ISRAEL'S JUDEAN HILLS IS BECOMING A POTENT WINE REGION
I bet you didn't know that! Actually I didn't either. I just started seeing some Israeli wines offered by my suppliers but haven't had the chance to try any. Primarily because I want to continue focusing on Italian, Spanish and Argentinean wines. But pretty soon I may start trying some Israeli wines. Who knows, there may be some good juice out of that region. Actually, they have been making wines back since the biblical times!
The following article sheds some light into the region:
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MINI-WINE TASTING AND FOOD PAIRING AT CAPRICCIO
We had our first Mini-Wine Tasting event at Capriccio on Tuesday and it was a great success. We will continue holding these events on a regular basis (at Capriccio and Mezzanotte) so keep an eye for upcoming announcements. |
LET'S TALK ABOUT CHIANTI
I have been drinking Chianti wines for about 30 years now but how much it has changed in the last few years is remarkable!
Ah, Chianti. In the "old days", Chianti was the basket-bottle wine, served on a red checked tablecloth, holding a romantic candle. In a modern reworking, Chianti now usually comes in a standard glass bottle, looking for a more elegant image. If you're a traditionalist, however, some brands still use the basket.
Chianti comes from the Chianti region of Tuscany, Italy. Only wines from this region can properly be called Chianti, although some other areas are using the name on their labels.
Chianti was first identified as a type in the 13th century. Its primary red grapes are Sangiovese and Canaiolo, while the main whites are are Trebbiano and Malvasia. There are now seven Chianti zones, defined by the Dalmasso Commission in 1932:
·Chianti Classico
·Chianti Montalbano
·Chianti Colli Fiorentini (Florentine hills)
·Chianti Rufini
·Colli Senesi (Siena hills)
·Colline Pisane (Pisan hills)
·Colli Aretini (Arezzo hills)
These demarcations are not quite as well done as the similar ones in France. The Classico, for example, was initially set by edict in 1716. With the expansion in 1932, they were pushed to include inferior vineyards, and suffered as a consequence. Other areas were expanded in a more logical manner. It is still wisest to learn about the actual winery the Chianti comes from, instead of relying solely on the zone the wine comes from.
Chianti is a red wine, strong and bold. Typical flavors in a Chianti include cherry, plum, strawberry, spice, almonds, tobacco, vanilla and coffee. Chianti goes well with well-seasoned foods. Chianti is often called a "fruity" wine, meaning it appeals to new wine drinkers.
Current marketing of the Chianti name includes a "Black Rooster" emblem - wineries in the Chianti Classico have started using this rooster to build regional recognition for their wines. Chianti should be served at 59F and is good for up to 10 years, for a good variety. If you can find any, 1997 was considered by many to be the "vintage of the century".
Next week we will talk a bit more about Chiantis before we jump into the exciting world of "Super Tuscans". |
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CHECK OUT OUR WEEKLY SPECIALS We are doing a lot of new things at both restaurants so keep an eye open for announcements. We have recently been experimenting with Prix-Fixe Menus (Fixed Price Menus) which have been very well received. To this we added the pairing of the food with recommended wines. This was also very well received.
More recently we started experimenting with "Wine Flights" where we serve 4 small pours of different wines giving you a chance to try different grapes and flavors and compare and contrast them. We also started conducting "Mini-Wine Tasting" events which proved to be a lot of fun and have been very well received.
Please ask your server if we are doing anything special at the moment. And please feel free to send your suggestions and comments - I would really appreciate it!
Gerry |
