Mano a Vino

Shiraz (Syrah) Part 3 , D’Arenberg - The Stump Jump from McLaren Vale, Australia.

McLaren Vale is one of my very favorite wine regions. I have a dream to live there some day. They say it is where the "Vine meets the Sea" and locals say “It's a secret you don't want anyone to know about sometimes...” or “It's a culmination of eccentric people who love to play, and love to get the most out of life...” My kind of place for sure.

D’Arenberg is one of the most significant wineries in McLaren Vale. Their slogan or mission, The Art of Being Different, is surely realized in this wine, The Stump Jump Red a Grenache, Shiraz & Mourvedre blend. A wine of the Rhone Valley with that wonderful Aussie flair.  

Syrah part two, Boekenhoutskloof, The Wolftrapp Syrah, Mourvedre and Viognier from South Africa

I first tasted this wonderful wine a couple of  years ago at the great South African wine bar, Xai Xai in New York City.

My brother in-law Perry Weinstein and I were hanging out tasting wines and absolutely loved this one.

I was thrilled to see it at one of our local wine shops.

It is a deep full bodied red, just what you would expect from South Africa, but the Viognier gives it a playful openness that I really enjoy.

Founded in 1776, Boekenhoutskloof is one of the oldest farms situated up the "Valley" in the Franschhoek foothills. Marc Kent is the wine-maker, cellar-master, and part owner of this homestead and wine farm.

Three Great Syrah Blend Wines from Australia, South Africa and Portugal.

Syrah is a very storied grape. Wine aficionados will fervently debate its origins.

 As the legend goes "From Syracuse in Sicily? Perhaps, since the name "syrac" is also a synonym for this grape. From Shiraz in Iran? Legend supports this possibility, recounting that the grape was brought back from the Persian Gulf in the 13th century during the Crusades by the Chevalier de Sterimberg who retired to the hillside of the Hermitage. In any case, this is the origin of another synonym for the syrah grape: Hermitage rouge. A final hypothesis: the grape was introduced into France in the 3rd century when the Emperor Probus authorized the planting of vines in Gaul. But that still wouldn't rule out a Sicilian or Persian origin! Whatever the true story, no one denies that syrah has southern origins, borne out by its extraordinary development in all the warm wine-producing regions of the world. " Eric Cullen, Decanting the Mysteries of Syrah and Petite Sirah.  

In 1998 DNA tests debunked the legends and established that Syrah is a grape that originated in the Rhône region of Southeastern France where it is made into very fine wines.  It has found a happy home in many other parts for the world and here are three fine examples.

Best Japanese Restaurant in Montclair, NJ - We Agree it's Dia Kichi

We have been dining at Dia Kichi for over 20 years. We have seen it's ups and  downs.

Dai Kichi, which means great fortune or blessing, was the first Japanese restaurant in Montclair, opening in 1988. Over the last ten or more years we have gained 7 more. We've been to them all.

Recently they garnered Suburban Essex readers choice award for best Sushi. We agree.

Our dinner this past Friday was exceptional as always, the fish was beautifully fresh and wonderfully presented.

The Wine and Beer Event of 2010 is March 23 in Montclair!

The Wine and Beer Event of 2010 is March 23 in Montclair!

Be a part of an incredible evening & support a truly great cause at Amanti Vino's first ever Wine vs. Beer Competition Dinner:  Cru Vs Brew!   Join Master Sommelier Fred Dexheimer & Brooklyn Brewery Brewmaster Garrett Oliver as they square off to pit their respective expertise against each other alongside former Top Chef contender Ariane Duarte's amazing gastronomical line-up. When: Tuesday, March 23rd @ 7:30pm Where: Woman's Club of Upper Montclair, 200 Cooper Avenue

A great time at The Tavern on Jane Street, NYC

My friend Greg Calbi and I met up for drinks and had The Standard Grill on our radar but the place was packed and we weren't going to wait two hours. We wandered over to the good old Jane St. Cafe or The Tavern on Jane Street as it now known.

More than anything I loved the warm atmosphere, but the food and drink more than satisified.

Michter's US1 Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey for the perfect Mad Men Cocktail

When I tell people I love Rye Whiskey they usually look at me in wonderment. Isn't Scotch or at least Bourbon the whiskey of choice they ask. I say no, I'm a Rye man. I love it because It carries a 60's panache, a time when men drank Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and serious Gin Martini's. 

This particular Rye, Michter's US1 Single Barrel, carries an even older history. It is made by a recipe of a distiller who produced Rye in America since 1753.  

A Good Wine for Montclair Greek Restaurants Valle Dell' Acate Zagra from Sicily

I picked this wine for a dinner at Stamna the revered and maligned Greek restaurant on Broad Street in Bloomfield near Montclair.

I believe that best food and wine pairings arise with food and wine of the same region. There are certainly exceptions to this rule, but it still holds that wine makers of the world usually make their wines to go well with their local cuisine.

Using this premise I usually try and bring a Greek wine when we are planning to enjoy that cuisine. Unfortunately, in spite of the fact that Greek wines have gotten much much better over the last couple of decades the good ones are still not that readily available.  

So my second choice is a Mediterranean wine like this one from Sicily which is on the same latitude as many of the great Greek wine growing regions. It is called Zagra and is a beautiful blend of 70% Inzolia, 30% Grillo which are indigenous grapes of Sicily. It is produced by the highly regarded winery Valle dell'Acate and imported by Polaner Selections a source of wines that I usually like.

A surprisingly good and inexpensive Riesling from Pannotia Vineyards

I found this gem at the Shoprite Liquors in Little Falls. They have a pretty good selection of wines but I go there because they have the best price around on my beloved Tito's Vodka 1.75 litre bottle, just $32 and change.

As I was wondering around the store I noticed this wine on sale, it was billed as a Riesling from South Carolina. I enjoy tasting wines from other States and I have never seen anything from South Carolina. There are good wines coming from Virginia and Texas these days so for $5.99 I decided to give it a whirl.

While the wine was very good it turns out that Pannotia Vineyard, is a virtual vineyard and the wine is actually made in Germany, probably by a very good weingut.

Happy 2010 - Have a Great and Wonderful Year

Tierney's Tavern Montclair, Great Burgers, Drafts and Company

Montclair is exploding with new burger places Elevation, Smash Burger & Five Guys on the way, and Raymond's or Uptown always served pretty good burgers. But my favorite in town for many reasons is Tierney's Tavern in Montclair.

The burgers are simple and delicious and I love a good beer to go along with them.

Tierney's has an excellent selection on tape, and they do a volume that keeps them all fresh. 

As their slogan says  "Where Friends Meet Since 1934 . . ." 

Piombo Shiraz, Drop Dead Delicious Wine from McLaren Vale Australia

Popped open this baby for Xmas Eve dinner. I love wines from Mclaren Vale and was anxiously waiting for the right occaision for this one.

Dinner was inspired by these Hawaiian/Asian recipes, grilled lamb chops done in a Hawaiian Honey Ginger Glaze, Coconut Rice Erupting With Spices, Nuts & Peas and Asian Stir-Fried Brussels Sprouts. We usually spend our Xmas holiday in a sunny climate, this year we decide to bring the sun to us.

I thought this awesome wine, Piombo Shiraz 2005, was just right for this exotic meal.

Two Very Good Inexpensive Wines, a French White and a Chilean Red

I had the opportunity to taste these two delicious wines at our friends' holiday party this past weekend.

They are both well priced considering their excellent quality.

The first is a French wine from the Loire Valley, France, Marigny Neuf Sauvignon Blanc and the second Cantaluna a Pinot Noir from the Colchagua Valley, Chile.  

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.

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