Mano a Vino Montclair

Taste of the Nation Event

Fight hunger in New Jersey and enjoy an evening of exceptional cuisine prepared by Over 40 celebrated chefs from some of the finest restaurants in New Jersey and accompanied by fine wines from around the world.  I hope to see you there. Click Here For More Info

Taste a Great Italian White

The upcoming Magnolia's Saturday afternoon tasting, 2 P.M. - 6 P.M. on 5/3/08. is featuring ne of Italy's finest Soaves, a favotite of mine, Gini Soave Classico 2007.

Vinquire a great new local wine search tool

I was just introduced to Vinquire.com an amazing wine search tool, and more.

It is rare that I get this excited about a wine web site, but this one that uses Web 2.0 technology at its best is really terrific, you have got to check it out.

A Wine of Kings and Poets - Aglianico

Aglianico is a grape of a very ancient heritage. Originally brought to Italy by the Phoenicians from Greece, many centuries before Christ was born. Aglianico was famous in the ancient world for it's part in Falernian, a wine revered by kings and poets.  Some say this “Ancient Vine” produced Pope Paul III’s favourite wine.

What do we think of this Aglianico, Di Majo Norante, Cantado ?

Burgundy Wines in Wayne, NJ

If you happen to be near Wayne, NJ today, don't miss this special tasting.

This Saturday at Gary's Wines new store in Wayne

Join us him to taste the wines of Thierry Pillot of Domaine Paul Pillot

Stone House - Warren, NJ Restuarant Review

Dined at Stone House again, but this time in the beautiful dinning room. Last visit there was for a corporate party.

When describing Stone House to friends joining us for dinner I told them that Stone House was as if you took a sharply designed NY hotel like Tribeca Grand and put it into a restored country farm house. When they arrived they readily agreed as they feasted their eyes on Stone House's warm, artfully contemporary yet, organic interior.

We enjoyed drinks at the bar, a delicious dinner and some very nice wines.

Xai Xai - Wine Bar - New York City

Got to Xai Xai one of the fabulous new wine bars featured in that NY Times article, mentioned a few posts ago.

From the moment you step across the threshold of this beguiling and captivating place, you feel immediately transported to South Africa.

Durigutti Malbec Clasico

Had this fantastic wine at a party this weekend.

Durigutti Malbec Clasico.

Best Buy, 88 points, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, 2003 vintage. 88 points, Wine & Spirits Magazine, 2003 vintage. 88 points, Wine News, "Warm aromas of mulberry and cedar box. Tart flavors of just-picked strawberry and crushed rose petals. Tries to sweeten up a bit in the finish"  2004 Vintage.

Liquor Outlet Wine Cellars

Carlo Russo Wine

Great for summer B-B-Q.  around $12.00

Four Australians, no Five - Wine Tasting

Four Australian Shirazs and one Pinot

Mid to low priced. 3.99 - 17.99

Two Shiraz blends

Two just Shiraz

and a Pinot Noir

Back to Australia - Eight Mile Creek - New York City

We have been longing for another taste of Australia. Our next trip down-under is still a few years off so we turned to New York City for an Australian fix at Eight Mile Creek.

Wine Tasting - Montclair, NJ

Magnolia's in Upper Montclair, NJ knows how to do Saturday wine tastings right.

Since the NJ legislature changed liquor laws to allow in-store wine tastings most good wine stores are showing or rather pouring their wares on Saturday afternoons. Most serve these tasting with those little plastic cups that are usually used for dispensing medicine. This is cheap and practical, I agree, but really diminishes the nose and flavor of the wine.

At Magnolia's they serve their wine tastings in quality stemmed wine glasses. This really enhances the experience and allows you to experience the true essence of the wine.

Today I tasted two great spring/summer wines. A Friulian Pinot Grigio and a Rose from McLaren Vale. 

Snow Queen Vodka

Snow Queen Vodka is a vodka from Kazakhstan produced from organic wheat and artisan spring water from the foothills of the Himalayas. Kazakh birch charcoal is used in its five-time distillation process.

As of 2007, Snow Queen Vodka has been awarded 10 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals for excellence at major international exhibitions of the CIS (Almaty, Mosco, St. Petersburg) and in Europe (London, Vienna, Dusseldorf. It was cited by to-the-trade publication Imbibe Magazine as the Best Overall Vodka in April 2007, and was called "Supersmooth" in the May 2007 issue of Food & Wine Magazine.

Viet AI - Florham Park, NJ - Restaurant Review

" Delicious Vietnamese specials made fresh daily" is Viet Ai's slogan. They deliver on this very well.

It is a simple unassuming place on Ridgedale Ave. in Florham Park. Clean, busy, very good food.

88 Cafe - Livingston, NJ - Restuarant Review

88 Cafe is a pleasant Chinese restaurant in Livingston, NJ.

Located in an old Friendly's building with the signature cupola, on approach you  are greated by statues of Chinese warriors, but don't be afraid. Once inside you will find a smartly designed and comfortable dining room with a friendly and well trained wait staff.

We have dine at and taken out from 88 Cafe many times and have always enjoyed their food and service.

Did you see the NY Times Article on NY Wine Bars

Wine Bars Grow Up and Squeeze In. It is a great article. Spring nights in The City wine bar hopping, there's nothing better.

"It was a Wednesday night around 7:30 and Casellula, a small, boxy wine bar in Clinton, was filling up. Patrons packed the seats at the small polished wood bar and the inexpensive wood tables, trading sips of wine, sharing beautifully composed cheese selections and passing plates back and forth."

And see more here  New York Wine Bars or Here NY Wine Bars

Terre de Neptune Picpoul - Wine Discovery

I was at Frog and Peach in New Brunswick, NJ today for the presentation of the EdibleJersey Local Heros awards.

While there i disovered a new wine, a new grape, that is very worthy. This always makes me happy.

The wine is 2006 Terre de Neptune Picpoul. A perfect wine for summer or all year round. It is a rather rare wine, produced only in the province of Languedoc.

Italian Wine and Cheese Tasting

In Montclair, we help our kids celebrate their High School commencement with a an all-night, alcohol and drug free celebration called Project Graduation. What does this have to do with food and wine, you ask.

Well to fund this event many generous families hold fund raising dinners or parties to support Project Graduation. We attended one of these events, a fabulous wine and cheese tasting hosted by Adrianne & Neil Schmidt, Anita & Jack Kassel, and Aggie & Jeff Kushner. The tasting featured wine enthusiast, educator and entertainer Carol Berman, The Traveling Sommelier. And cheese maven, meister and monger Micheal Trullinger.

Tenuta Luisa - Pinot Grigio

Another selection on our 2008 Summer wine list. This was recommended by one of the staff at Shopper's Vineyard.

Tonight, we are having pasta with a light sauce and grilled chicken, should be a perfect pairing.

For Wine Lovers in Chicago

I love Chicago in the Spring, Summer and Fall. There are so many great restaurants. And the city life is spectacular. I recently discovered this company in Chicago that you may like to contact. If you are interested in hosting a wine tasting in Chicago Vino di Savino are the people to call.

Vino di Savino, Through private wine tasting parties and events, it is their mission to educate others about wines from around the world, and to make the process fun, unintimidating and easy, all within a relaxed and comfortable setting.   

Kosher Wines - Passover 2008

In our home we enjoy diverse cultural roots and celebrate many holidays. Hey were  just party people.

Passover is a favorite festival with its rich traditions and great feasting pleasures.

Wine is always a happy component and I look to bring some good ones to the table each year.

Here are some that I am looking at for 2008.

Have you tried Verona Farmer's Market?

It is a great Asian market with a wonderful selection of fresh fruits, vegetables and more. The prices on their produce are often half of what you might pay elsewhere.

Verona Farmer's Market is now a part of our regular shopping circuit along with Trader Joe's, Kings and Whole Foods.

Verona Farmer's Market

645 Blommfiled Ave, Verona, NJ