Shop Owners Report on Sunday Liquor Sales

We checked around town to see how Sunday liquor sales were doing. Consensus among most shop owners was that, unlike a Saturday, sales were a bit slow. "I think it will take a little while for people to coming in on a Sunday, it's just routine for many to buy their liquor on Saturday," said Mitch Ancona of Ancona's Wines & Liquor. Ridgefield Liquor Shop, located in Stop & Shop shopping center, reported approximately 30 customers before 1pm today, "It's slower than a Saturday," said the shop cashier. Doug Thompson, owner of Cellar XV on Danbury Road also reported a slow day, "We had a handful of people. I'm guessing that most don't even know about Sunday sales." 

Best Cellars, located on Danbury Road was open today as was 109 Wine and Cheese who said they had 'many' customers purchasing wine today.

Each store owner can decide whether or not to open on Sunday. Liberta's, located on Main Street, and Village Wine & Spirits (CVS Shopping Center) were both closed today.

The Blue Barn Sale is Thursday!

The Blue Barn is ready for its spring sale, taking place on Thursday, May 17^th, from 8:30 am to 5 pm, with additional hours on Friday, May 18^th.  With a large selection of unique items at reasonable prices, and shopping in the theme “rooms,” plan to spend some time looking because this isn't
 an ordinary tag sale!

As is the past, the Blue Barn has been staged for your shopping enjoyment. This year’s themes include: Fish and Fowl, Napoleon in his Study, 30 Feet of Books, Metro-Sexual NY Loft Style Steampunk, Industrial Age, Blue Kitchen/Yellow Kitchen, Bags-Bags-Bags, An Englishman in Africa, Asian Influence, BLING!, Better Barns & Gardens, Gadgets for Guys, Krafts n' Kids, Teens n’ Tweens, Cats n’ Dogs, Kaleidoscope
Glass and more.

The Blue Barn is located at 45 Chalburn Road/West
Redding...just off Route 7.  PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON THE NEIGHBORS LAWNS. There is plenty of parking close to the barn.  If you have a question, please call 415-793-7937.

No. 109 Cheese and Wine's Spring and Summer Class Schedule

School is back in session, and I don't mean the kind that requires boarding a yellow school bus. I'm talking about an education involving terms like bloomy, soft-ripened, blue-vein, washed-rind, and brined or full bodied, flowery or peppery. Ridgefield's 109 Cheese & Wine Shop's Spring/Summer class schedule is out with a full offering for any level of wine, craft beer & cheese appreciation. These classes expertly led by owner, Monica Brown, a wine and cheese connoisseur who, along with her experienced team, is dedicated to bringing a curated selection of the best products from around the corner to around the world to 109.

Check out the full line up below:

May 18th, Friday, 7pm

French Wine and Cheese

Featuring Red Wines from Bordeaux. "If there's one thing most people equate with 'Bordeaux,' it's..'expensive'! A great opportunity to taste so many variations of this pinnacle wine for such a great price. Form a basic understanding of what Bordeaux means, and dazzle your friends with your new found knowledge.. (or at least keep up with them.)" Join Monica and Ian Scudder Regional Manager Serge Dore Selections for an interactive class. We will start with some small bites and a Cotes de Provence Rose then we will sit and compare 5 wines with 5 cheeses. ($55 per person) Class is limited to 16 students

May 20th, Sunday 5:30 pm

4-1-1 Class

"Love cheese? Want to learn more but don't know where to start? Get the basic 4-1-1 with Monica and Patty. We not only inform you on the in's and out's of cheese tasting and pairing, but we'll tell you the secrets of how cheese is made. That's not all -- we'll actually make a fresh cheese during class, which you will see from start to finish and get to taste. We won't tell you what type of cheese we're making until you come to class, so sign up to find out! Class starts with a few cheesy appetizers and a glass of bubbly, followed by our interactive guided tasting of 4 wines and 4 cheeses." ($45 per person) Class is limited to 16 students

May 24, Thursday 7pm

Beer and Cheese of the West Coast

We will start class out with beer fondue, 6 craft beers and 5 cheeses to be paired. ($45 per person) Class is limited to 16 students

June 1, Friday 7pm

Wine and Cheese of the West Coast

This class will be a continuation on our exploration of the Northwest with the wines from California, Washington and Oregon. Class will start with some small bites and a sparkling wine then we will compare 5 wines with 5 cheeses. ($55 per person) Class is limited to 16 students

June 8, Friday 7pm

Pinot Noir and the cheeses who love them..

An exploration of Pinot Noir from around the world (California to New Zealand) paired with cheeses that pair so beautifully with them. Class will start with some small bites and a pinot noir sparkler then we will compare 5 pinot noirs with 5 cheeses.

($55 per person) Class is limited to 16 students

June 10, Sunday 5:30pm

Beer and Cheese of the Northeast

We will start class out with beer fondue, 6 craft beers and 5 cheeses to be paired. ($45 per person) Class is limited to 16 students

June 22, Friday 7pm

Spain Wine and Cheese

($55 per person) Class is limited to 16 students

June 26, Tuesday 7pm

Young Cheese Heads! (ages 14-18)

"There are a very special group of young cheese aficionados out there. We know -- we've seen you in the store, peeking in the case with wide eyes, licking your lips for just one taste, having that perfect flavor filling your young mouth! We want to encourage our young cheese heads out there and so we are offering a class to give you the tools to understand what it is that you are tasting and loving. You will find out how cheese is made, aged and stored so you can continue your journey of cheese love for a lifetime. Who knows, maybe you will end up on our side of the cheese counter one day. During this interactive 2-hour class, you will start with a few appetizers to whet your cheese appetite along with a complimentary beverage. Then you will learn the basics of cheese making by creating your very own fresh ricotta right here in our store!" ($35 per person) Class is limited to 16 students

June 29, Friday 7pm

Italy Wine and Cheese

A great evening of Italian Wine, Cheese and how to pair them together. Class will start with some small bites and a prosecco then we will compare 5 wines with 5 cheeses. ($55 per person) Class is limited to 16 students

July 6, Friday 7pm

German, Austria and Switzerland Wine and Cheese

($55 per person) Class is limited to 16 students

Malloy Signs Bill Allowing Sunday Liquor Sales; Effective Immediately

With Governor Malloy's signature now on a bill that that allows retail alcohol sales on Sundays and some holidays, Connecticut no longer remains one of only two states that bans beer, wine and liquor sales on Sunday.  Indiana, alone, now has that distinction.  Under the new law, Sunday sales will be allowed only from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at package stores. Supermarkets, which already sell beer, will be able to sell beer on Sundays as well.  Besides sales on Sundays, the new law also allows alcohol sales on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, and Mondays following any Independence Day, Christmas or New Year's Day that fall on a Sunday.

What does this mean for local businesses?  We posed this question to several local retailers and will update with their responses.

No. 109 Cheese & Wine: Owner Monica Brown remarked, "Happy to finally be able to sell wine on Sundays to our customers. We will be open 10 am to 4pm every Sunday, beginning May 20th."