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 It’s such a beautiful day. I’ve been trying to spend as much time as possible outdoors. After a long power walk, I’m finally sitting down (outside) to write this short post.  I was expecting a friend over for dinner last night. The Rosé was chilling and the salmon and veggies were ready for the grill. At the last minute, he asked me to come over to his home instead. So, I grabbed everything and off I went. When I arrived, I handed him the food to grill and I opened the wine.  We drank 2013 Belguardo Rosé Toscana, Mazzei. The Belguardo estate is located in the Maremma region of Tuscany that the Mazzei family purchased in the 1990s. The wine is an unusual blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Syrah. The color was pale red with floral aromas and the palate offered red fruit flavors which were soft and succulent. It was medium bodied with a lasting impression of berries and flowers. The average price is $18.00. The dinner was delicious with the wine complementing every bite. http://www.mazzei.it/eng Happy Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina
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 Sunshine and warm temperatures…now that’s what I’m talking about! I feel inspired to fire up the grill later and open up one of the rosés chilling in my refrigerator. As I mentioned in my last post, while dining at The Continental in Naples, FL, we enjoyed a bottle of 2012 J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon from the Paso Robles region of CA. The composition is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. The color was bordering on royal purple with wonderful plum, dark fruit and floral aromas. The palate was richly layered with plum and dark berries that segued into hints of dark cocoa, oak and spices. It was full-bodied with a long smooth finish of berries lingering on the palate. I have tasted and reviewed many J. Lohr wines, but I think this is my favorite so far! http://www.jlohr.com  I’m off to embrace this beautiful day!
Happy Tuesday! Cheers! Penina The first time I visited Naples, located in Southwest Florida on the Gulf coast, was in the early 1970s. My impression was that it was nothing more than a sleepy “ho hum” city. I was living in Miami Beach at the time, which was way more exciting. Of course, back then South Beach was far from being the trendy place it is now.  Today, Naples is a vibrant, bustling hotspot filled with fabulous restaurants, wine bars, shopping enclaves and over 10 miles of pristine beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. There are more than 80 championship golf courses in the Naples area. Performing arts and cultural events abound, including professional regional Broadway productions and opera. Many bars and restaurants are located waterside and offer great views of the sunset while enjoying a cocktail. “Downtown” Naples is quite trendy while still maintaining an old world charm. Fifth Avenue South is Naples’ main street. It is lined with boutiques, restaurants, sidewalk cafes, galleries, hotels and ice cream shops that are nestled within historical landmarks and colorful buildings. It is a popular place for both tourists and residents. Third Street is another shopping area filled with restaurants, galleries and shops.  With only four days to explore Naples, my gracious host gave me illuminating tours while still allowing me time to rest and enjoy the beach. Vanderbilt Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Naples with white sand stretching for miles. It is within walking distance of several upscale hotels and restaurants. The Vanderbilt Beach Resort is home to the Turtle Club Restaurant. It offers indoor and outdoor dining with steps leading up to the restaurant from the beach. I enjoyed sitting outside and watching a beautiful sunset while sipping on a martini! Afterwards, we sat at the bar and dined on perfectly grilled lobster tails. Of course, if you’re lucky enough to get an outside table, there is nothing better than dining with your toes in the sand! http://www.windwardhospitality.com  Wine display at Avenue 5 While browsing Fifth Avenue South one afternoon, we stopped in at Avenue 5, an upscale restaurant, boasting a 7,000 square foot space. The wine display was dramatic and impressive as was the entire 240-seat restaurant. The menu was inviting and eclectic, but we had other destinations to get to. Before leaving though, we sidled up to the bar and enjoyed a refreshing glass of Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs. I will definitely dine here on my next trip to Naples. http://www.avenue5naples.com Dining at The Continental on Third Street South was exceptional. The ambiance was upbeat and the décor was whimsical. As with so many restaurants in Naples, it offered indoor and outdoor dining. We had a great table outside that gave us a wide view of all the comings and goings. Although this is a steakhouse inspired menu, there is a nice selection of daily catches from the sea. The steak menu is impressive and expensive, offering an unusual selection from American, Italian, Australian Wagyu and Japanese Wagyu beef. Everything we tasted was beyond divine. We drank 2012 J. Lohr Cabernet, a perfect choice with our meal, which I will review in my next post. http://www.continentalnaples.com  And, of course I couldn’t travel to Florida without having stoned crabs before I left! So, for my last night there we went to Real Seafood Co. located in North Naples. We sat at the bar and enjoyed a Grey Goose martini with blue cheese stuffed olives. I savored the stoned crabs which were sweet and fresh. We also shared a side dish of brussel sprouts grilled in balsamic and honey, which were amazing! http://realseafoodconaples.com I will have to make another trip back to Naples. There is still so much to explore. It was a sweet intermission from my daily routine!
Happy Sunday! Cheers! Penina  At the beginning of the week I met a friend for an “end of the day” drink. While he sampled various beers, I stuck with my tried and true vodka. As you might remember from previous posts, I am not a beer drinker. However, when the bartender poured us Keegan Ales Mothers Milk Stout for us to taste, I had to try it.  The dark brown color with a tan head reminded me of a root beer float. The aromas of chocolate and oats were very inviting. The palate offered chocolate, caramel and milk with a finish that was offset by a slight bitterness. All together, a nice blend of creamy flavors! The next time I get together with friends for beer, I know what I’m ordering! Keegan Ales was founded in 2003 and the brewery is located in Kingston, NY. Check out the website for more details. http://www.keeganales.com  I just landed in Naples, Fl. Check back soon for my travel adventures in this beautiful and bustling city. Happy Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina  My beautiful niece came to visit on Thursday. At the age of twenty, she has had more travel adventures than most of us achieve in a lifetime! She attended her first year of college in Florence, Italy with weekend trips all over Europe. The first half of her third year of college was spent in Paris. She plans on a 3-week excursion to Southeast Asia during her senior year and upon graduation, a month in Viet Nam. She has visited many museums, wineries and attended numerous cultural events throughout Europe. I asked her if she would please pack me in her suitcase next time she goes away! We shared many stories and got caught up on life while dining at an upbeat restaurant called Willy Nicks in Katonah, NY. Although the waiter kept calling us “girls” one too many times, the food was delicious! We dined on Sesame Tuna Crunch salad made with water chestnuts, carrots, pickled ginger, peppers and wakame with a chile-lime vinaigrette. The tuna was seared to perfection and every mouthful was a wonderful taste and texture sensation.   I enjoyed a glass of 2012 Rainstorm Pinot Noir from Oregon with the meal. The Pinot Noir grapes come from vineyards located in the Willamette and Umpqua Valleys. The Willamette Valley is situated in northern Oregon, which produces Pinot Noirs with more earthy tones and complexity. While the hotter and drier climate of Umpqua Valley located in southern Oregon produces a richer and fruitier flavor Pinot Noir. Rainstorm’s Pinot Noir is a 50/50 blend of these two wine regions. The color of the wine was soft ruby with subtle berry aromas. The palate had a fresh fruit feel, offering cherry, cranberry and a little spice. It was a little “chewy” with a warm finish. The label is a whimsical depiction of Portland showing salmon, coffee, guitars, clouds and wine grapes. http://pinotpassion.com This is going to be a whirlwind weekend. I’ll be back on Monday!
Happy Saturday! Cheers! Penina Sight, taste, smell, hearing and touch are the fundamental senses that allow us to experience and express our perception of the world around us. We rely on our sight, taste and smell to communicate impressions of wine and food. Donnafugata, a family owned winery situated in western Sicily, has taken the “sensorial experience” to a whole new level! On Wednesday, I had lunch with the delightful Josè Rallo, one of the family members of Donnafugata. I tasted elegant wines and learned all about this magical family and winery, as we dined on local, artisanal food in a private room at Black Barn Restaurant in NYC.   The Rallo family began their trek into the world of wine in 1851. In 1983, Josè’s parents, Giacomo and Gabriella created Donnafugata. The name means “woman in flight” and refers to a story from a piece of literature called “Il Gattopardo”. Most of the Donnafugata labels and names of wines, which are very whimsical, pay homage to various works of art and literature. In 1990, their children, Josè and Antonio joined them with Josè as head of management control & communication and Antonio as a dedicated agronomist, wine maker and head of the Consorzio Sicilia DOC. Together, the Rallo family has dedicated themselves to eco-sustainable management, biodiversity and paying special attention to their carbon footprint.  Credit: Fabio Gambina copyright of Donnafugata and the name of the photographer mentioned. Contessa Entellina, Donnafugata’s wine estate, is comprised of 667 acres and seven vineyards. They cultivate 17 varieties of grape, both indigenous varieties and Italian and international vine varieties. The Donnafugata vineyards are spread throughout 10 districts, each having uniqueness in soil, altitude, exposure and micro-climatic conditions. In addition, Donnafugata has a winery and vineyard on Pantelleria, a volcanic island situated between Africa and Sicily. Zibibbo (Moscato d’Alessandria) is the wine variety grown on their 168-acre vineyards, located in 12 different areas of the island. Some of the plants are more than 100 years old! The vines are cultivated by hand, planted in a basin and trained to grow low and horizontally. This system of planting allows the vines to withstand the wind on the island. The winery is located in the Khamma district of the island. Wines produced at Contessa Entellina and Pantelleria are brought to the Marsala Aging Winery, Donnafugata’s production facility, for refinement and bottling. And now, back to my lunch with Josè!  As we nibbled on appetizers, Josè introduced us to SurSur 2014, a 100% Grillo grape, that is an ancient indigenous variety from Sicily. The color was pale straw with lovely aromas of green apple, peach and grapefruit. The palate offered a perfect balance of citrus and floral. At an average price of $19.00, this is a great wine to keep stocked in the refrigerator, especially with the warmer months on the way. We continued to drink the SurSur as we ate a delicious Kale Salad. Josè, who is also an accomplished singer with a beautiful voice, sang us a song that she felt paired the wine with the music, giving us the ultimate “multi-sensory” experience! In fact, she sang a song with every wine poured, sending us on an incredible sensory journey each time.  Josè serenading us!  Before the main course arrived, a bottle of 2011 Tancredi Sicilia and 2010 Mille e Una Notte Sicilia were opened. The Tancredi is made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d’Avola. The aromas of dark fruit, light oak, spices and herbs gave way to earthy flavors, rich berries, licorice, spice and soft tannins. The average price of this wine is about $36.00. The Mille e Una Notte is made with Nero d’Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes. Deep red in color, the aromas were heady and intense with dark fruit and spices. The palate was layered with plum, cherry, pepper and a hint of cocoa. Soft tannins accompanied a long finish. This is one of Donnafugata's more expensive wines, with a price tag averaging around $60.00 a bottle, but well worth it!  As we got ready for dessert, a bottle of 2013 Ben Ryé was opened. It was exquisite! This naturally sweet wine is made with 100% Zibibbo grown on the island of Pantelleria. The color was brilliant amber with intoxicating aromas of apricot and floral that segued onto the palate and lingered. The wine was concentrated and intense, but beautifully balanced. Although I would have been quite happy drinking this as my “dessert”, it complemented the Chocolate Cremeux passion fruit gelee, nougaline. I found the average price to be around $45.00 a bottle.  Delicious wines! Donnafugata wine is distributed in 60 countries and can be found in most wine shops, online and in many restaurants. To learn more about this innovative winery, visit their website at: http://www.donnafugata.it/pagine/Homepage.aspx
Josè’s exuberance and passion for her wines, music and life was the sweet pearl that I took with me when I left. It was a very enjoyable afternoon! Cheers! Penina  It has been a mellow few days. I got together with a friend on Sunday for Mimosas and a fun afternoon, followed by a “catch up” glass of wine with a friend on Monday after work. And in between, I looked at all my yarns and neglected knitting projects that are now collecting dust. I really need to jump back on the knitting track!  It isn't just a pile of yarn. It's a pile of possibilities! I have no earth shattering wines or food to discuss today. However, I’m going into the city on Wednesday to have lunch with the wine producer of Donnafugata, wines of Sicily. I’m looking forward to writing about it and sharing my wine experience with you.  Have a great Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina  We have beautiful blue skies and temps in the mid 50’s degree range. I’m putting on my sunblock and heading outdoors! This is perfect weather for a long power walk.  Last evening I got together with a dear friend who was visiting from California. Perhaps he brought the sunshine and good weather with him! We ate at a local restaurant and dined on simple fare and drank a nice bottle of 2012 Frog’s Leap Zinfandel from Napa Valley. Blended with Petite Sirah and a little Carignan, this ruby colored wine had alluring aromas of raspberry, cherry and spices. The palate offered Bing cherry, mellow fruit and a complementary dryness that might have been produced with the Carignan. Tannins were tight, but softened as the wine opened. The finish was spicy with a tease of fennel. Delicious! http://www.frogsleap.com  We are a week away from the Oscars and parties are in the making. I must confess that I haven’t seen most of the nominated movies. I may sit this one out! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Happy Saturday! Cheers! Penina  It was a busy Wednesday and in between dealing with business, I was on a search for fresh escarole. None was to be found. It seems that due to the weird weather we’ve been experiencing, the winter crops are not fairing well and most markets aren’t selling escarole right now. I was hoping to put together a pasta dish of sautéed escarole, cannellini beans and shrimp. So, I improvised and used broccoli rabe, which actually ended up giving the dish a little more dimension. We started the meal with a small serving of Tomato Basil Bisque and homemade peasant bread.   Prior to serving the soup, I opened a bottle of 2010 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico. Instead of rich dark fruit aromas, there was an overwhelming mustiness that carried over to the palate. By the time we finished our soup, the wine had developed a small trace of cherry and plum on the palate with the mustiness still in the forefront. I was disappointed to say the least, but it was not worth waiting to see if the wine got any better. So we left “Italy” and traveled to “Spain” and opened a 2009 Bodegas San Prudencio Depadre Rioja. I reviewed this wine in June and it was even better than I remembered. My previous review: “The color was a dark Syrian amethyst with heady aromas of dark fruits and floral bouquet. Made from Tempranillo and Garnacha, this multi-layered wine exploded on the palate with blackberry, cherry, anise, espresso beans and a hint of vanilla. It was quite impressive with a long finish. This is a wine with a lot of character and depth.” And, it is a full-bodied wine with medium tannins. Alcohol: 13.5%. http://bodegasanprudencio.es  The wine paired well with the rest of the meal.  Happy Thursday!
Cheers! Penina  Between the downpour of rain and the howling winds yesterday, I fully expected to end up in the Land of Oz. But all is calm today and I have much to do. Last evening I had a quick drink with a friend. Straying from my usual “vodka neat”, I poured a shot of Grey Goose over ice with imported Spanish olives marinated with dry Vermouth. I then added a splash of the liquid that the olives were packed in. The drink was amazing and the olives were meaty and flavorful. I need to go out and buy a case of these olives! Check out Mezzetta products at: http://www.mezzetta.com  Have a peaceful Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina |
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