Taste Rivera wines from Puglia!

This week Vino honors the region of Puglia by featuring the wine of the Rivera Estate. Located near the Castel del Monte D.O.C. zone, 18 miles from Andria in the province of Bari, the estate has been in the De Corato family for a century. The Azienda Vinicola Rivera was founded by Sebastiano De Corato in the 1950s, who together with his son, Carlo, now continues to further Pugliese viticulture through the company’s excellent wines.

Taste three fine examples at Vino this Friday!

Nero di Troia “Violante” 2006 Rivera

Il Falcone Riserva 2003 Rivera

Cappellaccio Aglianico Riserva 2002 Rivera

FREE Rivera Tasting
Friday, May 16th, 5:30pm

Vino, 121 East 27th Street (between Park and Lexington)

There is no need to reserve, but for more information call (212) 725-6516 or visit the tastings page on our website.

Moscato d’Asti on sale at Vino!

Save 20% at Vino on this Moscato d’Asti 2006 Cascina Castlèt, a sparkling D.O.C.G. from Piemonte!

One of the oldest varieties known to and vinified by humankind, the ancient world coveted Moscato and generously praised its virtues as a superior wine grape. Its name comes from the fruit’s “musky” smell when picked from the vine. Today, Moscato is still grown all over Italy and for more than 100 years, winemakers in Asti have used it to make a slightly sparkling sweet wine known for its ability to pair with fresh fruit.

The Cascina Castlèt vineyard has been in the Borio family for generations. Its current owner, Mariuccia Borio, worked in her family’s wine store in Turin before inheriting the estate in 1970. Noted for its elegant and whimsical label designs, Mariuccia describes the company’s style as “completely feminine.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, since she also acts as Piedmont’s regional delegate for the National Association of the Women of Wine. “Whoever chooses a bottle of Cascina Castlèt loves beautiful things, the good things in life, the things that dreams are made of.”

Moscato d’Asti 2006 Cascina Castlèt

20% discount available in store and at our online shop, www.vinositeshop.com.

For further information call (212) 725-6516.

Formaggi and Salumi classes at Vinoteca

Many great wines are best enjoyed with fine food, especially in Italy, where regional culinary specialties share the kind of attentive production and myriad of styles usually reserved only for wine.

Italy’s fascinating and varied choice of cheeses and vast range of cured meats make natural partners for a glass of wine, but where does one begin to understand how to pair them with your favorite bottle?

Let us show you how at two of Vinoteca’s most popular classes: Formaggi (May 21) and Salumi (June 4).

The series begins next week with Formaggi. From Piemonte’s Nostrale d’Elva and Barbaresco to Campania’s Calcano and Aglianico, here you will discover Italy’s cheeses to be as diverse and unique as the country’s celebrated wines.

Formaggi
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS
Wednesday, May 21, 6:30pm
$85 (20% discount if combined with Salumi)

Salumi
with Jim Hutchinson, DWS and Winnie Yang
Wednesday, June 4, 6:30pm
$85 (20% discount if combined with Formaggi)

Vinoteca
121 East 27th Street
New York, NY 10016

For more information call (212) 725-6516 or visiting our website, www.vinosite.com.

Celebrate the magic of Venice at Centovini

This month Centovini is pausing to celebrate the magic of Venice! This unique city has in many ways remained timeless in our modern age, successfully preserving its artistic — and culinary — heritage and culture.

On May 19, Centovini will unite the city’s wonders for a very special evening, in which chef Patti Jackson will prepare and serve some of Venice’s regional specialties.

For the occasion, a special installation of Venetian crystal will be on display in the restaurant’s private room. Created especially for Moss, the collection comprising a limited-edition series of crystal bells was designed by renowned Brazilian artists Fernando and Humberto Campana, and produced by the historic Muranese glass producer Venini.

This extraordinary event can accommodate just 24 guests seated at three communal tables, so make sure you reserve your place today!

Venice Immersion Dinner
Monday, May 19, 7:30pm
$125 (plus tax and gratuity)
Wine pairings included

Centovini
25 West Houston Street
(between Greene and Mercer)
New York, NY 10012

For a full menu visit www.centovininyc.com and click the News heading.

For more information and reservations, call (212) 219-2113 or email Elissa@centovininyc.com.

Taste Guido Gualandi’s Galante at Vino!

This week Vino honors one of its favorite producers, Guido Gualandi.

Archaeologist, painter, musician and winemaker, the multi-talented Gualandi is one of the most interesting producers to emerge from the Montespertoli subzone of Chianti in recent memory.

Mention of the Gualandi family and the Gualandi knights, originally of Pisa, dates back to the 13th century and beyond. The Gualandi tower in Pisa was the setting for one of the most famous episodes in Dante’s Divine Comedy (the story of Ugolino della Gherardesca). The cellar where Guido makes his wine once belonged to another Renaissance man, Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540), one of Italy’s greatest statesmen and historians, and close friend of Niccolò Machiavelli.

All of Guido’s wines are made using 100% natural vinification: no herbicides or pesticides are used in the vineyard, only organic fertilizers are used and fermentation is carried out without temperature control in a cellar where wine has been made for more than 500 years.

Guido Gualandi will be pouring a selection of his wines at a special Tuscan dinner at I Trulli on Monday, May 12. In anticipation of this event, this Friday you can taste his popular Galante 2006, a blend of historical Tuscan grapes including Sangiovese, Colorino, Pugnitello and Foglia Tonda.

FREE Guido Gualandi Tasting
Friday, May 9, 5:30pm
FREE
Vino, 121 East 27th Street

There is no need to call and reserve, but for more information is available by contacting (212) 725-6516 or visiting our website, www.vinosite.com.

I Trulli garden re-opens for Spring!

New York City is finally enjoying some Spring weather, which means I Trulli is re-opening its private garden! For 14 years New Yorkers have enjoyed dining in the warmth and seclusion of this unique outdoor space — a rare luxury in the middle of Manhattan!

Springtime also heralds the return of I Trulli’s hugely popular garden parties! Every Thursday from 6-8pm, you will be able to enjoy a selection of fine Italian wines accompanied by antipasti, all for just $35. The first party is scheduled for May 29, and they will continue each Thursday through June 26.

Sean Luca enjoys grandma’s meatballs

In addition, I Trulli is proud to introduce a special family-style dinner every Sunday! For just $38, enjoy a 3-course prix-fixe meal of traditional Pugliese specialties! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate a memorable Mother’s Day!

For more information and reservations call (212) 481-7372 or email jennifer@itrulli.com.

Sardegna Cannonau Tasting at Vino

This week’s free tasting at Vino features two Cannonau wines from Sardinia. This grape variety is closely related to the grenache grape found in southern France and the Spanish garnacha, a fact which can probably be traced back to the island’s invasion and subsequent Aragón rule. Today, the cannonau is the most common variety found throughout Sardinia. This Friday, you can sample two of the island’s finest:

Cannonau di Sardegna Corrasi Riserva 2003 Cantina Oliena

Tenores 2003 Tenute Dettori

FREE Sardegna Cannonau Tasting

Friday, May 2nd, 5:30pm

Vino, 122 East 27^th Street, New York, NY 10016

There is no need to reserve, but to find out more, call (212) 725-6516.

Patti Jackson’s salad in NEW YORK magazine

I Trulli and Centovini chef Patti Jackson’s Miner’s Lettuce Salad is featured in the latest issue of New York magazine! The article — which highlights the culinary and dietary advantages of pheasant eggs — contains a full recipe for the Miner’s Lettuce Salad With Roasted Asparagus, Rhubarb, Pancetta and Poached Pheasant Egg.

Read the full article here >>>

Taste ‘06 Rosato at Vino

Spring is here at last, which means the 2007 Rosatos will soon be at Vino! In anticipation of this exciting event, this week Vino is offering a 20% discount on all its 2006 Rosato! It’s the perfect wine for these mild and balmy evenings. This Friday, celebrate the season’s arrival with four of the best:

Lambrusco Rosé 2006 Lini

Lagrein Rosato 2006 Muri Gries

Sibiola Rosato 2006 Dolianova

Ceresuolo Rosato 2006 Castello delle Regine

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Spring Rosato Tasting FREE

Friday, April 25, 5:30pm

Vino, 121 East 27th Street (between Park and Lexington).

To find out more, call (212) 725-6516.

Malcolm McLaren calls Centovini “a pretty damn unique restaurant”

Punk impresario Malcolm McLaren recommends Centovini in the latest issue of Fantastic Man magazine. In the Spring/Summer edition of the gentleman’s style journal, the musician and rock manager — most infamous for his promoting of 70s punk band the Sex Pistols — calls Centovini “an absolutely excellent restaurant with some of the best Italian food in New York.”

As well as the food, McLaren loves the atmosphere at dinner (”I never have time for lunch”), and gushes over the contemporary design. “One table,” he says, “has a giant multi-colored chandelier dripping over it like a grape vine… the ultimate luxury.” McLaren also reveals himself as quite the wine lover and appreciates Centovini’s carefully chosen list. “The staff love talking about wine… you’re offered wines you would never dream of.”

Is there anything McLaren doesn’t love about Centovini? “In every respect, it’s a pretty damn unique restaurant,” he says. “It beats me why not everybody goes to Centovini.”