Mano a Vino

Rose is usually a Spring and Summer wine, but this one by Susana Balbo, Rose of Malbec, I drink all year round

My friend and brother in law Daniel Slager introduced me to this wonderful wine many years ago. He found it in a great little wine shop in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Dan and family now live in Minneapolis, where he is Publisher & CEO of Milkweed Editions, so we don't get to share wine that often, but I will always have fond memories of the day we shared this wine, Rose of Malbec, by Susana Balbo. 

Since then I have come to enjoy all of Susana's wines. She is a highly recognized enologist in Argentina and has been a driving influence in raising the quality of wines of Argentina to the fine recognition they enjoy today. Her bright spirit and progressive outlook has born many wines of unique style and high quality.

She and her husband, Pedro Marchevsky operate their winery  Dominio del Plata in beautiful Mendoza, Argentina.

This wine is beautiful in many respects.

Try this Gruner Veltliner wine by Weingut Karl Fritsch you will be pleased.

Gruner Veltliner is a grape grown in primarily in Austria, the Czech Republic  and Hungary, but no where else. It makes wonderful wine that fits many occasions.

It is very food friendly. This one has the scent of grapefruit, white pepper and spring sprouts on the nose, on the tounge a distinct structure of light citrus fruit with spice and salty minerality. It goes down so smoothly with a bright sparkle as it hits the back of your throat.

Tonight I had this terrific Gruner with Japanese take-out, tempura, hijiki and salad with ginger dressing from our favorite  Dai Kichi in Upper Montclair.

I would have it with a variety of fish or chicken dishes, cheese, hummus or salads.

This wine is found at Shoppers Vineyard in Clifton for 14.95 and other fine wine stores in NJ.

Gruner Veltliner Steinberg 2007 

Piet's Fabulous Food

My young nephew Piet Slager is well on his way to a fabulous future as a chef extraordinaire.

At 9 years old he has his own blog which features great recipes and accounts of Piet's food adventures.

pietsfabulousfood.blogspot.com

I particularly like the sound of...

New Cape May NJ Winery and "Eat Local; Drink Local" Campaign

Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery, in Cape May County, NJ.  Wine expert Gary Pavlis of Rutgers University says, “The Hawk Haven wines prove that Cape May is one of the best places on the East Coast to grow wine grapes.”  The sandy soils and tempering oceans make Cape May County ideal for Vinifera.  Local reporters are slowly picking up on the burgeoning wine industry in Cape May; you should check us out too!  

In my heaven there is lots of Pinot Bianco - Kellerei Cantina Terlano Vorberg Riserva Review

Do you ever think about what you'ld like in "heaven" or planned what you would absolutely have to have if you found your self alone on an isolated tropical island or in a secluded cabin in the mountains. Your list may be long or sparse but I am sure it has a few essentials.

This topic was discussed in What To Drink With What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine, Beer, Spirits, Coffee, Tea — Even Water — Based on Expert Advice from America's Best Sommeliers. "In the final chapter they invited sommeliers to select their 'desert island' wines, and the results are a wonderful. Indeed, if your island retreat comes equipped with a good refrigerator, a Wolf stove and a set of Calphalon." Patrick Comiskey, Los Angeles Times

My list would include this wonderful wine Kellerei Cantina Terlano Vorberg Riserva Pinot Bianco.

Wine Down - Michael Green's Monthly Wine Tasting Party

 

MICHAEL GREEN'S MONTHLY WINE TASTING PARTY

WINE DOWN: THE HOLIDAY PARTY

NEW VENUE: BLVD, 199 BOWERY

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2ND, 2009

DOORS OPEN AT 7:30 PM

FOR TICKETS: www.winedown.eventbrite.com

Special for Mano a Vino Readers

SAVE $10 on tickets by using Discount Code “BLVD”

Chia - Asian Bistro - Montclair, NJ- Restaurant Review

Michael Kao's  new restaurant Chia is a new pan-asian restaurant that opened three weeks ago on Bloomfield Ave just east of Fullerton.

Friends dined there last week and gave the place a great recommendation so we decided to give Chia a try. We were very pleased by our dinner.

The menu has many interesting dishes and the restaurant has a nice ambiance and good staff.

We Love Gottino Too. If You Can't Visit, Check Out The Web Site ILoveGottino.com

We met friends here for a drink and some tasty small plates, before dinner at Il Mulino, this past Friday.

We had some delightful wine and food and had the wonderful opportunity to meet Jody Williams and talk about the new website www.ilovegottino.com. 

We liked this - Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc - Marlborough New Zealand meet Monterey County, CA

Here is a fun and flavorful Sauvignon Blanc. It lights up on the tongue and delivers a delicious array of tasty flavors. They are not deep and long lasting but for the short burst very satisfying.

Some who have reviewed this wine have utterly despised it. Everyone to their own taste. But we liked it and at $9-10 we will buy more.

Reel Pour is Very Cool

Reel Pour is a fantastic podcast by a group of guys from Chicago telling it like it is, for them any way, on wine and movies.

Each week the guys review a current flick and discuss a loosely related wine. Wine and Movie paring, now that is a challenge.

It is funny, insightful and will add to your viewing and sipping pleasure. Though, I advise seeing the movie first.

The wine selections are first rate, always interesting and usually good.

Check it out here. http://reelpour.com or download on ITunes. 

Passionate Winemakers of Jacob's Creek - Philip Laffer and Bernard Hickin - Australian Rieslings

I have met many a winemaker in my travels and they all have an abundance of passion for what they do. They must, producing great wine is a considerable feat that only a few have the insight and perseverance to accomplish .

These two men, Philip Laffer and Bernard Hickin of Jacob's Creek, display a level of passion that I have not seen before. Their love and dedication to the wine is prodigious.

I was very fortunate to meet them in an extraordinary tasting held at The Australian in NYC where they pulled out all the stops and very generously shared a decade of their fine Rieslings, from 1997 to 2008, in three levels, Classic, Reserve and their very fine Steingarten.

Let me tell you about the wines. 

He brings Australia to New York City meet Matt Astill, Owner/Manager of The Australian, Restaurant & Bar

I Matt at a fabulous wine tasting featuring some of the great wines of Jacob's Creek held at his NY restaurant.

He is a affable yet focused and hard working guy that runs a great bar and restaurant.

It is a few blocks from my new office and I have been looking for an opportunity to stop in.  Since vacationing in Australia a few years ago, I love everything Australian, especially Australian / Mod Oz cuisine. I have been to Eight Mile Creek and the Tuck Shop in NY. The Australian has been on my list for some time.  Passing by it seemed more like a sports pub, I was happy to learn that it is a great restaurant as well.

Photo from Sidney Morning Herald

Find Many Delights at Sahadi's Fine Foods in Brooklyn, NY

Sahadi's Fine Foods has been on Atlantic Avenue for over 50 years. In fact Sahadi's have been bringing fine foods to New York since 1895. This proud tradition is reflected vividly in the store's abundant selection of fine foods and in the enthusiastic throngs of customers that loyally frequent this gourmet's treasure.

We traveled all the way from Montclair, NJ to experience and stock up.

The store is Middle Eastern at heart but offers products carefully selected from purveyors all over the world Here is what we found.

New Wine Video Blog Pardon That Vine by Chris Riccobono

Wine Videos and Podcasts seem to be the wave of the future. I hope to get into those mediums one of these days.

Meanwhile, enjoy this. http://pardonthatvine.com/

Daily Wine Review Videos.

Mano a Vino moves from 56th to 22nd place of Top 100 Wine Blogs

We started at the bottom, at 97, moved to 56th and now to 22nd place in top 100 wine blogs list www.alawine.com/wine-blog-rankings.html.

Thank you for your support.

Luz Restaurant Review- Wonderful Nuevo Latino Cuisine in Brooklyn, NY

We were out in Brooklyn to visit a friend who recently moved to a charming little house in the still up and coming Fort Green/Clinton Hill neighborhood.

On the way we stopped at the amazing food market on Atlantic Avenue, Sahadi Fine Foods, post on this to follow, and then had dinner at a perfect Latin restaurant called Luz on Vanderbilt Avenue a short way from Pratt Institute.

These neighborhoods have changed a lot since I lived in Brooklyn in the early 70's and then the late 80's. There is so much to explore and enjoy in the Atlantic Avenue and Fort Green/Clinton areas.

Dinner started with an absolutely perfect Pisco Sour...

Kris Heart, a Delightful Italian Merlot Wine

Kris Wines are imported by the highly respected Winebow a brand you can generally count on, this wine is a Leonardo Locascio Selection. I have liked other Kris wines so decided to take a chance on this one which was on sale at Shoppers Vineyard in Clifton for $7.99.

Merlot is not a grape I would usually choose when looking at Italian wines. I generally prefer grapes indigenous to the country. Nevertheless, this turned out to be a wonderfully robust, fruit forward wine with great body.

I love the label, these artistic labels are a signature of Kris wines.

A Sangiovese Rosé from Australia - Robert Oatley

Sangiovese is one of my favorite grapes especially in its hybrid known as Brunello. From these grapes come some of the world's finest wines lovingly made in the prestigious vineyards of Tuscany, Italy.

I have enjoyed Sangiovese from other parts of the world, but a Rose of Sangiovese on first blush, no pun intended, seemed like sacrilege.

It is not that I don't like Rosé wines, I do. I especially  like unusual Rosé wines like Crios de Susana Balbo Roseof Malbec or Il Mimo Rosato Di Nebbiolo. It just seemed that Sangiovese is to nobile. I was wrong.

T.S. Ma Chinese - Restaurant Review

T.S. Ma of New York has opened a small restaurant in Upper Montclair. Located on Bellevue Avenue, east of Valley, in the location that formerly housed Il Forno Bakery.

Good Chinese is always welcome in New Jersey and T.S. Ma comes very close to filling the bill.

We enjoyed the take out we had the other night.   

Updated 10/14/08

TS MA continues to deliver great food, they have added some new things to the menu.

Just had lunch at the NY restaurant on 9th ave between 37th and 36th. Great lunch specials.

 

Mini Martinis - Their Time Has Come

Here is a perfect response to our times.

Looking to save some money, yet have some fun?

Want to cut back a little on your alcohol and calorie consumption?

Still want to make a splash at your next party?

Mini Martinis are your answer.