The wine list has a nice variety of options by the glass or bottle with many regions represented.  Flights are also available should you want a little variety.  I ordered the Michel Torino Malbec Don David from Argentina and I really enjoyed it.  Typical of most malbec it didn’t disappoint.  My boyfriend had the Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain which is his favorite region.

The food offerings at Ayza consist of standard wine bar snacks, salads, paninis, tartines, and a small selection of entrees.  We ordered the hummus dip, truffle pizza (to die for), and a plate of three cheeses.  Our cheese selections were the bucheron, aged manchego, and the shropshire blue.  The bucheron and the shropshire blue were both excellent.  For dessert you may choose from Ayza’s homemade chocolates or selections from famed chocolatier Jacques Torres.  I choose several pieces from both options and paired them with a glass of Cockburns 10 year tawny port from Portugal to end a perfect evening.

Since my May visit I have gone back again and will continue to venture to Ayza for my wine and chocolate fix.  You can also venture over on Sunday nights for their romantic Couples Night as well as Girls Night Out on Tuesdays.

Lambrusco Rosso “Lambrusca” Lini is produced in the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy by Lini 910.  It is made from Lambrusco grapes and has a dark ruby color in the glass.  With each delicious sip your tongue is bombarded by a barrage of tingly bubbles bursting simultaneously.  This was not as sweet as the sparkling reds that I have been drinking recently.  It is dryer and has just the right amount of sweetness.  It is rich in cherry and strawberry flavors and has less than 12% alcohol.

For dinner we decided to order typical wine bar fare.  We built a cheese plate that included La Tur, Tallegio, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Pecorino Toscano along with a plate of prosciutto di parma.  The pizza was thin crust and topped with burrata cheese, grape tomatoes, and black olives.  The shining star out of it all was the truffled polenta fries.  Crispy on the outside like regular fries but on the inside is creamy polenta lightly flavored with a hint of truffle.  They were served with two dipping sauces but they were so amazing on their own that I barely felt the need to dip.  Gemma also has many meat, fish, and pasta entrees with an array of side dishes.  We ended the evening with creamy gelato.  For me a scoop of hazelnut and a scoop of chocolate chip.

I am already looking forward to my next trip to Gemma and may even go back as early as next week so that my boyfriend can try it.  The atmosphere is perfect for a romantic date night among the dark wood interior and candles.  If you can’t get to Gemma check your local wine shop or online.   Lambrusca Lini is well worth the money and retails for less than $17.

The wine classes that I attended were in partnership with Murray’s Cheese, Manhattan’s oldest and most renowned cheese shop.  My favorite was in honor of the World Cup and the teams competing were France vs Italy.  It featured 2 Italian wines and 3 cheeses against 2 French wines and 3  cheeses.  While I loved all the cheeses we tried no matter what country they were from, in the end France won out for me.  No  surprise there.  I absolutely loved the French red Chateau d’Or et de Geulules Costieres-de-Nimes Les Cimels 2007.  This wine was dark ruby in color, had aromas of cherry and blackberry, and had tons of spice and dark fruit flavor.  I do have to give Italy an honorable mention for the white wine we sampled- Fruilano Bastianich 2007.  This wine was pale gold in color with a sweet honey aroma, and was drier with lemon and pear flavors.  It paired beautifully with the Petit Billy goat cheese from France.  Other cheeses that were standouts were the Pyranees Brebis, a sheeps milk cheese from France and the Taleggio from Italy.  This Taleggio from Murray’s wasn’t as ripe and soft as the ones I have bought but the flavor was still excellent especially when paired with the French red wine.

I loved this concept of having 2 wine regions face off and having everyone pick their favorite.  It would make for a great do it yourself wine tasting party and the options would be endless:  Australia vs New Zealand,  Washington vs California, Chile vs Spain, I could go on and on.  Thanks to City Winery for offering these educational and fun classes.  I can’t wait to see what the next classes are on the schedule!

Maso Michei Gewurtztraminer 2007 (Trentino) is one truly great white wine.  Produced in Northern Italy close to the Swiss border it has a clear gold color in the glass.  It is perfectly balanced and crisp.  This white is full of flavor with peaches and light citrus.  I was going to write about a different Gewurtztraminerthat I had the week prior but this one blew the other away.  It pairs well with most foods especially white meats.

When I want to drink something lighter than red wine and am not in the mood for mixed drinks I always go for a sparkling glass of Prosecco.  Bar Veloce features Prosecco Zardetto MV (Veneto) by the glass.  I love the way the bubbles float to the top of the glass and dance across your tongue with each sip.  This Prosecco has a honey and floral aroma.  It has a pale yellow color and tastes of apples with a hint of  lemon.  It has a great acidity and a long, clean finish.  Both of these were great choices and went well with the paninis that were ordered.  I highly recommend the prosciutto, mushroom, and truffle oil panini.  The food is reasonably priced and most wines are less than $12 per glass.  All in all an absolutely delicious visit!

Later in the week while perusing the aisles of my local wine store I came across a white Rioja.  Normally sticking to reds but both of us being more in the mood for white we decided to see how the white version would compare to the red we drank earlier in the week.  We purchased a bottle of Marqués de Cáceres 2007.  The white version was equally flavorful.  Light mineral notes accompanied by flavors of ripe melon, apple, and pepper.  A great wine to pair with seafood and bargain priced at under $12 at retail.