Naomi our wine bartender served us up some very fine selections on a hot summer afternoon. Sorry Naomi, I promised this post over a month ago. Here it finally is.
I love NY wine bars, heck I love wine bars everywhere. Inoteca on Rivington on the Lower East Side is one I have had my eye on for some time, years. But, it is always too crowded. It is the great films at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema that usually bring me to this neighborhood, but on this day we were all just strolling and Inoteca was quiet so we stopped in.
The place seems so authentically Italian, very welcoming. Created by the exciting team of Jason Denton and his brother Joe back in 2003. Inoteca, its older sister Ino and sibling Corsina, not to mention the Denton restaurants, have set a high standard pursued by many.
We enjoyed some really good wine and delicious small plates.
The Lambrusco Rosso, Labrusca, Lini was terrifically sparkling just the right wine to break the summer heat. Went very nicely with a Vermont Quality Meats porchetta Panini I had. I also enjoyed a glass of a Tuscan called Canaiuolo Rosato, Montenidoli.
My brother in-law Perry really dug the Aglianico del Taburno, Inoteca Rosso. Aglianico is a grape I turned him onto a few years ago. Living in California he does not have easy access to the vast array of Italian wine we completely take for granted in NYC.
Not missing a beat Naomi suggested two well received white wines for Diana and her sister Heidi. She poured a Verdicchio Classico Superiore, Tralivio, Sartarelliof a wine often appreciated by California Chardonnay fans and a Grillo that Diana favored.
We tasted several other small dishes, but the memory fails me there. Here is the menu if you want to take a peak. The lasting recollection is a lovely sunny afternoon with good food and wine.
Inoteca, Cucina
98 Rivington Street
Corner of Ludlow
New York, NY 10002
(212) 614-0473
