Hills Market Holiday Wine and Cheese Tasting
Posted by CMH Gourmand on December 5, 2007
The Hills Market
7860 Olentangy River Road
Worthington Hills
(S.R. 315, just North of I-270)
614.846.3220
The Hills Market continues to host great food events. I stumbled into the Holiday Wine and Cheese Tasting on November 29th. Hills does a Thursday wine tasting which is 4 pours for $2 from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM. I thought I had shown up for that but it turned out that I landed into something much better. As luck would have it, there was a cancellation and I was able to slide in.
For $30, this is what I sipped and supped on. The pours were generous and the samples were sized to please.
J. Laurens Cremant de Limoux (French sparkling wine) – may pre date champagne…
paired with – Brie Le Chatelain (French)
Wolfberger Cremant d’ Alsace Rose (French bubbly)
paired with Wenleydale with Cranberries (British – well liked by Wallace and Gromit)
Elizabeth Spencer Sauvignon Blanc 2006, (California)
paired with Mountain Gorgonzala (Spain)
Clean Slate Riesling 2006, (Germany)
paired with Chevre (goat’s milk cheese) (USA)
Juan Gil Monastrell 2006 (Spain)
paired with Spanish Romano
Galil Mountain Shiraz/Cabernet 2003, (Israel) – Kosher Red Wine…really
paired with Boursin with Cracked Peppercorn (France) – Kosher as well
As if this was not enough, the staff mixed in some tapa like appetizers. The best of the bunch was a halved fresh fig (received that day) stuffed with gorgonzola and wrapped in prosciutto. This was so good, I groveled for a leftover sample. These two figs were worth at least $5 to me.The event started at 6:30 PM and intended to wrap up at 8:30 PM. We were all having so much fun and good conversation that we lingered past 9 PM. As a bonus we each received a 10% coupon for the market.
The event was created by wine coordinator Constance Begue and cheesemonger Kent Rand. Each offered plenty of commentary on the wine and cheese sampled as well as everything their departments had to offer. Hills plans to host events like this once a month. I’ll be back.
I mentioned Stinking Bishop cheese to Kent. This is a cheese other local cheese shops have told me they could not obtain. Kent called me Saturday (two days later) to let me know he would have some for me by Tuesday. As a bonus he gave me a print out with extra information about the stinky cheese I wanted.
I also stumbled on a good source for cheese and other gourmet information while looking for a Stinking Bishop link. The Reluctant Gourmet has all types of good gastronaut information.
The Hills is worth a visit any time as an alternative retail chains. Sign up on their site with your e-mail to receive updates on special events and an occasional excellent coupon.
CMH Gourmand - Eating in Columbus & Ohio 
Brooke said
Good tips, we will be stealing some for our cheese tasting.
hungrywoolf said
http://www.wallaceandgromit.com/films/loafanddeath/trailer.html
Wallace and Gromit are now bakers. There was a new (and very funny) W&G on TV over christmas.