Next we have two new beers from Pretty Things. This pairing is part of an historical brewing project that features two different beers of the same style brewed 107 years apart. Grab one of each and do a side by side comparison to see how the Mild style has evolved over time. Lastly, we still have a few bottles of the newest limited release of Dogfish Head 75 min IPA. This beer is a blend of 60 and 90 min IPAs that is insanely dry hopped and bottle conditioned with maple syrup. Maple syrup? Sure, why not? I guess you can’t make “off centered ales for off centered people” if you’re not dumping maple syrup into an IPA. Nonetheless, it’s a tasty beer so grab it while you can!

Well we started with the sports takes so let’s end on one as well. Here’s hoping the Bruins can ride this recent upswing into their Cup defense which is right around the corner. And as woeful and old looking as the Celtics have looked they are just ½ game out of 1^st place in the East. You never know…KG, Ray, and the Truth may have one last gasp run left in them. Have a great weekend and we’ll see you soon.

Robert

Spring into summer at Cork's!

Welcome to Cork’s weekly newsletter. How about this gorgeous weather we’re having? It looks like we skipped right over Spring and went straight into Summer. Maybe these beer vendors have it right as I know some Summer beers are starting to trickle in the store. So with that in mind, we will take 10% off any Spring beers we have left and if you can find any, we will take 20% off any Winter beers. We will also be getting some new wines in for the Spring season as we get ready for the Julia’s Garden Charity Wine Event we’re sponsoring. It’s next Friday night March 30^th from 7 to 9 PM. You can order tickets and get more information here www.gardenwinetasting.com and we’ll talk more about what we’ll be tasting in next week’s newsletter.

Our good friend Miguel will be here Tonight (Thursday) from 4:30 to 7 PM to sample you on our March “Beer of the Month”. It is the Troegs Anthology mix 12-PK and consists of Pale Ale…Hopback Amber Ale…Troegenator…and Javahead Stout. They are now officially being brewed at the brand spanking new brewery in Hershey, Pennsylvania and if you’re ever out that way you have to pay them a visit. As with all our “BOTM” variety packs you receive a free pint glass with your purchase. They will be specially priced at $14.99 for the entire month but they are going fast. So be sure to end this gorgeous summer day and come sample some great beers.

I don’t have a wine tasting lined up for this Friday night as I’m still hobbling around from knee surgery. We have the Julia’s Garden Event next week, but I promise we will get them rolling the following week on Good Friday. But as most of you know I’m always open to opening up a wine for you to sample and I was leaning towards popping open a couple of the sale wines you will find below.

Wine Sale Items for March 22 to April 4

• · BV Coastal Sauvignon Blanc … $7.99
• · Querceto Toscana … $9.99
• · Sensorio De Convey Priorat … $12.99

Beer Sale Items for March 22 to April 4

• · Newcastle Brown Ale 12- PKS … $13.99
• · Delirium Tremors or Nocturnum 750 ML … $9.95
• · All Spring Beers 10 % off and Winter Beers 20 % off

Liquor Sale Items for March 22 to April 4

• · Drink Skinny Margarita Mixes ...3 Flavors… $9.99
• · Mount Gay Eclipse Black Rum 100 proof … $21.99
• · Smirnoff Root Beer Nips 100 proof … 50 ML … 2 for $3

Well, it looks like our good friend Miguel isn’t as good a friend as we thought, as he stiffed Marc for the 2^nd straight month on the “BOTM” tastings. But have no fear - a somewhat disgruntled (is there such a word as gruntled) Marc will take over the pouring duties. That is unless Zach… or Donnie… or 1 of his other beer buds don’t wanna come down and bail him out. Either way it’s too nice a day not to end it with a beer tasting so the show will go on! Have a great week and we’ll see you all soon.

Robert

Check out our new layout!

Well we’re just about wrapping up our lil mini move we did in the front of the store. And if I do say so myself, it looks really good. We angled the '2 for wines, mixers, and craft beer aisles so that they are much more shoppable. It gives you easier access to the liquor wall and now everyone can find the cordials and liqueurs that we had hidden for the last 3 years! Marc is putting the final touches on his domestic craft section and the whole area should be completed by the weekend. Again, we thank you for your patience during this move and hopefully it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.

We are going to skip the tastings for this week as Marc finishes up his beer section and I will be out for a bit with my knee surgery. But Marc will be stealing my Friday night slot next week for a special St. Patrick’s Day tasting. He will have Jared from Colonial Beverages here to sample you on Guinness, Smithwick’s, Harp, and any other Irish beers they can find. And a St. Patty’s Day celebration tasting wouldn’t be complete without our friends from Sailor Swagger here to sample you on their hotsauce….mmmm mmmm Pineapple hot sauce and the new Bloody Mary mix should go well with Black & Tans and green beer!

Wine Sale Items for 2-7-12 to 2-21-12

- Gosset Brut Excellence Champagne … $29.99

- Hugo Gruner Veltliner … $9.99

- Red Sox Wines Cabernace or ChardonnClay… 2 for $20

Beer Sale Items for 2-7-12 to 2-21-12

- Rolling Rock 18-PK Bottles … $11.99

- Red Racer IPA 6-PKs … $12.99

- Unibroue 750 ML … $6.95

Liquor Sale Items for 2-7-12 to 2-21-12

- Metaxa 5 Greek Spirit … $21.99

- Pinnacle Vodka Atomic Hots or Coconut 750 ML … $13.99

- Camarena Tequila Nips 50 ML … $1.29

I’m closing out our Redsox wines from the 2011 season above in this weeks wine sale. The Lester and Buckholz wines also come with a coupon from Popeye’s Fried Chicken and a can of Bud Light. So be sure to get them while they last. I’m not sure who’s going to be on this years label, or if they’re even doing them anymore. How bout that game by Rondo the other day against the Knicks…hopefully that quiets all that ridiculous trade talk about him. And let’s hope the B’s won’t miss Tuka too much and get things squared away for another Stanley Cup run.

So next weeks newsletter is going to be guest written by Kat, with Marc helping out on the beer stuff. Let’s see if they can top my usual witty remarks and sports takes.Have a great week folks and I’ll talk to you soon.

Robert

New location for Grand Spring Wine Tasting..and winter blahs...

Welcome to Cork’s weekly newsletter. My how quickly the weather can change here in the New England area. Just last week we hit 60 degrees and I was saying how the Sox should just have spring training up here, and this week we have snow, freezing rain, and slop. I suppose we were due for another snowstorm or two as it really has been quite the mild and snow free winter.

I’d like to thank out new friend Mike from Quadrant Software who did our Friday night wine tasting last week. He brought in a bunch of his co-workers to mix with our regulars for a fun wine tasting evening. We still have openings if anybody is interested in doing their own “Customer” wine or beer tasting here at Cork’s. Just let Marc or I know and we will put you on the schedule.

We don’t have a wine or beer tasting for this week here at Cork’s as we finish up our inventory this week. Thanks for bearing with us as we get this done during a slow period after the holidays. We do have some new changes coming to Cork’s soon as well. We are planning a new tasting area in the front right hand corner of the store. We will have our high end scotch, beers, and liquors in the front of the cases similar to our finest wines in the back of the store. We are also going to angle some of the shelves in the front of the store to make access easier for Marc’s imported microbrews, and have a better traffic flow to that area. Again thanks for your patience during our mini construction as we try to bring you a new and easier shopping experience here at Cork’s.

We are also going to change up our Grand Spring Wine Tasting event this year. Instead of having the event here at Cork’s, we are going to be the official sponsor of Julia’s Garden Charity Wine Event at Christina’s in Foxboro. This is the 5th year of this event and all proceeds go towards the building and maintaining of the “Julia’s Garden and Playground” complex located in the World
War I Park in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. We hope to have 8 wine tables, 4 beer tables, and 2 liquor tables there for you to sample. There will also be food, raffles, a silent auction, even music & dancing till 11 PM. The date is Friday March 30th and you can find more info and order tickets here www.gardenwinetasting.com .

Robert