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Writer's pictureDan Matheny

Did you say... Hogtoberfest? 🐖

Updated: Oct 11


We may not be roasting a pig, but we're going hog wild


Hours of Operation

Monday - Tuesday, 10am to 6pm

Wednesday - Saturday, 10am to 8pm


Calendar 🗓 

October 11-12 (Fri-Sat) - Second Saturday Weekend Special: A pseudo-Hogtoberfest! Pork Sandwiches all weekend (Friday & Saturday), and Pig Wings on Saturday only.

November 1 (Friday) - Fall Art Walk, which means extended hours and a Friday Night Wine Tasting!

November 5 (Tuesday) - The annual Alternative Dinner, 6-8pm. I know it’s election day… the last thing anyone should want to do this night is sit at home and watch the election returns, so make some plans and have a wonderful alternative to spending the night in front of the TV. This is without doubt our favorite and most creative event of the year, so give us a call. Reservations required. (we still have a few spots left!)

November 21 (Thursday) - Beaujolais Nouveau! French fare and flights, all day long.

November 28 (Thursday) - CLOSED for Thanksgiving.

December 7 (Saturday) - The annual Champagne Tasting, 6-8pm. Reservations required. [SOLD OUT]


*We’ve still got some available dates for holiday gatherings, so give us a call to get your event in the books.


News 🗞

We got in some doozies this week, first and foremost my perennial favorite, Brendon Leighton Gratitude. I get this every year, and we've got a few cases at $49.99 a bottle. This vintage is largely Mouvèdre (or Monastrell), so it's a heavy hitter, highly rated. It's just too good. We also reordered another one of our favorites, Ben Glaetzer's Wallace Red Blend from Australia, and it surprisingly came in at $5 off retail price, $19.99 instead of $24.99. And finally, if you recall those deals I talked about making last week? Well I made one, and I'm still excited about what a great deal it is. We have two wines from Amavi Cellars in Washington -- their 2019 Cabernet and their 2020 Syrah. These wines normally retail for $40-50, and we have them for you at almost half price, $24.99 apiece. If you'd like to try the Syrah, we'll be glass pouring it this weekend at the bar. We'll be serving it alongside a couple of food specials, Peach BBQ Pork, served two ways. This is a revival of our old school Hogtoberfest, and we may not be roasting a pig like we used to, but we've definitely got the Pork. The Sandwich will be barbecued pork loin tossed in Peach BBQ with a creamy slaw and cornichon pickles, served Friday & Saturday. The Pig Wings... well, they're pig wings... cuts of pork from the shank, similar in size to a chicken wing, tossed in that same Peach BBQ with the slaw on the side, Saturday only. Come give one -- or both -- a try.



Wine Feature ⭐️

Of course the feature has to be one of the Amavi Wines... Amavi Cellars 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon. As I mentioned, this is normally a $45 bottle of wine that we have for $24.99. This bottle is consistently rated 91-92 points and is a true expression of what Washington Cabernet can be. Amavi is in Walla Walla, a sub-appellation of Columbia Valley right on the border with Oregon that is normally known for its Syrah (which we also have in), but also makes elegant Cabernets that deserve a little more credit. This bottle is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon with some Malbec, Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot blended in, all estate grapes, sustainably grown, and aged in a mix of French and American oak, old and new. On the nose you'll find cherry, dust, and rose, and on the palate, dark fruit, plum, herbs, espresso, and tobacco. Balanced and smooth tannins. It's a dynamic wine, and we're excited to be able to share it with you.



Wine Pick 🥂

This week's pick is Concrete & Clay 2022 Chardonnay from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Concrete & Clay is a special project of winemaker Jasper Raats of Longridge Wine Estate. For these projects, he selects single vineyards with unique microclimates and terroir, and he uses atypical winemaking techniques in order to create an expressive and unique wine. He simply does things a little differently, but in a good way. This bottle, if you can't tell from the name, is aged in amphorae made of concrete and clay. Without the use of oak, this Chardonnay has beautiful fruit and minerality, "distinct aromas of fresh pear combined beautifully with white apple blossoms & a hint of grapefruit carrying through to the palate, ending in a refreshing, clean & lingering, perfectly balanced finish." The grapes are organic, the farming biodynamic, and the fermentation natural with no additives or filtration. Basically, one of the cleanest wines out there. Get a taste of South Africa for $21.99.



Food Feature 🐓🐄

Well I was going to feature the chicken we got in today, but we sold it all already 🤷‍♂️ That's not true, we have one pack left of the Boneless Skin-On Michigan Family Farms Chicken Breast for $15.99. This is the Amish chicken we get in occasionally, so it's completely natural chicken from small family-run farms. The skin can be removed, obviously, but keeping it on will give you some amazing flavor. Sure, it gives you some calories too, but some things in life are worth it. So now the feature is... Veal! We have Fresh Veal Racks in, which I can also cut down into Chops for you, at $29.99/lb. As fresh and tender as you can get. Just give me a call and let me know how you'd like it.


Oyster Selection 🦪

Two oysters for you this week, West Island and Blackberry Point. West Islands are from the waters off Massachussets, about 3 inches long and a sweet and salty thing going on. Great with a crisp Hefeweissen, which is just right for fall, don't you think? Blackberry Points are from the northeast coast of PEI, medium in size but deep-cupped... nice and briny, just how we like them.


Market Items 🛒 

*Fresh Boneless Skin-On Michigan Family Farms Chicken Breast, 3pk - $15.99 (+ one 2pk - $10.99)

*Fresh Prime Teres Major - $21.99/lb

*Fresh Picanha (Coulotte) - $18.99/lb

*Fresh North Atlantic Salmon - $18.99/lb

*Fresh Pumpkin Swordfish - $21.99/lb

*Fresh Sablefish (Black Cod) - $29.99/lb

*Fresh Shorr Rib Burgers, 4pk - $17.99

*Fresh Oysters - $24/dozen

Chicken of the Sea Lump Crab, 1lb - $26.99

Frozen Michigan Family Farms Whole Chicken - $22.99

Frozen 6oz Center Cut Filet Mignon, 2pk - $18.99 Frozen Dry-Aged Prime Strip Steak - $25.99/lb

Frozen Whole Beef Tenderlion, 6-7lb - $76.99ea

Frozen Chuck Prime Burgers, 5pk - $14.99

Frozen Choice Whole Tenderloin - $25.99/lb

Frozen Cooked Osso Bucco Demi-Glace Pork Shanks, 1.5lb - $14.99

Frozen Center Cut Beef Tenderloin Filets, 8oz - $16.99

Frozen Sakura Bone-In French 10-Bone Pork Racks - $8.99/lb

Frozen Duroc Dry Aged Bone-In Pork Chops, 14oz - $16.99

Frozen Duroc Bone-In Pork Chop, Single - $6.99

Frozen Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin - $12.99

Frozen Pre-Cooked St. Louis Ribs - $29.99

Frozen Catelli Ground Veal, 2lb - $11.99

Frozen Lamb Rack, 2lbs - $49.99

Frozen Black Pepper Bacon - $14.99

Frozen Wagyu Dogs, 5pk - $13.99

Frozen Rinaldi Italian Sausage, 5pk - $8.99

Frozen Ahi Saku Block Tuna AAA Sushi Grade, avg. 16oz - $19.99

Frozen U-13/15 Raw Jumbo Shrimp Deveined (2lb package) - $39.99

Frozen U-10 Scallops - $29.99/lb

Frozen Lobster Tails, 2pk - $35.99

Frozen Massa Sicilian Style Pizza (Italian Sausage or Roasted Vegetable) - $14.99

Frozen Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges - $8.99

Frozen Au Gratin Potatoes, 2pk - $4.99

Fresh/Frozen Shrimp & Roasted Garlic Ravioli - $10.99 (serving for 2)

Fresh/Frozen Drake’s Pasta Ravioli (Veal or Butternut Squash) - $12.99/lb (serving for 2)

Tribeca Oven Bread (Sourdough) - $5.50

Brioche Hamburger Buns - $3.99

Brioche Hot Dog Buns - $3.99

French Macarons, 12pk - $8.99


New Wine🍷

Amavi Cellars 2020 Syrah, Washington - $24.99

Amavi Cellars 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington - $24.99

B. Leighton 2020 Gratitude Red Blend, California - $49.99

Treasure Hunter Spaceman 2021 Moon Duck Red Blend, Paso Robles - $24.99

C'est Bien Comme Ça 2022 Red Blend, France - $16.99

Domaine Jérôme Gradassi 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France - $54.99


New Beer & More 🍺

New Holland The Poet Oatmeal Stout, 6pk cans - $11.99



Kegs - 1/6 Barrel 🛢 

Homestead Snake Oil IPA - $109.99

Toplling Goliath Pseudo Sue Pale Ale - $175.99

Sonder Story Teller Lager - $109.99

Homestead Tenpenny Amber - $109.99


Final Thoughts 💬

Now this is the fall weather we've all been waiting for. I'm not sure it could get any better, so make sure to come and enjoy our patio for the remainder of the season... you never know when it will take a turn. On that note... to everybody in Florida, with homes in Florida, or with friends or family in Florida, our thoughts are with you.


Cheers from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!


📞 419-424-0391



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