Shortcut to Bottlerocket News

> Bottlerocket hits front page of Crain's
> Eclectic Salon launches this month
> Artist William Wegman's dogs adorn the shop
> Do you send out corporate gifts?
> Sample the world in upcoming class

New wines in store

Spitting in public? Wine for breakfast? Purple teeth before noon? What's happening to our staff?! Never fear, it's tasting season. That means we're laboring over long, linen clad tables with rows of bottles, swirling and sipping dozens of wines. It's a tough job. Really! And it's all for you. Drop by and ask about newest arrivals.

Late last month we were honored to appear on the cover of Crain's New York Business magazine in a story about the new generation of wine stores. Read it here.

Join us this month for the season's first Eclectic Salon, Bottlerocket's popular event series.

On Wednesday, September 26, 6 to 8 pm, we kick off the season with a New York Times best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize winner. Tim Weiner will be in the store telling unbelievable but true stories about America's spies. He'll sign copies of his just released book, Legacy of Ashes: The History of the C.I.A. We'll open wines for you to taste. It's free. Please, no poison-tipped umbrellas. See below for more events.

© William Wegman

Otis is back from vacation. He raised his eyebrows ever so slightly upon discovering photographs by artist William Wegman hanging on our walls. Stop by to admire these amazing dogs (and belly-rub Otis). The framed prints are on loan from our friends at nearby Senior & Shopmaker Gallery. A show of Wegman's newest work opened this week at the gallery, while a Wegman video installation plays continuously near the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. Complete and total comic relief. Not to be missed!

For the enviably organized among us, it's not too early to plan corporate gifts in time for the holidays. Send us a spreadsheet with your client contact information and we'll take care of the whole nine yards. Tell us your budget. We'll choose, wrap and ship everything, even adding hand-written note cards if you wish.

Tired of muddling about, wishing you had a firmer grasp on the wide and wooly world of wine? Sign up for our intro class, Explore Wine, starting Tuesday, Sept. 25. You will taste 24 wines from around the world during four successive Tuesdays. Relaxed and informal but very informative. Details on this and more classes below!

Finally, a note to all you single straight men out there. In August Bottlerocket hosted GET SOME, a weekly wine tasting for singles. It was a raging success! People hooked up, prizes were won, the vibe was fun. We plan to re-launch GET SOME this Fall, adding games to amp it up. Given that women way outnumbered men, take this as a "heads up" to all you guys looking for love. Spin the bottle, anyone?

Latest & Greatest

This week, we show off a selection of Australian wines. Some just landed in the store, others are old favorites.

Paringa. Cabernet Sauvignon 2005.
Australia > South Australia. Red. $12

For 75 years the Hickinbotham family has either been playing Aussie rules football or making wine, sometimes both. Faced with drought-like conditions in '05, David Hickinbotham cut his yields and fashioned a super-intense, ripe and juicy Cabernet.

Mollydooker. Shiraz "The Boxer" 2006.
Australia > South Australia >> McLaren Vale. Red. $22

Mollydooker may be Aussie slang for left-handed, but the praise for Sarah & Sparky Marquis' sophomore southpaw is definitely not back-handed. Awarding it 95 points, Robert Parker said of the 2005, "This Shiraz is a knock-out!" and selected it as "The best value wine in the world." Take that all you right-handed wines!

	Keith Tulloch

Keith Tulloch. Semillon.
Australia > Hunter Valley. White. $27

The Tulloch family has been making wine in the Hunter Valley for 4 generations, with Keith starting his own winery in 1997. Blending early picked grapes with fully ripened lots, barrel fermenting a small portion and focusing on terroir and personality over mass production, he has created what may be Australia's most elegant and complex Semillon.

Henry's Drive. Pillar Box Red 2006.
Australia > Padthaway. Red. $13

This is a big, fun crowd pleaser from 3rd generation winemakers, the legendary Longbottom family and winemaker Chris Ringland. Robert Parker calls this "an unbelievable value." We say twist, drink and repeat!

Kaesler. Shiraz "The Bogan" 2005.
Australia > Barossa Valley. Red. $66

Dry grown and hand-picked from a vineyard planted in 1899 (a portion of which was re-planted in 1978), Keasler's "The Bogan" is a dark purple monster hiding in a heavily toasted American oak barrel. A perennial critic fave, catch this one before it's all gone!

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.

Classes

Explore Italy. $60

Monday, September 17, 6:30 to 8pm
Robert Scibelli, Instructor

Grapes grow all over Italy. There are more than 900,000 registered vineyards in the country. Where to begin? Get the basics on Italian wines. Taste and discuss whites and reds from the north and south. Learn about better-known varieties such as Sangiovese (Chianti) and Nebbiolo (Barolo) while you discover hidden gems along the way.

About Robert Scibelli: Robert began his wine career working in and managing Vino Italian Wine & Spirits, a New York retailer of Italian wines. At Vino, Robert oversaw the importing and retailing of a wide range of Italian vintages as well as consulting to Vino's sister restaurant and wine bar, I Trulli and Enoteca I Trulli. While earning his Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the prestigious Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), Robert began lecturing at International Wine Center, eventually departing from Vino to work at the Center full time. Robert is National Development Coordinator of International Wine Center, overseeing the expansion of WSET Programs in the United States. Robert also lectures on Italian wine, Spirits and Sparkling Wine at the Advanced Certificate and Diploma levels.

This class starts promptly at 6:30 and ends at 8:00pm. Only 18 lucky participants can be accommodated, first come, first serve. Full payment in advance required and no refunds possible.

Explore Wine: Four Week Introductory Series. $175

Starts Tuesday, September 25 at 6:30 pm
Ellisa Cooper, 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.

•	Sept. 25 – Explore the Major Varieties Know the noble and notable wines of the world and a bit of history.
•	Oct. 2 – Explore Old vs. New World Learn how a region, grape grower and wine maker can influence the final product.
•	Oct. 9 – Explore White Dig deeper into the huge variety of white wines.
•	Oct. 16 – Explore Red Taste through the world of red wine. Conclude with practical advice on continuing the adventure.

About Ellisa Cooper: Ellisa possesses an extensive, almost encyclopedic, knowledge of all things wine-related. She is currently developing her own media concept for Television and DVD titled "The Two Things You Need to Know About Wine." Her own education in wine began while working in several of the great New York restaurants where top chefs Terrance Brennan, Waldy Malouf, Marco Moiera, Dave Pasternack and Marc Murphy prepared foods that demanded great wines. She is currently a Master Sommelier candidate through The Court of Master Sommeliers. Ellisa is a founder of the retail shop Discovery Wines. Ellisa's mantra is simple, "The only way to learn wine is to drink wine."

Explore Wine classes start promptly at 6:30 and end at 7:30pm. Only 18 lucky participants can be accommodated, first come, first serve. Full payment in advance required and no refunds possible.

How to Navigate a Restaurant Wine List. $45

Monday, October 15, 6:30 to 8 pm
Michele Anderson, Instructor

Do you ever feel the hidden gems on a wine list are buried from your view? Wouldn't it be cool to make confident, informed choices when you're choosing the wine? New York is a notoriously difficult place to make good restaurant wine choices: prices are high and choices are many. In this smart, practical class you will learn to decrypt wine list language and deconstruct NYC wine lists. You will taste six wines and take away insider knowledge.

About Michele Anderson: Michele worked as Sommelier at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney, picking wines for the largest wine cellar in the Southern Hemisphere. Since then, she has launched Wine Angel, a wine import business, introducing Australia's leading boutique wines to US consumers. She created Mirrabooka, her own Australian wine brand, and started GreatAustralianWines.com, a specialty Internet business. Wine Angel was acquired in 2007 by Australia's second largest public wine company, McGuigan Simeon Wines Ltd. Michele is now the General Manager responsible for their North American business.

This class starts promptly at 6:30 and ends at 8:00pm. 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

Happenings

Tuesday, September 18, 5 – 8 pm
Tasting: Wines of Chile

Gary Itkin, manager at Bottlerocket, just returned from a jam-packed journey to Chile, where he tasted his way around the country. Check out some of Gary's finds at this low-key, free tasting.

Wednesday, September 26, 6 – 8 pm
Eclectic Salon: Tim Weiner

	Writer-raconteur Tim Weiner

Come meet Pulitzer Prize winning NY Times reporter Tim Weiner as we celebrate his just-released book Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA. Weiner is a brilliant storyteller (and fellow wine lover, by the way). Mother Jones magazine calls his new book "an epic, eye-opening history of an agency out of control. Weiner presents 60 years of bungled covert operations, blatant criminality, lying to the public, and breathtaking incompetence." Reading, book signing and wine tasting.
Free. Reservations not required.

A life in cookbooks

Wednesday, October 24, 6 – 8 pm
Eclectic Salon: Judith Jones

What do M. F. K. Fisher, Madhur Jaffrey, Julia Child and Lidia Bastianich have in common? A prodigious and beloved book editor named Judith Jones. One of the food world's most admired figures, Ms. Jones has written an evocative memoir, The Tenth Muse. Join us in welcoming Judith Jones at Bottlerocket for this reading, book signing and wine tasting.
Free. Reservations not required.

Wednesday, November 7, 6 – 8 pm
Eclectic Salon: Elder Wisdom Circle

Move over Ann Landers. Step aside Dr. Phil. Former businessman Doug Meckelson and L.A. Times reporter Diane Haithman have written a book collecting advice from our elders. Embodying the adage "age is wisdom," the Elder Wisdom Circle is a group of more than 600 wise "cyber-grandparents" between the ages of 60 and 105 who offer their collective 45,000 years of experience in the form of sage advice to anyone in need of help. Come meet the authors and schmooze with the elders. Reading, book signing and wine tasting.
Free. Reservations not required.

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@bottlerocketwine.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!