If you cannot do overlap, Jet, outside, Michelle Obama, at least take a night to Spain to explore the legendary vineyards in this pairing wine with dinner. Imports tasting of Peter Brunet will eight members, including the Muscat grapes and monastrell, plus a special blend of sauvignon, grenache, Cabernet cariñena. -Vino Iberico pig with tapas with Manchego. City Winery, 155 St Varick Street at Vandam (212-608-0555). 19: 00; 60 $.
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Osteria Morini, first for the venture group Altamarea audience in the city centre, is set to debut next week. When the dinner menu was exposed a few days back, we're not surprised to see a selection of hearty, rustic fare, with a focus on the meat, homemade pasta with white. However, a glance of morning reveals Bianco Chef be more fiendish acceleration of kitchen Romagna-Emilia region than we previously suspected. If white gets his druthers, York New eating pork leg (accompanied by white beans, which packets, eggs, bread crumbs) with their espresso in the morning. Have a look at the full breakfast menu.
And … that's not all! As reported previously on entering, white is far from being the only connected to the project name in the caption of the Morini. Freeman stone mixologist, known for its innovative tipples at Chait and cocktail list, created the amari focused for the restaurant.Although territory is not exactly a smoked-Cola, Freeman's penchant for experimentation is evident in the shape of the House matchups as Jin celery with orange soda bottles to take a peek at this and ... cocktails and others after the jump.
Celery Cardamaro Aranciata-Jin
Jin celery is home made infuse. blended with 1/2 oz 1 oz of Pellegrino Aranciata Cardamaro, architecture (Orange soda bottles) leaf celery, garnished an orange twist.
Birra-Gazzosa-Bonal-outbound
Peroni beer and Lager mixed half and half with lemon-lime soda, Gazosa, taste the Italian with half a gram of Bonal Gentiane outgoing and half-ounce of Cocchi Americano.
Zucca-RAM-lime-Chinotto
Less Chinotto citrus fruit is bitter that grows on tree, sometimes called the orange tree in the Myrtle-eaved, is also the name of soda made from this fruit by San Pellegrino Chinotto blended with half. caused the seal of Goslings rum, caused the black one of Zucca, 30 grams of fresh lime juice.— Jenny Miller
Not much fun Oktoberfest for wine lovers, who have to watch their compatriots score do confer Spaten steins on while you're stuck with vino full price. To correct this issue, Justice over food full of people who like wine offers 50 percent off their organic, biodynamic wines during October, plus 3 beers from Wolaver and North who did Lammsbrau can stay off along the way. The deal runs daily from 5: 30 to 6.30 pm. Lauren-Bloomberg
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Photos by Lizz Kuehl
Head down to the lower east side in this weekend's British Casa mezcal.Festively outfitted bar specializes in wind from Agave mescal, roasted (you might know more aunt unsmoked, tequila).Try cocktails like the Riveria Maya, liquor on what "guava, Agave Nectar lend sweetness, while Brown pepper ????? ??????." or a more serious diving into the territory by the things straight — five mescals home owner imported, including "blue bar" bottled mescals ' from deep in the mountains Oaxacan distillers halls, not found anywhere else in town. "This type of alcohol not empty stomach for, so be sure to request a complimentary snacks like pico de Gallo ??????? roasted fresh, good for appropriate "saline qualities of mescal."Read more about smoked drinks and snacks in our fully susceptible insects.
Read more: Mescal makes its mark
Lovers pigs do not want to miss this bacchanal porkcentric Governors Island. Squad of chefs — including Sarah Jenkins (Porchetta), person Shop (Nuela) — for the local tastes and serve ????????? unlimited dishes such as bak kut teh (Chinese soup, made by Randall Chris double Crown). Wash it all down with a complementary team from getting stuck, who pour Sixpoint along as their only Pilsner released saison pumpkin seasonal. Governors Island (pigisland.com). 4: 30 p.m.; 11:30am – $ 85. Tickets will be available today, there are booked in advance.
See all the events happening this week in eating
THIS week, visits the neighborhood joint Thistle Hill Bank Tavern in the South. Packets that are too good to be bound by a single ZIP code chef, Rebecca Weizmann "produces" a few missteps, but leaves it with three stars. Dishes like Shane "sort-bellied" harvested in late summer night flecked with tiny tomatoes currant, clusters of corn grains.Space with some locals constitutes, and gastrotourists than just Visual tweaks.[THIS]
Sam Sifton of four star awards to Del Posto, perfect "seat luxury and Barolo, while eating food bewilders, thrills". This is the first Italian to get four stars rating since 1974. [NYT]
Robert Sietsema Vandaag warms to "love [] internal quirkiness" of being Dutch restaurant that eschews the Dutch cuisine.A favorite entrée Sietsema's was "Blade steak with lamb buttery taste ???????? roast-Street ($ 45), served with brioche confit legs made from soft egg-layer."[VV]
Sutton Ryan says outstanding dishes such as chicken soup — "chilli oil slicked, smoked, the abdomen is served with templates of the pigs" — a discriminator Nuela large box from similar "like Tao snorkelling tours or Buddakan."But it is never the space, "a series of red and orange rooms that stimulate set deleted from sex and the city".
Greene Gaël generous too nor cruel cattily Grill Atlantic its Steve Hanson's friend, but it keeps high praise for the award winning pastry chef ", Elizabeth Katz. its chocolate milk crumb tart and cinnamon caramel coupe profiterole sensual probably obscure any disappointments."[Visit spooky]
International Chinese culinary competition
There is a need to tune into the food chain when this action live cooking competition on Times Square. Competitors from around the world prepare foods Chinese five regional styles — Szechuan, Cantonese, Shandong, Huaiyang, up-mobile kitchens, open-air. Watch the free action or skin for VIP seating sampling which accepts and Primo. Award winning chefs will prepare a feast for 10-15 crashes at Pier 60 on Sunday 3 ($ 275). Duffy square.Preliminaries: 11am – 8pm Thursday; VIP 100 $. finals: 10am – 8pm Friday; VIP $ 125; free.
Epicurious Entertains the happening
To celebrate the 15th anniversary, Epicurious takes over the Mansion ???????? vs. for Bender food for four days.Order of emphasis chefs will stop by to conduct seminars, tastings, dinners, including a preview of the Red Rooster (Saturday 7 pm) eat cooked by Marcus Samuelsson.On Sunday, gourmands love they catch the game engines (3) while noshing on barbecue from Hill Country ... visit the full calendar for epicurious.com. Soho Mansion 214 St at Lafayette Kenmare St (866-811-4111). $ 35 – $ 150 for each event.
See all the events happening this week in eating
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Photos: Caroline Voagen Nelson
The forecast of this design to be more than a little gloomy, so the train down to a meal at F hunker intimate Thistle Hill Tavern Park slope.Durable Interior wood dark with details like home images on the walls, you can dig into a new American menu is seasonal surprisingly.Chef Rebecca Weizman (' inoteca) "produces packets that are too good to be bound by a single focus," including fig salad crostini mascarpone buttery "chopped" in light of zesty tomato will show "ricotta topped and lardons ?????? briny Celta, all drizzled with ?????? cooling cucumber sauce."Also on the lift the spirits, wine and beer are from local manufacturers roster. read an overview of THIS three-star has more.
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Photos: Michael Kirby Smith
Boom South food colonizes outpost, this time besides the French fine dining concept at bar Blanc.Claim your seat at a table made from wooden door into such as digging deviled eggs, pimento cheese spread, plus major such as shrimp Grits with shoelaces andouille sauce tomato cocktail list main South. Mason-Dixon, too, emphasize Bourbon in quaffs Lindberg, where the mark as a Maker of blood oranges and muddled with garnished with lime, pickled .142 W 10th St blueberries between Waverly Pl Greenwich Ave (212-255-2330)
Four forty at Royalton
Cocktail menu
Classics: these pay tribute to the cocktail bars are the best hotels from around the world, and be a testimony to the legacy of the bartenders who presided during.
Maiden's prayer (2.)
Jin Cocchi Americano, calvados, liqueur is served with a twist ???.
This Ode virtuous love desires modesty and dates back to the 1930 than Mr. Harry Craddock legendary American bar at the Savoy Hotel in London.
The national hotel in national cocktail
Daiquiri of sorts with dry white rum, fresh organic juices of pineapple, lime, brandy is a touch of sugar.
This is a signature from the beverage and famous Havana Street name.
Michal Pharaoh
Highball Tequila with organic watermelon lime fresh juices, homemade grenadine, cane syrup, a hint of a few dashes of rosewater.
Modern classic hotel ???????? traders are highly lauded in Belfast.
Vieux Carre
Rye whiskey, sweet Vermouth cognac with Peychaud's bitters and Angostura, douche Benedictine on glass.
This ???????? treasure from Monteleone Hotel in New Orleans is served with a twist-cut and hand over a rock of ice.
Champagne Cobbler
Champagne poured out of crushed ice with high above I citrus inside lightly, sugar, Peychaud's bitters, Crown fresh fruit of season.
One of the many distinguished service from the "Professor" Jeremiah p. Thomas during his tenure as Bremen Hotel Metropolitan in New York primary.
Singapore Sling
Plymouth gin, cherry Heering, Cointreau, fresh pineapple juice Bénedictine, organic, homemade grenadine, Angostura bitters, trembling and topped with a soda.
Mr Ngiam Tong boon classic shrine from Raffles Hotel in Singapore's highball sets the standard for all others to follow.
Cocktail-inspired by the original collective comes before all this and so that it can be understood.
Hocus pocus
Gin, sweet Vermouth, Combier, Fernet Branca's unmistakable charm ??? served with an orange twist.
This is a variation of the infamous Hanky Panky ADA Coleman cocktail.
Place the stone
Jamaican rum, fresh squeezed lemon juice, grenadine and orange organic produce home trembling and serviced.
A play on the course classic Ward 8 cocktail.
Another word
Mescal, fresh squeezed lime juice, organic Agave Nectar, yellow chartreuse liqueur Maraschino, shaken and served.
Detroit Athletic Club was the birth of the last Word, which is the inspiration for this new modern favorite.
Italian-American and Reconciliation Commission
Rye whiskey, Amaro Lucano, some homemade house built orgeat served over rock hand-cutting of ice with a washout Sambuca on glass.
A tribute to the old-fashioned necessary indirectly made the famous Waldorf Astoria hotel next to the bar in New York.
Daisy red pepper
Agave Tequila, lime juice and nectar organic fresh-squeezed trembling, and topped with a splash of soda.
Agave-based version to take on a classic piece of sunflower
75 English
Gin, lemon juice, organic fresh raspberries, simple syrup and topped with champagne and rose water.
Reinterpretation of 75 French, whose name is taken from a cannon artillery used during the first world war.
Food
Risotto bug 14.00
I'll start by parmesan, mascarpone, Sage, lemon garlic sweet
BLACK garlic hummus 14.00
Crisps nan, piquillo pepper pickles Israelis and roast salad
Yunnan MANGALICA 19.00
Cure of mountain pasture mountains, imported from Spain
Cheese and toasted 18.00
Triple crème brie Champlain Valley with raisins on vine and Grilled sourdough
Lobster salad 33.00
Fresh Thai basil, artichoke, hen of Misty mushrooms, berries are of crushed
Baby beet salad 14.00
Red, gold with fennel, hearts of Palm, almonds, powdered fennel
Vinaigrette
Hot shrimp cocktail @
Maya shrimp with blood orange, lime black glaze Curry
SEARED tuna @
??????, cumin, Sakura Cress, miso blonde and garlic
Cheeseburgers 18.00
Three sandwiches with jalapeno Jack Pine nut, iceberg lettuce, cornichons,
Dijonnaise
Hot dog 17.00
Sandwich with occupied territory, Emmenthaler, PEAR Asian Brown mustard
FLATBREAD @
Duck confit, goat cheeses, brie, dried cherries, raspberries vinegar syrup
Arctic CHAR 28.73
Slower seed mustard ?????? with caviar, leeks ???????? yogurt sauce
Belly pork 22.00
Soft tacos with lettuce and glacier, pickled garlic, fresh lime
Steak and chips 44.00
Wagyu strip béarnaise butter Brown sliced, fresh potato sticks
Potatoes and
Cheese Jalapeno Jack, plants, herbs, fresh 10.00
Caramelized shallots, Nueske Bacon, dandelions, grain mustard 12.00
Mushrooms, leeks, sprouted pea shoots sauce Jura wine 12.00
Forty-four, 44 W 44th Street between fifth and sixth Aves (212-869-4400)
Jenny-Miller
I'm all Kemah Boardwalk for Wine Festival. Now, many of these type of low-quality wine feature events and depend on the amount of saved the happy drinkers.Not this one, in fact, I'm ... sipping on a glass of Syrah L ' Ecole will not 61 typing this.
Here's a picture to prove it to me this update throughout the day, so check back often.
As the following picture, I have lots of friends drinking today.
I just stopped by Hugo family cellars of Napa, tasted their three suggestions. All were excellent. They were-Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Grenache blend/100% Syrah.Unfortunately they are only available in restaurants.
UPDATE: it's hot! Lots of Sun, a lot of people, and lots of wine. wine tasting after dozen so it's time to vary some people watching, the ice cold water. Then more wine (even if I spit the vast) to celebrate the victory of Toledo in Purdue this afternoon.
UPDATE: I wonder if the recipients that did not appear in the wine or send someone qualified to understand how they are represented in all those things I just was one mispronounce pourer, another take guess Meritage donkey bar in Sonoma when asked what part of their NAPA Winery is in. Two wineries are quite renowned well-respected.
UPDATE: in the evening wine with wine ????? family winery recipients in each Aquarium h. Blanc Sauvignon Crab Bisque is paired with it. Although a little too salty soup be, wine pairing is fantastic.A great wine!
UPDATE: the second course is lobster cannelloni with Chardonnay Girard.The food is good but very spectacular wine is crisp, rich and tasty.Like the previous course, far outpaces wine food.
UPDATE: the third course is short rib meat.Wine pairs perfectly again, but Peyton Manning is like throwing a 50-year-old Bill Schroeder.It may be the points on the Board, but everyone knows who is responsible for them. Hugo family cellars of kicking butt. get yourself some family cellars Adamare. Hugo.
Last UPDATE: last course wine. wine red premium Napa Valley with Girard's Buffalo Ribeye. again, the wine is excellent, but this time the food has a chance. Roberto Duran was Sugar Ray Leonard chance against the second time around this time too. wine is an excellent meat meets. rope like Campbell's sauce sauce (but taste much better) yells "no MAS" before a bout getting ever.
Wine lovers all over the world are celebrating one of the most widely ?????? grapes for the first day of Grenache, the publication in September International today. The late ripening, Grenache grape grows best in hot climates, drying, to live like those of Spain (where it is known as Garnacha), South of France, the San Joaquin Valley in California, but many administration adaptability. Vine bud early, and ripening season long pushes the ??????? in grape high levels and some wines Grenache-based alcohol levels higher, sometimes above 15% ABV.Often blended with Grenache Mourvèdre ??????, adding flavours of ripe strawberry, raspberry melded with a warm, spicy notes. Often describe the dark tour of the South, especially Grenache ??????? Ron French Cotes du Rhone and Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Priorat Spanish.Or Grenache Rouge has served cold, but not less than 45 ° F (27 ° C). red, sweet served between 55 and 65 ° F (14-18 ° c) Grenache
An important point to remember when filing or tasty Grenache is temperature.Remember to keep it cold "." If served too hot, alcohol may seem to be out of balance. or Grenache Rouge has served cold, but not less than 45 ° F (27 ° C).Red, sweet served between 55 and 65 ° F (14-18 ° c) Grenache
International Symposium of Grenache wear together great initiator 2010 Grenache, can be found here, he describes the properties of various types of Grenache, along with the suggested food pairings.
Are we talked about several wines based on another wine blog Grenache:
-Anaba: Earth, wind, my wine glass
-Bonnie green Doon vineyard Le Cigare Volant 2005
Chelsea wine bar-winner corkscrew (oak)
-Pirates, chickens & rubber, Spaniards, Oh my!
-Spring has emerged – white Anaba fusing Coriol
-Grenache Shiraz side of shaving merge
-Plum wine bargain Bleue – great for grilling
-Bargain wine part 2: Press the small basket, James
-Côtes du Rhône villages Séguret, 2001
-A fantastic bargain wine!
For the international day of Grenache, sent us nice people that some wines wines family Hahn-Grenache Limited Edition to help us celebrate the event. you think share them with colourful ???? of Madeleine wine Bistro and Lounge piano in Kemah, where she debuted her autumn menu only.
If you want to be part of the international day of festivities or Grenache wants to learn more visit the website of Grenache.
If you are in Houston, ???? Cafe including lunch, dinner specials to perpetuate ????????? du Hospice is celebrating in Paso Robles, as well as almost on Facebook and Twitter.
Grab your own special blend of Grenache and which one is your favorite!
Grenache le viva!
WineWonkette
We have used three different brands, and would like to share our thoughts on each of them.
The Cuisinart Private Reserve Wine Cellar
Our first wine chiller, I purchased the Cuisinart 6-bottle model as a gift for Joe. At the time we rarely had a lot of extra wine that we needed stores, so a six-bottle model was perfectly adequate to keep our whites chilled and ready for drinking.
Pros: The cost for this model was about $150 at the time. Cuisinart is a well-known company, so I had no qualms about buying from them because we have lots of Cuisinart appliances. The great thing about Cuisinart is their no-hassle warranty program. Their wine chillers are guaranteed for three years so when the first model stopped chilling, it was easy to get a replacement. The folks in the warranty department are friendly and courteous. We just had to pay a shipping charge. In fact they send out the new one, and provide a shipping label and carton for the old one. The temperature can be adjusted with 8 preset temperatures that can switch between Fahrenheit or Celsius. Location is important to make sure any wine refrigerator maintains the optimum storing and serving temperatures and extends the life of the unit.
Cons: The first unit we had stopped cooling after about 18 months. The second unit lasted about another year. While the second unit didn’t stop cooling, it had water pooling in the bottom which then ran out on the floor. Then there was the noise. The relatively quiet model turned into a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde monster that would cycle through noisy to loud. With a brand like Cuisinart you expect a little better quality. They have now discontinued this model and now offer 8, 16 and 32 bottle chillers. I found the 8-bottle model on-line for $155
If you don’t mind the hassle of possibly having the replace the unit midway through the warranty, this isn’t a bad product for the money. The problem may have been limited to the 6-bottle unit, which is still available on-line from a number of vendors. I wouldn’t recommend the 6-bottle unit, but I wouldn’t have a problem buying from Cuisinart again.
Wine Enthusiast Silent 18-Bottle Touchscreen Wine Refrigerator
When our second Cuisinart died around Thanksgiving last year, I hinted to my mother that a great Christmas present might be a new wine fridge. We found one on sale with free shipping for Christmas from Wine Enthusiast on-line. Currently the unit is selling for $249.99 with about $40 shipping cost.
Pros: The Wine Enthusiast 18-bottle model
46-64°F (8-17°C) which is perfect for storing reds and most whites. I love the indentations in the door panel to provide extra room for longer bottles like those used for Riesling. At 25-1/2?H x 14?W x 19-3/4?D it doesn’t take up a lot of space in the room. The digital settings can be changed incrementally and the unit has an interior light.
Cons: While the Wine Enthusiast 18-bottle model does accommodate some longer bottles, it isn’t the best if you want to store larger bottles like those used for champagne or Pinot Noir. It is possible to put perhaps one or two of these bottles in with other narrower 750 ml bottles, as long as you don’t mind the possibility of a scratched up label. All the wire shelves are removable, so you can store the larger bottles with no harm to the labels. However, this may reduce the number of bottles you can store.
Overall, we’re really happy with this wine refrigerator and we would recommend this for anyone who needs a smaller capacity wine storage. You can see multiple views of this model here.
On-line Only Models
This summer we were contacted by an Internet retailer for commercial and residential heating and cooling products. They actually contacted us in two ways. One representative emailed through the website to ask if we would be interested in reviewing one of the wine coolers. She said referenced a recent post on our blog and got our names right. We looked at their website and the products they offered and agreed to receive the wine refrigerator.
The other guy represented himself as a “freelance writer” who thought we might want a guest article. Joe emailed him back and said we would take a look at the article.
My name is XXX and I’m a freelance content writer based in Orange County that has covered various lifestyle topics. I’m also in the process of teaching myself the basics of enjoying fine wines, and recently finished an article that I thought you would be interested in for Another Wine Blog — How to Taste Wine like a Pro, Even if You’re Not.
Since I had read and responded to the product review inquiry and Joe to the guest post, we didn’t immediately notice that his e-mail address was the same as the marketing lady. But being the suspicious lawyer, I decided to run his name through Google. It seems he writes a number of “guests posts” for blogs that all end with a plug for his company. Brilliant, but a bit sleazy. We had already agreed to accept the cooling unit and thought we’d give them the benefit of the doubt – that this was just one rogue employee. Even though both guy and woman contacted us on the same day. His “freelance article” was very basic and didn’t provide anything that we hadn’t already covered. So Joe declined his offer.
We’ve been using this wine refrigerator for over two months now; adequate time to consider it for review.
NewAir Twenty-One Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler
Pros: The AW-210ED NewAir Twenty-One Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cooler has two separate compartments both with adequate room to hold both long Riesling and Eiswein-style bottles as well as sparkling and Pinot Noir bottles without scratching the labels or having to lay them diagonally on the bottom. It’s a compact size measuring 32 1/4? (Height) x 13 1/2? (Width) x 20? (Depth) and weighs just 45 pounds. It operates very quietly, is attractive and has separate controls for each compartment for blue light and temperature. The site lists the price at $285.99 on sale for $219.99. It’s been “on sale” since July and shipping is only $24.95 ground. Wooden racks are also available for an extra $39.95. Those did not come with the review model.
Cons: When we received the unit, I noted the box had been damaged a bit in shipping. Usually this is not a big deal because of all the packaging that comes between the product and the carton. When we opened the box we noted it was very flimsy and the packing was inadequate to protect the unit from damage. In fact, the cat could probably have eaten through the “cardboard” it was so thin. When we removed the unit we found it dented. A notice on the bottom of the box said that all materials and the box must be retained to return the product if damaged. But the box was beyond salvage.
The unit comes unassembled with picture instructions. To attach the handles, you must remove the rubber seal on the door and then replace it. It doesn’t take long to put together, but I would prefer it came assembled. For the first few days the unit would not stay at the temperature set. Although the digital readout goes to 44°F, it kept going back up to 54°F during the day. We decided to give it more time to adjust and try it out. After a few days it stays around 46°F during the day for the top compartment, and 54°F on the bottom.
When I let the representative know that the unit came damaged (because of the inadequate packaging) she offered to send me a label so I could return the unit in its original packaging for a replacement. Since the unit was sent to us for review, and we paid nothing for it, to me it’s not really worth the hassle of returning it since the damage seems to be only cosmetic.
Overall the unit now works well, and for the price is an excellent buy. The blue light is pretty cool. Remember to carefully open the box and SAVE it, in case you need to return it. You can purchase it directly from the folks at Air & Water, Inc. I also found it on-line at Amazon.com
Wine Refrigerator Temperature Controls
Location of the unit is important to make sure any wine refrigerator maintains the optimum storing and serving temperatures. Many of the discount retailers don’t provide this information on their operating instructions or their websites. If at all possible the unit should be closer to an inside north or south facing wall. East or west facing outside walls tend to heat up the room during the day. The room should also be kept at a moderate and consistent temperature.
Nothing should block the vents on the sides and back of the unit. We’d recommend making sure there is at least three inches of space around back and sides of the unit. This means freestanding models cannot be placed in built-in cabinetry, recessed or put underneath a counter. And when you first set it up or move it, make sure to allow the unit to cool to the proper temperatures for several hours before putting wine into it.
For more information on proper storing and serving temperatures, check out our previous posts:
– Another Wine Byte #4 – Temperature Tips
- Serving Temperatures Can Affect Tasting Results
- The Downside of Wine Clubs
Cheers!
The WineWonkette
Fresh from a late night viewing of “The People v. Larry Flynt,” I noticed a Google alert, “Winemaker Sues Anonymous Commenters on Wine Blog.” A few clicks later I find out that Charles Smith of K Vintners filed a complaint and caused subpoenas to be served on Google to get the IP addresses of the anonymous commenters. But since we’ve been running around all over the city of Houston like a chicken with its head cut off attending wine and beer tastings and dinners, I didn’t have time to gather all the facts.En route to event number 7 in as many days, I argued with Joe that this was not so much about whether Smith “had a case;” whether he could actually get IP addresses and identity of the anonymous commenters, or whether Google was even a proper party to subpoena. But the issue here, of which I had serious concern; was the potential effect of such a suit on blogs. Would they cease to issue negative reviews? Would they start writing only fluff about wines and winemakers? And would anyone who felt a blog had “libeled” him by criticizing his wines or his skill as a winemaker now feel empowered to file suit against the blog writer.
Much of it was self-serving. Because, again, whether or not the plaintiff had a snowball’s chance in Hell of winning was not the point. Because the law doesn’t matter when you’re dealing with unpaid bloggers who write for the love of the wine and the passion of sharing their knowledge with others. Let me repeat that: Who is wrong or right really doesn’t matter. This is what $60,000 in loans and 3 years of law school teaches you. It is the suit itself that matters. Whether some winemaker with hurt feelings has a case doesn’t matter. What matters is the hassle, the time and the money in responding to a frivolous lawsuit.
Because that’s what a libel law suit is really about. It is designed to punish the critic, and quash the criticism.
This morning I decided to peruse the blogosphere. And what I noticed was that while everyone en masse was writing another “He’ll never win” post; no one was providing details on what caused Mr. Smith to get his panties in a bunch. Everyone was dancing around the story. No one was writing about the substance of the complaint.
What I found was a big steaming pile of chickenshit.
And we don’t serve that here at Another Wine Blog.
Let me just say, after reading the blog post, the comments and the complaint, I can tell you Smith’s suit is not totally without merit. “John Does 1-10? cited in the complaint did besmirch Smith’s reputation in that the commenter or commenters allege that the renowned Wild Hair Jus Savant is not really the winemaker for K Vintners. Quoting from the comment on July 21, 2010:
Anonymous said…
Chuck is a lot of things…but seldom the winemaker…this is a fact. I have known him for years so I will also be anonymous. That he is highly successful speaks more about the business he is in and he knows that. He is just selling widgets to the masses in a style that makes them buy. That is the beauty of America.
This isn’t simply Larry Flynt lampooning Jerry Falwell. In Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (1988) Falwell sued (quoting the Supreme Court decision) “to recover damages for, inter alia, libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress arising from the publication of an advertisement “parody” which, among other things, portrayed respondent as having engaged in a drunken incestuous rendezvous with his mother in an outhouse.” There is a point in the movie where Flynt’s attorney, played by the talented Edward Norton asks if anyone would actually believe that Rev. Falwell (whom in later years my own father was quite often mistaken for by strangers on airplanes) actually committed incest with his mother in an outhouse. Therein was the crux of the case. You see, if no one could possibly believe the cartoon, then there would be no damage to the Reverend’s reputation.
To prove libel, you must prove malice, and intentional or reckless disregard for the truth. To boil this down, it means you knew something was a lie, and to be mean, you printed it anyway, intentionally to hurt the reputation of someone. Or you had a pretty good idea it was untrue, but didn’t care and printed it anyway. What is a libel law suit really about? It's about punishing the critic and quashing the criticism.
There are several ways to defend yourself against a libel charge. If the person is a public figure, who has actively put himself in the public eye say by running for office or hosting a talk show, it’s much harder to prove malice. That’s why even though probably malicious; blatherings from a faux News Anchor about the President’s religion or his citizenship cannot be considered libelous. Because the President put himself into the limelight by the mere fact the he campaigned for and overwhelmingly won the highest office in the land.
Fair comment or opinion can be a defense. If a blogger comments that he finds a particular wine flawed or undrinkable, that’s clearly an opinion, and being offered as such. If one says, “this winemaker is an arrogant asshat” that again is opinion, and also fair comment if the winemaker has put himself out as an humble and congenial guy.
Then there is the truth. Say we dine at the New York restaurant of a 5-star chef on an evening when he is in Los Angeles. We write “Chef So-and-So obviously didn’t cook this fabulous meal, he was only the inspiration or the recipe writer.” If we could show that indeed the Chef was not in New York, we’d have the truth on our side.
Say one comments that a particular winemaker is not the only person involved in the winemaking. That he has many talented individuals working for him that contribute to the quality and success of the wine. Unless said wine is a one-man operation, the comment technically would be true. Perhaps a young winemaker compares herself to Helen Turley. And a blogger posts, “she is no Helen Turley.” Or if the bar for winemaker is set at Helen Turley, then perhaps the blogger opines about the novice, she’s no winemaker.
Now the erudite Miss Winemaker may be embarrassed. Her feelings may be hurt. She may be furious because she was disrespected in front of her peers, fans or loyal subjects. But in all probability the Court would not find find malice, nor libel.
The commenter or blogger is really only stating an opinion.
Also probably not libel in the eyes of the court.
What is puzzling here, is that why Mr. Smith would feel it necessary to file suit, unless it was the quash criticism, or perhaps scare Mr. Gray who had written a less-then-charitable accounting of his visit to K Vintners. Mr. Gray depicted Smith as a cartoon character, posting unattractive pictures that compared Smith to the Japanese cartoon character pet Pikachu. Perhaps negative in some adult eyes, understandable given Mr. Gray’s self-reported affinity for Japan.
My father had a favorite phrase when we children took offense at some trivial slight; “Thou protesteth too loudly!” (My Dad was all about using King James English in his pet phrases). What he meant by this was, that if untrue, then why were we taking such issue with it? Why not just laugh it off? Turn the other cheek? Chalk it up to jealousy, or in this case, probably some disgruntled employee?
By calling such loud attention to…I mean really…blog comments; is this just a ploy for attention?
Is it generating more publicity for someone already known as a “master promoter”? It was in his venue, that we encountered Big John Bates and the lovely Tristan Risk.
Is it crying “wolf”?
Because, to me, it plants in the wine drinkers’ mind a reasonable doubt that what has been put forth as true is false, and what is accused to be false, is perhaps, indeed, true.
What do you think?
Cheers!
The WineWonkette
Here’s a video where another famous guy got his feelings hurt…
As I said before, I was never a beer drinker. Good except for the time this law school when I was better off skipping "bong" beer. But I love learning about new things and tasty, so when people love us to participate in the central market Brewtopia discover, as we said, "of course!"Wednesday kicked off the week with Beer Festival celebration. Frankly, I was there for the cheese. Ask anyone who knows me; I like cheese. In fact, the late father of Joe teased me that every time someone announced were hungry before dinner, I would tell them to give ' a piece of cheese!"But in the spirit of the evening featured beer tasted each, and I ended up bringing 4 selections 8 home with me!
Save now remember I'm not a beer, so most of these beers may not be serious hophead. but if you feel a little adventurer simply recommended to try them.
Porter vanilla Breckenridge
My favorite was the pair of evening beer, chocolate!The chef prepare chocolate bread pudding with chocolate beer that seems to have found a prescription of Jamie Oliver in The Times online.With this decadent dessert of Breckenridge was Porter Brewery from Denver, Colorado vanilla. people all this one like the brewery describe with all the beer nut chocolate and roasted flavor of Porter classic, mysterious surprise of vanilla bean. I can't do much else. Cheese dairy cheese pairings try triple crème Brie or Butterkase, ????????, semi-soft cow's made in Germany and Austria. Set of six decreases in $ 8.99.
Brooklyn beer Brown
Suggested another beer genuinely loves it Brooklyn Brewery beer Brown from Manhattan in New York this is until a. chocolate, fruit, caramel and coffee. It is rich, smooth taste of malt with a complex.Brooklyn Brewery says this one as a holiday special beers and now one of their most popular beers throughout the year. Great pairings include Kolbe, Gloucester, Cheddar cheese. Works well with salami, mustard, Bavaria too!
Wild Blueberry blue Lager
We still get concerned about beer served at pumpkin I tailgate in October about 10 years.I was a bit hesitant to try beers ????? as, even if he was of the bottle. 
But Wild blue Blueberry Lager was too tempting to pass, especially with all this thanks to the ladies on the venture to guess that I mainly chic "beer." Wild Blue Blue Dog cooking stems in Baldwinsville, New York. I love the label on this Lager that strange metaphors and whimsical ???????? taste blueberries with American and German premium hops, barley malt, cereal grains. In 8 percent alcohol by volume, is at the higher of these can be tasted. Recommended pairings are fresh mascarpone Mozarella. I loved him with fresh Chèvre also. Central market includes the price of 7.99 per package in six.
Magic Hat # 9 – not pale beer
Joe likes IPAs. but they are much more "me too" hoppy. This is why I love the magic Hat # 9 from Burlington, Vermont.And of course the label.Haight Asbury-?????, Martin laugh * within one.In fact, another tasty guy he talked about time stuck on 4: 20 p.m. the corner of the famous "which recalls the 1967 summer of love" in San Francisco.# 9 is crisp, refreshing, "???????, not quite pale beer." some people love the magic Hat awesomely fun Web site with the recipe of the Mole Chicken paired with # 9.Tasted it with a bit of brie.Other suggested pairings: mascarpone. price per package in six 8.99.
Stone Smoked Porter
Now is the capital of the man I loved him too, as said in the old Irish spring ads.Dark, rich and smooth, with flavors of coffee is, chocolate with subtle smokiness. This is a pressure for the first beer, because I love dark beer with the head of the American ???????? weights. Porter Escondido, California, this served in North County San Diego he was originally in December 1996 and was climbing back and when people love most, in fact, the u.s. could illustrate the dream of prosperity and sustainable economy. years Clinton.Before the next guy decided all credit cards max out of America.
But I digress. love Gargoyle on the label. is smoked meat pairs well with, Taleggio, one of the oldest soft cheeses, Ascher-caves by tradition is sold fresh beers on tap. on 22-ounce bottles only 5.9% ABV., and also one bottle 22-oz 4.29 Houston market.
Discover Brewtopia central market passes through 5 October, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Texas Southlake, but these beers are available nationwide. for more information about events in Texas, see our previous post to discover Brewtopia.
Life!
WineWonkette
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* Cutting edge was laughter when Joe and I were my parents children rarely let me watch it he was challenging the way "stand up" before Saturday night Live, MTV, daily show, I cannot imagine a thing allowed networks – what standard white bread and three real housewives or daughter dancing Fox did a 15-minutes-of-famer.
Check it out.
