Purely Chilean Vino

On a whim this past Friday, I stumbled on Puro Wine in Little Italy. At first, I surmised this place as just another wine shop....but when I saw "the best wines from Chile" sprawled on their storefront plus a cutesy sign about a free wine tasting that evening. I couldn't resist. 

This was my first foray into tasting wine from this South American country. Until now, I've only indulged in Californian, South African, French and Italian wines. Chilean wine offers the standard reds, white, sparkling and dessert wines but it also has reserva blends. Reserva blends are wines that mixes different types of grapes/wines to create a powerful flavor. The wine blends potent taste reminded me of the flavorful intricacies that the tea leaf boasts.

At the end of the evening, I left Puro Wine with a bottle of one of their red blends, the Tacora's Gran Reserva (Cabernet Sauvignon+Malbec+Merlot). 

I hope you will stop by this shop to explore your palate at their regular wine tasting events. Cheers!

-Chante

Wine in the Hamptons

Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

Yesterday, ladies gathered in Soho in the wee hours of the morning for the SHECKY'S ANNUAL GIRLS DAY OUT: HAMPTONS WINE TOUR. 




Yesterday, me and almost a hundred women kicked off this daylong adventure - for some it was their first time to the Hamptons while there were vets to this excursion sprinkled throughout the crowd. I'm a morning person so the thought of getting up before dawn to meet the bus and pull out of NYC by 9am had me completely amped! 


The throngs of women was a beautiful sight to see...sister friends, moms with their daughters and, most touching was when I met a woman who came in memory of her closest friend who recently passed away - this trip was supposed to be their quality time together. Needless to say it was an emotionally charged event for all. 


The ride wasn't excruciating one bit it took us about 2 hrs to get to the Hamptons - the free wifi kept me pretty busy! When we arrived, we were greeted enthusiastically by the staff at the Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard boasting of miles of acres, a gorgeous horse stable, live performance area, a shopping boutique and, of course, a wine tasting stage. As we sipped and mingled with glasses of whites, reds and rose', we noshed on delicious sandwiches, cookies and other snacks. 

@ Baiting Hollow: Music by Double A Blues Band |  Wine Tasting | Horse Stable Tour
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

Afterwards, we hopped back on the bus for the next vineyard, Jason’s Vineyard, for the next tasting. they also served up a similar array of their best stock of wines for all palates. I particularly loved their White Resiling known as their "summer wine". The wine offerings here are a bit overpowering, in a good way. I wasn't too keen on their red wine though. 

@ Jason's Vineyard: Wine Tasting | Vineyard Tour
@ South Hampton: Shopping
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

The last stop on this journey was the shopping center in the heart of town. There was so many choices to choose from that I needed a minute to compose myself. I had a great shopping experience. I wasn't surprised at the prices - c'mon its the Hamptons! I copped some tees, sweets and more sweets (their Carvel shop makes ours back in the city ook downright pitiful). 


All in all, the experience to the Hamptons was awesome even with a few traveling hiccups along the way. I met so many amazing women along the way who allowed me to capture them. This was my first time in the Hamptons and certainly won't be my last time here - I have more shopping and tasting to do! 


-Chante

@ South Hampton: Shopping
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

South Hampton
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

Grape Juice for the Grown

Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/VysynPhotography

If you know us then you know that the Synch Ladies are wine aficionados - whites, reds, blushes, sake, you name it and we've tried it. But for those times when a buzz after a taste of a grape or rice based wine is not warranted, needed or desired, I highly recommend grape juice. Now I know you are like uh Chante I've had grape juice before but I beg to differ. That sugar induced and heavily mixed with other non grape "juices" that are sold on a shelf and masks itself as grape juice that you have been sipping on since you were a kid is not what I call pure grape juice. Nay I say! Walk with me...

Last week I ordered two bottles of grape juice from a farm in Virginia and will NEVER drink grape juice sold in a grocery store. Period. I copped one white (Seyval Blanc) and the red grape (Chambourcin) juice from Oakencroft Farm, based in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the bottles are now empty! The only thing that comes close to describing the taste is wine (obviously) but sweeter and without the fermentation process of wine grapes go. This grape juice embodies all that is good of a wine b/c the truth of its authenticity is in the science in which the grapes was chosen. Truthfully speaking I was (and still am) thisclose to visiting the farm to see them pick the grapes, refrigerate and bottle it up.

Please order a bottle (or two....pick me up a red while you are at it) 

;)

-Chante