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- Malbec and Tempranillo!Bobby Van's 230Park, New York, NY$39.00
Join me for a return to perennial group favorite Bobby Van's on Park. For this dinner we will compare (and contrast) 2 Malbecs, one from Washington State and the other from Paso Robles, CA. As well as 2 Tempranillos, one from WA state and the other from Spain. Plus, there will also be a white wine starter from Spain.
Bobby Van's on Park is located on the corner of Park Avenue and 46th Street. The entrance is in the East side walkway that connects 45th and 46th Streets.
Here is a link to their menu...
Bobby Van's on Park MenuJust a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $39 and is for the cost of the wines only.
NOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that is above and in addition to the listed price of the event. It comes to approximately $4 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your rsvp and pay for the event. Sorry! Meetup+ members are exempt from this charge.
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 Zero 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.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):
2021 Raul Pérez Bierzo Ultreia La Claudina ($50) - CT 90.8, A Godello from the Bierzo AVA of Spain, WA95 points, "There is a smoky twist in the 2021 Ultreia La Claudina, a low-yielding vintage, from a plot in Valtuille on sandy soils. The grapes struggled to ripen, and the wine has a more austere profile than the wines from yesteryear, when it was a lot more exotic and exuberant but with a spicy twist that they reckon comes from the foudre used. It's from one of the oldest plots from the newer plantings in the 1980s. 1,300 bottles produced."2019 The Farm Winery Malbec Old Pro ($60) - JD 89+ points, "Based on 100% Malbec, the 2019 Old Pro reveals more black cherry and blue-tinged fruits with some leather, dried herbs, and loamy earth notes in a more medium-bodied, focused style. There are some savory tannins here that will need to be watched, but this has good overall balance as well as length on the finish."
2021 Fidelitas Malbec Red Mountain ($40) - Owen Bargreen 95 points, "The 2021 Fidelitas ‘Heart of the Hill Vineyard’ Malbec comes from this famous site that has a small amount of Malbec planted. This wine has been made since the 2013 vintage. Mocha, tar and black licorice all mark the nose alongside exotic spices. Seamless and soft on the mouth, with great elegance and bright acidity, this is already drinking marvelously. (drink 2024-2041)
2021 Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero Malleolus ($48) -WS 92 points, "Expressive notes of licorice and candied violet on the nose accent flavors of blackberry paste, black cherry pate de fruit, ground coffee, dried sage and tar in this dark, rich red, which is brightened by the tang of orange peel acidity. The sculpted tannins show a velvety edge that aids integration and the overall harmonious feel. Best from 2025 through 2034. 20,000 cases made, 7,500 cases imported."
2020 No Girls Tempranillo ($90) - FULL DISCLOSURE: We are taking a bit of a chance here..I held a "No Girls" Wine night and 2 of the 4 wines were flawed. This was one of the good wines, and I personally gave it 92 points. One of the truly outstanding wineries in the Pacific Northwest, No Girls began as an idea between superstar vigneron, Christophe Baron and Cayuse GM Trevor Dorland, following the success of Cayuse Vineyards. This project features the stony, one of a kind terror found at the ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’.
Owen Bargreen 95 points, "One of the great Tempranillo wines you will find in North America, the 2020 No Girls ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ Tempranillo pushes the envenope in terms of weight, intensity and flavor range. This is seriously good right now with dark plum, creme de violette, black currants and Kalamata olive. Really good to enjoy now, savor this over the next five plus years. (drink 2023-2028)" - No Reds for You!Peking Duck House, New York, NY$40.00
***PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE DESCRIPTION TO SEE IF THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU***
As the title says, there will be NO RED WINES at this dinner event. (There will be soup though). How come??? Because I issued an executive order, that's why.
We will be feasting family style at Peking Duck House on E53rd St in Midtown East.
Here is their menu:
Peking Duck House dinner menuScroll down to the Peking Duck Dinner section for the prix fixe set menus. For 8 people, we have a choice of either:
a> 1 Peking duck + 6 entrees + fried rice or noodles
b> 2 Peking Ducks + 4 entrees + fried rice or noodlesIn true democratic fashion, we will vote on option A or B, as well as the entrees, when we are seated at the restaurant.
The food cost per person is $56++, therefore around $74 post tax and tip.
For the wines and corkage, you will prepay $40.
NOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that comes to approximately $4 more for each RSVP. Sorry!
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.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
Orange
2022 Day Wines Tears of Vulcan (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
Grape: 46% viognier, 44% pinot gris, 10% muscatA bright, structured, floral, spicy, citrusy, firm textured, skin contact orange wine from two organically farmed vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains AVA.
For this vintage, the fruit was destemmed and co-fermented on skins for 22 days before being pressed to a mix of acacia, French oak, and Italian clay tanks and matured for six months.
Tears of Vulcan is wonderfully aromatic, with a deep rose gold color and great texture. It has firm tannins, bright acid, vibrant pepper, juicy grapefruit, red plum, and a savory long finish.
Whites
2023 Julian Haart "J.J." Riesling Kabinett (Mosel, Germany)
Grape: rieslingWhat would a Chinese food event be without riesling?!
Named after Julian's son "Johann Josef", this kabinett was sourced from the Goldtröpfchen and Falkenberg vineyards, whose steep-sloped vines overlooking the Mosel river produce stunning wines.
This off-dry Riesling is classically styled and has aromas of stone fruits, herbs, white flowers and an elegant interplay of sweetness and acidity, the push and pull of opulence and tension.
2018 Ronchi di Cialla Verduzzo di Cialla (Friuli, Italy)
Grape: verduzzoFrom one of Friuli's lesser known grapes, this is late harvest wine with a touch of botrytis.
The 2018 vintage is tasting incredible now, like the best honey-apricot-orgeat cocktail you've ever smelled in your life, impeccable balance of shimmering acidity and a sensual texture on the palate thanks to that kiss of botrytis. Drink it now, ideally with a terrine, foie gras, or some blue cheese or ash-dusted goat cheese at the beginning or end of a special night.
This is an off-dry wine — though it's often observed that due to its remarkable harmony and cool, zesty acidity, you'd never guess it's around 30 g/L of residual sugar — and it is aged three years, one in oak and two in bottle. Ronchi di Cialla estate was the first winery in Italy to start using barriques for its sweet wines, believing in coaxing out Verduzzo's additional complexity and having faith in its firm, nearly tannic structure.
Roses
2023 Frank Cornelissen Susucaru Rosato (Sicily, Italy)
Grapes: Malvasia, Moscadella, Insolia, Nerello MascaleseBelgian winemaker who moved to Etna in 2001, and considered one of the region's star producers.
This is a delightfully fresh and easy-drinking Rosato. It's fermented with native yeasts, then aged in neutral epoxy tanks to preserve the purity of Frank's meticulously-farmed fruit and highlight Etna's unique volcanic minerality.
Darker and more complex than most traditional Rosato, Susucaru is often likened to the light red wines from the Jura, making it extremely versatile for food pairings.
2022 Cota Vina L'Apacha (Dalmatia, Croatia)
Grape: merlotYes, you will drink f--king merlot!
From a tiny winery in Oklaj, not far from the Dalmatian Coast, producing only a total of 2,500 bottles a year. This direct press rosé is made from organically grown merlot, and aged in steel tanks.
Think full-flavored strawberry sauce and peaches, with freshness and roundness for a great drinkability.
- All Oregon WinesNice Matin, New York, NY$33.00
Join me for a night of Oregon wines. While I'm a big fan of WA state, I also enjoy wines from Oregon, even if I seem to rarely pour them. So join me for a night of Oregon wines. We will be dining at Nice Matin, a place we have been to often and always enjoyed. For this 8 person dinner there will be 1 white wine starter, and 4 Pinot Noirs.
As an aside, Why Oregon Pinot Noirs? I've wanted to try the Duck Confit at Nice Matin for a while, and I figure Pinot Noir will go great with that!
Here is a link to their menu:
Nice Matin Dinner MenuNice Matin is located at 201 W. 79th Street, the corner of Amsterdam Ave.
** The cost of this event is $33 and is for the cost of the wines.
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.
Just a reminder of our usual rules:
You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). You will be expected to order at least 2 dishes (an appetizer and a main, or main and dessert) to help support the restaurant.
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.
The Wines (notes will be distributed at the dinner):
2021 Torii Mor Pinot Gris ($32) - My last of 4 bottles purchased at the winery. I've shared the other bottles with our group and we have all enjoyed this wine. No professional reviews.
2021 Evening Land Vineyards Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard ($50) - CT 90.5, WS 94, WA 93 points, "The 2021 Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard is scented of wild berries, tar, forest floor and mushrooms, gaining in intensity and detail as it opens in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with woodsy, bitters-laced flavors. It’s structured by chalky tannins and fresh acidity and has a long, pleasurably herbal finish."
2016 Holocene Pinot Noir Memorialis ($52) - CT 91.7, JD 91 points, "From the record heat breaking 2016 vintage, the 2016 Pinot Noir Memorialis is another impressive Pinot Noir from winemaker Todd Alexander. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, beautifully textured and layered, with a deep, floral core as well as ample black raspberry and cherry fruit, it’s slightly more restrained than the Apocrypha release, with plenty of class and elegance. It too is aging in 40% new French oak. Both of these Pinot Noirs are beautiful."
2021 Torii Mor Pinot Noir Reserve Deux Verres ($52) - CT 92.3. No reviews, but this is a blend of Torii Mor's single vineyard Pinots. I tried the single vineyard ones at the winery and couldn't decide which I liked best, so without tasting, I bought the blend. I've had two bottles and really like them, giving the wine 90 and then 92 points.
2018 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard ($50) - CT 91, WS 91 points, "A brooding red, with blueberry, dark plum and dusky spice flavors that build tension and richness as it moves toward medium-grained tannins Drink now through 2028."
Not open - Inflation Busting Part 2 at ABAABA Istanbul Café, New York, NY$19.00
It was so interesting and fun at the previous Inflation Busting dinner that I'm going to do it again. Join me as I scour my cellar for really inexpensive wines! This will be an 8 person dinner with one white wine and four red wines. I will be digging through my cellar for some of the least expensive bargain priced wines I can find, as we try and outmatch inflation! PLEASE be forewarned that while these wines have all been stored well, these are inexpensive wines and I really have no idea how they will taste/show. So lower your expectations!
The cost for this event is $19, and 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)
2022 Adegas Gran Vinum Albariño Rías Baixas Selección Especial ($20) - Bargain priced refreshing Albarino from Spain! CT 89.8, John Gillam, View from the Cellar, 93 points, "The wine offers up beautiful aromatic complexity, delivering scents of grapefruit, lemon, a touch of menthol, wet stone minerality, ocean breeze and a topnote of lime-peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, zesty and more reserved in profile than the Esencia Divina bottling, with an excellent core of fruit and mineral drive, lovely balance and a long, nascently complex and very precise finish."2016 Garagiste StarFire Walla Walla Valley ($17) - CT 89.7 - This is Garagiste's private label. And it is a BARGAIN. Probably Cabernet Sauvignon based, but who really knows? We had a bottle in August 2023 and loved it. I personally scored it 90 points. My final bottle of this wine.
2009 Zephros Syrah Cougar Vineyard ($14) - From Washington State's Columbia Valley. All I know about this out of business winery is that we had their Cabernet Sauvignon at the last Inflation Buster dinner and loved it. Honestly, I would be surprised if this is any where near as good. But let's find out together.
2020 Soos Creek Stampede Pass Red ($20) - Perennial value winery Soos Creek from Washington state. Normally, I get their wines direct from the winery, but this came from discount retailer Full Pull, so I paid even less than usual! "ere is a Bordeaux blend sourced from Ciel du Cheval, Champoux and Elephant Mountain vineyards, fermented in native yeast and aged in 15% new French oak. It’s principally Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a splash of Cabernet Franc. Firm, tight, dark and tannic, yet beautifully balanced for aging, this could be your go-to Bordeaux blend for aging over the next decade. Cassis and black cherry fruits, a streak of coffee, a hint of licorice… wow, this over-delivers past any reasonable expectation. 14.1%; (Columbia Valley) Paul Gregutt 92/100"
2021 Franck Balthazar Côtes du Rhône ($24) - CT 89.2, from the importer, "Made from 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, Franck Balthazar’s 2021 Côtes du Rhône is a beauty. It has a super red and black fruit intensity on the nose, accompanied by a fine cherry blossom perfume. The palate has such intensity of sweet red fruit. It is just lovely, with a floral bouquet. The tannins are powder-fine and the whole wine has a balletic poise, with a galet-stone purity on the long finish. This is delightful."
