Manoavino Taste!

Find Many Delights at Sahadi's Fine Foods in Brooklyn, NY

Sahadi's Fine Foods has been on Atlantic Avenue for over 50 years. In fact Sahadi's have been bringing fine foods to New York since 1895. This proud tradition is reflected vividly in the store's abundant selection of fine foods and in the enthusiastic throngs of customers that loyally frequent this gourmet's treasure.

We traveled all the way from Montclair, NJ to experience and stock up.

The store is Middle Eastern at heart but offers products carefully selected from purveyors all over the world Here is what we found.

Xai Xai - Wine Bar - New York City

Got to Xai Xai one of the fabulous new wine bars featured in that NY Times article, mentioned a few posts ago.

From the moment you step across the threshold of this beguiling and captivating place, you feel immediately transported to South Africa.

Garden State Wine Growers annual Blues & Wine Weekend Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30

2013 Update

Blues & Wine Festival
Please note: Due to inclement weather, the 2013 Blues & Wine Festival will be held on Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27, 2013. Tickets will be available at the gate. All advanced tickets will be honored either day.
May 26 & 27, 2013 
Natirar Park, Peapack-Gladstone, NJ
View additional information

WINE GROWERS BRING ANNUAL BLUES & WINE WEEKEND
TO IDYLLIC NATIRAR PARK IN SCENIC SOMERSET MAY 29-30
May 29 & 30, 2010 (rain date May 31) - Noon to 5:00 pm
at Natirar Park, Somerset County, New Jersey

The Garden State Wine Growers Association will hold its annual Blues & Wine Weekend Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30 at Natirar Park -a 411-acre preserve set in the scenic hills of Somerset County.

6 Pinot Noirs from $9.99 to $39.99 and "Old World" vs. "New World"

I love Pinot Noir, whats not to love. It is gracious, elegant and great with all types of food.

While the birthplace of Pinot Noir would have to be considered Burgundy, France, this grape is now used for producing great wine all over the world. The wines I tasted were from Feuersbrunn, Wagram, Niederösterreich Austria; Leyda Valley, Santiago, Chile; Sonoma, California; Bourgogne, Burgundy, France; and the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

Among these were wines made in the "Old World" and "New World" styles. Prices ranged from under $10 to almost $40.

Fall in Love with this Sexy Darling Grenache Blanc

Grenache Blanc or Granache Blanc is a grape most often found in beautiful wines from the French Rhone Valley and northeast Spain where it is blended with other grapes to make luscious white wines.

But in California creative wine makers use this delicious grape alone to make big beautiful white wines that are sexy and sensuous.

Here are two I really love.  

Growing Bored of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Grigio, Try These Instead

Let's make a Summer resolution. Let's break away from the routine of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Grigio and try some new white wines for Summer. What do you say?

Now it would be helpful if some bars and restaurants that do serve wine would help us out here, hint hint. We would love some more choices.

There is a world of delicious white wines out there just dying to be tasted. Take a chance and try some.

Here are my suggestions:

Hungarian Wine a Beautiful Discovery - Kreinbacher Somló Juhfark

I first got turned on to Hungarian wines at the restaurant Employees Only, NYC, in 2006. There I was introduced to an Olivier by Nyakas Cellars. This became a favorite wine that we drink often.

My curiosity about the wines from this barely recognized region did not end there. Hungary has a rich wine heritage spanning 1,000's of years in over 21 wine districts. I have been on a quest to discover more of these wines.

I was thrilled when a fellow diner at Fatty Crab suggested this wine which I really loved, 2007 Kreinbacher Somló Jhufark. It contrasted and complimented the wonderful Malaysian/Pan Asian food at this restaurant.

Have You Tasted 100 Grapes? Wine Century Club Celebrates 5th Anniversary with 314

The Wine Century Club was founded by architect and wine lover Steve DeLong.

The club is for all adventurous wine lovers. If you've tasted at least 100 different grape varieties, you're qualified to become a member.

Membership has grown over the years and we celebrated our fifth anniversary on May 8th. I joined in October of 2008 when I reach 100 grapes and am now at 122.

Groups celebrating around the world tasted a cumulative 314 grapes.