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A taste of Europe at Moody's Bistro & Lounge |
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Written by Morgan Kriz
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Tuesday, 15 April 2008 |
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 Moody’s Bistro & Lounge is taking its wine list to a new level, with nearly 500 different selections and an emphasis on Old World varieties, thanks to the restaurant’s wine director, Joseph Nase.
The first sommelier in America to be honored with Wine Spectator Magazine’s Grand Award more than once, Nase used his expertise to expand the restaurant’s previous list of 120 selections to nearly 500. The old list consisted almost exclusively of California wines, while the new list ventures out into new territory with more emphasis on Italy, France, Germany and Spain. To complement the cuisine of executive chef/co-owner Mark Estee and chef de cuisine Guy Frenette, Italian wines are a huge component, reflecting the Mediterranean influence and pairing well with the seasonal, fresh, simple flavors.
“There’s a great representation of Italy and France,” Nase said. “We have everything from country wines that are very accessible price wise and then we have all the way up to the Grand Cru from France and the Super Tuscans from Italy.”
The new list will retain its regional flavor with a large selection of wines from California, including one of Nase’s favorites, a 2006 Bohan-Dillon Pinot Noir from the Hirsch Vineyard on Sonoma Coast as well as wines from Napa and Santa Barbara County. Oregon wines, where the grapes grown in a cooler climate tend to be less jammy and smaller than their California counterparts, also will find their home on the list.
Nase’s appreciation for half bottles is another characteristic of Moody’s wine list, allowing for groups of 4 to 6 people to create a “do it yourself” tasting menu, sampling a variety of bottles during dinner.
Moody’s brought Nase on board last year and his expertise has helped establish the restaurant as a place known not only for its cuisine and jazz entertainment, but also for a new devotion to one of humankind’s favorite beverages. Nase’s love of wine is almost a genetic trait. He inherited this affection for his favorite beverage from his ancestors, who settled in a small town north of Naples, Italy, where the family-owned vineyard became the center of the town’s social and commercial life.
In 1990, while at Fournou’s Ovens in San Francisco, Nase’s wine program garnered the Wine Spectator Magazine’s highly coveted Grand Award. A decade after he first earned Wine Spectator Magazine’s Grand Award, he once again received this honor in 2000 as wine director at Lespinasse at The St. Regis Hotel in New York City, the first person ever to win the award more than once. Nase also has managed some of the country’s other renowned wine cellars including Gotham Bar & Grill, the Pierre Hotel, and the Lodge at Pebble Beach.
“Typically, you don’t find someone like Joseph outside of a big city,” said Moody’s co-owner JJ Morgan.
Moody’s patrons appreciate having Nase’s knowledge at their fingertips. In addition to wandering the dining room, Nase also included in the wine menu a ‘Heard it Through the Grapevine’ page, where he recommends a number of hidden treasures that offer good value and complement Chef Estee’s cuisine.
At Moody’s, Nase will continue to transform the wine list, introducing more Spanish wines, additional half bottles and expanding the list past the 650 mark in the next year.
According to Nase, “there are not a lot of wine professionals creating lists up here and it’s wide open to make a big impression quickly.”
Located inside the historic Truckee Hotel on Commercial Row, Moody's Bistro & Lounge is known for its locally sourced ingredients served in an informal atmosphere reminiscent of Tahoe in the 1920s. The restaurant serves a variety of Contemporary American specialties in a range of affordable price points, as well as a seasonal drink menu made with fresh herbs and fruit.
The lounge also is home to live jazz shows by top U.S. and international acts. Moody's is located a few minutes from Interstate 80 at 10007 Bridge Street in Truckee (on the corner of Commercial Row).
For reservations, call (530) 587-8688 or visit www.moodysbistro.com.
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