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
A #wine rep friend texted about stopping by to have me taste some things. I am fortunate that when I cant make it to the store that manages my wine club, reps and winemakers will stop by my home. Anyway, we had this exchange. A new AVA in the Pine Tree State? #Winesky #wine
November 19, 2025 at 7:57 PM
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.
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
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 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
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
Pumpkin spice Chardonnay from Trader Joe's may or may not be good (I'll go with the latter), but pumpkin spice Chardonnay is more likely not good reputationally for Chardonnay itself.
#wine #winewriter #Chardonnay #Winesky
#wine #winewriter #Chardonnay #Winesky
September 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Pumpkin spice Chardonnay from Trader Joe's may or may not be good (I'll go with the latter), but pumpkin spice Chardonnay is more likely not good reputationally for Chardonnay itself.
#wine #winewriter #Chardonnay #Winesky
#wine #winewriter #Chardonnay #Winesky
I am for religious freedom, not religious imposition. I am a lapsed #Catholic yet still struggle w and explore faith. I do not believe any faith belongs running our country, so will speak out against Catholic integralism and Christian nationalism, and the hypocrisy. #dontradonme #Religionsky
September 9, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I am for religious freedom, not religious imposition. I am a lapsed #Catholic yet still struggle w and explore faith. I do not believe any faith belongs running our country, so will speak out against Catholic integralism and Christian nationalism, and the hypocrisy. #dontradonme #Religionsky
Tonight's post #basketball muscle relaxant. A spirit made by Empirical, formerly of Copenhagen, now of Brooklyn. Base spirit, sour cherries, black tea, maqaw pepper, black currant buds, pine cones, walnut hull extract. Very satisfying. No #wine this time. #Drinksky
September 5, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Tonight's post #basketball muscle relaxant. A spirit made by Empirical, formerly of Copenhagen, now of Brooklyn. Base spirit, sour cherries, black tea, maqaw pepper, black currant buds, pine cones, walnut hull extract. Very satisfying. No #wine this time. #Drinksky
Someone recently called me the Fruit Whisperer because of my ability to seemingly always pick out the best. #justahomecook #jerseyfresh #Foodsky #Cookingsky #Fruitsky
September 4, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Someone recently called me the Fruit Whisperer because of my ability to seemingly always pick out the best. #justahomecook #jerseyfresh #Foodsky #Cookingsky #Fruitsky
Just one of two bowls from tonight's garden haul. 100 or so string beans under that stuff. #justahomecook #homegardener #Foodsky #Gardensky #Cookingsky #stillsummer
September 3, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Just one of two bowls from tonight's garden haul. 100 or so string beans under that stuff. #justahomecook #homegardener #Foodsky #Gardensky #Cookingsky #stillsummer
My perennial summer's bounty dish thanks to my garden and local farmers. Tomatoes, corn, zucchini, dill, bread crumbs, grated cheese, olive oil. Bake. Is it pie? Casserole? Who cares...its good. #justahomecook #homegardener #jerseytomatoes #jerseycorn #Foodsky #Cookingsky #Gardensky
September 3, 2025 at 9:43 PM
My perennial summer's bounty dish thanks to my garden and local farmers. Tomatoes, corn, zucchini, dill, bread crumbs, grated cheese, olive oil. Bake. Is it pie? Casserole? Who cares...its good. #justahomecook #homegardener #jerseytomatoes #jerseycorn #Foodsky #Cookingsky #Gardensky