Wines Around $10

Happy Friday! Let's talk [cheap] wine, shall we?

I went to another class at the Boston Wine School last week (read my recap of the last one here), but this time, it was all about Favorite Wines Around $10. And good wines at that!

Jonathon Alsop, who owns the wine school and teaches all of the classes, taught us a lot about how to find affordable wines - as well as what makes a wine affordable. Some fun facts/tips we learned that night include:

-The color of the label helps to determine the wine's price. For instance, brightly colored labels (pink, blue, etc.) make the wine cheaper, while more "sophisticated" colors (like black, for instance) can make the wine more expensive.

-A stained or torn label can take 50% off the price of the wine. Shop distressed!

-White wines and pink wines feature more bargains.

-Shop for wines made in Chile, Portugal, Greece, Spain, and South Africa.

-Go for grapes you've never heard of - they tend to be less expensive.

Now, onto the wines! Here are some tasty, affordable wines you should be pouring into a cup this weekend:

2012 Adega de Pegoes, blend of Fernao Pires, Moscatel, and Arinto (Setubal, central Portugal)

This wine - which retails at about $7.99 - was slightly sweet, acidic, and quite dry. For those who love their wines on the drier side, this one's for you.

2012 Cline Viognier (North Coast, California)

I tend to really enjoy viogniers, and this one was no different. It was actually one of my favorite wines of the night! This bottle usually retails for about $8.99-$9.99, and had great floral and fruity notes (think peaches and pears). The mouthfeel was nicely dry and sweet, without being overpowering in either department. 

2012 J. Lohr "Wildflower" Valdiguie (Monterey, California)

This red wine boasted a lot of raspberry and cherry flavors, while the nose featured plums, chocolate, and more cherries. The color of this wine was also noteworthy - it was a beautiful, vibrant magenta. (Hey, you drink with your eyes first, right?).

2012 Tenuta Rapitala Nero d'Avola (Sicily)

The smell of this wine was a little acerbic for my liking - it boasted lots of pepper and spice. The taste and smell was borderline sour, too. I wouldn't say it was a bad wine; it was just a little too strong for my liking. However, if you like the more spicy wines (vs. sweet), this could be a decent option for you.

2011 Tilia Bonarda (Mendoza, Argentina)

This was another one of my favorite wines of the night. Reminiscent of a malbec, this slightly tart wine featured lots of tannins, a pleasant spicy nose, and lots of fruit flavor. It paired very well with cheese, too!

2011 Chateau Roustaing (Bordeaux, France)

Our final wine of the night was this drinkable red wine, that usually retails around $10.99. The nose was less harsh then the red wines we tried before it, and the taste was fruity and ideally sweet. Personally, I thought this tasted a little stronger (alcohol-wise) than the others, but I think this wine could stand up well to food - such as steak, cheeses, and pasta with red sauce, to name a few.

[Side note: We started the night with a glass of NV 90+ Cellars "Lot 50" Prosecco (Veneto, Italy), which typically clocks in around $10.99. 90+ Cellars is located right above the Boston Wine School].

Overall, I learned a lot from this class, and will be seeking out quite a few of the wines we tried in my local wine store. I tend to buy the same wines all of the time, so it was great discovering some new-to-me wines - at prices I'd actually be happy to pay. 

What's your favorite affordable wine? I'm a big fan of the Apothic wines.

This class was complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Eventbrite Partnership + Wine Tasting at Boston Wine School

I have some exciting news for you guys: The EE has partnered with Eventbrite Boston to bring YOU recaps of some fun food and beverage events throughout Boston. Through June 30th, I have my pick of five events to attend that I think you guys would like to know about - especially considering most of these events are recurring. Eventbrite gave me a budget of $250, which covers the cost of tickets for all five events.

Earlier this week, I attended my first event as part of this exciting partnership. The event was called Grape Expectations: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and it was held at the Boston Wine School in Allston.

If you've never been to the Boston Wine School, it's a really cool space. Exposed brick walls, a giant chalkboard filled with wine facts, and a small kitchen area make it an ideal setting for a tasting. 

The tasting table.

Owner (and teacher) Jonathon Alsop had quite the spread of food out for us as everyone arrived. A wide variety of breads, cheeses, olives, and other small bites were prepared for us to enjoy. One notable favorite: Labne, a Lebanese cream cheese, served with crispy slices of baguette.

The goal of the tasting was to show the similarities between Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - two wines I used to think (before this class) had nothing in common. However, these two wines are from the same region in France (Burgundy, to be exact), and they both sit in the middle of the wine spectrum. To put it in very simple terms, Chardonnay is the white grape of Burgundy, and Pinot Noir is the red grape of Burgundy.

Over the course of the two-hour class, we tasted eight wines - four Chardonnays, three Pinot Noirs, and one blend. Before we started sampling, Jonathon taught us the "Seven S" system of wine tasting: see, sniff, swirl, smell, sip, swish, spit. Although the spitting part was not my favorite, Jonathon assured us that, during a big tasting like this one, spitting helps your palate better grasp the flavors in all of the wines you're trying. 

1980 Acacia Chardonnay and 2011 90+ Cellars "Lot 82" Chardonnay Reserve

The progression of wines worked very well, as we started with a sparkling NV Jacob's Creek Chardonnay - Pinot Noir Brut Cuvee, then worked our way through the Chardonnays before hitting the Pinot Noirs. I loved all of the wines we tasted (who's surprised?), but my favorites were the Jacob's Creek blend and the 2011 Kim Crawford Pinot Noir. 

Overall, it was a fun, interactive, and extremely informative class. I would definitely go back to the Boston Wine School for another event soon. To see a full listing of their upcoming events, click here.

Are you a fan of spitting at wine tastings? Do you think it's necessary? 

This post is part of an ongoing partnership with Eventbrite Boston. Eventbrite enables people all over the world to plan, promote, and sell out any event. It's also a destination for people to discover awesome events going on in THEIR city! Whatever your desires, hobbies, or interests - from photography workshops and wine classes to food festival and industry conferences, there's an event on Eventbrite for you to attend! Keep up on the goings-on in Beantown by following Eventbrite Boston on Twitter or liking them on Facebook! Planning an event? Go ahead and create an account to get started. 

Common Ground in Allston

Few restaurant owners are as passionate as Bob O'Guin, owner of Common Ground Bar and Grill in Allston. I recently attended a dinner at Common Ground, with the rest of the Boston Brunchers  (Dinnerers?), and I was really impressed with O'Guin's enthusiasm and obvious dedication to his restaurant.

I have to admit, before I walked into Common Ground, I didn't know what to expect. Several people told me that they remember the Common Ground being a dive bar and dance club, when they were in college. Thankfully, the atmosphere at Common Ground - at least on this particular Wednesday night - was nothing like a college dive bar. The dark wood walls were shining with cleanliness, and I immediately fell in love with the exposed brick wall behind the [also very clean] bar. The setting is very casual, but clearly fit for the older-than-college crowd.

Common Ground had prepared a tasting menu for us bloggers, but, per usual, my difficult vegetarian self caused Chef Jaime Suarez to create several veg-friendly dishes. I was really impressed at how no one on their staff flinched at the thought of having to come up with meatless dishes on the spot. Several bloggers in our group had other dietary restrictions, too, that were met with the same ease. Very hospitable!

After a few words from O'Guin, we dug into our first course, which was Sweet Potato Soup (soups range from $3-$7) topped with blue cheese crumbles and green onions.

The soup was wonderfully silky in texture, and I loved the combination of the tangy blue cheese with the sweet soup. The cheese definitely helped to make this a savory vs. overly sweet dish.

After the soup, my omnivore diners enjoyed Brisket Turnovers ($7) and Steak Salad ($10). I heard mixed reviews of the Brisket Turnovers, but since I didn't eat them, I can't tell you for sure. Regardless, I enjoyed a steak-less salad, made with mixed greens, pickled red onions, and feta cheese, served with grilled pita bread.

Unfortunately, there was a bit too much Green Goddess dressing on my salad - I actually had a hard time finishing it because of that. The description of the salad also promised cherry tomatoes, which were nonexistent (this was also the case on all but one salad at my table). 

Thankfully, the Three Grain Veggie Burger ($10) made me forget about the salad mishap. Common Ground's veggie burger is one of the best I've tried in/around the city, hands down (and I eat a lot of veggie burgers). 

Made with white beans, lentils, and chickpeas, this hearty burger was also topped with fresh tomato and cucumber fennel relish, as well as tarragon mayonnaise. The cool, creamy mayonnaise was the perfect complement to this crispy-on-the-outside burger, and I loved the hint of fennel seeds in each and every bite. The soft, airy burger bun was also ideal - it allowed me to actually taste the burger, while still providing a necessary "glue" to prevent everything from falling apart.

As a table, we also shared some Truffle Fries ($5), which are steak fries topped with truffle oil and Parmesan cheese. Pesto mayo was served on the side for dipping.

The fries were beautifully crispy on the outside, with a fluffy, piping hot interior (I wasn't patient enough to wait for them to cool down). I loved the thick curls of fresh Parmesan melting over the top of the fries, too. Seriously addicting.

To wash all of my food down, I enjoyed a glass of Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale, which was the perfect brew to warm up with...considering it was -500 degrees outside at the time.

Dessert ended the meal with a bang: Chocolate Butterscotch Bread Pudding (desserts are typically $7).

Topped with housemade whipped cream, this was one decadent dessert. I loved the combination of the rich chocolate with the sweet butterscotch, and the fresh whipped cream just enveloped everything as it melted. 

Overall, our meal at Common Ground was a very successful one, and I will definitely return for dinner or brunch (which is served seven days a week) sometime soon. The accommodating staff, the dedication to quality food, and the passion in O'Guin alone all made this a restaurant I'd highly recommend visiting. 

Where did you recently have a great meal out?

Our food was complimentary, but, as always, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Eat This: Shroom Melt at Sunset Grill & Tap

Portobello mushroom "burgers" are a pretty easy vegetarian dish for restaurants (especially bar/grille-type restaurants) to include on their menu. Sometimes, it feels like a cop-out. Can't the chef come up with anything a little more creative than grilling a portobello and slapping it between two buns? Thankfully, the folks behind Sunset Grill & Tap in Allston decided to get a little more creative.

Meet the Shroom Melt ($8.99): grilled portobello mushrooms tossed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, topped with roasted red peppers, buffalo mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and a little bit of basil pesto on a toasted ciabatta roll. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

The combination of the salty tomatoes with the thick, melted mozzarella and the meaty, flavorful mushrooms was delicious - not to mention innovative. I really appreciated how Sunset took that small extra step to make the same-old, same-old portobello sandwich just a little bit different (not to mention tastier).

What's something delicious you ate this weekend?

Bravo Pizzeria: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Although I dine out a lot for "work," there are very rare occasions when I meet chefs, business owners, and restaurateurs that are truly passionate, honest, and enthusiastic about who they are and what they do. Last week, I was fortunate enough to have met one such business owner and chef.

Michael Reza, owner of Bravo Pizzeria in Allston, was gracious enough to have me see his shop and try his food last Thursday evening.

Upon walking in, I noticed the pizzeria was large, spacious, and shiny with cleanliness. I was a little early for our meeting, but Reza's staff was quick to make me feel right at home, asking me if I'd like a drink or a slice of pizza while I waited for Reza. Although I declined their offers, I was more than pleased with the welcome I received.

Soon after I arrived, Reza came in - a bubbly, animated Italian man who I could tell was extremely grateful for my visit to his restaurant. After a quick greeting, Reza immediately had his staff bring me multiple, ginormous slices of pizza, including Barbecue Eggplant ($10 for a small; $15 for a large), Super Veggie ($10.50; $15.75), Sicilian ($15.25 for a 16"), Cheese ($8; $11) and Amalfi ($10.50; $15.95), named after the man (from Amalfi) who used to make Bravo's pizza sauce. The pizza itself is made with fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato slices.

Reza's Italian, so he joked that he expected me to eat all of this pizza myself, but deep down, I don't think he was kidding. My appetite might be abnormally large, but my stomach unfortunately isn't. So I did the best I could - and the food didn't even stop here. But let's talk about these slices first.

The majority of ingredients used in Bravo's pizzas are natural, healthy, and fresh - pineapples are one of the few items you see from a can in this restaurant. Even the crust is made without eggs, and the mozzarella is sliced right on the premises. Bravo is also one of the rare shops in the Boston area that sell Sicilian-style pizza, which maintained a delightfully crispy, airy crust and held a salty, garlic-y flavor compared to the thin crust cheese pizza, which was slightly sweeter with little garlic taste. The Barbecue Eggplant was innovative and delicious, and is the perfect alternative to Hawaiian pizza for vegetarians. Topped with thinly sliced, breaded eggplant coated in barbecue sauce with large chunks of pineapple, this slice was nothing epic, but certainly delicious and unique, in a good way.

As Reza and I chatted, and I gorged on pizza, he continued to bring me samples of his food that he is clearly so passionate about. Reza even told me that his rule for the pizzeria is that if it's not clean enough or if the food's not good enough for his 4-year-old daughter, it's not good enough for anybody. Another thing I should mention: As we sat and talked, every single customer that walked in knew Reza, and Reza knew them all by name. 

In addition to the pizza, Reza proceeded to bring me out samples of his fresh, shredded chicken and tuna salads, his homemade meatballs, and his marinated chicken (marinated in a top secret recipe), which were all obviously fresh and much more flavorful than what you can get in a "regular" pizza shop. However, one other slice of pizza Reza brought out ended up being my favorite of the evening - Bravo's Chicken Pesto ($11.50; $16.95), topped with Reza's homemade pesto, chunks of breaded chicken, broccoli and diced tomato. 

Thick, airy crust smothered in cheese and perfectly oily, basil pesto. This slice was seriously addicting. Although I was well past the point of reaching my stomach capacity, I could have easily eaten this whole slice - but forced myself not to.

As the night went on, Reza and I continued to talk about his passion for pizza, for his restaurant, and for the customers that eat there - some of them who eat there multiple times every single day of the week. The fact that everybody seemed to know each other, and definitely knew Reza, proved to me that this is a quality neighborhood restaurant - which is, unfortunately, very hard to come by these days. 

A few nights after my initial visit with Reza, Z and I stopped in for a slice after grabbing some beers at Sunset Grill and Tap. The place was packed, and Reza was eager to greet us and chat with us, winning Z over, too, with his friendliness and his food. Z plans to bring his father there for a slice in the near future, and I plan to bring anyone that will come with me. Bravo Pizzeria is truly a place worth visiting.

Disclaimer: I was fortunate enough to try Bravo Pizzeria's food thanks to the generosity of Reza and his staff. Despite their hospitality, all opinions expressed in this post are 100 percent honest and my own.

Have you been to Bravo Pizzeria? If yes, what's your review?

Best deal this week: $2.50 brews and $10 steaks at Sports Depot

I haven't been keeping up with March Madness this year, and I rarely keep up with sports in general - but I can pretend I know what's going on just as well as the next person, and I can sure as heck partake in the social events that come with watching sports. In other words, I can easily get into a sports game when there's beer involved, especially when the beer costs $2.50.

Luckily for me, and for those of you who may or may not enjoy watching sports, the Sports Depot in Allston is celebrating March Madness (or the remainder of it, rather), by serving up $2.50 domestic drafts, along with $3 Miller Lite bottles and $10 steaks. All right, so you might not be able to get a filet mignon at this joint for $10, but you can still fill your stomach with marinated steak tips (normally $15.99), New York sirloin ($19.99), and 10 oz. of top sirloin steak ($16.99).

In addition to their March Madness deals, Sports Depot's got some other deals throughout the week, too. One very notable deal: Appetizers are 99 cents from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the purchase of any two beverages. Appetizer options include Loaded or Cheese Nachos, Buffalo Fried Fish Fingers, and Chowder. To see more deals throughout the week, click here.