EVANSVILLE − The Wine Vault on Burkhardt Road offers items that will take your salads, charcuterie and outdoor gatherings to another level.
First, let's talk oil and vinegar. In June of last year, owners Holly and Scott Edmond brought in a large selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars from Veronica Foods under their own Olive and Vine logo. There are about 20 varieties of each.
Olive oil
Olive oil aficionados will have a great time experimenting with the unflavored oils, which have been crushed and packaged within the last six months to a year and are sourced from different countries, depending on the season.
The flavor profiles can range dramatically depending on the type of olive and where it was grown − from, for instance, mild and buttery Spanish Arbequina, to the intensely peppery and fruity Albanian Velagosht.
The flavored oils are either fused, which means the olives and flavoring ingredient are crushed together (think black or green peppercorns and citrus fruits), or infused with the flavor.
Butter- and garlic-infused oils are classics, while more exotic flavors are Tuscan herb and Persian lime. Black and white truffle oils are also available.
Vinegars
On the vinegar side, you’ll find both regular and white balsamic vinegars. For the summer months, white predominates. Unique flavors include honey ginger, cranberry pear, and white pomegranate quince. Dark balsamic flavors include chocolate and blueberry. They are sweet and mild, so they can be added to cocktails or drizzled over ice cream.
Three sizes of oil or vinegar are offered, and if you bring your own cleaned bottle back to be refilled, you get a 10% discount. Sample packs are available with six and four varieties of oil or vinegars.
Here is a good, simple recipe for a balsamic vinaigrette − use 1/2 cup each oil and vinegar, 1 teaspoon of coarse mustard, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix very gently so the Extra virgin oil does not become bitter. Toss with the salad right before serving. Change the flavor of the dressing by changing the flavors of the oil and vinegars. The possibilities are endless.
Cheese
The Wine Vault maintains a case with a variety of cheeses, including Stilton and flavored Stilton from Clawson in England, Somerdale Welsh Red Dragon cheddar with whole mustard seeds, and many others. Especially exciting are the three house cheese spreads made locally by P Fresh Kitchen. Flavors include original, original with almonds, and spinach and artichoke.
Wines
Since we were at the Wine Vault, we had to ask about refreshing summer wines that are great chilled and won’t break the bank for a casual meal. Edmond recommended some she finds tasty and super-approachable. Some of her recommendations are:
- Lemonade Stand Strawberry Lemonade Rosé, $10.99 – With a fantastically low price point for a large, 50-ounce bottle, you can’t go wrong with this wine, which Edmond says “just screams summer.”
- Vietti Italian Moscato d’Asti, $20.99 – Imported from Italy with a controlled denomination of origin, Moscato d’Asti wines are lightly sweet and just slightly sparkling.
- San Antonio Fruit Farm wines, $12.99 – Also imported from Italy and available in four flavors – blackberry orange, strawberry guava, cherry lime and peach passion fruit, these wines are semi-sweet with full fruit flavors.
- Mary Taylor Beaujolais-Villages, $23.99 – One of the lightest red wines, Beaujolais is made from the Gamay grape.
Other goodies
Look for crackers and salami, unique snacks, local Tailgater’s mustards, olives and more to flesh out your charcuterie or light spread. And don’t forget the chocolate truffles, although we recommend keeping them in a cooler if you’re headed out to a picnic. There are many flavors but new for summer are milk chocolate mint and toasted coconut.
The Wine Vault
- Location: 230 N. Burkhardt Road
- Phone: 812-401-9463
- Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed on Sunday
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