Manoavino Taste!

An Aria Encore - Our Second Visit to this West Village Wine Bar

Aria the very popular West Village Wine Bar and taverna is dedicated to women wine makers and excellent cucina Italiana. Creator Tanya Hiro succeeds on both counts. We first visited Aria a few weeks ago and enjoyed the wines. We were back again to taste the food.

ARIA is open for business again, after the storm. Applausi, Congratulazioni....

A Toast for Austria Day at The Upholstery Shop

 

Next door to the ever popular Austrian restaurant and bar Wallsé, is The Upholstery Shop, named such as that's what the space used to be. This is a quaint and comfortable wine and cocktail bar of high excellence. It is so romantic, set on quiet Washington Street in the West Village, a great neighborhood for strolling on a mild fall night.

We stopped by to celebrate October 26th, our wedding aniversary, and Austria Day which celebrates the signing of the treaty that restored Austria's national sovereignty and the end WWII.

Upholstery Shop offers a great list of international wines with an emphasis on Austrian and very interesting cocktails as well as small bar snacks.

Tonight at Upstairs in Upper Montclair - Galardi - Terra di Lavoro Roccamonfina

An exquisite wine from a family-owned wine estate in South Italy’s Campania. It is of 80%  Aglianico and 20% percent Piedirosso, two ancient grapes that find amazing life in this region, Terra di Lavoro. Produced in the Italian way, create wines as nature intended. It was presented by Robert Barry of Winebow at Upstairs tonight.

Fiano, an Ambrosial Grape of Southern Italy, Meets California and Australia for Dinner

There are two white grapes of Southern Italy that I have absolutely fallen in love with. Fiano and Insolia. This wine by the Salento, Puglia vineyard Castello Monaci has lovely crispness, with flavors of honeydew melon, wildflower honey and almond that blossom in a lively mouthful of flavor. It paired so perfectly with a California/Australian (Mod Oz) dinner we made.

I'm Hooked On Italian, Got A Big Fix Yesterday at IL Buco Alimentari & Vineria New York City

Ok, I admit it, I've become an Italian food and wine junkie, it has been 20 hours and 38 minutes since my last fix. Next thing you know it will be Mano a Vino, Italian Vino and Cucina and that's it.

I got a wonderful fix of Italian on Saturday with Diana, her sister, Heidi; Bro-In-Law, Perry; and friends from California, Srutih and Simon, at the Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria which is as close as you can get to Roma or Firenze in NY.

The place is filled with Italian delights, they do their own meat curing and smoking and the pleasant aroma fills your nostrils as you step in the door. The big communal table is so inviting but we sat in the corner at a very cozy table for six.

Italian Sommeliers - Intent as Their Winemakers are Passionate

Our trip to Italy was to attend the grand inauguration of the Zonin family's new vineyard Masseria Altemura* in Puglia. The trip which took us to three Zonin vineyards was filled with awe and wonder. I was particularly intrigued by the intent and skill full sommeliers at the many events.

In Italy sommeliers are trained and certified by the Associazione Italiana Sommelier (AIS). They must pass rigorous standards and approach their vocation with great style.

Cocktails - Aperitifs Italian Style - Cocktails - Aperitivi - Stile Italiano Sono Molto Buoni

The lobby bar of the Patria Palace Hotel in Lecce stands like an altar for cocktails and all those exotic Italian Aperitifs. In a land where there may be more altars per capita than any where else we were happy to worship at this one, enjoyed on our recent trip to Italy.

You probably already know an Apéritif or Aperitivo is an herbal alcoholic beverage usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. The word comes from the Latin verb aperire, which means “to open.” Worthy of that root, they are colorful and lusciously stimulating and so much to enjoy. 

It was still early in the day so we refrained and just sipped some delicious prosecco which is the base of perhaps the most famous Italian cocktail/aperitivo, the Bellini.

7 Flights, 5 Airports, 5 Destinations, 11 Meals, 32 Wines and Many New Friends, One Fast Trip to Italy

 

Back at the keyboard after a fabulous 6 days in Italy for the grand inauguration of the new Zonin Vineyard, Masseria Altemura, in exciting Salento peninsula, Puglia, the heal of the Italy boot.  This story will span several posts, there is so much to tell.