Two very big words. Two enormous challenges. Integrity is all about moral and ethical standards that are upheld regardless of the challenges. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the word “integrity” has inside it the word “grit”. Integrity usually requires courage, even in the face of dire consequences. Integrity is that straightening of the spine and the confidence ... Read More »
My Wine Business class has ended, but it has sparked an ongoing curiosity about business decisions that are made regarding wine. Whereas before I could spend a good hour trolling the aisles of the local liquor store, looking at bottles and thinking about what I might like to serve with dinner that specific night, I can now spend an entire ... Read More »
… the number of cases of wine you usually get from a ton of grapes. My Wine Business class has ended, but I will remember 62, as well as numerous other interesting facts related to the business of putting that lovely liquid on the table to be shared with one or many. So many interesting things are percolating in the ... Read More »
While I would prefer to return to my ethnic roots and talk about Italian foods, instead it is time to return to the roots of this blog: wine. Vino. Nectar of the gods. SAUCED IN NEW YORK source code. I am taking an online course in Wine Business this month. I am a proud student of Sonoma State University! I can ... Read More »
The love affair continues. No, dear, I am not asking for a divorce. I am admitting, however, my ongoing and apparently lifelong love for Madrid. I was able to sneak in a one week visit to Madrid in May, accompanied by my undergraduate partners-in-crime, Nina and Charlie. I would venture a guess that they, too, continue to be enraptured by ... Read More »
Get your pen ready! Here come spectacular recommendations for small-vineyard Italian wines. You won’t hear about the big joints at all, but instead, the small players, the individuals who have passed down their love of grapes through generations. These are vintners interested in exploring and exploiting the possibilities in their vines, not glutting the market with “good enough”. I was ... Read More »
Who wouldn’t love this? Run away to New York City for the day: early train down, arriving just in time for a boutique Italian wine tasting, followed by the requisite walk through Times Square, a visit to the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station, and the evening train home. Time as a couple? Check! Seriously amazing wines? Check! Top it ... Read More »
Huh? Yes, gimbaled funiculars. Yes, bivalve players. A sequential thought process here, maybe a pedantic love of funny sounding words, and of course a reference to Spain, where I will be in 2 ½ weeks. Disclaimer: my sister in law served a “signature drink” at our recent American Easter/Greek Easter/Passover gathering. It was perfect for an afternoon sitting outside after ... Read More »
Neither overly technical nor horticulturally-centric, Jay McInerney’s The Juice: Venous Veritas is a collection of essays centered around the joys of drinking wine that even someone who is more likely to order a Guinness than an old-vine Grenache will enjoy. McInerney came to fame in the 80s with Bright Lights Big City, a novel that made him the un-official spokesperson of his generation, ... Read More »
Of all the bivalves out there (clams, scallops and mussels, to name a few), oysters are my favorite. In general, I prefer the briny East Coast varietals but on the other hand, the sweet Kumamotos from Pacific Northwest are equally delicious (albeit in a completely different way). I’ve had Normandy oysters in Paris for 1 euro (roughly a $1.40) that freaked ... Read More »
Sauced In New York Sometimes the food is in the sauce, sometimes we are