Weekly Bottles

Weekly Bottles Description
The description of the Weekly Bottles section goes here.

Portada Rosé

Cost: Average price $8-9

Where buy now: Zipp’s Liquors

Grapes: Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Tinta Roriz. (Portuguese word for Tempranillo)

Region: Portugal

Vintage: 2014

Portada Rose
Portada Rose

Gah! It’s $7.99! I drank my first bottle in one sitting!

 

This Rosé is a blend of frolicking grapes that must have been BFFs growing up. Combined they create an easy drinking, refreshing beverage. It’s dynamic but soft; sensual yet practical. [Perhaps this Princess has finally found her Portuguese Prince?]. Okay so this wine isn’t technically a “Red Wine of the Week” being pink and all. However, it’s made from red grapes, so that’s good enough for me.

 

I should have just bought a case of the Portada Rosé. But no, I’m an asshole who likes to waste time by going back and forth to the liquor store on a daily basis. You know the people who claim their coffee barista knows both their name and beverage du jour? Yep, that’s my relationship with the liquor store sales clerks.  The only thing missing is my name on the paper bag.

 

Let me save you the trouble, buy this wine by the case, seriously. Pour yourself a glass and inhale the aromas of apple and strawberry engulfed in Portuguese minerality.  This stunner is _thee_ Rose of the summer (aka TROTS), as deemed by me, Thee Savvy Lush.

 

I just love it.

 

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Do you enjoy wine? Are you in a wine slump? Are you a cheapskate? Do you know so little about wine you avoid the stuff? Do you just want to get down with your bad self for a night of frolicking? Folks, I’ve come to your rescue. Let me help you find the wine you didn’t know you were looking for?  Look to your right, I’m on social media. Find the platform of your preference and hit me up. No time for socializing? Simply sign up via your email address and you’ll receive a notification every time I post about another wine.

We support the "Drink Pink" movement.
We support the “Drink Pink” movement.

If you are slow to rise after a night of one too many,  you may watch it online. Check out the feature, Minnesotan to Meet.

Sending you Champagne wishes and Cabernet dreams. xoxo

The Savvy Lush’s favorite wine shops in the Twin Cities.

I’m often asked, “Hey S.L., where should I buy wine in the Twin Cities?” I usually answer this question with a question.

“Where do you live?” because let’s be honest, you’re going to shop where it’s convenient. There are several stores all around the metro. I hope you have your go-to haunt with friendly staff who know you and your palate so well you rarely walk out with a stinker.

If not, or you’re wanting to switch things up, I recommend my favorite wine shops in the Twin Cities.  (The only one that didn’t make the cut was Costco – this is hit or miss. Don’t ask for help because it won’t be helpful; you have to do your own research but that research can yield you some great deals!)

Morelli’s – East Saint Paul

  • Morelli’s isn’t going to blow your mind. It’s not full of sexy gimmicks, or newfangled splendor. It’s a no frills, get in and get out kinda haunt. But, they’ve been doing it for decades and that’s gotta count for something. From what I could tell, it does. Likely [and appropriately] grandfathered in as both a deli and a liquor store, this cash ONLY place is delightfully old school down to the cute old man who delivers your libations to the car. Grab some Chianti in a fiasco (straw basket) and hit the freezer aisle for a made-in-house frozen pizza.

Solo Vino – Cathedral Hill, Saint Paul

  • Chuck and company will entertain you as much as they’ll direct you toward a wine you’ll love. Their rustic yet tidy shop is open and spacious allowing for a sizable tasting bar and room for your pooch to crotch sniff. Plus, they may have the largest Rose selection in the city. Chuck is a huge proponent of the “drink pink” movement. Want to know more? Their Rose Fest is on May 16.

Thomas Liquors – Grand Avenue, Saint Paul

  • An unpretentious store on Grand Avenue [no, really], Thomas Liquors isn’t a boastful booze mart- but it has every right to be. Peruse the narrow aisles and you’ll find an impressive selection of wines. I love it because of their knowledgeable staff. If you stop by, ask Peter for a recommendation, then thank me later.

Little Wine Shoppe – Como Saint Paul

  • This cozy little place isn’t joking when they call themselves “little”. Wee is more like it. This place reminds me of little bottle shops in Italy. They have a modest selection, but make no mistake: this place is about the people. Everyone is greeted with a hometown smile and impeccable service. Pam is a sweetheart. You’ll want to open your bottle right then and there.

Zipp’s Liquors – Seward, Minneapolis

  • Zipp’s has changed since my days of buying ½ barrels of Michelob Amber Bock. It’s just undergone another facelift and the store has never been better. Now under the direction of Somm. Erica, the selection is vast and never stale. She gets exciting new things in all the time. Belly up to the new tasting bar, and sip on samples.

South Lyndale Liquors – Southwest Minneapolis

  • This is a place I don’t get to often but when I do, I ask myself, “why don’t I come here more often?” Mitch is a personable and down-to-earth dude. It ain’t fancy but hot-damn do they get some bitchin’ wines! Ask Mitch for a Beaujolais reco or something he found on his recent trip to Italy, and he’ll gladly oblige.

Hennepin Lake Liquors – Uptown Minneapolis

  • Cute and charmingly cramped, this should be your go-to booze destination in Uptown. They feature a surprisingly diverse selection of vino, beer and now they even take credit cards! Way to be so “21st Century” guys.

Sentyrz Market – Northeast Mpls

  • This is the Northeast equivalent to Morelli’s. Booze and food married together, but done Eastern European style. Sure, you get some yokels buying up Fireball 100 and Colt 45, but Peter has a quietly impressive wine collection. I steer clear of the produce, but go in back to the meat market for a hunk of pig, then grab some Pinot to wash it down.

Byerly’s Ridgedale – Minnetonka

  • There are very few things that get me to leave the city. Byerly’s Ridgedale is one of them. This shop comes with Rodney Brown: a friendly, bellowing man who prides himself in caring for his customers just as much as he cares about wine. Remember, wine is personal. Do you let any Tom, Dick or Harry cut your hair or give you a physical? No, hell no. This is the shop to get privy about new or rare wines, deals on limited stock and any time Rodney says a wine is “stupid good”, I buy it. I’m such a push over.