When the cat’s away, the mice will play… and this Thursday night is definitely playtime! Lily is headed to Spain for a week, and in her stead, we’re partying with our friend Rob from T. Edward, some Spanish wines (plus my favorite Cali sparkler), and cheese from Eastern District, tonight from 6-9!

Ostatu Rosado Rioja 2012 

For the second year running, this rosado from Rioja is one of our faves in the fridge. A sustainable blend of old-vine grapes( 50% Tempranillo, 40% Garnacha, and 10% Viura), this is the ultimate hot weather refresher. Tart citrus meets juicy red fruit and finishes dry. We just got a fresh shipment of the Govino glasses delivered… I think it’s high-time to drink pink wine out of doors. $15

D. Ventura Vina do Burato Ribeira Sacra 2011

This fresh, medium bodied Mencia from 80 year old organically grown vines can take a bit of a chill, making it an ideal summer red. Vibrant and aromatic, with pretty florals, raspberry fruit, and a cool minerality. Drink picnic style with roast beef sandwiches or over a tv marathon in the A/C. $16.50

Salinia 25 Reasons Sonoma County 2011

I could totally give you 25 reasons to drink this all natural, organic, sparkling Sauvignon Blanc from California, but you really only need one: It’s DELICIOUS. Dry as can be, cider-y, lemon-y, minerall-y… It’s a terrific aperetif, and the mouth watering acidity is somewhat addictive. With no additives, native yeasts, and natural fermentation- I’ve convinced myself that it’s actually healthy, and If I had to choose one thing to drink all summer, this would be it. Did I mention I love this wine? $23

THURSDAY NIGHT TASTING

LET THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND BEGIN!

It feels like summer out, we have the AC blasting, tattoos bared, and some great tunes spinning. We’re ready to party! Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, in welcoming our friend Melissa from Banville and Jones Wine Merchants, who will be pouring three stellar sippers, ideal for drinking upstate, at the beach, or on the roof. I can’t tell you how excited I am for the warm sunny days to come! We’ll sweeten the deal with bread from Marlow & Sons and cheese from Eastern District!

Tangent Albarino Edna Valley 2011

Smack dab between Monterey and Santa Barbara lies the Edna Valley, a tiny valley with one of the coolest, longest growing regions in California. The grapes for Tangent are grown and harvested sustainably, and see no oak in the winemaking process, giving us a pure expression of a grape we generally only see grown in Rias Baixas, Spain. Notes of lime zest and pineapple shine through in this refreshing and delightful white! We especially appreciate the screw cap for easy access when you’re drinkin’ away from home. $19

Love Drunk Rose Oregon 2011

We’re running dangerously low on this delicious rose, so get it before it’s too late! Our friend, former sommelier, and fellow Brooklynite Andre Mack is the brains (and palate) behind this operation, producing spectaular wines from Oregon and Washington State. Inspired by the Champagne region of France, his rose is and blend of 15% Pinot Noir and 85% Chardonnay. It’s a kiwi, strawberry, raspberry lemonade for grown-ups, tailor-made for days like this. $18

6 Hats Cabernet S. Africa 2010

Intense, spicy, and full-bodied, this is a wine for MEAT. Certifiable Fairtrade vineyards are the source for the 6 Hats grapes, and the unique terroir of South Africa really shows through in the wine. Smoky and deep, with concentrated, bold blackberry and black cherry fruit, and freshly cracked pepper. Some time spent in both American and French oak imparts an incredibly smooth finish that lingers and lingers. $12

Primavera! Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, for another awesome Italian tasting with our buddy Ben from Soilair! He’s pouring some delightful spring picks alongside cheese from ED!

Scarbolo Friulano 2011

This sunny, medium-bodied northern Italian white is bright gold in the glass, with a BIG personality. With notes of zesty citrus peel and yellow apples, and a rich, lengthy finish, it’s a great wine to pair with springy pasta dishes- think ramp spaghetti or shrimp scampi. $21

Fontezoppa Ribona 2009

Have you ever even heard of the grape Ribona? We hadn’t, until Ben brought us a bottle from revered Marche producer Fontezoppa. Oh boy, y’all… it’s a treat. Cool sea breezes from the Adriatic blow over the vineyards, endowing the fruit and the resulting wine with a cool minerality and delicate salinity. A refreshing and unique alternative to Muscadet. $25

Pietranera Rosso di Montalcino 2011

Although warmer days bring cravings for whites and roses, we happen to love it all, year round. There are certain days and certain dishes that just call for a good glass (or bottle) of red. Enter: Petranera’s Rosso! This versatile, delicious Sangiovese is great with burgers and pizza alike, as well as spicy tacos or richer fish dishes, and the beautiful label makes it extra worthy of gifting your dinner party hosts or significant other’s parents. $25

Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, for a tasting with our DJ friend Clarke from Rosenthal Wine Merchants, one of our most favorite importers. Rosenthal specializes in wines that really exhibit terroir, the unique places where the grapes are grown. These wines are story-tellers, and you’re transported with every bottle to the fields from which they originated. We’re so excited to share them with you over records from Clarke’s personal collection and cheese from Eastern District!

Commanderie de Peyrassol Rose, Provence 2012

One of our favorites year after year, Peyrassol Rose is just what we want out of a pink wine. A pale-salmon colored blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah from healthy quarter-century old vines, it’s got a pretty red fruit-flower aroma and vibrant stone fruit and chill minerality on the palate. A trip to Provence in a bottle. $19

Domaine La Manarine, Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2011

100% Grenache lends this cheery Southern Cotes du Rhone red some spice and concentration. After almost two years of maturation, the wine is bottled without filtration, so the pure grape-y Grenache fruit shines through. A versatile food wine that pairs well with burgers of both the meat and veggie variety. $15

Thursday Night Tasting: Terry Theise Estate Selections

Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, for a tasting of three Austrian and German whites from the distinctive portfolio of legendary importer Terry Theise. A wine world deity, Theise is well known for his impeccable taste, devotion to winemakers and terroir, and indefatigable quest to discover some of the best wines in the world. Terry’s manifesto is admirable:

• Beauty is more important than impact. 
• Harmony is more important than intensity. 
• The whole of any wine must always be more than the sum of its parts.
• Distinctiveness is more important than conventional prettiness. 
• Soul is more important than anything, and soul is expressed as a trinity of family, soil, and artisanality. 

Rain or shine, we’re thrilled to share a few of Terry’s gorgeous finds tonight over cheese from Eastern District!

Von Winning Riesling, Pfalz 2011 

New York City is a take-out town. The Dandy crew orders OTT Thai once a week, at the verty least. And what’s dinner without something to drink? Von Winning’s organic, natural, un-fined, unfiltered Riesling is a winner to have on hand (or have delivered) for spicy take-out nights. It’s uber sunny and bright with just a delicate touch of residual sugar to balance out the firiest of foods. $20

H&M Hofer Gruner Veltliner 2011

Gruner Veltliner has for years been everyone’s favorite easy summer guzzler, so much so that even we forgot that the grape can make more exceptional, refined wines as well. Terry Theise, of course, has many stellar Gruners in his book, and this one from H&M Hofer is a fresh reminder. Medium bodied, with sharp minerality and soft aromatics, a true stand-out among it’s watery, colorless pop-top peers. $22

Nikolaihof Gruner Veltliner Federspiel 2011

Nikolaihof is an “organic, bio-dynamic winery whose wines express the earth, the whole earth and nothing but the earth”, and their Gruner is OUT OF THIS WORLD. It’s richly perfumed and absolutely brimming with character, from home-y baking spices to the most fragrant white flowers, with lush pear fruit and a pretty dose of R.S. I think we’ve drank half the bottles we received of this, and it will be a treat to share it with you tonight. $35

Italian Reds… Naturally!

Kick off your weekend at Dandy’s weekly tasting! Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, for a sampling of three out-of-this-world all-natural Italian reds from our friends at Critical Mass Selections, alongside cheese from Eastern District!

Croci Gutturnio Frizzante 2010

At a recent dinner party, Lily and I had an eye-opening food- pairing with this super-dry and naturally frizzante Barbera-Bonarda blend. Someone brought salted chocolate-caramels and it was one of those life-changing “AH-HA!” moments. Also a fabulous match with cheese, which you can see for yourself tonight! With admirable structure, minimalist black fruit, and the zippiest, tiny bubbles, it’s like nothing we’ve had before! $19

Il Cancelliere Irpinia Aglianico 2008

This unfined, unfiltered, unsulfured, organic, vegan Aglianico hails from Campania in Southern Italy. It’s about as pure an expression of the grape as you can find in a bottle. Deep, smoky, and bold, with around 14% alcohol powering the concentrated fruit and structure. Spicy italian sausage, eggplant parm, and juicy steaks will all benefit from a hook-up! $25

Vigna Ciapin Barbera d’Asti 2009

The organically-grown grapes for this intense, uncommon Barbera are dried ripasso-style before vinification. The wine, once bottled, is incredibly bold and lush, with notes of punchy red berries and preserved black cherries with a lingering, leathery finish. It’s an unforgettable wine that craves food…a warm, spicy pizza from Paulie’s would be an awesome match. I personally say go for the Hellboy or the garlicky vegan Daniella Spinachi! $24

Thursday Night Tasting: Organic Vinos de España

Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, for a special tasting with our friend Chris Barnes from rock star Iberian importer José Pastor Selections! With a focus on honest, sustainable, grower wines from Spain, José Pastor and his team have brought us some of our favorites over the years and we’re delighted to feature a few tonight over cheese from ED. And don’t forget to check out our AWESOME new mural from illustrator Scott Lenhardt!

Benito Santos Saiar Albarino 2011

This brilliant, low-sulfur, organic white from Galicia has long been a favorite of the Dandy staff, and tonight you’ll see why. It’s remarkably herbal and elegant, and perfectly balanced, making it one the fish friendliest bottles on the block. Get out your cookbooks and plan a meal that deserves this wine! $18

Vinos Ambiz Titulciano 2010

This wacky, experimental blend of 60% Tempranillo, and 20% each Syrah, and Graciano hails from just Southeast of Madrid. The grapes are grown organically and fermented naturally- pure, bright, unadulterated, and full of character- it doesn’t get much springier than that! $19

Suriol Negre 2011

Suriol’s organic red is a fruit-forward, easy drinker from Penedes, a region known better for their sparkling Cavas than their still reds. Garnatxa endows this gem with juicy red fruit while Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo) hits it with some earth and spice. I envision drinking this with cheese on my roof in the warm evenings to come. $17

Alfredo Maestro A Dos Tiempos 2011

50/50 Tempranillo and Garnatxa, this time from Ribera del Duero. The organic grapes are hand harvested at two different times (hence the name), and destemmed and crushed immediately, then aged a minimum if five months in French oak barrels. The resulting wine is a more concentrated, fuller bodied style. Time to fire up the grill! $19

Meanwhile, back at the store in Brooklyn, THURSDAY NIGHT TASTING TIME IS HERE!

Spring has sprung (sort of) and we’ll happily drink to that. Join us tonight, 6-9 pm, with our friend Kelli from Polaner Selections, who will be here pouring three awesome, eco-concious wines alongside cheese from Eastern District!

Valle dell’Acate Frappato Vittoria 2011

A brilliant ruby-red wine from mineral rich volcanic Sicilian soil, this organic Frappato is a light, springy refresher. Bright and ripe, with notes of bing cherries and vibrant raspberries. It’s so ridiculously easy drinking that you’ll be tempted not to share. $20

Camino de Navaherreros Bernabeleva 2011

This fresh, medium-bodied, fruit-driven Garnacha hails from a biodynamic and organic vineyard located just outside of Madrid. Hints of pomegranate and dried cranberries make this an awesome wine with pork… like your juicy Easter ham. $15.50

Trapet Beblenheim Gewürztraminer 2008

This delightful biodynamic Alsatian white is about as aromatic as they get. Full-bodied and richly perfumed with hints of white flowers and baking spices, with a flash of acidity and a finish goes on for daaaays. Spicy curry, please! $22

Tonight, 6-9 pm, we’ve got a bit of a stand-0ff: old world vs. new, with a couple cheeky and cheerful new world whites and two seriously classic French wines. So join us this evening to see where you stand while we taste with our friend Kevin from The Vine Collective, over cheese from ED!

Kerner Estate Splendiferous Marlborough 2011

Adjective: Splendid, “A splendiferous Sunday dinner”

Synonyms: Splendid, Gorgeous

Kerner Estate is a small, family run winery in Marlborough, at the top of New Zealand’s south island. Do yourself a favor and click through for snapshots of one of the most beautiful vineyards on earth. Fittingly, Splendiferous is a transportive wine, a Sauvignon Blanc with lush tropical fruit, sunny vibrancy, and a crisp, lingering finish. 20+ hour flight not necessary! $19

Brouhaha Paso Robles 2011 

Noun: A noisy and overexcited critical response, display of interest, or trail of publicity Synonyms: Sensation

The vineyard describes their Pinot Gris as “an easy-drinking, porch-pounding beauty of a white wine”, and I can’t get that fun description out of my head! I picture drinking this light and bright guzzler on my roof, in the park, on the ferry… the possibilities are endless once the weather co-operates! A great pairing for salads and shellfish alike. $16

Domaine du Pas St. Martin Saumur Brut 2009

No more jokes- this is a serious sparkling from a serious region with centuries of history. 100% Chenin Blanc, grown and vinified organically by a mother and son team on their family estate in the Loire Valley, in soil known for it’s high mineral content. This celebratory sparkler is refined, luxurious, and elegant- a class-act, so you don’t have to be. $25

Mission La Caminade Cahors 2009

The vineyards of Cahors, dating back at least 2,000 years, lay equidistant from the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Pyrenees, planted on the banks and hills of the Lot River valley. The soil content varies greatly, and viticulture here takes skill. Chateau La Caminade has that, in spades. This blend of 85% Malbec and 15% Merlot is charming and supple, boasting dark fruit and impressive structure. $15