Highlights

For details please click the purple links below.

From the land of chile peppers

Enchiladas, salsa, quesadillas...words familiar to American ears given our long love affair with Mexican food. And yet, burrito fans are generally limited to basic tex-mex lexicon: foods popularized in the USA and having little to do with authentic Mexican cooking.

Diana Kennedy visits Bottlerocket this evening to set us straight. Come meet the doyenne of Mexican Cuisine. We'll open wines to complement the salsa we're making from Kennedy's recipe book. Discover how spices interact with wine!

Befuddled by wine labels? Check out this excellent wine label de-mystifier. Very handy. Thanks to the wonderful Wine Lover's Page.

Procrastinate no longer! Sign up for our new "Explore Wine" class today. Four part class starts May 8.

Don't forget: the wild and wacky Amy Sedaris will be at Bottlerocket on Wednesday, May 9 from 6-8pm. Comic relief with a free wine tasting.

Latest & Greatest

	Wine lover as a child

Bill Riley is an original Bottlerocker. He helped create the store, applying his builder ingenuity, artistic sensibility and his love of wine long before we opened our doors for business. Piled on top of all that talent, he's also a great cook.

In fact, Bill grew up in the restaurant business. He helped his parents in their family restaurant, washing dishes on a milk crate. He learned to open clams when he was 7 years old. If you need a wine pairing suggestion next time you're in the store, Bill's your man.

Here are Bill's picks for your enjoyment.

Schramsberg. Blanc De Noirs 2003. USA > California. $32

One of the great producers of sparkling wine in the U.S. This is a mouth-watering Pinot Noir-based bubbly with a long history of excellence. It has bright cherry fruit and a touch of earth and spice. Delicious!

Ramsay. Northcoast 2005.
USA > California. $16

Young and fresh, the Ramsay Pinot offers up a well-made, fruit-forward wine at a great price.

Domaine de l'Hortus. La Bergerie Blanc 2005.
France > Languedoc >> Pic St. Loup. $17

Pic St. Loup enjoys one of the most individual microclimates in France. A deep valley between two protective walls of rock, these wines tend to be more elegant then many of the other wines of the Languedoc. Winemaker Jean Orliac is considered the "father" of the Pic St. Loup and is leading the fight to attain full AOC status.

Querciabella. Chianti Classico 2004.
Italy > Tuscany >> Chianti Classico. $28

Querciabella's Chianti Classico is a big, bold, modern version of the Italian classic. Earthy and rich, this is as far from wicker basket Chianti as you can get. A real treat.

Domaine Vincent Paris. Saint-Joseph 2005.
France > Rhône >> Saint Joseph. $26

Winemaker Vincent Paris inherited his grandfather's vineyards in Saint Joseph. Some of these vines are well over 100 years old, giving this 100% Syrah great complexity. Plus we hear it is popular among the hip Paris Bistro set. This is a great value and will not be around for long.

Call for delivery: 212-929-2323.

Is there a wine you wish we carried? Let us know and we'll see what we can do.

Happenings

Wednesday, April 25, 6 – 8 pm
Eclectic Salon: Diana Kennedy

Doyenne of Mexican Cuisine

What a treat! Come meet the high priestess of Mexican cuisine. Wine tasting and book signing with the author of The Essential Cuisines of Mexico. Diana Kennedy moved to Mexico in 1957 and married Paul P. Kennedy, foreign correspondent for the NY Times. In 1969, at the suggestion of Craig Claiborne, she began teaching Mexican cooking classes and later, writing cookbooks. She has been decorated with the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest honor bestowed on foreigners by the Mexican government. She lives much of the year in her ecological adobe house in Michoacan, Mexico. Free. Reservations not required.

Wednesday, May 9, 6 – 8 pm
Eclectic Salon: Amy Sedaris

	Not wishy washy

This lady may have the power to transform your social life. Take her hostess advice: "A good trick is to fill your medicine cabinet with marbles. Nothing announces a nosey guest better than an avalanche of marbles hitting a porcelain sink." Spend an evening with Amy Sedaris at Bottlerocket in our lead up to Mother's Day. Her recent book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, is the perfect antidote to any perfectionist urges you may harbor. Amy Sedaris has appeared often on screen, both large and small. She's co-creator, with Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, of Comedy Central's hit show Strangers with Candy and half of the Obie-winning "Talent Family" playwright team (with her brother, David). Book-signing and wine tasting.
Free. Reservations not required.

Classes

Explore Wine: Four Week Introductory Series. $160
Starts Tuesday, May 8 at 7:00 pm
Lauren Bernardini, Instructor

A practical, fun, utilitarian workshop to familiarize you with the major types and styles of wine. You will learn how wine is made, how to taste and evaluate wine, and ultimately what you like personally. Our goal is to provide you with the information and experience to make you comfortable, confident consumers.

•	May 8 – Explore the Major Varieties Know the noble and notable wines of the world and a bit of history.
•	May 15 – Explore Old vs. New World Learn how a region, grape grower and wine maker can influence the final product.
•	May 22 – Explore White Dig deeper into the huge variety of white wines.
•	May 29 – Explore Red Taste through the world of red wine. Conclude with practical advice on continuing the adventure.

Classes start promptly at 7:00 and end at 8:00pm, except the first class of Explore Wine, which ends at 8:30 pm. Only 18 lucky participants can be accommodated, first come, first serve. Full payment in advance required and no refunds possible.

Sign-up today for classes by calling 212-929-2323.
Or email us: info@bottlerocketwine.com

About Lauren Bernardini

An experienced teacher most recently affiliated with the Starr Restaurant Organization, Lauren directed the wine programs at Philadelphia's Striped Bass and Tangerine when both restaurants were awarded the Wine Spectator's Awards of Excellence in 2004, 2005 and 2006, as well as Food + Wine Magazine's "Top 10 New Wine Lists in the United States." She has completed the first level exams for both the Court of Master Sommeliers and the American Sommelier Association.

Lauren recently relocated to New York, where she represents Paumanok Vineyards, a small family-owned vineyard in North Fork, Long Island and is currently consulting on wine lists and beverage programs in both Manhattan and Philadelphia. She also teaches at the French Culinary Institute. Lauren lives in the West Village with 16 cases of wine and her famously demure pit-bull, Daisy.

We Do

•	Delivery – Just give us a call and we'll take care of the rest: 212-929-2323.
•	Special Orders – Give us one day and we'll give you price and availability for a case of almost anything. Email: specialorders@bottlerocketw ine.com
•	Gifts selected, wrapped, packaged and shipped.
•	"Find the Love" – Samplers to expose you to new tastes.
•	"The High End" – We serve collectors, too. Call for info.
•	Private in-store events: customized tastings, food & wine pairing parties.
•	Tasting events at your home or office.
•	Consultations and Gift Registry for weddings, parties, events.

Forward This

Spread the news that Bottlerocket is open. If you think we provide a good experience for wine lovers, please forward this to your friends, and tell them about our 10% discount on any purchase for all first-time customers who join our customer list. And thank you for your support!

Remember, we're a work in progress. We would value any suggestions you may have to help us create the best wine buying experience on the planet. Send us an email: myidea@bottlerocketwine.com. Thank you!