AMARONE FESTIVAL AT WILLOW PARK WINES AND SPIRITS

 Alberto Zenato of Zenato

 

A representative for Begali (the family is currently in harvest time)

 

Luca Speri of Speri

 

 Maddalena Pasqua di Bisceglie of Musella

Martina Fornaser of Nicolis

Sabrina Tedeschi of Tedeschi with Richmond Hill Wines

The Venturini family

To loosely paraphrase Margaret Mead never doubt that a small group of dedicated families can change the world's views.  The Amarone Families certainly do not doubt it.  Concerned by large scale production, sales strategies and quality, an association of twelve producers including Allegrini, Begali, Brigaldara, Masi, Musella, Nicolis, Speri, Tedeschi, Tenuta Sant'Antoni, Tommasi, Venturini, and Zenato formed the Amarone Families to promote their wine worldwide.  

From Valpolicella, in the north west of Italy near Verona, Amarone (which comes from the word meaning bitter in Italian due to a mistake in the winemaking process centuries ago led to its creation) is made with indigenous grape varieties of corvina, rondinella, and molinara.  The grapes are placed in small boxes for drying for three to four months after which they are crushed and fermented, then aged in oak barrels.

The luscious results?  Low acidity full bodied and 'raisiny' red wines with soft tannins, that easily pair with food and very easy to drink.

Producers, and family members from several Amarone wineries led guests at Willow Park Wines and Spirits through tastings of their products.  Chatting with enthusiastic guests and educating the crowd emphasized their warmth and true Italian hospitality.

CSL may just have found a few new favourite red wines.  

 willowpark.net

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY COPYRIGHT K&S MEDIA 2012 

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CASTELLO DI MONSANTO TASTING AT WILLOWPARK WINES AND SPIRITS

Wine at the Castello Monsanto Tasting at Willow Park Wines and Spirits

An antipasti platter served with the tasting and inspired by Italy

Laura Bianchi of Castello Monsanto
 

Other nibbles at the tasting

The five wines at the tasting - all red

Bottles of Castello Monsanto

Laura Bianchi of Castello Monsanto (and Cameron Diaz look alike)

Owner of Tuscan winery Castello di Monsanto, Laura Bianchi led a group through a tasting at Willow Park Wines and Spirits. The vineyard was originally a hunting house in the 1700s where wine was made for the family.  In 1961, Bianchi's grandfather bought the property.  "My father and uncle wanted to create something special for their personal taste.  Something different than a straw basket."  The 72 acre vineyard that includes 14 houses is planted with mainly sangiovese.  

The tasting included:

Monrosso Chianti 2009 - "Entry level wine- the philosophy of the product is the same.  Perfect for antipasto, pizza, pasta. The wine spends 12 months in Slavonian (Croatia) oak cask."

Chianti Classico 2008 - "We want people to taste what has always been grown here - the same system of vinification used in the past.  Cooler vintage.  Classic acidity evident clean but not opulent.  Sangiovese is the type of grape better enjoyed with food - steak, fettuccine."

Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 - "Richer body.  The label is old, traditional, chosen by grandfather in 1962.  It is a painting from the 1800s.  This wine respects what is good in tradition - opening a classic style."

Il Poggio Chianti Classico Riserva - "This is still a baby.  Keep in cellar and beautiful aging.  This is a beautiful vintage and what makes an outstanding vintage is a fresh spring and cold winter, warm June some rain in August and then no more rain."

Nemo Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - "We wanted the challenge of an international varietal.  The ego of the winemaker is strong.  Can feel the acidity and texture of the grains of tannin."

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY COPYRIGHT K&S MEDIA 2012 

You may visit the NEW Spring 2012 digital edition of City Style and Living magazine (also available in print) at the following address (follow the three simple steps to access the full magazine, online) :

1) go to http://www.citystyleandliving.com

2) click on the 'front cover' image, on the left hand side of your screen

3) to flip through the e-magazine, click on the bottom right hand corner

of the magazine, just as you would our print magazine!

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CELEBRATING 40 YEARS WITH A CLOS DU VAL TASTING AT RUSH

Clos du Val 2009 Chardonnay. Chilled perfectly, the bright citrus notes with a creamy nose and soft oak was a great introduction to the tasting.
This is a Chardy to stock up on for Spring.

Beautifully displayed cheese platter and cold cuts from the team at Rush

The selection of library wines at the tasting

Guests talk with representatives from Clos du Val

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

Mark, smiling for the camera

An artistic display of cheese and nuts from Rush

Tracey (Clos du Val) pouring a glass for a guest at the tasting

2012 marks the 40th anniversary of Clos du Val. Founded by two French men, John Goelet and Bernard Portet, the Clos du Val vineyards are headquartered in Stags Leap California. The pair wanted to re-create Bordeaux style wines in North America, and in 1972 quickly bought land in Los Carneros (to produce Burgundy styles: pinot noir and chardonnay), and 150 acres of land in Stags Leap.

We were privileged to try a range of styles, including four 'library' vintages including CSL's personal favourite, the 1986 Cabernet Sauvignon (on a side note, during the French Culinary Institute Wine Tasting in 1986, Clos Du Val Winery won first place). This is a bold red with ripe tannins, and earthiness with hints of wood and coffee.

www.closduval.com

You may visit the NEW Spring 2012 digital edition of City Style and Living magazine (also available in print) at the following address (follow the three simple steps to access the full magazine, online) :

1) go to http://www.citystyleandliving.com
2) click on the 'front cover' image, on the left hand side of your screen
3) to flip through the e-magazine, click on the bottom right hand corner
of the magazine, just as you would our print magazine!

Follow us on twitter @CityStyleMag