We love to let you know what we know by teaching and tasting.
Here are some scheduled events that will be fun and informative.
Take advantage of these premier tastings at Astor's Landmark Location - 399 Lafayette at 4th Street.

Aside from the free tastings, enjoy a 15% discount on any wine that's poured, the day of tasting.

NOV21 Friday, Nov 21, 2008 Holiday Cocktail Classics 6:00pm to 8:00pm We'll mix Starr Afican Rum with apple cider and cinnamon to create the perfect holiday cocktail.

NOV21 Friday Nov 21, 2008 Light Italian Reds 6:00pm to 8:00pm This Friday, we've got both ends of the boot covered with a red Friulian Schioppettino and a red made from indigenous Sicilian grapes. Featuring: Schioppettino, Girolamo Dorigo - 2006 (750) Red, Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Colli Orientali Item #: 15638 Rosso del Soprano, Palari - 2004 (750) Red, Italy, Sicily Item #: 12962

NOV21 Friday, Nov 21, 2008 Turkey Wines 6:00pm to 8:00pm Two dry whites: one exotic, well-mineraled Italian Pinot Bianco; and a big, citrusy, honey-laced Chenin Blanc from Touraine. Taste the difference in body, then decide which of these will go best with the dishes you're making for your feast next week. Featuring: Bénédicte de Rycke, Coteaux du Loir - 2005 (750) White, France, Loire, Touraine, Coteaux du Loir Item #: 17893 Pinot Bianco, La Viarte - 2005 (750) White, Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Colli Orientali Item #: 20189

NOV22 Saturday Nov 22, 2008 Festive Holiday Wines 3:00pm to 5:00pm Party wines par excellence. The Brut de Savoie is an exceedingly fruity yet well-balanced sparkling wine that is great for toasts; Vernatsch is a red grape (known as Schiava elsewhere) that makes light, easy-drinking reds. They're two of the most approachable bottles on our shelves, but they're still still nice and complex. Featuring: Brut de Savoie, Pierre Boniface - NV (750) White, France, Savoie Item #: 17133 Castelfeder, Sudtirol "Breitbacher" Vernatsch - 2007 (750) Red, Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige Item #: 17898

NOV22 Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 Seasonal Sakés 3:00pm to 5:00pm We're spotlighting some of our favorite new releases from 2008. Stop by this Saturday and learn a thing or two about really good saké. Featuring: Ichinokura Kurano Hana Saké, Junmai Gingo - (720) Japan, Miyagi Item #: 20826 Tsukinokatsura "Hiyaoroshi" Saké, Junmai Nama - (720) Japan, Kyoto Item #: 18904 Wakatake Onigoroshi "Akino Ki-Ippon" Hiyaoroshi Saké, Junmai - (720) White, Japan, Shizuoka Item #: 11556

NOV22 Saturday Nov 22, 2008 A Compass Box Primer 3:00pm to 5:00pm These are always entertaining: Sample a range of award-winning artisanal whiskies this Saturday at one of our free tastings of Compass Box Scotch. Featuring: Compass Box Asyla Blended Scotch - (750) Scotland Item #: 11921 Compass Box Peat Monster - (750) Scotland Item #: 12544

NOV23 Sunday, Nov 23, 2008 A Holiday Punch for Thanksgiving Day 2:00pm to 5:00pm Rhum Clément from Martinique will be here to make a holiday punch with their award-winning spirit. Stop by Sunday afternoon for a taste.

NOV24 Monday Nov 24, 2008 From the Highlands to the Islands 5:00pm to 8:00pm A rare Monday tasting for a special whisky event. Stop by the store and sample some of Scotland's finest whiskies, including Oban, Lagavulin, and Talisker. Featuring: Oban 14 Yr. - (750) Scotland Item #: 04124 Lagavulin 16 Yr. - (750) Scotland Item #: 04164 Talisker 10 Yr. - (750) Scotland Item #: 05544

NOV25 Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 Riesling Rules 5:00pm to 8:00pm We'll be pouring Pacific Rim Riesling tonight for free, and selling it at a discount. It's our way of reminding the world how well Riesling and Thanksgiving go together. Featuring: Pacific Rim Riesling - NV (750) White, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley Item #: 62154 Pacific Rim Riesling, Vin de Glacière - 2005 (375) White, USA, California Item #: 83272

NOV25 Tuesday Nov 25, 2008 The Perfect End to Your Holiday Meal 6:00pm to 8:00pm Tesseron Cognac will be here for you to try some of their incredible X.O Cognacs. Featuring: Tesseron Lot 90 X.O. Cognac - (750) France, Cognac Item #: 14267

NOV26 Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 Thanksgiving Apéritif 3:00pm to 6:00pm As your family arrives for the feast, pour them some St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur combined with a bit of sparkling wine - it's the perfect icebreaker.

NOV26 Wednesday Nov 26, 2008 Astor's Top Turkey Wines 6:00pm to 8:00pm As you might expect, we've got quite a few ideas for pairing wine with turkey. Sample two of our best-loved Pinot Noirs alongside two intriguing selections your guests probably haven't tried yet. Featuring: Terra Sparkling Malbec, Viniterra - 2008 (750) Red, Argentina, Mendoza Item #: 17007 Schiava Rosé "ViV", Vivallis - 2007 (750) Rosé, Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Trentino Item #: 20282 Bourgogne Rouge "Le Chapitre", René Bouvier - 2006 (750) Red, France, Burgundy Item #: 20558 Radog Pinot Noir - 2006 (750) Red, USA, California, Monterey Item #: 20820

NOV28 Friday, Nov 28, 2008 Black Friday Goes Green 5:00pm to 8:00pm VeeV Acai Spirit is the world's only certified carbon neutral spirit company. This spirit is very smooth and mixable and will help you digest your leftovers.

NOV28 Friday Nov 28, 2008 Lambrusco for the Holidays! 6:00pm to 8:00pm

NOV29 Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 Wonderfully Ethnic 3:00pm to 5:00pm

NOV29 Saturday Nov 29, 2008 A Cuban Tradition 3:00pm to 5:00pm Vizcaya Rum is mad in the Dominican Republic with a Cuban recipe dating back to the early 1800's. Stop by and sample this award winning sipping style rum.

NOV29 Saturday, Nov 29, 2008 Wines of Wolffer 3:00pm to 5:00pm

DEC3 Wednesday Dec 03, 2008 Get Double Crossed 6:00pm to 8:00pm Double Cross Vodka is the only vodka to win gold medals in both taste and package design at the San Francisco Worlds Spirits Competition. Stop by and see why.

DEC3 Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008 Moet's Imperial, Grand Vintage, and Nectar Imperial 6:00pm to 8:00pm

DEC4 Thursday Dec 04, 2008 A Sicilian Treasure 6:00pm to 8:00pm Stop by and try Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur in a variety of refreshing cocktails.

DEC4 Thursday, Dec 04, 2008 Sensational Spanish Reds 6:00pm to 8:00pm

DEC4 Thursday Dec 04, 2008 Festive Spanish Whites 6:00pm to 8:00pm