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Thursday, February 08, 2007

California Wine and Cheese

Just another night at the wine bar... :) Proprietor Tom Dugan at right.



Archipel, originally uploaded by Living in Monrovia.

I tasted a bit of Archipel tonight. It's a blend of Merlot and Cab. Would be divine with a big juicy steak!

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

California Wine & Cheese -- simply the best addition to Monrovia since sliced bread! With a great selection of California wines and Monrovia residents, this place is a real gem for a nice social evening.

1:40 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

One of the true attributes of California Wine & Cheese is its inventory of smaller production wines. Their selection offers wines that you won't find in other stores. Also, Tom is very knowledgable about many of the wines he carries.

12:40 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Having been an aficionado of wine tasting in Monrovia following the fall of the Wine Shoppe's retail and tasting room, on to tasting at Dogwood before they dropped wine under the new owner, I had my nose literally pressed to Tom's window and met him before they opened for business. I went as the unofficial representative of a band of friends known as the “Mauna Loa Winos” (named after the street that some of us live on). On behalf of the gang, I am happy to say Wine Tasting in Monrovia is alive and well in the best (by far) incarnation to date! The shop typically features 1 white and 2 red flights each weekend along with a several reds and whites open any night (note they are closed Mondays). You can buy a taste or pour of anything they have open or buy your own bottle to drink there at no additional cost. I was not so sure about the "cheese" concept - but after trying their gourmet cheese plates I have actually found myself buying an occasional show stopper cheese. Tom and his pouring staff are friendly, informative and always approachable – no wine snobbery here. As mentioned, Tom is really trying to excel in the smaller boutique wineries flourishing in California's wine districts. After starting my Monrovia wine tasting in the Wine Shoppe's “closet” among broken computers and boxes, its nice to taste in a décor that is warm and inviting out of nice, large Ridel glasses. I think they are doing well and I do know they were packed on the first Saturday night they were open and on most Friday and Saturday nights. My only gripe is that they need to be open longer on week nights for those that want to stop in for a glass after work (and don't work 9-5 jobs). Cheers!

8:44 PM

 
Blogger bruce said...

thanks Amanda,
we finally went in and met Tom after all of your favorable blog press. the wine samples were great as was the cheese and bread. we even took home a bottle of wine for our expanding collection. we drove north to look for your butchered trees, but failed to notice them. looks like California Wine and Cheese will be a favored stop in an evening of fun for us in the future.

8:54 PM

 

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