Daily Loaf

Sample a selection of Fontodi wines at Bern's Tuesday tasting

Tuesday, November 10: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Fontodi Wine Dinner. There’s no better way to start the week than with an elegant wine dinner, and this one truly delivers with its selection of six wines from the Fontodi estate specially paired with six modern Mediterranean cuisine courses by SideBern’s Chef extraordinaire, Chad Johnson. $125. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-253-0358)

Tuesday, November 10: American Spirits
Spanish Wines. Ben Carson of Ole Imports, which brings more than 100 Spanish wines stateside, offers a tasting of vinos from the Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Yecla regions. Free. 7-9 p.m., 280 Third St. S., St. Petersburg (727-895-8700)

Wednesday, November 11: Cork and Olive Carrollwood
Wine for Dummies. Learn the basic rules and etiquette of wine tasting and how to choose the right bottle for the occassion. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 10019 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733)

Thursday, November 12: Total Wine
Celebrate with Champagne and Sparkling. A trained sommelier helps you find the best bubbly for your budget and palate — it’s never too early to stock up for New Year’s. Taste eight zippy, fizzy sensations, including Crémant de Bourgogne, Cava and four stunning selections from Champagne. $25. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 4880 Park Street N., St. Petersburg (727-544-6018)

Thursday, November 12: Cork and Olive Carrollwood
PACE Benefit Wine Tasting. Live music, hand-selected hors d’oeuvres and a holiday raffle round out this wine tasting to benefit the PACE Center for Girls. $30 in advance, $35 at the door. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 10019 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa (813-868-3733)

Friday, November 13: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Cult Cabs Crush Hour. Movies, books and Christopher Walken all have cult followings — but so do a select (and tasty) number of wines. Tonight’s featured flavors (which garnered aficinado attention via high prices, limited production, famous winemakers and gushing reviews by wine critics) include Hartwell by winemaker Andy Erickson of Screaming Eagle, Robert Foley Vineyards, Sherwin Family Vineyards, Beau Vigne and more, accompanied by five hand-selected accompaniments from the Bern’s Cave du Fromage. $25. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-253-0358)

Many more events after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

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Wednesday, October 21: The NoHo Bistro
A Palette for Your Palate. The bistro’s ingenious culinary team pairs five tapas tastings with a new wine each week. Tonight’s Pinot Grigio palette promises to be lip-smackingly lovely. $15. 5-8 p.m., 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)

Wednesday, October 21: Rigatoni Tuscan Oven
Wild Tuscan Wednesdays. Indulge in decadent seafood at dirt-cheap prices on high-end items like all-you-can-eat Alaskan snow crab and oysters, along with beer and pasta specials. $7-$22. 5-10 p.m., 3437 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa (813-879-7000)

Thursday, October 22: Michael’s 717 South
Wine and Music Series. Winemakers Dan Whitaker and Ben Benvenuti host tonight’s installment in the samping series, and offer Mairena’s wines of Argentina –like Malbec, Bonarda and Sauvignon Blanc — paired with assorted cheese. Half Circle and Friends provide live tunes. $10. 7-9 p.m., 717 South Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-1661)

Thursday, October 22: Carrollwood Cultural Center
Teach and Taste Wine. Wine guide Charles Visalli leads this series of workshops on wine etiquette, how to sample wine when dining out, wine varietals, the art of pairing food with wine and more. This week’s focus is “the art of blind tasting.” E-mail timeforwine@tampabay.rr.com to reserve a spot. $25, $20 for CCC members. 6-7:30 p.m., 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa (813-269-1310)

Many more events after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday, July 22: The NoHo Bistro
Wine Wednesdays. Every week this summer, enjoy a relaxing end to each “hump day” with this tapas and wine tasting. Each Wednesday has a new theme, so don’t miss out on any of these palate-pleasing pairings. This week’s theme is “The Italian Way.” $15. 6-7 p.m., 1714 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa (813-514-0691)

Wednesday, July 22: Parkshore Grill
Murphy Goode Wine Dinner. Chef Tyson presents an organic five-course menu using sustainable meats and fresh, local produce from Gateway Organic Farm, which receives proceeds from the event. $75. 6:30-8:30, 300 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg (727-896-9463)

Wednesday, July 22: Bern’s Fine Wines and Spirits
Potluck Wednesday. Beat the mid-week dinner blahs by stopping by for gourmet take-away — and enjoy a complimentary mini-wine tasting while you wait. This week’s one-stop wonder is a Tuscan take on the BLT, with pancetta, heirloom tomatoes, grilled romaine and rosemary mayonnaise. $19.95. 5-8 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463)

Wednesday, July 22: Datz Deli
Rethink Pink. Get a glimpse into the often misunderstood flavor profile of Rose wines, the perfect, cooling pick-me-up for hot summers. Free. 6 p.m., 2616 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa (813-831-7000)

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Romeo + Juliet. Bob Devin Jones, fearless leader of The Studio@620, takes on William Shakespeare’s most famous love story with a multi-cultural, multi-talented cast. Among the familiar names on board are Julie Rowe as the nurse, Bonnie Agan and Jorge Acosta as Lord and Lady Capulet and Sharon Scott as the chorus, with T. Scott Wooten and Brandii (right) taking the title roles. Preview, Thurs. May 14, 7:30 p.m., $10. Opening night Friday May 15, 7:30 pm. Additional performances May 16, 22-23, 7:30 pm. Sunday Matinee May 24, 3:00 pm, $20 general admission/$15 students and seniors. The Studio@620, 620 1st Avenue South, St. Petersburg, 727-895-6620, www.studio620.org.

Webb’s City. The popular musical about renowned St. Petersburg entrepreneur Doc Webb, commissioned for the millennial celebrations in 2000, returns to the stage in a special concert version at The Palladium. Local playwright Bill Leavengood and musician Lee Ahlin tell the story of the bigger-than-life businessman, following him as he creates an empire during the economic downturn of the Great Depression, only to see the booms and busts of the market parallel the ups and downs of his own tumultuous life. May 14-17, 7:30 p.m., Thurs.-Sat., 1 p.m., Sun., Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, $16.50-$26.50, 727-822-3590, mypalladium.org. Read the rest of this entry »

This is the way a neighborhood wine shop should look: full of bottles of all types and price ranges but uncluttered, with a hint of dark-wood old-world charm. Three decades in South Florida have brought this indie a loyal following even in the face of the big-box wine purveyors that hit town in the past year. Here’s the great thing about a wine shop like this: Just go in and tell David, Jimmy and Michael what you want to eat with your wine, explain the occasion and how much you want to spend, and the perfect bottle will be in your hands within minutes. Plus, they have one of the best cheese selections around — rich stilton, double Gloucester, Applegate smoked cheddar, Appenzeller Swiss (above) and Morbier, for starters, many in nice big wheels that they will cut right in front of you — and stemware that ranges from the high-end Riedel (a killer Chardonnay glass for $22.99) to Wineland crystal that is just $5 a stem.

Gift this: A bottle of port (below) is “so appropriate and substantial,” as Michael Roberts puts it, perfect for cold weather, smoking cigars or just after dinner, starting at $20.

3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-879-2931.

For more stops on the Indie Holiday Shopping Spree, click here.

Photos by Wayne Garcia