{#WineWednesday} With Fall approaching you may be ready to ditch Frosé, but here are some Rosé wines and others to keep on rotation!

With Fall approaching you may be ready to give up those summer Frosé Drinks, but don't count out Rosé just yet.

It's an approachable Wine that can be enjoyed year round.

I got to hit a Wine Trade Tasting hosted by Vias Wines at a really cool downtown location called The Leroy Room an events space at Murray's Cheese.

Vias Imports really went all out and a selection of their finest wines were on display.

This butterfly had to be quick to nab decent shots as it was definitely a good turnout, here are my standouts:

Above: "Say Cheese" - this bright and beautiful display attracted trade and media to enjoy a selection of cheeses to pair with their wine. Murray's Cheese put out quite a spread, whenever you are in NYC you *MUST* check them out, here is a link to their store and partner locations: https://www.murrayscheese.com/locations

Above: (from Left to Right): Altaneve Rosé, La Dolci Colline Rosé Spumante Brut (you know I can't resist a good Brut!), Aneri Rosé  Di Sorbara, Davolarosa Brut Rosé (Feudi del Pisciotto) - you literally can't go wrong with any of these!

Above: Same wines in the Wine Bucket - I have a thing for hammered copper - Can I have this as a parting gift please? Tee-Hee!

Above: I am literally obsessed with Wine Pour Shots (but you already know this) by the way - not my hands, both parties agreed to me taking this shot and preserving their hands for virtual posterity. I only wish I had four hands so I could have also taken a boomerang for Instagram. I am obsessed with Boomerangs too as they give you an 'endless pour' effect. I love capturing moments.

Above: Anna Rosé Wine - you know that this looked like butterfly wings to me! Think I can convince them to change the name from 'Anna' to 'Tracy'? or Ascending Butterfly?

Above: Mr Dry Malbec, Gouguenheim 2018 - as you guessed Anna is Ms Sweet and this Malbec is Mr Dry! Rosé with low residual sugar and 13% alcohol by volume. You should easily pick up on strawberry, red berry and notes of cherries.

Above: All kinds of YES to this Gouguenheim Malbec Bubbles Sparkling Wine Rosé (Valle Escondido) - and I am so grateful to the staff that graciously held up the bottles of the wines I wanted to feature! I am going to cheat a bit but this is so accurate:

"Delicate with red fruit aromas, predominantly of cherries and strawberries. Very fresh in the mouth; soft tones with good acidity. Small and brilliant bubbles." ~ Vias Imports

Above: Burst 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand Wine - In regard to New Zealand wines, the Marlborough region is the most highly regarded and by far the largest in the country. This region has been closely associated with high quality white wines for over forty years now, and consistently produces some of the finest Sauvignon Blanc wines in the world.

Above: Acinum Prosecco Extra Dry DOP. To find a dry Prosecco that is slightly creamy with guava and pineapple notes was a pleasant surprise, this one would pair nicely with any fish dishes you are serving!

Above: SUHRU Wines - The goal of this North Fork Long Island Winery is to make crisp, bright white wines and fruit forward red wines with soft tannins and medium body. They strive to create easy drinking, approachable, and food friendly wines that compliment the local environment and the local foods and produce grown on the North Fork. Visit SUHRU Wines here: https://www.suhruwines.com/

Above: Had to nab a SUHRU Wine Pour shot. SUHRU Wines is a family owned winery established in 2008 with a romantic and sweet backstory, Susan and Russell definitely put their love into SUHRU.

Above: Purato Certified Organic Wines. From Left to Right: Purato Rosé Terre Siciliane IGP (smooth sip with fresh berry aroma and flavor, suggested food pairing - prawns), Middle: Purato Cattaratto Pinot Grigio Terre Siciliane IGP (straw yellow color with citrus, tropical fruit and floral notes - everyday drinking wine pairs with seafood dishes and grilled dishes), Right: Nero d'Avola Purato Sicily DOC (Fruity Notes of Blackberry and Blueberry Compote - pastas with tomato based sauces, red meats, barbecued pork ribs or grilled steak) The wine in the box that is to the back and separate is: Purato Siccari Terre Siciliane IGP with notes of spices, medicinal herbs, cherry, black cherry and dried fruits this one was the most intense and would pair well with red meat, game, sharp and aged cheeses.

Above: Leone De Castris 1665 Five Roses Salento IGT - a fresh wine with cherry and strawberry scent which pairs nicely with risotto, braised meat dishes, white meat and seafood dishes

MY TAKE:

Whether you are a wine expert or a novice, I hope I was able to put a few new wines on your radar. I try to be sure to give you a feel for a wide variety even though my palate leans more toward 'dry' wines. 

The focus was Rosé Wine, but there were other wines to be tasted which I was very happy about, especially that hidden gem Prosecco (you know I LOVE my bubbles).

My signature hostess gift is Wine and Flowers, and I am always looking to mix things up!

I like to present what I tasted as an overview, I try to avoid 'reviews' when it comes to wine, much like a perfume I prefer to give the notes - only you know which direction your palate leans (and if you don't hit a few consumer wine tastings until you figure out if you are a 'balanced', "dry", or "sweet" palate - once you know that the rest falls into place), and then you can read reviews or tasting notes and have them make more sense to you.

Readers Sound Off: Which of these Wines would you most like to try? 

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FTC Disclosure: All opinions are 100% MY OWN. This is NOT a Compensated Post, it is an Event Recap. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

A #FoodieFriday from @brasserie812 with @fmg_nyc + @WinesofCroatia #Wine! Because it is #NationalWineDay

NOT SPONSORED!

Today is National Wine Day!

Happy National Wine Day Butterflies! Hope you have some fun plans for Memorial Day Weekend!

Does your Memorial Day Weekend include Wine and Good Times?

Grab an Ice Bucket and start chilling your wine!

I meant to serve this up for #WineWednesday on the interwebs (and will admit this recap is LONG overdue) but I am glad it worked out for both #FoodieFriday and #NationalWine Day as it includes a nice mix of BOTH.

When my friends at FMGNYC PR invite me to an event I make every effort to attend, and considering I haven't been attending nearly a quarter of the amount of events I have been invited to this year that is saying A LOT.

My wine posts have tended to be heavier on international wines - what can I say, I am well heeled and so is my choice in wines. I like events that expose me to something different and this dinner held by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce at Midtown’s Brasserie 8 ½ gave me a taste of what the Croatian wine region has to offer.

Above: Menu + Place Card - look my name is spelled correctly! It never fails that I attend an event and the place card botches my FIRST name by sticking an 'E' where it does NOT belong. So I am always happy for a place card with my name spelled right. We are off to a great start. CHEERS to this!

Above: I was seated at Table 5 and nabbed a shot before the rest of the guests hit the table.

The Menu:

Appetizer: Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Salad with Couscous Citrus Vinaigrette, Peppercress Lettuce

Entree: Filet Mignon Au Poivre - Chive Whipped Bintjee Potatoes, Haricots Verts, Black Truffle Sauce

or

Roasted Rack of Lamb - Potato Dauphine, Haricorts Verts, Au Jus

Dessert: Warm Pear Financier - Maple Ice Cream

Above: Appetizer: Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Salad with Couscous Citrus Vinaigrette, Peppercress Lettuce - the touch of Citrus gave these Jumbo Shrimp the perfect hint of summer loving and would be perfect for your memorial day entertaining this weekend.

Above: I chose the Filet Mignon Au Poivre with Chive Whipped Bintjee Potatoes, Haricots Verts, and Black Truffle Sauce! It was so GOOD!!! There was no one close enough for me to nab a shot of the rack of lamb but it looked great also.

Dessert: Warm Pear Financier - Maple Ice Cream - This was such a well balanced dessert!

This white wine fom the Slavonia region, the Vezak Graševina was a great example of Croatia’s principal grape variety, the Graševina. The color of this dry white is similar to the colors of the golden fields characteristic of  Croatian valleys. It offers a flowery aroma mixed with a fruity bouquet and a slight mineral aftertaste. This wine will compliment seafood or a white meats.

Above: This dry robust  red wine, Ivan Dolac Barrique, was named for the aforementioned French barrel it matures in and hails from Hvar. It offers a berry and slightly  floral aroma. It is quite smooth, easy on the palette and  compliments any roast game or grilled fish.

Above: The award-winning Plavac, the Zlatan Plavac Grand Cru is made from grapes that are organically grown in the picturesque slopes of the island of Hvar.  From 35 to 50-year-old vines! The wine is then aged in French barrique barrels for two years and 6-12 months in the bottle. It is a dry red with hints of leather, pepper, chocolate, and prunes. This earthy wine is best paired with steaks and lobsters and as you can see there is a bottle size to suit pretty much any size party!

Above: The final Croatian wine was the Kabola Muškat Momjanski. It perfectly complimented the warm pear and maple ice cream dessert. A refreshing and medium-bodied white with notes of peaches, rose, and honey with a slight mineral quality. This white had a slight lingering taste that I normally associate with red wines. Definitely a great summer white to enjoy during memorial day weekend.

Above: Sorry to bounce you around so much from whites to reds, but I actually saved the one I loved most for last on purpose. The Erdutski Rosé is made from the Pinot Black grapes of the Slavonia region and has a warm blush pink color. This is literally THE MOST  BALANCED Rosé I have tasted in a LONG time. There were some folks at my table who do not like Rosé and tried this one at my urging and asked for another glass. It is perfect - not sweet or overly dry - the balance on this Rosé makes it one I will be reaching for year round, but it is definitely perfect for these upcoming summer nights and this long memorial day weekend. This one is my stand out from the tasting for sure.

Above: Monika Elling, FMGNYC Public Relations

Above: And guess who I spotted at Table 4? (Former) Governor George Pataki, NYC! (Seated Center)

MY TAKE

The selection of wines was quite impressive and the pairings were excellent, this is a wine tasting I definitely want to recreate for friends and family and hope it inspires you too. I say a visit to Croatia is next on my list as well.

Readers: What are your plans for Memorial Day? What wines are you drinking this weekend and where are you travelling to?

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FTC Disclosure: No monetary compensation has been received, this was a media tasting, and all opinions are 100% my own!  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Roses and Rosé #Fashion Event with @YourEluGirl - A Not so #WordlessWednesday Production (#Photos)

Ah! It's that time of year again, summer is fading into Fall and New York Fashion Week madness will soon take over the City!

I have had a very challenging summer, but at least a few of those stresses are starting to normalize - I will share more about that tomorrow, as I have had no working computer for most of the summer, I haven't been able to do full blog posts about the events I have been attending, but if you follow us via Instagram and Twitter you have probably seen some photos there! But what good are great photos that don't share the entire story?

Sorry but I don't have the patience for three paragraph photo captions on Instagram! (Bless you millennials born with long pointy texting fingers! LOL)

I'm sure by now founder of Your Elu, Christina probably thinks I forgot all about her, definitely not so! You guys know I've been in publishing in some form (TV, Newspapers, Magazines) for so long that Fashion Week doesn't quite hold the same magic for me as it does to someone new to it. I have the luxury of being at a point in my career where I am picking the Fashion Shows and Fashion Related Events that I attend and I always select those that have a unique back story. (Being a Human Interest Reporter never has truly left me. I like real stories.)

I think something has always had to 'resonate truly' for me to cover it, and this event was certainly right up my alley on many levels and for so many reasons!

Your Elu - Beauty to Measure - offers 'custom' made-to-order apparel for ALL women but was totally founded with the Curvy/Plus lady in mind.

Butterflies, tailored clothes plain and simple fall better, look better, and I guarantee that everyone carries themselves with more confidence when they know their look is on point.

I'm always straight-forward, 'made-to-order' is never cheap - but my ideology on the matter is this: Have less clothes in your closet. Yes that's right, I did say 'less' and use the word 'clothes'. Have a wardrobe of apparel that is custom and fits you to perfection, instead of a closet of full of cheap options that still have you saying 'I have nothing to wear today'.

We had an opportunity to get measured at the event, and while folks were being measured there were some nice noshes (check out the fried calamari in the photo above) and some great Rosé Wine. The theme was carried through with lovely Roses everywhere too!

Christina showed us some of the current styles available, and it was great getting a chance to feel the weight of the fabric and see the styles up close. And one great trick for us curvies that I have been using since forever is a good statement necklace, check out the one above being displayed with a Your Elu Little Black Dress, can I get a YAS!!!!???

Putting an event together takes a great team and it was fun meeting the Your Elu team!

My Take:

Made-to-Measure has been available for men in the retail space for ages now, and I truly love seeing custom made apparel for all sizes that also focuses on FASHION for women coming to the forefront. When you are a size that is not on the rack in many trendy retailers it is easy to feel less confident, what better solution than a brand with a fashion focus that does not turn any size away? A brand that wants to empower at all sizes. I say Kudos to Your Elu and I will be keeping an eye on them, they are my 'ones-to-watch' and I hope I get the chance to try out a custom made creation by Your Elu! You know for research purposes, so I can tell you about the comfort and fit! (wink) (wink)

I wish everyday could be 'Roses and Rosé'

Readers Sound Off: Do you own Custom Made Apparel? If so, who is your designer? Have you/Will you consider trying Your Elu? Tag us on social with your custom made apparel on! @Tracy_Iglesias via Twitter and @Ascending1 via Instagram.

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. I attended a Press Event and no monetary compensation has been received. But for the sake of honesty I can be bribed in custom made fashion, handbags, shoes, boots and electronics. I'm a very *simple* girl. LOL All opinions expressed herein are 100% my own. Ascending Butterfly partners with brands that would be of interest and offer values to our readers. See our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for full information.