Archive for April, 2009

Go wild in NYC!

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

nycww_whiteNYC Wildflower Week, May 2-9

The 2nd annual NYC Wildflower Week celebrates all things green and wild in the Big Apple—the hundreds of native flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses that are found in the five boroughs. It gives New Yorkers numerous ways to connect with and be inspired by their local environment. Free activities throughout the city include: botanical walks, garden tours, ecology lectures, children’s events, planting opportunities, cooking classes, and food tastings at top restaurants. It is the largest celebration of National Wildflower Week, an initiative begun by Lady Bird Johnson, and hosted by the Torrey Botanical Society.

patti-jackson-small-with-borderChef Patti Jackson (left) is delighted to participate in NYC Wildflower Week. Her steadfast commitment to using the finest locally-grown produce and the choicest seasonal ingredients has helped make I Trulli and Centovini two of New York’s favorite restaurants in terms of freshness, quality and variety.

Click here for more information on NYC Wildflower Week and all related events.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjHWmWVnGkY]

Posted in I TRULLI, centovini, events, patti jackson | 2 Comments »

Lacrima di Morro d'Alba

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

An ancient variety and a great wine from Enzo Mecella, our man in Marche

Enzo Mecella photographed in his vineyard by Vino's Jim Hutchinson, April 2009.

Enzo Mecella photographed in his vineyard by Vino's Jim Hutchinson, April 2009.

If you’re looking for a sensational wine for Spring, a delicious value that is unusual without being strange, Lacrima di Morro d’Alba may be the one. Enzo Mecella, expert producer of Verdicchio, Sangiovese and Montepulciano has focused his talent on the little-known Lacrima and produced a world-class version at a very good price.

Lacrima is an ancient variety that finds its greatest expression around the village of Morro d’Alba in Ancona Province, Marche. (Not Alba, the famous Piemontese wine town 500km to the west.) It has vigorous floral and red-fruit aromas seasoned with earth and herbs and medium body with moderate acidity and mild tannins.

lacrima-enzo3The wine can be sipped on its own but it is at its versatile best with food. We have enjoyed Enzo’s Lacrima with a variety of dishes including Mozzarella di Bufala, smoked mussels, dosa (The Dosa Hut has re-opened right around the corner from Vino) and chicken liver pâté.

Lacrima di Morro d’Alba 2007 Enzo Mecella
was $21, now $18.90

Take 20% off a closed case!

For more information call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com.

Posted in VINO, featured producer, jim hutchinson, sale, weekly tasting | No Comments »

Brunch and lunch return to Centovini

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Daytime menus are back for Spring!

Centovini, now serving lunch and brunch!

Centovini, now serving lunch and brunch!

Spring is here, and to celebrate the arrival of warmer weather Centovini is delighted to announce the return of our lunch and brunch menus!

Chef Patti Jackson has created an exclusive daytime menu celebrating the season, giving her own contemporary spin to classic Italian dishes, made using the choicest specialties and freshest local ingredients.

Centovini will be open for lunch Tuesday-Friday (12-3pm) and serving weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Brunch is also available as an $18 prix-fixe.

You no longer have to wait until evening to enjoy a memorable experience at one of New York’s most unique restaurant spaces: Book your table today!

For further information and reservations call 212-219-2113
or email reservations@centovininyc.com.

Posted in centovini, italian food, news | No Comments »

I Trulli's garden is now open!

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Spring is here at last: celebrate with us in our lush back garden!

I Trulli's garden ranks as one of New York's favorite outdoor restaurant spaces.

The picturesque garden at I Trulli ranks as one of New York's favorite outdoor restaurant spaces.

The arrival of warmer weather means I Trulli can finally announce the reopening of our back garden! Since 1994, I Trulli has been recognized a favorite among New York diners not just for its delicious regional specialties and celebrated wine-list, but also for its unique garden, still one of Manhattan’s most secluded outdoor restaurant spaces.

For this year, our fifteenth anniversary, we are hosting a series of special garden events taking us from spring right through the summer. We hope you can join us this season in the garden for food, wine and more, in what we promise will be a true celebration of spring!

For further information and reservations please call 212-481-7372 or email info@itrulli.com.

Posted in I TRULLI, events, news | No Comments »

Emilia-Romagna: Italy's gastronomic heartland

Friday, April 24th, 2009

Discover the rich flavors and lively wines of a remarkable region with Jim Hutchinson, DWS

Vino is excited to present a brand new addition to its class schedule, in which our very own Jim Hutchinson invites you to explore the hearty foods and delicious wines of Emilia-Romagna.

Comprising two historic regions, Emilia and Romagna, the unified Emilia-Romagna benefits from a unique geographical position, acting as a sort of keystone state between Central and Northern Italy, and stretching the peninsula from the Adriatic coast to Liguria. The region’s most famous towns lie centrally: Parma, Reggio-Emilia, Modena and Bologna, each of which is synonymous with some of Italy’s favorite and most heavily exported food products.

emilia-class-banner

Lambrusco, Parmigiano Reggiano and prosciutto crudo... just some of the flavors we'll be sampling on Wednesday, April 29.

In an exclusive tasting, class participants will sample some of the cuisine which defines the region, such as prosciutto, parmigiano-reggiano, egg pasta and aceto balsamico. These will be paired with expertly selected wines including the sparkling Lambrusco, plus Sangiovese di Romagna and wines from the Colli Piacentini.

EMILIA-ROMAGNA: Italy’s
Gastronomic Heartland
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS
Wednesday, April 29
6:30-8:30pm
$65

For more information and reservations call 212-725-6516 or email register@vinosite.com.

Vino’s full Spring 2009 Class Schedule is available on our website, vinosite.com.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Wedded to wine

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Filena Ruppi’s Aglianico rivals those of her famous winemaking husband

Regular subscribers to this email are probably familiar with Vino’s range of wines by esteemed Basilicata winemaker and Aglianico specialist, Donato D’Angelo. But not many people know that Donato is not the only member of the D’Angelo household producing wines from this famous southern grape. Filena Ruppi (right), wife of Donato, also makes excellent Aglianico-based wines under the name Tenuta del Portale. Of these, the top-of-the-line Pian del Carro is undoubtedly the star.

The term pian del carro refers to the flats of a cart or wagon, and is also the name of the vineyard where the grapes are grown for Filena’s top Aglianico. She uses gentle oak aging to tame the deep tannins of the grapes, which is grown at one of the highest vineyards in the Aglianico del Vulture DOC appellation. Aggressive pruning results in extremely low yields for a wine which is sure to be long-lived. Filena estimates the wine will reach its peak in roughly fifteen years, but at Vino we’re just as happy to taste it this week!

pian-del-carro-blogYou can try Pian del Carro and other Aglianico wines at Vino this Friday, April 24, from 5:30pm!

Pian del Carro 2004 Tenuta del Portale
was $35, now $31.50

Save 20% on a closed case!

For more information call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com.

Posted in VINO, featured producer, sale, weekly tasting | No Comments »

On the road again

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Vino revs up its engines to take you on a tasting trip through Italy’s southern wine country

Vino’s Spring wine classes continue this Wednesday, April 22 with On The A16: Naples to Bari, a virtual tasting trip taking you on a wine journey through Italy’s south, along the A16 highway. Often referred to as the “autostrada dei due mari“, the A16 runs almost coast-to-coast across the width of the peninsula, from the bay of Naples to the Adriatic, up over the spine of the Appenines and finishing in the town of Canosa in the province of Bari.

This famous highway cuts deep through wine country, roughly following the ancient Via Traiana across highlands of limestone and volcanic ash. Vino’s Jim Hutchinson, DWS, will be behind the wheel to guide you through this tasting tour. Passengers will stop to sample some of southern Italy’s most celebrated grape varieties, including Falanghina, Fiano, Aglianico, Primitivo and Nero di Troia.

All roads lead to Vino.

You too can get your motor running for just $65 (price includes tolls and gas) and enjoy great southern Italian wines along the way. Class will begin promptly at 6:30pm. For more information and reservations call 212-725-6516 or email register@vinosite.com. Our full Spring class schedule is available on our website.

Posted in VINO, class, travels in italy | No Comments »

Cool for Spring: Northern Whites

Friday, April 17th, 2009

Celebrate the warm weather with these cool wines

The spectacular serene landscape around Lake Caldaro provides a perfect backdrop for Castel Sallegg's growing sites.

The serene landscape around Lake Caldaro provides a spectacular backdrop for Castel Sallegg's growing sites.

Vino’s spring selections continue today with a free tasting to help you enjoy the warmer season. If like us you crave something chilled and refreshing on a warm afternoon, look no further than Northern Italy, an area unparalleled for the quality, diversity, innovation and affordability of its famous white wines. Today we present three of our very best Northern whites from three unique producers. Come in and taste all three from 5:30pm on this Spring afternoon and save 10% (15% off a closed case)!

Malvasia 2007 Ronco dei Tassi
was $24, now $21.60
Though perhaps more famous as a sweet wine, the Malvasia variety is traditionally vinified as a dry white in Friuli, where famed Friulian winemaker Fabio Coser’s traditional approach and careful fruit selection result in a superior expression of the grape.

Pinot Bianco 2007 Castel Sallegg
was $19, now $17.10
Castel Sallegg’s crisp, balanced, mineral-driven Pinot Bianco benefits from the sandy, pebbly lime subsoil on the slopes that surround Lake Caldaro, an ideal growing site for a great food-friendly wine.

Chiavennasca 2007 Conti Sertoli Salis
was $21, now $18.90
Chiavennasca is the local name for a clone of Nebbiolo grown almost exclusively in Lombardy, where wines vinified “in bianco” have been made for centuries. Conti Sertoli Salis continue this tradition with a wine which retains all the nobility of its famous variety while remaining fresh and clean on the palate.

For more information call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com.

Posted in VINO, sale, weekly tasting | No Comments »

Learning to crawl

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Vino takes part in ETM Wine Tasting Crawl

This Saturday, April 18, Vino is participating in a Wine Tasting Crawl of Union Sqaure! Organized by Education Through Music (ETM), 100% of the proceeds raised will go directly to ETM’s music education programming in inner-city schools.The Wine Crawl will begin at Vino at 3pm, before meandering down to other fine Manhattan wine stores Union Square Wines, Bottle Rocket, Moore Brothers and concluding at Chelsea Wine Bar Flute, where complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will await lucky crawlers!

We look forward to seeing you at Vino on Saturday! Advanced tickets cost $20 ($25 at the door). For more information call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com.

Posted in VINO, events | No Comments »

The best of Barbera

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Taste two of our favorite Easter wines and save 20%!

For most Italians, the weekend of Pasqua, including Pasquetta (Easter Monday, literally “little Easter”) means a chance to gather as a family and indulge in some of the year’s most enjoyable meals. Epic family feasts require wines which can stand up to diverse dishes, such as a special homemade pasta perhaps followed by deliciously succulent roast lamb. Less austere than certain other wines from the Langhe, Barbera from both Alba and Asti is recognized as a popular classic among the people of Piedmont and beyond.

Cascina Castlèt's vineyard staff take a break from their hardwork. The winery is located in Costigliole d'Asti.

Cascina Castlèt's vineyard staff take a break from their hardwork. The winery is located in Costigliole d'Asti.

In keeping with Cascina Castlèt’s whimsical winemaking aesthetic, Mariuccia Borio’s Barbera d’Asti is a partial passito, hence the name Passum. Borio considers her flagship wine to be the truest representation of the company’s philosophy, whereby age-old traditions are given an unexpected and thoroughly modern twist.

famiglia_deltetto-blog

Antonio Deltetto and his family pose in the vineyard. The winery was founded in 1953 by Antonio's father, Carlo (seated with hat).

One of Barbera d’Alba’s top crus, the Rocca delle Marasche vineyard is found in a prime position in Castellinaldo (Cuneo), where Antonio Deltetto strictly limits his yields thus allowing remaining grapes to over-mature. Deltetto then employs new French oak to produce a startlingly rich, international-style Barbera d’Alba. The 2004 vintage is a recipient of the Cinque Grappoli and Tre Bicchieri awards.

barbera-tastingBarbera d’Asti Passum 2005 Cascina Castlèt
was $47, now $37.60

Barbera d’Alba Rocche delle Marasche 2004 Deltetto
was $52, now $41.60

For more information call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com.

Free tasting this afternoon!
Vino will be pouring these two great wines this afternoon from 5:30pm!

Posted in VINO, featured producer, holidays, sale, weekly tasting | 2 Comments »

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