Trip to Chicago

I just returned from a week of work in the great city of Chicago.  For those of you who don't know, we have two restaurants there, Blue Water Grill Chicago and David Burke's Primehouse in the James Hotel. 

I always have a great time working at our restaurants and I have the pleasure of traveling out there about every 2 months. Normally I just taste new wines with suppliers, update the wine lists, change the cocktails and work with the management and service staff. On this trip we also added two new cocktails to Blue Water Grill's menu that are amazing.  The "Adriatic" which is a blend of 10 Cane Rum, Lazzaroni Amaretto and White Peach Puree and The "Carefree" which is Plymouth Gin, Pama Liquor, Moscato d'Asti and Grapefruit Juice. 

I also made some time for fun on Saturday at the lake which is about a 5 minute car ride from the downtown area.  It's really cool to see the city skyline from a boat. My friends and I spent the afternoon at this place the locals call the "playpen" drinking sake, Japanese beer and playing music. 

While I normally don't like beer, Kiuchi Hitachino Nest, is my favorite and tastes  great with Sake. I really love the red rice, weizen and white ale.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Kiuchi Brewery Japan

Books and Vegas

Much has happened since the last time I have posted . . .

I finished my wine science book and was so enthralled by it that I started reading a generic science book that I received as a birthday gift from my great friend, Eben. This book is titled"The Canon" by Nathalie Angier. It's intent is to take the reader on a tour of the beauties of the basic science principals and although I have only finished Chapter 2, "Probabilities" I highly recommend it.

Who says what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? About 2 weeks ago I traveled there for work and I'll tell you all about it. We are in the process of building a Dos Caminos restaurant at the Palazzo in the Venetian Hotel. It is being designed by David Rockwell and has a 500 seat capacity and a 50 foot bar. I was so impressed with what they have come up with so far - the restaurant is going to be beautiful. I also had some fun, which included lunch at the Veranda at the Four Seasons (my favorite, hidden spot), dinner at Social House (very good pan-Asian inspired food), dinner at B&B (feels like Babbo in NYC), and the best Cesar Salad in Las Vegas at our very own Fiamma (in the MGM Grand).

Lastly, I have finally closed on my new apartment in Hoboken and am getting ready for my move this weekend.  I am so excited and can't wait to do what every new home owner should do on their first night in their new apartment: sleep on their air mattress and order in pizza while drinking Chianti out of plastic cups . . .

Riedels, my new bed and a trip to the supermarket will hopefully be my projects for next week.

Trip to Greece

"Greece is the Word"

Oh Greece. How could I not love you with your black sand beaches, whitewashed houses, mountainside monasteries, olive groves, and picturesque vineyards? Ever since my trip this month to Greece (hence the little hiatus in my blog entries), I have been dying to tell my readers how incredible the wines from Greece are.

We start our trip (myself and 4 other sommeliers) with a flight into Athens. After a leisurely lunch of whole roasted fish, tomato and feta salad, and grilled octopus we fly off to the island of Santorini.

Our first vineyard tour with Domaine Sigales winery is on the plain of Oia. We learn that the whole island was once covered with lush vineyards, but due to volcanic eruptions most of the vineyards disappeared and were never replanted. The vines on the winery we visit are shaped into baskets which are called "ampelies" to prevent the grapes from being bruised by the winds. Paris Sigales, winemaker and owner, gives us a tour of the land via pick-up truck and we gaze in awe at the gorgeous sunset on the blue Aegean Sea creating a romatic backdrop to the local grapes of Assyrtiko, Athiri, Aidani and Mavrotragano (which later becomes my nickname, long story). I just can't get enough of the 2003 barrel-fermented white blend of Assyrtiko and Athiri and even managed to smuggle a bottle with me in my already-overflowing suitcase. Shh!

Our journey then took us back to Athens where Ted Diamantis, our host and Greek wine expert, rents a car and drives us North to the mountains. En route to our next vineyard, we make the obligatory food stop and enjoy spit-roasted meats and our always satisfying Greek salad. Did I mention I love Greek food?

In the remote town of Amydeon we have the pleasure to meet Bordeaux-trained winemaker, Angelo Iatrdis, at the Alpha Estate. His passion for making wine from international and local grape varietals shows in the quality of the wine. The sauvignon blanc tastes like a cross between the best New Zealand and Loire Valley wines from the same grape. The popular red blend of Syrah, Merlot and Xinomavro is a crowd favorite amongst our group, proving how Angelo's work in the vineyards and innovative winemaking philosophy really makes a difference.

Our last visit to the ancient town of Nafplion in the Peloponnese region of the southern island is to visit Domaine Skouras. The owner, George Skouras, has been enthusiastically helping to promote Greece and her wines for the past 15 years and is one of the most charming winemakers I have ever met. His vineyards of the local grape Agiorghitiko (a.k.a St. George for those of you who really aren't interested in the local pronunciation) are perched on top of a beautiful hill in one of the most important Greek regions, Nemea. George's luxury-cuvee "Megas Oenos" is a blend of Cabernet and St. George and tasting the different wine vintages (dating back to the 1990's) will prove to even the most undiscerning palate that his wines develop and evolve with age. The Shouras Moschofilero pairs wonderfully with the local fresh seafood and after 5 bottles, it's hard not to chant "Mosco, Mosco" after every meal!

Olivia Newton-John, eat your heart out. Better yet, drink your heart out.
Greece - you're the one that I want.

Summertime

I guess you can say I am a little behind with my summertime activities. While everyone else is preparing to close up their beach house in the Hamptons and get the kids back in school mode, I am only now making my first trips out East and starting what will end up being a bi-weekly trip to the Hamptons.

Why am I going now? I wish I could say to catch a late summer tan. Instead, I am going to learn the inner workings of winemaking and figured that instead of traveling to California I could learn close to home. In addition the quality, value and diversity of Long Island wines attracts me immensely.

This past weekend I spent time in both winemaking subzones, the North Fork and the Hamptons and after tasting over 50 different wines I came to the conclusion that Long Island wine is THE thing, baby (read: emerging fine wine region).

While all the wine I tasted was good, I did have some favorites. At Lieb Cellars in the North Fork, the Pinot Blanc was refreshingly oak starved with hints of golden apples and pears. At Wolffer Estate in Bridgehampton (my future winemaking internship) the Estate Chardonnay was as buttery as movie popcorn and had rich vanilla on the finish and the Cabernet Franc remains in my memory for its perfect herbal notes and fall wine drinking ability.

Don't buy into the myth that all great wines need to come from overseas or California. I highly recommend giving these and all Long Island wines a chance. Start with the Lieb Pinot Blanc, offered at Blue Water Grill by the glass, and you'll be kissing your California dreaming goodbye in no time.