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Wine

The staff at Tonka Bottle are not only knowledgeable about wine, but passionate as well. We love to share our enthusiasm with our customers, helping them select wines that will complement their food as well as their unique personal tastes. We know how confusing selecting a wine can be, and we are here to help make it simple and enjoyable. There are some easy guidelines that can demystify your shopping experience and help you identify the wines you will enjoy.

One of the most basic distinctions between wines is their body. Light, medium and full bodied wines have correspondingly lighter or stronger tastes. Wine and food are often matched by body; a meal with heavy spices is often complemented by a full bodied wine. A less complexly spiced meal, such as braised white fish, is lovely with a lighter white wine.

The well-known rule of chicken and fish with white wine, and red meat with red wine is still useful, but remember, your sauces and seasonings can transform white fish into a complex, seasoned entree. There is room for lots of variation here!

Here are some ideas for food and wine pairings:

White fish without a heavier sauce or strong seasonings would do very well with a Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.

However, a stronger fish, a grilled fish, or a spicier sauce might find a complementary partner in a medium-full bodied white wine such as Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris/Grigio or, for a red wine, Pinot Noir.

Chicken, on the other hand, grilled or with a flavorful sauce, could easily stand up to a full bodied white wine such as Pouilly-fuisse, Chardonnay, or a red wine such as Merlot, Barberra, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir or Shiraz/Syrah.

If you are serving red meat, then red wine may well be a fine choice. However, flavoring is still crucial. The lighter your preparation, the lighter your wine choice. Let's start with the light reds, for a meal prepared with fewer strong flavorings: Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, or Chianti.

If you choose a little more seasoning, or grill your meat, then you might select a medium bodied red wine such as a Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Sauvignon.

And if you serve a strongly flavored or grilled meat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah/ Petite Syrah or a full bodied Chianti will rise to the challenge.

For pizzas, tomato sauces over pasta, and the like, try Zinfandel, Syrah or Merlot.

The same loose guidelines will make lovely matches with cheese. The blander, milder cheeses will take the lighter wines, while stronger cheeses such as blue cheese, will be complemented by fuller bodied wines.

Many people like to break these "rules" and try something unexpected. What matters most is your own personal enjoyment! So if you know you prefer sweet wine, or a full bodied red wine, we will help you find your favorite or introduce you to a new vintage.

In addition, if you are hosting a dinner party, reception, or other large gathering, Tonka Bottle Shop can assist you with both selection and planning. Our staff has extensive experience calculating the wine, beer and spirit needs for various events and functions, and will help you plan a successful, pleasurable and safe celebration.

We include a list of some of our best selling domestic and international vineyards. We are happy to share our experiences with these fine winemakers, introducing you to their classics as well as their newest releases:

Domestic:

• White Oak
• Alexander Valley Vineyard
• Toad Hollow
• Clos du Bois
• Rutherford Ranch
• Bogle
• Sonoma Cutrer
• Rombauer
• Franciscan
• BR Cohn
• Marietta
• Artesa
• Estancia
• Castle Rock
• Maryhill
• Pedroncelli
• Bernardus

Australia/New Zealand:

• Grog Norman
• D'Arenberg
• Heath
• Rosemount
• Yalumba
• Lindeman's
• Black Opal
• Penfolds
• Nobilo
• Giesen
• Stoneleigh
• Yellow Tail

Chile/Argentina:

• Pascoal Toso
• Montes
• Trivento
• Concha y Toro
• Los Vascos
• Santa Rita