Names to Know in the Italian Wine Empire

by Frank Mangio
 A parade of new releases from the traditional Tuscany wine country and from parts not so well known have made 2014 an” Italian Job,” with a flood of new releases.

With the Italian government’s help in some campaigns, Italian wineries in unfamiliar districts are introducing themselves to wine shops, restaurants and resorts.  Italian restaurants are more than willing to stage generous four and five course dinners in exchange for an equal number of  dinner wines for their guests as they get to taste generous portions of unfamiliar premium Italian wines, with a specially produced gourmet dinner.

Italian wine specialist  Alex Daniels is pouring an Alterego 2007, a Cabernet-Barbera blend for Katie Jackson, Marketing Director for the San Diego Padres, at Il Fornaio in Coronado

  Both Il Fornaio in Coronado with GM Luca Allieri, and its restaurant in Del Mar with Mathew Galli, are perfectionists at this event.  Every month they find and pour Italian wines that in Italy , are well known in their areas, but have not gained the respect  that they should in the U.S.

My local Italian distributor, Marco Barat, who has opened up many little-known Italian wines for me in the eight years I have been writing on wine, notes that Tuscany and Piedmont, which are the most well-known of the 20 districts in Italy that produce wine, aren’t even in the top four producers, which are:  Veneto , Emilia Romagna, Sicily and Puglia .  These districts produce great sellers like:  Pinot Grigio, Lambrusco, Tebbiano. Nero D’ Avola and Primitivo.  Still, there is no doubt that the most respected and expensive wines in Italy come from Tuscany, with its Brunellos and Super Tuscan blends like Tenuta dell Ornelaia ($978.), Biondi Santi ($541.), and Antinori Guado al Tasso ($129.95)

On top of the new Italian  contemporary wines is an Italian red wine blend that never tasted so fashionable as in the new Viama Rosso Delle Venezie 2013 ( $15.)  What could be more fun for ladies than to carry around a 1.5 liter box of wine in the shape of  a purse? It has shoulder strap and a discreet spout. This blend goes great with pasta, cheeses and grilled meats. The spigot makes it easy to drink what you need, then save the rest for another get together.  Look for more at www.wine-searcher.com.

Zonin is the name of Italy ’s largest family-owned wine company with a diversity of Italy ’s major regions including:  Friuli, Lombardia, Veneto, Piedmont, Tuscany, Puglia, and Sicily .

A big new wine bargain in Italy is the purse-like 1.5 Liter of red blend named
Viama Rosso Delle Venezie for just $15.

Zonin has this month’s TASTE OF WINE of the month.  Rocca di Montemassi, introduced last week and it comes from Tuscany’s newest exciting area, Maremma.  Key markets are the U.S. and United Kingdom.  Zonin controls wine solutions from vineyard to the glass and offer wines like Tenuta Ca’ Bolani Prosecco from Friuli, to Feudo Principi di Butera Synposio from Sicily .

A white wine of significance is the Tenuta Ca’Bolani Aquilis made from 100% Sauvignon in Friuli. Lino Vitale, the Pacific Coast Accounts manager is high on this wine. “This is crisp quality, balanced, acidic wine to pair perfectly with Italian food,” he promised. He also told me the wine is sold in both the wine shop and restaurant at Cucina Enoteca in Del Mar. Look for the complete lineup of Zonin wines at www.zoninusa.com

Wine Bytes
The St Regis Monarch Beach in Orange County presents a Farm to Feast event Sun. Aug.17 from 4 to 8pm.  Chef Franck of the Monarch will prepare custom menu items along with succulent appetizers and fresh veggies from the VR Green Farms.  Palumbo Family Wines of Temecula will provide the wines.  $55. pp. (800) 722-1543.

It’s the 21st Annual Grape Stomp at Orfila Vineyards and Winery in Escondido, Sat. Aug. 23rd. from 4 to 8pm. Ticket includes dinner buffet, live dance music, wine tasting, tractor rides, and stomping of the grapes. Ticket price is $90. ea.  (760) 738-6500 x22.

PAON Restaurant in Carlsbad has a Stoplman Vineyards Wine Dinner, Thurs. Aug. 21 with a reception starting at 6:15pm.  RSVP at (760) 729-7377.

The Flight Path Wine Bar & Bistro on Kettner in San Diego has a high-end Italian wine pairing event Mon. Aug. 25 from 6:30 to 8:30pm.  Taste five wines and five paired appetizers. $45 pp. (760) 809-4709.

Tommy V’s Catching the Wine & Dine Wave

by Frank Mangio

There’s a new team, a new attitude and a strong wave in place at Tommy V’s Del Mar, across from the polo fields. Owner Tommy Maggiore of Tuscany La Costa fame has placed veteran restaurateur Tyler Willams in place as Manager with Executive Chef Giorgio Loverdi and head waiter Eduardo Laquiz.

I had been to Tommy V’s 3 times to catch the wave of excitement and good times that seemed to be in the air. The latest was a recent gathering of friends, family and guests of the new Gen 7 wines, introduced by owner Tim Bacino at a new release party.

Tyler Willimas,left, manager of Tommy V’s in Del Mar, welcomes Tim Bacino, 2nd from left, and his family and friends at the Gen 7 wine party.

Wine included: Viognier, Muscat Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and an awesome Red Blend( Zinfandel, Cab Franc and Carignane, a rare grape from the south of France) called Road To Zanzibar, $34. at Gen 7’s site.

Bacino is no novice. Members of his family built the Brookside Winery brand in the 70’s to great heights, with 36 retail wine stores in California and elsewhere before selling to a national chain. Gen 7 is named after Bacino’s young daughter, the 7th generation connected to the family business and is off to a great start, being named “Best Micro Winery” in a recent competition in Sacramento.

Earlier in the month I had put Tommy V’s to the test as the Italian Chophouse with classic old world interpretations of that style of cuisine. With Eduardo as our waiter and Executive Chef Giorgio personally superivising we got right into a typical Tommy V’s menu extravaganza of cured meats and cheeses, Arugula Salad, and a beautifully crafted Bistecca Siciliano, a 16 ounce Dry-Aged steak rubbed with herb and cheese crumbs with a side of sauteed mushrooms.

Eduardo’s choice for me to wash the meal down in traditional style was a a Vietti Barbera D’ Asti, 2008. Barbera is a red grape from the Piedmont District of Northern Italy. French Oak Barrels store this wine for 12 months, then in steel tanks for 2 months before bottling.

Head Waiter Eduardo Laquiz and Executive Chef Giorgio Loverdi service a large group of diners at Tommy V’s in Del Mar.

This wine will emit a ruby purple color with red cherry, minerals and a hint of vanilla. The Barbera compliments pasta and breaded veal, pork, chicken and steak, and is an affordable value wine on Tommy V’s list of worldwide reds. Find more information at www.tommyvdelmar.com. Gen 7’s site is www.gen7wines.com.

Wine Bytes

San Diego Restaurant Week is back, Sun. Sept. 18 through Fri. Sept. 23, with over 180 restaurants participating in discounted 3 course prix fixe menus See www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com for a location near you.

PAON Restaurant & Wine Bar in Carlsbad has an Italian Tasting with six wines for $14., Thurs. Sept. 15 to Wed. Sept. 21, 2 to 9pm. Call 760-729-7377.

Barolo and Barbaresco wines are featured at Bacchus Wine Market, downtown San Diego Fri. Sept. 16 from 4 to 8:30pm. Some of Italy’s greatest wines will be poured. $40. fee. RSVP required. Call 619-236-0005.

The 2011 Taste of Hope is planned for Sun. Sept. 18 from 4 to 7pm on the terrace at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego. $65. pre sale, $75. at the door. Downtown restaurants will offer cuisine, with an excellent selection of wines. Proceeds to the Cty Of Hope. Call 858-452-6846 for more.

Monte De Oro Winery in Temecula celebrates Calilfornia Wine Month with a Grape Stomp Sun. Sept. 18th. Call for more information at 951-491-6551.

The WineSellar in Sorrento Valley focuses on Brunello Di Montalcino Wines, the elite wines from Tuscany, Wed. Sept. 21 starting at 6pm. $25. pp. Check it out at 858-450-9557