Manoavino Taste!

We liked this - Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc - Marlborough New Zealand meet Monterey County, CA

Here is a fun and flavorful Sauvignon Blanc. It lights up on the tongue and delivers a delicious array of tasty flavors. They are not deep and long lasting but for the short burst very satisfying.

Some who have reviewed this wine have utterly despised it. Everyone to their own taste. But we liked it and at $9-10 we will buy more.

Reel Pour is Very Cool

Reel Pour is a fantastic podcast by a group of guys from Chicago telling it like it is, for them any way, on wine and movies.

Each week the guys review a current flick and discuss a loosely related wine. Wine and Movie paring, now that is a challenge.

It is funny, insightful and will add to your viewing and sipping pleasure. Though, I advise seeing the movie first.

The wine selections are first rate, always interesting and usually good.

Check it out here. http://reelpour.com or download on ITunes. 

Passionate Winemakers of Jacob's Creek - Philip Laffer and Bernard Hickin - Australian Rieslings

I have met many a winemaker in my travels and they all have an abundance of passion for what they do. They must, producing great wine is a considerable feat that only a few have the insight and perseverance to accomplish .

These two men, Philip Laffer and Bernard Hickin of Jacob's Creek, display a level of passion that I have not seen before. Their love and dedication to the wine is prodigious.

I was very fortunate to meet them in an extraordinary tasting held at The Australian in NYC where they pulled out all the stops and very generously shared a decade of their fine Rieslings, from 1997 to 2008, in three levels, Classic, Reserve and their very fine Steingarten.

Let me tell you about the wines. 

He brings Australia to New York City meet Matt Astill, Owner/Manager of The Australian, Restaurant & Bar

I Matt at a fabulous wine tasting featuring some of the great wines of Jacob's Creek held at his NY restaurant.

He is a affable yet focused and hard working guy that runs a great bar and restaurant.

It is a few blocks from my new office and I have been looking for an opportunity to stop in.  Since vacationing in Australia a few years ago, I love everything Australian, especially Australian / Mod Oz cuisine. I have been to Eight Mile Creek and the Tuck Shop in NY. The Australian has been on my list for some time.  Passing by it seemed more like a sports pub, I was happy to learn that it is a great restaurant as well.

Photo from Sidney Morning Herald

New Wine Video Blog Pardon That Vine by Chris Riccobono

Wine Videos and Podcasts seem to be the wave of the future. I hope to get into those mediums one of these days.

Meanwhile, enjoy this. http://pardonthatvine.com/

Daily Wine Review Videos.

Mano a Vino moves from 56th to 22nd place of Top 100 Wine Blogs

We started at the bottom, at 97, moved to 56th and now to 22nd place in top 100 wine blogs list www.alawine.com/wine-blog-rankings.html.

Thank you for your support.

Luz Restaurant Review- Wonderful Nuevo Latino Cuisine in Brooklyn, NY

We were out in Brooklyn to visit a friend who recently moved to a charming little house in the still up and coming Fort Green/Clinton Hill neighborhood.

On the way we stopped at the amazing food market on Atlantic Avenue, Sahadi Fine Foods, post on this to follow, and then had dinner at a perfect Latin restaurant called Luz on Vanderbilt Avenue a short way from Pratt Institute.

These neighborhoods have changed a lot since I lived in Brooklyn in the early 70's and then the late 80's. There is so much to explore and enjoy in the Atlantic Avenue and Fort Green/Clinton areas.

Dinner started with an absolutely perfect Pisco Sour...