Archive for August, 2010

So we were at the Friars Club in NYC having lunch with Gianni Russo and you guessed it, enjoying one of his own wine's, the Gianni Russo Prosecco. You see Gianni has a line of wine called, El Padrino wines. There is a Prosecco, Merlot, Chianti and a Montepulciano D'Abruzzo and a few Super Tuscans. Gianni is telling us about his travels with the Rat Pack, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. One of the best was a story about a Candy Store on Rodeo Dr. that was really a full blown club. You would walk through the store where there were girls dressed in red and white skirts just like an ol time candy store but through the special door it opened into a blazing night club. Just what the story was about will be in Gianni's movie that should be out by 2011 by producer Brett Ratner, Jeffrey Dash, and director George Gallo. Gianni is a full of life character and so is his Prosecco. For $16 this prosecco makes a regular event into a special one. If you want a signed bottle when you are checking out let us know under special instructions and we'll try to get it signed for you! Gianni also told us about enjoying the Prosecco with Al Pacino at La Cerc, where they pour it by the glass, and discussing the new movie where Al Pacino will play Carlo Gambino. This should be some movie. You can hear more about the adventures of Gianni at the Station Plaza Tasting Bar on Friday Dec. 3rd from 5-9pm. He'll be presenting his wines and signing bottles or any Godfather memorabila you may want signed. I'm sure you know Gianni played Carlo Rizzi in the Godfather… Here is a photo of a couple of Wine Studs, Gianni and Miguel at the Friars Club in NYC: Salute, Kevin

Another WIne Stud stopped in to The Station Plaza Tasting Bar. Jason Moore the founder, owner and winemaker of Modus Operandi Wine. Not only was his wine poured at our tasting bar, his Sauvignon Blanc was poured in the White House in the first course for Obama's first State Dinner (check out the menu Here) hosting the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh. Jason's success is a motivating story about a young Texan who sells everything and moves to California to follow his passion. But just wait until you taste his wine!

A few fun tidbits: He will not tell anyone what his Proprietary Red Wine Blend. (we got it out of him though) He also has a smart chip that sends a text to the new generation smart phones to verify authenticity.

Modus Operandi Wines available at Station Plaza Wines.

Here is another cool video about Jason and the Wines:

Cheers,

Kevin

This Blog is called The Wine Studs and at our Tasting Bar the Winemakers and Vineyard Owners are the STUDS! These guys work their ass off all year and put it all on the line with every vintage. They take all the risk. They roll the dice each year, worrying about the weather. Rain, heat, cold, insects, drought, you name it their are so many variables that go into their finished product that no one really knows or thinks about. When things go their way, and the wine rocks, and makes hundreds of wine drinkers happy the sense of accomplishment is phenomenal. That's when we like to capture these STUDS on our blog!

Here is Justin Hunnicutt Stephens of DR Stephens Estates talking about his wines -- and rolling with the punches. We had a power outage, but he kept on going. His buddy Sean Larkin walkes into the shop to make a video next but Justin keeps on rolling! Thats the spirit that goes into the wines!

Hunnicutt Wines:

Cheers,

Kevin

At the Station Plaza Tasting Bar we are fortunate to be visited by many different winemakers when they are in NY. Last week Sami Ghosn the Chairman of Massaya Wines stopped in for a tasting and we were very impressed with the wines and the Lebanese Ark, an anis liquor!  He also shared some interesting stories about what happened over the last few years in Lebanon and with the vineyard and how it was a fight to keep control. We can tell you about those in person though.

The Massaya Arak is smooth and if you add a drop of water or an ice cube to the Anis Liquor it turns a bit white like magic. It's the preferred cocktail while the sun is setting over the Mediterranean.

Buy Massaya Wines at www.StationPlazaWines.com

Fisehatak,

Kevin