Posted in Beer, G&G Videos, NYC Events, Spirits, Wine on Jun 25th, 2010
North Williamsburg. On a rather desolate block, a mini-Mecca for libation lovers awaits in two-story glory. Be you beer geek, cocktail purist or refined wino, this is your place. All under one gloriously designed roof and with a level of hospitality that will warm any NY’ers heart. The Counting Room, at 44 Barry Street in Brooklyn, plays […]
Posted in Beer, NYC Events, Spirits, Wine on Jun 8th, 2010
Well, hip to the hop to the hippity hop. Looks like I got me a wee bit of press last week. Maggie Hoffman, of Serious Eats, interviewed me about my job and, among other things, my thoughts on beer lists in restaurants. (Mom will be proud to hear her son raving about craft beer, walking […]
Blanc de Franc (100% Cabernet Franc), Couly-Dutheil, NV (but really 2008), Loire Valley The magicians at Couly-Dutheil have performed a trick that baffles the eye. They pulled back their cloak, placed a bunch of red Cabernet Franc grapes behind it, said an incantation to the spirits of the Loire, and, walla kazaam, a le vini, […]
Posted in Wine on May 20th, 2010
It was the shot heard round the world. Yesterday, Eric Asimov of the NY Times wrote an article that sent shock waves through Bordeaux. The message: you’re soon to be on life support. I feel inclined to write as Paul Grieco, our fearless leader, was pictured in the piece and our wine programs at Hearth […]
Posted in Beer, NYC Events, Spirits, Wine on May 7th, 2010
On Monday, Lincoln Center was descended upon by the food & beverage community who harbored an insatiable hunger and thirst. Between the number of kegs cashed, martinis housed, Champagne guzzled and bites of food gobbled up, if one were to convert the ounces of alcohol and butter consumed to kilowatts, you could have lit the […]
Posted in G&G Videos, NYC Events, Wine on Apr 29th, 2010
Year: 2050 “Grandpa, what’s that?” “Well, that’s a wine bottle, honey” “A what?”
Posted in Wine on Apr 19th, 2010
There goes one! Stop it from procreating! That fucking moth could be the end of us all! Napa Valley is under siege. And I don’t mean from gas-guzzling Escalades zipping up and down Highway 29 or from elite Parisian special forces who’ve been sent to steal trade secrets from Mondavi. No, my friends, by a […]
Posted in Beer, NYC Events, Wine on Apr 16th, 2010
After countless months of planning, dreaming and scheaming, the doors have opened at Terroir | Tribeca. She’s a stunning belle of the highest caliber. And she’s gonna take NYC by force. A force built on passion, irreverence and a commitment to bone-numbingly high standards. The beer list is my baby. A collection of my international […]
Posted in Wine on Apr 7th, 2010
Leflaive. Palacios. Joly. DRC. The list of heavy-hitter winemakers who’ve embraced Biodynamic farming goes on and on. In fact, if I had an ever-ticking stopwatch like the one at Union Square, it just might accurately reflect the number of biodynamic wineries popping up each day. I recently had a piece published on Palate Press entitled, […]
Posted in Wine on Feb 19th, 2010
Well, its now official. The twelve crafty wine fakers have gotten the French gavel and its off to prison for some and hefty fines for others. As I wrote last week, E&J Gallo was sold a ridiculous amount of fake Pinot which was passed off on the world as Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir, which was […]
Posted in Wine on Feb 11th, 2010
In what may be a massive raping and pillaging of the great Gallo’s wallet and operations in France, the French are investigating whether E&J Gallo was sold fake Pinot Noir. And incredible amounts of it: 3.57 million gallons, to be precise. Fueled by greed and the ever-flowing dollar that Gallo provides, some Languedoc vignerons may […]
Principio (100% Ciliegiolo), Antonio Camillo, 2008, Tuscany (13.5% Alc) “Hey, after you go in search of God, can you bring me back some vines?” And so it was that an obscure grape varietal named Ciliegiolo left its home in Spain and came to rest in Tuscany. Or so its rumored…and only God knows the truth. […]
Posted in NYC Events, Wine on Jan 9th, 2010
“The Mondavi Chardonnay? Yes, its on Aisle 312 next to the Weber Twin-Propane Tank, Stainless Steel, Mega Wild-Game Grill.” All across New York State, legislators and the wineries and wine shop owners they represent are in a heated debate. Should New York grocery stores be allowed to sell wine or should it remain the sole […]
Posted in Beer, G&G Videos, Spirits, Wine on Dec 29th, 2009
Just before Christmas Eve dinner, the guests of the Royal Family retire to the Saloon to enjoy gin and tonics with the Queen (who drinks a dry Martini). Afterwards, the guests are seated at 8:30 pm for a splendid, candlelit meal that unfolds in rehearsed waves of grandeur. White wine is served with the hors […]
Posted in Wine on Dec 19th, 2009
“Dude, get your ass to Priorat!” And so it was that I received this text message from my friend who’s currently gallivanting through Europe on a journey to see the wines and vineyards of the world (rough, I know). Apparently, as my ass was slaving away in the mines of the East Village, he was […]
