Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Best Wine Bars: On the Heels of Stuart Pigott in New York

Picture: Bar Hopping in NYC (Stuart Pigott in Der Feinschmecker März 2017)

A few years ago, hitherto Berlin-based wine journalist Stuart Pigott started to spend a lot of time in New York City in the US. Most recently, he lived in an appartment in trendy Williamsburg. That appartment, however, he has given up and he appears to be back in Germany in the Frankfurt area. Recently, he wrote an article for the Der Feinschmecker which describes one of his last days in New York before returning to Europe. This included 4 wine bars.

Pictures: New York City

When Annette and I were in New York City earlier this year, for the annual UGC Bordeaux tasting and Stephen Bitterolf's Rieslingfeier, we went on the heels of Stuart and checked out his recommendations. In fact, as the Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner was at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, we stayed for the Rieslingfeier in a hotel in Williamsburg, not so far away from 2 of his 3 wine bar recommendations.

Picture: Der Feinschmecker März 2017 (Heft 3) with Stuart Pigott's New York Article

Stuart Pigott wrote me: Der Bericht beschreibt einer meine (letzte) Tage in Nee York. Zuerst gehe ich auf dem Green Market Union Square, dann Kaffee in Kava auf der Washington Street (gegenüber der Südspitze von High Line. Dann ging es ins Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, weiter in der Weinhandlung Vintry in Battery Park City und von da bin ich ins Terroir gezogen. Abends ging es weiter in Williamsburg in Four Horsemen und Maisonette Premiere (letzter nur wenige Meter von meiner damaligen zu Hause (330 Bedford Avenue). Traurig war es wie ich Ende Oktober da raus gedrängt wurde! Grüße dein Stuart

translation: My The report describes one of my (last) days in New York. First I go to Green Market Union Square, then coffee in Kava on Washington Street (opposite the southern tip of Highline), then to the Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, to the Vintry Wine Shop in Battery Park City and from there I went to Terroir. In the evening, I continued in Williamsburg in the Four Horsemen and e thMaisonette Premiere (the last few meters from my home at that time (330 Bedford Avenue), it was sad as I was pushed out at the end of October! Cheers Your Stuart

Recently I published an update of my "Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in New York City" Guide. All four of them that Stuart recommends in the Der Feinschmcker article are also on my list. See: Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in New York City, USA

Pictures: Bar Hopping in NYC (Stuart Pigott in Der Feinschmecker März 2017)

Aldo Sohm Wine Bar
155 W 51 Street

Branch-offs can often snap under pressure, but Le Bernardin has sprung a stem as strong as its base. Sitting across the galleria from that vaulted seafood restaurant, Aldo Sohm’s annexed vino hub is far less buttoned-up than its big brother—no reservations or suit jackets required—but the level of detail here proves this apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

See: Summer of Riesling. All Summer. All German. – 3 German Rieslings from Tesch, JJ Prüm and Leitz at Aldo Sohm Wine Bar in New York and Germany-North 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Pictures: At Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

Picture: Sommelier Aldo Sohm and Christian Schiller at the 2015 Rieslingfeier in New York City, USA. See also: A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA

Terroir
24 Harrison Street

Riesling Guru Paul Grieco's legendary wine bar.

Pictures: At Terroir - Annette Schiller with Caroline Diel, Sylvain Taurisson Diel, Justin Christoph, Danielle King, Paul Grieco, Valerie Masten of Skurnik Wines and Husband and Wine Journalist Jon Bonné with Sommelier/ Wine Consultant Sabra Lewis

See also:
Terroir(s) Wine Bars in London, New York and San Francisco – Wines with a Sense of Place versus Natural Wines

The Four Horsemen
295 Grand Street

The interior sparseness is contrasted by a wine list comprising nearly 250 bottles and a dozen by-the-glass selections ($10 to $15) that highlight natural wine heavyweights: Sicilian orange selections from Frank Cornelissen of Italy’s Mount Etna region and a biodynamic rosé from Fabien Jouves of Cahors, France.

Pictures: At The Four Horsemen

Maison Premiere
298 Bedford Ave.

While it is often referred to as an oyster and absinthe bar, this charming Williamsburg establishment is so much more. With more than a subtle nod to the French heritage of New Orleans in the décor, drinks and food, Maison Premiere is hopelessly romantic. With dollar oyster specials, it can also be hopelessly packed. Although it opened in 2011, Maison Premiere feels more like a 19th-century Parisian bistro. The marble-topped horseshoe bar offers plenty of standing room and that quickly fills up. Oysters and other food can be ordered at the bar or at the tables in the back. But the seats in the window are strictly for drinks. A wood and classic New York safety glass back bar separate the bar area from the tables and the oyster shuckers. On nice days, the garden seating under a wisteria arbour surrounded by large ferns is a sought-after oasis.

Pictures: At Maison Premiere

Stuart Pigott

Stuart Pigott was born in the UK and Berlin-based for the past 20 years or so. During this period, he emerged as the leading German wine writer, mostly writing in German, and focusing on German wine. Notably, he now regularly writes for the specialist magazines Feinschmecker and Weingourmet as well as the Sunday edition of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He also produced a TV series on German wine.

Picture: Stuart Pigott and Christian G.E. Schiller in Washington DC

A few years ago, Stuart Pigott started to spend a lot of time in New York City, turning his attention to the global world of Riesling. His first major output of the move to New York City is a major book about Riesling in the world, which was published in June 2014: The Best White Wine on Earth: The Riesling Story. It appears that Stuart Pigott closed the New York chapter and returned to Germany in 2016.

See also:
Late Night German Riesling Tasting with Riesling Gurus Paul Grieco and Stuart Pigott in Washington DC on the 2013 Riesling Road Trip, USA

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Heads up for the 2017 Tours - to Germany and France - by ombiasy WineTours

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in New York City, USA

A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA

New York Manhattan Wine Bars -- Bar Boulud, The Ten Bells, Terroir and Clo.

See: Summer of Riesling. All Summer. All German. – 3 German Rieslings from Tesch, JJ Prüm and Leitz at Aldo Sohm Wine Bar in New York and Germany-North 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Dining at Günter Seeger NY, a Temple for Natural Cuisine and German Wine in New York: Brilliance and Simplicity on the Plate and Ultra-premium Dry Red and White Wine from Germany in the Glass

Lunch at Momofuku Ssäm Bar in New York City, USA

Breakfast with Doreen Winkler at Balthazar – An European (German) Sommelier in New York City, USA

In the Glass: 2007 Riesling trocken from Wuertz Rheinhessen with Oysters at the Ten Bells in the Lower East Side in Manhattan

Terroir(s) Wine Bars in London, New York and San Francisco – Wines with a Sense of Place versus Natural Wines

The 31-Days-of-German-Riesling Concert Cruise Around New York Harbor with the German Wine Queen Julia Bertram and the 3 Wine Amazones Tina Huff, Eva Vollmer and Mirjam Schneider from Mainz, Germany

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