Manoavino Taste!

New Jersey Wineries Host Spring Events

I really admire they are very dedicated and have been at the hard work of making great  wine for many decades. It has not been easy, with challenging growing conditions and unfavorable NJ liquor laws, which hopefully will soon change. While NJ will never be a Napa or a Bordeaux some decent wine is being produced. 2010 was a good year.

This spring many wineries are hosting events to entice you to come and taste their juice.

Here is a listing published by Garden State Wine growers.

 

Meet Inzolia a Wine to Worship from d'Alessandro Azienda Agricola Agrigento, Sicily

Picture this. There is a land which was once the cradle of the richest and most famous ancient Greek colony, Akragas. A place in the Mediteranean sea at the toe of Italy facing Tunisia. It was the home of Mediterranean mother goddess Madre Dea, Tanit the goddess of war and fertility and Hera, the queen of all the gods. It is on the western coast of Sicily and here grows a magnificent yet humble grape called Inzolia.

A varietal confined mainly to Sicily, Inzolia, whose etymology is uncertain, is golden yellow coloured and seems to contain the rays of the sun. From these exhaulted lands comes through the passion and skill of the wine makers of d'Alessandro Azienda Agricola and oenologist Tonino Guzzo, d'Alessandro Inzolia an extrordinary wine worthy of the most refined feasts.

An Exceptional Sauvignon Blanc from Stoneleigh Vineyards Marlborough NZ

What's the test of a really good wine?  One thing I like to do is share with my friends and get their impressions.  So here is one rave review. Within minutes of tasting this New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, my good friend Gail, who is pretty particular about her wines, was on the phone with her local wine merchant ordering a case. It is really that good.

You may have noticed I have not been very excited about NZ Sauvignon lately. Many of them have given up any distinctive style in an effort to gain market share with intense but boring wines.

Not so with this beauty from Stoneleigh Vineyard. They say the secret is in the stones.

Gruner Veltliner Exciting - Pinot Grigio Boring

Slowly but surely we are suceeding in our conquest to win Gruner converts in the land of New Jersey. Already a big hit in NYC, Gruner Veltliner is showing up in more and more places in NJ.

Last night we served this popular favorite  "Grooner" brought to the USA by Austrian wine queen Monika Caha. When a couple of guests were offered Pinot Grigio or a Gruner, their face lit up and said "Gruner of course, I was not expecting to find that here."  But of course I replied.

Follow Grooner Girl on Facebook and Twitter.  Watch the video below.

Hoboken Beer and Soda the best place for party beer

We hosted a fundraising Bar-B-Que last night which put me on a search for a keg of beer. That of course lead me to Hoboken Beer and Soda Outlet, what a great place.

They offer a tremendous selection of beer, soda and waters at great prices.  We picked up a 1/4 Keg of Yeungling, America's oldest brewery, and some six and 12 packs of other favorite beers.  

It is drive through, so you pull in, give them your order, they fill up your car, pay the cashier and away you go. Fast and easy.

Cupcake Prosecco an Inexpensive Summer Party Pleaser

Cupcake wines arise out of a truly 21st century view on the production and distribution of good wine. We have talked about old world wines and new world wines. Cupcake wines, if they had a broad classification might be called "New Era International."

While Cupcake Vineyards is based out of Monterey County, California, and  do produce wine there, their Prosecco is 100% Italian.

It is a very pleasing, inexpensive, wine that many will really enjoy. If you are a Prosecco purist you may find it to Americanized, but a fun and flavorful pour nonetheless.

We served it at a party last night where it was very well received.

Labeled in Cupcakes signature bright yellow it lives up to their goal of  delivering a wines for a generation of wine-drinkers with fresh perspectives on both tradition and technology.