New York Wine Tasting

From freebie tastings to full-on master classes, the Big Apple offers a wealth of wine tastings, classes and events.

67 Wine
Near Lincoln Center, 67 Wine has tastings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Aroma
Winemaker dinners as well as informal (bargain) wine and antipasti evenings at Aroma, 36 E. 4th [Bowery/Lafayette] 212.375.0100.

Astor Wines
In-store tastings and loads of other events. And Astor Center features wine and cooking classes and tastings.

Bacchus
Bacchus, 2056 Bway [70th/71st] 212.875.1200. Often has one-hour tastings, usually one winery.

Burgundy Wine Company
Burgundy lovers already know about the Burgundy Wine Company, 143 W. 26th [6th/7th] 212.691.9092, but you might not know about their informal evening wine tastings, 5pm-7pm Monday - Friday (and Saturdays too), where you can hear some jazz, try some wines, have a little cheese, and schmooze with the staff.

Chambers Street Wines
Three-hour tastings Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

Chelsea Wine Vault
The guys in Chelsea market offer in-store tastings and classes.

Corkbuzz
Union Square wine studio offers classes for novice to oenophile. 13 E. 13th Street.

Heights Chateau
Heights Chateau. 123 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. 718.330.0963. Tastings on Saturday afternoons.

Instituto Cervantes
Instituto Cervantes offers various tastings, all with renowned (and nice) experts. Spanish wine. Duh.

Is Wine
Is Wine offers free tastings of featured wines, every Saturday at 4:00 p.m. 225 E 5th Street. 212.254.7800.

Local Wine Events
LocalWineEvents.com provides a listing of all types of wine events around NYC. Sign up for "The Juice" newsletter.

Le Dû's Wines
Le Dû's Wines, 600 Washington [Leroy/Morton] 212.924.6999. M. Le Dû was the head sommelier at Daniel for a decade. The store is beautiful, with plenty of elbow room, they've got the really good stuff, but also some terrific under-$20 bottles. Loads of events, lots of tastings, knowledgeable staff. Look for tastings on Saturday afternoons.

Morell
Rockefeller Plaza wine store has afternoon tastings Wednesdays through Fridays. Special events and classes, also at the store, offer more elaborate wine tastings, vertical tastings and occassional cheese pairings.

Otto
Wine tastings and classes every Saturday and Sunday afternoon at this popular high-end pizzeria. 1 Fifth Avenue.

Sea Grape
Sea Grape Wines, 512 Hudston Street 212.463.7688. Tastings on Thursday evenings. Nice, knowledgeable staff.

Tasting World
Midtown mecca offering classes from one-night intensives to eight-week master classes. 307 W. 38th St., Ste. 1910, near Eighth Ave. 212-629-8529.

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NY Mag

Dr. Vino's map of NYC wine stores

And here's a great list for our beer (and cheese) brothers and sisters.

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Thanks to Manhattan Users Guide. And thanks to Eric W. and Jenny Bird.

American Second Labels

Who's On Second?

Okay, I confess. I like second labels. At the top of the range, they’re some of the best wines you’ve never heard of. In the affordable realm, they’re dependable wines made by good winemakers. As one winemaker explains, “If you like a three-star restaurant, chances are you’ll like the bistro they open next door.”

Don't believe me? Try Karl Lawrence and Philip Togni's well-crafted seconds, or Double T, a balanced, very quaffable wine from Trefethen. For the price, you can't go wrong with Manzanita Canyon or Glass Mountain.

Read the article in ArtInfo.com.

Here’s a list to start exploring. Prices range from $7 to $40.

Mother Winery (2nd Label)

Beringer (Napa Ridge)
Burgess (Bell Canyon)
Caymus (Liberty School)
Ch. Montelena (Silverado)
Cuvaison (Calistoga Cellars)
Cartlidge & Brown (Manzanita Canyon)
Darioush (Caravan)
Dominus (Napanook)
Duckhorn (Decoy)
Hestan (Meyer) (WS 92 pts)
Hollis (Stewart Cellars)
Karl Lawrence (Aldin)
Markham (Glass Mountain)
Lail (Blueprint) http://is.gd/o2KLNF
Mondavi (Woodbridge)
Monticello (Jefferson Cellars)
Neyers (Byrd Cooper)
Mount St. John (Poppy Hill)
Opus One (Overture)
Pahlmeyer (Jayson)
Philip Togni (Tanbark Hill)
Raymond (Amberhill)
Round Hill (Rutherford Ranch)
Sebastiani (Talus)
Sequoia Grove (Allen Family)
Schramsburg (Mirabelle)
Stag’s Leap (Hawk Crest)
Talbott (Kali Hart)
Trefethen (Eschol)
Trefethen (Double T)
White Rock (Madigan)

. . .

How about an Italian second label? Si. Il Bruciato Guado Al Tasso Bogheri from Tuscany is the second wine of Guado al Tasso. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah blend -- a Wine Spectator fave.

They're All Good

There are not many infallible rules in wine. Not all Bordeaux are good. There aren't entire decades you should look out for. Australia doesn't make crap wine. Screwcap means absolutely nothing. For those in need of a few good rules, here are a few we stand by:

Big Guns
As Eric says: They're the best for a reason. Petrus, Latour, Dominus, Verite, Romanee-Conti, d'Yquem, Margaux, Ducru-Beaucaillou... pick the big gun that you like and, presto, all good. In good years the wine is ecstasy, in bad years it may fall to simply wonderful.

Bordeaux 2009
Yeah, well they should be good. Called the best vintage of the past century, and prices to match.

Brunellos
Supple, ripe, just enough sweetness, texture fine tannins. Stuff like that.
Try: Livio Sasseti Pertimali or Collosorbo.

Burgundy
My Dad and I had a contest. Desert island wine. If you could only drink wine from one region. Burgundy wins. Especially if the gods or demons of your desert island are footing the bill.

Grüner Veltliner
Plus, you sound like you know what you're talking about, even if you only manage to pronounce it correctly.

Montecucco
Damn tasty wines which under the newly minted denomination of Montecucco (across the way from Montalcino in greater Tuscany). Rosso, Riserva, Bianco Sangiovese and Vermentino are a happy family. Only problem: your local shopkeep might not stock them. [Props to Maremma restaurant for introducing us].
Try Ciacci Piccolomini's Rosso di Montecucco at Chambers Street Wines or Wine Legend in New Jersey. More on Ciacci P here.

Rioja
R for Reliable.
Try: Don Roman at Morrell.

Rosso di Montalcino
Some say Baby Brunello. $20 and up in the store, makes-the-meal $50 in a restaurant.
Try: Collosorbo, Banfi
Read: "The Other Montalcino".

Sauvignon Blanc
Crisp whites. The world needs crisp whites.

Viogner
From complex to merely crisp without oak or sourness, they're all, well, good, bom, bon, buono, gut, ii desu ne.