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...

It's Fathers Day weekend and that calls for a celebration, so we're breaking out a bottle of the acclaimed Lot No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon from Louis Martini.  The history of Lot No. 1 wine dates back to 1952 when Louis P. Martini began to select only the finest lots to create a Cabernet showcasing the best of Napa Valley vineyards and terroir. This powerful, deep ruby wine gives off aromas of black cherry, blueberry and licorice with complex notes of dark cherry, cedar, and plum with a long, lingering mocha finish.  This is a big, beautiful wine that exudes strength and elegance.  Louis Martini 254 South Street Helena Highway Helena, CA 94574

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

The annual grand tasting of NY Drinks NY  took place last week, high atop Rockefeller Center in the gorgeous Rainbow Room. This NYC landmark was absolutely buzzing with local winemakers, trade and professionals seeking out the best of  New York state wine.   There were so many great producers on hand it's impossible to name them all but here are a few of my favorites. Anthony Road Art Riesling - This beautiful Riesling from Seneca Lake was spontaneously fermented using native yeast giving it bright peach, pear and a slightly funky flavor. The entire winery is family owned and operated down to the very last touches, like the beautiful artwork on the bottle painted by winemaker, wife and mother Ann Martini. Dr Konstantin Frank Sparkling Brut Rose - I love pink, bubbly rosés and this might just be my favorite from the NY area.  It's made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes from the 2nd oldest vines in the United States using classic methode champenoise...

I love Park Avenue Winter; the concept of changing not only the menu, but the entire decor of a restaurant for each season is just amazing.  Bright rays of yellow dot the ceiling in the summer, brown and gold leaves in fall, and in winter an elegant sheath of white sprinkled with sparkling glass globes.  It's simply stunning.  Now they've introduced a nightly wine dinner where guests can chose any appetizer, entree and dessert with unlimited tastings of four different wines for just $69. Our meal began with glasses of Prosecco as we mulled over the extensive choices for dinner.  Then it was onto a bright, grassy Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, which paired perfectly with my blood orange & chili Hamchi Curdo. Next a lovely Pinot Noir from California poured alongside a Roasted Halibut dressed with earthy black truffles...  ...and to finish a hearty Antinori Sangiovese with dessert. Once we tasted our way through all four wines we were free...

It looks like the East Coast is headed for a winter storm tomorrow, so it's time to stock up on some vino for the long snowy weekend.  Here are three of my favorite Italian wines for such an occasion. Concerto Reggiano Lambrusco-  Concerto is the first world's first single vineyard lambrusco from the great Tenuta La Rampata grapevines in Reggio Emilia. This bubbly wine pours a vibrant ruby red color with lively notes of fresh strawberry, cherry and raspberry.  This is a dry wine, best served cold and perfect for pairing with cured meats like speck, mortadella or my favorite winter food delivery, a large pepperoni pie from Joe's Pizza .   Average Price $22.95 Le Masse Di Lamole- This wine holds a very special place in my heart.  When Mr. T and I went to Tuscany, we attended a small wine festival in Greve and fell in love with this beautiful Chianti.  I searched for it here in the states with no luck until a shipment magically arrived...

After our wonderful wine excursions in Bordeaux, we hopped on a train to Paris for the final leg of our European vacation.  Mr. T and I have been to Paris quite few times and the energy is so similar to NYC it always feels a bit like coming home.  We got in late afternoon and leisurely walked around the bustling Saint Germain and Île de la Cité before landing on the quiet island of Île Saint-Louis.  This is the perfect spot to relax at one of the many outdoor cafes with a bottle of wine and a view of the beautiful Seine River. Then we made our way through the Louvre and Arc de Triomphe and over to Harry's New York Bar. This kitchy spot is said to be the birthplace of cocktails such as the French 75, Sidecar and Monkey Gland.  So a round of drinks including all three was absolutely necessary for the sake of history. Harry's is covered in old college pennants and somehow we found ourselves right below our alma mater St. Bonaventure; whi...

I love the month of October for so many reasons.  There's a nice brisk chill in the air, Sundays are consumed with football and fantastic wine events start popping up all over the city.  Here are two great picks for the month ahead: James Suckling Great Wines of the Andes Experience the incredible wine regions of Chili and Argentina right here in New York City at Great Wines of the Andes.  Over 140 wines hand picked by James Suckling with a score of 90 points or higher (two which have the perfect score of 100 points) will be on hand with delicious grape varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Malbec.  This is the perfect opportunity to take Andes exploration to a whole new level.  Tickets Spain's Great Match Spain's Great Match returns to New York for it's 25th year to celebrate the food and wine of this fantastic country.  Explore their award winning interior design program while some of NYC's top Spanish restaurants pair deligh...

Labor Day has come and gone, teachers are back in school and I'm ditching the Rosé for some big red wine like this beauty from Southwest France, a 2021 Château Montus Madiran. This powerful wine is made of Tannat grapes, some of the "healthiest" grapes in wine, due to high levels of antioxidants.  The nose exudes dark cherry and leather aromas, with bold flavors of dark chocolate, cherry, plum and tobacco, with just a hint of smoke.  This is a big wine that still feels elegant with a high acidity and a silky finish.   This wine is quite wonderful right now if you enjoy robust reds, but could also be held for another five or ten years to allow the tannins to soften.  Cheers! Chateau Montus 65700 Castelnau-Riviere-Basse 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...

Slow Wine stopped into downtown Eataly once again this year to showcase wines from their 2018 Wine Guide.   This guide focuses on winemakers who strive to work with respect for the environment, protecting the wine regions biodiversity using sustainable techniques. On hand were some incredible Italian wines like this surprisingly fresh, fruity Dolcetto from Marziano Abbona that burst with flavors of strawberry and cherry. The wonderful 2010 Barolo's from Casa E. di Mirafiore full of plum, black berry and tobacco with a relaxed rich finish. And a stunning 2012 Barolo Riserva from the Franco Conterno family. In addition to these fabulous Italian wines Slow Wine included California producers for the very first time including Littorai Winery. This small, family run vineyard showcased some of my favorite wines of the day including the 2015 Wendling Vineyard Pinot Noir and 2013 B.A. Theiriot Vineyard Chardonnay that had the perfect balance of creamy el...