Take five

Taste a cool quintet of summer wines at our Garden Party, next Tuesday, 6-8pm

For sun-seeking New Yorkers, Summer ’09 has so far failed to hit all the right notes. And after a series of false starts you may feel like your summer has yet to find its rhythm. All the more reason to join us next Tuesday at I Trulli, where we plan to begin August in the right key!

On Tuesday, August 4, we’ll be featuring a dazzling quintet of favorite summer wines from five of Italy’s most popular winemaking regions. Get your summer groove back this Tuesday evening in the cool seclusion of our lush garden, where you can try all five wines together with Chef Patti Jackson‘s tastiest antipasti. Don’t miss your cue: book now!

Verdicchio di Matelica Pagliano 2008 Enzo Mecella / MARCHE

Fiano di Avellino Jovis 2008 La Molara / CAMPANIA

Lambrusco Scuro 2008 Lini / EMILIA-ROMAGNA

Verduno Pelaverga Basadone 2007 Castello di Verduno / PIEMONTE

Chianti Rufina Riserva 2005 Travignoli / TOSCANA

SUMMER GARDEN PARTY
Tuesday, August 4
6:00-8:00pm
$35 plus tax and 18% gratuity

For further information and reservations please call 212-481-7372 or email info@itrulli.com.

Roman Holiday

This afternoon enjoy three wines by Lazio producer Castel de Paolis

When in Rome… drink Frascati. But even if you can’t make it to the Eternal City this week, you can still take your own “Vacanze Romane” at Vino and sample some classic from the castelli romani. From one of Lazio’s best producers, Castel de Paolis, comes a new Frascati, a wine synonymous with the Italian capital Rome, and always a favorite with its legions of tourists.

Located in the hills of Grottaferrata just south of Rome, Castel de Paolis’ vineyards have been part of the Santarelli family since the 1960s. Today, Fabrizio Santarelli (above at I Trulli) not only produces delicious wines under the Castel de Paolis label, but also acts as president of Le Vigne del Lazio, a consortium of the region’s winemakers. With this position comes the task of reshaping Lazio’s winemaking image and promoting its wines to an international market. One taste of his wines was enough to convince us Santarelli’s doing fine work in both his jobs!

This afternoon taste Castel de Paolis’ Frascati Superiore, an elegant blend of Malvasia di Candia, Trebbiano Toscano, Bonvino and Cacchione, plus the popular Donna Adriana (Malvasia Puntinata, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier) and Campo Vecchio Rosso (Syrah, Cesanese, Montepulciano).

Frascati Superiore 2007 Castel de Paolis
$22

Donna Adriana 2007 Castel de Paolis
$26

Campo Vecchio Rosso 2005 Castel de Paolis
$22

CASTEL DE PAOLIS TASTING
Thursday, July 30
5:30-7:30pm

For more details call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com.

New arrivals from Castello di Verduno

Taste white Pelaverga and an elegant Barbera d’Alba this afternoon at Vino. Plus Basadone at 20% off!

The Castello di Verduno was purchased by the Burlotto family from the House of Savoy in 1909. In 1953 part of the castle was converted into a hotel and its wine cellars restored.

This week’s tasting features two brand new arrivals from one of our all-time favorite producers! Famed for their Barolo and Barbaresco wines, Castello di Verduno also produces the wildly popular Pelaverga Basadone. Now, Vino is proud to introduce two new additions to its portfolio:

Bellis Perennis (the botanical name for the daisy depicted on the wine’s label) is made from 100% Pelaverga Piccolo, an indigenous red grape vinified white. A delicate vinification process results in a delightfully fresh wine, ideally enjoyed as a summer aperitivo.

Originally thought to be the same grape as that grown on the Colline Saluzzesi, Pelaverga Piccolo was not registered as an independent variety until the early-1990s; it achieved DOC status in 1995.

Aged in oak for just three months, Castello di Verduno’s Barbera d’Alba is young and fruity yet still carries all the hallmarks of this famous piemontese variety. A mild winter in 2007 led to early bud break and faster ripening, which meant the grapes were picked a week earlier than usual, allowing for a more fragrant, elegant wine.

This afternoon at Vino we’ll be pouring both wines, plus a little something extra: Pelaverga Basadone! A unique wine from what is possibly Italy’s smallest appellation, Basadone presents a remarkable blend of the Pelaverga variety’s fruity and floral qualities. Little wonder the grape is said to carry aphrodisiacal properties, hence the name Basadone, or “lady-kisser”. We still have a few bottles of the 2006 vintage left in stock, now at 20% off!

Bellis Perennis NV Castello di Verduno
$25

Barbera d’Alba 2007 Castello di Verduno
$28

Pelaverga Basadone 2006 Castello di Verduno
was $25, now $20!

CASTELLO DI VERDUNO TASTING
Thursday, July 23rd
5:30-7:30pm

For more details call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com.

Enjoy five wines by Gian Luigi Orsolani tomorrow

Summer Garden Party at I Trulli, Tuesday 6-8pm

This week our summer garden party features five extraordinary wines by piedmontese producer Gian Luigi Orsolani (above). Located in the small town of Caluso, Orsolani specializes in the local white grape, Erbaluce, while also lending his expert hand to some of our favorite Nebbiolo wines. Try all five tomorrow evening in the cool seclusion of our lush back garden, together with Chef Patti Jackson‘s delicious summer antipasti.

Caluso Spumante Cuvée Tradizione 2006 Orsolani

Caluso Vignot San Antonio 2006 Orsolani

Canavese Rosato Rubiconda 2008 Orsolani

Canavese Rosso Acini Sparsi 2007

Carema Le Tabbie 2003 Orsolani

SUMMER GARDEN PARTY
Tuesday, July 21
6:00-8:00pm
$35 plus tax and 18% gratuity

For more information call 212-481-7372 or email info@itrulli.com.

All white now!

Taste three classic Southern wines – Falanghina, Greco and Fiano – by Campania producer La Molara

Located in Luogosano, just 25 km east di Avellino, the La Molara winery faces one of the many valleys through which flows the Calore Irpino river, at the foot of Mount Terminio.

Summer’s finally arrived at Vino! They know all about these kind of temperatures in Southern Italy, so what better time to taste three brand new whites from Campania producer La Molara! Made from three classic white grapes — Falanghina, Greco and Fiano — these wines represent the best of southern white winemaking. Refresh this afternoon at Vino where you can taste all three! Falanghina Naif 2008 La Molara
$12

Greco di Tufo Dionisio 2008 La Molara
$21

Fiano di Avellino Jovis 2008 La Molara
$21

SOUTHERN WHITES TASTING
Thursday, July 16th
5:30-7:30pm

For more details call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com.

Restaurant Week is back for summer!

New York’s biggest restaurant event returns this Sunday

New York’s biggest restaurant event is back for summer! From July 12-31 top restaurants throughout the city will be offering prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus at a very special price (lunch $24.07, dinner $35)!

I Trulli and Centovini are among over 250 restaurants participating in this summer’s event. Chef Patti Jackson has prepared special three-course lunch and dinner menus for I Trulli and Centovini exclusively for Restaurant Week. Book your table now!

For further information and reservations please contact I Trulli or Centovini. Reservations are also available through OpenTable.

Killer B’s?

Find out what’s buzzing ’round Vino this afternoon

Bombino, Barbera and Brachetto: Killer B’s for summer ’09.

Anyone who’s ever attended our Killer B’s tasting class will be familiar with the mighty Barolo, Barbaresco and Brunello. But they’re hardly the ideal wines for a warm July, which is why we’ve put together the perfect list of Killer B’s for summer! Bombino, Barbera and Brachetto may not be as revered as their heavier counterparts, but these diverse grapes are no less important within the Italian wine spectrum. Join the swarm of wine lovers at Vino this afternoon as we taste three of our favorites!

Bombino Bianco Marese 2008 Rivera
Bombino Bianco is a white grape variety predominantly found in Puglia and other regions in Southern Italy. Though it is often used as a blending grape, the De Corato family of the Rivera winery set about creating a monovarietal Bombino wine using ultra-ripened fruit. The result is a refreshing and complex mix of rich fragrances and crisp acidity.

Barbera d’Asti 2007 Luca Ferraris
Barbera is one of the oldest wines of Piemonte, where it continues to regularly outsell the more esteemed Barolo and Barbaresco. This is due to its impressive quality to affordability ratio, a tradition continued by Luca Ferraris, a young winemaker from Monferrato who produces wines in a classic style. This single vineyard Barbera d’Asti is one of Vino’s best value bottles.

Brachetto d’Acqui 2007 Braida
Brachetto is a red grape from Piemonte famous for its popular dessert wine. Sweet, sparkling and low in alcohol, Brachetto d’Acqui conjures aromas of strawberries and fruits of the forest. Produced by renowned winemaker Giacomo Bologna, Braida‘s 375ml bottles of Brachetto are ideal for an intimate summer celebration!

SUMMER KILLER B’s
Thursday, July 9th
5:30-7:30pm

For more details call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com.

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Red, white and… rosé!

Taste our top picks for Independence Day weekend this afternoon

Yes, it’s that time of year again when we break out the grill and celebrate the red, white and blue. And whether in your back yard or up on the roof, Independence Day weekend requires some refreshing summer wines. Join us this afternoon at Vino as we pour our favorite cool picks for a memorable July 4th and beyond!

INDEPENDENCE DAY TASTING
Thursday, July 2nd
5:30-7:30pm

For more details call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com.

Vino wishes you a happy July 4th! What better time to indulge in some vintage Bruce…