WINES OF ARGENTINA Tasting

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On October 2, 2013, Wines of Argentina arranged for a wine tasting at '3West Club'.

Wines of Argentina (WofA) is the organization that, since 1993, promotes the Argentine wine brand and image worldwide, spreading knowledge of the winemaking regions of Argentina. In addition, WofA contributes to direct the country's export strategy by studying and analyzing changing trends in consumer markets.

SLOW WINE/VINITALY: Italian Wines Tasting

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On February 3rd, SLOW WINE/VINITALY launched the new 3rd edition of the Slow wine guide at the Metropolitan Pavilion.

It was a big deal, with the largest gathering I've witnessed in any of the countless wine tastings I've covered for NYC Culture/Style blog so far. More than 110 wineries plus local importers were present during the walk around tasting session to offer importers, distributors and journalists the opportunity to spend a pleasant afternoon conducting business, exchanging views and tasting fine Italian wines.

SAKE IN THE CITY II: Wine and Wagyu Beef Tasting

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On October 28, 2013 at the event space '404', JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization of New York, presented "Sake and the City II" — Discover Japanese Wagyu.

JETRO, a Japanese government organization that promotes mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world, brought experts in the Wagyu beef industry and also sake distributors to present seminars and tastings.

In one of the seminars, Yosuke Yamaguchi of ZEN-NOH described Japanese Wagyu. A specialist in horticulture and livestock general planning, Yamaguchi establishes relationships with restaurants, retailers, promoting sales of ZEN-NOH meats to the US, .

Distributors poured a variety of sake, some of which are not available in New York. Several of the choices complement Wagyu.

NATIONAL GOURMET INSTITUTE Open House

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Because Good Eats is very much a part of New York's cultural life—I will say it seconds in importance, quality and variety only New Orleans'—I decided t would be an enlightening experience for me to attend the open house The National Gourmet Institute had on April 9th at their school in Chelsea.

2011 VINTAGE PORT DECLARATION

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Croft (founded in 1588), Taylor Fladgate (1692), and Fonseca (1815), three family owned and managed Port houses that grouped themselves as The Fladgate Partnership, have declared 2011 a Vintage Port year for all three houses.

The Fladgate Partnership's CEO Adrian Bridge, says "2011 produced textbook Vintage Ports, classics in every sense." This was due to the fact that the winter preceding 2011 was wetter and colder than the 30 year average.

So, on June 6, The Fladgate Partnership celebrated such a fortunate occasion with a Port wine tasting, to the great delight of wine lovers in New York.

Christian Seely, Managing Director of AXA Millésimes, with Christine Deussen, President of
Deussen Global Communications, CEO of The Fladgate Partnership Adrian Bridge,
and Winemaker David Bruce Fonseca Guimaraens

LIONS BLESS TEA HOUSE

reporter: Miguel Dominguez  text: Wikipedia

On June 16, in the new Chinatown of New York, located all the way to the Queens terminal of the "7" subway in Flushing, the luxurious tea house 718 Lounge had it's grand opening in the traditional Chinese way, with Lion Dancers announcing to the whole neighborhood the festive occasion, and then going through every corner of the establishment, blessing the premises.

SPLITBIN / ARTISANAL PREMIUM CHEESE Promo Party

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Joern Tittel, CSO at Splitbin with CEO Chris Fava. At the other end of the table, CMO Todd McCarthy.

Splitbin, in conjunction with Artisanal Premium Cheese, offered a wine and cheese tasting party on July 18 at a 30th floor suite right across Broadway from the historic landmark, the Flatiron Building. The view was spectacular, and fittingly so, in order to keep up with the quality fare these two companies were offering.

Gary J. Allen, Business Developer at Artisanal Cheese with
Director of E-commerce Judy Reiley
and Joern Tittel, who is also sales director at Artisanal Cheese

BURGUNDY WINE WEEK 2013 Tasting Celebration

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Gabriella Fine Wines arranged on May 20th for Orsay Restaurant to be the place to go for the very privileged members of the wine trade and press, who were ever so lucky to taste a smallish, but superb selection of wines from the Burgundy region of France. The owners of many prestigious Burgundy wineries were sampling more than 35 wines from estates including Domaine Sylvain Loichet, Domaine Des Remparts, Domaine Fourrey, Domaine des Trois Tilleuls, Seigneurie De Posanges, Domaine Naudin, Varrault Maison, Veuve Ambal and Miss Vicky Wine.

ALTO ADIGE WINES Grand Tasting

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On April 25 at the Metropolitan Pavilion, The wineries of Alto Adige invited members of the trade and press to taste Italian wines at their peak.

Alto Adige, also known as Südtirol due to its bicultural Italian and Austrian heritage, is acknowledged by sommeliers the world over for wines of impeccable quality and value. About a third of the size of Napa Valley, Alto Adige is a small wine growing region that accounts for just 1% of Italy’s total production. 98% of wines produced in Alto Adige are DOC [Denominazione di Origine Controllata, meaning “controlled designation of origin”] status wines. A plethora of grapes are grown here, including Pinot Bianco [Pinot Blanc], Pinot Grigio and Gewürztraminer, and Lagrein, Pinot Nero [Pinot Noir] and Schiava, to name but a few. The white wines are bright, mineral and crisp, while the reds can be complex with supple tannins

SPRING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: Executive Chef Chris Coleman's Feast

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

May 10, Petaluma Restaurant — Influenced by Top Chef Ross Siragusa and chef Cecilio Matos, Executive Chef Chris Coleman served a dazzling array of Spring Mediterranean dishes for a party of Journalists, an International Designer, a Director and a Supermodel as part of a warm up in preparation for his new television show and book in development.

SAKE AND THE CITY - Japanese Rice Wine Tasting Celebration

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On February 12 at the Astor Center, In order to increase awareness of Japanese Sake in the US, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) hosted "Sake and the City," a sake tasting event featuring select sake producers from Japan. This event offered American trade and press an opportunity to discover various sake producers and develop their knowledge of the Japanese beverage.

VINA CROATIA Wine Tasting

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

At the Astor Center on January 7, Vina Croatia, had its second annual presentation to members of the wine trade and press of over 100 Croatian wines available for tasting, some of which have never been sold in the US, .

GRUPO MATARROMERA: A Taste of Spain

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Carlos Moro, President and CEO of Grupo Matarromera
gleefully displays a bottle of Prestigio, his premier red wine

On March 13,  Grupo Matarromera had a wine tasting at the Gabarrón Foundation.

Group Matarromera is the only group present in the four Destinations of Origin surrounded by the Duero River: Ribera del Duero, Cigales, Toro and Rueda.

WINES of PORTUGAL Wine Tasting

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Master Sommelier Fred Dexheimer

On March 5, 2013, I had the privilege of tasting wines presented by more than 35 producers from Portugal who are seeking importers and/or distributors in the U.S.

The event was arranged by Full Circle Wine Solutions, a wine and spirits education firm that grows brand loyalty and client profits through tailored wine programs and effective hospitality training. Their invitation provided a great opportunity to learn more about the exciting wines coming from this unique Iberian nation. The list of participating producers is included below.