City Pulse

Plenty to Wine About & a beauty Secret from Victoria

By Razi Schwartz

I’ll Drink To That!

If only I could send you all a belated birthday card for this entry – I’M SORRY, I’M LATE. Forgive and forget, OK? You’re going to thank me though when you read this, and…it’s only Tuesday, so you have a lot of time to make up the time. I know, the suspense is killing you.

So, as you all know I love me a good meal. I love me even more a glass of gorgeous wine. Red, preferably, if you were thinking of sending a gift. If there’s anything that New York has perfected, like Sarah Jessica has perfected running through cobblestone streets in Manolos, is a damn fine meal with the perfect accompanying glass of syrah..or merlot…or pinot (even though I feel like pinot’s are so pass-ay). Ah, but who has the time? With so many life obligations, kids, work…I know, I hear your cries. There’s a reason shitty fast food has become the virus that it is.

Well, here’s my gift to you. This week you have no excuses. NO EXCUSES. Monday, September 19 until Friday, September 23 is the Smith and Wollensky Group’s biannual Wine Week in Manhattan. Mais, qu’est-ce que c’est this Wine Week? It sounds heavenly, but could it be true that an entire week is solely dedicated to vino? Why yes, my dears, it is.

During lunch at Smith & Wollensky, Maloney & Porcelli, Cite, The Manhattan Ocean Club, Park Avenue Cafe, or the Post House you can buy tastes of up to ten vintages of vino for $10. Let’s think of all the things you CAN’T buy for $10, and yes, ten tastes of unbelievable wine would normally fall on that list. Jeez, the beer taster at the Heartland Brewery costs more than that, and it leaves you bloated. The wines vary daily, and in some cases are actually poured by the producer himself. Think about that one–a fabulous lunch, $10 for ten wine tastings poured by what could potentially be a very hot man who produces his own wine. Which probably means he has his own vineyard. Yummy.

So, like I said before, I’m sorry I’m a day late on this one. But, you have four days to enjoy — and since the wine changes each day at the restaurants…well…I think y’all need to be scheduling business lunches for the next four days (each at a different joint, so it doesn’t look suspicious — wink, wink).

For more information on National Wine Week, or to learn more about the participating restaurants, go to http://www.nationalwineweek.com