Monthly Archives:

January 2021

At CORK, we offer a wine for every occasion. Some days, however, call for a stiff drink. We’re excited to announce something we’ve been working on – cocktails to go! Available for pick up starting today, CORK now offers a line of four classic cocktails, including a Dirty Vodka Martini, Gin Martini, Manhattan and Negroni. Each 8 ounce bottle contains 2 to 3 cocktails and uses select items available at CORK – Montanaro Vermouth di Torino, Antica Torino Vermouth, Bitter Housewife Cocktail Bitters and Ancient Olive Trees Dirty Martini Olive Juice. 

As with our selection of wines, cocktails may be purchased in-store or reserved online for convenient pick up. Bottles feature easy to follow instructions so that you can shake, stir and pour with confidence. Don’t forget your garnishes! Cocktail cherries, olives and lemon/orange wheels are available at CORK.

Plus, if you’re missing tools to complete the at-home cocktail experience, shop our extensive collection of barware. Cocktail making essentials such as jiggers, shakers, strainers and bar spoons are available in silver, gold and copper, as well as mixing glasses, coupes, rocks and collins glasses. 

Have yourself an at-home happy hour. TGIF and cheers!

Looking to upgrade your home bar glassware? From decanters to mixing glasses, champagne flutes to coupes, we have that special something you’re looking for! Shop in-store daily from 11AM to 8PM or reserve online for easy pick up.

Highlights of our extensive glassware collection include the following:

CARAFES, DECANTERS & SHAKERS
Viski Angled Crystal Decanter (above)
Viski Deco Decanter
Petite Wine Carafe
Viski Crystal Mixing Glass
Host Carafe & Mixing Glass
Nicolas Vahé Cocktail Shaker (part of a 4-piece set with jigger, bar spoon and cocktail strainer)

WINE GLASSWARE
Moroccan Recycled Champagne Flute & Stemless Glass (above)
Stem & Stemless Wine Glasses
Champagne Flutes

COCKTAIL GLASSES & TUMBLERS
Eclipse Collins & Rocks Glasses (above)
Cats & Dogs Tumblers
Viski Crystal Coupes
Plain Tumblers

Natural wine is all the rage. Whether you’re already a convert or if you’re curious to explore the untamed territory of natural winemaking, CORK has plenty to offer. There is no official, regulated definition of ‘natural wine,’ so it varies depending on who you ask. However, in broad terms, natural wines are produced via sustainable, organic, or biodynamic vineyards, with no added yeast, preservatives or sulfites.

Explore our selection of natural wines by shopping in-store or reserving online for pick up. Below are highlights, but there are certainly more options available on our shelves.

François Plouzeau – Domaine de La Garrelière Le Chenin de la Colline
From the Loire Valley, this 100% Chenin Blanc is made naturally without any added sugars and additives. This is a dry and crisp organic white wine with a lovely golden color, medium body and refreshing finish.

Scribe Sylvaner “Ode to Emil”
Scribe is a Sonoma-based winery with a devoted following, to say the least. Scribe is known to tinker, producing unique wines in limited batches, making their releases highly sought after. Sylvaner is a grape primarily grown in Alsace and Germany, and Scribe’s Sylvaner pays homage to Emil Dresel, who brought the first vines to America in 1858. Best enjoyed with light fare and vegetables, Scribe’s Sylvaner presents hints of honeydew, cucumber, honeysuckle and lemon.

Lusenti Pinot Grigio “Fiocco di Rose”
Dry, light and crisp, this sparkling rose is from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. Pale pink in color with notes of peach and lemon, this elegant bubbly presents a balance of acidity and minerality. Perfect for seafood, but it can also hold up to heartier fare.

Alpha Box & Dice “Golden Mullet Fury”
From Australia’s McLaren Vale, this rich, full-bodied orange wine offers grassy, citrusy aromas and almond and vanilla savory notes with a gentle acidity. Enjoy with fare on the rich, fatty side – pork belly, skin-on salmon fillets and poultry.

Alpha Box & Dice “Kit & Kaboodle”
Another Alpha Box & Dice selection, this is a blend of Tempranillo, Shiraz, Montepulciano and Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark beetroot in color, there’s a lot of contrast yet harmony here – light-yet-heavy, earthy-yet-clean, youthful-yet-old, rich-yet-soft. Dark fruits predominate the palate. Enjoy it with everyday, casual fare, such as barbecued meats and burgers.

Konpira Maru Wines Syrah “Gymkata“
Though made in Australia, this isn’t your typical Aussie Shiraz. Resembling an Old World Syrah, Konpira Maru’s “Gymkata” is full of juicy strawberry, rhubarb offset by a touch of green peppercorn and a refreshing acidity.

Castello di Stefanago Provincia di Pavia Rosso
A blend of Uva Rara, Croatina and Barbera, this unfiltered selection is medium bodied with medium acidity and light tannin. A little floral, a little herbaceous with raspberry and cherry notes, it pairs up with cheese, salumi and pasta.

Jordi Miró Ennak +
An unusual blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Merlot, resulting in ripe red fruit flavors, as well as dark chocolate, with a slight hint of minerality. This is a fresh, soft, silky wine that is super easy to drink!

Looking to up the bar? CORK offers a wide variety of cocktail mixers and bitters, including RAFT syrups, Mother Shrubs, Ancient Olive Trees Dirty Martini Juice, bitters from RAFT, Bitter Housewife and Hella Cocktail Co. and more! Shop in-store daily from 11AM to 8PM or reserve online for easy pick up.

MIXERS
Hella Cocktail Co. Bloody Mary Mix
Toma Bloody Mary Mix
Boylan Tonic Water, Club Soda and Ginger Beer
Liber & Co. Tonic Syrup
RAFT Grenadine, Simple Syrup and Lemon Ginger Syrup
Ancient Olive Trees Dirty Martini Juice
Mother Shrub – Black Cherry, Lime, Grapefruit, Salted Honey

BITTERS
Bitter Housewife Bitters – Orange, Grapefruit, Aromatic
RAFT Bitters – Orange, Cardamom
Hella Cocktail Co. – Mexican Chocolate

PLUS…
Yes Cocktail Co. Bitters Infused Old Fashioned Cubes
Teaspressa Luxe Cubes – Peach Bellini Cubes & Arcadia Orange Mimosa Cubes
Griottines Morello Cocktail Cherries

Where there’s wine, there’s cheese. At CORK, we carry a variety of selections from Plymouth Artisan Cheese, as well as everything you need to make a fantastic cheese board at home – sweet and savory spreads, salami, nuts, honey and more. Shop in-store daily from 11AM to 8PM or reserve online for easy pick up.

FIRST, THE CHEESE
Plymouth is a family-run cheese factory in Plymouth, Vermont crafting heritage raw milk cheddar and an inspired array of distinctive artisanal flavors. Founded in 1890 by Colonel John Coolidge, father of President Calvin Coolidge, Plymouth is the second oldest cheese factory in the United States. After generations in the Coolidge family, cheesemaker Jesse Werner bought the business in 2009, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Today, Jesse’s cheeses are crafted, cut and waxed by hand — just like they did more than 125 years ago on the Plymouth homestead. CORK carries three selections from Plymouth – Plymouth Original, Black Truffle and Ballyhoo Brie.

Plymouth Original
Aged for one whole year, this is a full-bodied cheese, rounded with the perfect balance of cream and tang. It’s the most historic of the English varieties — an old-world recipe with a sharp, rich flavor profile that lingers, like a passed down story — and said to be closest to what the settlers of the 1600s enjoyed.

Black Truffle
Black Truffle is the delicate mingling of the Original Plymouth recipe sailed metaphorically to the shores of Tuscany. In the Italian tradition, truffle cheeses are typically made with sheep’s milk—but this pioneer is a raw cow milk version, aged for sixty days, infused with real truffle morsels from Italy and touches of white truffle oil.

Ballyhoo Brie
The soft ripened Ballyhoo Brie is an ACS award-winner! This means the square-shaped beauty is officially one of the best bries in the country, having received a silver medal at the 2018 ACS competition in Pittsburgh, PA.

SOMETHING CRUNCHY
Two cracker options for you: Jocelyn & Co. Olive Oil & Sea Salt Cracker and Bella Cucina Pane Rustico, paper thin Italian flatbreads toasted to a perfect golden brown with olive oil and Sicilian sea salt. Also from Jocelyn & Co, CORK offers pistachios and almonds.

SOMETHING MEATY
Foustman’s Salami is a family-owned business specializing in creating unique styles and flavors of artisanal uncured, nitrate-free salami. CORK carries three varieties: Pork Salami with Fennel & Black Pepper, Lamb Salami with Rosemary and Spicy Beef.

SPREAD SOME LOVE
CORK offers highlights of Nicolas Vahé’s eponymous line of gourmet goods, including a variety of sweet and savory spreads to grace your cheese board. Fruit spread options include Damson Plum-Walnut-Apple, Mango-Passion Fruit, and Fig, while savory options include Whole Grain Mustard with Honey, Truffle Mustard, Artichoke-Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta, Black Olive-Basil Tapenade, and Tomato-Apple-Chili Chutney. In addition, we offer two Vahé honeys – honey with orange peel and honey with hazelnuts.

Another sweet spread option: Corazon del Sol Natural Quince Paste. Quince is a fruit that looks like a cross between an apple and a lemon. You don’t eat it raw, as it must be cooked with sugar. Corazon del Sol is an all-natural quince paste from the south of Spain with a deep color and rich, unsurpassed flavor. Try it on toast or crackers, or do as the Spaniards do and spread some on Spanish Manchego cheese.

BONUS POINTS
Looking to add a little something special? On the sweet side, try Rancho Meladuco Medjool Dates, the “world’s best dates,” according to Bon Appétit. Meladuco’s dates are selected for their deep, rich caramel and brown sugar flavors and melt in your mouth texture. On the salty side, pick up a jar of Paglione Olive da Tavola Giganti, firm and fruity large green Italian olives.

Winter making you want to go west? Shop our wine selections and let the sun shine – from Sonoma Chardonnay to Napa Cabernet, there’s something for everyone, courtesy of the West Coast! Shop in-store or reserve online for pick up!

DAYS OF YOUTH “THE DIVER” BRUT
Bottled in Napa, this is an everyday bubbly that offers more character than your typical well-priced California sparkling wine. Organic and sustainable, The Diver is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer. A beautiful floral aroma with bright fruit flavors of lemon custard, grapefruit, jasmine, and peaches are perfect with softly textured bubbles.

CERITAS “MARENA” CHARDONNAY
Sonoma based Ceritas practices biodynamic and organic farming, yielding grapes with the unmistakable flavors and smells of their time and place. Their “Marena” Chardonnay is produced from 35+ year old vines and offers captivating perfume of white peach, pineapple, flowers, minerals and crushed rock. Graceful and bright with flavors of lemon curd, salt and chamomile with a dry finish. Enjoy by itself or pair it with pork, poultry or rich fish.

SCRIBE WINERY “ODE TO EMIL” SYLVANER
Founded in 2007, Scribe Winery in Sonoma produces vibrant, terroir-driven wines. Grown primarily in Alsace and Germany, Sylvaner is primarily grown in Alsace and Germany. Scribe’s Sylvaner is a medium acid, crisp and juicy light bodied white that is a perfect aperitif but works well with seafood, fish and veggies.

ILLAHE GRUNER VELTLINER
This Austrian grape takes up an acre and a half at Illahe (one of Oregon’s largest plantings). The clone came from a Hungarian fighter pilot who defected to the west, bringing his love of Grüner with him to the United States. Aromas of green apple and Mexican style cucumber (notes of chili and lime) with a palate of dandelion jam, wet stone, pear blossom, kiwi and alfalfa. Acacia barrel fermentation lends to the textured mouthfeel of this wine that is accented by a classic Grüner white pepper finish.

PIKE ROAD L’ETAGE PINOT NOIR
From one of Oregon’s early wine producers, this Willamette Valley Pinot is barrel aged in 100% French oak. This beautiful blend of multiple vineyards bursts with notes of black currant, baking spices, violets, and sweet oak. The palate is big and juicy with succulent black cherry and a long finish with hints of leather and floral notes. Serve with chicken and mushrooms, wild boar ragu and pork chops.

TURLEY OLD VINE ZINFANDEL
Since 1993, Larry Turley has been restoring old vines in Napa Valley to their former glory, some dating back to the late 1800’s. All of his vineyards are either certified organic or are in the process of certification, and only natural yeasts are used in the production of Turley’s wines. His Old Vine Zin uses vines anywhere from 41 to 129 years old and are a true representation of California old-vine Zinfandel. This is a medium-bodied selection with aromas of blueberry, boysenberry and cinnamon stick. On the palate, you get spicy black and blue fruit with ripe tannins, juicy acidity and a long spicy finish. Serve this one with barbecued meats, turkey, pork and quail.

VINA ROBLES PETITE SIRAH
Petite Sirah is a classic variety grown in California for more than a century. Aged in French, Hungarian and American oak, Vina Robles’ Petite Sirah is complex, rich and balanced. Garnet in color, you will notice aromas of boysenberry, plum and a hint of white pepper and full-bodied flavors of dark fruit, caramel and a rich, creamy finish. Pairs wonderfully with braised lamb, grilled steak sandwiches and barbecued meats.

GREENWING CABERNET SAUVIGNON
From Duckhorn, this Cabernet is produced in Washington’s majestic Columbia Valley, aged in 75% French oak and 25% American oak. From its alluring dark ruby color to its enticing aromas of brambly black fruit, cherry pie, vanilla and sweet brown baking spices, Greenwing embodies the dynamic complexity of great Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, it is energetic and lively, with lovely acidity and freshness. Soft tannins and hints of cardamom, anise and cocoa add character to a long, smooth finish.

For many, January is a time to push the reset button. Some start with a clean fridge, some with a well-intentioned diet, while others abstain from alcohol – the booze-free cleanse we call ‘Dry January.’ Whether you’re going this route for 31 or 365 days, we have plenty of options for you to enjoy! Shop in-store daily from 11am to 8pm or reserve online for convenient pick up.

TÖST
All-natural and delicious, TÖST is a dry, sparkling non-alcoholic beverage with white tea, white cranberry and ginger. Subtly effervescent, TÖST offers hints of crisp citrus with a refreshingly dry finish. This is a bottle of bubbles perfect for every occasion and for everyone.

Ghia
Ghia is a non-alcoholic apéritif packed with only pure, natural extracts. Vibrant, fresh and satisfyingly bitter, GHIA features orange peel, elderflower, yuzu, ginger, rosemary, and lemon balm, a natural mood enhancer that helps allay temporary stress. Bonus: Ghia’s website is loaded with cocktail recipes!

Curious Elixirs
Curious Elixirs are booze-free craft cocktails, infused with adaptogens to help you unwind.  Each edition is a collaboration between a team of world-class bartenders, herbalists, and food scientists, using only organic juices, herbs, spices, roots, barks, and botanicals. Curious Elixir No. 2 is the spicy lovechild of the pineapple margarita and the Dark & Stormy. Curious Elixir No. 4 is a booze-free spin on classic Italian aperitifs like the Aperol Spritz. The newest release, Curious Elixir No. 5, is a smoked cherry chocolate old fashioned, perfect for this time of year! 

Ritual Zero Proof Spirits
Made with pure ingredients and all-natural botanicals, Ritual’s line of zero proof spirits offers all the flavors of quality gin, whiskey and tequila without the alcohol or calories. The creators of Ritual sourced ingredients across the globe, with guidance from Chicago-based chefs and bartenders. Ritual likes to say that their product line is a new way to make an old favorite (or an Old Fashioned). Cheers!

Hella Bitters & Soda
Bitters & Soda is a non-alcoholic sparkling apéritif that gets its smart, refreshing flavor from a gentian tincture made in the South of France. Choose from Dry or Spritz! Spritz Aromatic is bubbly, refreshing with just a touch of sweetness, while the Dry is boldly unsweetened. Both varieties feature notes of clove, allspice, bitter root, and orange peel.

Cipriani Bellini
In 1931 Guiseppe Cipriani and Harry Pickering opened the now famous Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, and created the wonderful peach and sparkling wine cocktail known as the Bellini. Recreate the Harry’s Bar experience in your own home with the ready-to-drink, non-alcoholic Cipriani Bellini. The individual bottles are bubbly on their own, but you can certainly add Prosecco if you are so inclined!