Q. With spring here, what roses are you excited to start drinking?
A. It’s early in rose season, so many of the new vintages are not out, but here are a few perennial favorites and a couple early releases.
Patrick Bottex La Cueille Bugey Cerdon Rose, Savoie, France ($19)
Technically, I’m cheating a little bit here, but this is my favorite year-round sparkling rose. A blend of Gamay and Poulsard that’s just slightly off dry, this is the perfect low-alcohol aperitif wine, especially on the rocks.
Bermejo 2011 Rosado Canary Islands, Spain ($28)
Listan negro vines planted on volcanic ash that resemble craters on some unknown planet. This is always a favorite for its smoky, earthy nose and bright fruit.
Matthiasson 2012 Rose Napa, California ($28)
I’ve been falling hard for everything that the Matthiassons put out, especially the 2012 rose. 100% Syrah, packed with a salty minerality and touch of herbaceousness.?
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence, France (~$42)
This is one of the great roses of the world and its release is something I look forward to every year. Mostly old-vine Mourvedre with a touch of Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignan.? Great on release, but this is a rose that’s worthy of some cellaring.?
Chateau Sulauze Karina et Guillaume Lefevre Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Pomponette Rose, Provence, France (~$16)
Classic Provence rose. Salty, fresh, floral and delicious. This is has already made its way into my fridge for the rest of the season.
Wine Director’s Recs | NYC
Spices at Kalustyan’s
Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.
Find | Markets & Shops
Bedford Cheese Shop
In Williamsburg, it’s definitely a favorite of mine. Beyond the obvious reason for visiting, the cheese, you could spend an afternoon browsing everything from specialty mayonnaise and mustard to canned seafood from Spain.
67 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003 | T: 718.599.7588
141 N 4th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211 | T: 718.599.7588
bedfordcheeseshop.com
Kalustyan’s
It is without a doubt the best spice shop in the city. It’s a hidden gem where you can find some of NYC’s best chefs buying things like Cubeb berries and tricolour couscous.
123 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016
T: 212.685.3451 | kalustyans.com
Cocktail Kingdom
Building a home bar and need to know the history of a sherry cobbler?? If so, you need to spend some time at Cocktail Kingdom. They have everything from bitters and jiggers to a library of vintage cocktail books.
T: 212.647.9166 | cocktailkingdom.com
Wine at Chambers Street Wines
Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.
Find | Wine Shops
Vine Wine
My go-to wine shop in Brooklyn. I am biased because it’s my neighborhood shop but, objectively, they have the best domestic section in town.
616 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
T: 718.349.1718 | vine-wine.com
Chambers Street Wines
A store with a real point of view that’s powerful enough to influence trends. Their selection from the Loire Valley is particularly impressive and you can always find a bottle with some age on it without breaking the bank.
148 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007
T: 212.227.1434 | chambersstwines.com
Flatiron Wines & Spirits
Owned by the same people behind UVA in Williamsburg, it’s a new favorite of mine. They’ve taken their preference for both funky and classic to a larger space with a larger collection.
929 Broadway, New York, NY 10010
T: 212.477.1315 | flatiron-wines.com
Rouge Tomate
Photograph courtesy of Rouge Tomate
Eat | Restaurants To Take A Visiting Sommelier
Rouge Tomate
The list at Rouge Tomate is definitely one of the most inspiring in the city. Sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier has done a great job assembling a list of wines that she is truly passionate about. Which, speaking of, don’t leave without asking her about Chenin Blanc.
10 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022
T: 646.237.8977 (make a reservation) | rougetomatenyc.com
Maison Premiere
This is perhaps the one place where I could literally drink everything on the list. It’s exactly the sort of collection you’d want to see at an oyster bar. Think grower Champagne, more than 30 bottlings of Muscadet, white Burgundy and a short list of Sherry, all priced well.
298 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211
T: 347.335.0446 | maisonpremiere.com
Pearl & Ash
Patrick Cappiello, beverage director at The New York Palace Hotel, took on the list as a side project, turning it into a downtown version of an uptown list. Lots of classic wines with age mixed with quirky, small producers from Europe with very low prices.
220 Bowery, New York, NY 10012
T: 212.837.2370 | pearlandash.com
15 East
There is perhaps no other place in town that you can have a better sake experience thanks to sommelier Hiromi Kiyama, who is both passionate and has a real talent for pairing.
15 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003
T: 212.647.0015 (make a reservation) | 15eastrestaurant.com
The Beagle
Photograph courtesy of The Beagle
Drink | Wine
The Beagle
It’s more cocktail bar than wine bar, but partner Dan Greenbaum is a lover of sherry and has put together a great little list of sherry by the glass.
162 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
T: 212.228.6900 | thebeaglenyc.com
Anfora
This one is obvious. Great glass pours with a cool, enthusiastic staff to boot.
34 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10014
T: 212.518.2722 | anforanyc.com
Cocktails at The Shanty
Photograph courtesy of The Shanty
Drink | Cocktails
The Shanty
The Shanty in Brooklyn is bit off the beaten path, but worth the trek. It’s connected to New York Distilling Co, so there’s a chance to taste through some of their own spirits, but the cocktails are the real draw.
79 Richardson Street, New York, NY 11222
T: 718.878.3579 | nydistilling.com/the-shanty
Clover Club
The quintessential New York cocktail bar. I should warn you that this is not a one cocktail-type place. Go for one and you’ll end up staying for three. It’s the sort of bar you’ll want to camp at.
210 Smith Street, New York, NY 11201
T: 718.855.7939 | cloverclubny.com
Amor y Amargo
The amari and bitters-inspired cocktails at the tiny East Village cocktail bar are truly unique. If you like negronis and you drink amari after dinner, this is about the best place to snag a cocktail on the east side.
443 East 6th Street, New York, NY 10009
T: 212.614.6817 | amoryamargo.com
Reynard in Brooklyn
Photograph courtesy of Reynard
Drink | Beer
Reynard
I absolutely love the beer list at Reynard in Brooklyn. It offers a lot of variety, but is still approachable and well organized enough that it isn’t intimidating.
80 Wythe Avenue, New York, NY 11211
T: 718.460.8004 | reynardsnyc.com
DBGB
DBGB has one of the most extensive beer lists in the city with dedicated beer sommelier, Jon Langley, to guide you. If you’re curious about beer, let Langley take you on a journey.
299 Bowery, New York, NY 10003
T: 212.933.5300 (make a reservation) | dbgb.com
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