Mano a Vino

Hungarian Wine a Beautiful Discovery - Kreinbacher Somló Juhfark

I first got turned on to Hungarian wines at the restaurant Employees Only, NYC, in 2006. There I was introduced to an Olivier by Nyakas Cellars. This became a favorite wine that we drink often.

My curiosity about the wines from this barely recognized region did not end there. Hungary has a rich wine heritage spanning 1,000's of years in over 21 wine districts. I have been on a quest to discover more of these wines.

I was thrilled when a fellow diner at Fatty Crab suggested this wine which I really loved, 2007 Kreinbacher Somló Jhufark. It contrasted and complimented the wonderful Malaysian/Pan Asian food at this restaurant.

Passion on the Vine By Sergio Esposito

Stepping into the magic of Italy is so deliciously fulfilling in this wonderful memoir, Passion on the Vine: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Family in the Heart of Italy.

Sergio Esposito's heartwarming tale of coming of age and his intriguing and perilous path to becoming one of the greatest purveyors of the world's most oustanding wines.

If you have been to Italy you will love this book, if you plan to travel to Italy you must read this book, if you love and want to know Italian wine there is no better story of its meaning and heritage.

Edible New Jersey Local Heros Awards

EdibleJersey is a quarterly magazine that celebrates the local, seasonal food of the Garden State.  Brimming with engaging stories and enticing photography, Edible Jersey tells the story of food, from source to table, spotlighting the growers, producers, fishermen, retailers, chefs, home cooks, and others who energize our culinary community. 

One of the magazine's features is the EdibleJersey's Local Heros Awards, a tradition started by Edible Communities the parent organization. In this event readers are asked to vote on who has made significant contributions to the local foods movement for that region.

In the Spring 2008 Issue of EdibleJersey the New Jersey winners have been announced.

Desert Island Wine by Miles Lambert-Gocs - Book Review

What wine would you crave if you were castaway on a dessert Island? What wine book would you desire?

You might choose Dessert Island Wine where author Miles Lambert-Gocs pokes serious fun at the often pretentious world of wine and enlightens us to its many wonders.

Serious because each of the 29 articles in this well written book contain substantial thought on their topic, yet all have the twist of light hearted humor which makes them fun to read.

Wine & Philosophy - Book Review

Wine & Philosophy -A Symposium on Thinking and Drinking- is a new book edited by Fritz Allhoff, PHD .   

Fritz is an assistant professor of philosophy at Western Michigan University and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, Australian National University, Canberra.

He has done marvelous work in compiling the words and thoughts of a broad range of writers, presenting many schools of thought.

Favorite Wine Books

While there is tons of easy to access information on the Internet, Wine Blogs and Wine Websites must number in the thousands and there is also no substitute for knowing a good wine merchant who understands your taste, books are still one of the best ways to learn about wine.

People often ask me what are the best wine books for beginners. Here are some of my favorites. If you are interested and would like to support Mano a Vino click the link to buy the book through Amazon. Thanks

Here is my list of the best wine books for beginners.

1000 Best Wine Secrets - Book Review

Carolyn Hammond's new book 1000 Best Wine Secrets is a very approachable, informative source of wine knowledge and experience for interested beginners and seasoned wine lovers.

Well above books like "Wine for Dummies", Wine Secrets immediately sets out to put you in control of your wine experience. It is an engaging  read spiced with sensual metaphors, revealing anecdotes, and thankfully a complete absence of "wine snobbery." This book is fun to read and will leave you with greater confidence to explore the vast world of wine.