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- Galician Wine beyond AlbarinoEl Pote Español, New York, NY$34.00
After bingeing on albarino a couple of weeks ago, now we turn our attention to the other grapes/regions of Galicia. While they have not yet reached the same level of commercial success, they are no less delicious and worthy of your attention.
Godello, a white grape often likened to chardonnay, has been featured in many of Stephen's events, Treixadura is less readily available in the USA, but I have always enjoyed this one that we're having.
The red varieties are also relatively obscure except for Mencia, which produces medium bodied reds and is popular in neighboring Bierzo. So I'm eager to present the espadeiro/caino blend and the brancellao.
We will be dining at El Pote Espanol, a Spanish restaurant that has been a mainstay in Midtown East, and where the group has dined on a number of occasions.
Here is their menu:
Menu for El Pote Espanol** The cost of this event is $34 and is for the cost of the wines and corkage.
You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). AND order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and either appetizer or dessert) for your dinner. Our discounted corkage fee is based on EVERYONE ordering two courses.
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 $10 service fee.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
Whites
2023 Coto de Gomariz 'La Flor y la Abeja'
Grape - treixadura; Appellation - DO RibeiroIn Ribeiro (Galicia's oldest wine appellation), treixadura reigns supreme. It is a characterful yet aromatically subtle variety, typically displaying notes of honey, a nicely rounded mouthfeel and mild acidity.
The region is committed to indigenous varieties (23 of them), and they are expelling "foreign" grapes over the coming years (yes, including tempranillo!!)
"It opens with floral aromas, notes of orange blossom and soft herbs. Has notable freshness and concentration, gaining expression and energy on the finish. Clean and bright." (Vinous 91pts)
2022 Bodegas Godeval 'Cepas Viejas'
Grape - godello; Appellation - DO ValdeorrasGodello is quickly gaining a following especially as some of Spain's star winemakers, including Telmo Rodriguez and Rafael Palacios, have produced wines that scored highly with critics.
The Cepas Vellas (old vines) is a selection from the oldest estate vines which average 50 years old at an altitude of 500 meters. Pure slate soils. Aging in stainless steel for 5 months on the lees.
"An intense and complex nose of ripe fruits, lime, fennel and mint. The apple, melon and peach fruit flavors carry on giving power to the wine which is deftly balance by brisk herbal notes and hints of mineral from the slate soils."
Reds
2021 Bodegas Zarate 'Fontecon Tinto'
Grapes- 70% espadeiro, 30% caino tinto; Appellation - DO Rias BaixasBodegas Zarate is quite well known for their albarinos (we had two at our event), but this is a rare red blend from Rias Baixas (which is 98% white wine country). Only 1000 bottles produced.
"A fresh-faced Atlantic red, showing off the lavender, floral, balsamic and red berry aromas these wines are known for. High acid, racy, and earthy all at once. A terrific alternative to Pinot Noir or Gamay as far as food pairings are concerned, as this red complements most fish or poultry in any preparation beautifully." (Acker Wines)
2022 Pazo de la Cuesta Brancellao
Grape- brancellao; Appellation - DO Ribeira SacraThe next two wines come from Pazo de la Cuesta in Ribeira Sacra, the only appellation in Galicia that produces more reds than whites. The pazo ("manor house") dates back to the 1400s, and includes the oldest family run winery in Galicia. Check out the NY Times Magazine article on the restoration of the pazo.
"Clean and bright with a surprising colour. Very intense nose with complex red fruit, spices, and the characteristic coffee and cocoa notes of the terroir. This wine has a pleasant texture and is bold and complex in the mouth, well structured and intense on the palate and extremely fresh, which makes it appealing at any time of year."
Winner - Gold Medal (Mondial des Vins Extremes 2024), 2430 bottles produced
2022 Pazo de la Cuesta Batanero
Grapes- 85% mencia, 15% merencao & souson; Appellation - DO Ribeira SacraDeep nose of red and stone fruits (cherry, blackcurrant), compotes, fermentation notes, and sweet notes of wood and toasted aromas. Very direct attack, where freshness and the passage of time prevail. Harvested from wines with an average age of 40yrs. Aged for 9 months in French oak. 2046 bottles produced. 93 pts Club Enologique
- Rhone & Rhone Style BlendsAkdeniz, Manhattan, NY$34.00
I really think that Rhone and Rhone style blends go great with Turkish/Mediterrianian food, so join me for this 8 person dinner at Akdeniz, a favorite Turkish restaurant in Midtown West, we will have 1 white wine, and 4 reds, all Rhone type wines.
Here is a link to Akdeniz' menu
Just a reminder of our usual rules:
The cost of this event is $37 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 $6 service fee.
Lastly: NO DRINKING AND DRIVING
The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):
2022 Cédric Parpette Côtes du Rhône Blanc Berthelon ($26) - From the importer, "100% Viognier, and is at once incredibly aromatic in the inimitable honeyed and white floral style of great Viognier, yet fresh and bright at the same time. Cédric made very very little of these, and they usually only went to French restaurants; Clusel Roch, Stéphane Ogier, and himself (Cedric Papeete) are the only three vignerons in Côte Rôtie to bottle a single lieu dit Côtes du Rhône from the Côte Rôtie hillside. The lieu dit Berthelon sits at the foot of the Verenay hillside, below les Grandes Places.......As an everyday Viognier, like everything Cédric ever made, impossible to beat for the money......get what you can, and thank me later....2020 Force Majeure Parabellum Coulée Rhone Blend ($44) - CT 91.9, Everytime I pour this "entry level" Rhone blend for our group, we love it! JD 95 points, "The 2020 Parabellum Couleé checks in as 58% Syrah, 21% Grenache, and 21% Mourvèdre, and it's a hidden little gem in the vintage. Ripe red and black fruits, peppery herbs, violets, cedar pencil, and lavender all emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, layered, sexy mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a gorgeous, satisfying, layered beauty to enjoy over the coming decade. (Drink between 2023-2033)"
2005 Patrick Lesec Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Bargeton ($55) - Going vintage here! WA 94+ points, "Utterly profound, the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Bargeton (85% old vine Grenache from the sector of Chateauneuf du Pape called La Crau and the rest Mourvedre) is the only Chateauneuf to be completely aged in small barrels. This full-bodied wine has a deep ruby/purple color and a sweet nose of melted licorice, roasted Provencal herbs, blackberry, and deep, rich kirsch liqueur. It is quite full-bodied, unctuously textured, and juicy, with moderately high tannins. Give it 3-4 years of bottle age and drink it over the following two decades.
I can’t speak highly enough of the job that Patrick Lesec does as a negociant, putting together interesting and high quality blends of Cotes du Rhones and Chateauneuf du Papes. He seems to have a talent for finding top quality sources for old vine Grenache, and his philosophy of bringing wines up is one of minimal intervention in a reductive environment with little exposure to oxygen. That’s important, because his wines often take a few years after bottling to strut their stuff. I have been very impressed with how the wines do perform in bottle, having purchased 1998s, 2000s, and 2001s, all of which seem to come into their own at about age four or five. I also noticed that his 2005s generally showed better out of bottle than they did last year prior to bottling. (drink 2010-2030)"
2016 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape ($50) - JD 98 points, "The 2016 CdP is unquestionably the greatest wine made from this estate to date and surpasses the 1998, 2007, and 2010. Checking in as a normal blend of 75% Grenache, 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, and the balance Cinsault, it offers a heavenly bouquet of blackcurrants, ground pepper, new saddle leather, garrigue, and an assortment of exotic spices. Deep, full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, yet with the purity, elegance, and finesse that makes this vintage so special, it can be drunk any time over the coming two decades or more. Bravo! Domaine Vieux Donjon is another reference point estate for classic, traditionally made Châteauneuf-du-Pape. These rich, powerful wines are simply loaded with Provençal aromas and flavors of meaty black fruits, spice, and garrigue. Traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape rarely gets better. (Drink by 2038)"
2021 Ridge Evangelho ($40) - JD 90 points, "From Contra Costa County in California, which is south of Napa and just east of San Francisco, the 2021 Evangelho is based on 58% Carignane, 22% Zinfandel, and 20% Mataro. Spicy red and black fruits, cigar, savory herbs, dried orange, and some leather nuances all emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, firm yet still ripe tannins, and a great finish. This spicy, complex, savory red will evolve for at least a decade. (Drink between 2024-2034)
- Sicilian SelectionYasouvlaki, New York, NY$35.00
Due to persistent requests, finally here's a Friday night event. Wines from Sicily have long been among my favorites, so I found an assortment of pleasurable wines that should provide a good intro to the island's different grapes and regions. Cannoli hope for the best!
Dinner will be at Yasouvlaki, a gigantic newly opened Greek restaurant on the UWS (original branch in the UES), and is a new addition to the group's dining venues. I'm excited to try their food.
Here is their menu.
Just a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $35 and is for the cost of the wines and corkage fees.
You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 30% for tax and tip). Please order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and either appetizer or dessert). There are very few restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine for a low corkage fee.
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 $10 service fee.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wines
# Rose - 2023 Feudo Montoni Rose di Adele (Agrigento)
Grape: Nerello Mascalese Alc: 13%
Certified organic. Aged on the lees in cement tanks for 6 months.
"An inviting pale salmon pink colour, this rosé is crisp and refreshing, perfect for sipping on a warm summer evening, but it also has enough going for it in terms of body and flavour to accompany a serious meal. There are notes of fresh apricot, peach, a touch of strawberry and some salinity on the nose, which read as delicate cherry, apricot and blanched almond on the palate. Well balanced with lively acidity and a lingering finish." (Decanter 91pts)
# White - 2023 Centopassi 'Giato' Bianco (Palermo)
Grape: 60% Grillo, 40% Catarrato Alc: 13.5%
Centopassi is the winemaking entity of Libera Terra cooperatives that cultivate land confiscated from the mafia in Sicily. So you are helping to ensure Don Corleone and the Costanzas never come back! Certified organic, aged in steel vats for 4 months.
Named Best Value-for-Money Wine in Sicily in the Berebene 2025 guide by Gambero Rosso
"A formidable Sicilian white wine that is dry and fresh on the palate. The freshness is thanks to high elevation vineyards. The grapes were hand-harvested, vinified and bottled unoaked. A natural match with anything from the sea." (Astor Wines)
# Red - 2023 COS Frappato (Vittoria)
Grape: Frappato Alc: 12.5%
Sicily's most affable and chillable red is perfect for summer. It has soft tannins, its bouquet oozes notes of lavender and rose, it has a mouth-watering acidity, and most of all, it is refreshing. Serve it with a slight chill. It’s an easy-drinking red that can be paired with so many foods.
"Perfumed and floral, the 2023 Frappato mixes geranium and violet tones with nuances of blood orange and blackberry. Lifted and graceful in style, it offers juicy acidity and crisp wild berry fruits that add lovely tart tension toward the close. The 2023 tapers off long and fresh with a perfumed, flowery resonance that lingers.." (Vinous 93pts)
# Red - 2022 Donnafugata Cerasuolo di Vittoria Floramundi (Vittoria)
Grape: 70% Nero d Avola, 30% Frappato Alc: 13%
From Sicily's only DOCG. Aged for about 7 months in tanks and then in the bottle for at least 9 months. Donnafugata is known for its colorful wine labels as well, and here is the story behind Floramundi's.
"Floramundi is deeply floral and perfumed, with a core of wild berry fruit complimented by geranium and dusty rose. Inner sweetness is offset by bright cherry and blackberry, while a tinge of sour citrus adds tension towards the close. The finish is gently tannic and classically dry, leaving a resonance of blue and purple florals that linger." (Vinous 91pts)
# Red - 2015 Calabretta Vigne Vecchie (Etna)
Grape: 98% Nerello Mascalese & 2% Nerello Cappuccio Alc: 14.5%
Yup, it's from 2015. Aged for 7 years (!!) in huge Slavonian oak casks.
Calabretta is one of Mount Etna’s last great traditionalist estates, and its wines are a true gift for those who appreciate classically made Italian wines.The Vigne Vecchie (Old Vines)shares the firm structure and energetic drive of traditional Barolo but with the silken texture of classical Burgundy. And perhaps Etna’s most distinctive calling card, its volcanic mineral character, rings through with vivid clarity.
"The 2015 Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie is simply stunning, erupting from the glass with a burst of crushed black cherries, cloves, blood orange and hints of dusty earth. This is soft-textured, nearly fleshy in feel, with a core of tart red berry fruits offset by sour citrus as rosy inner florals form toward the close. It finishes with staining length and concentration, just lightly structured, leaving a sensation of hard red candies to fade. " (Vinous 93pts)
