Fundraiser for Marc Fucarile - SUCCESS!

We are thrilled with the turnout for our Fundraiser to support Marc Fucarile, one of the Boston Marathon Bombing Survivors from Stoneham yesterday.  So much so, that while we were taking raffle donations yesterday - we are going to continue accepting them today (June 2d) as a result of so many people asking to donate - who were unable to attend yesterday.  So if you missed the block party - that's okay!  You can still donate today....

Here's a snapshot of the fun....
(And did I mention that I have the best staff, ever??)

A HUGE thank you - to all of our wonderful vendors who participated:  Dom's Sausage, Chilly Cow of Arlington, Fiore Di Nonno, To Die For, Savory Food Importers, MS Walker Wine, Oz Pacific Wines, Harpoon Beer and Jessica's Brick Oven Bakery!

An even larger thank you to all the wonderful people who came out and donated...both my incrediby generous customers, and equally generous commercial counterparts in Melrose and in the wine/food industry.  It is your kindness and generosity that allowed us to help in a small way - someone who's life has been forever altered.

Boston Strong - Fundraiser for Stoneham's Marc Fucarile, 1 June 2013

The Boston Marathon bombings had such a tremendous impact, because while Boston is a major metropolitan city - it's still a very small world.  It is almost impossible to not know someone that was either injured, or at the very minmium - present - at the time of the tragedy.  It doesn't take 6 degrees of separation to have a personal tie for most of us, and that is amazing and scary when you stop and think about it.

We wanted to do a fundraiser, but rather than donating to the One Fund - we wanted to do something more personal - and have an event with proceeds to go directly to one victim.  After hearing the breadth of injuries that Marc Fucarile suffered, we felt drawn towards supporting him and his family, and have coordinated a fundraiser to benefit him specifically.

Please join us on June 1st, from 12-4 as we have beer, wine and food vendors and some incredibly outstanding raffle items!  15% of the total sales for the day are being donated as well as 100% of raffle donations. 

Here's just a sampling of what we have lined up for vendors (more being determined as of this writing, so keep checking back!): Distlers Pretzels, To Die For Dips, Dom's Sausages, Fiore di Nonno Cheese, Jessica's Brick Oven Breads,  Harpoon Beer, Oz Wine, MS Walker Wine and more!

Raffle Items donated to date (more being donated, updates to follow!):   2 collections of 6 bottles of Gauthier Wine & 2 Boston Strong Wine Glasses, (courtesy of Gauthier Wines & Diane Keohane), Bodyography Gift Certificate (Bodyography), Sinfully Tanned Personalized Tanning Certificate (Sinfully Tanned),  Madison Avenue Gift Certificate (Madison Avenue), Weber Gas Grill (Brad Hutchinson RE & Grays Appliance), Tiganello (MS Walker), Craft Beer collection (Craft Brewers), Beer donation (Mayflower Beer), Giant AFLAC duck (AFLAC) and more!

Please make it a point to come, because every dollar counts - and we want to make this the most successful fundraiser ever. 

Boston is strong...but most importantly, Boston is supportive of one another.

Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser....

After watching the fundraiser this past weekend on televison, I was able to see just how much devastation took place just south of us with Hurricane Sandy.  There was so little that was shown to us here locally in MA - that the full breadth of what devastation took place really was understandable - at least not to me, until then.

We all try to donate to different organizations, and we certainly at BHWG & BHWS do our more than fair share.  But after seeing what these people are going through and how they still have no power or gasoline - how can we not continue to do even more.

In the Melrose store, this Friday - we are hosting a wine & food tasting, and I will donate 10% of my sales to the Red Cross/Hurricane Sandy fund.  I will also have a bucket set up should anyone want to donate extra as well - I'm happy to include your donations with mine.

Please make it a point to come by, try some wine - and know that with every purchase, your contribution just might help someone with a new coat, or funds towards a new apartment while they're waiting to get back into their home - or maybe just food on the table.

Thank you...

Happy Anniversary...and Thank You!

October 19th is the 3 year anniversary mark of our Melrose store being open.  It's been so much fun getting to know all of our customers, and I certainly hope that you all enjoy us as much as we enjoy working with you!

Thursday, October 18th is our 3rd Annual "Thank You" Celebration, featuring over 18 different wines ranging from Champange to Port - and everything in between; Mayflower Beer will be sharing and tasting out their truly awesome local brews; and we are also featuring 4-5 different food vendors who are excited to share with you their culinary treats.  All food vendors participating are local and have delicious treats!  You will not want to miss this event....

Thursday, 10/18
5:30 - 8:30 pm

We hope that you are able to come and have a great time.  It's one way that we like to say thank you for your patronage, and let you know how much we really enjoy what we do. 

Hope to see you there!

Sometimes you feel like a nut...sometimes you don't!

People often ask me what type of wine I like to drink.
That's actually a more difficult question than you would think.
I don't have just one favorite.
For me, it's very mood driven.

When I give that answer, sometimes I'm met with a look that's a bit puzzled - as if to say "you don't have one style that you stick to?".  It's actually not a surprising reaction, because as a retailer I often find that most people find a favorite and then drink it until they're bored of it - and move on to something different.

I've just never been that way.

Actually, I don't pair my wine with food so much as you might think; I go for what I'm in the mood to enjoy.  It doesn't often conflict with my meal choice, and if it does - then I'll indulge a bit before dinner, set my glass to the side - and finish after my meal.

That's typically the advice I try to give to people when they're shopping.  If you're going to dinner at a friend's and want to bring a wine for dinner - absolutely, let's pair it up as best we can.  If you're cooking a specific meal to enjoy with a wine and want it to be perfectly aligned, sure we can do that as well.

But I try to encourage people when they are indulging without being food specific - to try different things; shake it up a bit.  So that they too can be mood driven for what they will enjoy in the glass. 

Sometimes in the dead of summer, I'll still crave a big California Cab - such as Stag's Leap Artemis.  Other times it may be a lighter Viognier.  Or in the winter, sitting by the fire - I still might just want the crisp acidity of a Vouvray.  It's just how the mood hits me.

So the next time you're shopping and you're looking to try something new - let us help you think out of the box - and out of your comfort zone.  You just might find something perfect to fall in love with.

Are you ready for some football...?

We are rip roaring and ready to go...the kids are back to school, the seasons are changing - and football season has started!

Lots of tastings in both stores this weekend!  Hope you can join us!
Beacon Hill: 
Thursday, 9/6 at 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Wines TBD, presented courtesy of Ruby Wine

Friday, 9/7 at 5:30 - 7:30pm
Wines TBD, presented courtesy of United Wine

Melrose:
Saturday, 9/8 at 11am - Join us as we pop a bottle of something that you're sure to love

Sunday, 9/9 at 1:00pm - It's Victorian Fair in Melrose!  Come visit one of the best downtown neighborhoods north of Boston and sample the local restaurants and business' fares & wares.  We're going to have a bottle or two open to celebrate the festivities, so stop on by!

GO PATRIOTS!

Labor Day Weekend....

We're not quite ready to see the summer end....are you?

Even still, the season change is rapidly approaching and so we're already starting to think of wines for your holiday dinners and gift giving.

It's never too soon to be prepared, is it?