Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Hank Zona, local wine expert, gives you suggestions on how to pick the best one for the holiday.
Editor's Note: This article first ran on Patch on Feb. 14, 2011. But we love it so much, we're posting it again! It was written by Hank Zona, the proprietor of Swirl Wine Events. Valentine's Day means different things for different folks. I offer wines for every approach to the day. First, let me focus on a wine for those who see February 14 as a dark day. Perhaps the darkest of wines are the wines of the Cahors region in France. They are malbec-based, but not nearly as approachable as the malbecs of Argentina. Besides, if you are anti-Valentines Day, who wants approachable? Marketed over 100 years ago as "the black wines of Cahors," this is a brooding wine — if you plan to brood. Of course, if wine won't do the trick, may I suggest a …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Stumped about what to drink on turkey day? Local wine expert Hank Zona breaks it all down.
Whether you're the host, a guest or a restaurant diner, choosing wines for Thanksgiving dinner can be a challenge. After all, the menu can encompass a wide variety of tastes and textures, from mild (white meat turkey) to gamey (dark meat turkey, sausage) to savory (Brussels sprouts with bacon) to sweet (cranberry sauce) to creamy (gravy). Furthermore, while articles might suggest specific wines, what happens when you can’t find them on a restaurant list or at your local wine shop? First, take a deep breath. “The focus of the holiday is on getting together with family and friends, it’s not the time to go all ‘wine geek’,” said wine expert Hank Zona, owner of Swirl Wine Events and host of The Grapes Unwrapped. “That doesn’t mean you have …
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Amanti Vino celebrates the traditional German festival again this year at the Wellmont Theatre on Oct. 19.
‘Tis the season for beer lovers. The fourth annual Montclair Oktoberfest will be held once again at the Wellmont Theatre on Oct. 19. This one-day festival put on by Amanti Vino will feature food, music, wine and lots of beer. “We are going to take over the whole theater,” said Deborah Hirsh, Amanti Vino's store manager. There will be more than 80 beers and wines on the list, and Hirsh added that people can expect to see craft beers brewed in New Jersey, California and everywhere in between. Thaddeus Kawecki, wine consultant and beer manager at Amanti Vino, said there will be a beer to pique nearly anyone’s palate. “We will have a variety of selections from many different breweries ... and [some] will be bringing special stuff you can…
Hank Zona
1:06 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Thank you Mike and Montclair Patch! I'm happy to update this some time and especially interested in anyone's own selections. The name of my business is no longer Swirl Wine Events, but changed to the name of my tv show, The Grapes Unwrapped. Look for it on YouTube...or write to hank at thegrapesunwrapped.com. Cheers. more ›