Flavor, History and Wine – Spanish Wine Academy Pours “Homage to Our Rivers” at NYC’s City Winery June 20, 2023
Spain’s Penin Guide winemakers gathered in Manhattan on June 20 to pour their best wines for a crowd of Sommeliers, wine retailers and wine critics.
Spanish Wine Academy Pours “Homage to Our Rivers”
The Penin Guide, first published in 1990, is the most comprehensive Spanish wine guide in the world. With editions in Spanish, English, German and Chinese, it is the most widely used tool for amateurs and professionals to make purchasing decisions on Spanish wine.
It’s a must-have resource for restaurants, wine shops and critics.
Part of the event featured a masterclass on Spanish regions, ‘Homage to Our Rivers’ led by Ana Riaz.
‘Homage to Our Rivers’ led by Ana Riaz.
While Spain’s rivers haven’t reached the wine trade fame that classic European wines rivers like Rhone, the Loire, the Po or the Garonne mostly because they were very difficult to navigate.
But Spain’s rivers have created a more important element for their region’s wine – and that is the discovery of this masterclass.
Spanish Wine Academy Pours “Homage to Our Rivers”
As we taste through the areas and learn how each Spanish region’s flavor and aroma is tied to their rivers. With peaks, valleys and their overall geology has created some of today’s most outstanding Spanish Vineyards and generations of Spanish winemakers who have taken care of the vineyards.
Rivers and Rias by the Atlantic Ocean
In Galicia at the “top left corner” of Spain, the topography has been excavated by jagged river valleys. At the mouth of the large river, where the tide meets the stream is locally called “Rias”.
A perfect area to grow Albarino from the Salnes Valley, Inland on the banks of Ulla
Albarino, Mar de Frades 2022 DO Rias Baixas
Albarino, Mar de Frades 2022 DO Rias Baixas
Mango, pineapple and lychees on the nose, with wild flowers and notes of eucalyptus. Bright, fresh and vivacious on the palate, the tropical fruit flavors with a hint of salinity.
Albarino Mar de Frades Finca Monteveiga 2018 DO Rias Baixas
Albarino Mar de Frades Finca Monteveiga 2018 DO Rias Baixas
Medium pale yellow. A refreshing nose of citrus, herbal and grassy. Clean, bright acidity leading to passion fruit on the palate. Pair with shellfish, sushi, pasta with cream sauce, and soft cheeses.
Duero, the Lord of the High Plateau
Duero is an area with a long wine history and surprising diversity also known as “the backbone of Spain’s Northern Plateau.”
Growing their grapes more than 800 meters above sea level and under extreme Continental climate.
Duero offers wines of great character from two distinct areas: Rueda, a region specialized in white wines, and the famous Ribera del Duero, specifically the so-called “Golden Mile”.
Ramon Bilbao Verdejo Sobre Lias 2019 DO Rueda
Deep gold in the glass. Aromas of guava, papaya. Velvety dark chocolate, cocoa beans and vanilla on the palette. Pair it with roasted chicken, mushroom risotto.
Cruz de Alba Crianza 2019 D.O. Ribera del Duero
Medium ruby. Minty and herbal aromas, more herbaceous and less citrus. Palette brings cedar, clove, with a soft finish. Pair this with meat-heavy charcuterie, meaty lasagna.
River Ebro On the Mediterranean Side of Rioja
Upper Rioja is where Spain’s wine story began and the origin of Bodegas Ramon Bilboa.
The Sierra de Yerga area in Rioja Oriental boasts a Mediterranean lifestyle and many different expressions of Garnacha to taste and discover.
La Lomba Finca Lalinde 20232 DOCa Rioja – Rioja Oriental
La Lomba Finca Lalinde 20232 DOCa Rioja Rioja Oriental
Medium pink in the glass, this nose is Valencia orange and dried thyme. Mouth evolves from bright grapefruit, notes of jasmine, sage and white chocolate with a nice long finish. Pairs well with roasted pork, shellfish.
Ramon Bilbao Limite Sur 2018 Garnacha from different plots in Yerga Mountain DOCa Rioja – Rioja Oriental
Medium ruby in the glass. Raspberry, red currant on the nose. Intense tomato, bell pepper, white pepper and mint flavors. Sweet vanilla. Well balanced, smooth tannins, long finish. Enjoy this paired with poultry or pork with spicier toppings or sides like red pepper and paprika.
River Tiron Valley, North of Rioja
The Ebro, a section of the Rioja Alta, is a fertile, wine-growing area. It receives the water from the river Tiron, a perfect mix of Mediterranean, Continental and Atlantic influences.
Lalomba Finca Valhonta 2017 Tempranillo DOCa Rioja
Deep purple in the glass. Blueberry, blackberry, black currant, black plum on the nose. Palate shows ripe red currant with tobacco and leather. Medium body, good structure, medium finish. Pair it with a steak.
Ramon Bilbao Mirto 2016 Tempranillo DOCa Rioja
Inky purple in the glass, aromas of raspberry and espresso bean. Heavy body on the palate, with flavors of cassis, pomegranate, tobacco, coffee. Plush tannins with a long finish. Pairs well with grilled BBQ and gamey meats.
Founded in 1924, Ramon Bilbao is globally recognized as one of Spain’s most innovative wine producers.
Led by Rodolfo Bastida, it is committed to crafting wines that express the native terroir. Ramon Bilbao is part of Zamora Company group along with two other wineries: Mar De Frades and Cruz de Alba.
The Spanish Wine Academy is the wine training platform by Ramon Bilbao, aiming to promote an add value to the knowledge and consumption of Spanish wine globally
Kudos and cheers to Ana Riaz, the entire Penin team. Thank you Morgan Perry and Sicily Cronin.
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Thanksgiving in NYC: the perfect stuffing bread DOES exist – and it’s… [Recipe here]
This Thanksgiving in NYC, the perfect stuffing bread DOES exist – and it’s brioche. As in St Pierre Brioche Thanksgiving Stuffing
No Thanksgiving spread is complete without a hearty stuffing. While add-ins are a matter of preference, choosing the right bread is crucial. One underrated choice is eggy, rich brioche – and with St Pierre Bakery, you don’t need to go to France to get it.
Thanks to its butter and egg content, St Pierre’s Brioche Loaf provides the perfect balance of crisp toastiness while remaining soft and creamy inside, while its lightly sweet flavor adds a decadent quality that can still lean savory. Attached below is an approachable recipe for stuffing allowing for all the craveable crunch for the whole family with minimal effort required.
St Pierre Brioche Thanksgiving Stuffing
By @BrandiMilloy
Ingredients
1 loaf St. Pierre Brioche Bread
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 medium onion, diced
3/4 cup celery, diced
3/4 cup carrots, diced
1 cup mushrooms, diced
2 large eggs
1 tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
3 sprigs fresh thyme, just the leaves
1 tbsp. fresh sage, chopped
1 small apple (granny smith works well), peeled and diced
Salt and pepper
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut brioche bread into 1” cubes and bake for about 10-15 minutes until toasted.
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Meanwhile, into a pot over medium high heat add butter until melted. Add onion, celery and carrots and cook until everything starts to soften, about 7 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat and set aside.
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Into a bowl whisk together the eggs, herbs, apples, mushrooms, and salt and pepper. Add your cooked vegetables and mix to combine.
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Pour mixture on top of toasted bread and stir to combine. Bake stuffing for about 45 minutes. If your stuffing starts to get too brown, cover until finished baking. Enjoy!
As America’s favorite brioche brand, St Pierre’s products are widely available via grocery stores nationwide as well as Walmart.
The Rise of Mushroom Coffee: A New Era in Health-Conscious Brewing
In today’s health-focused culture, where wellness transcends mere goals to become a lifestyle, mushroom coffee is emerging as a leading trend. This innovative beverage combines the classic energizing effects of coffee with components often linked to the reputed benefits of medicinal mushrooms. Such a blend makes mushroom coffee a more mindful, health-oriented option for daily consumption, resonating especially with those who weave wellness into their daily routines.
Image courtesy of Freepik
The uniqueness of mushroom coffee lies in its ability to enhance the usual coffee experience by potentially offering additional benefits. For those who find regular coffee too acidic, mushroom coffee presents a more stomach-friendly option. Additionally, it incorporates adaptogenic mushrooms, which are believed to help the body better manage stress. This attribute makes mushroom coffee especially enticing to wellness enthusiasts and those seeking a natural way to support their body’s stress response.
The Rise of Mushroom Coffee, Image Courtesy of Freepik
Finding a coffee that delivers on both taste and health promises can be a daunting task. Leading the initiative is More.Longevity & Wellbeing with its Coffee Superfood Blends. These products are meticulously developed, selecting each ingredient for its quality and scientific backing, ensuring they contribute effectively to the blend. Flavors such as Salted Caramel Vanilla and Mocha are designed to mask the natural earthiness of mushroom, making the beverage more enjoyable while enhancing its appeal. The addition of adaptogens and essential vitamins in the blends aims to support overall health by boosting immunity, enhancing energy, and improving mental clarity.
The Rise of Mushroom Coffee, Image Courtesy of More.Longevity & Wellbeing
The company’s commitment to radical transparency ensures that consumers receive a product free from unnecessary fillers and additives, affirming a respect for consumer health and environmental sustainability. This level of honesty and ecological consideration is becoming increasingly important to consumers who prefer products that are both healthy and environmentally conscious.
As the trend continues to carve a niche within the beverage market, consumers are presented with expanding choices. It’s no longer just about picking a brand; it involves selecting a philosophy and a level of quality that resonates with personal health values and taste preferences. The coffee not only invites coffee lovers to rethink their daily mug but also serves as a gateway to a more mindful and intentional morning routine.
Image Courtesy of Freepik
Are NYers falling in love with New Wine? Dancing Wines from Cynthia Russell, Lauren Russell
Are NYers falling in love with New Wine? Dancing Wines from Cynthia Russell, Lauren Russell in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County.
The team at Dancing Wines is developing a collection of sensory brands that celebrate life through taste, touch and aroma – inspiring you to find your inner dance and show the world what truly moves you.
Dancing Wines’ red wine trio includes Old Vine, Duo and Estate — three limited-release wines made from hand-picked grapes that showcase the full breadth of the Dancing estate.
Lauren Russell (L) and Cynthia Russell (R) from Dancing Wines Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma
Today’s conversation with the dynamic Mother / Daughter team Cynthia and Lauren Russell from Dancing Wines ha been edited for length and clarity.
For the full, un-edited conversation, visit our YouTube channel here.
Joe Winger: What is the most important message you’d like to share today?
Lauren Russell: I think one of them is dancing is art and art is life.
Another is love needs no explanation. I think really the thread between those is we’re trying to create a product and an experience that brings people together and invites them to find their inner dance, which is something we say a lot.
So we want to encourage people to find their unique rhythms. And wine is also really lovely because it is a vehicle that brings people together to enjoy a moment and diverse people together.
I think my Mom [Cynthia] can speak to this as well, but one of the things we thought about when first exploring wine was just how daunting the whole atmosphere is around the consumption of it and the buying and using all the right adjectives.
Especially for my generation I feel like there’s a bit of a learning curve. So I think one thing we really want people to take away from the brand is just like, just enjoy it. Love needs no explanation and you can’t drink wine when your mouth is full of adjectives. We’ve created a great wine just for you to be able to enjoy and to describe however you want and enjoy whenever you want.
Source: WeAreDancing.com
Cynthia: Yeah, I think the measures we created we have a beautiful heritage property that the soil and the climate create this great wine. And me being of an older generation where wine was very intimidating, even though I know a lot about it.
And drinking it for a very long time. I’ve lived in France. I’ve lived in California. It’s still when you order in a restaurant, you’re scared. Do I know enough? I’m going to be embarrassed. Is this the right pairing? And what the good news is that wine making in the world has become so sophisticated that if you are buying wine from a place that is special, including all.
Sonoma or France or Italy, the wines are good, they’re really good and all you have to do is be comfortable with yourself and enjoying it. And so that’s what we’re trying to do is take a product that has thousands of years of history as being a part of our culture and make you comfortable with just having fun, enjoying it and celebrating what wine can do to bring people together.
Source: WeAreDancing.com
Joe Winger: You have a really unique story that you restored a vineyard up in Dry Creek. Can you talk about experience and what you learned from the restoration?
Cynthia: We lucked out. It was a Covid purchase. We spent a lot of time as a family together in very small confined spaces drinking a lot of wine.
We [thought we] might end up needing a place where we have more outdoor space and can be together. So we bought this property more as a farm and then discovered that it was a unique part of the world.
Zinfandel grapes have been growing in this small region for over 150 years.
It was called America’s grape back in the time I think [the] 1850s. Okay, we have these vineyards. They’re really old.
There was one owner at this property for 60 years, an older Italian gentleman. And a lot of the area is multi generation, fourth generation Italian families who came over and cultivated this grape.
We never intended to make wine and yet we were scared to let this history and heritage die.
So we took classes and tried to figure out, can we make wine?
It’d be such a shame to let this history go in this special place.
We made a great discovery, which was that you don’t have to be an expert on wine. You just have to have great soil and a great climate.
Then we launched from there.
Source: WeAreDancing.com
Lauren: We’re always towing the line between the respective tradition and traditional winemaking and the land and all of the old vines and creating something new.
She [Mom, Cynthia] always brings a lens of respect for the older generation and ways of life and what wine has meant to her throughout her life.
I’m always pushing the other direction. We always land somewhere in the middle.
You’ll see that in the brands, it has really playful branding and packaging. But, our winemaking is a bit more traditional. We’re a sustainable vineyard but we have old vines and we respect what the land has to offer and what it’s been offering in that region for a long time.
It creates a better product and brand for us because we get to cater to both audiences.
Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma
Joe Winger: You have a collection of sensory brands. Can you talk about what that collection is, what inspired the idea, and what we should be looking for?
Lauren: All of the products have been and will be inspired by the backdrop of the vineyard.
When we talk about wine, we talk about this kind of multi sensory experience, whether that’s aroma or where you’re having it, who you’re enjoying it with.
We came into wine knowing that it was going to be not just about taste or smell, but about the holistic experience of what wine could do for someone.
Sort of the thread between all of our products are taste, touch and smell. Again, like finding your inner dance and allowing you to express your personality.
We’re launching a trio of fragrances, which are loosely inspired by the terroir and the vineyard.
Cynthia: We have a fresh perspective on Sonoma. Every time we arrive, we have this nose full of these incredible senses:, the smell of moss, crushed grapes, barrel, fire and oak.
Yeah. So we’re like, wow. Every time we arrive, we’re like, wow, this is really cool.
This is so distinct and unique and just elevates your experience of being there.
We are going to bring more experiences to the brand when we can, like having an artist in residence, creating visually beautiful contributions.
We have an art collection there that inspired us to bring art to the brand. It’s largely from a diverse group of artists from the West Coast who are very colorful and young and also push boundaries. So our idea with the senses is like we’re trying to This is a brand that you enter into our world and you get to experience people and life in a way that’s very unique and bold and
Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma
Joe Winger: What are both of your backgrounds outside of wine?
Lauren: I was raised in Connecticut and went to Dartmouth for undergrad, was a creative non-fiction writer, so always had that storytelling bent.
After school, I worked at a lot of businesses in marketing. Uber Eats, Refinery29, right before the pandemic, I worked for AB and Bev that was my first kind of foray into alcohol.
Then during COVID, I got my MBA at Columbia. We all got this massive reset of our priorities. I come from an entrepreneurial family. This opportunity arose
Cynthia: We’re a family who really believes in experiences. I have dabbled in many different areas. I went to Scripps college. I actually was a dance major until I was not. I became an international relations major. I lived in France for a while. Then moved to New York City and worked for JP Morgan trading stock, money market securities.
I didn’t find that was my passion, so I went to Harvard Business School and I got a master’s in business. Then I worked for American Express where I started a weekend travel program. It was a little startup within the travel segment of American Express. I got my “sea legs” of starting a business.
I quit that business because I had kids, then I started my own mail order company then I decided again, that maybe I needed a little more education.
I went back and got a doctorate at Columbia in organizational leadership.
I have a consulting firm on the side where I consult leaders and organizations about how to handle complex challenges in a complex world.
So my daughter [Lauren] gets through business school and we decide to marry all these wonderful experiences together and create something really new and unique.
Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma
Joe Winger: Let’s talk about your wines.
Lauren: We launched with our rosé which is really beautiful. It’s an intentional rosé. From our Primitivo grapes and we harvested them early and intentionally for rosé.
It has this really beautiful distinct, watermelon, almost Jolly Rancher aroma, and it’s really playful and full, but also dry. And it’s been a really big hit so that was a fun debut for us.
We just launched our trio of reds, and what makes them unique goes into the story about the restoration of the vineyard.
We’re still learning our land and learning from it.
We chose to harvest from different blocks and treat the wines in a similar fashion and bottle them separately to see what personalities they expressed.
One is the Old Vine Zinfandel, which is from our oldest head trained vines which is the deepest, moodiest, richest wine. It’s really lovely.
Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma
Then we have an estate wine, which is actually from Primitivo, a different word for Zinfandel. That one is a bit lighter.
Then we have a third, a duo which is a blend of both. And so it’s really helped us to understand. And they are quite different.
They’re obviously all Zinfandels in their expressions, but they’re all quite different.
People say Zinfandel is like a map of the land and I think that’s really true here. Which is super cool.
But we have two forthcoming sparkling wines because I think it really speaks to our ethos about being playful and to my generation.
Cynthia: It’s really fun for us because being on the East coast, Zinfandel is a really unknown varietal and we think it’s underrated. Californians know it’s been around for a long time. It has a lot of possibilities with food. And so what we’re trying to do is bring to light this really good wine and do it in a slightly different way.
We pick ours earlier, trying to have it be less jammy, juicy, heavy; lighter, less alcoholic than some of the more traditional Zinfandels that are on our street.
That’s really trying to address the changes consumer changes.
Our wines are chillable, super easy to eat with most any food, especially ethnic food, spicy food.
2022 was our first vintage. 2023 is already in barrels and we’ll be bottling that in probably in March. But it’s going to be a little different because the climate was different that year.
The rosé was just a fluke. Our winemaker wanted to try a Zinfandel rosé. Most people love it. It’s so distinct and unique.
Our 24 Rosé will come out in March. The reds will come out in the early summer. We’re going to bottle the sparkling in January, but that will be at least a year until you’ll see that. The pétillant naturel will probably be launching at about the same time as the rosé
Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma
Lauren: What’s fun about having both an early release sparkling and a [second, additional] later release [sparkling wine] one is going to be lighter, more effervescent, maybe geared towards the younger generation and the other will have that toastier champagne flavor.
Joe Winger: Do you have a favorite wine and food pairing?
Lauren: This one’s so hard. Rosé and oysters or any seafood is just awesome. Sparkling wine and a burger is one of my favorites.
In terms of red, when I think of Zinfandel, it’s Thanksgiving foods. It speaks to the hominess in our story. Bringing everyone around the table. Kind of experiential pairing.
Cynthia: Yeah, that resonates with me.
We have a lot of ethnic food, so it holds up really well to spice, to sweet and sour, salty and sweet. So it’s great with Indian food, Mexican food. Apples in your pork chops.
A burgundy is usually killed instantly by those kinds of flavors. It’s too fragile.
[Ours] is not fragile, but it still has so many nice aromas and flavors to enhance whatever you’re eating.
Lauren: It’s great with pizza. Pizza and a nice glass of Zinfandel
Source: WeAreDancing.com
Joe Winger: What’s something magical about Sonoma that you learned through this journey?
Lauren: True of both Zinfandel and Sonoma it always has this underdog energy to Napa. One of the hidden gems, we wake up really early and drive to the Redwood forest to watch the sun rise through the trees.
We eat a burrito because we have terrible burritos in New York.
There’s an amazing food community, 3 Michelin star restaurant, chefs, farm to table.
Cynthia: The distinct part of Sonoma is how important nature is to everyone there. It’s not just about wine. It’s incredible nature.
We both traveled a lot, lived in a lot of places. I’ve never seen such natural beauty in such a small area.
Lauren: That’s what the idea of our products is too. We have to bring people here in some way, differently than just having them taste the wine.
So as many dimensions as we can bring people into that realm to experience [00:29:00] that it’s like definitely the dream.
Joe Winger: Whether it’s social media, website, or other ways, what are the best ways for our audience to find and follow Dancing Wine?
Lauren: We have our website, which is wearedancing.com. We also are on Instagram, which is at DancingSonoma.
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NYC is looking for Sipping Tequila: Mayenda Introduces Reposado Double Cask, A First-of-its-kind Aged Sipping Tequila Infused with Roasted Agave & Agave Miel
Mayenda Introduces Reposado Double Cask, A First-of-its-kind Aged Sipping Tequila Infused with Roasted Agave & Agave Miel
Mayenda, the sipping tequila that goes two steps above, today introduces its newest offering, Mayenda Tequila Reposado Double Cask.
Mayenda Reposado is a sophisticated evolution of Mayenda Blanco
Mayenda Reposado is a sophisticated evolution of Mayenda Blanco — the first tequila made using the brand’s signature process of infusing the finest tequila with both roasted agave and agave miel (honey) before the final distillation step.
Mayenda Introduces Reposado Double Cask, A First-of-its-kind Aged Sipping Tequila
This naturally deepens the notes of fresh roasted agave and adds herbal complexity with only three ingredients: Blue Weber agave, yeast, and water.
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For Mayenda Reposado Double Cask, the tequila is then aged for six months in a mix of American and European Oak, showcasing Mayenda’s continued commitment to developing innovative tequilas that stand apart from others on the market today.
This elegant sipping tequila will be available in the U.S. and Mexico beginning June 2024.
“With Mayenda Blanco, we knew we had unlocked new possibilities for expressing deeper flavors of the agave, thanks to the two extra steps in our signature process; yet it still felt like we had only scratched the surface of what was possible,” said Jesus Susunaga, Maestro Tequilero at Casa San Nicolás. “When developing our Reposado, we decided to employ a double cask maturation and longer aging process. This resulted in an exceptionally smooth and balanced, aged tequila that maintains the soul of our beloved Blanco.”
Mayenda’s Signature Process: Every Mayenda Tequila is made at Casa San Nicolás (NOM: 1440) in the highlands of Jalisco, using only mature 100% blue weber agave. Mayenda starts the same way as other premium tequilas, but the magic is in the two extra steps. Maestro Tequilero Susunaga and his team steep (or infuse) roasted agave and then agave miel from the cooking process just before the last distillation step. This naturally captures fresh roasted agave notes and herbal complexity that are typically lost in the tequila-making process, creating a soulful sipping tequila with a honeyed and multi-dimensional flavor profile.
Double Cask Aging in American & European Oak: For Mayenda Reposado Double Cask, Mayenda Blanco is then aged in the finest American and European Oak barrels. Each barrel type enhances the opposing characteristics of the other — one barrel adds impact while the other softens. The dry, spicy and earthy profile of cinnamon, chamomile and red apple in the European Oak is expertly balanced with the rich, fresh, sweeter notes of butterscotch, honeycomb and vanilla in the American Oak.
A Longer (6 Month) Aging Process: While most Reposado Tequilas are aged two to three months, the aging for Mayenda Reposado Double Cask is extended to a minimum of six months to impart the optimal amount of flavor from each cask. A longer aging time brings a more sophisticated, multi-layered and refined flavor profile.
Artful Master Blending: Careful to keep the essence of Mayenda Blanco in every sip, Maestro Tequilero Jesus Susunaga and his team of experts at Casa San Nicolás carefully blend every drop of Mayenda Tequila to ensure the highest quality of consistency, flavor, texture and refinement. Jesus’s extensive experience blending some of the finest aged spirits around the globe has helped him master this delicate craft and pioneer a new type of tequila in Mayenda.
Mayenda Reposado Double Cask may be enjoyed neat or in elevated cocktails such as a Morita Martini or Elevated Paloma. For recipes, visit mayendatequila.com.
Mayenda Reposado Double Cask will be available at select retailers in the United States for SRP $75USD per 750 mL bottle and in Mexico for $1,445 Pesos. Please sip responsibly.
Follow them on social media @mayendatequila and visit their website Mayendatequila.com
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America’s largest documentary festival DOC NYC Annc’s 2022 Awards — ‘Casa Susanna’, ‘How to Save a Dead Friend’, ‘ Fragments of Paradise’ –
America’s largest documentary festival DOC NYC Announces Jury & Audience Awards For 2022 – ‘Casa Susanna’, ‘How to Save a Dead Friend’, ‘ Fragments of Paradise’ among the winners.
DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival, revealed the 2022 award winners for its juried U.S. Competition, International Competition, Metropolis, Kaleidoscope, Shorts, Short List: Features, and Short List: Shorts sections, as well as the #MyJustice Film Award. The Festival’s Audience Award winner was also announced.
America’s largest documentary festival DOC NYC Annc’s 2022 Awards
A complete list is below.
The awards announcement comes after the conclusion of the in-person portion of the festival’s hybrid 13th edition.
DOC NYC’s online screenings run through November 27, with some 90 features available to stream across the United States, including 7 award-winning features; more than 100 of the festival’s short films, including all 5 shorts award winners, are also available online.
For a full schedule of available films, see www.docnyc.net
Ticket and pass information is below. For DOC NYC’s competitive sections, five juries selected films from the festival’s U.S. Competition, International Competition, and Kaleidoscope sections, as well as its long-running Metropolis and Shorts lineups, to recognize for their outstanding achievements in form and content.
The Short List: Features program—a selection of nonfiction films that the festival’s programming team considers to be among the year’s strongest contenders for Oscars and other awards—vied for awards in four categories: Directing, Producing, Cinematography, and Editing, with a Directing prize also awarded in the Short List: Shorts section. The Short List awards were voted on by two juries of filmmaker peers.
JURIED AWARDS, FEATURE FILMS U.S. Competition: The jury selected from among eleven new American nonfiction films in this section.
DOC NYC Grand Jury Prize: Casa Susanna, directed by Sébastien Lifshitz and produced by Muriel Meynard.
Grand Jury Prize: Casa Susanna, directed by Sébastien Lifshitz and produced by Muriel Meynard. (U.S. Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “Casa Susanna is a beautifully crafted film featuring hauntingly exquisite archival footage. Both cinematic and intimate, it offers a unique way into the trans experience by contrasting nostalgic and past stories through contemporary characters. This approach allowed us to understand how laws and perspectives have changed over the years. What’s more, multi-generational characters helped uncover complexity in the stories and surprising nuance. The film’s narrative elegantly captured the subjects’ resilience and ability to overcome adversity. The Casa was a compelling place of safety, warmth, individuality and camaraderie. The film’s archival material puts you into that world and serves as a time capsule to this moment in time.”
Available online through November 27.
Jurors: Jessica Harrop (Filmmaker, Sandbox Films), Justin Lacob (Head of Development, XTR); Tina Nguyen (VP of Programming, HBO Documentary Films)
Films featured in the U.S. Competition section: 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted a Culture, 26.2 to Life, The 50, Cabin Music, Casa Susanna, Coldwater Kitchen, Dear Thirteen, Dusty & Stones, Loan Wolves, Love in the Time of Fentanyl, Who is Stan Smith?
International Competition: The jury selected from among twelve new international productions in this section.
DOC NYC Grand Jury Prize: How to Save a Dead Friend, directed by Marusya Syroechkovskaya and produced by Ksenia Gapchenko, Mario Adamson.
Grand Jury Prize: How to Save a Dead Friend, directed by Marusya Syroechkovskaya and produced by Ksenia Gapchenko, Mario Adamson. (U.S. Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “For the International Competition prize, we recognize How to Save a Dead Friend as a truly exceptional film.
Marusya Syroechkovskaya’s first-person tale of punk love in Putin’s Russia shines an urgent spotlight on a forsaken generation condemned to a seemingly endless cycle of drug addiction, mental health crisis, and suicide by the repressive structures of the regime. This fiercely candid and moving portrait of two lost individuals who, caught in a spiral of depression, found themselves in each other, begins as a straightforward memoir of a tragic relationship and soon blossoms into an expansive, archival mosaic of Russia’s restive and stifled youth.” Available online through November 27.
Jurors: Edo Choi (Associate Curator of Film, Museum of the Moving Image), Sarah Colvin (Manager, Acquisitions and Business Affairs, NEON), Jonathan Schaerf (Head of Documentaries & Strategic Partnerships, Propagate).
Films featured in the International Competition section: African Moot, Big Fight in Little Chinatown, Children of Las Brisas, Closed Circuit, Destiny, Fati’s Choice, Girl Gang, The Hamlet Syndrome, The Hermit of Treig, How to Save a Dead Friend, Ithaka, Lazaro and the Shark: Cuba Under the Surface.
Kaleidoscope: The jury selected from among seven films in this section, which showcases essayistic and formally adventurous documentaries.
White Night, directed by Tania Ximena and Yollotl Gómez Alvarado and produced by Julia Cherrier, Mónica Moreno, Julio Chavezmontes.
Grand Jury Prize: White Night, directed by Tania Ximena and Yollotl Gómez Alvarado and produced by Julia Cherrier, Mónica Moreno, Julio Chavezmontes. (U.S. Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “We’re pleased to award this year’s Kaleidoscope prize to White Night for its patient, yet urgent emphasis on exhuming buried histories. Poetic pacing, resplendent sound, and expressive cinematography underscore the filmmakers’ thoughtful approach to wrestling with the nuances of community healing in the wake of natural disaster. We found ourselves struck by the intimacy of the relationship between the filmmakers and their collaborators.”
Available online through November 27.
Mother Lode, directed by Matteo Tortone and produced by Alexis Taillant, Nadège Labé, Margot Mecca, and Benjamin Poumey.
Special Mention: Mother Lode, directed by Matteo Tortone and produced by Alexis Taillant, Nadège Labé, Margot Mecca, and Benjamin Poumey. (North American Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “For its atmospheric clarity and attention to the human costs of extraction, the jury recognizes Mother Lode as a special mention. Stark neorealism blends seamlessly with flashes of the surreal and extra-reality, inviting the viewer to sit with the claustrophobia of capitalist precarity.”
Available online through November 27.
Jurors: Sally Berger (film and media curator); Jon Dieringer (founder and editor-in-chief, Screen Slate), Dessane Lopez Cassell (editor, writer, curator).
Films featured in the Kaleidoscope section: Dark Light Voyage, For Your Own Peace of Mind Make Your Own Museum, I’m People I Am Nobody, It Runs in the Family, Mother Lode, Our Movie (Nuestra película), White Night. Metropolis: The jury selected from among five films in this section, which is dedicated to stories about New Yorkers and New York City.
Fragments of Paradise, directed by KD Davison and produced by KD Davison, Elyse Frenchman, Leanne Cherundolo, and Matthew O. Henderson.
Grand Jury Prize: Fragments of Paradise, directed by KD Davison and produced by KD Davison, Elyse Frenchman, Leanne Cherundolo, and Matthew O. Henderson. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “Fragments of Paradise provides an intimate and intense portrait of an artist whose legacy is intrinsically intertwined with New York. The film offers an immediate and immersive experience of the inner life and history of the late artist Jonas Mekas. Viewers are given a chance to commune with this figure to whom independent cinema is so indebted, and despite covering decades of his life in art, the immediacy of his presence is so rich throughout the film, it almost feels like it’s in the present tense. A poetic film about a poetic artist, Fragments of Paradise twins its subject to great effect.”
In Search of Bengali Harlem, directed by Vivek Bald and Alaudin Ullah.
Special Mention: In Search of Bengali Harlem, directed by Vivek Bald and Alaudin Ullah. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “Films that reveal hidden histories, especially of a metropolis as well-plumbed as New York City, deserve to be celebrated, and In Search of Bengali Harlem is such a documentary. This film is remarkable in the way it tells the decades-long story of the Bengali community’s integration in Harlem, and the way Black and Brown people found each other, peeling back layer after deeply personal layer of one subject’s life. With a charismatic lead and beautiful musical accompaniment, this film provides a unique perspective of the immigrant experience and honors the singular place New York City has held throughout America’s history. ”
Available online through Sunday, November 27.
Jurors: Opal H. Bennet (Co-Producer and Shorts Producer, POV), Molly O’Brien (Head of Documentary, NBC News Studios), Joseph Patel (filmmaker).
Films featured in the Metropolis section: Fragments of Paradise, In Search of Bengali Harlem, Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story, Queen of the Deuce, Roberta.
America’s largest documentary festival DOC NYC Annc’s 2022 Awards
AUDIENCE AWARD
The Audience Award goes to 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted a Culture, directed by Sharon “Rocky” Roggio and produced by Roggio and Jena Serbu. (World Premiere)
Available online through November 27.
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order): 26.2 to Life, directed by Christine Yoo and produced by Yoo, Carolyn Mao, Sara Jane Sluke, Hella Winston (available online through November 27); Gumbo Coalition, directed by Barbara Kopple and produced by Kopple, David Cassidy, Williams Cole, and Ray Nowosielski; Lazaro and the Shark: Cuba Under the Surface, directed by William Sabourin O’Reilly and produced by Bryan Bailey (available online through November 27); and Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story, directed by Jennifer Takaki and produced by Takaki and Linda Lew Woo (available online through November 27).
SHORT LIST:
FEATURES AWARDS DOC NYC’s Short List for Features puts the spotlight on 15 documentaries representing the best of the year.
Directing Award: Descendant, directed by Margaret Brown.
Jurors’ statement: “Descendant is about finding Clotilda, the last ship that carried Africans to the United States after slavery had been abolished. In Margaret Brown’s hands, this story comes into full fruition. Committed to giving the descendants of the survivors of Clotilda the space not only to tell their story but to ponder and ask questions out loud, you feel their trust in Margaret – and in return, we put our faith in her too. This collaborative spirit between the seer and the seen bears witness to past horrors while connecting it to present injustices. ”
Producing Award:
Retrograde, produced by Matthew Heineman and Caitlin McNally. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “When almost every producing decision has life or death possibilities, when everyone is rushing to leave Afghanistan, and your film crew is rushing in, yet in spite of these dangers the the producers of Retrograde bring us into the war rooms and out onto the battlefield in a way we will never forget.”
Editing Award:
Fire of Love, edited by Erin Casper and Jocelyne Chaput.
Jurors’ statement: “A wealth of archival riches detailing the professional and personal passions of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Kraft is handled with deftness and discipline by editors Erin Casper and Jocelyne Chaput. The awe inspiring footage comes together seamlessly with narration and sound, with a rhythm and pacing that leaves the viewer with the sense of the Krafts in communication and relationship with the volcanoes that were the loves of their lives.”
Available online through November 27.
Cinematography Award:
All That Breathes, cinematography by Ben Bernhard, Riju Das, and Saumyananda Sahi.
Jurors’ statement: “The cinematography in All That Breathes is the foundation for a film that feels both expansive and intimate. It is a bellwether for an impending apocalypse and an intimate exploration of two brothers’ commitment and care for living things amidst an existential climate threat. Through the unflinching and patient lens of cinematographers Ben Bernhard, Riju Das, Saumyananda Sahi, we are called from the very first shot to bear witness and not look away.”
Special Mention:
The Janes, directed by Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes, produced by Emma Pildes, Daniel Arcana, and Jessica Levin
Jurors’ statement: “For exceptional editing in making the historical reach of The Janes connect to and shed light on the present day fight for reproductive rights. In spite of women dying and going to prison fighting to get abortions, The Janes celebrates a culture of resistance that can be a winning strategy for us today.”
Jurors: Traci A. Curry (filmmaker), Ramona Diaz (filmmaker), Pamela Yates (filmmaker).
SHORT FILM AWARDS Shorts Competition:
All new short films playing at the festival were eligible for the Shorts Grand Jury Prize, with the exception of DOC NYC U showcases and Short List: Shorts selections.
DOC NYC Holy Cowboys, directed by Varun Chopra and produced by Anna Hashmi and Varun Chopra.
Grand Jury Prize: Holy Cowboys, directed by Varun Chopra and produced by Anna Hashmi and Varun Chopra. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “Holy Cowboys stands out in terms of urgency and craft in filmmaking. The documentary brings to the fore how, under the guise of protecting cows and maintaining purity, acts of violence are used to terrorize a minoritized community. The jury commends Varun Chopra for his courage in making a film that is tragically universal.”
Special Mention: Will You Look at Me, directed and produced by Shuli Huang. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “An emotional montage of nostalgic ramblings and parental verbal abuse, the latter sometimes laid over images of happier family memories and beautiful portraits of his mother to devastating and disarming effect.”
Special Mention: Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles, directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk and produced by Daniel Lombroso. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “Through liturgy, trauma and the works of mercy, the movie provides a window into the invasion in Ukraine where sculptors build anti-tank defense as the war rages in their country.”
The 2022 winning Short film qualifies for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the annual Academy Awards ® without the standard theatrical run (provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules).
Holy Cowboys screens online as part of the Shorts: Animal Farm program; Will You Look at Me and Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles screen online as part of the Shorts:
Process program; all are available through November 27.
Jurors: Jose Hernandez (producer/programmer/curator), Aaron Hunt (VP, dedza films), Poh Si Teng (Executive Editorial Producer, ABC News Studios) Short
Short List: Shorts: DOC NYC’s Short List for Shorts highlights 15 documentary shorts that the festival’s programming team considers the year’s leading awards contenders. Directing Award: As Far As They Can Run, directed by Tanaz Eshaghian, produced by Tanaz Eshaghian and Christoph Jörg. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “The sensitive and nuanced portrayal of the families in this film showed tremendous directorial vision and perseverance. The story gives agency and voice to the participants who have long been marginalized by society. It was also empathetic to the caregivers and the incredible challenges they face. We found the exceptional directing in this film to be deserving of the Grand Jury Prize.”
Available online in the Shortlist Shorts: Our Family Portrait program, through November 27. Special Mention: Anastasia, directed by Sarah McCarthy, produced by Sasha Odynova, and Sarah McCarthy. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “We award special mention for Anastasia’s beautiful and intimate camera work and its observational approach. The film provides a badly needed perspective: the human side of an important political story.”
Available online in the Shortlist Shorts: Migration Stories program, through November 27. Jurors: Julie Cohen (filmmaker), Geeta Gandhbir (filmmaker), Deborah Shaffer (filmmaker).
#MyJustice: DOC NYC partnered with Odyssey Impact® to present the #MyJustice Film Award to Long Line of Ladies (NYC Premiere), directed by Rayka Zehtabchi and Shaandiin Tome, and produced by Garrett Schiff, Zehtabchi, Sam Davis, and Pimm Tripp-Allen. The award comes with a $10,000 cash prize and an Odyssey Impact National Social Impact Campaign, and is made possible with generous support from Paramount/Content for Change Academy.
Odyssey Impact® Statement: “For a female-directed, short documentary giving viewers a rare and stigma-breaking glimpse into a revived indigenous tradition of celebrating and normalizing period conversations of its young women coming of age. This story uplifts the Native American Karuk tribe of Northern California’s multi-generational community and, takes a significant step towards understanding Indigenous Rights and the worldviews of Native and First Nations Peoples. The film shines a much-needed light on the urgency of women’s equality for all.”
Available online in the Shortlist Shorts: Our Family Portrait program, through November 27.
America’s largest documentary festival DOC NYC Annc’s 2022 Awards
SPONSORS
The festival is made possible by: Leading Media Partners: New York Magazine; The WNET Group Major Sponsors: A&E IndieFilms; HBO Documentary Films; NBC News Studios; Netflix Supporting Sponsors: discovery+; National Geographic Documentary Films;
SHOWTIME® Signature Sponsors: Amazon Studios; Bloomberg Philanthropies; Consulate General of Canada in New York; Frankfurt Kurnit; Hulu; National Geographic; NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment; Participant Signature Media Partners: The New Republic; WNYC Event Sponsors: Cinepolis; 30 for 30 / ESPN Films; Firelight Media; Fox Rothschild LLP; Impact Partners; JustFilms | Ford Foundation; MTV Documentary Films; Odyssey Impact® , Inc.; Reavis Page Jump LLP; SVA – MFA Social Documentary Film; Telefilm Canada; Wheelhouse Creative Friends of the Festival: Agile Ticketing; CineSend; Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY; DCTV; Essentia Water; Fever Content; Kickstarter PBC; Ptex; Shiftboard.
DOC NYC is produced and presented by IFC Center, a division of AMC Networks. To inquire about sponsor or partnership opportunities for DOC NYC, contact Executive Director Raphaela Neihausen at raphaela@docnyc.net.
TICKETS AND PASSES: Festival screenings continue online through November 27.
Tickets and passes may be purchased at docnyc.net/tickets-and-passes.
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Reneé Rapp with Drew Barrymore; Discusses New Album and Performs at The 92nd Street Y Aug 21
Reneé Rapp Discusses New Album with Drew Barrymore and Performs at NYC’s The 92nd Street Y Aug 21.
Acclaimed singer-songwriter and actress Reneé Rapp visits 92NY on Monday, August 21 at 7:30 pm for a conversation with Drew Barrymore about her debut LP Snow Angel, followed by a special performance.
In-person and online tickets are available on 92NY’s website.
Reneé Rapp visits 92NY to perform
Earning scores of fans and accolades for her time both on the stage and screen (and a sold-out national tour), Rapp enters new territory on Snow Angel. Centering her voice and songwriting, the debut album is a piercing collection of songs wrought from emotional upheaval and personal transformation.
Reneé Rapp visits 92NY for fan favorites “Snow Angel” and “In the Kitchen”
Hear Rapp discuss the making of the record, the personal experiences behind new songs like “Snow Angel” and fan-favorites like “In the Kitchen,” stories from the studio, and much more — followed by an intimate, special performance.
Reneé Rapp began harnessing her natural creativity by writing and recording songs when she was just a teenager. Eventually, her career took off when she landed the coveted role of Regina George in the Tony-nominated Mean Girls musical on Broadway. Shortly after, she found widespread recognition and praise—from the likes of W, Harper’s Bazaar, and The Hollywood Reporter for her performance as Leighton on the HBO Max series The Sex Lives of College Girls written by Mindy Kaling.
Reneé Rapp visits 92NY to discuss her career
Rapp then turned her attention back to music, sharing her threadbare insecurities on debut single “Tattoos.” Since then, her songs have caught on like wildfire with listeners. The multi-hyphenate’s entire debut headline tour sold out in a matter of minutes, her inspiring single “Too Well” has impacted the Top 40, and her discography has amassed over 200 million streams and counting. Not only that, she will be reprising the role of Regina George in the forthcoming Paramount+ feature adaptation of the Broadway musical Mean Girls.
Rapp’s 2022 debut EP Everything to Everyone, as well as its deluxe edition, firmly established her pop staying power, while her debut LP, Snow Angel , is an elevated showcase the hitmaker’s vulnerable approach to songwriting and stunning vocal range.
About The 92nd Street Y, New York
The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) is a world-class center for the arts and innovation, a convener of ideas, and an incubator for creativity. Now celebrating its 150th anniversary, 92NY offers extensive classes, courses and events online including live concerts, talks and master classes; fitness classes for all ages; 250+ art classes, and parenting workshops for new moms and dads. The 92nd Street Y, New York is transforming the way people share ideas and translate them into action all over the world. All of 92NY’s programming is built on a foundation of Jewish values, including the capacity of civil dialogue to change minds; the potential of education and the arts to change lives; and a commitment to welcoming and serving people of all ages, races, religions, and ethnicities.
For more information, visit www.92NY.org.
