Wine Tasting with Basel Cellars - Walla Walla, WA

May 3, 2020 at 3:00 PM Permalink

May Wine Club Wines -

“Blast from the Past”

May 2020 is a look back at wines we have found to be big winners from past wine clubs. These wines may look familiar as a few, like Pine Ridge, Aviary, and the Renegade, have been served regularly here at the bar. But all of these wines have not been on our wine club for year or longer. So we are now enjoying a new vintage on all of these wines.

View Steve's comments on the wines:

Part 1      Part 2

We are also offering wine-tasting to-go. We have picked up plastic to-go cups which we will be happy to put together in a to-go bag for you to sample at home. Until we are able to start serving you on premise, we want to give you a chance to take home the wine, sample it at home, and then choose your wines for you club. We will number the cap which will correspond with the wines listed here on the blog.

Just call ahead and we will put together your wines for your tasting.

940-514-1852 – Use for pick up and phone orders between 2pm and 7pm.

Gold Club Wines

1 Pine Ridge – white blend of Chenin Blanc and Viognier – AVA Clarksburg, CA

Founded in 1978 by Gary Andrus, Pine Ridge Vineyards sits in the heart of the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, famous for Cabernet Sauvignon wines of distinctive power and elegance. Today, the winery owns estate vineyards in five premier Napa Valley appellations: Stags Leap District, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Rutherford, and Carneros.

Crisp, bright, and vivacious, an aromatic white blend boasting a bouquet of honeysuckle, orange blossoms, ruby grapefruit, white peach, and jasmine tea. The entry is both bright and mouth filling exhibiting refreshing acidity and roundness, opening to flavors of tangerine, lime, and lemon curd, lemongrass, ginger, white peach, and green apple. This delicious wine finishes clean and long with a lingering hint of lime.

2 Aviary Chardonnay – Napa Region, CA

Founded in 2010, Aviary Vineyards launched with the 2009 vintage of our Napa Valley Red Blend. That first vintage took advantage of tiny lots of different varieties from 13 different vineyards throughout Napa Valley.

The 2018 Aviary California Chardonnay is emblematic of the classic rich style we strive for every vintage. The wine starts lively with floral notes of hibiscus and warm baking spice, before proceeding to the mid-palate with an enticing texture of silky custard or flan. Notes of coconut and tropical fruits abound throughout: guava, pineapple and subtle notes of toasty vanilla bean. The wine finishes with a refreshing splash of tangy acidity complimented perfectly with some secondary hints of toasted hazelnuts. This wine pairs spectacularly with a bevy of main dishes, from roast chicken to creamy seafood pasta; but would also work very nicely aside an after-dinner cheese plate, or even crème brûlée.

3 Light Horse Pinot Noir – Napa Region, CA (Sold Out)

Light Horse is a nod to the American West and to the invaluable horses that helped settle this vast and untamed region of the country. These are the wines you’ll turn to every day: classic, easy-drinking and fruit-forward California varietals that offer superior value and complement the foods you enjoy.

This enticing Pinot Noir possesses aromas and flavors of red cherry, cranberry, cassis and sweet spices. Elegantly structured with supple acidity and mellow tannins, hints of vanilla and oak linger on the palate and lead to a graceful finish.

4 Fortant Cabernet – Languedoc-Roussillon, France. Appellation Pays d'Oc (Sold Out)

With 30 years of expertise in grape varieties and vineyards in the south of France, Fortant has taken a new step in its perpetual quest for excellence in the know-how of blending terroirs. The house produces for the first time exceptional wines in appellations of origin controlled Languedoc. The Fortant Grands Terroirs range is born with 6 carefully crafted wines, exploring remarkable terroirs in Languedoc.

Aromas of currants, blackberries, and dark cherries combine with highlights of toasty oak and floral earth on the nose. A sip delivers flavors of currant, blueberry, and blackberry that open up into suggestions of rose petal, earth, and oak. Dark fruit and supple tannins.

Platinum Club Wines

5 Mettler Cabernet – Lodi, CA

As one of Lodi’s oldest farming families, they take a lot of pride in farming their vineyards both organically and sustainably. Integrity for the land along with responsible farming practices ensures that the wine grapes are of the highest quality for our wines. The family is involved from the vineyard to the bottle; growing, harvesting, trucking, winemaking and sales.

Inviting aromas of dark cherry, cola, cedar, mineral, and earth followed by a graceful mingling of cherry, cranberry and sweet oak flavors with a whisper of vanilla. On the palate, the rich mouthfeel is moderated by juicy acidity, and the long finish is reminiscent of a fine Bordeaux. This elegant and poised Cabernet is accessible now, and its structure and complexity will see it through many years of aging.

6 Ancient Peaks Renegade Red Blend - Syrah, Zinfandel, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah – Paso Robles, CA

Ancient Peaks Winery represents the shared vision of three longtime local winegrowing and ranching families—the Filipponis, Rossis and Wittstroms. In 2005, the three families acquired ownership and control of Margarita Vineyard. The obvious potential of the vineyard ultimately inspired the three families to become vintners as well as winegrowers. They knew that they could cherry-pick their favorite blocks and make distinctive wines with a strong sense of place.

The 2017 Renegade comes from the estate Margarita Vineyard on the historic Santa Margarita Ranch. From missionaries to gunslingers, roughriders to outlaws, a colorful cast of characters has traversed the ranch’s rugged terrain since the 18th century. An intensely flavored blend that pushes the envelope, defiantly bold and daringly elegant. Loaded with enticing aromas of blueberry, blackberry, vanilla, sandalwood and savory tobacco. A rich, juicy texture reveals flavors of black cherry, boysenberry, cedar, cocoa and baking spice. A lingering jammy fruit character is joined by black pepper spiciness on a smooth, rounded finish.

7 Sean Minor Nicole Marie Red Blend - 50% Merlot - 25% Petite Sirah - 25% Zinfandel – North Coast, CA

Initially, the brand was called Four Bears because of their four children - three sons and a daughter. “Early on, we would convene at the kitchen table to taste various lots of wine, play around with potential blends and talk about what we liked and didn’t like. At one point, our 4-year-old likened this practice to the idea that we were like Goldilocks searching for just the right bottle”.

Wines are produced from premier appellations throughout California, sourced from vineyard sites strategically located near the cool, marine influences of the sun-filled California coast. With the help of a family friend and colleague, Will Bucklin, the initial production featured a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast Chardonnay, and Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc.

Fast forward to today - the children have grown up, the business has evolved and the name has changed (Sean Minor Wines). “Since we don’t own vineyards, we work diligently with sustainable, experienced farms throughout California and Oregon”.

The Nicole Marie Red Blend is deep ruby in color and displays aromas of ripe blueberry, dark cherry, cassis and vanilla. On the palate, flavors of blueberries and dark cherry combined with hints of oak spices that coat the palate. The soft tannins and sweet oak balance lead to a long and lingering finish.

8 Dante Super Tuscan – Merlot and Sangiovese – Tuscany, Italy (Sold Out)

A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. “Super Tuscan” is a term used to describe red wines from Tuscany that include the use of non-indigenous grapes, particularly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The creation of super Tuscan wines was a result of the frustration winemakers had towards a slow bureaucracy in changing the wine law of Italy during the 1970’s. Winemakers began mixing ‘unsanctioned’ wine varieties (like Merlot) into their blends to make high quality wines. The legal system eventually yielded in 1992 with the creation of IGT, a new designation that gave winemakers the ability to be more creative.

Intense ruby red color, intense aroma of oak and fruit. Characteristic flavor of red berries and plums with persistent oak finish. Gentle and harmonious, flavor of cherry and plum, fruity with oak finish.

Ideal to accompany roasts, chops and mature cheese.

This fine wine is mostly made from selected Sangiovese grapes from selected Tuscan vineyards with sandy, clayey and calcareous soil. Following the old traditional vinification method, completely mature grapes are harvested from vineyards and crushed almost immediately. The wine is filtered and stored at constant temperature in oak casks and small barriques for a minimum period of 12 months, in order to obtain warmer tones and colo Color: Intense ruby red color.

May 1, 2020 at 12:00 PM Permalink

Chilean Sip and Learn Event

Apr 21, 2020 at 6:51 AM Permalink

April Wine Club Wines

April Gold Club Wines

Mont Gravet Cotes de Gascogne, Gascony, FR (2018)

A crisp, acidic, and approachable white made from the oft-misunderstood Colombard grape, one that was until relatively recently used for brandy production.  These grapes are grown in Gascony, France, which is found in the very southwest corner in France.  The grapes are aged in stainless steel, undergoing malolactic fermentation and aging on their lees, resulting in a rich, creamy texture.  This region benefits from having a combination of Oceanic and Mediterranean climates, providing ample sun for the production of this lovely white that shows floral and citrus notes on the nose followed by friendly ripe stone fruit on the palate.

Klinker Brick ‘Bricks & Roses”- Lodi, CA  (2018) (Sold Out)

Klinker Brick is one of the most recognized and well acclaimed producers in the Lodi region, named after the odd-colored ‘klinker bricks’ used in the production of the early 20th-century houses still present in Lodi.  This rose is a combination of Grenache, Carignane, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, utilizing both Rhone and ‘Old Vine’ varietals.  Unlike many substantial production wineries, the grapes used for “Bricks & Roses” are designated for just that, and are not surplus from red wine production.    This wine is made in a ‘Provence’ style, signifying no skin contact, no oak, and little tannin, making for a clean, acidic rose highlighted by notes of melon, grapefruit, cherry, and hints of minerality.  Drink this with clean, lean proteins or rich salads. 

Lunaria Coste di Moro, Montepulciano, IT (2016) (Sold Out)

Another entry in the rapidly-expanding world of biodynamic wine.  This red is made from 100% Montepulciano from its namesake Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOP.  The winemaking process, like some of our previous biodynamic selections, involves the grapes being rested on their indigenous yeasts following de-stemming and pressing.  This is followed by aging in oak, stainless steel, and in the bottle.  This wine is characterized by plush, fresh red fruits such as cherry and red plum accented by savory notes of hay, oregano, and tar, making a wonderful pairing for cured meats or rich tomato-based pastas. 

Loca Linda Malbec, Uco Valley, AR (2018)

Brighter red fruits like cherry and raspberry combined with soft tannins and approachable acidity give this Argentinian red its profile.  Produced by Loca Linda or “Crazy Beautiful” Wines, this fun, easy red is representative of its name, and will go well with a wide variety of savory dishes. 

April Platinum Club Wines

Onderra Reserva Rioja, Spain (2014)

Bodegas Ondarre is based in Viana and makes a very enjoyable range of Rioja wines. This cuvée of Tempranillo with 15% Mazuelo and Garnacha is a case in point, with plenty of perfume, succulent berry fruit and a gentle balsamic finish. A tight, drawing palate is tannic and high in acidity. Like the nose, this tastes saucy, earthy and tomatoey, while a steady finish confirms that this is traditional Rioja reserva.

Familia Deicas Tannat, Uruguay  (2015)

A winery under the umbrella of the legendary Paul Hobbs, Familia Deicas is bringing a storied vinicultural history to the generally underappreciated wine-growing regions of Uruguay.  This 100% Tannat is sourced from four estate vineyards in order to create an ideal representation of the country’s flagship varietal.  This wine pours an inky purple with a nose dominated by earth, herbs, and blue fruits.  You will probably find this wine more akin to some of the more structured reds of Languedoc and Rhone, as this wine’s tannins are apparent, but well integrated with bright acidity and fig notes to round out.

KWV Petit Verdot, South Africa (2017)

KWV is amongst South Africa’s most admired and consumed producers, and one of the very few that you will find producing a 100% Petit Verdot every year!  Generally forgotten among its other Bordeaux counterparts, Petit Verdot is generally used for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot for its hallmark inky purple color and immense structure.  KWV’s rendition is aged 8 months in oak and shows notes of dark red fruit, graphite, and spice on the nose.  The palate is surprisingly ripe, with luscious black cherry and plum notes but balanced out with formidable tannins and acid, making a perfect accompaniment for any red meat. 

Hess “Allomi” Cabernet Sauvignon- Napa Valley, CA (2016)

From amongst the most recognizable and respected producers in CA, Hess’s “Allomi” is sourced from the estate’s Allomi vineyard in Northern Napa Valley.  This has all of the prerequisite hallmarks of a Napa Cabernet, with Cabernet Sauvignon making up the bulk of the blend, with Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Merlot adding color and structure.  This sees 18 months in 27% American Oak.  On the nose, you will find black fruit, floral notes, and vanilla from the oak.  On the palate, this is a decadent wine, clocking in at 14.5% ABV with a palate dominated by ripe black fruits, bittersweet chocolate and velvety tannins.

Learn more about this months wines from Steve.

Apr 4, 2020 at 2:38 PM Permalink

Steve's and the Corona Virus....

Steve’s Wine Bar Status Update

We have an immediate change in our operations for the coming week(s).

In anticipation that the City of Denton will be implementing restrictions on restaurants and bars, we will be holding off serving beverages for on-premise enjoyment. We have also cancelled all live music for this coming week. We will evaluate the plans after this weekend and see what the rest of the month holds for us.

We anticipate the restaurants around us are able to and will offer food to-go and delivery and we hope you will support our neighbors by ordering food from them.

Steve’s Wine Bar is in a unique position as our TABC license allows us to sell wine and beer to-go!

With that said, we will stay open to offer our customers and club members the opportunity to stop by and pick up wine and beer to-go. When you order food from the restaurants around us, consider stopping into Steve’s and purchase some wine or beer to pair with your meal. And even a glass of wine to-go while you wait for your food to be prepared.

During this time we will have to reduce our staff. You may see at times only Karen and/or Steve here at the bar. As you know, all of our people are very important to us and they will see a reduction in income due to the loss of hours worked.

We want to be able to help them out during this time period and we have several ways you can help them and the business.

Order Products Online with us:

• We will be placing some of our inventory online each day at our website for people to purchase and stop in to pick up their wine to-go. Products will change based on what we have in inventory, so check back to see what is new online.
• If you would like to have it ready by a particular time, please email us at info@steveswinebar.com and we will pull the wine you have purchased, or want to purchase when you when you arrive, for you prior to stopping by.
• If you don’t want to wait to see what we are putting online, we will also be open for you to browse our inventory and pick and choose wine from our racks and wine cellars.

Join our Wine Club:

• If you are not a club member but would like to enjoy discounts on your purchase of bottles of wine, you can sign up online at /Wine-Club. You will not only receive a discount on the bottles purchase online, but each month you receive two bottles from your club level which have been handpicked by Steve for the month. Check out this months’ list of wines on our website blog. We have some great tasting Washington Wines.
• During this time of reduced services, we will also modify our club membership discounts on bottles purchased online. We hope this will be an added benefit to you, our club members, to help us stay the course during these concerning times.
• Platinum Club members currently receive a 15% discount on individual bottles and 20% off for cases of wine of 12 bottles or more. We are increasing that discount to 20% off for a bottle of wine and 25% off a case of wine.
• Gold Club members currently receive a 10% discount on a bottle and 15% off on a case of wine. We will increase each of those discounts by 5% to 15% and 20% respectively.

Purchase a Digital Gift Card: Main Page at steveswinebar.com

• We have gift cards available to purchase on our main page of our website. When you purchase one of these cards you will receive a digital code which can be used when we open up for regular business in the weeks to come.

Online Tip: 

• We have setup an online tip which we will use to help offset the loss of income to our tipped employees. Click on the pull down menu on tip and choose an amount. If you are able to help support our team through this method, we welcome and thank you for your help and support!

Take a walk around downtown:

• Stop in and grab a glass of wine or beer to go and enjoy a nice walk around the square.

These are trying times and we hope to be able to manage these turbulent waters ahead of us with your help. Karen and I are committed to do what we can to see this through, and your continued support through the programs listed here will be tremendous.

As always, thank you for your support, your friendship, and love.

Cheers!

Steve and Karen and the entire Steve’s Wine Bar Team.

Mar 17, 2020 at 1:10 PM Permalink

March Wine Club Wines

Steve's March Wine Club Wines

Gold Club Wines

Bieler Family Pinot Grigio “Daisy” (2018)

A blend of four white grape varieties, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Muscat, co-fermented at the precise moment of optimal ripeness. Daisy opens with gorgeous aromas of grapefruit, lychee, licorice and summer flowers, framed by a flinty minerality. The palate delivers an intriguing interplay between rich, ripe notes and a firm acid backbone. There's a beautiful sense of lightness, texture and freshness to the fruit flavors that linger on the finish. The balance is exquisite.

Springtree Chardonnay (2018)

Spring in the Yakima Valley is a time of renewal. The harshness of winter gives way to a season of softness and warmth that awakens the senses to the beauty of the region. The wines of Springtree reflect this feeling. Sourced from some of the finest blocks in our estate vineyard, this gently crafted artisanal wine caresses the palate with a fresh, fruit forward expression, finesse, and balance true to the terroir in which it was grown. Co-fermented with Viognier, this Chardonnay displays refreshing notes of pears, lemon zest, and honeydew melon.

In Sheep's Clothing, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley (2016)

Dark brooding blackberry balanced by bright Bing cherry notes, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from both Wahluke Slope and Red Mountain in Washington state. The opulence of fruit is dominant, balanced by smooth tannins and a long finish. This Washington Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted by renowned winemaker Andre Mack, famous for his Oregon projects.

Drumheller Cellars, Columbia Valley Merlot (2017)

Like their namesake, the wines of Drumheller are dramatic and distinct. Drumheller approaches winemaking thinking about elegance, and the resulting wines show very delicate flavors with impressive balance and character. A pretty aromatic profile and fresh texture make them perfect for either sipping or pairing with food. This Merlot opens with aromas of blueberry, subtle spice and rose petals with hints of cocoa. Balanced in style, this wine is structured yet lively.

Lone Birch Red Blend (2018)

For four generations, the Miller family has farmed in the Yakima Valley – Washington’s oldest established AVA and home to some of the state’s finest vineyards. The winery is named after a 70 year old birch tree that sits in the vineyards. This red blend of Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese imparts a bouquet of dark berry and spice leading to a smooth finish with smooth finish with soft lingering tannins.

Platinum Club Wines

Sleight of Hand Cellars – The Spellbinder, Red Blend (2017)

The 2017 Spellbinder is a gorgeous blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, and 5% Syrah. It is dramatically aromatic, with classic Cabernet characteristics like fresh herb and earth notes framed by graphite overtones. Medium bodied, the Spellbinder shows both red and dark fruit characteristics, including Bing cherry, blackberry, and cassis, that finishes with soft tannins and bright acidity. This wine is the perfect everyday wine that drinks well alone or as an accompaniment to a broad spectrum of foods, from meaty fish to pork and chicken.

Revelry Range, Grenache 63%/Syrah 37% Red Blend (2016)

Founded in 2005, Revelry Vintners is a progressive producer of premium wines, highlighting the viticulture and the dynamic quality of Washington State's Columbia Valley. Range is a blend of Grenache from the southern reaches of Washington State, and Syrah grown 100 miles to the north. The product of two classic Rhone varietals, each grown in vastly distinct locales, this wine is a sultry, and incredibly balanced array of flavor. It is the extent to which, or the limits between which variation is possible.

Basel Cellars Claret, Red Blend  (2016)

It’s no secret that any good glass of wine is made in the vineyard. The Walla Walla vineyard is certified sustainable and salmon safe. The distinct terroirs of Double River and Double Canyon are revealed in the beloved Bordeaux-style red blend. The expressive and vivid dark berry fruit from Double Canyon complements the bright and floral characteristics of the Double River Vineyard fruit and creates a beautiful multi-layered wine. It is said over and over again that Walla Walla and the Eastern Washington terroir are something special—that there is nothing else like it in the world. In addition to being located along the same latitudinal axis as some of the most famous wine regions in the world, Walla Walla is one of the few places whose vines are planted on their original roots. 36% Cab Sauv, 36% Merlot, 18% Cab Franc, 10% Malbec

*Owen Roe Cab Franc Rosa Mystica (2017)

Owen Roe is committed to practicing the highest standards of winemaking. Since the first vintage in 1999, the goal has been simple; to produce beautiful wines from superior sites in the Pacific Northwest. A place where the fruit ripens slowly and fully, resulting in excellent acidity and balance. All of the grapes are hand harvested, handled with minimal processing, small-lot fermented and aged in French oak barrels. This vintage of Cabernet Franc from the Yakima Valley is more opulent than versions past. The beautiful fragrance of Cabernet Franc is redolent of violets, tobacco leaf, and blackberries.

*Phinny Hill Vineyard Cabernet (2016)

Nestled in the heart of the Horse Heaven Hills at an elevation of 750 feet, these Cabernet vines are rooted deeply in rich mineral and gravelly soils and deliver fruit with distinct character. Aged for 20 months in French and American barriques. This intriguing Cabernet shows beautiful notes of tobacco, leather, black currant and blueberry. With a little aeration, exciting fruit flavors of dark cherry and blackberry will please the senses.

The initial taste is soft and supple, with layers of silky fruit coating the mid-palate. The outburst of ripe, dark fruits is complemented by the use of subtle French and American oak. The beautiful integration between fruit and oak is polished well by mature tannins and fair acidity. This Cabernet Sauvignon can easily stand alone, but will be even more expressive and complex when paired with a firm textured cow’s milk cheese, braised lamb shanks, or blue cheese burgers. Enjoy!

*Baby Big Dog – Take only one, plus a lower priced wine, as part of your two Platinum Club member wines.

Mar 16, 2020 at 10:37 AM Permalink

Week of March 10th at Steve's Wine Bar

Happy Sunny Tuesday!

​Welcome to another week of great music, beautiful weather and, of course, delicious wine at Steve’s Wine Bar. We have a fantastic week of activities planned.

​Instead of starting with our calendar of live music, let’s start with some talk about new wine in the house.

Washington Wines:

​We are pouring ten new wines this month from the State of Washington. If you love wines from Washington, you will love these new wines. If you haven’t experienced very many Washington wines outside of the typical 14 Hands and Chateau St. Michelle, then you are in for a very pleasant surprise.

​We have two whites - a Chardonnay and a Pinot Grigio, along with eight reds. This includes two Cabernets, one Merlot, one Cab Franc, and four red blends.

​We also have a special Washington wine package featuring the Intrinsic Cabernet available for gift-giving or treating yourself! While we are not pouring this wine by the glass, we are selling it by the bottle. The package deal is a beautiful gift box including one bottle of Intrinsic Cabernet and two stemless wine glasses. These make a great wedding, anniversary or birthday gift. We only have a few left, so if you are looking for a gift or want the package for yourself, grab one or more before they are gone.

​Four New Wines which have not been on our club:

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard from guests, “What is your most buttery/oaky Chardonnay? Do you have Rombauer? That’s my favorite!” In the past we have responded with our two more Oaky/Buttery Chardonnays from Quilt and Aviary. In most cases our guests were pleased with those two options, but some felt they simply did not live up the buttery-ness of Rombauer. So, for a trial period, we have brought in two different Rombauer wines; their Chardonnay and their Sauvignon Blanc. We have both by the glass and by the bottle.

And if you’d like to try the entire line of Rombauer Wines without the airfare, we will be hosting Rombauer here at the wine bar on May 1st for a full portfolio tasting of their Napa wines. Mark your calendars if you would like to come out and enjoy their wines. More details to follow in the coming weeks.

Also, from Napa, we now have a couple of wines from a very small, exclusive winery: The Reynolds Family Winery. We were turned onto this winery by one of our club members who raved about their wines and the estate. Reynolds has five vineyards where they grow the grapes to make their own wines.

We brought in their Estate Cabernet, which is grown on the Reynolds Family Estate Vineyard. It is their 14 1/2 acre property home and the vineyard sits in the shadow of Atlas Peak, just south of Stags Leap, where it enjoys cool breezes from San Pablo Bay to the south. The growing conditions in the locale are ideal for producing big, rich, complex wines.

We also have their Persistence Red Blend which, as the name implies, comes from their Persistence Vineyard. The Persistence Vineyard is a 20-acre property with 15 acres under vine. This property is planted with Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

For a limited time, both of these wines from Reynolds are available by the glass and by the bottle. Come out and enjoy these sophisticated Napa region wines.

Another event you should mark your calendar for is Messina Hof on March 28th. We will have the CEO and Winemaker, Paul Mitchell Bonarrigo in from the winery near College Station for a special “Vertical Tasting” of 4 of their wines. Have you ever wondered what a current vintage wine you are drinking today tasted like in the previous vintage(s)? A Vertical Tasting allows you that opportunity. We are finalizing the details on the wines we will present during the tasting and we will begin selling tickets to that event soon. Check out our next email/FB events/SWB website for ordering options. Seating will be limited for this event.

Wine Travel:

As you may remember, we’ve been working on a trip to Italy for a small group of our customers scheduled in June. However, with all the issues relating to travel outside of our country due to Covid-19, we have cancelled that trip for now and are looking at another trip that allows us to stay on the mainland of the US.

We are beginning work on that trip now, which will likely take us to the Walla Walla/Columbia Valley region of Washington, or the Paso Robles wine region in California. If you are interested in joining us, the plan is to travel for 4-5 days around the weekend of June 25. Email us and let us know if you would like to learn more.

Health Precautions:

In reference to the Covid-19 virus, we want to let you know what precautions we are taking on our end to make sure Steve’s Wine Bar is a safe place to spend an afternoon or evening with friends and family.

• Employees are trained to be diligent on washing their hands.
• Our focus is to continuously clean and disinfectant our tables, chairs, bar, bathrooms, door handles and other areas of the bar.
• Our glass water bottles that are set on the table are cleaned and disinfected before going back in the cooler to chill.
• All of our glassware goes through a two-stage cleaning process. First we wash/rinse them in soapy water, then they are cleaned and sanitized in our special high-heat glass washer behind the bar.

Please, if you are ill, stay home until you are better. No matter what virus is causing your illness, we want our space as safe as possible for you, for your family and friends, and for our employees.

VIP Program – Punch in your Cell Number:

At our old location we had a little red tablet by the checkout counter where our customers would punch in their cell number and earn one point for each visit. After so many earned points, they would receive a special gift for their continued support of Steve’s Wine Bar. When we moved, we discontinued the program, however, we have renewed the program through our vendor and now have the tablet set up right at the entrance to the bottle room. Next time you stop into Steve’s for a beverage, put in your cell number and earn a point for your visit. Then, when you have achieved a VIP point status, see one of us to claim your special reward. Some of the items you can earn: a wine bottle aerator, a sparkling wine stopper, and one of our Steve’s Wine Bar t-shirts. So come in and join; become a cell phone VIP!

Music and Activities for this week:

• Tonight 8pm: Vaughn Faison’s smooth vocals are back along with Lizzi Trumbore as they present some of best duets from the jazz and rock idioms.
• Wednesday 8pm: Jeffry Eckels Trio brings, a very full night of jazz.
• Thursday 8pm: Mario Cruz and his quartet will be performing.
• Thursday evening starting around 6pm, we will be having some fun for Steve’s 60th birthday. The team has put together some food to share with our guests and Karen has promised to open up some sparkling wine at some point in the evening. Mario has asked Steve to possibly play a tune or two during the evening with them. Steve is still on the fence about that part! 😊 Come by and encourage him to play.
• Friday 8:30pm: The Scott Bucklin Jazz Trio brings a wide range of original and classic jazz to Steve’s Wine Bar.
• Saturday 8:30pm: Rob Robinson is back for a solo show of original and classic rock music. Rob had performed here one time when he was traveling through Texas from the East Coast, and the audience loved him! He has recently moved to the DFW area and we are excited to host him this Saturday, and hopefully, more evenings in the future!
• Sunday 4pm: The Mark Withers Trio will be performing and doing a live recording session. If you want to be part of that recording, come down and join us for a great afternoon of wine and music.
• Jazz Combo Monday Nights: While we are usually closed on Mondays, the UNT Jazz department approached us to host a series of student-led jazz combo performances. We will open up for four Mondays in March/April to host these special performances. If you love jazz and the talent we see here at UNT within the jazz department, these are sure to be fun evenings. So stop in for a glass of wine or beer and enjoy some cool jazz. Concerts will be held on March 16, 23, 30, and April 6. Each night will feature 4-5 different combos performing 20- 30 minute sets. These will start at 5pm and go to 7:30 pm. We will open up for our guests at 4pm and we will close up no later than 9pm.

 Visit our Events page  and our Facebook Page

We thank you for your continued support and friendship. It is a pleasure sharing our space with you and bringing fun wines and music to Downtown Denton!

Steve and Karen Severance, and our great SWB staff

Mar 10, 2020 at 2:00 PM Permalink

Last Friday of February

Happy Friday!

Are you looking forward to a beautiful weekend as much as I am? I certainly am excited and thankful about the beautiful weather, and the upcoming fun activities here at the wine bar.

I am also especially thankful for all the wonderful support we receive from you, all of our guests, and especially our team here at Steve’s! The fun and great experiences we have had over the last 10 months here at the new location have been very special. Karen and I were speaking about this last night with a few people at the UNT One O’Clock Lab Band concert about how, at times, we feel completely unworthy of the growing success that has been created here in Denton. We can always say thank you to you for being part of our project, but I am sure we don’t express how deeply that thankfulness goes in our hearts. Thank you for believing in us as well as supporting us as we continue to try new things and of course new wine here at Steve’s.

I wanted to send you an email about some upcoming events here at Steve’s over the next week and some highlights of weeks to come.

Tonight at 8:30pm we have the Friends4 Band with Vocalist Natalie Gandy. And a special birthday gathering for our friend Angela!

Tomorrow 3pm we have our Dance and Wine Specialist, Cher, teaching a dance class focusing on the Merengue. I don’t know what memory or vision this brings to your mind….but I think of the movie Dirty Dancing when I hear Merengue. The class starts at 3pm and runs to 5pm. $35 per person includes the lesson and a glass of wine (or beer)! Tickets are on sale at steveswinebar.com.

Saturday evening we have a quiet night without music. Yes, even on a Saturday night, it’s nice to offer a bit of down time for our club members and guests to kickback and simply enjoy an evening with friends and good conversation.

Sunday afternoon at 1pm we are hosting the Denton Benefit Leagues annual Tea. This will be the first time at Steve’s, and we hope that everyone enjoys the gathering and the specials on Mimosa’s, Bellini’s and other sparkling sippers….and of course the tea.

Sunday evening at 6pm we have our first ever Trivia Night lead by the our very own Kylie Macentee, also known worldwide as Midnight Lucy. So, if you are in the mood for some trivia fun, come on down and join the party.

Looking at the first week in March we have a couple more “quiet nights” for our guests on Tuesday and Friday, then we go into the rest of the month with music every night! The list of music events is long, but a few you should be aware which are unique are:

Saturday March 7th we have two shows that evening with our special guest, bassist Eddie Gomez. Rather than a cover charge, we are selling tickets to each show. They are $15 a person to be up close and personal with Eddie, Ed Soph, and Stefan Karlsson. Or if you wish to stay the entire night, tickets are $25. We anticipate the seats will sell out, so get your order in now. You can purchase your tickets online today!

Starting on Monday March 16th and then the following three Mondays, we are hosting the UNT Jazz Combo Concert series. This is a special night to come in and hear some of the best jazz talent UNT has to offer. Each night will start at 5pm (doors will open at 4pm) and you will experience 4 jazz combos performing 20-30 minute sets of music. The event will wrap up before 8pm and we will close up for the evening by 9pm. The events are free to attend. If this interests you, please mark your calendar for March 16th, 23rd, 30th and April 6th. All concerts will run 5-7:30pm.

Also in March, on Saturday the 21st, we are doing a special musical tribute to Lyle Mays, who recently passed away. Lyle was an 11-time Grammy award winner pianist, wrote and arranged nearly all the music with the great Pat Metheny Group, and of course is one of the most recognized UNT Jazz Alumni. The event will start at 8pm and run through 10:30pm. We will have several special guests sitting in throughout the night along with special video tributes from others who cannot make it back to Denton for this event.

Thursday, March 26th, 8 – 10pm, one other special event we will be hosting in March will be a performance by trumpet player Mike Steinel and his quintet. Mike and his band are recording a new CD. While a few of his band members are in town from other parts of the country for the recording session we will host them that evening for this special performance.

As I mentioned earlier in the email, there is a lot of music happening here in March, with music every night beginning on the 10th.  Stay tuned for all of the events as we post those online at steveswinebar.com and on our Facebook page.

 Visit our Events page  and our Facebook Page

"Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp.

People wonder if the glass is half empty or half full…they miss the point….the glass is refillable!

We love filling your glass with music and wine. Thank you for allowing us to do so!

Once again, thank you for all your support!  Have a fantastic weekend!

Steve and Karen Severance, and our great SWB staff

Feb 28, 2020 at 12:52 PM Permalink

Happy Presidents' Day Newsletter

Happy Presidents’ Day!

​What a fantastic day it has been here in mid-February. We hope you had a chance to be out in this beautiful weather and are excited for the week ahead (even though it chills back down to the 50’s).

​This last weekend was a blast starting on Thursday with Galentine’s Day followed by Valentine’s Day. We were presenting red roses along with our special chocolates for those in attendance enjoying some wine. We had stocked up on the chocolates, both on the individual and the six packs, so we still have plenty available for people to enjoy.

​Saturday was the Grand Premier of our new piano. The house was packed with people, many of whom we have never seen before. That was likely due to the nice article the Denton Record Chronicle did on Thursday about Dave Meder and our new piano.

Of course how can leave out our fun Sunday night performance with our Mosaic Band from FUMC of Denton. Everyone had fun with the wide array of music we played and once again, the house was packed. We truly appreciate all those who are coming out to enjoy the live music.

This week we have another full week of activities at the bar:

• Tuesday 8pm: Gwynne Montgomery is back with a range of Love Songs.
• Wednesday 8pm: Jeffry Eckels is joined by Stefan Karlsson and Ed Soph for a fun evening of jazz.
• Thursday 8pm: The Legacy Trio of Jim Riggs, Neil Slater, and Lynn Seaton are back. This will be the first time for Neil to play on our new piano!
• Friday 8pm: Saxophonist extraordinaire, Mario Cruz will be performing with his quartet.
• Saturday 2-4pm: “Dancing with Wine”  led by our own Cher.
• Saturday 8-11pm: Quincy Davis presents UNT Student Showcase with music from Wayne Shorter. The first set will feature Austin Ford (trumpet), Ty Baker (a. sax), Holly Holt (piano), Brandon Broussard (bass) and Quincy Davis (drums). We will be featuring the music of Wayne Shorter. The second set will open up into a jam session.
• Sunday 6pm: Cher is back for another round of “Dancing with Wine.”

 Visit our Events page  and our Facebook Page

Have you voted yet? It’s that time of year when the Best of Denton voting is happening. We would love to have your support in the Bars and Nightlife section in several categories as well as in the Shopping category for Best Wine Shop. If you happen to not see us listed in the patio section, and feel so inclined, please write us in for that recognition!

Thanks once again for all your support! I hope you have a great week and we’ll see you soon!

Steve Severance

Feb 17, 2020 at 3:36 PM Permalink

Let's Dance!

Gloomy Sunday....

Come to Steve's this evening to lift your spirits on this gloomy Sunday afternoon for a bit of Tango with Cher at 6pm. 

Today @ 6pm – Do you want to Dance? Our first ever Dance Class will take place with Cher Anabo teaching the basics of the Tango. This will be a series of 2 hour classes to be held over the next several weeks. $35 a person which includes the class and a glass of wine or beer! Tickets are limited (20 per session) and are available online at our website and in the bar. Other dates for the dancing are Feb 22 and 23 and the 29th. Tickets will be available online for these additional dates beginning February 11th. 

Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that allow you to "slide" a bit (no rubber soles).

Check out the rest of our great activites, music and specials this week.

• Tuesday Feb 11th, 8pm we have Mister Joe (Pinson) performing his original music with Jeffry Barnes and Steven Heffner.
• Wednesday Feb 12th, 8pm with Jeffry Eckels and friends.
• Thursday, Feb 13th 8pm with Davy Mooney and his Guitar Jam.
• Also on Thursday the 13th – it is officially Galentine’s Day. Gals, gather your best girlfriends together and celebrate the awesomeness of the ladies in your life. We will have some special treats and pricing on wine for you.
• Friday the 14th is Valentine’s Day and we will be hosting live music, and to help make the evening extraordinary, you will receive a very special chocolate and a rose with your glass of wine. Music will be provided by the extraordinary pianist, Francis Vidil.
• Saturday the 15th is another special evening of music starting at 7pm with the UNT Jazz Faculty performing. They are helping with a fundraiser for the new baby in house and the cover charge and tips during their 7 – 8:30 session will go to the piano fund.
• At 8:30 that same evening we have vocalist Marion Powers joining us with her quartet. And as the evening plays on, we will likely see some of the UNT Jazz Faculty join in the fun for the later set. (There will be a second cover charge to go to Marion’s group at 8:30)
• And finally…on Sunday the 16th, the Mosaic Band is back at Steve’s. So we will fill up the house with some fun Christian, Soul, Funk, and Jazz music with our 13 piece band!!!

 Visit our Events page  and our Facebook Page

Have you voted yet? It’s that time of year when the Best of Denton voting is happening. We would love to have your support in the Bars and Nightlife section in several categories as well as in the Shopping category for Best Wine Shop. If you happen to not see us listed in the patio section, and feel so inclined, please write us in for that recognition!

Do you like chocolate? Do you like spirits and wine with chocolate? If you did not already know, we have the 6 packs of the Quintessential spirit filled chocolates in stock. We’ll be ordering more to have during the Valentines Day month as well.

Imagine perfection manifesting itself as rich, dark chocolate caressing your taste buds. As the delicate shell gives way, the pure liquid flavor essence cascades into your mouth. A small sigh escapes your lips. Your body relaxes and suddenly you remember where you misplaced your smile.

Thanks once again for all your support! I hope you have a great week and we’ll see you soon!

Steve Severance

Feb 9, 2020 at 8:07 AM Permalink