“Is there any Portuguese wine on the menu,&# I often ask when dining in New York City restaurants. The first features the native grape, Touriga Nacional. The next wine is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon (60/40). am excited to return to see the new winery. About Lisbon. Alorna.

Here in New York Nero d'Avola, Sicily's most important grape has slowly crept into our vocabulary. Wine is very popular these days and Nero d'Avola is enjoying the spotlight with other formerly ignored varieties like Mencia from Spain and Touriga Nacional from Po rtugal. For me there are two schools of Nero d'Avola.

Lunch was in the private back room at Gramercy Tavern , a hallowed institution of fine dining in New York City. There was a lovely rosé, the 2006 Quinta da Alorna Touriga National Rosé from Ribatejo DOC, a large flat valley in the south-central part of Portugal. 2006 Quinta da Alorna Touriga National Rosé, Ribatejo 3.

am really diggin' these Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand. Don't get me wrong I like the Cali Sauvignon Blancs but the New Zealanders have the versatility when it comes to food. Not only in New York City but, really, everywhere more and more affordable wines are available from all around the world. Cheers