Hey Free Rangers,
First, it’s not like me to backtrack so quickly on a principled decree, but our dear friend, Allie, on behalf of herself, the importer and distributor for whom she sells, and the winegrowers- Castello di Volpaia- apologized profusely, and sincerely, and brought me some very nice things over which to lick away (read sip away) my wounds. I also received a personal note from one of the owners of that strange and beautiful place, along with an invitation that I likely won’t soon be able to take them up on, but it was thoughtful nonetheless, and nothing that would have changed their lives at all had they not offered it. The only apology worth reading is one that didn’t have to be sent; much like the only meeting worth taking is one that can’t start until you arrive. And I did almost buy a tiny two-room apartment in that surreal hilltop medieval town of Radda on the spot (where they have only one market but four wine shops), so I might be back there before a year has passed after all. But first I need to make sure I’m welcome back in the country without a warrant being issued. Not long after returning that ridiculous rental car (fully insured of course), I received an ominous, and poorly translated e-mail stating something about an unnamed violation and that my personal information was being turned over to the proper authorities. But the timing couldn’t have been better, for the amens, not the phantom citation, as somebody cleaned us out of Volpaia Chianti Classico the day after Allie graced us with her… grace. I’d say that I can do better there, but she really is that disarming. That lady wears hand shredded cut-offs the way most of us don ball gowns and tuxedos. Wait, was I talking? Did they hear me?
Second, we couldn’t be prouder to announce that our own Wesley (Straton) is officially releasing her novel, The Bartender’s Cure, on Tuesday with an event at The Rockwell Place in Fort Greene! Full disclosure: this was completely in the works before we ever met her (we can’t take a shred of credit), and for some unknown reason she decided to come work with us anyway, for which we are quite grateful. I made sure to secure my own ticket before announcing this here to you all, but you can find the info here, if you’d like join the festivities: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wesley-straton-at-the-rockwell-place-tickets-348100336477. Ya know, I was an asshole rock critic before I was a reasonably affable wine blogger, and rule number one in cool-ville was to not gush. It’s way easier to come off all Mr. Freeze while unmercifully shredding some poor schmuck’s life’s work than when extolling genuinely about how much someone impresses the cr@p out of you (especially if you have to see that person at work really soon), but Wesley is really good at what she does. It is an absolute pleasure to know her, and I can’t wait to follow what will very likely be a storied career. If it isn’t clear, I have a metric shit-ton of respect for this particular human, and her prose. You really should read the book, it’s real (for fiction), and it’s delightful, even the deliberately rough bits. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry; you might learn something (about cocktails, service industry, life, and/or yourself): https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250855237/thebartenderscure. As a side note, I don’t lie very well. I’m not (always) morally opposed to the act, but I just don’t do it effectively, and always get caught. So, thank dog she’s pretty great at the whole writing thing because a lot of people who do that for a living are not, and that would’ve been a super awkward conversation.
So, I’ve asked Derek to (please) put together some kind of deal for this week involving cans. People seem to really like a bunch of mini/single-serving things, and I’m a little too distracted at the moment to have a more encompassing idea. Derek, thoughts?
Canned cocktails and wines are enjoying a very welcome renaisance. What used to be a very limited number of overly sweet, artificially flavored generic malt beverages has become an assortment of artfully crafted options that can (pun intended) satisfy the most discerning oenophile or bartender (‘mixologist’ is officially passé).
This sale will quite literally get you through the week, with a minimum of seven cans per deal pack; simply scale up depending on the number of adults in your household! The assortment includes classics, such as our favorite Gin & Tonic from Greenhook Ginsmiths, and the super crushable biodynamic Rosé from Chateau Maris. It also features the relatively new Death & Co. trio (Aurora Highball, Moonsail Fizz, &Ranger Buck) which beautifully relay the nuance of their signature style in the most convincing canned cocktails we’ve yet tasted. Honestly, pour it into a fancy glass with ice and toss a garnish on top, and your guests will never know. Rounding out the pack is one each: skin-contact white and rouge cans from Mad Med.
Newcomers Mad Med get a little extra attention this week with introductory pricing offered on a 12-pack (six of each). The L’Orange is a dry skin-contact white wine that showcases a Goldilocks dose of skin contact, approachable for noobs while still offering the complexity and intrigue that makes orange wine so neat. The Le Rouge dry red wine is similarly compelling and great with a chill, balancing tart acidity with smooth tannins and a medium body that you’ll definitely want more of.
(!) Click here for the hidden sale page (!)
retail: sale:
A Can A Day Seven Pack: $45 $35
Mad Med 12 Pack (6+6): $96 $79
*** Online exclusive! ***
*** This week only! ***
Cheers,
Jack
Proprietor
Free Range Wine & Spirits
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