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Italian Wine News |
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Cena con l'Importatore at Fratello's Restaurant
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For the occasion, Cinzia Mandati, WineCountry.IT account manager for the San Francisco South Bay area, assisted by WineCountry.IT president, Loris Scagliarini, poured and presented to diners five Italian wines from as many producers and two regions: Veneto for the aperitif and dessert, and Tuscany with one white and two reds paired with the hors d'oeuvres, first course, and main entree.
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As soon as the patrons are set up at their tables, they have the opportunity to taste Malibràn's Prosecco Valdobbiadene DOC Spumante Brut – Ruio, which just won gold and silver medals in important Italian and US competitions. This delicious Spumante Brut wine is a crowd pleaser with its fine perlage and creamy foam. The floral notes of acacia and roses lay on top of hints of ripe apple, pear and white peach.
Then, the hors d'oeuvre of Antipasto di Mare con Rucola (Seafood and Arugola Salad) is washed down with the 2005 Toscana Bianco IGT – Sereno, a fresh, lively blend of Malvasia del Chianti (60%), Trebbiano Toscano (30%), and Chardonnay (10%), produced by Azienda Agricola Montalpruno. This is a wine very pleasant to the palate.
The first course, Wild Mushroom Risotto, is paired with the red Orcia Rosso DOC Quercialsale 2003 by Terre di Nano. This is a 100% Sangiovese wine with great character, and soft, enveloping flavor. Its noble tannins are well integrated and the wine shows structure, excellent balance and persistence.
With the main course, Pollo alla Livornese con Salsa Puttanesca (Leghorn-Style Chicken with Puttanesca Sauce), Cinzia poured the excellent Monteregio di Massa Marittima DOC – Thesan Riserva 2003 by Fattoria Coliberto. This well structured Super Tuscan blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Franc produced in the Maremma coastal area of Tuscany, spends 12 to 14 months in new barriques. The deep ruby red colored wine reveals a fine, gentle bouquet, with sweet herbaceous tones and notes of cherries, black pepper and chocolate. In addition to being awarded four out of five bunches by the authoritative DUEMILA VINI 2008 guide edited by the Italian Association of Sommeliers (AIS, or Associazione italiana Sommelier), in 2008 the Thesan won the bronze medal in the National Women Wine Competition, in the special section 'Women Winemaker Challenge'.
The Apple Tart with Butterscotch Caramel dessert is served with the 2002 Recioto di Soave DOCG "Tre Colli" ("Three Hills") by Azienda Agricola T•E•S•S•A•R•I. This sweet nectar is made with Garganega grapes harvested at the beginning of October, then allowed to rest in specially-made frames that are kept in dry, airy places until the beginning of the following year, when the raisin-like grapes are crushed. The result is this bright golden-colored wine with intense fragrance, floral notes to the nose, which announce the strong, harmonic body and the velvety, fruity bouquet with light notes of honey. The long lasting, pleasant aftertaste is reminiscent of bitter almonds.
All diners expressed their appreciation for the wines presented and asked to please, repeat the experience soon, introducing new wines and food pairings.
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