Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped
@hankzona.bsky.social
Plant-based beverages. Wine & spirits event professional, educator, consultant, writer, media-ing on almost anything related to wine and spirits including food, art, music, culture (high, low and in between brow), travel. More interesting stuff on IG
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The Best Restaurants in Newark, New Jersey
A legendary diner, a Portuguese butcher, and a tavern with a destination-worthy burger
ny.eater.com
My latest for Eater, an extensive food map of the often maligned but resilient and culturally ascendant city of Newark, NJ. 🍽️ #Foodsky #WritingCommunity #Newark #NewJersey #Eater
ny.eater.com/maps/the-bes...
ny.eater.com/maps/the-bes...
Of course the White House is willing to release the Amelia Earhardt files. Earhardt wasn't 15 when she was forced to go down.
November 16, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Of course the White House is willing to release the Amelia Earhardt files. Earhardt wasn't 15 when she was forced to go down.
I think her full name is Megyn R. Kelly.
November 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I think her full name is Megyn R. Kelly.
Yesterday was the Feast of St. Martin, a patron saint of #wine. I wrote about the legends, traditions, ties to Veterans Day, food, art, proverbs, identity theft, the basics. #Winesky #WritingCommunity #Writingsky
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
It's The Feast Day of a Patron Saint of Wine
St. Martin legends, traditions, link to Veterans Day and proverbs (one for our times perhaps).
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Yesterday was the Feast of St. Martin, a patron saint of #wine. I wrote about the legends, traditions, ties to Veterans Day, food, art, proverbs, identity theft, the basics. #Winesky #WritingCommunity #Writingsky
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
So disappointed in my alma mater. I'm done with them. @cornelluniversity.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
So disappointed in my alma mater. I'm done with them. @cornelluniversity.bsky.social
Happy Halloween!
Truly, the Great Pumpkin exists. It's my 13th Annual Wine Pumpkin. A grown-up treat, no trick to it.
#Halloweensky #Winesky #wine #winewriter #pumpkin #winepumpkin #Halloween
Truly, the Great Pumpkin exists. It's my 13th Annual Wine Pumpkin. A grown-up treat, no trick to it.
#Halloweensky #Winesky #wine #winewriter #pumpkin #winepumpkin #Halloween
October 31, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Happy Halloween!
Truly, the Great Pumpkin exists. It's my 13th Annual Wine Pumpkin. A grown-up treat, no trick to it.
#Halloweensky #Winesky #wine #winewriter #pumpkin #winepumpkin #Halloween
Truly, the Great Pumpkin exists. It's my 13th Annual Wine Pumpkin. A grown-up treat, no trick to it.
#Halloweensky #Winesky #wine #winewriter #pumpkin #winepumpkin #Halloween
My quickest and cheapest #wine related costume ever. Not sure I've reached phenolic ripeness in life, however. #Halloweensky #Winesky #winewriter
October 31, 2025 at 12:29 PM
My quickest and cheapest #wine related costume ever. Not sure I've reached phenolic ripeness in life, however. #Halloweensky #Winesky #winewriter
I try to do one contemporary/cultural themed pumpkin every year for Halloween. #Halloween #Halloween2025 #pumpkin #jackolantern #Halloweensky
October 30, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I try to do one contemporary/cultural themed pumpkin every year for Halloween. #Halloween #Halloween2025 #pumpkin #jackolantern #Halloweensky
I get too many trick or treaters to be able to give out the full size of these so kids will have to accept the fun size version. They can take two, though. #Halloween #Halloween2025 #trickortreat #Halloweensky
October 29, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I get too many trick or treaters to be able to give out the full size of these so kids will have to accept the fun size version. They can take two, though. #Halloween #Halloween2025 #trickortreat #Halloweensky
Its #NationalCatDay. Not to be confused with International Cat Day in August which I guess celebrates international breeds like Siamese, British, Japanese, Balinese, etc. Anyway, while I am not anti-cat, most of us can agree on this - don't be Shut-In Cat Guy. #wine #winewriter #Catsky #Winesky
October 29, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Its #NationalCatDay. Not to be confused with International Cat Day in August which I guess celebrates international breeds like Siamese, British, Japanese, Balinese, etc. Anyway, while I am not anti-cat, most of us can agree on this - don't be Shut-In Cat Guy. #wine #winewriter #Catsky #Winesky
Some of my previous Halloween pumpkin creations. Notice a pattern? #Winesky #Halloweensky #Pumpkinsky #wine #winewriter #Halloween #pumpkin #pumpkincarving
October 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Some of my previous Halloween pumpkin creations. Notice a pattern? #Winesky #Halloweensky #Pumpkinsky #wine #winewriter #Halloween #pumpkin #pumpkincarving
Not sure why a Catholic university commissioned this sculpture of Greg Allman hugging Gavin Newsom.
October 24, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Not sure why a Catholic university commissioned this sculpture of Greg Allman hugging Gavin Newsom.
I am recently back from an inspiring trip to Sicily and Sardinia so I made a couple of dishes because part of that inspiration was a reminder to enjoy and appreciate simplicity and what is right in front of you. #Cookingsky #Winesky #Travelsky #Pastasky
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
For National Pasta Day, My Omaggio to Simplicity
my recent trip to Sicily renewed my interest in Pasta alla Norma and a good bottle of wine
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:55 PM
I am recently back from an inspiring trip to Sicily and Sardinia so I made a couple of dishes because part of that inspiration was a reminder to enjoy and appreciate simplicity and what is right in front of you. #Cookingsky #Winesky #Travelsky #Pastasky
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
Now that its colder, I thought I'd look for the last of the stringbeans in my garden. Glad I was wearing a hat. As one friend said, with the size hat you need to wear, that's a lot of stringbeans! And there may be yet another picking pass. #homegardener #justahomecook #Gardensky #Cookingsky
October 16, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Now that its colder, I thought I'd look for the last of the stringbeans in my garden. Glad I was wearing a hat. As one friend said, with the size hat you need to wear, that's a lot of stringbeans! And there may be yet another picking pass. #homegardener #justahomecook #Gardensky #Cookingsky
There was one thing noticeably missing in my recent dining experiences in Sicily and Sardinia, and I did not mind at all-- garlic. Its overuse and misuse here in Italian-American food makes it less Italian. Some thoughts on allium abuse. #Foodsky #WritingCommunity
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
My First Observation Piece After 2 1/2 Weeks in Italy Will Likely Be Divisive.
We are over-reliant on garlic here in America.
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:02 PM
There was one thing noticeably missing in my recent dining experiences in Sicily and Sardinia, and I did not mind at all-- garlic. Its overuse and misuse here in Italian-American food makes it less Italian. Some thoughts on allium abuse. #Foodsky #WritingCommunity
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
I got some surprising traction on this elsewhere, so I'll post it here too. My thoughts, as a part Italian-American, on #ColumbusDay, why it should and shouldn't be problematic and why Italian-Americans deserve and can do better. #WritingCommunity #Writingsky open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
It is Problematically Columbus Day.
Why it should be and shouldn't be. Italian-American contributions should be marked, but we can do better.
open.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I got some surprising traction on this elsewhere, so I'll post it here too. My thoughts, as a part Italian-American, on #ColumbusDay, why it should and shouldn't be problematic and why Italian-Americans deserve and can do better. #WritingCommunity #Writingsky open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
A client, scrambling around today with some major issues and deadlines, called me to discuss a project and said, "Hi Babe." Then she apologized profusely. I told her she didn't need to apologize and that I have been called worse things.
October 13, 2025 at 10:01 PM
A client, scrambling around today with some major issues and deadlines, called me to discuss a project and said, "Hi Babe." Then she apologized profusely. I told her she didn't need to apologize and that I have been called worse things.
I thought this was where the last figs of the season would end up, but then the tree squeezed out another handful (along with another pass of string beans from the garden). #figs #Gardensky #Bakingsky
October 12, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I thought this was where the last figs of the season would end up, but then the tree squeezed out another handful (along with another pass of string beans from the garden). #figs #Gardensky #Bakingsky
I wouldn't boycott the #NFL over #BadBunny being the Super Bowl halftime show (I'm not a racist and/or Christian nationalist), but thinking the Jets-Broncos game is the best representation to advance interest in the league overseas is worth a boycott, or at least a good laugh. #Footballsky
October 12, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I wouldn't boycott the #NFL over #BadBunny being the Super Bowl halftime show (I'm not a racist and/or Christian nationalist), but thinking the Jets-Broncos game is the best representation to advance interest in the league overseas is worth a boycott, or at least a good laugh. #Footballsky
I was glad to see Jacy Topps' take on Oregon sparkling wine for @foodandwine.com. I co-wrote a piece on OR sparklers 4.5 yrs ago for Travel+Leisure. Hardly an 'I did it already' attitude. Just happy to see it getting more recognition and from someone I know. #Winesky ##Writingsky #WritingCommunity
October 12, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I was glad to see Jacy Topps' take on Oregon sparkling wine for @foodandwine.com. I co-wrote a piece on OR sparklers 4.5 yrs ago for Travel+Leisure. Hardly an 'I did it already' attitude. Just happy to see it getting more recognition and from someone I know. #Winesky ##Writingsky #WritingCommunity
I reconnected with a childhood friend through social media. He joined my #wine club a few years ago. Whenever he travels globally, he messages me right from dinner with pictures of the wine list asking for recommendations. Yesterday he was in Norway. We both agreed on the Jura Chard. #Winesky
October 12, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A friend brought me honey and rakia (grappa) from his family visit to Albania. Another brought me cloudberry preserves from her trip to Norway. There is no better start to understanding other cultures than through sharing their food and drink. I appreciate their thoughtfulness. #Foodsky
October 7, 2025 at 6:45 PM
A friend brought me honey and rakia (grappa) from his family visit to Albania. Another brought me cloudberry preserves from her trip to Norway. There is no better start to understanding other cultures than through sharing their food and drink. I appreciate their thoughtfulness. #Foodsky
October 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
September 29, 2025 at 7:51 PM
If I am going to get a primer on local wine in Sardinia, I will trust the wine bar owner with the Sardinian map tat on his arm. #wine #winewriter #travelwriter #Sardinia #Travelsky #Winesky
September 28, 2025 at 10:19 PM
If I am going to get a primer on local wine in Sardinia, I will trust the wine bar owner with the Sardinian map tat on his arm. #wine #winewriter #travelwriter #Sardinia #Travelsky #Winesky
A 1921 #DHLawrence travel piece about #Sardinia fascinated me and when someone told me it was still similar in many ways, I had to come here. Now that I'm here, it's truly remarkable how much really is similar. So much so, I got choked up tonight with what I witnessed. #Booksky #Travelsky #Winesky
September 27, 2025 at 8:17 PM
A 1921 #DHLawrence travel piece about #Sardinia fascinated me and when someone told me it was still similar in many ways, I had to come here. Now that I'm here, it's truly remarkable how much really is similar. So much so, I got choked up tonight with what I witnessed. #Booksky #Travelsky #Winesky