Modern science triumphed over historic propaganda vindicating fine pre-ban absinthe of its alleged evils, leading to the U.S. ban being lifted Dec. 2007. This Celebration seeks to dispel the myths surrounding this misunderstood spirit; expose the public to the smoothness and variety of tastes artisanal absinthes offer; and illustrate proper ways to drink them.

As with their successful debut event, a full house is expected at this 2nd-of-its-kind happening for Houston. Celebration will fill the air throughout AvantGarden, with live jazz and absinthe conversations. Light hors d’oeuvres and free absinthe tastings traditionale–including a new release, will broaden your taste adventure. In addition to sangrias, fruit infusions, wines and beers, there will be special cocktails for sale that offer a different twist on absinthe. To fill out the evening’s visual experience, a showing of Damian Hevia’s compelling absinthe images will be featured for sale, as well as reproduction reproduction absinthe posters.

In the midst of the evening’s glow, you can make your way to a courtyard vantage point for the presentations that will quench your curiosities. Terms like artemisia absinthium, Dr. Ordinaire, louche, dose, thujone, Legendré, Sazerac, and L’Heure Verte will be explained by Herbsaint historian and collector, Jay Hendrickson and renowned absinthe historian and Master Distiller of Lucid Absinthe, Ted Breaux with Viridian Spirits.

Springing from absinthe folklore, enchanting fairies will float through the crowd as the music and entertainment continues into the wee hours. We urge you to be a part of the sights in your elegant attire—be inspired by steampunk and the Belle Epoch. For an entertaining way to introduce yourself to absinthe, or expand on what you know—we hope you will join us for this lovely evening.

Saturday April 9, 2011. 7:30pm – Closing.
Presentations: 8:30pm – 10:30pm
AvantGarden 411 Westheimer Road Houston, Texas

For tickets, visit here.

On Friday, March 25, Second Glass’ Wine Riot lit up the Santa Monica scene with over 250 different wines from all over the world. From the contact high I got off at least one of the guests, Wine Riot wasn’t the only thing lighting up that weekend…

The Boston-based wine education, promotion and events company set up shop at Santa Monica Place Mall, hosting sessions Friday night and throughout the day and evening on Saturday. They poured wines from at least eight different countries, including German Riesling, Italian Prosecco, Spanish Rioja and Rosado, French wines from Loire and Languedoc, Argentinian Malbec and even selections from Portugal, South Africa and Romania. California was represented, as well, with a variety of Cabernets, Zinfandels, Pinots and Chardonnays from up and down the west coast.

Wine Riot offered free downloads of their own app to help revelers remember what they drank. To educate enthusiasts on what was going into their glass, the event hired a roving “Wine Intelligence Unit” (like Apple’s Genius Bar – just drunker), to answer questions. They hosted classes: 30-minute, informal “Crash Course” wine education seminars. And there was a DJ and tattoo and photo booths for people who were less interested in putting the learning into higher education.

Top wines as chosen by Wine Rioters on the Wine Riot app.

Second Glass Wine Riot continues their 5-city tour in Boston from April 22-23, before heading off to Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C, recruiting the nation’s thirsty youth to join the party.

(Santa Rosa, CA, April 5th 2011) — Rosé Avengers & Producers (RAP) announced today that it is partnering with Mutineer Magazine to help raise funds for its Clean Water Crusader campaign in support of A Child’s Right. A Child’s Right is a nonprofit relief organization that provides clean drinking water for children living in orphanages and street shelters as well as those attending schools and visiting children’s hospitals in impoverished urban and semi-urban areas in underdeveloped countries. To learn more about the campaign, visit Mutineer Magazine.

“We developed our Clean Water Crusader campaign to be a simple win-win proposition,” said Alan Kropf, editor-in-chief of Mutineer. “Beverage companies that raise and donate at least $500.00 directly to A Child’s Right will have its product or logo featured in our fall water relief-themed issue. We’ll also tweet out an interesting water-themed fact out to our Twitter followers on behalf of each company. The top 3 fundraisers make the cover.”

Creative Furnace, producers of Pink Out! SF, is supporting the project with a public relations awareness campaign and fundraising efforts at RAP’s 7th annual rosé celebration on Tuesday, May 10th 2011 hosted by Chef Lam of Butterfly Restaurant at Pier 33 on The Embarcadero in San Francisco. The Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa in Sonoma County, California is sponsoring the fundraising effort by providing a two night wine country weekend getaway in a poolside suite with breakfast buffet and health club admission for two as the evening’s raffle grand prize.

RAP also announced the line up of stellar international rosé producers for 2011, which features an extensive walk-around tasting of 40-plus classic still and sparkling rosés, DJ grooves, and Chef Lam’s rosé-inspired Pan-Pacific appetizers from sustainably and organically sourced ingredients. The event’s TasteLive broadcast, sponsored by CellarPass, features Gloria Ferrer Brut Rosé, Robert Oatley Sangiovese Rosé, and one of the world’s most exclusive rosés, Chateau d’Esclans “Garrus.” Consumer tickets are $35.00 advance and $45 at door if available. Complete details, trade/media registration, and tickets are available at RapWine.com.

2011 Wineries to Date
AIX – Provence, Amorosa Bella, Azurwines, Bugay Wines, Château Beaulieu, Chateau d’Esclans, Château de Brigue, Clos Saron, Cornerstone Cellars, Dacalier Wine Co., Dashe Cellars, Dunstan Wines, Freixenet, Gassier, Gloria Ferrer, Gridley Family Cellars, Isabel Mondavi, Kelley & Young Wines, Kristine Ashe Vineyards, Lorenza Rosé, Midsummer Cellars, Muscardini Cellars, Pedroncelli Winery, Pisoni Vineyards & Winery, Robert Oatley, Segura Viudas, Six Sigma Ranch, Tablas Creek, Urban Legend Cellars

Culver City is starting to feel a little bit continental.

Thierry Perez, the restaurateur behind Fraiche (also in Culver City), opened his one-stop European shop, L’Epicerie Market, in December of 2010. I was recently invited to breakfast at L’Epicerie; it was a lovely escape, and I didn’t even need to bring my passport.

We started at the natural starting place of any proper breakfast: Coffee. My vanilla latte was ok: Delivered in a large, bistro-style mug, and decorated with a pleasing double-heart design, painted in frothy, milky strokes. The syrupy sweetness was marginally cut by the richness of strong coffee, but all-in-all it didn’t wow me. What did knock off my proverbial socks was L’Epicerie Market’s drip coffee. Obviously a source of great pride for the L’Epicerie people, they use a combination French press/drip system called a Timolino, and make every cup fresh. It’s gimmicky, but I’m a sucker for gadgets – and the coffee is good. After a diner chooses their grounds (roasted offsite, at City Bean Roasters), hot water is poured through the device, and magic is made. I tried both the Blue Bottle (medium-dark roast, low acidity) and the Guatemalan (medium roast, medium acidity) and enjoyed the nutty-sweet power of both. L’Epicerie also brews their organic teas in a Timolino, but I didn’t have an opportunity to give these a try.

What would a European bakery be, without a buffet of buttery pastries? L’Epicerie’s are solid. At the moment, they bake some of their pastries in-house, but order their croissants, pain et chocolat, scones, etc. from elsewhere. After a planned upcoming renovation, the kitchen (among other things), will increase in size; at that time, the rest of the baked things will be made on-site. For what it’s worth, the pastries are light, but not quite as flaky as my favorites.

Les omelets are an entirely different story. Light and springy, stuffed with fillings like smoked ham, field mushrooms, salmon or sausage. They’re served a la cart but potatoes, tomatoes or fresh fruit can be added for a nominal charge. Their crepes are fantastic; buckwheat for savory, classic for sweet. The eggs florentine is L’Epicerie’s take on the classic eggs benedict brunch staple, but substitutes a Filipino longaniza sausage instead of Canadian bacon, which – while an interesting update – was considerably too sweet for my taste.

On the other hand, L’Epicerie’s waffles are somewhere on the opposite end of the spectrum. Not savory, but definitely not the type of cloying sugar bomb one commonly finds at their average waffle joint. L’Epicerie Market’s waffles are made with a Belgian liège batter – made by dropping sugar pellets and chunks of butter into the mixture, which caramelize during cooking. The result is a yeasty, almost nutty-flavored waffle, with a crunchy outside and an almost creamy consistency in the middle.

But for all of their breakfasty goodness, L’Epicerie’s true attraction might be their happy hour. Served daily, from 4 – 7pm, they offer a limited menu of $3 (yes, the number between 2 and 4…) food and beverages. Items like Tortilla de Potatas, house-cured pickles, and marinated anchovies can be enjoyed with an assortment of wines and beers (Bitburger, Spaten, Fisher Amber). For $3 each. Those looking for heartier fare can scan the tapas menu – items such as marinated octopus and Ceviche de Corvine start at $5 per plate.

L’Epicerie is a tasty new adventure, right in downtown Culver City. They’re open seven days a week, from 7am to 9pm. No jetlag.

OLYMPIA — When Chinese President Hu Jintao visited the United States in January, the White House rolled out only the best. It turns out the best includes Washington wine.

This time of year, for those of us on the west side of the mountains — it’s nice to be able to open a bottle of wine and taste a bit of Eastern Washington sunshine.

Taken from Tri-City Herald and written by Chris Gregoire, governor of Washington since 2005.