Wine, Beer and Restaurant Reviews

Spring Brings Flowers and Rosé, Rosato and Rosado

Spring is the time I like to drink these luscious pink, salmon, rose colored wines. In France they are called Rosé; in Italy, Rosato; and Rosado in Spain. This one called Vitiano Rosato Umbria paired so nicely with a dish inspired by friend Stacy who creates the recipes and writes Stacey Snacks, a perfect pairing for her Grilled Salmon w/ Red Quinoa & Pistachios.

Botta Di Vino - Great Italian Wine in Red Hook

 
A great discovery in Red Hook that is worth the trip alone was Botta di Vino where we bought four fabulous wines.

The store specializes in seasonal boutique Italian wines and offers a very attractive selection. Opened in 2010 by Jeff and Triciann Botta they survived Sandy to reopen again. We stopped by for a tasting Pinot Bianco vs. Pinot Nero Bianco. Bought them both and more.

Osteria Giotto Dinner with Donna Ginevra - Great Italian Food with a Great Italian Wine

 

Can you predict how good your dinner will be by the olives served? I think so. The second these beauties touched my tongue I knew dinner was going to be great.

The wine,  Donna Ginevra was perfect. A beautiful Verdicchio from the Castelli di Jesi, Le Marche Region of Italy.

Di Majo Norante Contado Molise Aglianico with an Interesting Food Pairing

 

 

I poured this wine at a recent tasting of southern Italian wines, for a grand "Italian Family Wine Dinner" birthday party in Summit, NJ. It was good there but it was not until I got it home and paired it with other food that the true beauty of this wine emerged.

It has deep rich flavors that I would normally pair with a hearty meat dish, I was surprised how the wine came alive with this seared salmon, with a southeast asian dry rub, with greens and a radish raita.

Occhipinti "SP 68" Bianco, Exciting New Wines From Sicily Have Sex Appeal

 

Sex Apeal. Sicilian wines have become so popular in the last few years and there are many reasons why. But the two words that summed it up at a Sicilian wine conference last year were just that, Sicilian wines have "sex appeal" so says Monica Larner Italian Wine Editor of The Wine Enthusiast.

This one by a passionate young women, Arianna Occhipinti, delivers this in every swallow, made of two exotic grapes  Albanello, Moscato di Alessandria locally know as Zibibbo is a work of art.

The Wines of Carignano Del Sulcis Sardinia a Tasting Event at La Scuola di Eataly New York

I am beginning to think that Italian winemakers are very set on conquering the world of vino commercializzazione (wine marketing). It seems every month there is another contingent of winemakers here from one of Italy's many many unique wine regions. 

Like a steady flow of loving Roman Legions they are slowly but surely magnifying their place in the world and luckily for us New York City is one the most important battlefronts. You see, while we enjoy greater access to a broad variety of Italian wines here than perhaps anywhere else, there are still very special wine regions we are missing.

Case in point, the tiny DOC region called Carignano del Sulcis in south western corner of the isle of Sardinia. This week I had the opportunity to learn that truely exceptional wine is made there.

Hosted and promoted by the Consorzio di Tutela del Carignano del Sulcis DOC we had the opportunity to meet the wine makers, taste their wines  and enjoy excellent food of the region at this tasting event at Eataly.La Scuola Grande.

Tami Project - Frappato IGT 2011 - Sicily, Italy - So Good Had to Buy Some More

Frappato was almost extinct as a grape, only found in Sicily, it was recently brought back to life in a big way by the young wine superstar, Arianna Occhipinti.

If you love Pinot Noir, Sangiovese or other medium bodied but flavorful wines you will adore this wine. We loved our first bottle so much that we ran to get more. Luckily they had some at Amanti Vino.

Dolcetto d' Alba by two greats Pio Cesare and Marchesi Di Barolo

While in Minneapolis, a trip you'll hear all about soon, I picked up these two beauties at the great Hennepin Lake Liquors for a dinner at home, my Minneapolis home.