Special Tasting of Great Italian Reds, Plus Food From La Ciccia

When: 26th October 2012

Friday 5pm-6:30pm

Where: Vineyard Gate

238 Broadway, Millbrae CA

Here is a special tasting of great Italian reds you don't want to miss. Plus, our good friend, Massimiliano Conti, chef and co-proprietor of La Ciccia in San Francisco, is pitching in. Massi will cook for us his specialty Sardinian pasta dish so we could enjoy these great red wines even better! I know it's tough to get a reservation at La Ciccia these days, hence we will just bring La Ciccia to Vineyard Gate!

We will feature some of the best wines from producers represented by Dominic Nocerino of Vinifera Imports. Dominic is one of the pioneers of Italian wines in the US. Over the past 40 years he has introduced producers like Fontodi, Gaja, Felsina, Valdicava, Braida, and Brigaldara in the US market. He has a keen palate and insight on the potential of a wine estate, taking on producers before they become world famous.

For our tasting we will highlight some of the greatest producers from Vinifera Imports. Together with Pietro Straccia from Vinifera Imports we will discuss each wine during the tasting, talk about the producers, and answer questions. We want this as much of a learning experience as possible while enjoying the wines.

Here is the lineup of wines to be poured in the tasting:

Soligo Prosecco Brut NV

Pelissero Dolcetto d'Alba "Munfrina" 2010 - Giorgio Pelissero crafts one of the greatest of all Dolcetto d'Alba. Beautiful and classy. 91/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Sant' Elena Venezia Giula IGT Red "Quantum L'Autoctono" 2006 - from 100% Pignolo grapes. 94/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Castello Romitorio Sant' Antimo Rosso "Romito del Romotorio" 2006 - rich, powerful "Super Montalcino" blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Canailo made by one of the rising stars of Brunello producers. 92/100 Wine Enthusiast

Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG "Madonna del Piano" 2004 - rare single-vineyard Brunello Riserva. 96+/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. 96/100 James Suckling

Brigaldara Amarone della Valpolicella DOC "Casa Vecie" 2007 - single-vineyard Amarone from a unique terroir! 94/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Fratelli Oddero Barolo DOCG Mondoca di Bussia Soprana 1996 - from one of the greatest vintages for Barolo! A single cru from the Monforte d'Alba zone, known for powerful, structured Barolos. 91/100 James Suckling


We will offer special pricing on all the wines good only during this event!

Small-Bites Menu to accompany the tasting:
Massimiliano Conti chef and owner of La Ciccia Restaurant in San Francisco will be baking some of his house made bread and preparing specifically for Vineyard Gate a staple of his Sardinian gem.... Malloreddus a sa Campidanese!

Semolina Gnochetti with slow cooked Pork meat Sugo and 12 Months aged Pecorino Cheese of Sardinia!

And with the La Ciccia bread, we'll be tasting a very special extra virgin olive oil produced by the great Tuscan estate Fontodi. This hard to find, small production olive oil was personally selected by Jamie Oliver for his Fifteen Shop in London. Fontodi Olive Oil is hand picked and crushed within hours in the estate's "Frantoio" (Olive Press). The result is an exquisite Real Extra Virgin Olive Oil that will compliment our tasting!


Total cost for this special tasting event, which includes a taste of all the wines and the special small-bites menu, is just $55.00/person payable to Vineyard Gate upon your reservation.  Please note that reservations are final and non-refundable. You will be responsible for finding your own replacement if you cannot come. We have very limited spots for this event. To reserve, please call us at 800.580.8588.

Brilliant Friulian Wines of Sant'Elena

The 19th century Sant'Elena vineyard estate is situated in Friuli by the banks of the Isonzo River in the northeastern corner of Italy bordering Slovenia. It was established before Italy became a republic—during a period when the region was successively occupied by the Hapsburgs, the Venetians, the Austria-Hungarian empire, and the Slavs.

Today, Sant'Elena is a modern wine estate, owned and run by the Nocerino family, famous for introducing the wines of Angelo Gaja, Fontodi, Felsina, Braida, and other top Italian wine producers in the US. A new winery was built and vineyards have been replanted over the past decade. It strives to produce wines that are strongly identified with the region.



For example, Sant'Elena's 2006 "Quantum L'Autoctono" is from 100% Pignolo grapes, a variety indigenous to the region. After harvest the grapes are left to dry for 60 days to concentrate and develop intense flavors. After this process called appassimento and surmaturazione, the grapes are fermented. The wine is aged for three years in new French oak before bottling. Evolving slowly in the glass, this powerful wine offers layers of dark fruits and spices. Robust and elegant, this is the noble red wine of Friuli.



Another unique wine is the 2008 Traminer "Aromatico". This produced from 100% Traminer from vines farmed for low yields. It takes a whole vine to produce just one bottle of this wine. Exotic scents of jasmine and tropical fruits. Intense, richly flavored. Very nice.

But the wine that opened me to the brilliance of Sant'Elena is their 1999 Merlot. At just $15 this is one of the greatest wines values I've come across. As in St.-Emilion, this Merlot was grown on the right bank of the Isonzo River of Friuli, in stony alluvial soils. Crafted with the help of Carlo Ferrini, Italy’s top oenologist. After a decade it has evolved into a refined, mature wine that evokes classic Saint-Emilion flavors of cassis, tea leaf, cigar, and dried berries. A surprising discovery and a real eye-opener to the possibilities in Friuli.