Wine, Beer and Restaurant Reviews

From the Valle Central Beneath Andes to Montclair Anakena Sauvignon Blanc

What a world we live in. In minutes I can visit one of my many favorite wine stores and bring home a beautiful piece of South America.

Here's an example, a really really great Sauvignon Blanc from Chile that I found in nearby River Edge New Jersey, from Anakena Vineyard in majestic Valle Central.

Paired this wine with two delicious meals.

Jacob's Creek Wines Australia Since 1847 - Now New for 2012 - in a Word Moscato

Last week we met Chris Morrison, brand ambassador for Jacob's Creek, with all his classic Australian charm, at a dinner he hosted for wine media at the fabulous Hurricane Club on Park Avenue South, NYC.

I've been a Jacob's Creek fan for a number of years, I especially enjoy their Rieslings. On this night we tasted some of their current red wines and were introduced to two very appealing new Moscato wines.

Here are Some Great Value Wines that We Served for a Happy Birthday Party

I served as sommilier at a very festive 50th birthday party a couple of weeks ago.  We  served some great wines that everyone loved, so I thought I would share them with you.

We found these wines at the Total Wines in River Edge NJ, and all are great values. The theme was "New Wines to Explore." The whites were grapes many people have never tried, the reds were all New World wines from the Southern Hemisphere.

Patagonian Malbec a Wine Unto Itself - Chalten Reserva from Neuquen, Argentina

I have been enjoying Malbec for years, decades perhaps, I've tasted many, but the Malbecs from Patogonia, a wine I discovered this past June in Buenos Aires, are the Malbecs I love the best.

This rugged mountainous region of Argentina is lush nature at her most almighty and the wine reflects this.The name, Patagonia, comes from Patgon the word used by Magellan in 1520 to describe the native people who he thought to be giants. Also remember the region inspired whole line of explorer clothing and gear and an international chain of stores, Patagonia.

Finding Pantagoina Malbecs in New Jersey has been a challenge. To my delight I found this one called Chalten and others from Patagonia at recent trip to the Total Wine store in River Edge.

We enjoyed it tremendously with a dinner I made with a Latin bent.

I Love Chenin Blanc - You'll be surprised by this beauty - Essay Chenin Blanc from South Africa

If you know Chenin Blanc you probably think of French wine from the Lorie Valley or Languedoc-Roussillon. If you don't know Chenin Blanc or only know the French a great place to learn more about this grape is through the wines of South Africa for it is there that it has found great prominence and was the principal grape in the "white wine renaissance" of the South Africa .

Great importers like Cape Classics have contributed much to bring this renaissance to the United States in a big way. Two of our favorite of their Chenin Blancs were reviewed here.

Here is another Chenin Blanc we love called Essay which is a project of MAN Vitners of Stellenbosch, South Africa. It really knocked our socks off.