Greek Cuisine Paired With Romanian Wines

Seldom have I experienced such fine Greek cuisine paired with exquisite Romanian wines. In fact, I was almost unaware of Romanian wine and certainly clueless that they were on a par with French and Italian wines and superior to many wines found in the Americas.

?The venue was AVRA Madison Estiatorio off Central Park on East 60th on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. A quick tram ride away from my Roosevelt Island home. I was invited by an old and dear friend, Greta Kamateros of Greece, now Director of ALEXANDRION GROUP N. America, a woman our foundation named as Humanitarian of the Year several years ago!

?This wine tasting was even more special because of the engaging presentation of Marinela Ardelean Ph.D., a specialist in Romanian culture. I was honored to meet the CEO of the company, Stelios Savvas, who flew over from Bucharest for the event, and delighted to see again Kendis Gibson of NBC and Mike Woods of Fox 5 NY. I was disappointed by partner Bix, a wine connoisseur, was unable to join us!

My new friend, Wanda Mann, Founder of ‘Wine with Wanda’ and East Coast Editor of The SOMM Journal as well as The Tasting, told me, “I had never tasted Romanian? wines?before, and these were a stellar introduction to the country’s rich winemaking history that spans 6,000 years. Romania’s native grapes, like Feteasca Neagra, were unfamiliar to me, but the proof is in the glass. The?wines?are a pleasure to drink! I was impressed by the character, quality, and diversity of the?wines?we tasted.”

I have travelled to Bucharest before and found it quintessentially European and much unchanged. I have yet to visit the countryside which I understand is incomparable. Transylvania not only exists, but is far removed from the Hollywood rendering.

I would recommend Alexandrion Group wines to any fine restaurant or catering firm and look forward to serving them at our own J. Luce Foundation galas in the future!?

#Greece #Romania #GreekCuisine #GreekFood #RomanianWine #TheRomanianWine #AVRAMadisonEstiatorio #GretaKamateros #JuliusCrisione #WandaMann #BixLuce #AlexandrionGroup #TheIconicEstate #DomeniileAveresti #LaSparta #Avincis #Carrefour #LuceFoundation #JLuceFoundation #WinewithWanda #TheSOMMJournal #TheTasting #NYC #UpperEastSide #RooseveltIsland