Last night wasn’t just about quelling the rumors though… I was there to enjoy myself! The Van Fleets still observe Mondays as a day off, but last night Vino and Friends played host to my wife’s unit from Children’s Hospital and the place was alive. It’s always nice to hang out with my wife’s co-workers but last night was also special because it was the first time we’ve been able to “mingle with the adults” since our son was born (on a side note, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for babysitting).

"Perusing through their wine selection is like eye-tasting some of the best wineries in California."

We shook a few hands and said a few hellos and then moseyed up to the bar to get our tasting on. I always like to start off with a good solid red, and the cabernet blend I had really hit the spot. Unfortunately, I failed to remember the name, though I do remember that it was a co-op vintage – I want to say Twin Canyons, but I’m probably wrong. After completely demolishing my palette with tannins, I moved on to the complete opposite of the wine spectrum and enjoyed a glass of the New Age white. At first I was apprehensive because my wife and her friends were telling me how sweet it tasted (that can mean Kool Aid with that group), but one taste and I was sold. Imagine a very tasty champagne without the attitude and that’s what New Age is. A perfect balance of berries, vanilla and oak with just the right amount of “sparkly” thrown in for good measure. Not a tremendous amount of residual sugar but just enough to pair well with a pungent cheese. I had to buy a bottle to enjoy at a later date…
Perusing through their wine selection is like eye-tasting some of the best wineries in California. Several of the State’s best regions are represented with a wide range of grapes and blends, but even more pleasing is the fact that there are still a tremendous number of wines on hand for less than $20. I’ve enjoyed many $50+ wines in my time, but it’s always nice to find great deals without breaking the bank - for example, that wonderful New Age blend I’m going on about is only $10! 
So, with the rumors quashed and an evening spent with good friends and great wines, it was time to relieve the Grandparents of their babysitting duties. It’s great to see the Van Fleets still doing good business – only now in the capacity of their own shop! Be sure to check Vino and Friends out soon, and you can find them on Facebook and Twitter too!

Happy Tasting!

Being somewhat of a closet Sommelier, I’ve enjoyed many of our local winemaker’s labors (oftentimes in excess…) so I was thrilled when a few years back, Vino 100 opened their doors in the new Champlain/Shepherd shopping center. Lately however, there’s been some buzz circulating about Vino 100 and what the owners had in the works.

"It looks like Chuck and Jen have dropped the Vino 100 name (a franchised business) to start out on their very own venture, Vino and Friends."

Chuck Van Fleet and his wife Jen have managed the wine shop from day one, and in that time have built up a good clientele of local wine enthusiasts and collectors. The Van Fleets are the type of people that remember their customers after the very first visit, and their knowledge of everything “vin” from the soil the grapes were raised in all the way to the bottling has made them a great go-to source when choosing that perfect wine for a special dinner, finding a sought-after label or simply to spend an afternoon tasting with friends.
Well, last night I found out what the buzz was all about. It looks like Chuck and Jen have dropped the Vino 100 name (a franchised business) to start out on their very own venture, Vino and Friends. The name is definitely more appropriate to the personality of the shop, and I was pleased to see that they still carry many of my local favorites as well as a few new labels.