FOOD WINE AND FRIENDS...

Last Wednesday I can honestly say was one of the top days of my life. Crazy to think that with what i've been through and experienced in my life, but like i said before...it's all about the little things in life for me. i don't need much to be happy.

The day started with exciting energy. I couldn't really sleep much the night before. Peter Figge, viticuluralist, winemaker, my mentor and friend would be stopping in at my family's shop in the morning while working the LI marketplace with his Figge Cellars Wines. The wines i am extremely familiar with being that i have worked the past 2 harvests under his tutelage. An amazing experience when dealing with producing two single vineyard Chardonnays, 2 single vineyard Pinot Noirs and a single vineyard Syrah. 5 wines totaling no more than 2,500 cases total production across the board. It was at Figge Cellars that i was able to create my brainchild The iNTERN... more on that another time...Peter has never set foot in our shop, he has never met my parents, and although he has heard alot about both, i was excited he would finally be able to experience GRAM...I tasted through his current releases with him, and upon my father's arrival decided it would be best to celebrate this fantastic ocasion with a bottle of Pehu - Simonet Selction Brut Grand Cru Champagne from Verzenay...after all a toast had to be made...and as far as the Pehu is concerned....supermodels walking on clouds in your mouth...i'm stealing that line from the man who owns and runs Sheamaldi Farms. What better way to celebrate than with some FARMER FIZZ YO???

Figge went on with his day seeing accounts on Eastern Long Island....i went on with mine planning out my flights to CA for blending the 09s as well as Oregon for the Oregon Pinot Camp 2010 that takes place at the end of June, also working at the shop and killing time untill the big dinner at Mosaic. I arrived at Mosaic 2 hours early brandishing 2 more bottles of Pehu-Simonet. Wanted to make sure they would be properly chilled for the guests. Wednesday night was Figge and Friends Night at Mosaic. Before the guests arrived a few friends came early bringing with them amazing treats, some SHIBUMI oyster, as well as fantistic whites from the Michael Skurnik portfolio. So we began while waiting for everyone else to arrive:

Chateau du Rouet Reservee Tradition Cotes the Provence Rose: about a 60/40 blend of Grenache and Syrah, beautiful salmon color, and an intense nose with hints of blueberries and raspberries. The palate is fruity elegant and fresh, gaining notable volume mid palate giving it a long and lingering finish. What a perfect spring into summer wine.

Domaine Nebut Saint-Pourcain Blanc "Tressalier des Graviers: 100% Tressalier... tired of boring whites that do absolutely nothing for you?? this one is delightful. Fun and bright clean nose with dlicate hazlenut aromoas, fun citric and mineral mouthfeel and and aweosme finish.....only 40ha remain planted of this variety in the world...

Domaine Mardon Quincy "Tres Vieilles Vignes": 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire made from 80+ year old vines, candied almond citrus nose, fresh fruit bursts open wide in the mouth and the elegant rich mouth feel leads way to a lingering finish.
Domaine Sauvete Sauvignon de Touraine "Oneiros" : 100% Sauvignon Blanc completely organically and biodynamically farmed... all i can say is heeellllooooo...the aromatics on the nose are brilliantly striking and wildly incredible...candied lemon rinds, notes of tarragon, rosemary, olive and pine, the mouth feel had Sancerre-like depth, precision and clenliness with an amazing lingering finish.

Domaine du Tunnel (Stephane Robert) Saint-Peray Cuvee Marsanne: 100% Marsanne...beautiful clean and pure nose with cool expressions, coupled with an intense floral aroma, as well as aromas of acacia honey, white peach, plum and spice, in the mouth its volume and plumpness evolve swirling with floral characters and pleasant hints of white flowers and honey with discreet wood tones, and a lasting finish...the wine seduces pure and sumple....

It was at this time that everyone bagan arriving, and as people filled their seats the bottls were passed around for everyone to taste...People pretty much brought bottles to share and in all that night 33 bottles of wine and champagne were consumed. I can sit here and fill you in on each one individually but that would get boring real fast... all i am going to say is the evening featured 15 people all very dear friends of mine, 8 coursed of amazing and always interesting and awesome food from the boys at Mosaic...and when you bring together that many people who love and enjoy wine and food and each others company, the evening lends it self to be unforgetable and a once in a lifetime experience for sure...story of my life, food wine and friends...cheers.

SPRING INTO IT...

Yes i know...shame on me !

it's been ridiculously long since I've posted on here.... no excuses play like a champion right?

truth be told...this past month every night has been blog worthy...between the company of celebrities, famous chefs, and ridiculous wines i have had the pleasures of enjoying... i can say that i feel like if i blogged each night it would be more like bragging...I'm OK with that...but the truth is i got tied up...it's hard enough for me to keep all my days in order, with deadlines for the shop website, the intern website, as well expansion projects, putting together wine dinners, wine lists for a few small clients, tending to the 09 harvest currently in barrel, OPC 2010 approaching, weddings in NY weddings in CA, industry wine tastings,the list goes on, i need to hire a freaking secretary. Let it be known that i am back in the swing of things now...I've found a really awesome rhythm and i can make this work....i have to go and get some work done right now but stay tuned and I'll fill you in on one of the best nights of my life...15 people 8 courses and 33+ wines.... it's good to be back. time to spring into it. Cheers

Same Old Perspective...Brand New Set Of Eyes.

It's been quite the week. I spent Monday working all day at the shop. Tuesday came and i found myself running around all over the island. Running deliveries helping out with some errands threw in a job interview in there as well as stopped by a few dealerships to test drive some cars. Its time for something new. By the end of the day i found myself in Waterzooi in Garden City...one of the most fantastic Belgian Bistros i have ever stepped foot in. A Euro chic lounge with a sleek and sophisticated atmosphere, 130 Belgian beers tap and bottle action. A ridiculous selection of mussels done any which way you can imagine. I didn't go there for food. I went for the beer. I started with the Pauwel Kwak on tap...one of my favorite Belgian Ales...and not because it's served in a cool test tube bubble looking glass with a cool wooden stand and handle...its cloudy orange amber color, raw sugar cane sweetness with a touch of cider and hops always seems to excite me. My father introduced me to it many years ago when i would meet him for lunch here. Of course that was where the night began, and it would end in Babylon, with Guinness pints that had shamrocks and harps drawn in the foam, shots of Paddy Irish whiskey which finally made it's return to the US market right in time for the big holiday, and a Bourbon vs Whiskey test that i passed with flying colors, and put me on the brink of extinction. But i am Polish, and we Polaks have 2 livers not one.

Wednesday morning i found myself on the 910am train to NYC for the Michael Skurnik Grand Portfolio tasting.. I learned a lesson quickly that morning: It raises some eyebrows when someone gets on the train in a suit for their morning commute with a mini keg of Mexican Beer on their shoulder. That shoulder was mine, the beer a Modelo Especial tall boy...the stares and looks? priceless. I needed something refreshing to offset the balance between dehydration and that funny feeling in my head. It worked perfectly!!!

Upon arrival to the tasting i immediately found myself with a glass of Pehu Simonet Champagne...it was once described to me a supermodels walking on clouds...i couldn't agree more. what a way to start?!!! All the hype and excitement was all over the keg wines. A free flow system that allows restaurants to pour wines on tap....what a great solution to a wine by the glass program. It's not exactly a new concept...Todd Rushing of Concentrics Restaurants who i hung out with at the tasting has been doing this for the last 5 years down in Atlanta and one of his restaurants pours 42 wines on tap, 21 reds and 21 whites. It's amazing that NYC has not caught on to this just yet....but it's happening. Dan Donahoe of Teira Wines and a dear friend of mine kegs his Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. I also got to try a Finger Lakes Riesling on tap too!! Known as the Gotham Project it's the brainchild of Charles Bieler (of Bieler Rose from Provence as well as one of the Three Thieves) and Bruce Schneider of Schneider Vineyards on Long Island. The wine comes in 20 Liter tanks (about 26 bottles) , and from what i gathered from talking to the boys any kegorator with a nitrogen tank hook up is capable of pouring these wines. Summertime...hmmm anytime House Parties will never be the same...at least not at my house! I spent the rest of the tasting wandering around and hanging out with the likes of Mario Marengo of Marco Marengo a Piedmont Estate producing some of the most stylish and characterful wines in the region, from Dolcettos through to their fantastic Barolos. Got to chat a bit with Cathy Corison Winemaker and Proprietor of Corison from Napa Valley. Hung out with Jasmine Hirsch who is the director of sales for her family's Hirsch Winery out in California. Sexy seductive and stylish. I'm talking about the Pinot Noirs that are made at her family's winery. Chatted up a storm with Joel Gott another one of the Three Thieves. He was there with his wines as well as SKURNIK sweat bands. I was delighted to be able to spend some time with Laely Heron. A darling of a woman who creates some fantastic wines around the world at tremendously firendly price points. The Heron wines do quite well at our shop. Even got to hang with Rod Stewart who dropped by to taste some wines...

It was a day of tasting and a day of mingling, but nothing does the body good like a liquid pint of Guinness when its all said and done. Nothing better than a cold pint of delish beer after a long day of palate fatigue and wine tasting. It was even better to do it on the roof of a pretty chill spot. The Perfect Pint on 45th and 3rd. Car bombs were necessary and of course there was a discount if we got 10. so naturally we ordered 10 at a time. there were only 6 of us so someone had to pick up the slack...it came natural for me to simply do 3 in a row... All this followed by a lovely train ride back to the Island featuring a pretty wicked play list and a much needed nap.

Cheers

Please Watch the Gap!

I know i know...almost a week between entries...crazy...but what can i say...it's my life. It's all a blur. From nights in the city to working like crazy, i haven't had the time to write a single entry. Everything is settling down now. Lots of things brewing and swirling today as a result of my weekend activities, and functions i attended. Keep your fingers crossed.

Life is grand. Really i have no complaints. This past weekend i got to attend a charity dinner for the Association for Children with Down Syndrome (ACDS) to which i donated a basket that received some high acclaim- of wine and gift certificates to some restaurants. The event blew my mind. I have been to many charity dinners in the past...but to see a turn out of over 500 people was just incredible. I met a lot of wonderful people, and as a result have quite a few things going for myself on the side. - business wise of course- camon what else did you think???!

The best part of the weekend for me was overseeing Sheamaldi Farms. The couple that owns it left for Florida for the weekend. I in turn inherited a lovely house, 2 amazing dogs, 4 chickens and 4 ducks to tend to. The best part is that it's located on the North Fork...out East in Baiting Hollow in a private community with a 7 minute walk to the beach. Even better? the fact that this weekend the weather was amazing. Sunrises on the beach with the dogs were amazing. The stars at night as bright as i can ever remember here on the Island. I spent the first night there with some close friends who stopped by and we all enjoyed ourselves as well as some fantastic wine. The rest of the weekend it was just me. i was alone with no distractions, no one to bother me no one to tell me what to do and i had plenty of wine to keep me company by the fire. Nothing crazy just your standard 00 Brane - Cantenac, 01 Allegrini Amarone, 03 Smith - Haut Lafite, OK so maybe not your standard, but mine for sure... i cooked up a storm of food for myself as well.I took care of their dogs, their ducks and their chickens too...i wasn't kidding when i said it was a Farm.

Stay tuned...I'm putting together a post about the Skurnik tasting, my new glasses (eye glasses not wine glasses) Irish car bombs and other wonderful things.

Cheers.

East End. Wine Begin.

Early morning starts are not a new thing to me.

Yesterday I took my girls for a walk at 5am. I have two labs a black Luna and a chocolate Sunshine. They are mushy and have way too much energy sometimes. So i like to wear them out in the morning with a long and brisk walk. On good to fair weather mornings we walk all the way down to the bay and i let them run wild off the leash on the beach. Yesterday was a good morning.I had an early 8:32AM meeting at the store with one of the proprietors of Sheamaldi Farms in the morning. He happens to be my wine rep for Michael Skurnik Wines, and he had some fantastic gems for me to try....i know what you are thinking...wines at 8:32AM?!?! ...sounds crazy yes. But try it first before you knock it. My palate is fresh and ready to go. I always seem to be able to taste more out of a wine in the morning rather then later in the day.

With the wines we visited Italy: Umbria and Tuscany as far as the regions are concerned. First up there was the Cantina Fratelli Pardi Rosso di Montefalco from Umbria. Umbria is a region of Central Italy bordered by Tuscany to the west, the Marche to the east and Lazio to the south. Mostly hilly or mountainous the topography is dominated by the Apennines to the east. It is the only Italian region which is both landlocked and with no common border with other countries. The Rosso di Montefalco, a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, 10% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon fermented in stainless steel, after which it aged 18 months, 70% in large casks and 30% in stainless steel vats. It glows with a rich ruby color. Its lush and fruity with delightful notes of fresh cherries and raspberries with very awesome herbal notes- that give it an amazing rustic old world feel. - silky tannins and fresh acidity. Breakfast of champions! haha

Tuscany or Toscana as the Italians refer to it is roughly triangular in shape and situated between the northern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the central Apennines, surrounded and crossed by major mountain chains, and with few yet very fertile plains, the region has a relief that is dominated by hilly country. The Bibi Graetz Casamatta is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, and comes from a variety of young vineyards located in different zones of important traditions such as the Sieci, Siena and Maremma, and reconfirms the exceptional nature of the Tuscan territory. It reflects the philosophy which holds a strict emphasis on territory and tradition. The wine boasts an intense super ruby red color. A very concentrated nose, rich dark and earthy. Old world style in a new world frame of mind. Bibi grew up in a world of canvases and paint brushes in an artistic family and has since transferred his creativity from paintings to grape vines. All his wine labels feature his incredible artwork. The wine is medium bodied on the full side. Rich and earthy and complex. Gnarly dark fruits sing on the palate and the finish is quite fantastic as well. Amazing considering it retails under $12. A perfect everyday drinking wine that will leave you beyond satisfied.

The day would only get better. Headed out east to Long Island wine country. There was no plan. I stopped in at Osprey's Dominion and managed to catch the wine maker Adam tasting through the most current vintages that will be released shortly. I joined him and we tasted thorough all the wines. It's one of my favorite wineries on the Island simply because they keep their price points very reasonable and the wines are pretty good. I spent a good amount of time picking Adam's brain about how he handles the volatile Long Island climate, and why he chose to make wine here on Long Island rather than somewhere else like California. After a fun tour of the winery and some tank samples of things he is working on I started heading back west and popped into Bedell Cellars. Bedell's owner, Michael Lynne, former Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of New Line Cinema and Executive Producer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, is raising the bar for quality among Long Island wine estates. He has installed a world-class wine making team led by Consulting Oenologist Pascal Marty, formerly of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Founding Winemaker Kip Bedell, Winemaker Kelly Urbanik -first ever female to be hired on Long Island, and industry veteran Vineyard Manager Dave Thompson. The tasting room and the rest of the facility is gorgeous clean and immaculate. The wines speak for themselves. Surely the price points due as well, but its definitely a stop worthwhile making on the east end.

Here are some truths and facts people may not know about Long Island Wine Country. It's not NAPA it's not Sonoma, as a matter of fact it's not California period. Nor is it Burgundy, Bordeaux, or any other part of France. It's Long Island people. A very young region with a lot of growing up to do that has made pretty big strides over the last decade. The maritime climate the terroir all give its wines charm that stands out. For Long Islanders it's a fun and delightful day out in the Fall, Summer, Spring or even Winter. Enjoying all that the region has to offer.The Long Island Wine Country scene is exploding. The wines are getting much better and it will soon be a region spoken of on global terms. Cheers

NEW YORK STATE OF MiND.

Amazing how after a very uneventful day of pretty much nothing one can find himself in a whirlwind of incredible spectacular and fantastic proportions. I took yesterday off from work did not really feel up to going in. After busting my ass in the morning to take care of all the necessary phone calls to all the necessary people business related mostly of course I decided to go out and enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful weather that had presented itself. I drove east. and kept driving until i reached the end. Montauk. What a beautiful little town. How amazing it is to stand on the rocks under the lighthouse watch the fishermen fish and the surfers do their thing. There was a bit of a swell and a few long boarders took in some waves. You are overcome with a peace about yourself a tranquility that is hard to put into words. You close your eyes you smell the fresh air, you hear the waves crash and the seagulls shriek...I never want to leave Montauk when i get here. But it's always fun to make a half day of it. Yeah..I know it sounds weird to make a half day of a trip that takes two hours one way and sometimes more. I have done it way too many times. I've even done half nights of it in the past. Drive out just to see the sun come up. A spectacle i recommend to witness at least once in your life. Do it for yourself.

I got home and got to relax. Read some emails, made some more calls, NY, CA, even Europe. As I prepared to head to the airport i noticed the sun had begun to set, I ventured to the south shore, sat on a snowy sand filled beach and watched the sun go down...the vivid pastel colors that illuminated the sky were breathtaking, the air was fresh, crisp and a little cool. I live for moments like this. As i was about to head west for the airport i was pleasantly surprised that as sundown was winding to a close and day turned into night the moon began to make its steady rise into the night sky. I couldn't help myself. I sat there and gazed at it in amazement. It was enormous, to the naked eye it looked like it may have been a full moon, but to someone who knows better and the fact that the full occurred one day earlier, you could see the faintest filing that was missing from making it complete. It rose with a faint orange-like glow to it like ruby red grapefruit...and as it ascended into the night sky it continued to shine eventually getting whiter and smaller. At this point I was running late. I scurried up the beach jumped in my car and booked it to the Airport. As luck would have it there was no traffic and I made incredible time.

Did I mention how much I hate LGA?? Yep..Not a fan. It seems like it much harder and more confusing to navigate than JFK. And it smells funny and is just down right dirty and scummy. People watching at the airport is always fun though, any airport will do. So I waited and upon retrieving my friend who i haven't seen in over 5 years we headed west to NYC. There was a lot of excitement in the air and a lot of incredibly positive and amazing energy. I knew it would be a great night.

We landed on the Upper West Side. That's where my friend will be staying for the next 5 days before heading back to California. I was already scheduled to meet up with some industry professionals at various wine bars, to hang out shoot the shit and discuss wine and other opportunities. But we decided to grab a beer and catch up. Sure we've been in touch over the years via face book and what not. Nothing more fun than an ice cold pint and a good conversation to catch up on all the on goings of our lives. My night was just beginning.

Jet lagged my friend decided to call it a night and crash out. I ventured onward. Shot way down town to a cool little spot called COUNTER.Organic Wine and Martini Bar.Vegetarian Bistro. It's on 1ST Ave between 6th and 7th street. It's chic elegant and modern and rather elegant. The wine list is dedicated to bio-dynamic, organic and sustainable wines. They make their own signature vodka infusions that produce some pretty wicked martinis. I met there with a few people of various positions from various restaurants. There was a sous chef, a few servers, hosts and two sommeliers. We sat around discussed wine and wine culture. Where it has been and where it is going on the domestic as well as international standpoint. Everyone put in their two cents. I reserved myself a bit not wanting to put too much of what i thought into the mix. Not because I feel like I know more, i simply felt like they had very opinionated views. Views that you can get just from reading a wine publication magazine. I simply played along. We finished off the night at Aroma Kitchen and Wine Bar. 4th St. between Lafayette and Bowery. Being that its a place established by a lovely couple who grew up in the Mediterranean and have brought their culinary passion and love of wine to NY. Upon entry, I knew immediately i came to a place i would like. This was well before i looked at their eclectic and fun wine list. The interior was rustic with urban accents, exposed brick, a gorgeous wood bar (later learned it was Sri Lanken wood) paired with mirrors framed with brushed steel. It was a small space but you felt unrepressed. It was amazing. We closed out the night there. More people met us and conversations ranged from music and movies to wine and food and sports. Some of these people i had met before, and they were acquaintances for sure, and some i had just met. But i felt as if i was home. In my scene, in my element. At one point someone mentioned my Intern label and i became the center of attention. I loved the spotlight, sharing my experiences with everyone. They all listened attentively and asked fun and challenging questions. I needed to end my night early since i had to drive back to the Island. Several of my new friends were kind enough to offer me a place to crash but i had appointments early in the AM at the shop. i had to go. Without traffic the drive was less than 50 minutes. i was in front of my house before 2AM. No complaints from this guy. This was an incredible evening that set me up for an incredible day. Cheers

Short of Breath. Long on Time

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds and exhale. Fantastic isn't it? It's amazing. Now picture this. You lay down at night and go to sleep. A time where your mind wanders into dreams only you know of. A time where your body relaxes, and when you wake up, given that you got proper rest you feel refreshed, fantastic and alive. What if at some point during your sleep you stopped breathing? For minutes at a time? What if at some point you woke up gasping for air as if someone was choking you? Fighting hard and struggling to get a breath in. What if this is something you had to live with?

In the United States over 18 million people are affected by this disorder. Its called Sleep Apnea...also called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) It can be caused by either complete obstruction of the airway or a partial obstruction.Both of which can wake someone up, but not always. I am one of those "over 18 million people." There have been times in years past that it has been a major factor, where I've woken up gasping for air as if i was being smothered with a pillow. but I've always disregarded it. Perhaps it's a reason why I never seem to sleep anyway. But the fact is that the last two nights of my life have been absolutely miserable. On consecutive nights I have woken up in a frantic panic fighting for a breath. Last night in particular was worse than ever before. No matter how hard I tried nothing came in. I tried not to panic and relax but nothing helped. I was wide awake trying desperately to catch the faintest of breaths...and it's at this moment as you become more desperate for air and nothing comes in as you slowly begin to black out you can only hope, perhaps even pray that as you fall back down onto your bed or the floor something will give. The passage will be opened and air will get in. You immediately begin to think of family and friends and you completely freak out at the very real possibility of never being able to see them again, no more laughter, no more smiles no more fancy wine dinners, no more sunrises and sunsets, glorious views of the stars,and you begin to wonder why?! why now?! why like this?! Your life flashes in front of your very own eyes instantly flooding your mind with images that comfort you, at least I know that one of the last wines I consumed was a bottle of the 2008 Intern Chardonnay. My creation.. In an instant comes blackness. This is it. This is what it is like to suffocate and die....and somehow...for reasons beyond comprehension hours pass and you open your eyes. Blink seven times..and you think to yourself that maybe it was just a dream, a nightmare of sorts and as you inhale a breath of air you feel the pain in the back of your throat chest and lungs. As if someone bashed you with a baseball bat or perhaps as if they were overworked strenuously by somebody fighting for their last breath, and you instantly jump out of bed and realize it was not a dream. It really happened. You catch yourself touching everything you possibly can around you to make sure you really are alive and that this is really happening. That life is real. You look in the mirror and smile when you realize that everything is OK. Then you frantically jump online and start looking for specialists that are near by that will hopefully be able to help you.

I can sit here and say that this was a near death experience, and say it has changed me and that life is so fragile how much I cherish it. Let's face it. Everyday living is a near death experience. And I already cherish life and all the beauty and intricacies it has to offer. Perhaps it still has not hit me. Perhaps it will at some point. But i know one thing is for sure. Today everything smells livelier, feels more incredible and is simply more illuminated. I'm taking the day slow. Going to hang out at GRAM Wine and Liquors with my father today and discuss some things pertaining to the store as well as my life. Then we are going to watch USA play against Canada in the gold medal game. Family. Wine. Hockey. What's not to like about thaT?! Cheers.

Drink Local Think Global.

Nothing like having a productive Friday...and ending it with a bang. I haven't had the chance to go to the Blue Point Brewery in over a year. I miss that place. Me and a few friends discovered it during my senior year of College. Everyone worked out their schedules to make sure they would have a break or be done with classes on Fridays by 3pm. We would all go and enjoy doing sample flights of all the beers. We'd all laugh and tell jokes and completely get lost in the moment. It became tradition. Or maybe even a religion. Friday was brewery day. Yesterday was Friday. I decided to make it brewery day. rounded up a few people whoever was around and available and met them out there. It was all kind of sporadic and last minute. Sometimes things work out like that The scene has changed there a bit. It has gotten bigger They pour pints now and the place packs out. It was super crowded at one point. When we used to go it would literally be just the 6 of us. But the vibe was awesome though. A lot of great people and fantastic beer. As everyone arrived we carved out a corner for ourselves caught up on the ongoings in our lives shared stories told jokes... mostly at my expense...it was Just awesome. We had quite the crowd. The banker came with his lady, an environmentalist, an oenophile who owns her own boutique wine shop came with some friends and we were even joined by the dynamic Floral duo.I ended up back in town and met up with my attorney. No business to discuss. The plan was to do the local scene. We were shortly joined by the PhD Grad and the 3 of us made our rounds, said our hellos to quite a few people. Its been a while since I did the local pass through town. I will have to say that consuming alcohol for 12 hours straight in one day does not exactly do your body good. I am feeling it for sure. Lucky me I can function just fine. Its Saturday which means I have the long shift at GRAM today. Ill be there till close, and then who knows? Maybe Brooklyn tonight? Ill see what happens. For now just gonna enjoy the day, taste people on some fantastic wines and make killer wine suggestions to compliment their evening and weekend plans. Cheers

When it Snows I Figge.

They get paid lots of money to be wrong most of the time. The only job you can be totally off on projections ...even off by a mile and they let you into work the next day...They're always wrong it seems...except of course when I book and rebook flights to the West coast for a special lady. Then and only then are they right and project with accuracy weather that grounds planes...weathermen ...I am not a fan.

But oh hey check this out. Substantial snow on the ground meant I didn't have to go into work today until later...later turned into a day off. Love it when i get that phone call. So time to be productive right? I mean i could easily sit here and watch boring TV waste the day away, but I am not into that so much. I'm looking for a job. Something i can do part time maybe even full time but that would still allow me to be on hands with the project i have undertaken at GRAM Wine and Liquor- my family's business. I know what you are thinking...your family has a business and you are looking for a job?! That sounds crazy! The beautiful thing about this industry and my situation is that it offers me the flexibility to still be on board 100% at the store and find another source of income. Become a brand ambassador for the tri-state area for a company perhaps? Work part time at a brokerage house in NYC? There are a lot of windows and have certainly opened myself alot of doors in the last five years and built quite a reputation... Look I'm not bragging here...the fact is over the last five years i have seen and met some of the people that are hired to do the jobs I am interested in and they are awful! and I am not the only one to see that! They don't know their brands they don't show a passion or a drive for the wine they represent...it's depressing.

I managed to send out emails and make some calls to some people high up in the food chain. I think I may be onto something here. keep the fingers crossed and let's see what happens. In the meantime I will be enjoying the snow fall with a very full glass of the Figge Cellars Sycamore Flat Syrah 2005 vintage. One of my favorite red wines i have come across to date. It's drinking beautifully now. The Sycamore Flat Vineyard is located in the Arroyo Seco AVA, and comes off of a plot of land that is owned by the Madsen family. It lies nestled in the spectacular Arroyo Seco Canyon. I've been there before and and got to eat the grapes right off the vine this past harvest. After the grapes are hand picked and taken back to the winery they are sorted. After the cold soak process the free run juice as well as the pressed juice gets transferred into barrels. The 05 spent 12 months in 20% new French oak barrels as well as 1-2 year French Oak. Two 2 year old Hungarian Oak barrels were also used. After it was bottled all 660 cases of it sat in a temperature controlled warehouse for one full year before it was released to the public in 07. It's alive in there. Robust nose that doesn't over power but rather welcomes you politely. Delicate aromas of blackberries tingling with a sensational fragrance of boysenberries, coffee and toasty scents.The mouth feel is fresh and bursting, with layered dark fruit flavors marvelous black cherry notes and soft tannins, awesome velvety texture and an exceptionaly long finish. It's a gem, when i drink it i feel like I'm tasting the stars. It brings me back to my childhood, to the delicious homemade from scratch jams and preserves grandma used to make. There is not much of the 05 left out there. But if you come across a bottle or happen to be around when I am sharing one,do yourself a favor please try it. Hand crafted made to love magic. Cheers.

When it RAINS it POURS!!!

WOWAWEEWA!

well past into the middle of the day...and not much has been done...but there is a buzz around the store...I'm digging the positive vibe and the radiant energy today. I'm excited about the new frames I picked out for myself yesterday and in the mean time while on a delivery I managed to sneak up to La Plage up in Wading River yesterday. Had to see my favorite French Chef and say hello...I haven't seen him in over a month and would you know it he even whipped me up some super fresh tuna tartar on the spot...and whats better is I got to enjoy it with a glass of some Olivier Leflaive 2008 St. Aubin Premier Cru... The vineyards of Saint Aubin are situated right behind the villages of Chassagne and Puligny. With a south-west / south-east exposure the Chardonnay grapes that have been planted there for over twenty years yield some fantastic fruit. The wine with aromas of almonds and delicate spices sings delightfully in the floral infused nose, and showcases a captivating racy, pure and intense mid-palate with a finish that seems to linger forever!! Amazing. Something about tuna tartar and a white Burgundy in the middle of the day that just makes you feel so good. The sorbet selection was not that bad either! I put in a solid day at work yesterday and on the way home sneaked in the back door of MOSAiC in St. James...one of my other favorite places on earth...simply to say hello and taste the Boys on some Bunraku....we all know what that is by now...the problem with the 300mL size bottles is that they're too small...its like a single serving size...and it's delicious. That was it, a quick hello a taste of Sake and my evening was done.....not quite....

After i got home i got a call from a really good friend of mine, who also happens to be my attorney...he wanted to get together and meet in town to discuss a few things. So of course we met up for a beer, which eventually turned to two. And then one of the coolest surprises in a long time. One of my best friends who I haven't seen in over a year who is getting his PhD down at UVA calls me, asks me what I am doing and walks in 10 minutes later to join us. What happens when you get together with your lawyer who happens to be a good friend and one of your best friends who you haven't seen in over a year?? It's like the beginning of some kind of a joke if you think about it a lawyer a PhD grad and an Oenophile sitting in a bar.....hah... well it started with another round of beers...and then Mr. PhD decided to switch us over to liquor. There was a lot of laughter a lot of catching up and a night that lasted a lot longer than it should have...but i can handle that. hey now! when it rains it pours. Cheers

SAKE TO ME PEOPLE!

I have a problem.

Over the last five years of my life I find myself entrenched in the world of wine. I didn't drink it nor did I know anything about it until five years ago. I'm not going to sit her and tell you I know all there is to know about it now...in fact I will be there first to tell you i know very little...but tasting 63-87 wines a week (and sometimes more) for five years definitely teaches you a thing or two for sure...In the mean time I've seen CA wine country...Santa Barbara, Monterey, Napa Sonoma...I have traveled to them all and I am even making my own wine out in Monterey under the direction of Peter Figge of Figge Cellars. My label is called the Intern. A Pinot Noir compromised of two single vineyard sourcing as well as a Chardonnay done the same way...but i'll hold off on that for a bit...cause i got something else to talk about.

Besides wine I find myself very strongly drawn to Sake. Not the fake American kind that comes from California or Oregon. I am talking Jizake: locally produced Sake...by locally- JAPAN. Sake quality is determined by rice variety, climate, water quality, and production technique. It truly is a unique process one that no matter how many times I have been explained and diagram ed still confuses me. Anyhow like tasting wines I am always down to try Sake. Eating a lot of sushi always gives me a good excuse to do so. But even without a meal its refreshing to boot! So for the past five years or so I have been tasting and sampling all sorts of Sake and I must say with much and many thanks to the lovely lady I have found my fix. A Sake I simply am drawn to and come back to since she introduced me to it. I usually never go back to a Sake I have had, I mean with over 2,000 Sake producers out there, there is much to taste. But this one in particular, with its beautiful square sky blue glass bottle packaging, is a sight in itself. It only comes in 300mL size bottles....i know i know what you are thinking...get to the point already...what is it, where is it and how much is it? ...ahaha the Sake I speak of is Bunraku:Nihonjin no Wasuremono Yamahai Junmai:The Forgotten Spirit produced in the Saitama Prefecture. The Sake meter is +5 on the dry side and a +3 on the rich side. You should be able to find it at most reputable sushi restaurants that have decent to great Sake lists. Shouldn't be too expensive on any of them. My shop retails it for $13.99. I read somewhere that only about 1% of Sake is made in the Yamahai style. It's where the brewer uses native yeasts, simply those floating around in the brewery to make the starter mash. It is a very time consuming and hard process and thus only few still do it. I've had other Yamahai Junmai Sake before and they don't come close to Bunraku. It's clean crisp with a delightful earthiness to it producing a great mouth feel. It's nicely balanced and just simply sings. Well my delivery has arrived and someone has to spread the word and put it on the shelf...my mom asked me why I ordered 2 cases? I told her it was simple. 1 case is just for me. HA! Cheers.

Treats are Great the Rewards are Better.

Last night i treated my self to a pretty intense cardio workout. Being that it was wet and miserable out I stayed indoors did a grueling workout on the eliptical machine followed by a pretty intese jumprope session. I'll be the first to admit that I'm kind of lazy when it comes to the whole working out thing. I mean camon? by now I'm sure your New Years resolution of hitting the gym has fizzled out...yeah I'm sure you have a membership and it makes you feel great knowing you can go when you want to...but you don't. With that stuff I work better when I have someone to push me. Nonetheless, I pushed myself last night.

My reward was a night of incredible rest. I havent slept this good since I can remember. Well I can remember but I'm not going to get into that one. And it's not what you think..so stop thinking it... I used to be in pretty good shape. Back when swimming was part of my life. Practices two times a day, intense workout and dryland trainging, Those were the days I ate anything whenever I wanted. I'm not going to pretend I was a great or amazing swimmer beacause I was not. My brother had all the talent. But I had fun doing it. We would spend summers at USC in CA..which ironically would eventually lead me to California's beautiful wine country-amazing how things happen in life- but anyway.. I woke up this morning and being that it sucks out there i decided to throw on my favorite pair of jeans...you know the one...that is broken in just right and fits snug and so comfortable from years of wearing them?...Well let me tell you...a month ago they were perfect...now I need a belt to put them on...I'm not mad about it. The past month while I was gone and living in CA- more on that at a later time- I changed my eating habits and to this day continue to eat smarter and healthier meals throughout the day...there was a brownie incident recently...I couldn't resist...they were hand crafted and made with love... Treat your body right and it Rewards you. I've got a long way to go to get to my goal...but it's good to know it's working. It makes me feel great. And it motivates me and helps me do it all by myself... I have to go now and pick out what wines to taste people on today at the shop. It feels like a perfect day to pour some Tres Palacios Chardonnay and Merlot. A family owned and operated estate from Chile. They make a killer Pinot Noir too but we have a limited supply left until August and well it also happes to be the favorite wine of choice for a lovely lady i happen to know. So i have reserved the last few cases for myself...after all i enjoy it too. Cheers

Sushi is Heaven

Why?

Why is it that sushi makes everything OK?

i don't know... i don't have an answer...i just know that it does , at least for me. Something about being in incredible company enjoying fantastic sushi and hot sake on a miserably cold wet and damp day that makes everything beyond OK. You might look at this, over analyze it and think way too much into it and say it's the company that makes it so. And although its true to a certain point, after all she's amazingly smart, graceful, fascinating, possesses the most amazing hazel eyes you can drown in and a smile brighter than the sun...i can keep going but i think you get the point...hmm now I've just totally confused myself...was it really the sushi that made everything OK?? or was it being in her company? Perhaps it's the latter? ...yeah I will say that it's the latter indeed. Look I never admitted that i know what I'm talking about or that I am some kind of expert. Because I'll b e the first to tell you than I am no such thing. But today we went for some sushi. Our first 2 spots were closed...you know how the Japanese restaurants close between 3-5pm or something like that? well there is one in West Babylon that actually doesn't. Let me throw a shout out to the boys at ICHIRO: 130-132 RTE109 West Babylon NY. I have to tell you. I've been there before for takeout...and have yet to be disappointed. Today was the first time I've actually dined inside. The place is dead...and frankly we wonder how they stay open. But the truth is the sushi is fresh, delicious and left us beyond satisfied. Much to my surprise the bill was not at all that bad either. We have a tendency to go overboard and overindulge on sushi quite regularly. I usually stop when the bank calls me and says that's enough. Kudos to ICHICRO for helping in making everything OK on a miserable damp and cold day. Cheers

Seeing is Beautiful

I've never been a fan of doctor's offices...but the fact is I've been wearing glasses since I can remember. At one point when I was about 7 I had a serious procedure done on my eyes...they cut into my eye muscles to shorten them and help reset my eyes because they were slightly crossed..its still a pretty big deal procedure...mine was done in the late 80s in Poland and to this day here in the States optomitrists marvel at the precision of the surgery.... So seeing an eye doctor is nothing new to me...no pun intended...haha.its the same routine, cover one eye read some letters cover another eye read some letters, get some drops put in and follow the light then follow the blue light get some more drops put in to dilate the pupils sit for 20 mins and wait. I'm a pro at this....I probably don't do It as often as I should. They say you should get your eyes checked at least once a year...and I used to do that. In Poland growing up it was routine...but then again so was breaking my glasses. The optician in town felt so bad for my mother he started giving her buy one get one free discounts. We saw him twice a week on average. they also say you should take out your contacts at night. I used to wear daily disposables 6 months at a time without ever taking them out...no eye irritation and no infections. Go figure...I guess what I'm getting at is that sometimes life gets in the way of routine. But that's ok. Because its life and in living it things happen. Like snapping your frames in half and actually having to get new glasses. Might as well get them with a new script.. Sometimes we can't control it. And sometimes we can...its beautiful. Speaking of beautiful she messaged me earlier and asked me to join her for sushi later today. I hope I can make it on time...we all know how that doctors don't really keep to their appointments. One thing you will learn quickly is that I'm a sucker for beautiful things and sushi.
Cheers.

Sometimes It's Better to Show Up Late Rather Than Not Show Up At All.

I'm sorry I'm late.It's unusual for me to be late. I hate it. I'm that person that says he'll be there in 17 minutes..and I'm there in that time frame. I hope you can accept my apology. I was asked a while ago to do this...to write things down...I was told my life and my journeys were interesting and that they should be documented. I was told this by friends and i was told this by complete strangers, and I was even bothered by someone very close to me to do it...Instead I just listened and I smiled. I kept saying I'll do it. but I never did. I can look back and say so much time has been wasted. But the truth is I'm not that person. My glass is always full. So i look ahead and see what is yet to come...and how wonderful this will be. Overtime you will get to know me, my history leading up to present day, my passions, my downfalls and everything else in between. For now i have to go. There is much work to be done, and wine to be tasted, like I said more on all that later. Cheers