Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/68310
NEW YORK CITY SIPS Sommelier Claire Paparazzo of Blue Hill restaurant (left) with Sandra Alves, winemaker from Esporão. Swirls and Spirits in The Big Apple W Left to right: David Sampedro, Patrick Mata and Michael Quinlan, partners in Bodegas El Indiano, showed wines from Finca El Brozal. This is the first installment of New York Editor Lana Bortolot's new regular column. —Ed. 30 / the tasting panel / june 2012 hat signals fair weather's afoot in New York City? A bevy of tastings and events before the wine and spirits trade takes off for their summer retreats. Here's a roundup of top sips in the city. Ladies who lunch were treated to a meal at Dan Barber's Blue Hill restau- rant in Greenwich Village and wines by Esporão, whose winemaker, Sandra Alves, was stateside to present her white wines from the Alejento region. It's the second year the Portuguese winery hosted a "Women in Wine" networking lunch. Being one of the few female winemakers isn't Alves' only challenge. "I am making wine in an area that's more friendly towards red than whites, and I am always chal- lenged to keep freshness and acidity in the whites," Alves said. She presented wines ranging from $12.99 for a crisp Verdelho to $24.99 for a full-bodied and rich Private Selection White (a blend of white Rhône varieties). There's a reason Michael Madrigale was recently named one of Food & Wine magazine's top sommeliers of 2012. His inventive wine programs at Bar Boulud and its newer sister restaurant, Boulud Sud, help get under- the-radar wines off the list and into the glasses of consumers. Madrigale initiated "Saturday Night Tastings" at Bar Boulud, pairing wines and tasting plates. He recently introduced his weekly "Big Bottle Glass Pours," magnum and double magnum pours of wines such as the Domaine Zind- by Lana Bortolot Humbrecht 1989 Riesling Grand Cru Rangen de Thann–Clos Saint Urbain ($29/glass) and Spottswoode 1984 Cabernet Sauvignon ($25/glass). Olé Importers held a trade tasting at the Instituto Cervantes of more than 100 wines from nearly 30 producers. Importer Patrick Mata called it his most important tasting of the year, highlighting his portfolio of terroir- driven boutique winemakers. For the first time, select collectors were treated to an evening tasting, showing that Spanish wines are not only for the value-oriented, but also for the quality- focused wine devotee. Carlos Pulenta of Vistabla Winery in Mendoza. Carlos Pulenta made the rounds before the World Malbec Day inva- sion (see "Brief Encounters"). Visiting from Mendoza, Pulenta presented the new vintage from Vistalba, red blends named Corte A, B & C, and a Torrontés he produces under the Tomero label in the Salta region. Best known as the founding family of Bodegas Trapiche, Pulenta struck out on his own in 2004 with a French enologist and a world-class restaurant on site. He is one of the new wave of winemakers to explore Salta, largely considered Argentina's new frontier. PHOTO: LANA BORTOLOT PHOTO: LANA BORTOLOT