Manoavino Taste!

Peruvian Wine

Peru is on my list of destinations I would love to visit.

Like much of South America the country is producing some interesting wines.

Found one called Tacama Albilla D'ica to be quite delicious. It is a sweet dessert wine with delicious complexity, unfortunately it does not seem to be readily available in the US.

Food and Wine Together

I have come to the conclusion, wait, let me say re-revelation, that the real excitement in wine comes from the instance of perfect, or reasonably close, convergence of food and wine. Why am I kicking myself, I have known this all along. It just has never been so clear.

A recent trip to Australia helped bring this truth to my instant consciousness. Australian chefs' and wine makers' create expressions with flavor that are enlightening. They abide no boundaries; their creativity is as free as an Aboriginal chant.  The confluence of ethnic influence from all parts of the globe unfolds into a gentle symphony of creative delights.

Let me get back to my main theme.

Australia Part Two

I found it remarkable that in the many conversations we had about our planned trip to Australia, every person we spoke to had either been to Australia and loved it, had a friend who had been to Australia and loved it or wanted to go to Australia because they thought they'd love it. I have always wanted to travel there.

Now I understand. Australia is a magical place of great mysterious beauty and wonder. Centuries of unique culture, and influences from the entire globe converge and coexist in wonderful harmony.

Fourplay Sicilian Fun

Fourplay is a terrific Sicilian wine. A blend of four indigenous grapes.

25% Frappato Nero, 25% Nerello Cappuccio, 25% Nerello Mascalese and 25% Nero D’Avola. I love tasting grapes I never heard of.

Fun, inexpenisve, great with Southern Italian or Pizza. 

Wow, Olivares Dulce Monastrell, Jumilla

An unfortunate consequence of this job is becoming a little jaded.  Wines that are truly new and exciting become few and far between.

Here is one that really piqued our taste buds, a sweet red dessert wine, perfect for paring with cheese or chocolate.

Produced by Bodegas Olivares in a blessed region of Spain called Jumilla.

My new best friend Lori Ann Krushefski turned us on to this splendid wine. Lori Ann is launching a very appealing new company called Perfect Pairings.

She showed us that she is really on to something.

Australia, Canberra

Australia is simply an extraordinary country.

A wonderful mash, of love, passion and joy.

Our vacation started in Canberra, the oft maligned Federal capital, topic of many "New Joisey" style jokes, a city our daughter somehow chose to attend school. The city is considered, by most Australians and Americans who know of it, to be the worst of Australia. Our experience was quite the contrary Canberra is quite wonderful. Sure it pales compared to Sydney, Melbourne or other noted parts of Australia, but still great.

If Heaven Serves Pierogies and Stuffed Cabbage

The Montclair Farmers market has been wonderful this Summer.

Especially this past warm sunny month of September. The corn, tomatoes and an abundance of other fruits and vegetables have been spectacular.

A new fish monger is serving up great gifts of the sea all the way from Barnegat, NJ.

I love the Piergoies and Stuffed Cabbage that the smoked sausage vendor sells. Had them both for dinner tonight. They are divine.

Don't miss the Harvest Festival this coming weekend, Sunday, October 7th.