bugsy

i'm in the wholesale wine and spirit trade and we buy single cask single malts from an outfit called Murray McDavid. they spend most of there time sniffing out rare casks....they would certainly be able to give you a good idea! fax is 44(0)141 842 3001

i've sold wine at winebid.com very good experience!

hey katie, i've got a bunch of new 'mini-decanters' coming from Riedel that i had them put lines at 5 oz and 8 oz....see if your local wholesaler has them on order,also.

one other idea... if you want to stop at a place on the way back about 30-40 minutes from baltimore in Havre de Grace it's called Aquatica 931 Pulaski Hwy (rt 40) 410-939-7686 ...it's only been open a few months,but getting good reviews from people i know.

you'll love casa in taos...make sure to eat at joseph's now located in the the la fonda hotel and lambert's is perhaps my 2nd choice. even if you don't eat at the el monte sagrado, make sure to visit ...they will give you a tour of this "eco-resort" the yak meat burgers at their bar are great!

my favorite is not in ABQ, but in Espanola. its El Parasol which is a take out spot, tho they do have a restaurant next door. turn east at the long john silver off the main road.as the guide michelin would say "worth a journey"

chezcherie got my rule explanation perfect... katie,i'm the riedel wholesaler in MD and DC...we can elect not to play by riedel rules and risk losing the line. we elect to abide by them. seems like you (for once!) have an advantage in dealing with the PLCB.....sounds like a new business opportunity to me,resell riedel restaurant....

you all perhaps should consider joining the AIWF(american institute of food&wine) this past year we've had food and wine events at bicycle,mortons,saffron,aldo's,abacrombie,della notte,cord's and soon linwoods and brass elephant. prices vary,but are usually between $60 and $75 inc.of tax and tip and wine.....plus it supports a number of worthy projects and it's a lot of fun! 410-244-0044 or AIWFBaltimore@yahoo.com

sorry,i screwed up the 1st post..i just wanted to add a footnote to katie's post...the riedel restaurant series are indeed the same shape as the vinum line.the difference is that they are not lead crystal and therefor they are not as "clear" nor as light.they are FOR restaurant service and riedel requires us to agree to not sell them to consumer outlets....i prefer the vinum line and rarely break any because our house rule is to never wash them the night of use.

IMHO, it's been the best MD crab season in memory

it ain't my favorite but going east from the inner harbor on aliceanna til it dead ends into boston st and taking boston east bound about a mile will put you at Bo Brooks...it's on the water. www.bobrooks.com

we sell quite a number of wines from priorat in MD,DC and DE. most are sourced from christopher cannan and his company europvin...these include clos figueras, clos nelin,clos mogador,clos martinet,cims de porrera, gran clos-j.m. fuentes... i'm sure he could arrange visits...he's based in bordeaux. ph +33(0)5 57 87 43 21 fax... 22 email. europvin@europvin.com

the mezcals are from single villages and are named del maguey (ma-gay) we're seeing them more and more here in MD and DC...potent stuff,but incredible flavors!

call a few of your friends and invite them over providing they bring their favorite wine in a catagory of your choce...make sure all are covered in a brown bag and tasted "blind"...what a way to learn!!! enjoy!

ok, i'm a wholesaler so take your best shots,but let me note a few things before you do.in MD and many other states,we are required to sell wines at the same price regardless of order size and ALL retailers and restaurants pay the same. in DC we are allowed to sell to anyone..EVEN CONSUMERS BTW.. at any price we choose. we, indeed, do offer quantity discounts for larger drops...we also offer restaurants a LOWER price on some wines that are being poured by the glass as a reflection of the value of the PR. do we earn our money??? i think so...we ship in containers that are temperature controlled, we store in air-conditioned warehouses, we ship in air-conditioned trucks, we store wine for restaurants when they ask. we sample wines to retailers and press and conduct tastings,etc. it's for the most part fun, but you're not in it for the money.......that's sure.

we've got a car and we tend to spend our money on food and wine not accomadations...i don't want to go into the city...give me your best restaurants withen 15 mins. or so....THANKS !!!!!

we'll be staying near OAK after a long weekend in Napa...good food and good wine list is all we ask...thanks in advance.

geez, i think we paid $52 for the prix fixe, not 47...no matter it's a great bargain at either....try the bergstrom pinot gris from OR on your next trip...WOW.. less than $50

kali's court and louisiana and charlestons and black olive....all good and worth a trip to fells point.

the little take out place in espanola "el parasol" at the long john silver turn is home to some of the best of down home new mexican food in the region...to echo another post: do not drive between rancho and either taos or santa fe after drinking ( even sober at night it's bad) i hear that joseph is finally to open his new place at the la fonda hotel on taos plaza...mid nov.??? also, if you haven't been to byzantium at the top of ledoux street in taos, youre missing one of the best restaurant's in the state. menu changes every few month's and the aussie born chef is very creative!

if your up to a road trip go to espanola and get a breakfast burrito if early or a regular if it's afternoon...i don't like the santa fe outlet nearly as well. it's located just east of rt.68 at the long john silver restaurant corner.

katie you don't know me but i'm john mantis of bacchus importers www.bacchusimportersltd.com 410-633-0400...i'm sure riedel does not want me to ship out of my contract area but you can pick them up at our warehouse in newark,DE mark knows me well and i've asked shane to drop some samples...