Category Archives: Wine

Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Blending Seminar – RSVP Soon!

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Join winemaker Matt Smith, who oversees all Bordeaux varietals at Kendall Jackson, at a blending seminar and tasting of some of the finest wines crafted in California. Matt is a graduate of the University of Michigan and UC Davis and has traveled and studied winemaking in France and Spain. Since 2006 he has been in charge of all Bordeaux-style wines.

 

With Matt’s direction, you’ll fashion your own blend with Grand Reserve Cabernet component wines from KJ’s Knights, Alexander, and Bennett Valley vineyards. Seating is limited and reservations are required.

 

 

Binny’s in Bolingbrook
Wednesday, February 27th, 6pm
Reservations Required, Call 630-972-1187
$10 w/Binny’s Card, $20 non-members.

 

The South Loop Tasting Room
Binny’s South Loop
Thursday, February 28th, 6pm
Reservations Required, Call 312-768-4400
$10 w/Binny’s Card, $20 non-members.

 

Celebrate National Drink Wine Day

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Monday, February 18th is National Drink Wine Day! We’re celebrating with some outstanding recommendations from our fabulous wine buyers!

 

Bob’s Recommendations:

 

 

Graham Beck Brut
This non-vintage “mini Champagne” will suprise you with its soft and fresh fruit flavor. It’s a South African favorite of Binny’s and will be sure to please any taste buds!

 

2011 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec
For this price, it can’t be beat! This Argentina beaut is smokey with fantastic blueberry and bacon character. For the complexity of the wine, it really should be sitting in the $14-17 category… but you can snatch it for just $9.99!

 

2011 Coquena Torrontes
If you’re a big fan of torrontes and are ready to take off the training wheels, this is a great place to start! This is a more serious version of this popular grape. Very forward and more dialed in to what you should be tasting.

 

Barb’s Recommendations:

 

2011 Patient Cottat Sauvignon Blanc Le Grand Caillou
A great value from the Loire, this vibrant, juicy white drinks like Sancerre but at half the price. The perfect summer quencher.

 

2010 Ridge Lytton Estate Petite Sirah
Ridge, one of America’s greatest wineries, first made Petite Sirah from Lytton Estate in 1972. This surprisingly elegant Petite has a pure, deep blackberry aroma, dense sweet mouth and firm but supple tannins.

 

Lustau Manzanilla Papirusa
One of the world’s greatest but more overlooked white wines. Bone dry, like a razor’s edge with an intriguing, nutty aroma and a salty, tangy mouth. One caveat, like any white wine, it will keep opened in the fridge a few days before it declines.

 

Salut to you on National Drink Wine Day! (We’ll use any excuse to drink more wine…)

 

Lovely Cocktails for Valentine’s Day

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Oh, Valentine’s Day. A time of celebration, love and of course- indulging! Try one of these recommended holiday treats with your loved one or single bff’s!

 

Popping bottles: The 2011 Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui is a sparkling red with festive cranberry color and has a fresh raspberry taste, with crisp acidity, enticing the palate with an initial softness, graduating to a round luscious finish with just a touch of sweetness to hit the spot.

 

For all of you adventurous beer lovers: Try Lindemans Framboise or  Liefman’s Cuvee Brut. They both offer a lot of sweet and tart fruit. Both are a pinkish red, succulently fruity, and almost dangerously sippable.

 

Now if you’re trying to get really fancy, we have some great cocktail choices fit to please everyone.

 

For the ladies…

Be sure to try X-Rated Fusion Liqueur. At $22.99 a bottle, you have many ways to enjoy this sensuous fusion of ultra premium French vodka & Sicilian blood orange mingling with mango and passion fruits. Enjoy over ice or mix with Champagne for a fruity and bubbly Valentine’s Day treat.

 

For the men…

 

Bring on the whiskey! This Cupid’s Manhattan is guaranteed to not disappoint. Pour him this spicy twist on a classic cocktail to make his head spin… in a good way. Include 2 parts Redemption Rye, 1 part M&R Sweet Vermouth, a dash of Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters for fruity sweetness and a dash of Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Shrub Bitters to spice things up.

 

So whether you’ve got a hot date or are celebrating with your closest friends, be sure to try one of these festive liquid treats! Show us your version on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!

 

The Fizzy Iggy

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This special cocktail comes to you from our party planner, Jeff Caldcleugh. No surprise here.. Jeff loves to party. He created this cocktail after hosting numerous get-togethers with his pals and a little inspiration from his pup, Iggy!

 

 

Cocktail GlassThe Fizzy Iggy

 

One part Hum
Three parts Cava
Dash of Simple Syrup to taste
Squeeze of Lime Juice

 

   Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled Champagne flute. 

There ya have it, a sweet treat to enjoy anytime through out the year.

 

Did you enjoy making The Fizzy Iggy? Show us your version on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Be sure to check out our mixology centers in participating Binny’s.

 

Quick Flight, Small Pours

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Black Market Beer.
Also discussed: the democracy of beer.

 

The Hopslam Challenge: Can you tell fresh Hopslam from year old Hopslam?
Huge props to Vav on this awesome idea, also to Chicagoist for giving it a shot.

 

Matt Kramer on cellaring wines.
It isn’t that you can’t cellar wines, it’s that you don’t have to.

 

Eric Asimov on food and wine pairing.
Don’t be afraid to mess up.

 

Don’t miss brand new editions of:
the BEER BUZZ
the WHISKEY HOTLINE
the WINE HOTLINE

 

Thoughts?

Craft Idea: Wine Bottle Yarn Vase

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Get ready… we’re giving you more reasons to drink wine!
You’re welcome.

 

 

Materials needed:
Yarn (the thicker the better!)
Hot glue gun

To get the labels off, soak the wine bottles in hot water and dish detergent soap for about a half hour. They will begin to peel on their own, but the help of a razor blade can’t hurt.

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Binny’s Commercials: Mike Ditka is Intense

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Da Coach loves Binny’s. He loves low prices. He knows Chicago institutions. He knows aromas. He has a new line of wines. But you don’t have to take our word for it:

 

 

 

See? The guy is intense. Almost too much to fit into fifteen seconds at a time, and you should see what didn’t make the commercials. Leave your thoughts below in the comments, and check out more on the Binny’s YouTube channel.