I’d been waiting for Thursday all week long…for Wine Enthusiast’s “Toast of the Town,” a wine and food festival that filled Manhattan’s Hammerstein Ballroom with 500 wine and spirits and 35 top restaurants.

The event was $106 for general admission and $169 for VIP, which included an hour of reserve wines. Even though the event was at capacity, there was more than enough wine and food to go around–and more than one could possibly consume in 4 hours!

Now I have a couple of new trusty favorites to add to my list of go-to wines–wines that I’ll look out for when I’m at a wine shop or that I’ll order when I’m out at dinner.

My picks from the night:

Yalumba 2010 The Strapper Grenache-Shiraz-Mataro (Barossa)
“Sweetly scented cinnamon is joined by a cavalcade of brown baking spices on the palate. Juicy but nimble with some appropriately grainy, chocolate tannin. ” Pop it in the fridge for half an hour on a hot day, for added refreshment.

Roth Estate 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley)
“Beautiful aromas of nutmeg, sweet oak and red cherries that carry through to the palate. This bright Cabernet Sauvignon has soft, balanced tannins that are complemented by notes of black currant and red berries with an elegant finish of sweet vanilla”

Raymond Vineyard 2008 Generations Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
“Prevailing aromas of berries, earth, tobacco, currant and plum carry through to the flavors and the long, lingering finish. Full-bodied, intense, and complex throughout, with enough tannic structure to guarantee aging potential.”

Buena Vista Winery 2008 The Count (Sonoma)
“The wine’s bouquet opens beautifully with rich aromas of black currant, cherries and just a hint of espresso. Smooth on the palate, the wine offers flavors of plum and blackberry that gently give way to cardamom on the long, silky finish.”

Dona Paula 2011 Estate Torrontes (Salta)
“Golden yellow intense. Delicate and complex aromas of jasmin, tropical orange blossom, fruits and muscat grape. Fresh mouth of good volume and acidity, balanced and persistent.”

As you can see, I’m a little partial to red wines, but I can promise, any of the above-mentioned wines will be delicious, whether sipping alone or with a meal. Enjoy!

This is where it all began…

Greenmarket Baby Beet Salad & Goat Cheese Mousse from Tocqueville (www.tocquevillerestaurant.com)

Soft Quail Egg filled Raviolo with Truffle Butter and Parmiagiano from SD26 (www.SD26ny.com)

I love the neckwear!

Ingredients for the Alaskan Salmon Roe Caviar with Buckwheat Blinis from Firebird (www.firebirdrestaurant.com)