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- Wine Tasting & Comedy Show: In Vino Humor w/Lou Perez & FriendsSome Good Wine, New York, NY
****THIS IS NOT A DINNER EVENT****
Some of us have attended tasting events at Some Good Wine, a boutique wine store in the Village. This time they are doing a wine tasting/comedy show. I spoke to the owner (Jeremy) and he said there will be 4 wines tasted. And you get a ton of laughs!!
Who's Performing
Lou Perez and Cancelled Productions present Comedy Tasting, a hilarious blend of wine and stand-up comedy. Come taste a selection from wines across the world, while watching some of NYC’s hottest comics at Some Good Wine!
LOU PEREZ – Comedian, producer, and the author of That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore. Lou is a regular on FOX's Gutfeld! and appeared on Open to Debate with Michael Ian Black. He was the head writer and producer of the Webby Award-winning comedy channel We the Internet TV and produces Comedy Is Murder with Free the People, and began his career with the comedy duo Greg & Lou. Lou hosts the live debate series The Wrong Take and The Lou Perez Podcast. Lou performs stand-up comedy all over the country, has opened for Rob Schneider, and returns from his North American tour with Scott Thompson (The Kids in the Hall).
SEAN DONNELLY – Sean has appeared on The Tonight Show, Letterman, Conan, Colbert, and Comedy Central. His comedy special Fun to Watch is available now.
DAN NATURMAN – Dan Naturman began performing stand-up comedy several years ago in, believe it or not, law school. After graduation he decided to devote himself to stand-up full time. Comedy, he discovered, was his true passion. Dan's charming combination of self-deprecation and razor sharp observations has had audiences howling from coast to coast and has earned him four appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, his own "Comedy Central Presents..." special and a starring run on NBC's America's Got Talent. Recently, Dan had a recurring role on HBO’s Crashing, and had multiple appearances on Comedy Central’s, "This Week at The Comedy Cellar.”
PETER STEWART is a New York-based stand up comic originally from Canada. He is a founding member of Comfy Comedy, produces one of NYC's biggest comedy competitions, the Comfy Clash, and has performed all over the world. You can catch him at the Comic Strip Live and the St. Mark's Comedy Club.
How to Buy Tickets
The link is here - BUY TICKETS
Obligatory disclaimer - I will make exactly ZERO from your purchase.
Buy your ticket, and then RSVP on Meetup.The cost is a flat $25. No sales tax nor fees.
How to Meet at the Event
It's a small place. The show is at the back of the store where tasting events are normally held. We'll see each other.
- Basque Spain - Contrasting Wine Styles of Pais Vasco and NavarraPeking Duck House, New York, NY$21.00
We will be tasting wines from two separate autonomous regions in northern Spain with historic Basque roots - Navarra and Pais Vasco (Basque Country), offering contrasting wine styles.
If you've ever seen the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao or done a pintxo crawl in San Sebastian, that's the Basque Country. They specialize in refreshing low alcohol white wines (txakoli) and dry cider (usually poured dramatically from high up to create a foam in the glass). The US has become the largest export market. We will taste both txakoli and cider, but with a twist.
Navarra, on the other hand, is associated with the festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, which includes the Running of the Bulls, or for literature fans, Hemingway's novel "The Sun also Rises". For me, Pamplona evokes memories of giant asparagus, chistorra sausage, and stuffed piquillo peppers.
Their wines are mostly red, and in addition to the native garnacha, cab sauv/merlot/syrah plantings abound in the area. Mysteriously, they have almost disappeared from the US market, perhaps due to lack of promotion. (Check your local wine store - I bet they have 30 riojas but not a single wine from Navarra). It's very hard to procure samples, but on the upside, they tend to be good value wines.
We will be feasting family style at Peking Duck House in Chinatown (not Midtown East!).
Here is their menu:
Peking Duck Dinner Set MenuScroll down to the Peking Duck Dinner section for the prix fixe set menus. For 6 people, we will be getting
a> appetizers - steamed dumpling, spring rolls, and barbecued beef
b> soup
c> 1 Peking duck + 4 entrees - we will choose 4 items from the list (refer to the link above)
d> dessert - fried banana with walnutsFor the wines, you will prepay $21.
The prix-fixe food cost per person is $51++, therefore around $67 post tax and tip.To make bill paying smoother, please bring cash, or use Zelle or Venmo to pay your share.
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!
Below are the wines
Pais Vasco
# 2024 Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado
Grape - 50% hondarrabi zuri (white), 50% hondarrabi beltza (red); Appellation - DO Getariako TxakolinaPais Vasco is known for txakoli, a refreshing lightly fizzy wine, similar to vinho verde. It is usually white, but some producers have started blending white and red grapes, inspired by the historic "claret" style wines which were once produced in the area long before the current global craze made rosé famous.
Here's a behind the scenes look at how this rose came to American shores - A Rose so divine they call it Baby Jesus
"This is truly thirst quenching rosé. A Txakoli rosé, you say? Why yes. This wine shows bright acidity, with hints of rose petals, red candied fruits, and fresh strawberries." (Astor Wines)
# Cider - NV Iruin Sagardotegia Barrika Txerri
Traditional, classic Sagardoa made by the Astiazaran family since 1880. What started as a cider made for friends and family has grown in reputation and reach, with more than 100 cider awards to it's name and international distribution.
Single-barrel selection macerated with local cherries. Low ABV, light, refreshing and delicious. Hints of cherries and apples – balanced and natural.
Navarra
# 2024 Bodegas Aroa Le Naturel Tinto
Grapes- garnacha tinta Appellation - DO Navarra subzone Tierra EstellaA natural wine with no added sulfites and made with minimal intervention to showcase the grapes. The vineyards are in the Valle de Yerri, the highest and coolest zone of the denomination. Le Naturel is a lightweight easy-to-drink wine, with dominant notes of red raspberry, blackberry, and violet. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh, perfect for lighter fare, or drinking on its own with a chill.
Personal Note - I stayed in Estella and passed by the free wine fountain at Bodegas Irache along the Camino de Santiago, so it's cool to find a wine from the subzone's vineyards.
# 2020 Bodega Inurrieta Cuatrocientos
Grape- 50% cabernet sauvignon 26% graciano 14% syrah 10% merlot Appellation - DO Navarra subzone Ribera AltaA blend of mostly international grapes, which are quite predominant in Navarra (the most planted white grape is chardonnay!). The name "Cuatrocientos" means "400", referring to the altitude where the vines are grown.
Dark, with an elegant, sweet, fruity nose combining a fine, perfumed imprint from barrel aging. In the mouth, it proves lively, balanced and meaty, highlighting the excellent quality of its tannins. Aged 14 months in oak.
- Small group @ Altamirano's on the UESAltamirano's Italian Ristorante, Manhattan, NY$31.00
As this is somewhat short notice, I'm going to make this a 6-person event.
Join me for this Friday night dinner at Altamirano's Italian Ristorante on the UES. The owners are old friends who used to work at 83 1/2. I have now been there a bunch of times, and I love it.
The are located on the corner of E. 78th Street and York Ave. Here is link to their menu.
Altamirano Italian Ristorante Menu
We will have 1 white, and 3 red wines. Should be fun!
Just a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $31 and is for the cost of the wines, plus corkage only.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 $3 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. 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):
2023 Ridge White Alder Springs Vineyard ($40) - From CA's Mendocino County and a wine with Italian grape varietals. 82% Falanghina, 18% Vermentino. 13% alcohol. From Ridge's website, "Nose of peach and white pepper. Present acidity with notes of pineapple, grapefruit, and minerality"
2021 La Massa La Massa Toscana IGT ($30) - No reviews for the 2021, but here is WA's 94 point review for the 2020, "The Tenuta La Massa 2020 La Massa, with 100,000 bottles produced, offers great value across the board. This is a generous and deeply layered blend of 50% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, Alicante and Petit Verdot. The wine sees 12 months of barrique aging with 20% new oak. Vintner Giampaolo Motta breaks the rules by making Bordeaux-inspired wines in one of the most fervently Sangiovese-leaning spots in Tuscany. But he adds a little charm and magic to this wine nonetheless."
2015 Soos Creek Vieilles Vignes Ciel du Cheval Vineyard ($46) - From the SC website, "This is our first reserve-styled wine that we have produced since 1999. It is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. It has abundant but unobtrusive tannins, excellent concentration and the supply is very limited." WA 91 points, "The 2015 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Vieilles Vignes comes from old vines and is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 5% Merlot. It sashays out of the glass with a concentrated fruit tone, showing an elegant lift from the oak spices and a delicate floral bouquet with integrated, seductive oak tones. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has a remarkable focus across the palate with a ripe and lush core of blackberry, cassis and dusty black cherry skin. It concludes with a clean and expressive finish of sweet oak and gripping tannins. This is a marked success. It’s delicious and comes recommended. 50 cases produced. (drink 2020-2028)"
2018 Soos Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Reserve ($40) -WA92+, Owen Bargreen 93 points, "100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 ‘Red Mountain Reserve’ shows off heady blackberry compote, creosote, and Turkish coffee tones with black florals on the nose. The palate is polished and downright voluptuous. Layers of huckleberry and black tea collide with smoke, minerals, cassis, and exotic spices. Polished and refined, with a silky texture and great flavor density, this glorious new wine will provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036"
- Under the radar California winesBobby Van's 230Park, New York, NY$39.00
I do love my California wines, big fruit, full body, teeth staining color. But they have gotten expensive! However sometimes I take a flyer on lesser known CA wines and for this dinner we will try them. Lets see how well they show.
We will return to perennial favorite, Bobby Van's on Park and I'll pour 1 white wine and 4 reds, all from CA.
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 $6 service fee.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wines :
2018 Big Basin Vineyards Roussanne Homestead Block ($25) - CT 91.8, from CA's Santa Cruz Mountains. AG 92 points, "The 2018 Roussanne Homestead Block is a gorgeous white loaded with varietal character and plenty of nuance. Apricot, dried flowers, tangerine oil, chamomile and almonds fill out the layers as this oily, beautifully textured Roussanne opens in the glass. The 2018 offers a striking mix of the freshness of the year with the natural richness of Roussanne"
2018 Tom Eddy Cabernet Sauvignon ($75) - CT 91.7 (but only 2 posts), from Napa. No reviews that I could find, but here is the more detailed post from CT, "Mostly Stagecoach fruit. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Heavily scented with notes of coffee beans, bitter chocolate, bay leaf, and thyme that are set with aromas of cassis, brambly blackberry, hand rolled cigarette tobacco, black pepper, turned earth and hints of lead pencil. The palate is medium+ body in weight and mid-palate density with tannins that are quick on the attack, burly and wooly. Acidity keeps the liveliness and brightness to the wine. Savory in its flavor profile with bay leaf and herbs, earth and bittersweet cocoa, tobacco and espresso beans that play with cassis, blackberry and notes of plum and smoke. The dry finish lingers. Should age quite well.2017 Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain ($55) - CT 92.3. JD 93+ points, "The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain incorporates 18% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot and has classic mountain aromatics as well as tannins. Blackcurrants, blueberries, scorched earth, bouquet garni, and hints of espresso all flow to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Howell Mountain effort that has building, firm tannins, good acidity, and the balance to evolve nicely. Give bottles 4-5 years and it's going to keep for 15-20 years or more. (Drink between 2024-2039)"
2012 Detert Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville ($80) - CT 92.8, from a plot INSIDE the famous To-Kalon vineyard, and the only plot NOT owned by either Beckstoffer, or Mondavi. Oddly, they can sell grapes to Mondavi, who can then call it To-Kalon, but an agreement with Beckstoffer prevents them from calling it To-Kalon when selling it on their own. No reviews for the 2012, even on Detert's own website. Typically, when the WA rates it, it scores between 89 and 92 points. Some vintages have up to 7% Cabernet Franc blended with the rest Cabernet Sauvignon.
2014 Lindstrom Wines Cabernet Sauvignon ($75) - CT 92.7. From the Stag's Leap District. WS 90 points, "Robust and full-bodied, this is a touch rustic and chewy, as the core of dark berry and licorice flavors, mocha-scented oak and loamy earth notes form a complex package. The finish is long and engaging. Drink now through 2030. 526 cases made."
