The “Among the Vines in Chile, Villas and Views” travel article this weekend highlighted two superb Chilean wineries: Viña Vik and Lapostolle. Many of their wines have received worldwide attention, including Lapostolle’s Clos Apalta. Puro Wine is proud to sell Clos Apalta, along with many other fine wines. Stop by Puro Wine soon to browse our collection.

To view the New York Times article, click on the following link: http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/03/24/travel/among-chiles-vines-villas-and-views.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

Puro Wine is proud to offer a new Pisco to the American market: Waqar Pisco. Pisco is a common drink in Chile and similar to wine in that it is made from grapes. Waqar’s first distillery was established in 1850 and their Piscos are known for their impressive brightness, entrancing aroma and smooth texture. Made from Muscat grapes and distilled in small batches, Waqar Pisco is something new and exciting. To those looking for a different spirit for a cocktail, you have found the right ingredient. Puro Wine is excited to offer this new Pisco!

“Call it retail diplomacy. Banchieri asks: how better to engender sympathy with foreigners than to taste, sip, wear, and otherwise experience their cultures up close, preferably (for he is a businessman) in his chic little establishments in SoHo? He offers the most comprehensive selection of Chilean wines available here, but his place is also an event center, one that serves as a “private commercial liaison between Chile and the U.S.” Diplomacy lives or dies by human contact, of course, and Puro Chile has hosted more than 80 events in the past two years. On a given evening there, one might encounter Chilean diplomats sipping sparkling rosé with American journalists; a Chilean entrepreneur selling her fruit-based cosmeceuticals; or a scale replica of the rescue cylinder that lifted the Chilean miners to sunlight in 2010. (Guests were allowed to climb inside and empathize with the South American heroes.)”

Please see the full article here: Puro Chile in Newsweek , or view these photos of the hardcopy!

In the 'Cellar Selections' category, there were two great Chilean Wines that made the list! The Miguel Torres Manso de Velasco, and the Lapostolle Clos Apalta - both receiving 93 points!

This is excellent news - and we will be carrying these wines throughout the holidays for those who wish to give a gift that makes an impression! Order online or stop by the store today!

Best Buy Cellar Selections

A "Piscola" -- a pisco and Coke -- is so popular and prevalent in Chile that it's the unofficial national drink of the country. But now that Chilean distributors are setting their sights on the American market, savvy mixologists are proving that pisco deserves a lot more than to just be mixed with soda.

Jason Littrell of Jbird is one of those recent converts. Working with Chilean pisco, he and several other area bartenders created libations to serve throughout September to celebrate Chilean Independence (Sept. 18).

"It's delicious. It's an excellent substitute for vodka for people who want more flavor without the calories," he notes. "It's a well-thought-out spirit. Plus, I love that Chilean pisco is about tradition and pride."

Littrell is currently pouring his creation, a Pisco y Tamarindo (recipe below), but he also suggests creating your own libation at home. "Right now, I recommend using berries -- raspberries and blueberries -- and I'm a sucker for cinnamon. But really, it's hard to go wrong with just a Pisco Sour."

Pisco y Tamarindo 

By Jason Littrell, Jbird 339 E. 75th St.

2 oz Chilean Pisco
4 oz Jarritos Tamarindo
Pinch of salt
Squeeze of lime

Pour pisco and Jarritos in a highball glass over ice. Add pinch of salt and squeeze of lime. Swirl and garnish with a lime or orange.

A guide to Pisco

Chilean pisco is smoother than tequila with more flavor than vodka and has various styles, including white (or “transparent” or “unaged”), Guarda pisco (aged no less than 180 days), aged pisco (rests for at least a year) and small batch pisco, which is handcrafted in the most traditional of fashions.

Where to drink it

At Raymi, chef Richard Sanodval serves Peruvian fare to accompany the bar’s 30 house-infused varieties of pisco (everything from lemon verbana to blackberry ginger).
43 W. 24th St., 212-929-1200

Enjoy!

The Festival was set in one of Newport's old mansions, the Marble House, which was the perfect setting on such a lovely Fall weekend. Not only were there many outstanding wines poured, but there were also a few excellent star chef demonstrations including Emeril Lagasse and Jacques and Claudine Pépin. Additionally, there were over 20 high-end New England Restaurants and Catering companies present to offer some delicious food to pair with the wines. We would like to thank all of the wineries who participated with Puro Wine, as well as all of the organizers of the event in Newport. It was a very successful weekend and we look forward to attending next year's event!

Additionally, we will have Germán hosting a more casual tasting at Puro Wine this evening which is an extra special treat. Please stop by to meet him, and have a taste of his icon wine, Quelen!

Perez Cruz is a family-owned winery focused on the production of carefully crafted red blends that combine tradition and modernity. They are 100% made and bottled at the Liguai de Huelquén estate in Maipo Alto.

Diligent and consistent winemaking, by German Lyon, has earned Perez Cruz world-wide recognition for wines of quality, elegance, and modernity.