Join us for a visit to the world of Zinfandel this weekend. Our trip will carry you from Lodi and the Central Coast to Amador and Sonoma counties. We’ll start off with a white wine from Spain, and our lineup will include:

*Ramon Bilbao Albarino 2011 – $14.99
*Poppy Lodi Zinfandel 2010 – $14.99
*Monkey Business Lodi Zinfandel 2006 – Was $15.99/Now $12.99
*Plungerhead Old Vines Lodi Zinfandel 2009 – $14.99
*Sextant Central Coast Zinfandel 2008 – $15.99
*Karly Pokerville Amador County Zinfandel 2009 – $13.99

We’ll also have a premium pour ($3 for a 2-oz. pour):  Haywood Estate Sonoma County Zinfandel 2006 – $26.99

Friday’s tasting will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We’ll taste the same wines on Saturday, too, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. See you here!

This week we’re delighted to feature selections from around the globe courtesy of 55 Degrees, a regional distributor of fine wines. Our lineup will take you from the Napa and Russian River valleys to Argentina, France and Spain, and it’ll include:

*Matthew Fritz Russian River Chardonnay 2010 – $11.99
*Chateau Pesquie Viognier 2010 – $13.99
*Evodia Old Vines Garnacha 2010 – $9.99
*Ave Mendoza Malbec 2010 – $14.99
*Stelzner Napa Valley Claret 2008 – $16.99
*Matthew Fritz Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 – $13.99

We’ll also have a premium pour ($3 for a 2-oz. pour):  *Medlock Ames Bell Mountain Ranch Red 2007 – $29.99

Friday’s tasting will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We’ll taste the same wines on Saturday, too, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. See you here!

We’re headed to the Northwest this week as we taste luscious new wines from Oregon and Washington. This emerging region is creating a louder and louder buzz in the world of wine, due especially to Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris from Oregon, and Merlot, Syrah and red blends from Washington. Daniel Schmerr of Cutting Edge will be our guest host, and our lineup will include:

*King’s Ridge Oregon Pinot Gris 2010 – $14.99
*Seven Hills Riesling Columbia Valley 2010 – $13.99
*Seven Hills Planing Mill Red Columbia Valley 2008 – $19.99
*King’s Ridge Oregon Pinot Noir 2009 – $18.99
*CMS Columbia Valley Red Blend 2009 – $14.99
*Independent Producers La Bourgeoisie Merlot 2009 – $13.99

We’ll also have a premium pour ($3 for a 2-oz. pour):
*Cadence Red Mountain Red 2008 – $27.99

Friday’s tasting will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We’ll taste the same wines on Saturday, too, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. See you here!

It’s a weekday night and you want a glass of wine. You want something tasty, but you don’t want to open an expensive bottle that you’re saving for a special occasion. It’s Weekday Wine time! That’s the theme of our tasting this week — wines that have great taste and great value. They’ll help you and your pocketbook make it to the weekend, when you can splurge. Our lineup will include:

*Domaine De Pajot Les Quatre Cepages 2010 – $9.99
*Three Pears Pinot Gris 2010  – $11.99
*Amberhill Secret (Red) Blend 2010 – $7.99
*Kinkead Ridge River Village Cellars Cabernet Franc 2009 – $11.99
*Ciconia Tempranillo/Syrah/Touriga Nacional 2010 – $8.99
*Alfredo Roca Malbec 2009 – $11.99

We’ll also have a Weekday Wine premium pour ($2 for a 2-oz. pour):
*Wild Thing Old Vine Zinfandel 2008 – $19.99

Friday’s tasting will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We’ll taste the same wines on Saturday, too, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. See you here!

This week we’re pleased to feature selections from Wine Trends, a regional distributor of fine wines that specializes in boutique and emerging wineries from around the globe. Craig Cracchiolo of Wine Trends will be our expert guest host, and our lineup will include:

Glen Carlou Paarl Chardonnay 2009 – $12.99
Vina Alarba Old Vines Grenache 2008 – $8.99
Falesco Umbria Merlot 2009 – $14.99
Cline Cashmere 2010 – $12.99
Cline Cool Climate Syrah 2010 – $12.99
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 – $19.99

We’ll also have a premium pour ($3 for a 2-oz. pour):  Sequana Santa Lucia Pinot Noir 2009 – $29.99

Friday’s tasting will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We’ll taste the same wines on Saturday, too, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. See you here!

Winter weather might be here at last, but our wines this week will
warm your heart with drops of sunshine from Italy. Wines from Italy

tend to be a little higher in acidity than big, fruity California wines,

but that acidity makes your mouth water and is what makes Italian wines

such great companions  for food of all types! Our lineup will include:

*Moris Vermentino 2010 – $14.99

*Araldica Barbera 2008 – $12.99

*Briccotondo Langhe Dolcetto  2010 – $14.99

*Stemmari Nero D’Avola 2010 – $7.99

*Orion Wines Sette Vigne 2009 – $19.99

*Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva 2008 – $18.99

We’ll also have a premium pour ($3 for a 2-oz. pour): Batasiolo Barbaresco 2007 – $29.99

Friday’s tasting will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We’ll taste the same wines on Saturday, too, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. See
you here!

2012 is almost here! All of us at O’Bryan’s would like to thank you for your patronage and friendship over the last year, and wish you a very prosperous and joyous New Year!

A reminder: Because of the holiday, we won’t be tasting wines this week. We’ll resume our wine tasting next year on January 6 & 7. Also, please take note of our holiday hours: We’ll be open Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday (New Year’s Eve) from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday (New Year’s Day) from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

And now, on to the celebrations!

The holiday season is in full swing, and we all know that with parties, dinners and family get-togethers coming up, you can’t have too much wine on hand! This week we’ll taste six selections that will help carry you through Christmas and New Year’s, and come out in good shape on the other side. Our lineup will cost $5 per person, and will include:

Villa Chiara Prosecco – $11.99
Venta Morales Organic Tempranillo 2009 – $9.99
Cable Car Red (nonvintage) – $9.99
Chessman Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – $12.99
Trentadue Alexander Valley Estate Zinfandel 2009 – $17.99
Fetish Playmates (Shiraz/Mataro/Grenache) 2008 – $17.99

We’ll also feature a premium pour ($3 for a 2-oz. pour): Bennett Lane Napa Valley Timeless Red – $29.99

Friday’s tasting will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday’s tasting of the same wines will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. As always, we’ll serve complimentary cheese and crackers!

This week we’ll taste four hearty reds, a crisp & festive sparkling wine from California, and a delicious white blend, all of which will help you stay in a warm, celebratory mood no matter what the temperature might fall to outside. Our lineup will include:

Clara Benegas Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc 2009 – $12.99
Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs – $19.99
Chateau Grand Rousseau Bordeaux 2009 – $9.99
Sinfonia Tempranillo 2010 – $14.99
Fleur De Lyeth Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Malbec 2010 – $11.99
High Flyer Centerline Syrah/Zin Blend 2007 – $19.99

We’ll also feature a premium pour ($3 for a 2-oz. pour): Cameron Hughes Lot 300 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, which is rumored to include juice from Mondavi’s famous Opus One – $32.99

Friday’s tasting will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday’s tasting of the same wines will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Only $5 per person – and as always, we’ll serve complimentary cheese and crackers!

See you here!

Our hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please drop by O’Bryan’s for any last-minute wine, beer, liquor or liqueur that you need. We’ll be glad to help you find whatever you’re looking for.
Have a great Turkey Day!

And remember, because of the Thanksgiving holiday, we won’t be tasting wines this weekend. However, we hope you wine lovers (and you know who you are!) will rejoin us the weekend of December 2-3, when we will taste the wines of Francis Ford Coppola.