Manoavino Taste!

Beer, Beer, and more Beer

I was once a great beer connoisseur. Or is that too big a word, beer lover. Then one I stepped off that road into the world of wine. I would certainly never turn down a chance to taste some new beers. But I did not actively pursue the world of beers. A few weeks ago a friend changed that.

At a party he hosted he served up over a dozen fine Micro brews. Ales from all over the world. I was primed for the occasion after a pub crawl in Stoudsburg. 

I am amazed at how much the world of beer has changed over the last decade. I feel like a guy coming out of prison after a 20 year terms learning that the world has changed dramatically.

For those who don't know, and to be honest I just learned recently....

Mas Donis Barrica a Tremendous 90 Point Value Wine - Celler de Capçanes, Montsant

My friend Greg and I like to go out on wine buying trips to find new and interesting wines then we get together with the wives and make delicious meals and drink delicious wines. We both like to cook and we both like to drink wine.

Greg really likes Spanish wines, I have not been as great a fan. But slowly he is changing my mind. Sunday night we went down to his basement to find our next wine of the evening and I liked the name and label on this 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah made in the wine region called Montsant in the province of Tarragona in South Catalonia in North East Spain.  

It is a fabulous, highly rated, wine that is now available for around $12. A tremendous value. Let me tell you its story.

Wine inspired by "Meditrina" the Roman Goddess of Wine and Health, by Sokol Blosser

I have always been a big fan of the delicious and entertaining wines of Alex and Alison Sokol Blosser.

This beautiful red is new to me and has gotten me loving their wines in an even larger way.

Named after the Roman Goddess of wine and health, Meditrina, it is enchanting and empowering. Made of elegant Syrah, exciting Zinfandel and swelling Pinot Noir it has a core of rich, lush berry, intriguing spice, tannin and structure as well as flowers, earth and elegance. This all comes together in luscious, juicy, easy-drinking red wine.

I would have loved to see the looks on Alex and Alison's faces when they finished creating this wine, their smile of delight must have been amazing as they knew this is it.

Five Guys Burger & Fries - Upper Montclair, NJ

At last they have opened. Months of anticipation has obviously created much demand as crowds of hungry men, woman, boys and girls clammer for a taste of Montclair's latest burger joint.

As i sink my teeth into my "everything" burger I wonder will it be all that that they say. Best darn burger in the world.

Very good, still rate Shake Shack in NYC better but here in the burbs, this is pretty close to perfection.  

Pairing wines with personalities for gift shoppers—there’s an app for that (and a web site)

A favorite wine writer and reporter, Natalie Maclean has got some great new smart phone apps and a terrific mobile site. Check them out here Mobile Site

Her "Nat Decants" was selected among the top five food and wine apps by both the New York Times and Computerworld Magazine. This free app is featured on Apple iTunes under Essentials Apps for “Holiday Cooking,” “Food & Wine” and “Date Night.” It’s also part of the featured best apps on BlackBerry’s Carousel. For information on the new features, please visit: www.nataliemaclean.com/mobileapp

She also has some tips for wine gifting this holiday season. Read on.

Beaujolais Nouveau 2010 at the French Institute Alliance Française

The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), knows how to produce wonderful events and the 2010 annual Beaujolais Nouveau Fête was no exception.

Thirsty New Yorkers and at least one Beaujolais fan from New Jersey, me, enjoyed the opportunity to be among the first to taste the 2010 Beaujolais vintage, another great year, and relished an exquisite offering of French cheeses, Pate, French music, entertainment, and joie.

Beaujolais Nouveau has a sweet place in my heart from romantic November getaways to Montreal back in the 80's where I first tasted this wine. Those little trips to "France" formed the foundation for a long loving marriage that I enjoy today. Over the years I lost my taste for this wine (fortunately not my wife), but the 2009 vintage was very good and my interest renewed. Tonight I tasted three exceptional wines of the 2010 vintage. They are worth exploring.

Thanksgiving Wines 2010 try some from Austria

Over the past year I have gotten very excited again about Austria Wines.   

I loved many light bright Grueners over the summer and have also been really enjoying Austrian reds like St. Laurent, Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch. There also beautiful Rieslings as well as Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) coming from this country. Austrian Wines by Manoavino

Our friends at Snooth made some great suggestions in a recent article Great Austrian Reds A guide to going beyond Gruners.

A great way to learn about Austrian Wines and Austrian Culture is with a special that the wonderful people at 67th Street Wines in NY are running ......

Fall Dinners - Fall Wines - Argiolas Costera Isola dei Nuraghi Red from Sunny Sardinia

While planning dinner yesterday I got inspired by an enticing dish created by my friend Stacey that she calls Indian Summer Grilled Eggplant Gratin. Stacey writes a great food blog called Stacey Snacks that I love.

At the Montclair farmers market I found some beautiful eggplant, fresh garlic, and some broccoli rape at Vacchianos stand and also picked up some of their delicious farm-made tomato sauce, one with their own Juliet heirloom tomatoes. Things were looking good.

Later in the day I took a nice drive down to Joe Canal's in Woodbridge to pick out a wine that was worthy of the dinner that was to come. That turned out to be a wine by Argiolas called Costera Isola dei Nuraghi, a red from sunny Sardinia.