Category: Events

Snooth Selects: Summer 2014 Seminar Series for the Trade May 8, 2014

By Ronica Legette

image (6)In the stark whiteness of Studio 450 eight long tables for two have been set up with numbered placemats, each with nine glasses filled with various white and red wines. A small plate of hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting booklet completed the setting for this daylong event of tastings and seminar.

Hosted by Snooth’s Editor in Chief, Gregory Dal Piaz, only the wine connoisseurs’, bloggers, and writers have been invited to this rare event. Wines from Chile, Spain, and Loire Valley were represented in the 4 hour long seminar. Guest speakers held presentations on not only the history of the area of the wines being tasted that afternoon, but what made the wines unique to their region, from climate to the wine-making process.

The seminar began with Wines of Chile. Tastings of Chilean wines were interesting, both the whites and reds, they were some of the most creative out of all. From the Elqui Valley to the Andes Mountains, we were able to taste and learn how climate affected the wine making process and made these regional wines distinctive. Lots of spice, some more than others, along with the use of vegetables, like bell peppers made many of these wines a sensation on the taste buds. Personally, I found the red wines more to my liking than the white wines.

Some wines presented were the Mayu Carmenere-Syrah 2012, a lovely barbeque wine that is well-balanced. The young and light Casa Silva Cool Coast, Sauvignon Blanc 2012 and the Tectonia Bodega Valcnes de Chile Pinot Noir from Bio-Bio Valley which were both memorable. The most expensive of the wines at $55 was Colchagua Valley’s (Luis Felipe Edwards) LFE 900 Malbec 2010. Dark colored, full-bodied and spicy, it maintained a long finish.

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After a 30 minute break the next presentation was Spain, particularly the Ribera Del Duero area. Nearly nine wines, all tempranillos, were tasted. Each one was remarkably different from the next and all were great. This was my favorite presentation by prolific speaker Roger Kugler.

Vinedos y Bodegas Garcia Figuero, S.L., Figuero Roble 2012, is a perfect drinking wine. The Portia Crianza 2009 and O. Fournier, S.L. Alfa Spiga 2006, as well as the Trus Reserva 2006 and Vina Arnaiz S. A. Vina Arnaiz, were great wines and a must to try. One of the best was a Vina Mayor Reserva 2008. This award winning wine was rich and full-bodied with a clean finish, a perfect dinner wine.

Vouvray, Loire Valley Wines were presented after another short break. Unfortunately, these wines were quickly rushed through so as not to take away from the party that would be continuing from 5-8 pm. Mr. Dal Piaz himself presented these exclusive 100% Chenin Blanc wines. I particularly enjoyed the Louis Armond Vouvray 2011 and the Thierry “Tuffeau” Vouvray 2011 these were absolutely delicious. Served with an array of cheeses and fruits, each wine burst with flavor after some were eaten along with them.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TcS-8ufgrk0/U4YsWswIaeI/AAAAAAAAD6s/MqdpTiAL_Ew/s144-o/image%252520%2525281%252529.jpeg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/104976212412920751676/SnoothEvent2014#6018546720509028834″ caption=”Seminar” type=”image” alt=”image (1).jpeg” pe2_single_image_size_format=”C” pe2_single_image_size=”w150-h150-p” pe2_gal_order=”1″ ]

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The Champagnes, Foreau Vorvray Brut 2008 and Monmousseau “Ammonite” Vouvray 2012 were dry, very crisp, and after eating fruit, it was well balanced on the palate. Surprisingly, certified organic wine Francois Pinon Vouvray NV was presented. Darker than most of the Chenin Blancs it was equally on par with the previous wines offered.

After the seminar, we were directed to go downstairs to the Tasting party were not only the wines we had just tasted were available, but a few that we hadn’t. Again, hors d’oeuvres of lamb meatballs with an orange zest and red sauce, lightly spiced miniature empanadas and potatoes with a unexplainable sauce over it, as well as an herbed flat bread was provided. Various cheeses, dried and fresh fruits, and crackers were also available to eat along with the wines that were being served. Added to the tasting party were Empire New York and a couple of Hudson Valley wines.

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Snooth Wine Seminars/Tastings are fairly new and are sponsored by some of the wineries and only given once to twice a year with hopes of gaining more interest. The wines presented on this day were all very good and with a median of $20 to 25, the costliest wine being only $55 gives even the novice wine lover the ability to try a bottle or two. Each wine was chosen with care and I enjoyed not only the wines themselves, but the education that was presented by the speakers who were both passionate and informative.

To Learn more about Snooth go to www.snooth.com

Ronica Legette is an independent and a contributing writer for rayspicksnyc.com
Twitter: @RL_IRRomance

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Culinary Excellence inspired by The Cayman Islands, October 23, 2012

New York, Paris, Tuscany, and if Chef Niven Patel and the Board of Tourism of the Cayman Islands has anything to do with it, the Cayman Islands will soon be on your list of destinations for a one of a kind culinary experience! Last night I was invited to an event designed to do just that by my friend Kirsy Munoz, marketing manager of Snooth Media. Chef Patel of Brassiere restaurant of the Cayman Islands borrowed The Kitchen located on E. 44th St. to hold this spectacular event. Because of the open layout of the venue, my fellow food enthusiasts and I were able to witness, firsthand, Chef Patel’s masterful preparation of each course! Each course was inspired by Cayman Island cuisine while using ingredients readily found here in New York City and was paired with wine that was selected by Gregory Dal Piaz, editor and chief of Snooth Media.

Upon my arrival, I was greeted with a cocktail called the Seven Mile Mule which was made with the Cayman Island’s very own Seven Fhathoms premium rum, ginger ale and an orange slice garnished. The sweetness of the ginger ale and the rum was balanced by the zest of the orange. However, even without being incorporated into a cocktail, Seven Fhathoms is a very smooth rum. For now, the rum is only available in Chicago, but I am told it will be making its way to New York City in the very near future.

I started the dinner with a canapés of fluke credo, crispy chickpeas, seasoning pepper escabeche.I loved the freshness and the texture of the raw fish.There was just enough kick from the spices, but it was not overwhelming.The dish was paired with the Seven Mule drink I had previously,this was a good pairing.

The first course was fresh clams BLT, smoked bacon, heirloom tomatoes, charred ciabatta paired with Loimer- Lois GurnerVeltliner 2011. Because I do not eat pork,I had to remove the smoked bacon from the dish. As anyone who knows me knows, I am a sucker for any dish containing tomatoes.The sweetness of the tomato sauce, combined with the freshness of the clams was enhanced by the wine.

The second course was farmer’s salad, organic beets, goat cheese, red spinach, Cayman citrus vinaigrette paired with Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2010.Normally I am not a fan of goat cheese (mainly because of the smell),but the citrus vinaigrette balanced this out for me and I was able to enjoy the dish.

The third course was day boat striped bass, gnocchi, tat soi, Romano beans, Caribbean stone crab butter paired with Cloudy Bay Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010.This was my favorite dish of the meal. The striped bass was pan seared perfectly, it was very moist. The saltiness and butteriness of the crab butter was essential to tying this entire course together.The gnocchi added a starchy texture that brought the course full circle.I felt that the pairing of fish with Pinot Noir was a very gutsy move.I liked the oaky smell and flavor of the wine, but personally it did not work with the striped bass. But that’s just my personal taste.

The fourth course was thirty- eight day dry aged strip steak, squash, wild greens, mushrooms, scotch bonnet pepper jelly paired with Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno 2008.The beef was extremely flavorful, moist, and tender.The pureed squash and creamed mushrooms only added to this delicious cut of beef.

Dessert was Jonagold apple, almond strudel, coconut ice cream paired with Kracher Cuvee Beerenauslese 2009. I particularly enjoyed the pairing of the wine with this dessert. The wine was not too sweet, which was perfect because the dessert more than compensated for this.

It was a wonderful evening; Chef Patel’s dishes packed a lot of flavors. With the exception of the Pinot Noir paired with bass, the wines were excellently and properly paired with each of the dishes. This meal might just confirm what the event organizer has been saying all night long that “The Cayman Island is the culinary capital of the Caribbean”.

www.caymanislands.ky

www.snooth.com

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