Manoavino Taste!

Happy Thanksgiving

We would like to wish all our readers a very happy Thanksgiving Holiday. 

Enjoy and give thanks for all we have in spite of these troubled times.

We will be back posting again in December.

Italian Wines For Thanksgiving & Book Discussion

Slow Food NJ Presents

Italian Wines For Thanksgiving & Book Discussion

Friday November 14, 2008 7-9PM

Tired of the same old domestic or jug wines to serve this Thanksgiving?  Ready to be a little adventurous? Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, which celebrates the abundance of the harvest.  What better time to sample wines which come from another land of horticultural, culinary, and enological "abbondanza" -- Italy!

This session will focus on Italian wines, both white and red, appropriate for the traditional Thanksgiving meal with suggestions for food pairings. Taste the wines and sample local artisanal cheeses from Bob-O-Link Dairy

A special feature of this session will be a book club-type discussion of "Passion on the Vine," by Sergio Esposito, noted wine expert and owner of Italian Wine Merchants in New York City.  Peter Conway, local food writer and blogger at www.manoavino.com, will lead the discussion.

Sign up and start reading Sergio's book for a lively discussion and an enjoyable, informative evening.

"Passion on the Vine," by Sergio Esposito, can be purchased at The Wine Library in Springfield, NJ.

All classes held at: 
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum,
53 East Hanover Avenue,
Morristown, NJ 07962-1295 

Purchase Tickets Here

Damian Rae 2006 Syrah - Santa Barbara County Wine

This wine's understated label suggest confidence that word of mouth about this wine will drive sales. There is no need for a flashy or clever label to attract buyers.

I think this confidence is well placed in this very fine Syrah, I'd call it Shiraz, from Damian Rae Winery in St. Helene, Santa Barbara County, California. 

You know I believe that food and wine are an essential duo. So what wine is right for a simple late evening turkey sandwich with some Comte cheese and Pistacchio nuts after a long day at work? This brilliant wine turned a simple dinner into a spectacular event.    

Vinoglobe Decanter and Wine Server

Your wine will always taste better when it is allowed to open up in open air.

While most wines you buy for drinking "now" may not need hours of decanting to be enjoyable, some aeration is always good.

A very effective and convenient way to do this is with Vinoglobe, a cleverly designed serving vessel that aerates as you pour.

Bouchaine Carneros, Napa Valley Pinot Noir Wine

Here is a gracious Pinot Noir that stands out against the many mundane mid-priced Pinots coming from California. In what I think is an effort to garner broad appeal some California producers are turning out wines that I find rather dull. They are good, perhaps very good by some standards but just not interesting.

Not so with this gem created by Mike Richmond the "Visionary" and "Spiritual Leader" of Bouchaine Estate Vineyard in Carneros, Napa Valley.

Here is a wine that is very affordable and uniquely delicious.

Gottino Wine Bar New York, NY

Gottino, Jody Williams "Gastroteca", on Greenwich Avenue in the West Village, has become a favorite of ours.

Diana and I decide to kick off a weekend off celebrating our 23rd anniversary there this past Friday night.

There are many new items on the wonderful small plates menu. As well as many great new and charming wines. 

The warm atmosphere is enchanting, but we love the guys and gal behind the bar.