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Friday, July 31, 2009
Kroger’s new wine department kicks it up a notch
KETTERING — The newly remodeled and reopened “Fresh Fare” Kroger store at 530 E. Stroop Road promises to kick the competition for wine and beer sales up a notch in Dayton’s south suburbs.
The store has plenty of well-entrenched wine competition nearby, including Arrow Wine & Spirits’ Far Hills Avenue store in Kettering, Dorothy Lane Market stores in Oakwood and Washington Twp., and Trader Joe’s in Kettering. But Kroger seems to have made a decision to compete more aggressively for a larger slice of the grape, judging by its larger wine department, new tasting bar and ambitious tasting schedule.
Dean Breeding — who opened the store’s original wine department when the Stroop Road Kroger first opened in 1989 and went on to help open wine departments in Kroger stores in Springboro and Englewood — has returned to oversee the “Fresh Fare” Kroger store’s wine shop, and he seems genuinely stoked about the resources that the Cincinnati-based grocer has committed to the effort.
“This is not your Daddy’s Kroger,” Breeding said.
The Kettering store now has an attractive new tasting bar, and Breeding said he’ll host occasional wine dinners in the store’s new Bistro and will offer wine tastings twice weekly. Here’s the tentative tasting schedule:
— Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., when the emphasis will be on wines priced $12 and under and the cost will be $2 for four samples, and
—Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., when the focus will be on wines priced $15 and up, and the cost will be $5 for four samples.
— Thursday is beer night, with a tasting of microbrews or imported beers scheduled for every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The reopened Kroger has about 2,600 wine selections, Breeding said. It is particularly deep in California wines, although its European fine-wine selections appear to lag behind most of its competitors. Here’s a sampling of some of the high-end Californians in the grocery store’s reserve room:
— Stag’s Leap Fay Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $91.
— Heitz Cellars Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, $105.
— BV Vineyards Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $120.
— Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, $121
There is a bit of deja vu to all of this. I recall when Kroger opened this Kettering store in 1989, the wine department’s shelves were filled with high-quality wines, and Kroger folks were touting the new wine department. But either the wines didn’t sell or when they did sell they weren’t reordered, because the wonderful selection gradually dissipated, and fine wines were slowly replaced by much cheaper ones.
I asked Breeding: Why should we believe the same thing won’t happen again?
“Well, I’m here,” he replied. Kroger has provided many of the amenities that Breeding has been advocating for, and he is determined to make this wine department succeed. “I won’t recommend a bottle of wine that I haven’t personally tried,” he said.
The weakness in the store’s selection of French, Italian and German wines will hurt Kroger in the eyes of many serious wine enthusiasts, but the tasting bar, the new weekly tastings, the opportunities for more interaction with winemakers and winery representatives, and the addition of another venue for wine dinners are all encouraging news for wine lovers. And at the end of the day, more people will be exposed to the wonders of the grape, which should help all wine retailers.
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Wines from sea to shining sea — and all for us
This luminous list of wine tastings, beer tastings, special dinners and other events comes to Uncorked courtesy of a Dayton-based wine listserv which compiles it, quietly and efficiently, week in and week out. Now that , my friends, is public service.
Frankly, I think the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce should use this list as a selling point for luring businesses and jobs to the region, don’t you agree? Click on “continue reading” if the events do not appear immediately below, and cheers!
P.S. don’t forget to tell us your Restaurant Week experiences and read about ours here. For most restaurants participating in the promotion, tonight’s your last chance (7-31-09) to get the $20.09. three-course meal deal.
Jay’s Kitchen Door
Friday, Jul 31, 2009 4-8 pm NV Taittinger Grand Francoise 2006 Chehalem Pinot Noir 2006 Sassetti Pertimali Rosso 2005 Chateau Potensac 2005 Chateau Paveil DE Luze
Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 1-6 pm St Supery Sauvignon Blanc 2007 2007 IL Brucitao Baby Guado 2007 Flowers Perennial Red 2005 Cakebread Cabernet
RSVP 222-2892 for all Luncheons and Dinners
Crabfest Luncheon Saturday August 15, 2009 12:30PM $65 Sweet Corn Crab Soup with Curry Oil Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce Alaskan King Crab, Dungeness Crab and Jonah Crab Claws steamed with Summer Vegetable Ragout Lemon Souffle with Blueberries
Lobsterfest Luncheon Saturday September 19, 2009 12:30PM $65 Lobster-Corn Fritters with Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce Watermelon-Feta Salad with Roasted Lemon Vinaigrette Whole Steamed Lobster with Roasted Potato, Vegetables, Steamed Mussels and Shrimp in Garlic Butter Carrot-Pecan Cake Roulade
Arrow Far Hills - Kettering
Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 11-4 pm 2008 New Age White “Tinto” Cocktails 2007 Selby Russian River Chardonnay 2005 Silverado Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Gougenheim Merlot 2007 Mas De Guiot Grenache Syrah 2007 Tait “The Ball Buster”
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood
Friday, Jul 31, 2009, 5:00-8:00 pm St. Christopher ‘08 Gewurztraminer Stoneburn ‘08 Sauvignon Blanc Domaine Anne Gros ‘05 Bourgogne Amano ‘07 Primitivo Creta ‘06 Ribera del Duero Robert Foley ‘07 Charbono Brown Bag
Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 2-6 pm Santa Margarita Prosecco Sketchbook ‘07 Chardonnay Domaine Drouhin ‘06 Pinot Noir Cetamura ‘07 Chianti Luca ‘07 Malbec Croix de Beaucaillou ‘03 St. Julien Bonus Bottle
DLM Washington Square
Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 5-8 pm Chateau Nadeau Bordeaux Blanc 2007 David Girard Viognier Roussane 2007 Louis Jadotr Santenay 2005 Creat Ribera del Duero 2006 Encore Wine
Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 12-5 pm Sant Florentina Torrontes 2008 Darby & John Chardonnay 2008 7 Daughters Red NV Selene Cabernet 2005 Termes 2006 Robert Sinsky SLD 2005 Encore Wine
All Chablis tasting on Thursday August from 5 to 8 PM
Dorothy Lane Springboro
Friday, Jul 31, 2009, 3:00-7:00 pm 2008 Selbey Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Selbey Chardonnay 2006 Selbey Pinot Noir 2006 Selbey Merlot 2006 Selbey Cabernet Sauvignon
Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 12-5 pm 2007 Vinum Cellars Viognier 2007 Soter North Valley Pinot Noir 2006 Orzada Malbec 2006 Orzada Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Orzada Carmenere 2005 Peter Franus Red Blend
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook 848-2161 Tuesday - Thursday, Saturday noon - 7:30 pm, Friday noon - 8 pm www.cuveewinebar.net
Wines for Friday, Jul 31 - Aug 5, 2008 Stoneburn 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Il Cuore 2007 Chardonnay Domaine Lafond 2008 Rose Chateau de Roquefort 2008 “Corail” Rose Capitoso 2003 Tempranillo Manousakis 2004 Table Wine Burgess 2004 Cabernet
Beer: Ayinger Dopplebock Saturday Food: TBA
July 30, 2009 5:30 pm ‘til close RICK FANNIN: folk guitarist
Focused Tasting: Tuesday Aug 4, 5-7 pm Vintner Select offers the new vintages of our favorite value priced (under $12) Spanish wines fresh off the boat! Cheese and meat small plates will be available
Wednesday Sandwich Night, Aug 5, 2009 Sausage Surprise Sandwich
Arrow Centerville
Saturday Aug 1, 2009 11 am - 5pm Wine Tasting! 2005 Schramsberg Blanc De Blanc. 2007 Kunde Sonoma Chardonnay. 2007 BV Napa Chardonnay. 2006 Bouchaine Carneros Pinot Noir. 2006 Bouchaine Sonoma Syrah. 2006 Moon Mountain Cab Sauv. 2005 Silverado Napa Cab Sauv
Rue Dumaine www.ruedumainerestaurant.com
Tuesday, Aug 4, 2009 5-7 pm 2006 MARC TEMPÉ Riesling Alsace Zellenberg 2007 ELIZABETH SPENCER Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino 2007GUARDIAN PEAK Frontier Red South Africa
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne
Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 11-4 pm Value Wines!
Wednesday, Aug 5, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm Tangent Viognier 2008 Walnut City Wineworks Pinot Noir 2007 Cupcake Vineyards Petite Sirah 2007 David Girard Mourvedre 2006 Cuatro Tatos Bierzo 2007
The Wine Gallery Outlet, at the 2nd Street Farmers Market
Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 8am - 2 pm Value wines!
Trader Joe’s in Kettering.
Tastings Thursday 6:00-8:00 and Sunday 4:00-7:00 Charles Shaw Australian Chardonnay (2008) South Eastern Australia. Joseph Handler Riesling (2008) QbA Pfalz, Germany. Rootstock Sauvignon Blanc (2007) AVA Lake County, California. Chateau Tour Bigorre (2007) AOC Cotes de Castillon, France. Joseph Handler Sweet Red Dornfelder (2008) QbA Rheinhessen, Germany.
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 www.atasteofwine.org
This week’s wines: Montinore Borealis Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc Picket Fences Chardonnay Gazela Rose David Girard Grenache Urban Red Wine Carson Peak Cabernet
August 3 6:30 - 8:30 pm MEET THE WINEMAKER of Row Eleven Wines. August 13 7 - 9 pm Italian Wine tasting. Introducing Sun Wines August 14 8 - 10:30 pm LIVE music with Cary Noble August 27 - South African Wine Tasting
Bruning’s Wine Cellar
Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 3-6 PM 2007 Tangent Riesling 2007 Tangent Viognier NV Spann Betsy’s Backacher Red 2005 Spann Merlot 2005 Spann MoZin
Wednesday, Aug 5 5-8 PM and Saturday, Aug 8 3-6 PM: 2007 Mercer Estates Riesling 2007 Mercer Estates Pinot Gris 2006 Bergevin Lane Calico Red 2007 Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah
The Culinary Company Cross Pointe Center
Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 12-6 pm Wines and Beers Beer from Southern Tier Crème Brulee Stout Jah-va Coffee Stout Heavy Weizen unfiltered wheat ale
Wine from Smoking Loon Pinot Grigio Cabernet Sauvignon Pinot Noir
Cork and Vine, York Commons Blvd
Week of Jul 31, 2009 White Flight: Columbia Crest Grand Estates Riesling, Columbia Valley Washington State Hogue Pinot Grigio, Columbia Valley, Washington State, 100%Pinot Grigio Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand 100% Sauvignon Blanc Estancia Chardonnay, Monterey 99% Chardonnay, 1% Viognier
Red Flight: Rodney Strong Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma 97% Pinot Noir, 3% Syrah Robert Mondavi Private Selection Red Meritage, Monterey Rosa Del Marchese Barbera,D’Alba, Piedmonte 100% Barbera Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark Horse Tavern 209 Byers Rd . Miamisburg , tasting
Friday Jul 31, 2009 5 - 8 pm
The Melting Pot 453 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd, Centerville
Wednesday August 26, 2009 7 pm, Wine Dinner RSVP at 567-8888 $59 Wines from Rodney Strong and Davis Bynum with Winery rep. Liz Rutherford
Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar, Springboro, OH 45066 937-748-3807
Thursday 6pm - 8pm and Saturday 11:30pm - 6pm Restaurant Week Menu http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/498807/2ef81cb845/1525001270/d154ef67fd/ Ca’ Ronseco Pinot Grigio Rosa del Marchese Barbera Mondanela Chianti Sariz
The Village Wine Cellars 48 East Mulberry Lebanon, Ohio 45036
Friday, Jul 31, 2009 5:30 - 8:00 pm. Wine Tasting
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069. 513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com
Friday, Jul 31, 2009 4:30-7:30 & Saturday, Aug 1, 2009, 3-6 pm Washington State Wines 2007 Syncline Subduction Red 2006 Mercer Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills
Jungle Jim’s RSVP 513 674 6008
Saturday, Aug 8, 2009 1 - 3 pm $20 Don’t Blush…It’s Just Rose Wines
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