Stock up for Halloween, if you dare...

Come in and get some great deals for your Halloween party.

We got it all.

Beer,

Liquor,

and a few bottles of

wine to choose from.

Unattended children will be given a zombie friend

We want your experience here, at Swirl Wine, to be nothing short of spectacular, so we went the extra mile for you and your kids. Little baby zombies are the perfect playmates for your precious ones. We know how hard the daily grind can be, constantly and prudently watching over your little demon, it wears you down. So come in, find yourself the most perfect bottle of wine, while our little zombie watches over your loved one.

(Swirl is not legally responsible for any zombie attacks or zombie infection that may occur)

Perhaps the new Swirl?

I love it.

What a great idea.

Now, time to implement it.

Enough talk, let's drink

Alright, I've been ranting long enough.

Let's get back to business, shall we?

So, what'cha been drinking lately, anything good?

Always, my friend, always.

One in particular that has struck our fancy, is this little juicy beast: Rubus old vine Zinfandel.

If you're looking for the best bang for the buck, looking for a big, lush, red wine that over-delivers, come in and try this one for $15 bucks.

Mmmm-mmmm. Tasty. Especially serving it with nice, fall dishes, stews, and slow-cooked meats. Or just having it while you kick up your feet after a long day, this red will relax your mind and fill your soul.

Come get some.

Well, what'll it be? - Drink psychology

Drink psychology:

What you drink, gives an impression to other people about your personality, and maybe a little more.

You walk into the dimly lit bar.

Friday night and the place seems to be coming to life.

You squeeze and side step through a crowd of people that have camped by the jukebox, and notice an empty seat by the middle of the bar.

As you approach and pull out the stool, the bartender makes eye contact, pulls down a dirty glass from the bar top, and quickly wipes down the counter in front of you.

"What can I do for you?"

You freeze up. What to order? The panic attack slowly starts trembling deep, down inside. This is an important, defining question. The drink in your hand becomes almost like an accessory to your outfit. It could speak volumes about what type of person you are and the image you're trying to project.

Do you order a:

1) Grey Goose martini, extra dry and extra dirty, with extra olives. Blue chz stuffed olives, if you got'em - A serious drink for a person who's going to be slurring their words after the fourth sip, and spilling their drink after the sixth. Wants everyone to know they're classy, stylish, and up to date on all latest occurrences of Real Housewives.

2) Vodka and Red Bull, with a splash of cranberry and 2 limes - easy there, Maverick. This is a pure signal to everyone that you'll be doing a disastrous, breakdance routine to a random 80's song, that's quickly followed by puking your guts out in the nearest trashcan.

3) Light beer - Conservative and not too adventurous.

4) Laganitas IPA - A bold beer for a person seeking amped up flavor. You are a someone who appreciates fine things and are looking for someone to talk with about the latest independent movie playing.

5) Makers Mark bourbon on the rocks - You are a rebel. A renegade. You have a slight hint of danger to you.

6) Jameson Irish whiskey and ginger ale - Not too rough, and not too light, this one is just right. You're a fun and easy person that's looking for a laugh.

7) Margarita - whoa, baby, you're not at the beach, or at a taco restaurant, but you want that everlasting summer to keep the conga line going. Yee-haw!

8) Strawberry Daiquiri - You've got, "I don't go out too much" written all over your forehead. You don't like the taste of alcohol and this is your standard drink to fall back to when pressed for an order. When you finish it, you'll go home and start crocheting granny squares.

9) A glass of Pinot Grigio - safe and classy. You're an adult, or just want people to think that you're an adult.

10) Captain Morgan & coke - You bring the party when you arrive. People can hear your laugh as soon as they open the door. You're ready to turn it up a notch and another Capt. is going to help you do that.

So, tell me, what drink are you going to order when you belly up to the bar and the bartender asks you, "What're you having?"

What drink defines you.

James

(drink #11: a Pale Ale with a shot of Reposado Tequila, and then follow that with a Rooty-Tooty-Fresh-and-Fruity with a curly straw and umbrella, please)

Is your beer manly enough?

I remember, when I was a little runt, sitting down with my Dad and watching the big football game of the week. There was always a beer commercial that caught my attention. It depicted a group of men that were usually out in the wilderness somewhere, either fishing, hunting, or something of that sort. Anyway, they gather back at the camp spot, with the big catch, and start cooking it over an open fire, while the beer froths at the lip of the can and snow-capped mountains loom in the far horizon.

One of the fellas raises his beer and looks to the others, and proclaims, "Guys, it doesn't get any better than this."

Men being men. Drinking manly, cheap beer that made you more of a man. It was a great ad. I'm not an Old Milwaukee beer drinker, but when a cowboy with an overgrown mustache hands you a fresh, cold one, who's going to say no?

Now a days, you got commercials depicting men asking which beer has the lowest calories and which one has the lightest, most refreshing taste. In 20 years, we've gone from the capable and secure, master-of-his-domain man, to the ultra-insecure, "am I too fat in these jeans" type of man.

What happened?

Advertising. Those clever bastards mess with our heads more than we know, or give them enough credit for. You see, this is an epic campaign of psycho-infiltration started decades ago, and the effects have become subconsciously wired into the general psyche.

The mighty corporate beers (Budweiser, Miller Lite, Coors Light, etc..) have spent so much money persuading us to ignore our senses, our reasoning and judgement, and obediently purchase only their product, it leaves little room for us to consider another tastier option. If you don't buy Bud (or if you say anything bad about it) you're labeled un-American and driven off without an offering of debate. Not sure if you knew this, but Anheuser-Busch isn't even an American owned company, it's a Belgium-Brazilian company, InBev, that is the world's largest brewer.

Why is it that when someone wants to drink a micro-beer (aka a small brewery not owned by the corporate fat-heads), they are labeled a "fancy pants," or too "hoity toity."

"Is our beer not good enough for yuh?" The old timers say out loud.

What the hell?

The advertisers and fat-heads have achieved what they were after: brand loyalty. If you drink, or seek out, another beer, you're labeled a traitor, a trouble-maker, or have perverted sensibilities.

Soon you'll be an outcast in the far, dark corner of the bar, drinking your imperial IPA.

Look around you before you saddle up to the bar and order. Take notice to what beers everyone around you in this bar is drinking: Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light, with an occasional Michelob Ultra and a few bottles of Corona spattered around.

Then make a decision. Do you join the rest of the sheep and order a mediocre, watered down beer, or do I rebel against the programming, go outside the box, and order a beer with flavor and substance.

Man up.

Soon, they'll be changing their advertising tactics and go after the younger set. Gotta sell all that beer.

James

Party like it's 1999, again

Time to unleash 1999 again and keep the party and good times rolling. This wine just arrived, and for around $30 bucks, it makes for an impressive, eye-opening gift.

I mean, everyone is rolling into the dinner party with their current favorite 2008 and 2009 vintage wine on display, and then, all of a sudden, you shuffle in, do a dramatic twirl and dip, and showcase to everyone your prestigious Bordeaux from the previous decade. Whoa.

Chateau Simard, Saint Emilion, right-bank Bordeaux, 1999 vintage. That's right, this is the current vintage. The winery typically ages their wine for at least 10 years before releasing their juice to the thirsty masses. Aged Bordeaux, ready to be poured into your glass and enjoyed, very nice.

All the effort, time, and cellaring has already been done for you. All you have to do is drink, smile, and reminisce about the good old days of 1999.

Do you remember those times?

Here's a toast to good times ahead.

Cheers, everyone.

The higher, the better...

Higher. Our little baby wanted to go higher. The squeaking of the swing was drowned out by her little giggling, that bursted out of her in an affectation of pure excitement the higher the swing went.

Higher. That's where the pleasure is. That's where the excitement is.

It can be the same with wine.

High elevation vines pass on a flavor that not only stimulates the senses with an added flair of intensity and brilliance, but it also imparts a lingering, taste-altering performance that makes other wines pale in comparison.

This Wednesday, for our Wine Flight Weds, we'll be featuring a stellar line-up of Malbecs, with the star, the showboat, the anchor to the line-up being, Catena's Alta Malbec.

Catena's Alta Malbec is sourced from small, carefully selected estate grown lots high up in the Andes mountain range (between 3000 - 5000 feet). Altitude becomes the determining factor in obtaining grapes of intense concentration, body, and flavor. Since there's no cooling influence from the ocean to help with grape development, they rely on the elevation to provide the perfect component to producing wines of enormous magnitude.

Come try one of the elite wines produced in Argentina, and see if indeed, the higher, the better.