Another Penny Sale is fast approaching, and as an employee, I am trying to mentally and physically prepare myself for another hectic, exhilarating time at work for the next two weeks. I've taken a trip to the massage therapist to prepare my back, I've done all of my laundry because who knows when I'll have time to do that again, and I've just got back from the grocery store so now I am fully stocked on cheese and crackers so I can properly binge on some wine. The only thing I have left to do is plan my attack for the penny sale. Figuring out what I want, and what I want to pass up when I finally choose to stop working and start shopping, so I decided to make a post about all sorts of good penny sale wines for this years sale. This will include new wines and some old favorites, and all sorts of price ranges as well. I'm going to try to cover most varietals, but I don't have time to get them all, so there will be a few that I miss.
Moscato
I figured that I would start with everyone's wine they either love, or love to hate, and that is the Moscato. I figured that I had better pick my mom's favorite and that is the Babarosa Moscato d'Asti, selling at $16.99 for the first bottle, $0.01 for the second. Honestly, this one is a bit of a departure from most of your traditional Moscatos. With lots of bright apple and pear notes, this one is sweet but not sugary, which is welcome that it is not the overly sweet mess that some Moscatos tend to be. Regardless, I think most would agree with me that this wine is a very easy drinker and an excellent wine.
Pinot Grigio
I tend to stay away from Pinot Grigios because I haven't found too many that are super complex and flavorful. I used to think that they were supposed to be a little more bland and easy to drink, until I tried out Granite Hill Pinot Grigio. This one is bursting with flavor! Peach on the nose, with a super fruit forward palate of apple, pear, and grapefruit, this wine will likely be the first Pinot Grigio that I go out of my way to stock up on during the Penny Sale, especially when it is priced at $14.99 for the first bottle, 1¢ for the second.
Sauvignon Blanc
It looks like everything is starting to warm up nicely, which means that Sauvignon Blanc season is almost upon us. Sauvignon Blanc is starting to become one of my favorite varietals of wine with its generally citrusy, refreshing flavors and the Les Deux Moulins Sauvignon Blanc is no different. This one is really bright and easy to drink with nice grapefruit and tropical fruit notes and is honestly a steal at the regular price of $13.99, but when you can get another bottle for 1¢, this one is a crazy good buy.
Chardonnay
This one was tough for me to pin down. Chardonnay is in an interesting place right now with wineries not sure whether to make a big, buttery Chardonnay, or one that is aged less and fruit forward. Personally, as I'm sure you readers have found out, I'm partial to the fruit forward whites, but I have a good middle ground pick for this one in the Pine Ridge Carneros Dijon Clones Chardonnay. Lightly oaked, this chardonnay moves to a nice green apple flavor, with hints of lemon zest and pear. Complex and flavorful, this southern Napa Valley wine is worth a splurge at $28.99 for the first bottle and 1¢ for the second.
Pinot Noir
After an employee tasting of a few of our penny sale wines, the one that left me the most interested was the Urgency Pinot Noir. This one is a bit atypical of a normal Pinot Noir with notes of smoke right away on the nose, leading into more smoke and light cherry and a little bit of cranberry on the palate. This wine might not be for everyone with its smoky tones, but it sure was interesting for me! Pairing this with a nice, slow cooked rack of ribs would make for one tasty meal. This one will cost you $19.99 for the first and 1¢ for the second bottle.
Red Blend
I've had The Culprit Red Blend on quite a few Penny Sales by now, but I honestly didn't think this wine was anything more than a cool label until recently. This high in Syrah and Zinfandel Red Blend is bursting with flavor with lots of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries on the taste, and baking spices like nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon on the finish. The best part is that I don't think this one needs much of a pairing, because it does so well by itself. Pick up this one for $19.99, then a penny.
Cabernet Sauvignon
I'm going to cheat here and pick two Cabernets for this post, because there are some real standouts in this years sale that I couldn't pick just one. I'll start with my value pick and that one is the Granite Hill Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon. This one has a very fruity nose, with nutmeg and vanilla on top of a nice, light black cherry flavor, and a really easy finish without too many tannins. I didn't want to be too partial to a particular winery, but Granite Hill did a really good job making some really spectacular wines at a very reasonable price. This one is priced like the Pinot Grigio at $14.99 for the first, then $0.01 for the second.
My last pick I wrote about in my Holiday Buying Guide, but I think that it deserves some more love, because it is easily my favorite Cabernet out there and that is the Method Cabernet. This one hails from the Napa Valley and is lightly oaked and buttery, with loads of black cherry and a quick, snappy dry finish that leaves you wanting so much more. This one pairs phenomenally with any sort of steak you want to eat. I paired it with a venison tenderloin wrapped in bacon and it was a wonderful meal with a baked potato and some green beans. Spend a little extra on this one at $39.99 for the first and 1¢ on the second, and you won't regret spending that little extra.
Cocktail Time
Kenny and Dean's Spiked Raspberry Lemonade Amalgamation/Collaboration
5 Raspberries
1 bar spoon simple syrup
1 oz gin (Boodles)
2 dashes orange bitters
12 oz Fargo Brewing Company Kenny's Lemonade
Lemon wheel and Raspberry for garnish
In a pint glass, muddle the raspberries and simple syrup together, Add the gin and orange bitters, stir and then strain the seeds out if desired. Add Kenny's Lemonade and garnish with a lemon wheel and a raspberry.
Wow, this is a tasty, fun summer drink. Super refreshing with lots of sweet raspberry and tart lemon, this would make for a spectacular summer drink to drink on the porch while taking in the sunshine. Side note, I didn't strain out my seeds and pulp because while i wouldn't mind less seeds, the raspberry pulp gives so much flavor that I don't want to miss. Regardless, even non beer drinkers should try this out because it is wonderful.
Hopefully my wine list will help you out on this hectic journey that we call the Penny Sale, because, honestly, wine is hard, and trying to figure out what to get is crazy difficult without a helping hand.
P.S. Please drink responsibly, please.
P.P.S. Also, don't drink and drive.
P.P.P.S. All views and opinions are mine, and don't represent those of my employer. All items in this post are subject to availability (if you don't show up early, I can't promise that there will be much left!)
P.P.P.P.S. I bet that the very first accident happens right away in the morning at the 45th Street store. Picture this: its 8:03 and somebody is trying to take too sharp of a turn into the Cabernet aisle, and runs into a display and knocks over a bottle in an endcap display with their cart. If that happens to be you, its fine. Let us know right away so we can get it cleaned up, and then we will let you get away without having to buy extra bottles that you can't keep.
P.P.P.P.P.S. My cocktail title could maybe use some workshopping, I think...
About the Author
My name is Dean Lipinski and I am a supervisor at Happy Harry's Bottle Shop at the 45th Street South location. I have an almost three year tenure, and bartend on the side during the summer at one of the local golf courses. With only three years experience, I'm still learning a lot, but I'm starting to feel more comfortable teaching as well. During my free time, I enjoy games of all sorts, card, board, and video games, I am a huge Minnesota Vikings fan, and I love the outdoors and fishing and hunting. Oh and I love long walks on the beach... of the Red River... by myself...
MoscatoI figured that I would start with everyone's wine they either love, or love to hate, and that is the Moscato. I figured that I had better pick my mom's favorite and that is the Babarosa Moscato d'Asti, selling at $16.99 for the first bottle, $0.01 for the second. Honestly, this one is a bit of a departure from most of your traditional Moscatos. With lots of bright apple and pear notes, this one is sweet but not sugary, which is welcome that it is not the overly sweet mess that some Moscatos tend to be. Regardless, I think most would agree with me that this wine is a very easy drinker and an excellent wine.
Pinot GrigioI tend to stay away from Pinot Grigios because I haven't found too many that are super complex and flavorful. I used to think that they were supposed to be a little more bland and easy to drink, until I tried out Granite Hill Pinot Grigio. This one is bursting with flavor! Peach on the nose, with a super fruit forward palate of apple, pear, and grapefruit, this wine will likely be the first Pinot Grigio that I go out of my way to stock up on during the Penny Sale, especially when it is priced at $14.99 for the first bottle, 1¢ for the second.
Sauvignon BlancIt looks like everything is starting to warm up nicely, which means that Sauvignon Blanc season is almost upon us. Sauvignon Blanc is starting to become one of my favorite varietals of wine with its generally citrusy, refreshing flavors and the Les Deux Moulins Sauvignon Blanc is no different. This one is really bright and easy to drink with nice grapefruit and tropical fruit notes and is honestly a steal at the regular price of $13.99, but when you can get another bottle for 1¢, this one is a crazy good buy.
ChardonnayThis one was tough for me to pin down. Chardonnay is in an interesting place right now with wineries not sure whether to make a big, buttery Chardonnay, or one that is aged less and fruit forward. Personally, as I'm sure you readers have found out, I'm partial to the fruit forward whites, but I have a good middle ground pick for this one in the Pine Ridge Carneros Dijon Clones Chardonnay. Lightly oaked, this chardonnay moves to a nice green apple flavor, with hints of lemon zest and pear. Complex and flavorful, this southern Napa Valley wine is worth a splurge at $28.99 for the first bottle and 1¢ for the second.
Pinot NoirAfter an employee tasting of a few of our penny sale wines, the one that left me the most interested was the Urgency Pinot Noir. This one is a bit atypical of a normal Pinot Noir with notes of smoke right away on the nose, leading into more smoke and light cherry and a little bit of cranberry on the palate. This wine might not be for everyone with its smoky tones, but it sure was interesting for me! Pairing this with a nice, slow cooked rack of ribs would make for one tasty meal. This one will cost you $19.99 for the first and 1¢ for the second bottle.
Red BlendI've had The Culprit Red Blend on quite a few Penny Sales by now, but I honestly didn't think this wine was anything more than a cool label until recently. This high in Syrah and Zinfandel Red Blend is bursting with flavor with lots of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries on the taste, and baking spices like nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon on the finish. The best part is that I don't think this one needs much of a pairing, because it does so well by itself. Pick up this one for $19.99, then a penny.
Cabernet SauvignonI'm going to cheat here and pick two Cabernets for this post, because there are some real standouts in this years sale that I couldn't pick just one. I'll start with my value pick and that one is the Granite Hill Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon. This one has a very fruity nose, with nutmeg and vanilla on top of a nice, light black cherry flavor, and a really easy finish without too many tannins. I didn't want to be too partial to a particular winery, but Granite Hill did a really good job making some really spectacular wines at a very reasonable price. This one is priced like the Pinot Grigio at $14.99 for the first, then $0.01 for the second.
My last pick I wrote about in my Holiday Buying Guide, but I think that it deserves some more love, because it is easily my favorite Cabernet out there and that is the Method Cabernet. This one hails from the Napa Valley and is lightly oaked and buttery, with loads of black cherry and a quick, snappy dry finish that leaves you wanting so much more. This one pairs phenomenally with any sort of steak you want to eat. I paired it with a venison tenderloin wrapped in bacon and it was a wonderful meal with a baked potato and some green beans. Spend a little extra on this one at $39.99 for the first and 1¢ on the second, and you won't regret spending that little extra.
Cocktail TimeKenny and Dean's Spiked Raspberry Lemonade Amalgamation/Collaboration
5 Raspberries
1 bar spoon simple syrup
1 oz gin (Boodles)
2 dashes orange bitters
12 oz Fargo Brewing Company Kenny's Lemonade
Lemon wheel and Raspberry for garnish
In a pint glass, muddle the raspberries and simple syrup together, Add the gin and orange bitters, stir and then strain the seeds out if desired. Add Kenny's Lemonade and garnish with a lemon wheel and a raspberry.
Wow, this is a tasty, fun summer drink. Super refreshing with lots of sweet raspberry and tart lemon, this would make for a spectacular summer drink to drink on the porch while taking in the sunshine. Side note, I didn't strain out my seeds and pulp because while i wouldn't mind less seeds, the raspberry pulp gives so much flavor that I don't want to miss. Regardless, even non beer drinkers should try this out because it is wonderful.
Hopefully my wine list will help you out on this hectic journey that we call the Penny Sale, because, honestly, wine is hard, and trying to figure out what to get is crazy difficult without a helping hand.
P.S. Please drink responsibly, please.
P.P.S. Also, don't drink and drive.
P.P.P.S. All views and opinions are mine, and don't represent those of my employer. All items in this post are subject to availability (if you don't show up early, I can't promise that there will be much left!)
P.P.P.P.S. I bet that the very first accident happens right away in the morning at the 45th Street store. Picture this: its 8:03 and somebody is trying to take too sharp of a turn into the Cabernet aisle, and runs into a display and knocks over a bottle in an endcap display with their cart. If that happens to be you, its fine. Let us know right away so we can get it cleaned up, and then we will let you get away without having to buy extra bottles that you can't keep.
P.P.P.P.P.S. My cocktail title could maybe use some workshopping, I think...
About the Author
My name is Dean Lipinski and I am a supervisor at Happy Harry's Bottle Shop at the 45th Street South location. I have an almost three year tenure, and bartend on the side during the summer at one of the local golf courses. With only three years experience, I'm still learning a lot, but I'm starting to feel more comfortable teaching as well. During my free time, I enjoy games of all sorts, card, board, and video games, I am a huge Minnesota Vikings fan, and I love the outdoors and fishing and hunting. Oh and I love long walks on the beach... of the Red River... by myself...
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