Remember your holiday party ? Well, at ours we drank quite a bit of this lovely Loire White that night and much merriment was had by all. Don't let the timing fool you, though, this wine being a hit at our holiday party doesn't mean it'll be out of place at your spring time table.
Spring is the season of all things fresh and in that spirit Pastoral is proud to present this week's pairing of Fresh Chevre from Prairie Fruits Farm from right here in Illinois (Urbana-Champaign to be exact) and Chenin Blanc from Graziano Family Wines in California. It's a bright, crisp pairing perfect for a sunny May afternoon on the patio with friends or out in the park.
This week's pairing continues the Spanish theme as we head in to the 2nd Annual Pastoral's Artisan Producer Festival with an olive oil-marinated chevre and a sparkling cava. These two are perfect for spring and perfect for each other!
Champagne may be typically connoted with celebrations, but we say it's about finding the little celebrations in your week to focus on. And there's no better way to celebrate being done with that big project at work than a bottle of bubbly and friends. So with our own big project coming to fruition this weekend at the 2nd Annual Pastoral's Artisan Producer Festival, we'll be drinking Leclerc Briant's Cuvee Brut.
Spring keeps popping up and has us daydreaming about days spent in the park, on the rooftop, and at the beach. Picnics and parties are always a great occasion for some crisp, fruity whites and that's why we're excited about this Chardonnay from...
Nothing says spring quite like white wine and goat cheese and this pairing might be one of the best takes on that classic pairing that we've had in a while!
Let's skip the weather cliches and get to the meat of what this time of year is all about: Sauvignon Blanc and fresh goat cheese. Stop by our in-store tastings and check out Mark's selections of Sauvignon Blancs for the season.
This pairing is juicy. The stage is set. It makes the mouth water, it makes the crowd cheer for more. The Matador strikes, cutting through the bull with a clean blow of his pineapple sword, revealing the tender steaky meatiness of the bull.
In the spirit of the "Sneak Peek" of summer weather we are experiencing, Pastoral is showcasing some summer wine selections at our Lake Street store for our 3rd Tuesday tasting. Come by between 5-7pm Tuesday March 20th and get a head start familiarizing yourself with our summer wines selected with sunshine and grilling in mind.
This week we start preparing for St. Patrick's Day with an Irish cheese pairing! Come by and taste some of our wonderful wares from the Emerald Isle and start planning the accompaniments for your celebration next weekend!
Leave your preconceptions at home and let your senses do the judging at our walk-around blind tasting at Pastoral in the Loop. Try to decipher Mark's cloaked selections, but most importantly have fun and find a new wine in your life. We love this event for its casual nature. No snobbery here, just a great way to kick off a Saturday night. Take your newest discovery home or to your favorite BYOB after the tasting for 10% off! $15 online or at the door/Free to RSVP's Beverage Loyalty Club members.
Join Pastoral's Wine Buyer Mark Hayes at our monthly in-store wine tastings. This month, Mark will have a selection of bottles tailored to pair well with the diverse offerings of Chicago's BYOB restaurants.
This week's pairing is a marriage of Kentucky's very own Tomme de Nena and Domaine Sauvete, a white wine from the Loire Valley in France. Read all about why these two work so well together!
On the 9th day of gifting our Assistant Buyer Adrienne brought to you: Quince & Apples Apples in Sparkling wine preserves!
Our house sommelier shares a favorite cocktail recipe to help take the edge off the first half of the work week.
