Good Afternoon and Happy Holidays!
I do hope everyone had too many glasses of wine on Christmas and
are still strong enough to drink more today; on this side of things I am
completely wined out, but I will prevail in delivering my favorite wine bars
and favorite wines that you can order online. Let’s start with far away…
2014 Lunatic Red Wine from Luna Vineyards in Napa Valley,
California:
I first tasted Lunatic while visiting Wimberley Valley Winery in
Wimberley, Texas. It is a gorgeous red wine blend! Beautiful fruit tones of
blackberries, blueberries, and after taste of vanilla. I am not a sweet drinker
nor do I enjoy sandpaper on my tongue, and this is the best kind of medium for
me. This is their description on their site—
“The
2014 Lunatic Red has dark, concentrated depth, flowing with notes of blueberry
and blackberry with the spiciness of vanilla and nutmeg. The palate is greeted
by flavors of boysenberry compote with underlying swirls of bacon and hints of
violet. Lush, velvety tannins round out a long finish.”
I just discovered the other day that you can order this online
from their wine shop and they even have a Lunatic White Wine. You can imagine
how many months I was moping around because I could not find this wine, but now
I am counting the days until I get it in the mail. It’s a beautiful price for a
beautiful wine! Link below….
Christmas
Spiced Wine from Wimberley Valley Winery in Wimberley, Texas:
If
you have been looking for the perfect winter wine and you live somewhere as
cold as New York, then look no further! Toss this wine in the crockpot for
warmth and enjoy it all weekend long, whilst staring out your kitchen window at
the snow. I was lucky enough to try this for the first time on Thanksgiving Day
while visiting my family in Texas, and it brought the season full circle.
I
have visited this winery multiple times, as I use to live in Wimberley, and it
is the best. They have miniature horses and longhorns you can feed grass to. If
it’s not too hot outside, you can enjoy your wine on the wooden deck under the
cedar trees and even climb into a double decker bus for a London feel. If you
ever find yourself wanting to visit the wine country make a stop in Texas and
go through Wimberley, Gruene, and Fredricksburg.
Again,
if you haven’t noticed the trend, beautiful price for beautiful wine. Link
below…
Now let us continue with Near to heart…
Winegasm Bar & Eatery in Astoria, New York
Winegasm was the first wine bar I ever experienced
upon moving to New York City, and let me tell you that it does not disappoint!
We made friends with our waiter the first time we went there. This friendship
came about when we thought he was following us into the bar, and thus looked at
him very strangely, when really he was just trying to seat us. Jhonathon is his
name and he gives us extra full glasses and free tastings every time, which
makes him your go-to-guy.
Winegasm’s wine list changes every time we go, so you
never get bored of trying the same things. I have never had a wine there that
was not good and the food is great as well. If you’re hungry you must try the
hummus, truffle fries, or cheese fondue!
The atmosphere is perfect for when you just want to enjoy
a glass of wine with friends and catch up on your lives. Their music is never
overly loud and the dim lighting is quite intimate. They do have live music on
Thursday nights, but I have yet to experience it. If you get out of work early,
stop by for their happy hour 5-7pm for $2 off glasses of wine.
31-87 37th Street Astoria, New York
BLVD Wine Bar in Long Island City, New York
This wine bar is located on the East River water line
in Long Island City; the best part of this location is that you are a 5 minute
walk to LIC Landing for the most spectacular up close view of the Manhattan
skyline. The inside of this bar is your dream bar you wish you had in your
house; from the backsplash on the bar to the deep, dark brown of the table
tops. The not too dimmed lighting gives it a very intimate feel and the music
they play, which keeps up with the times, is turned on low.
When I order wine I always go for $8 or cheaper, and I
am never disappointed. The first wine I ever tried here was a Pacific Standard Cabernet
Sauvignon from California, and I would definitely go back for more. I was
disappointed in their house wine that was a red wine blend, it was served too
chilled and fell terrible on the palate.
The food here is a must try if you have a couple extra
dollars. I got the Caesar salad and it came with anchovies, which I love, and
on a wooden cutting board. Another trip here my friend and I invested in a
three cheese plate and the cheeses were delicious, they came with honey comb
and soft bread; in the long run the size of the cheese you received compared to
the price you pay is not totally worth it, but it was still a fun thing to try
for one time.
4720 Center Blvd, Long Island City, New York
