Manoavino Taste!

Dreamy Ending for a Beautiful Day on the Beach an Exquisite Dinner at Magical Black-Eyed Susan's Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Island NJ

A day relaxing on the beach, basking in the sun, swimming, walking, leaves me with desires, for some great wine and a casual but luxurious dinner.

Easy enough in many parts of the world, on LBI, not so much, but then there's Black-Eyed Susans in Harvey Cedars where we were lucky enough to have an 8:00 reservation on a busy July night.

I've enjoyed watching this restaurant since it opened in 2010, as owners Ashley Pellegrino and Christopher Sanchez have transformed it from primarily a breakfast and lunch place to a fine dining destination that stands among the best.

We enjoyed a multi-coursed meal with three wines this past weekend.

Message in a Bottle - Prosecco is Perfect on the Beach

Late afternoon on the beach with friends at beautiful Long Beach Island, New Jersey Shore. Sun is dropping in the sky, the air is cooler, the glistening light sparkles in the waves.

I love this time of day and this Prosecco made it even better, Mionetto Prosecco Brut D.O.C Treviso.

I was tempted to put a message in the bottle and send it back across the Atlantic but it's a long way to Veneto.

Mionetto Prosecco Brut D.O.C from Treviso is the best wine of this type I have ever tasted. I love many Proseccos, but this one has a level of finesse and flavor that is truly exceptional.

Spuntino - Italian Wine Bar and Tapas - Back Again - I Challenge You to Enjoy Something New

Earnest Hemmingway said "“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world ...brought to the greatest perfection." It "offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”

What makes wine even better is a beautiful place to enjoy it and good food to accompany it. And you have both, here.

Now it is up to you to explore, I challenge you to do so, to try a few new wines, Spuntino offers you 42 by the glass to choose from. Learn the perfection and pleasure that good wine brings. The pours are full and enough to share, so do bring a friend.

Pop-Up Wine Bars and Other Unexpected Wine Spots

The creativity of wine people never ceases to amaze me. Here are some unexpected wine spots that I love. Like this one, ultimate in camping posted by The Wine Guy. Road Trip Anyone?

Charlotte Chipperfield has a Lot to Say About Wine, a Pop-Up Wine School is Her Forum

One of the many great things about being a wino writer is that I have the opportunity to meet and get to know a lot of great people.

There are few fields that have such a diverse collection of extremely interesting and passionate people. We're a massive group with a rich common thread, the love of the wine. We grow, make, market, sell, select, serve, save, drink and write about and video our beloved wine. We span the globe and a very broad socioeconomic strata.

I like to share, so here meet Charlotte Chipperfield, a new friend, from one of my favorite wine cities, San Francisco. She found her passion for the wine a lot earlier in life than I did and I really enjoy her fresh outlook on the juice and the people and places from which it comes.

A Perfect Summer Dinner with a Vino Called Falerio by Saladini Pilastri, Actually Being in Italy, is Really The Only Thing That Could Have Made It Better

By Saturday evening the rain storms had passed but the cooler air remained. It was a perfect summer evening for dining al fresco.

We made a wonderful Italian dinner and I happened to have just the wine to pair with it. 

The wine called Falerio from the vineyard of Count Saladini Pilastri, embodies all that is so truly exquisite in Italian white wines.

Summer Beer Cocktail - Summer Ale, Cherry and Mint

Craft Beer is all the rage and beer cocktails are not far behind. Slate

We dreamed this one up yesterday and it came out pretty delicious.

We had some Sierra Nevada Summer Ale which is bright light and open with citrusy flavors. With that we muddle some fresh cherries and a little fresh mint. Added some Luxardo , Prosecco and Maraschino Cherry Juice and there it was.

Fresh and delicious.

A Beautiful Evening Bastille Day Party in with French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF)

As promised it was fabulous summer fête! And such a perfect evening.

Enjoy French wine, sample delicious French food, including a buffet of charcuterie from Les 3 Petits Cochons and cheese from Affinage Cheese Shop, and delicate macarons from Asalt and Buttery, dance to live French music by Les Chauds Lapins and best of all, win great prizes featured in the NJ Bastille Day Raffle. Prizes include a Nespresso “Citizdot” espresso machine, gift certificates to local restaurants, and more!

Get ready for an evening of celebration à la française !