What we’re about
We are a Wine and Dine Group! We share some good (sometimes Great!) bottles of wine over food and conversation.
A few times per month, we have small group dinners, either 6, 8 or 10 people at each event. The group organizers will host dinners on both weeknights and weekends. The organizer will supply 4 bottles of wine for 6 person dinners, 5 bottles of wine for 8 person dinners, and 6 bottles of wine for 10 person dinners. Most of the time, the wines will come from the event organizer's personal collection.
The cost of each event will be for an individual's share of the wine and in some cases the wine corkage charge of the restaurant. Dinner is not included and must be paid for at the event.
To attend an event, the wine payment must be made in advance, and reservations are on a first come, first serve basis. Once you pay, refunds or credits are only available if you cancel AND your spot gets filled by someone else. All refunds are subject to a cancellation fee from $3 to $5, depending on the cost of the event. There is no refund or credit for no-shows.
No other outside wine will be permitted, unless prior arrangements have been made with the host, but attendees may order wine or spirits from the restaurant, at their own expense. Attendees are expected to order at least an entree and one other item from the menu, either an appetizer, a side dish or a dessert.
Along with the wine charge, everyone will be expected/required to pay for their own meal, along with a 33% charge for tax and tip.
We will be dining at restaurants that we have established relationships with, where we can bring our own wine for us to enjoy. Corkage varies from restaurant to restaurant, from Zero to $25 per bottle.
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PROFILE PICTURE WHERE I CAN SEE YOUR FACE, YOU WILL BE REJECTED FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THIS GROUP.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Monday Night at ABAABA Istanbul Café, New York, NY$24.00
It is the day after Mother's Day. Would you like/Do you need to spend the day after with your wine friends? Please join me at this 8-person dinner with one white wine and four red wines. We will be dining at group favorite ABA Turkish Restaurant.
The cost for this event is $24, and it is for the wine only.
PLUS a reminder of our usual rules:
You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). Please order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and either appetizer or dessert) for your dinner. There are very few restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine for a low corkage fee. We must be good guests to encourage the restaurant to continue to be generous to us.
Please read and understand the group's cancellation policy. If you take spot, then cancel, and no one else takes the spot, you will not receive a refund or credit. No refunds or credits will be given for no-shows or late cancellations (unless someone else takes your spot). All cancellations are subject to a $5 service fee.
Here is a link to the menu....
ABA TURKISH RESTAURANT MENUNOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that is above and in addition to the listed price of the event. It comes to approximately $3 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your rsvp and pay for the event. MEETUP+ members are exempt from this charge.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner)
2023 Bodegas Avancia Godello Old Vines ($30) - We always seem to like this wine! Notes of green orchard fruit, some lime, juicy palate, white floral note, orange zest on the finish. An excellent way to start the evening!
2022 Domaine Richard Rottiers Moulin-à-Vent Dernier Souffle ($29) - CT 91.5, I love Beaujolais! And the Moulin-a-Vent AVA is (IMHO) the biggest of the Beaujolais, so let's enjoy this one! It comes from a parcel just behind a cemetary. It has vivacious red cherry and cranberry scents on the nose, hints of cassis just in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine line of acidity, fresh and saline with a brisk, graphite-tinged finish."
2020 Luis Marín Cariñena Gabarda Excelsis ($18) - Another one of those wines from Garagiste that I took a flyer on..Here is what they had to say, "From old-vine Grenache (vines up to 90 years of age), this is a Monday/Tuesday night wine of high regard that is, well, a terrific drink! It’s not Clos Erasmus but it’s really quite good and memorable – you want to go back to it as the night passes by and it opens and deepens with oxygen contact as the flavors fill in. Gabarda means “roses” in the local dialect and little tinges of rose petal can be found in today’s subject, aptly named “Gabarda”...
Gismondi: “The Ignacio Marin family have deep roots in the Carinena region, with a winemaking heritage stretching back centuries. This (Gabarda) cuvée sources old garnacha vines from 600m, and aged at least 3 months in French oak. Plumped blackberry, plum, black raspberry roll along the medium bodied palate, lit with a stony acidity, and framed with cushy tannins. At 13.5%, this is charming and drinkable now, ideally with roast lamb / pork dishes. 89pts”
2015 Domaine Durieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Lucile Avril ($30) - CT 91.1, JD 94+ points, "the 2015 Châteauneuf Du Pape Lucile Avril reveals a ruby/plum hue as well as lots of peppery garrigue, sandalwood, beef broth, and ripe, darker berry fruits. With medium to full-bodied richness, it has building yet polished tannins, wonderful purity of fruit, and a great finish. It has the balance and elegance to drink nicely today yet is still in the early stages of its drink window, with another 10-12 years of prime drinking ahead of it. (Drink between 2021-2033)"
2019 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Lower East ($40) - A WA State Cabernet, WA 90+ points, "Made with splashes of Merlot and Petit Verdot, the 2019 Lower East Cabernet Sauvignon is succulent and red-berried with floral and spicy elements that waft from the fresh and open nose. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is focused, mineral-tensioned and balanced with a soft tannic edge and ends with a food-friendly finish. Aged 18 months in 28% new French oak, this fantastic wine will be released in early 2024. This is impressive and complex, punching well above its weight class."
- The Northern RhoneAkdeniz, Manhattan, NY$49.00
Indoor tennis season is over! Which means I can schedule a Thursday night dinner! So join me for this 8 person dinner at which I'll feature wines from the Northern Rhone of France. There will be 1 white wine and 4 red wines at this 8 person dinner.
We will be dining at Akdeniz, a favorite Turkish restaurant in Midtown West.
Here is a link to their menu
Just a reminder of our usual rules:
The cost of this event is $49 and is for the wines and corkage. You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). Please order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and appetizer ). There are very few restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine for a low corkage.
NOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that is above and in addition to the listed price of the event. It is annoying and confusing, but there is nothing I can do about it. It comes to approximately $4 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your rsvp and pay for the event. MEETUP+ members are exempt from this charge.
Please read and understand the group's cancellation policy. If you take spot, then cancel, and no one else takes the spot, you will not receive a refund or credit. No refunds or credits will be given for no-shows or late cancellations (unless someone else takes your spot). All cancellations are subject to a $5 service fee.
Lastly: NO DRINKING AND DRIVING
The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):
2022 Cédric Parpette Côtes du Rhône Blanc Berthelon ($29) - From the importer, "..As an everyday Viognier, like everything Cédric ever made, impossible to beat for the money......get what you can, and thank me later."
2021 Côte Rôtie Les Schistes ($73) - 4 Stars John Livingstone Learmonth, "pure red robe; the nose has a gentle blackberry, cassis leaf aroma, a note of toffee. The palate is uber pure, crystalline red fruit present, is cool throughout, gathers a little extra form and weight towards the finish, the close on powder touches. Rose-violet, light graphite appear on the aftertaste; this is joli. From 2025. "
2018 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Roure ($50) - CT 91.3, JD 94 points, "Lots of blackberry and black cherry fruits, peppery herbs, truffly earth, and chocolate notes emerge from the 2018 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine De Roure. This medium to full-bodied, rich, nicely concentrated red has ripe tannins, a terrific, balanced, layered texture, and a great finish. It's a classic, impeccably made Syrah that can be drunk today or cellaring for 10-15 years. I'd put it up with some of the top Crozes in the vintage. (Drink between 2020-2035)"
2020 Alain Voge Cornas Les Chailles ($50) - CT 90.8, JD 92 points, "Looking first at the 2020 Cornas Les Chailles, which is the younger vine cuvée of the domaine, it sports a healthy purple hue to go with meaty, slightly reductive notes of ripe black and blue fruits, lavender, rose petal, and black pepper. It's medium to full-bodied, has a round, lush mouthfeel, good purity, and a great finish."
2019 Martinelli Syrah Vellutini Ranch ($80) - I JUST had to throw in a CA Syrah! CT 92.3. For some reason the Wine Advocate DIDN'T review the 2019...But they reviewed every year from 2015 to 2021 of this cuvee and scored each vintage between 93+ and 97 points. So I'm confident we will enjoy this. Here is the 2020 95 point review, "The 2020 Syrah Vellutini Ranch has a dense core of blackcurrant fruit, which relaxes after a few minutes in the glass to notes of allspice, chargrill, menthol, blueberry and chocolate. The full-bodied palate is chalky and surprisingly fresh, with youthfully coiled fruit and a long, floral finish. Give it some time in a decanter, and drink it over the next 3-5 years."
- Vinous Icons: Italy 2025 - Walk-around TastingHall Des Lumieres , New York , NY
****THIS IS NOT A DINNER EVENT****
The first edition of Vinous Icons: Italy is coming to NYC from May 14-17th. Here is the full list of estates participating (still evolving), as well as tastings, seminars, etc.
We will be attending the Icons Tasting - Day Two event on May 17 (Sat) 230pm.
How to Buy Tickets
Early bird tickets just went on sale! The link is here - BUY TICKETS.
Obligatory disclaimer - I will make exactly ZERO from your purchase.
Buy your ticket, and then RSVP on Meetup. (Do not RSVP without buying a ticket, what's the point??)A> For the general public, the early bird price (only up to March 31st) is about $139++ ($120 + sales tax + $8.48 fee).
B> If you are 35 yrs old and below, the ticket price is only $59 ($50 + sales tax + $4.29 fee). Sorry, no senior citizen discount!
C> If you are a Capital One credit card holder and want to save $39
Buy the tickets from the Capital One Entertainment link. You need to login to your account.
The cost is a flat $100. No sales tax nor fees. Or you can use miles at a slightly unfavorable cpp.
I suggest using part of your savings to buy me some canned wine. Even cheap lambrusco will do.
How to Meet at the Event
I will give my mobile to people who RSVP. Only if you want to meet up.
