Manoavino Taste!

Loca Linda, Jolie Folle, Yes We Think So!

At our second tasting of these fun wines, we asked our friends two questions. The answer to both was yes!

The Wine:  Three by Sommelier and New New World Winemaker, Brian Smith, a Malbec, a Torrontes and a Cotes de Provence Rose.

The Food: Classic American from the great kitchen of Neptune Market, Harvey Cedars, NJ.

The Place: Our Friend's, Gail and Marc, Beach House, Lane 89, Loveladies NJ.

If Malbec is a Sexy Sultry Redhead, Bonarda is Her Mysteriously Alluring Brunette Friend

Everyone loves Malbec, the enticing wine of Argentina. But do you know the second most popular red wine in Argentina?

Not so well known in the states, Argentinean Bonarda is a fabulous wine that we grab every time we see it. Like Malbec the Bonarda grape grown in South America is from France where it is called Douce Noir (Sweet Black). Duriguitti along with a number of other Argentine wineries make fabulous wine from this grape.

The Wine: Familia Duriguitti Bonarda Clasico $$

The Food: Classic American, Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, and Creamed Spinach, as close to homemade as you can get

The Place: Raymond’s Montclair, NJ 

Shake Shack Paramus, Thank You Randy Garutti

Waited in line for over an hour to get a Shack Shack burger? You bet your life we have. We’ve been ardent fans since the Madison Park location opened in 2004, where people happily queue up to get this fabulous quintessential American food.

So happy they have come to New Jersey.

The Wine: Shake Shack Paramus is BYOB, we would suggest a lively Malbec or Zinfandel $-$$

The Food: Burgers are the thing here, and we enjoyed them all.

The Place: Shake Shack, Route 17 South, Paramus NJ

 

Budini Chardonnay, Mendoza, Argentina, New World Wine, With an Eye to the Future

I love wine makers who are committed to producing wines with thought to the future of the earth. Jose Lovaglio who makes this bright and delicious, sustainably produced, Chardonnay is totally there.

We had this beauty with a homemade Italian influenced dinner of sauteed escarole, justed harvested from Vacchiano Farm, via Montclair Farms Market, grilled artisanal sausage from Whole Foods, and pasta with fresh herbs from our own garden. A perfect fresh dinner to pair with this perfect fresh wine. I think Argentinean wine goes so well with Italian cuisine because so many winemakers there have family roots in Italy. 

Valpolicella Meet Mendoza - Two Big Beautiful Wines from Two Great Wine Regions

Got together with our friends Greg and Dana for a nice dinner at their house this weekend. 

It was  our usual cooperative effort, we did appetizers and desserts, Greg does his Italian main course wizardry.

We started off with a Cava cocktail I made with Cava, Pear William Brandy with a slice of Red Anjou Pear, looked beautiful and tasted great.

For dinner we faced off these two big beautiful wines, both expensive and both amazing.

Another Beautiful Wine from Patagonia, Argentina - Bodega Del Anelo - Finca Roja Pinot Noir

I really enjoyed this inexpensive Pinot Noir from Bodega Del Anelo Winery, also known as Finca Roja, located in the Anelo Region of Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina. 2009 vintage.

It has fragrant aromas with elegant, spicy, plum, flavors and a slight earthy organic undertone. It is a very good medium-bodied food wine which we enjoyed at home with an pasta dish, a recipe out of the current Food and Wine magazine, Penne with Asparagus, Peas, Mushrooms and Cream, we added sausasage.

Here are Some Great Value Wines that We Served for a Happy Birthday Party

I served as sommilier at a very festive 50th birthday party a couple of weeks ago.  We  served some great wines that everyone loved, so I thought I would share them with you.

We found these wines at the Total Wines in River Edge NJ, and all are great values. The theme was "New Wines to Explore." The whites were grapes many people have never tried, the reds were all New World wines from the Southern Hemisphere.

Patagonian Malbec a Wine Unto Itself - Chalten Reserva from Neuquen, Argentina

I have been enjoying Malbec for years, decades perhaps, I've tasted many, but the Malbecs from Patogonia, a wine I discovered this past June in Buenos Aires, are the Malbecs I love the best.

This rugged mountainous region of Argentina is lush nature at her most almighty and the wine reflects this.The name, Patagonia, comes from Patgon the word used by Magellan in 1520 to describe the native people who he thought to be giants. Also remember the region inspired whole line of explorer clothing and gear and an international chain of stores, Patagonia.

Finding Pantagoina Malbecs in New Jersey has been a challenge. To my delight I found this one called Chalten and others from Patagonia at recent trip to the Total Wine store in River Edge.

We enjoyed it tremendously with a dinner I made with a Latin bent.