NYC Tastes

It's no secret, the popularity of rosé wine has absolutely exploded over the past few years.  Wine stores that once housed two or three bottles of that sweet, cheap Zinfandel, now have shelves filled to capacity with rosés from all over the world.  The hashtag #yeswayrosé and #roséallday aren't just for Instagram anymore, they're actual brands all on their own and while the Provence region continues to lead in the marketplace, countries like Argentina, Spain and Italy are beginning to emerge with their own exciting new wines.  So when we were invited to the Puglia in Rosé event at Scavolini SoHo, we were ready to soak in all the wonderful food and drink coming from this region. Puglia is located in the south of Italy in what is known geographically as the heel of Italy's "boot".  It's characterized by more than 500 miles of coastline bathed by the Adriatic and Ionian Sea's.  The climate is typical Mediterranean, which make it the perfect place fo...

This past weekend downtown Manhattan turned into one big pink party with La Nuit de Rosé, the world's first festival dedicated to rosé wine. The celebration kicked off on Pier 40 as guests boarded the Hornblower Infinity Yacht on a pink runway; just a small preview of what was about to happen inside. Pink, white and gold balloons covered the ceiling of the #todaywerose corner where Mionetto  Prosecco,  Gloria Ferrer  Brut Rose and  Gratien & Meyer  crémant were pouring bright and bubbly all afternoon. The wine tasting spread out across three floors of the boat, showcasing rosé from 200 wineries around the world. Ultimate Provence  was pouring magnums and jeroboams of their spicy Provence rosé made from a blend of cinsault, syrah and grenache. California winery JNSQ (Je ne sais quoi) won the award for the most beautiful bottle design. Followed by the elegant Chateau Roubine  La Vie En Ros é whose lovey white...

It's beginning to look a lot like Rose season and I'm kicking it off with one of my favorite pink bubbly wines, the Camille Braun Sparkling Brut Rose.  This beautiful cremant comes from the Braun family whose roots in Alsace date back to 1523. It's made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes with aromas of red fruit, cream and biscuit with flavors of ripe strawberry, cherry and honey.  It's absolutely bursting with fruit but completely dry with delicate bubbles a lovely creamy finish. This is the perfect wine for celebrating Spring, Summer or just sitting on the couch.  Corso Wines Domaine Camille Braun 16 Grand Rue Orschwihr, France

Memorial Day weekend is the official kickoff to rosé season and we here at NYC Tastes have been doing plenty of research on this fabulous pink drink.  Sparkling or still, dry or sweet, there's a rosé on the market perfect for just about any palate.  Here's a few of our favorites for your weekend festivities all under $25.00. Camille Braun Cremant D'Alsace Brut Rosé - $22.00 This beautiful bubbly from the Alsace region of France is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes aged in stainless steel.  It pours a pale pink with tight, tiny bubbles and gentle flavors of strawberry and raspberry with a soft creamy finish. This is the perfect aperitif for any occasion. Gouguenheim Malbec Bubbles Extra Brut Rosé - $12.00 This Argentinian sparkler comes from the foothills of the Andes Mountains at Gouguenheim Winery.  It's crisp and juicy with bright flavors of cherry, strawberry and rhubarb.  It's refreshing enough to drink alone but also the perfect pairing for grilled me...

Mother's Day is this Sunday which is always the perfect excuse to officially kick off Rose season. Soon the sun will be shining bright, people will start getting Hampton ready and that pretty pink drink will be in glasses everywhere.  With the liquor stores stocking so many roses this time of year finding the perfect one can be tough.  I could suggest you just join the masses and bring Whispering Angel to every party but why do that when there’s so many great local rose producers right here in New York.   Here are my picks for a few delicious, local summer suppers sure to please Mom: Wolffer Estate- Summer in a Bottle Nothing sends out summer vibes more than Wolffer Estate's Summer in a Bottle.  This incredible wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer giving it juicy, ripe flavors of peaches, pear and melon with a long elegant finish.  This wine is absolutely bursting with fruity goodness and the bottle design is s...

This week has been absolutely gorgeous.  Walking home over the Brooklyn Bridge with rays of sun on my back, smelling the gorgeous tulips in bloom all around Gramercy Park. It's officially time to put away those heavy red wines and slip into something a bit more light and lively.  I had the pleasure of sipping some fantastic wines perfect for the season last week with winemaker Laurent Prada of Barton & Guestier, the largest importer of French wine in the United States. The Vouvray is their most popular wine made entirely of Chenin Blanc grapes. It has a sweet but vibrant balance of fruit and acidity with flavors of crisp apple, pineapple and white peach.  It's fresh and light bodied; the perfect pairing for fried dishes like Maialino's Baby Artichokes. The Cotes De Provence Passeport Rose was much drier than the Vouvary with honeysuckle and pear aromas.  Rich notes of strawberry and raspberry dance across the palate making this a great wine for ...