Northern New Jersey Wine Tasting Fundraiser – Save a Lab Rescue

Northern New Jersey Wine Tasting Fundraiser – Save a Lab Rescue

Labrador_RetrieverAs I’ve written about before, I belong to the Northern NJ Wine MeetUp Group, a fun group of wine aficionados who gather most months to pay homage to the grape.

I just received word of a really neat (and worthy) wine tasting fundraiser that I felt was important to share. Ten months, one of the event coordinators, Bob, began volunteering at a group that rescues dogs that are going to be put down, mostly from shelters in the south. That group is called the Save a Lab Rescue and what they do is quarantine the dogs, get them fully vetted, spayed or neutered, micro-chipped and then moved to a foster home until they get placed in a forever home. Bob has fostered 7 dogs since Labor Day.

About the fundraising event:

Includes 25 wines for tasting and an abundance of hors d’oeuvres. All the wines being poured will also be available for purchase.

Saturday, May 11 – 4pm to 8pm

Tree Tavern – 17 Park St., Wanaque, NJ 07465

$37 per Ticket

If you can’t make the event, please consider going to the www.SaveALabNC.com and making a tax deductible donation.

For complete details about the event and to join our group, click here.

About Save a Lab Rescue:

All-volunteer, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of displaced Labrador Retrievers and Labrador Retriever mixes.

We rescue Labradors that are in danger of being euthanized at animal shelters or that are in situations that are abusive, neglectful and or harmful. Save A Lab Rescue provides all necessary veterinary care for its rescued Labradors and transports them to approved foster homes, where they are cared for until they are adopted. The organization conducts a thorough screening process of its prospective adopters, and seeks to place its rescued Labradors into approved, permanent adoptive homes.

How You Can Help: We are always in need of adopters and fosters! Donations are also extremely critical to our operation, as adoption fees only offset a portion of the expenses we incur in vetting and transporting our rescued Labradors. Please email us at info@SaveALabNC.com if you would like to help.

You can literally help to save the life of a lab in need!

If you can’t adopt – foster, If you can’t foster – sponsor, If you can’t sponsor – volunteer,

If you can’t volunteer – donate, if you can’t donate – educate, network, and cross-post,

EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING, Large or Small to Save a Life!

www.SaveALabNC.com or www.facebook.com/Save.A.Lab

Northern NJ Wine MeetUp Visits Spuntino Wine Bar

Northern NJ Wine MeetUp Visits Spuntino Wine Bar

Last night, the Northern NJ Wine MeetUp Group had a gathering at Spuntino Wine Bar in Clifton. This diverse group of wine fans meets about every six weeks at various places in northern New Jersey. I’ve belonged to the group for about three years and the events are always fun and insightful. I’ve written about Spuntino in the past, so I was pleased when I received a notification that the November event would be there.

Our group of about 30 members, including friend and fellow New Jersey food and blogger Peter Conway of Mano A Vino, met for drinks in the spacious bar area then met in a private room near the open kitchen. Spuntino’s Sommelier, Jane, graciously walked us through the extensive menu and wine list. The restaurant offers forty two Italian wines by the glass, over one hundred Italian wines and a reserve wine list with several gems I’d like to sample.

When I say the menu is extensive, I mean it! Spuntino features a tapas menu, small plates meant to be shared. My party sampled a plate of Salumi and Formaggi, cured Italian meats and cheeses served with perfectly grilled crostini that was perfect paired with our first bottle of wine.

Bruschetta come in nine variations (one for $3, three for $8 and five for $14) and our table tried the Prosciutto di Parma and fresh Mozzarella version. The Italian bread was grilled to a crunchy exterior while the interior was still moist. We also sampled the Carciofo – flash-fried artichoke hearts served with a tangy lemon aioli.

Meatballs ($6) are king at Spuntino and last evening, we opted for the lamb variation. The three meatballs were served with a Parmesan wafer and were good, albeit a bit bland.

There are five pastas ($8) on the menu and on this visit, we devoured the pasta with wild boar ragu. The sauce was rich and flavorful and the pasta was topped with freshly-grated Parmesan cheese.

The pizzas are thin-crusted and hand-stretched and the meaty Salumi ($11) topped with Prosciutto, crumbled sausage, Capocollo and Cacciatorini made it to our table, once again.

If you’ve not experienced Spuntino, make a point to visit soon. It serves delicious, affordable food and the wine list would please any fan of the grape.

Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas

94 Kingsland Road

Clifton, NJ, 07014

(973) 661-2435

HOURS

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. -10 p.m.
Monday –Thursday: 11 a.m. – Midnight.