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It’s 11-11-11, make a wish! If you wished for an amazing *FREE* tasting of 11 wines from around the world at an adorable boutique wine store, it has come true! Harlem Vintage also offering 11% off off any 11 bottles and will be staying open until 11pm. The tasting is from 4-8 but the party continues next door at their bar Nectar where the “wine whisperer” Cynthia will be satisfying all your libation needs. Get the Manchego stuffed dates wrapped in Pancetta… it will blow your mind!

Here are a few examples of what you will be sampling at the tasting:

Fuentenarro “4 Months”

This lovely Tempranillo is a creamy mix of redcurrant, blueberry, plums and ripe peach fill the palate. A medium bodied wine, with sweet ripe tannins, well structured, showing great potential.

Santa Vincenzo Ventoso Morellino di Scansano

This is ablend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo and 5% Alicante. It features very outgoing aromas of smoky cherry, violets and leather. In the mouth, it has bright medium-bodied cherryish fruit and finishes very long.

Baglio Dosa Nero d’Avola

A warm and plummy red wine with a touch of raisins and a hint of almonds in the flavor. There’s sufficient acidity to give it structure, but the overall impression is soft as velvet. Although the finish isn’t overly long, ripe and appealing fruit and surprising complexity hold up as a food wine perfectly paired with a juicy brisket or Hungarian stew.

Hannah Nicole Syrah

This powerful Syrah comes from Contra County California in the same region as Turley and Rosenblum which is famous for Zins and Syrahs. This wine explodes with fresh black pepper. Flavorful and rich, it is lush and abounding with flavor, with hints of smoke, cherry and fig.

Hope to see you all there!

What could be better than tasting wines with your best friend? Hmmm… just about nothing, especially when it’s your furry best friend. Astor Wines and Spirits is hosting a free event for humans and pups this Saturday that includes raffles, tastings and discounts! Here are a few things you can expect at this puppy party:

• Cute Puppies: In addition to all of the precious pups in the store, Animal Haven will be on site with some irresistible faces that you may just want to take home with you. We’ll also be doing a raffle to benefit this wonderful organization.
• Doggy Portraits: You can get one for your pooch!
• Tickets To Astor Center Classes: Astor is giving away tickets to two of their popular wine and spirits classes.
• Wine & Cocktail Tastings: We’ll be pouring some special wines that will be on sale and preparing canine-themed cocktails.
• Food: Tasty treats will be served!

http://patrickbucklew.com/

East Village Wine Bars

Italian

77 2nd Ave., 10003
Cross Streets: 4th & 5th St.
212-228-2969

Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-Midnight, Sat-Sun 9am-Midnight

Named after the current-day markets in Italy, Ballarò is an updated take on a modern, Sicilian deli, crossed with a rustically cool wine bar. In layman’s terms: A place for coffee in the morning, followed by easy-to-eat Paninis and crisp, refreshing wine ’til you think you might burst.

As the sun sets, cheese-and-salami plates make their appearance – free to sample with a purchase of a glass of wine (6-7:30pm). The wine list, covering all regions of Italy, starts around $8.

They actually have a nice selection of between the 40 to 50 Italian and California wines (owner Giusto Priola says the California selection is in there because we are, after all, in America).  Or go for the “wine tasting”. For $20 you get to choose 5 wines from any wine by the glass offered (you end up with a nice pour of each). A great way to explore the wine list.

They list 23 signature Paninis: with freshly carved meats and cheeses, brought in straight from Italy, not to mention plenty of veggies and four types of bread to choose from, the build-your-own option is awfully appealing too… like speck, buffala mozzarella, Gorgonzola, arugula and tomato on ciabatta.

The rustic décor is warm, yet somehow modern…with exposed brick walls; and clusters of garlic and peppers hanging over the bar.

Note: Cash only.

Fun with Wine Holiday Bash – Wines in the City discount $60 until Dec. 2

In the craze of this season’s holiday parties, Fun With Wine’s Holiday Bash is a special blend of social soiree mixed with a touch of wine insights. Friday, December 3, 2010. 7:30pm.

Celebrate the kickoff of the season with friends old and new; try wines you can enjoy today; taste wines that can age; discover wines that you’d be proud to give as gifts; explore impressive regions and vintages; and party along to great music…. all in one place… on one festive evening.

A night of fabulous variety: wines bursting with flavor, wine insights, live band, social wine lovers everywhere and some truly awesome valuable gems.   More than a $125+ value for $60 with this link.

Click here for RSVP

Cost: $60 with the Wines in the City discount until December 2 – then $70.

Murray Hill Wine Bars

Thai

407 Third Avenue 10016
Cross Streets: 28th & 29th St.
212-679-7772

Hours: Daily: 11:30am-Midnight

Reserve, a newly opened Thai-inspired tapas and wine bar, hopes to assist you with your spicy food and wine pairing abilities.  In fact, the owners’ (a brother/ sister team along with a wine connoisseur friend) aim is to help you easily pair anything from a robust cabernet sauvignon to a crisp chardonnay that complements the sweet, spicy, salty and sour flavors of Thai cuisine.  According to the website: “The wines at Reserve have been personally palate-picked to complement and, at times, challenge the complexities of Thai flavors. In fact, every bottle of wine, wedge of cheese and pour of beer – although produced in different pockets of the world – embody a Thai essence: the intermingling of notes, aromas, tastes.”

The wine list features 17 wines sold by glass and an international wine list including wines from Spain, Italy, France, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Australia, Oregon, Chile, Argentina. Those frustrated by low-end labels at other Thai spots will be happy to know that there isn’t a Pinot Grigio in sight. On the red side, there’s a Malbec from Argentina ($8 a glass) and an Italian Lacrima ($10). If you like white, try the Slovenian Tocai ($9). If you’re in the mood to do some more heavy-duty tippling, bottles range $28–$35.  They also have a good beer list featuring craft beers like Troegs and authentic Thai beers.

Reserve offers charcuterie and cheese platters in addition to its diverse Thai and tapas menus. The menu is filled with French, Italian and Spanish influences on the Thai dishes. A crab cake appetizer ($6) is served with a sweet, spicy vanilla sauce; a basil chicken empanada ($3.50) is paired with a cucumber salad. Panang curry beef ($6) and som thum salad ($5) are still on the menu as well as green-curry pizza topped with chicken, fontina, and salami (~$10) and smoked salmon deviled eggs with Thai spices ($4).

For the otherwise nutty Kips Bay places, Reserve seems to be a good place for a date or three/four friends to chat comfortably over wine/small plates while enjoying mellow music and flat-screen TV viewing.

Word is they have a WTF happy hour (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) from 4-8 p.m. – $5 wines by the glass and $6 cocktails.  Sunday and Monday (all day), they will take 30% off any bottle of wine and Tuesday 20% off. And to be confirmed, but also a current deal is a special 3-course tapas prix fixe dinner menu that comes with a glass of wine for only $19 (available every day).