Manoavino Taste!

Vinitaly is Back in Town with Something New - Interactivity

Vinitaly the big Italian wine show, for the press and trade, that also tours the US is arriving in NY after a very successful show in Chicago. The New York dates are May 2nd and 3rd and this year will bring a new Interactive component. Attendees will be able to use IPads with the innovative wine tasting software Vinitaly Interactive to record their preferences of the day. Wow that sounds like fun. More info here

Fellow bloggers, restaurateurs, and wine selling people take note.

From the Valle Central Beneath Andes to Montclair Anakena Sauvignon Blanc

What a world we live in. In minutes I can visit one of my many favorite wine stores and bring home a beautiful piece of South America.

Here's an example, a really really great Sauvignon Blanc from Chile that I found in nearby River Edge New Jersey, from Anakena Vineyard in majestic Valle Central.

Paired this wine with two delicious meals.

"I Look Young Because I've Been Drinking Muscadet Since I Was 3" The Loire Valley Wines of Pierre-Jean Sauvion & Family

Just when I think I've tasted the best wine of my life, something new and exciting comes along. This is a story about wines of the Loire Valley, an under-appreciated wine region of France. I've long had an attraction to Loire wines. We poured Sancere at our wedding. Yet, never loved them as much as I do now. Let me tell you why.

A couple of weeks ago I received an invitation to a tasting of a Loure wine maker at the cool wine bar CorkBuzz Wine Studio, downtown on 13th Street. I was interested but did not expect to be as dazzled as much as I was.

The wine-maker presenting was Pierre-Jean Sauvion who I discovered is a fourth-generation winemaker of a family that has been producing wines in the Loire since 1935. He is an exceptionally knowledgeable and skilled wine maker yet very humble. He is also very entertaining and says “I look young because I’ve been drinking Muscadet since I was three,” Good to know. He talks about his role in the wine making as "tending his garden." This phrase means a lot when you taste his wines.

We learned a lot about the wines of the Loire that include Muscadet, Sancere, Vouvray and lesser knows like Chinon and Saumur.

This is a great time to learn about wines of the Loire, they make for great spring and summer drinking. They are known for their bright, crisp, lively nature.

My Antonia, a Remarkable Pilsner by Dogfish Head

I love Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. They make so many great bears especially seasonal and limited edition brews like this one, My Antonia, that comes from a collaboration with beer makers in Italy.

When I saw My Antonia in an e-mail from Dogfish Head I knew I had to get some. Last night I picked up a couple of bottles at Angelbeck's and made myself a beautiful dinner, recipe below. As I cracked open the big bottle of this beautiful deep rich Pilsner, a "continually-hopped imperial pilsner. This lager for Ale lovers is citrusy, sweet and refined" I just knew it was going to be good. I was not disappointed.

Great New Book on Wine and Life by My Good Friend Zita Keeley

Zita Keely is one of the most approachable and knowledgeable wine people I know. Her international travels, local presence and passion for wine is the colorful basis of her ever popular wine classes and events. I love to hear her speak and now love to read her words.

Her new book co-authored with Carolyn Kourofsky, "Zita's Guide to Wine and Life: A Different Kind of Wine Book" is certainly that. 

NJ Blues and Wine Festival - May 26th and 27th

Save the date on your calendar for this great opportunity to experience NJ wines.

We attended this event several years ago when it was at Waterloo Village. We had a great time but frankly we were not all that impressed with the wines.

Since then NJ wines have really gotten much better. We have tasted some really good ones lately like Hawk's Haven, Unionville and Valenzo. We're excited to have the chance to try others that we have heard good things about. See this report in NJ Monthly - Jersey Wine

Tickets are now on sale Garden State Wine Growers Festivals

Tips for Choosing Wine - Find an Importer Who You Can Trust Like Vintus Wines

Over the years we have offered many tips on finding wines you will truly enjoy. You may have seen our article "Three Steps to a Perfect Wine Experience" on Entaste.

Something I have relied on for years is getting to know the people selecting and importing wines. Importers like T. Edwards, Eric Solomon and Cape Classics are some of my favorites. There are also people like Monica Caha who I really like.

Another importer who we really enjoy is Vintus Wines. We recently attended a showing of their beautiful portfolio at the lavish Prince George Ballroom in New York City.

Cigars and Wine a Pairing Challenge

Seems everyone, or let me clarify, just about every man I know loves a good cigar. And last week one of those guys asked me what I thought about cigars and wine. Frankly my first thought went to cigars and fine Scotch or Cognac, isn't that the norm? But why not fine wine?

My friend is quite a cigar man he often buys his great cigars at FamousSmoke.com. He has also been acquiring a taste for good wine.