karina@france44.com, Author at France 44

Meet Melissa!

How did you find your way to France 44? What do you do here and how long have you worked here?

I’ve been working at France 44 as our Human Resources Manager and Cider Expert for almost six years. Before working at France 44, I had worked for many years in non-profits, as the Executive director of several, and I ran my own Math and Reading Center. I was looking for a change and new challenge, and decided to look into working in a liquor store. The HR position opened up and I decided to go for it!

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I love to read. I escape reality in books, sitting on my porch swing. I read a lot of fiction, and my favorites are the books in the “Name of the Wind” series.

How did you get into cider? What do you love about cider?

Today is the 9th anniversary of the day I found out I had celiac disease. I was a big beer drinker before, and was looking for an alternative with a similar alcohol content. The first cider I tried was the Milk and Honey Heirloom cider, and it changed my life. I fell down the rabbit hole and didn’t look back. I love the diversity of ciders, and the fact that two cider makers can take the same apples, and make such distinctive, unique products. But most of all, I love the community. I am a part of online groups, the Minnesota Cider Guild, and attend Cider Con every year. I’m also the cider expert for a local news station in Rhinelander, Wisconsin (WJFW), was named the 2023 Midwest Pemellier of the Year, and helped France 44 become a top Midwest off-premise cider sales location.

Ok tough question – what is your favorite cider?

Milk and Honey Heirloom reigns supreme!

What do you want people to know about cider?

First of all, IT’S CALLED CIDER, NOT CIDER BEER!

But also, it’s not all sweet. Cider can taste like fresh apples, can be dry, can be sparkling or still; there’s something for everyone. I hope that more people will be open to trying it!

MISA Imports Wine Recommendations

We want to highlight MISA Imports this week. With a focus on quality and sustainability, MISA Wine Imports sources excellent wines from renowned small to medium wineries in Europe and beyond. They carry a wide selection of styles, from full body reds, crisp whites, and beautiful sparkling wines, and offer an excellent value.

Of the dozens of excellent MISA wines that we carry, we’ve chosen a few of our favorites to share with you, all of which are available in our store!

Manciat Cremant de Bourgogne NV, Burgundy, France – $19.99

100% Chardonnay. Sourced from the neighboring villages of Pouilly-Fuisse. Nice yeast and baked bread notes on the nose. This is a deliciously fruity and rich Cremant, with fruit flavors of green apple and melon and chalky aspects on the crisp, clean finish.

Ronan by Clinet Blanc 2020, Bordeaux, France – $17.99

Ronan By Clinet White offers a bright golden hue, as a pleasant introduction to a fine wine. Hints of yuzu, grapefruit, white flowers, passion fruit, a succession of aromas, all promising freshness, elegance and complexity.

Berthaude Cuvee Laura Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2021, Rhone Valley, France – $17.99

85% Viognier, 15% Grenache Blanc/Marsanne blend. Vinified in stainless steel tanks. Exotic nose of melon, apricot and honeysuckle with a wonderful garrigue note. On the palate there is a focused mineral vein that runs through the wine, with ripe apricot, peach and honeydew.

Alberto Conti Chianti Classico 2019, Tuscany, Italy – $17.99

Displays an intense crimson color. This 100% Sangiovese has a delicate bouquet brimming with fresh aromas of iris and violets that evolve into forest berries at the end. On the palate, it has a powerful blend of dry, mineral notes that provide an intense, persistent flavor.

Domaine Bressy Masson Rasteau 2020, Bordeaux, France – $24.99

This complex wine has a beautiful black-purple color and offers a rich bouquet of blackberries, blackcurrants and violets. On the palate it is full-bodied, liquorice-like and ends with mineral and even salty notes.

L’Espirit de Chevalier Pessac Leognan 2018, Bordeaux, France – $44.99

The second wine of Domaine de Chevalier, this shows all the richness of the vintage, with weighty tannins and a generous future. Blackberry fruits and a core that promises plenty of potential as the dryness softens contribute to what will be a richly structured, complex wine.

The Bridge Between

Spring has…sort of Sprung?

written by Jake

This time of year in Minnesota is always interesting. The doldrums of winter still lurk around every corner; snow on the ground; below freezing temperatures; the ever looming threat of a late winter snowstorm. But, the signs of spring are starting to show their face. This weekend we’re seeing temperatures in the mid 40s…that’s nearly shorts weather! For those of you who are looking to make yourself a cocktail, this time of year can be even more confusing. Do you make something warm and wintery like an old fashioned or a hot toddy? Or do you go with something more summery like an aperol spritz or a daiquiri? With that dilemma in mind, we got to work coming up with something that could be a bridge between those two feelings, not quite all the way wintery or summery. This riff on a Paper Plane is sure to warm you up while still being refreshing! Here it is:

The Bridge Between

0.75oz Rye Whiskey Pick your favorite rye here, but we love Rittenhouse rye for cocktails. The higher proof holds up well in cocktails, and the warm notes of clove and cinnamon work wonders in this drink.

0.75oz Aperol This classic bitter orange aperitif has more sweetness than Campari, while still providing enough bitterness to balance this drink. Negroni Sixteen liqueur is another great option!

0.75oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram This liqueur brings waves of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper. It pairs beautifully with the rye and gives this drink a lot of complexity.

0.75oz Lemon Juice The acidity from the lemon will help round out the sweetness of the other ingredients and provide much needed balance.

Add all your ingredients to a shaker and shake with ice until well chilled. Strain or fine strain into a chilled glass (a coupe or Nick & Nora work great) and garnish with an orange or lemon twist.

The rye and allspice dram provide the warm, wintery spice notes that make so many winter cocktails great. The Aperol and lemon juice help brighten the flavors and balance the drink. The result is a wonderfully complex cocktail that is as refreshing on a sunny day as it is warming on a cold one, perfect for a Minnesota spring!

Meet Our Beer Buyer!

How did you end up working at France 44?

After leaving my Job at a local wine distributor, I wanted to get back into the retail side of the industry. France44 was the only store on my list. That was over 16yr ago....
Bill Nosan

How many businesses have mysteriously burned down shortly after you were employed at them?

Two businesses that I absolutely loved working for burnt down after I left. I have solid alibis for both incidents.
Bill Nosan

Word on the street is that you drink other things than beer...? Is that allowed? And what's you current go-to non-beer drink?

I'm a sucker for a great Gin & Tonic, anything from Ridge Vineyards, South Africa Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. Also, I'll fight anyone who doesn't think Griottine Cherries are the absolute most important item in a great Manhattan.
Bill Nosan

As the beer buyer, you have seen the rise (and sometimes fall) of many beer trends. What beer trend are you most excited about?

We take a lot of pride in curating a great selection of beer in the department. That means we say no a lot more than we say yes. Obviously, we can't ignore the big trends, but I don't go chasing the smaller ones. If those smaller trends are going to work, they'll happen organically and not because we force them. Plus, trends tend to produce products we really don't get that excited about. Just give us well made classic styles!
Bill Nosan

We've heard you live in a mysterious land call St. Paul. What's one of your favorite restaurants there?

Meritage is our splurge restaurant. El Burrito Mercado, Punch, Parlour and Pajarito are some of our neighborhood hang-outs.
Bill Nosan

We heard you love to cook. What's the best thing you have cooked recently?

Last week I made griddle grilled Nordic salmon with Cajun corn cakes and sauteed green beans. Pretty happy with the end result. Basically, a big plate of comfort. I just started reading The Food Lab and The Wok--both written by Kenji Lopez-Alt. I Love his style of writing and it helps get through his textbook-sized books. Also my love of beef and pork have led me to blindly follow anything that Bradley Robinson of Chuds BBQ does with the grill/smoker.
Bill Nosan

What's your desert island beer?

It would have to be a craft Pilsner. Or a Czech Pilsner.....or maybe a German Pilsner. And of course, Champagne. I try never to be too far away from a good bottle of bubbles.
Bill Nosan

Daiquiris For Days

written by Jake

Rum, lime juice, sugar. That’s all it takes to make one of the most classic cocktails of all time. Invented right around the start of the 20th century in a town of the same name in Cuba, the Daiquiri is the perfect drink for a hot, humid day. Legend has it that the drinks inventor, Stockton Cox, invented it when he ran out of gin but didn’t want to serve his guests straight rum. The addition of lime juice and sugar helped to smooth out the flavors of the rum and the rest is history. Now while the Daiquiri is ideal for hot weather, there’s certainly no reason that this delicious beverage can’t be enjoyed anytime of the year, even in a Minnesota winter. While the original recipe (which we’ll share below) is delicious on its own, a couple of simple tweaks can turn this drink into a complex, winter cocktail. Enjoy!

THE ORIGINAL DAIQUIRI

2oz White Rum – Any white rum that you enjoy will do, but we like Plantation 3 Star for its complexity and price point.
1oz Fresh Lime Juice – Fresh citrus juices are always the first choice but the bottled stuff will still make a good drink.
0.75oz Simple Syrup – Traditionally a Demerara syrup is used (Liber & Co. make a good one), but truthfully any simple syrup will work.

Add all your ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake hard until well chilled (frost will form on the outside of your shaker, that’s a good indication that it’s been shaken enough). Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a lime wheel.

GINGER RIFF DAIQUIRI

2oz Plantation Dark Rum – Once again, any dark rum you enjoy will do, but Plantation Dark Rum is excellent and is a great price.
0.75oz Fresh Lime Juice – See above.
0.25oz Liber & Co Ginger Syrup – Ginger syrup will add both sweetness, as well as spice.
0.5oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram – This liqueur is a favorite of F44 employees. With notes of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper, this is what’s going to transform this drink into a winter classic. We recommend starting on the lower end of the measurement and increasing the amount from there if you want more of the Allspice flavor.
4 dashes Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters

As above, add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake hard. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a lime wheel, or, if you’re feeling fancy, express the oils from a grapefruit peel over the top of the drink.

We have a new POS System!

As those of you who have come into the store this week have seen, we have upgraded our POS. Thank you all for your patience as we have been making this transition. Best thing about it for you – no more signatures!

CLUB 44 UPDATES

You still earn 3% cash back!
Redemptions are now in increments of $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or $500
- These amounts can be stacked together!
Points are still earned for in-store purchases in the liquor store and cheese shop – and can be used in both.
Members will be getting emails with updates on their points and will eventually be able to set up an account online to track points.

If you have any questions about the new way of Club 44, email Aaron at aaron@france44.com

OTHER EXCITING NEWS

ONLINE SHOPPING WILL RETURN!
- We are in the process of getting our online sales platform all set up for this spring. We will send a notification when this is complete.
No more pesky signatures at checkout!

Social, Local, Vocal: The (re-branded) Du Nord Story

written by Karina

If the mark of a good producer means that they make good products, Du Nord fills that qualification easily. If the mark of a great producer means that they use their platform to support and champion their local community and give a voice and opportunities to demographics that are usually not heard in the spirits and hospitality industry, then Du Nord is the GOAT.

The first thing you’ll notice when you ask Tom where the Du Nord stuff is at France 44 is that, well, you probably notice them a lot more than you used to. They recently chose to undergo a major rebranding, casting aside the more classic and traditional labels in favor of bold colors, big block letters—essentially demanding you to notice them.

And this is exactly it: Du Nord demands you to take notice. You’re first taken in by their boldness in packaging, but then you’re sucked in by their boldness in who they are and what they stand for. It’s not enough for Du Nord to talk about good ideas and social change—they live it out and challenge others to do the same. Their mission statement? “We want to change the rooms, open the doors and help people who have not traditionally held power see how we can make it in this business, this town, this life, this world.”

Du Nord even chose to re-brand the full name they go by: they’re now Du Nord Social Spirits (changed from Du Nord Craft Spirits). If this doesn’t tell you how focused they are on building community and creating connections, then nothing else will. This is something we at France 44 connect with on a deep level—the idea that alcohol isn’t just alcohol, and that it has the power and potential to be a catalyst for bringing people, ideas, and passions together, just like food does.

Here are some of our favorites that you should take notice of:

DU NORD PROMINENCE GIN - $32.99

Taking home more awards than we can count, this gin is the only one you need to have on your home bar—especially if you love the juniper-forward kind of gin. The bold juniper is framed by softer notes of angelica, licorice and ginger, giving it a beautiful depth that proves it’s as good on its own as it is in a G&T—or better yet, in Du Nord’s ‘The Wigington’:

The Wigington Cocktail

2 oz Prominence Gin
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz agave or honey syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters 2 drops rose water
Garnish with an edible flower, such as orchid

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a martini glass or coupe. Garnish.

DU NORD PROMINENCE BARRELED GIN - $36.99

This special-release gin turns the Prominence Gin up to volume 11. Aged in Du Nord whiskey barrels, this gorgeous gin is softened around the edges with whisps of vanilla and caramel notes along with the ever-present botanicals. Use this is as your base in an insane, off-the-wall version of an Old Fashioned:

Gin Old Fashioned Cocktail

2 oz Prominence Barreled Gin
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 sugar cubes
Garnish with cherry and orange peel

In a rocks glass, combine the orange peel or wheel, bitters, and sugar cubes. Muddle to combine. Add ice, gin and stir from the bottom to combine. Garnish.

DU NORD FRIEDA COFFEE LIQUEUR - $32.99

Frieda is a cornerstone of Du Nord’s lineup, made using cold brew from locally-roasted coffee beans. Nutty and with a deep roasted flavor, it toes the line between chocolatey and dessert-y, and orange-spice-laden. Put this in your Negroni and you’ll never drink it the same way again:

Frieda Coffee Negroni Cocktail

1.5 oz Prominence Gin
0.5 oz Frieda Coffee Liqueur
0.25 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth
Orange peel garnish

Build in a rocks glass and stir with a large ice cube or sphere. Garnish with an orange peel.

Get inspired this month (and every month) and drink some “Real good booze that does real good.” Plus, try some of there awesome products on our tasting bar this Saturday!

Love You Bunches! All about Stolpman Vineyards

written by Josh

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special someone, a crew of pals or are practicing good self-love this year, treat yourself to a bottle of something delicious. This year we decided to highlight a winemaker that we have fallen head over heels for, Stolpman Vineyards.

ABOUT STOLPMAN VINEYARDS

Founded 20 years ago in the Ballard Canyon of Santa Barbara County, Stolpman Vineyards quickly made a name for producing outstanding Syrah and Roussanne. They now produce a wide range of wines from their impeccable estate bottlings to their delightfully gulpable “So Fresh” line of wine. It’s not only the quality of the wines that have made us lovestruck over Stolpman, but also their winemaking, vineyard practices, and their philosophy on sustainability.

Even while much of the wine industry is moving towards mechanization, Stolpman has continued to do everything in the vineyard by hand, all the way from pruning to harvesting. This meticulous work is done by the vineyard crew, “La Cuadrilla”. This crew is employed year-round, a major contrast to seasonal work that can be found in much of the wine world. Stolpman believes not only in sustainability in the vineyards, but also in labor practices that create stable employment. Employing a full-time work-force, even in the slow months, also allows the vines to be continuously and carefully cared for to produce the highest quality of fruit possible.

LA CUADRILLA

And if this wasn’t enough to get us falling for Stolpman, they took their employment efforts one step further with their wine named La Cuadrilla. This wine began when the vineyard manager, Ruben Solorzano, gave the vineyard crew a small vineyard block (a Cuadra) to learn and practice taking care of the land and the vines. The resulting wine, La Cuadrilla, and its profits go to the vineyard crew. This program has significantly expanded over the years, and now about 10% of the total Stolpman vineyard production goes into this wine, and the profits continue to be returned to the crew members.

SO FRESH!

The “So Fresh” lineup of wines from Stolpman are made using early harvested, whole-bunch clusters of grapes that are naturally fermented, producing lighter, ultra-drinkable, food friendly wines. The simplistic and fun labels are all made by the penmanship of the vineyard manager. Plus, what better way to tell someone you love them than with a wine that literally says “Love You Bunches”!

Low-Alcohol Cocktail Recipe

With dry January coming to a close, we thought now might be an appropriate time to ease everyone back into the harder stuff with a low ABV cocktail: the spritz. Generally, cocktails sit anywhere around 20 to 30 percent alcohol, but spritz style cocktails are much lower in alcohol, with ABV being right around five percent. The most famous of these types of cocktails is the Aperol spritz, a refreshing libation that’s particularly good on a hot summer’s day here in the Twin Cities. So, if it’s a good summer drink, why are we discussing it now, in the dead of winter? Well, by simply swapping out the Aperol with one of our favorite aperitifs, Bonal, you transform the bright and citrusy summer cocktail into something with rich flavors of ginger, baking spice, and bittersweet notes. Add a splash of elderflower tonic and slice of grapefruit, and you have a delicious low ABV drink, perfect for the winter. With all that being said, here it is, the Bonal Spritz:

3oz Bonal Aperitif: Bonal is an aperitif that uses gentian root, cinchona bark (where quinine is derived from), and a blend of herbs that gives it its distinct bittersweet flavor.
1 Bottle of Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic: Fever Tree Elderflower tonic is floral and lightly sweet, while still having that distinct quinine flavor that tonic is known for. We think it’s an excellent pairing with Bonal.

Fill a large wine glass with ice, add your Bonal, top with the tonic, stir lightly, garnish with a half slice of grapefruit, and enjoy!

This drink, if mixed according to the above directions, will have an ABV of 4.9% (don’t worry, we did the math so you don’t have to), so feel free to have two! The depth of flavors in the Bonal are lifted and enhanced by the sweet, floral notes from the tonic, while the grapefruit garnish adds a pop of color and beautiful bittersweet aromas that only make this cocktail even better. The result is a fantastic winter variation of a classic summer drink that we hope you’ll enjoy as much as we do!

For the Sober-Curious

The world of non-alcoholic beverages has grown over the past few years, and we are happy to carry plenty of options for anyone trying to cut out or cut back their alcohol intake. We carry NA options all year long, but there is a movement called Dry January that was started in the UK to encourage people to reassess their relationship with alcohol by abstaining from drinking for a month. Even though we are a liquor store, we love this idea and have put together a sampler kit of some of our favorite products to get you started! Our staff can also help you find other NA beer, liquor, or wine that fits your vibe, as our selection has grown considerably over the past year. We assure that you can still be the life of the party without the hangover!

Our Non-Alcoholic Sampler Kit includes:

MORE NON-ALCOHOLIC PICKS FROM OUR STAFF

Copy of Revel Native Product Image Format (83)

KARINA - Studio Null Sparkling Rosé

This is the non-alcoholic wine I've always hoped for. So many N/A wines fall far short of actually tasting like wine and end up being sugary, unbalanced, and tasting like Kool-Aid. Studio Null makes a traditional alcoholic wine, distills out the alcohol to less than 0.5% ABV, and manages to keep all the great flavors, aromas, and acidity that I love so much in dry sparkling rosé.

Copy of Revel Native Product Image Format (84)

JOSH - Steinbock Brut

This is such a fun and easy-going sparkling NA wine. It's juicy and refreshing with notes of citrus and white blossom. Delicious on its own, and also fun to use in NA cocktails like an Aperol Spritz (use the Abstinence NA Blood Orange Aperitif instead of Aperol).

Copy of Revel Native Product Image Format (82)

BILL - Lovejoy's Thai Basil Bloody Mary Mix

I really enjoy Lovejoy's Thai Basil Bloody Mary Mix over Ice with a wedge of lemon and lime. It's such a great twist on the classic Bloody Mary mix and it's super easy just to skip the vodka and enjoy it without any alcohol. Plus it's locally owned and made.

Copy of Revel Native Product Image Format (81)

DYLAN - Hella Bitters and Soda

Every product I've tried from Hella Bitters & Soda has been so delicious. Dry Aromatic is unsweetened with notes of clove, allspice, caraway, rose hips, star anise, and bitter root.

Copy of Revel Native Product Image Format (85)

KAYLA - Untitled Art Italian Pils

My favorite NA Beer is the Untitled Art Italian Pilsner. it's loaded with Hallertau Mittekfruh and Strata hops, making it a bit more hoppier than your standard Pilsner, but being less than 1% ABV, you still feel like you're drinking an actual beer.

Copy of Revel Native Product Image Format (86)

Rob - Untitled Art Juicy IPA

By far my favorite NA beer right now. It is super juicy, refreshing, and just down right delicious. An all around tasty little beverage.

BENNETT - France 44 Spring Water

Deserving of grand cru classification, this water is sourced from the purest natural springs in the Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin appellation. These bountiful springs are naturally filtered by a roughly half-billion-year-old glacial formation, lending notes of vibrant purity and the distinct absence of terroir. Studies have shown that consuming fresh spring water is beneficial to your health!