It just keeps getting better!  A recently released 13 year study at Brigham and Women’s Hopital in Boston concludes that middle aged and older women with normal weight who consumer a moderate amount of alcohol (1-2 servings per day) were less likely to gain additional pounds than non-drinkers.  Cheers, ladies!

Like us at WOW?  Please take a moment to vote for us here  for KTVI’s Hot List 2010 favorite wine shop.

Wines Of Wildwood has been nominated for KTVI Fox 2 2010 Hot List.  Please take a  moment to vote here for your favorite neighborhood wine store.

Two Angels Petite Sirah is the perfect choice for this time of year.  Its big, rich and juicy flavors are perfect for your first grilled steaks of the season.  The label art is from Jacob de Backer, 1591. It depicts elated inebriation and then the morning after repercussions.  The theme is penitent atonement for pleasure.  Lent, anyone?

Thanks to all for participating in our chili cook off fundraiser for the St. Louis Area Foodbank.  You generously donated $291 to this worthy cause, and Wines Of Wildwood will match this for a total of $582 for this fantastic group.

Thanks to all of the participants:   Big Bear Grill, Brick House Pub, Dierberg’s, Indigo Joe’s, Mulligan’s Grill and Southern Accents Catering (256- 653 1555).  All the entries were delicious, and the voting was very close.

And the chili winners are… drum roll..

 1st Place: Indigo Joe’s

2nd Place: Mulligan’s

3rd Place: Southern Accents

Indigo Joe’s, for the second year in a row, will recieve the floating engraved trophy to proudly display until next year’s event.

Even those of us in the business think most wine books are either for “dummies” or too technical, complicated and…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.  The exception is Karen MacNeil’s Wine Bible.  It’s informative without being boring; you can read it straight through, or just use it as a reference (ours is so well loved it looks like a junior high textbook).  She has fresh and fun stories and facts, as well as clearly explained but not sleep inducing information.  She’s also punny, which I enjoy. Pick up a copy at our store or your local bookstore.  It makes a great Valentine’s gift for your wine lover.

Getting ready for our big chocolate fountain open house, 7-9 p.m. this Friday, February 12th.  Working on the wine list right now, including some bubbly (like owner Karl’s new “best buy” pick, Bin 36 Sparkling Wine) lots of reds, some whites and some dessert wines.  Come ready to put yourself into a choco-induced stupor!  $10 at the door, bring your friends.

Sure, we’ll all be watching the Super Bowl… some for the game, some for the commercials and everyone for the food.  But it doesn’t mean you have to drink beer!  Having pizza?  Try a chianti or tuscan blend like Monte Antico.  Burgers go perfect with malbec, spicy wings and chili pair with riesling, a many layered whit blend like Evolution goes great with a sub.   And remember, when in doubt, pick pinot (noir, that is). Its relatively light tannins and high acidity make it a great match with most foods.  Our favorite strange pairing?  Champagne and potato chips… decadent, fun and delicious.   Come in for more suggestions, and pick up a bottle of bubbly to celebrate when the Saints win!!!

Don’t let snotty waiters fool you.  French wine is not so complicated when you realize that red Burgundy is simply a pinot noir, and red Bordeaux is just a blend of any or all of the following: merlot, cab, cab franc, malbec and petit verdot in various degrees.  Come to our informal and fun French wine class, 7-8:30 p.m. next Tuesday, February 9th to get an overview of fantastic French wines while tasting eight great examples.  $20.  Call 636-405-0800 for reservations.

Did you know that  Wines Of Wildwood carries that St. Louis favorite, a full line of delicious, award winning, hand crafted Bissinger’s Chocolates?  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we have brought in some new items,  including chocolate wine grapes (wine grapes infused with shiraz, then coated with Bissinger’s legendary 60% dark chocolate) and chocolate caramel macadamia nuts (like a high end snickers bar, but much better!)  It’s not absence, it’s chocolate that makes the heart grow fonder… trust us!