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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped

@hankzona.bsky.social

440 followers 410 following 1K posts

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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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · Mar 5

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...

The Best Restaurants in Newark, New Jersey

A legendary diner, a Portuguese butcher, and a tavern with a destination-worthy burger

ny.eater.com

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 3h

Come on. We aren't judgy. Ok, maybe a little, but still!

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 4d

I'm sure you're washing it all down with something good. Cheers!

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 4d

Happy Birthweekend, Jane!

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 5d

Jerkoffs being jerkoffs sadly and likely raising future jerkoffs.

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 5d

Hands off? They're already ruining/running the government.

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 5d

Thanks Jane! I get groen up trick or treaters before kids now every year.

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 6d

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

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 6d

My quickest and cheapest #wine related costume ever. Not sure I've reached phenolic ripeness in life, however. #Halloweensky #Winesky #winewriter

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 7d

I try to do one contemporary/cultural themed pumpkin every year for Halloween. #Halloween #Halloween2025 #pumpkin #jackolantern #Halloweensky

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 7d

This was blatant at regular speed.

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 7d

They're basically an organized crime outfit.

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 7d

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

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 8d

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

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 12d

Some of my previous Halloween pumpkin creations. Notice a pattern? #Winesky #Halloweensky #Pumpkinsky #wine #winewriter #Halloween #pumpkin #pumpkincarving

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 13d

Not sure why a Catholic university commissioned this sculpture of Greg Allman hugging Gavin Newsom.

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 15d

I did a wine event once for a pharma collaboration including people from Novartis, the owner of the winery.

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 15d

Thanks, Jane!

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 15d

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...

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

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Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 20d

something I noticed a few weeks ago on a right-wing site where they were commenting/lamenting on his efforts in building a coalition with those likely opposed to him. Lamenting because they saw it as being effective, much to their chagrin.

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 20d

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

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 20d

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...

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

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 21d

And if he bangs away at a typewriter long enough, he can make actual sentences. Oh wait, the Infinite Monkey Theorem was debunked. Sorry.

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 23d

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

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 23d

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.

Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped @hankzona.bsky.social · 24d

What's in the pasta, Mike? I use them on pizzas/flatbreads.

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