SIMPLY ITALIAN GREAT WINES AMERICAS TOUR 2018

SIMPLY ITALIAN GREAT WINES AMERICAS TOUR 2018 A SHOWCASE FOR GREAT ITALIAN WINEMAKERS AND CHEFS

MIAMI'S STUNNING ADRIENNE ARSHT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HOSTS
THE NEW AGE OF ITALIAN WINES, WINEMAKERS AND CHEFS

 RICCARDO RICCI CURBASTRO WITH SPARKLING WINE FROM FRANCIACORTA

by Dwight Casimere

New Italian wines are here and fantastic they are! The much anticipated  Simply Italian Great Wines Americas Tour 2018 descended on Downtown Miami's architecturally stunning Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts to present a symphony of wine aromas and flavors from Italy's great winemakers, who were on hand in person to pour their wines, and tastes from a collection of Miami's most outstanding Italian chefs and restaurants. The marathon tasting event was preceded by enlightening seminars from James Beard Award-winning wine lecturer and writer Lyn Farmerin a brilliant discussion of the dynamic sparkling wines from Friuli and a highly enlightening presentation by the "King of Franciacorta", Riccardo Ricci Curbastro on Italy's premium sparkling wines. This outstanding event was brought to fruition by IEM of Verona, Italy, and its US affiliate IEEM, based in Miami. Consumers and members of the wine trade and wine press were able to engage directly with producers and enjoy outstanding cuisine from prominent local chefs and restaurants in an unprecedented event.

 THE LOVELY LATRICE

ROBERTO PARESCE OF GOL ITALIAN RESTAURANT PREPARES GAMBARONI LIVORNESE

SHARI GHERMAN AMERICAN FINE WINE COMPETITION

ALAIN ETHEART, EILEEN REYNA, SARAH ETHEART OF WHOLE FOODS MARKET

NERO DI TROIA FROM BIOCANTINA GIANNATTASIO

SIMONE FAVARO FINCATI OF I"M FIL INC. NATURAL FINE WINES

RICCI CURBASTRO FRANCIACORTA

ANDREA BIASIOTTO OF AZIENDA AGRICOLA BIASIOTTO

 CRISTINA BIZZARI OF IMPERO WINE DISTRIBUTORS

HOUSEMADE  SAGE RAVIOLIS FROM ZUCCA

 PROSCIUTTO

LA LEGGENDA NEOPOLITAN PIZZARIA OF ESPANOLA WAY WITH FRIED CALZONE

SPARKLING WINES FROM ASTI

CLASSIC HOMEMADE CANNOLI

WINE OF THE WEEK-BAREFOOT BUBBLY PROSECCO DOC MADE IN ITALY $10.99

The Perfect Summer Time Bubbly That Goes With Everything

by Dwight Casimere

 Jen Wall with Barefoot Bubbly

 Barefoot Prosecco COC

 Antoine's Signature Crab Stuffed Pomapano and (below) its famous Baked Alaska

If I were going to settle on a single sparkling wine for summer fun, it might by Barefoot Bubbly Prosecco DOC-$10.99. Made in Italy in the Veneto, where Prosecco is traditionally produced, the sparkling wine is made with 100% Glera grapes, the original Prosecco grape mandated by local Italian law. If you're wondering if you're getting the real thing, both the facts and a taste evaluation guarantee that you are. First of all, the Italians and, in fact, most European countries are a lot more strict on winemaking than their counterparts in the U.S. Process's grape content and production methods are strictly regulated, so, even the most obscure, small production brand is required to have the same high standards as a larger, more well known house.

Enter Barefoot Bubbly Prosecco, which is owned by E&J Gallo. The company went to Italy with the idea of a making a premium Prosecco that was both affordable and had its own individualistic style. "We tasted over a hundred of the sparkling wines from the region and came away with pretty much the same impression...they all taste the same.We wanted to created something that was uniquely Barefoot and which gave our drinkers a totally different experience.," said Jennifer Wall, Barefoot Vice President and the brands long-time award-winning winemaker.

Barefoot is the most consumed wine of any in the American market. There's probably a good reason why. The brand delivers a consistently good tasting product at an affordable price. Let's go over the specifics of Barefoot Prosecco.

The wine is exactly what a Prosecco should be, with some added dimensions, There's some delightful summertime tastes of Meyer lemons, ripe grapefruit, Golden Apples and Asian Pear that make it perfect with seafood. Jen spoiled this wine writer by taking him to Antoines in New Orleans' French Quarter for some butter-soaked Pompano, their signature dish, smothered in crab and fresh lemon juice. It could not have been a more delightful taste combination.

The sparkling wine is also versatile. You can serve it alone or with appetizers and salads for an aperitif or first course, and carry it right on through a deliciously fresh and light summertime meal and on through dessert.

Antoine's rolled out their signature Baked Alaska, a creamy concoction of angle food cake, whipped cream and soft ice cream. So New Orleans and so delicious! Smothered in  rich chocolate sauce, it was the ultimate match with creamy Barefoot Prosecco DOC!

B

NEW ORLEANS' BIGGEST PARTY OUTSIDE MARDI GRAS: THE NEW ORLEANS WINE AND FOOD EXPERIENCE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

Story and photo gallery by Dwight Casimere

NEW ORLEANS--One of the nation's biggest moveable feasts just celebrated its 25th year and raised over a million dollars for local charities and the Nunez Community College Culinary Arts Program. The event kicked off with the nation's biggest block party, the Royal Street Stroll, where a record number of revelers followed Bacchus and the Crewe of the Cork and a 'second line' New Orleans brass band through the French Quarter to eat and drink the best from local chefs and the nation's and the world's finest winemakers and brewmasters such as Stella Artois. With major sponsorship from Barefoot Bubbly and Barefoot Wines, and an assortment of Wines of Portugal , Luis Jadot wine, Kobrand Fine Wine and Spirits, Banfi, Seven Three Distillery and exotic teas from Pure Leaf.

75 of New Orleans' top chefs offered delicacies along with 1,000 fine wines at the Grand Tasting for one night only at New Oreleans' most festive venue, Mardi Gras World. The Big Gateaux Show was a massive pastry competition, hosted by Chef Tariq Hanna of Sucré.  Full of scintillating displays of burlesque, pastries and cocktails that features celebrity chefs and judges alongside Burlesque starlets, Trixi Minx & Bella Blue.  This after-party followed the Saturday Night Grand Tasting.

There's not a better party anywhere!

WINES OF GREECE: KISSED BY THE SUMMER SUN

by Dwight Casimere

Greece is one of the oldest wine producers in the world. In fact, it was the Greeks who brought wine to Rome. Therefor, its somewhat surprising that when wines of Greece presented its Grand Tasting at City Winery is New York and Chicago in advance of a national rollout, they were being greeted by both the public and the media as "something new."


After tasting some 40 of the latest vintages from producers representing all of the country's wine growing regions, it was evident that Wines of Greece are well crafted, with a unique flavor profile that is both fun and food friendly.

Tasting Greek wines is an instant education in the country's unique terroir and grape varieties. Names such as Moschofilero (mo-sko-feel-ero) from Mantinia located the high plains of the Peloponnese peninsula, where this pink-skinned grape reigns supreme, or Agiorginko (a-yor-gee-tiko), which translates to St. George, in Greek.

Each of the wines tasted had an aroma and a taste that stood out. Nerds in the north of Greece specializes in the Xinomavro (ksee-no-mavro) grape, a flavor equivalent to Italy's Barolo or France's red Burgundy. Yet, the wine has its own distinctive character. As presented by Boutari, Greece's largest wine producers, with six properties spread around the various growing regions, the wine has earthy fruit flavors and nicely balanced tannins that pairs beautifully with grilled meats, such as barbecue, or leg of lamb in a rich sauce.

The white wines are especially interesting and delightful and really show their versatility with a variety of foods, from sushi to salumis, salads and grilled vegetables and soft and semi-soft cheeses. They're perfect for a summertime smorgasbord or buffet. Pull out all the stops and the wine is more than equal to the task.

One wine that stood out was the 2015 Viognier called Ariadne's Thread ($20) from Rouvalis Winery. The wine is made from mavrodaphne grapes, unique to the slopes of Aigalia, in the northern Peloponnese,  which is blended with the international variety Viognier. The result is stunning. Bright fruit, a crisp flavor with backbone from its combination of slate and clay in the soil. There's a nice balance between fruit and tannins that makes this the perfect wine to have with roasted, herbed chicken, salmon roasted quickly over hot coals sprinkled with mesquite wood chips or the fruits of the sea, either served raw, steamed or grilled.

Don't forget sparkling wines. The Greek producers are making everything from Brut to Rose, 'blush' wines and sparkling dessert wines. Almost every producer at the tastings has their own take on sparkling wine and each deserved a nod.

WINES OF PROVENCE JUST IN TIME FOR THE ADVENT OF SUMMER

by Dwight Casimere

WINE THAT IS KISSED BY THE SUN OF SOUTHERN FRANCE

NEW YORK-- Al Fresco dining and imbibing was the order of the day as the skies opened their county of bright sun after days of gloomy spring weather, as if to welcome the Wines of Provence, from the sunny South of France in a salivating tasting of the wines and cuisines of the region on the Refinery Hotel rooftop lounge. Everyone donned white straw hats with bright pink headbands and several of the ladies waved their fans to stir up the burgeoning late spring breezes and to enhance the lovely floral and bright, red fruit aromatics of these delicious blush wines.

Fifty shades of pink was the order of the day as winemakers, who had flown over especially for the event, uncorked their latest vintages. All of the wines were fresh, vibrant and alive. Perfect to accompany the lavish buffet of fresh oysters, steamed shrimp and lump crab with assorted roasted vegetables or the region and a groaning sideboard of sumptuous prime aged beef sliders, tuna tartare and assorted small bites representative of the region. There was no end to the bounty of beautiful wine, food and beautiful people to herald the impending days of summer and their perfect liquid accompaniment, the Wines of Provence.