Stylish & Easy Summer Wine Party

Have you been to The Wine Chap? It’s a fantastic new wine store near the BelleMeade Publix.  My husband just went by about 40 minutes ago (I’m writing this Wednesday night right after dinner).

He knew I’d been in to write this post, but I wanted him to go in with a blank slate, so little info did he have.  Well, he burst back through the kitchen door and simply said, “They are so nice and that place is huge.”  Yep, we are both officially fans!

So, it’s hot as all get out.  Jungle Hot.  Africa Hot.  Nashville Hot. Too hot to fuss with a gathering, but the slow down in pace begs for a get together none the less.  Let The Wine Chap simplify the process.

Richard Payne is The Wine Chap, a London native who fell for a Nashville gal and moved here 12 years ago.  He grew up in a wine lovin’ European family with access to all those great European wines.Basically, he knows wine because he was raised around wine.  It’s second nature and he can steer you in the right direction.

Call them up, or stop by and ask them to put together a mixture of wines from around the world. Richard has picked out six here (get two of each):

France: William Fevre Chablis 2007 - $17.99
Argentina: Don Tiburcio Red Blend 2005 – $16.99
Italy: La Cala Vermentino 2007 – $12.99
Spain: Finca El Paso Monastrell 2007 – $12.99
West Coast: Broadside Edna Valley Chardonnay $19.99
Tennessee: Arrington Vineyards Red Fox Red Blend – $24.99

What a great way to branch out and try some new wines.  The Wine Chap offers a 10% discount on a mixed case.

When I wanted to know what to pair these wines with, I immediately contacted Jay Frein, co-owner of Margot Cafe & Bar and Marche. They continually serve up fresh local offerings and are top of my list for best places to eat out in Nashville.  I knew Jay would steer us right.

For food, Jay suggests that with a wine offering this broad to select a range of foods as “it is probably more fun to do it a little more loosely. Often things go together that you would never really expect.”

Even better, you can call up Marche catering and tell them what you are doing and your budget, and they will put a lot of this together for you (see sample catering menu here.  I’m hungry just reading this!).  So…..a stop by The Wine Chap and then over the river and up the road to Marche and you are done! Pretty good idea to skip the heat of the kitchen, huh?  And you get to support two really great guys who have made Nashville home for the better of us all who live here.

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