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...
Some places, its not unexpected to see wine in art, like at the Union Square Cafe. Right outside the restrooms, too, but I stopped to take a picture anyway. #wine #art #wineinart #Winesky #Artsky
January 22, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Some places, its not unexpected to see wine in art, like at the Union Square Cafe. Right outside the restrooms, too, but I stopped to take a picture anyway. #wine #art #wineinart #Winesky #Artsky
Today is the Feast of St. Vincent of Saragossa. He is one of a number of patron saints of winemakers and merchants. Why? Allegedly because he was tortured on a #wine press before being martyred. Go figure. The day does mark the beginning of winter pruning in many European vineyards. #Winesky
January 22, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Yesterday was National Cheese Lovers Day, which should make today National Dairy Intolerance Awareness Day. #Foodsky #Cheesesky #nationalcheeseloversday
January 21, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Yesterday was National Cheese Lovers Day, which should make today National Dairy Intolerance Awareness Day. #Foodsky #Cheesesky #nationalcheeseloversday
Reposted by Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped
Gold is malleable. Pyrite is brittle. It shatters. A year ago today, I said we are not entering a Golden Age, as was being trumpeted with bluster, but a Pyritic Age (and also applicable--a Piratic Age). The only thing malleable has been the minds of too many who fell for the fool's gold.
January 20, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Gold is malleable. Pyrite is brittle. It shatters. A year ago today, I said we are not entering a Golden Age, as was being trumpeted with bluster, but a Pyritic Age (and also applicable--a Piratic Age). The only thing malleable has been the minds of too many who fell for the fool's gold.
I posted this on social media 16 yrs ago today, after seeing it in a Bauhaus exhibit that day at @moma.bsky.social. I've always been a fan of the wit of #Klee who often blended mechanization and biology. "The Twittering Machine" over 100 yrs ago presciently nailed that other site. #artlover #Artsky
January 20, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I posted this on social media 16 yrs ago today, after seeing it in a Bauhaus exhibit that day at @moma.bsky.social. I've always been a fan of the wit of #Klee who often blended mechanization and biology. "The Twittering Machine" over 100 yrs ago presciently nailed that other site. #artlover #Artsky
I had duck legs in the freezer (and potatoes, carrots and fresh peas in the fridge) in hopes of making duck confit but it's kind of a pain in the ass so I found an easy and delicious recipe thanks to @nigella.bsky.social. W a Bechtold Cinsault from Turley. #justahomecook #Cookingsky #Winesky
January 20, 2026 at 12:55 PM
I had duck legs in the freezer (and potatoes, carrots and fresh peas in the fridge) in hopes of making duck confit but it's kind of a pain in the ass so I found an easy and delicious recipe thanks to @nigella.bsky.social. W a Bechtold Cinsault from Turley. #justahomecook #Cookingsky #Winesky
Conditions were very slippery heading into Intercourse, and once almost there, I trusted my instincts and tried a few spots, until...bingo! I found what I came for. Then treated myself after to this little shoofly pie. #AmishCountry #furnitureshopping #piesky
January 20, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Conditions were very slippery heading into Intercourse, and once almost there, I trusted my instincts and tried a few spots, until...bingo! I found what I came for. Then treated myself after to this little shoofly pie. #AmishCountry #furnitureshopping #piesky
If you read this, thank you! It's become my most read Substack. #MLKDAY #MLKSky #Writingsky #WritingCommunity
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
A Civil Rights Leader, a Liberal Journalist and a Segregationist Governor Walk into a Wine Shop...
no, it's not the opening line of a joke but a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wine story
open.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:40 AM
If you read this, thank you! It's become my most read Substack. #MLKDAY #MLKSky #Writingsky #WritingCommunity
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
Reposted by Hank Zona - The Grapes Unwrapped
Peace, children, peace, the King doth love you well.
January 19, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Peace, children, peace, the King doth love you well.
January 19, 2026 at 3:48 AM
My #wine pairing to mark #nationalfignewtonday last night was a glass Port. #Winesky #Cookiesky #FigNewtonsky
January 17, 2026 at 5:15 PM
My #wine pairing to mark #nationalfignewtonday last night was a glass Port. #Winesky #Cookiesky #FigNewtonsky
My latest: a (true) Dr. #MLK Jr. #wine story and thoughts on one of his better known sermons, which happens to be wine-related, and also timely. #Winesky #writingcommunity #DrMartinLutherKingJr #MLKDay open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
January 16, 2026 at 8:26 PM
My latest: a (true) Dr. #MLK Jr. #wine story and thoughts on one of his better known sermons, which happens to be wine-related, and also timely. #Winesky #writingcommunity #DrMartinLutherKingJr #MLKDay open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
January 16, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Still and ever the short-fingered vulgarian.
January 13, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Still and ever the short-fingered vulgarian.
I really liked the label (and wine!) on this bottle that was part of the January drop for my wine club, but realized a picture alone didn't do it justice. So here's a video look at it.
‘Ein Traum’ is a biodynamic from the wonderful Birgit Wiederstein in Austria. #Winesky #wine
‘Ein Traum’ is a biodynamic from the wonderful Birgit Wiederstein in Austria. #Winesky #wine
January 13, 2026 at 11:00 PM
My favorite movie premiered 85 years ago yesterday. It still nails the essence of relationships and class. And #wine, specifically #champagne, is a key element. #Winesky #Moviesky #wineinmovies open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
My Favorite Movie Was Released on This Day in 1940
And a specific Champagne plays a supporting role
open.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 5:51 PM
My favorite movie premiered 85 years ago yesterday. It still nails the essence of relationships and class. And #wine, specifically #champagne, is a key element. #Winesky #Moviesky #wineinmovies open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
December 26, 2025 at 11:58 PM
There is only one war on Christmas, and it's specifically a war on #Christmas cookies. A battle I am either crushing or being soundly defeated by, depending on your perspective. #Bakingsky #Christmassky
December 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
There is only one war on Christmas, and it's specifically a war on #Christmas cookies. A battle I am either crushing or being soundly defeated by, depending on your perspective. #Bakingsky #Christmassky
A bowl of Smoking Bishop is not something one gets at the local dispensary, but the #wine infused punch a penitent Scrooge offers Bob Cratchit. Dickens also offers a timely character study and words that hold up today. #Winesky #wineinliterature #Literaturesky
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
What Did The Kinder and Gentler Scrooge Drink?
A bowl of Smoking Bishop with Bob Cratchit, of course.
open.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
A bowl of Smoking Bishop is not something one gets at the local dispensary, but the #wine infused punch a penitent Scrooge offers Bob Cratchit. Dickens also offers a timely character study and words that hold up today. #Winesky #wineinliterature #Literaturesky
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
A true #wine story--the time a casting agency asked for recommendations from my wine club ranks for models for a bra advertising campaign. No, no finder's fee for me, the foundation the club is built on. #winewriter #Winesky #WritingCommunity
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
Your Interest in Wine Could Lead to a Career as a Bra Model!
I came across an interesting email I received a few years back
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:48 PM
A true #wine story--the time a casting agency asked for recommendations from my wine club ranks for models for a bra advertising campaign. No, no finder's fee for me, the foundation the club is built on. #winewriter #Winesky #WritingCommunity
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
Did today feel like the shortest day, or what? Felt like it just zipped by!
#solsticehumor
#solsticehumor
December 21, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Did today feel like the shortest day, or what? Felt like it just zipped by!
#solsticehumor
#solsticehumor
It's #WorldBasketballDay. I'm grateful to still be running full court twice a week at an advanced age. I also appreciate that there is a #wine culture in and around #basketball. I brake for interesting basketball hoops too, wherever I am, including these two from wineries. #Winesky #Basketballsky
December 21, 2025 at 8:49 PM
It's #WorldBasketballDay. I'm grateful to still be running full court twice a week at an advanced age. I also appreciate that there is a #wine culture in and around #basketball. I brake for interesting basketball hoops too, wherever I am, including these two from wineries. #Winesky #Basketballsky
'Its A Wonderful Life' premiered 79 years ago today, and is as relevant as ever. In a world of Mr. Potters, we need more George Baileys. And there's a #wine lesson in there too. #winewriter #wineinmovies #Winesky #Moviesky #WritingCommunity open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...
It's a Wonderful Wine
On the anniversary of the release of a Christmas and humanist classic.
open.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:46 PM
'Its A Wonderful Life' premiered 79 years ago today, and is as relevant as ever. In a world of Mr. Potters, we need more George Baileys. And there's a #wine lesson in there too. #winewriter #wineinmovies #Winesky #Moviesky #WritingCommunity open.substack.com/pub/hankzona...