Manoavino Taste!

A Great Summer Wine Stickleback White, Found at Amanti Vino

Heartland Wines of South Australia produces this wine. I love their Stickleback Red which is an interesting blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Shiraz, 10% Dolcetto, 5% Grenache Shiraz. 

I jumped at the chance to try their Stickleback White. We tasted it last night with a curried chicken and were delighted.

Ben Glaetzer, winemaker, has combined 49% Semillon, 28% Chardonnay, 20% Verdelho for the 2007 vintage of this inexpensive delicious wine.

It has "vibrant straw in colour with flashes of lime green. Masses of citrus zest on the nose with gooseberry, peach and passionfruit hints. Flavours of lemon zest and pear balanced by refreshing, crisp acid and a long, bright aromatic finish." Winemaker

It is perfect for sipping with cheese and olives, great with pistachio nuts, and would be great with chicken or seafood dishes.

We loved this wine and at $8.99 it is a tremendous bargain.

Buy it at Amanti Vino in Montclair, NJ.

This was Delicious, Grilled Chicken Salad with Tarragon Pesto and a Wonderful Gruner Veltliner

It was a glorious evening and for our first outdoor dinner of 2009 we made this recipe from Bon Apetite for dinner.

Grilled Chicken Salad with Radishes, Cucumbers, and Tarragon Pesto.

I was low on white wine so I made a quick stop at Home Liquors on my way back from Verona Farms Fruit and Vegetable Market in Verona, NJ, where I bought the ingredients for the salad. At Home I found this great Gruner Veltliner in the cooler for $9.00 bucks. The wine is made by Erich & Maria Berger in Kremstal, Weinland, Austria.

I thought it would go well with the Tarragon pesto. It was perfect.

Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2007

As summer approaches my heart and mind turn to thoughts and feelings of wonderful seasonal dinners accompanied by wonderful Italian white wine.

Wines that compliment and accentuate the fresh flavors of summer cuisine.

A perfect example is this Vernacchia di San Gimignano found at Amanti Vino in Montclair, NJ.

L'ardenza Cottanera Mondeuse Noir

Just in the US with Importer Banville & Jones, this fine example of the grand artistry that continues to unfold from Sicilian vineyards may soon appear on a wine list in a restaurant near you.

When it does seize the opportunity to taste this intriguing wine.

Made of 100% Mondeuse, what? Never heard of Mondeuse? You are in for a treat.

Produced by the acclaimed Cambria family, Guglielmo and Enzo Cambria with winemaker Lorenzo Landi at the Cottanera Estatein Castiglione di Sicilia, this wine exudes lucious life.

A blog on Art Advocacy

I realize this is a bit off topic, but it is a subject dear to our hearts. The arts are a key part of a whole education, effective healing and an overall good life. Yet budgets for the arts are being cut and interest in the arts is waning in the electronic era we live in.

Here is a new blog that we are helping with that I love you to take a look at.

http://artpaperscissors.typepad.com/