Our rack of large format bottles is quite literally overflowing, and stacks of big bottles can now be found around the store. We have six(!) different Cru Beaujolais in magnums. The Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes Côte de Brouilly Cuvée des Ambassades is a favorite in our wine shop for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner pairing. This is 100% Gamay from a Beaujolais Cru distinguished by its situation on Mont Brouilly. The lower slopes and surrounding areas make up the Cru of Brouilly but Côte de Brouilly comes only from higher up the slope (Mont Brouilly rises to 1,600 feet). The family has seven hectares that contribute to this wine with vines that average 40 years of age. The label is a lovely addition to a traditionally set Thanksgiving table but what’s in the bottle is the most important. The fruit is destemmed and there is no carbonic fermentation so they avoid harder tannins and keep the fruit pure and pretty, not overly fruity. We recently tasted the 2021 vintage out of a regularly sized bottle and found granite minerality on the nose with some cherry and a hint of leather with great freshness overall. It has a really sexy mouthfeel and we can’t wait to taste it out of magnum…and then drink some! We received 54 magnums but cannot reorder, so don’t wait too long. . . . #thanksgivingwines #thanksgivingwinepairings #crubeaujolais #cotedebrouilly #shoplocal #uptownneworleans #magazinestreet #wineforthanksgivingdinner #nolawinemerchant

We are happy to be partnering with Lauren Luquet, of Luquet Wine Co, to bring Jessica Mozeico, of Et Fille Wines in Willamette Valley, Oregon, to NOLA Wine Merchant for a free tasting of her wines. The idea for the winery began in the 1980s when Jessica’s father Howard was making wine in his garage. In 2003 Et Fille (‘and daughter’) was founded and Jessica continues on with her daughter now that her father has passed. Fresh Viognier, the best Gamay from Oregon we have ever tasted plus some Chardonnays and, of course, Pinot Noirs! We are very much looking forward to tasting and learning with Jessica on Wednesday November 13th, we hope you will join us! This is a free event and reservations are not needed. If you would like a reminder prior to the tasting, please follow the link in our bio to be added to the reminder list. . . . #TryBeforeYouBuy #neworleanswinetasting #winetourism #willamettevalley #NewOrleansEvents #oregonwinery #etfillewines #etfillepinotnoir #luquetwineco #winetravel #neworleanswineshop

BURGUNDY 101 TASTING on November 7 and 14 Details for reserving your spot can be found in posts or through our website.

When Scott Shull started the Oregon winery, the name "Raptor Ridge" was a natural choice, inspired by the hawks, owls, and kestrels that patrol the Pacific Northwest vineyard. In search of a simple and memorable icon for their labels, they settled on a single feather. It symbolizes their surroundings and their support for local Raptor Rescue foundations, which work to rehabilitate injured birds and educate the public on preserving habitats. Honoring the law that prohibits non-indigenous people from possessing raptor feathers, Raptor Ridge teamed up with Portland photographer Michael Dahlstrom for high-resolution images of real feathers used in bird rehabilitation, which served as the basis for their label illustrations. Today, each wine features a unique feather from local birds, like the Peregrine Falcon for Chehalem Mountains AVA and the Barn Owl for the Pinot Gris and the Rosé of Pinot Noir, which we also stock. The Raptor Ridge wines we carry at NOLA Wine Merchant all display minerality. The Pinot Gris is properly dry and crisp, the Pinot Noir Rosé has lovely lift and length and their Grüner Veltliner can hold its own against Austrian versions, it is not just a curiosity. The link in our bio will take you to the entire story as explained to us by Annie Shull. . . . #behindthelabel #winelabeldesign #raptorridgewinery #oregonwinecountry #oregonwildlife #grunerveltliner #willamettevalley

A two-part event featuring a tour of Burgundy through two days of tastings, one devoted to Bourgogne Blanc and the other to Bourgogne Rouge, hosted by Geoff Worden. While there is no way to encapsulate Burgundy in two tastings you will certainly have a better understanding after attending. If you’re already a Burgundy fan and understand the basics, this is a great opportunity to sample 10 wines at each event and find some new favorites. If you’re at all interested in Burgundy and want to explore, this is a fantastic way to do it for a reasonable price. November 7th &14th 4:30-6:30pm (arrive by 6:00pm to taste all the wines) $55 per class, or sign up for both for $100 – visit the link in our bio or call the store to register. We will focus on wines that have specific sourcing to help you learn what to expect if you want to spend a bit more and explore village level wines and Premier Cru. Burgundy offers fantastic rewards when you find the right wines, but it can be an expensive place to choose blindly and hope you find a winner. Our job is to improve your chances of finding the right wines for you! . . . . #redburgundy #whiteburgundy #winetastingexperience #nolawineshop #magazinestreet #wineshopneworleans #nolaevents #learnaboutwine #winetourist #uptownneworleans #winetraveler

On a recent lazy Sunday, Geoff and Anne prepared the classic Bolognese Meat Sauce from Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. Good Bolognese always takes time and this one calls for a minimum three hour cook. It does only require occasional stirring once it’s really underway, so you can be doing other things while it simmers. We tried a few wines that certainly got along with the dish, but the one that provided that ideal synergy of elevating both the wine and the food was Angelo Negro Prachiosso, Roero DOCG 2019. Angelo Negro traces their viticultural history to 1670 in the Roero region of Piedmont, Italy, and they first planted the Prachiosso vineyard that same year. This comes from the classic 2019 vintage and is 100% Nebbiolo. The firm, fine tannins of the grape are absorbed by the richness of the Bolognese while the fruit continues to speak. Hints of leather, classic for Nebbiolo, play well with the hint of sweetness from the carrots and also the deep savoriness of the dish from the long, slow cooking. Link in bio for the recipe, but we recommend the cookbook as it is a delight to read -available @octaviabooks . . . #perfectpairing #angelonegro #wineshopneworleans #foodandwinepairing #marcellahazanbolognese #prachiosso