Italian Cocktails in New York

My Don Ciccio Manhattan

DANTE

NYC

I was walking home yesterday after doing a few errands. I was walking from east to west on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village when just a little over a block from my apartment at Macdougal & Bleecker and normally I would continue west on Bleecker for one block then make a left onto Avenue of The Americas. However I decided to take a slight detour as I wanted to pass Dante NYC (Cocktail Lounge) to see if I spotted any friends there. So I made the left on Macdougal Street heading south. As I approached Dante, I saw someone covering part of his face to under his eyes with a napkin as to hide his face and joke around with me. I got closed and my friend Kresh removed the napkin and revealed his face. He was there with my pal Vince and he started laughing, and saying,"Danny's here. We're complete." I was glad to see them and sat down. They already had a couple Negroni's in front of them. We started chatting and I knew I was in for a good time. Yes of course, as one should be whenever going out for cocktails. We were talking when the waitress came over and asked if I wanted a cocktail as well? "Hell Yeah," I thought to myself, and also was thinking what I wanted t drink, and of course I decided on a Negroni, after all, it was Negroni Time at Dante. And so I ordered one, which between the hours of 4-6, they cost $10 instead of the normal $14 during non-Happy Hour hours. This is good. 

We were all chatting and having a good time when my Negroni arrived at the table, so now I could join in on the drinking and we were having a most wonderful time. Then Kresh's friend Jay came. He ordered a cocktail with flowers in it, and I can't remember he name. 

Well, my three friends that I was at the table with, are all in the wine business selling wine in New York City. My friends Kresh also makes his own wine in Croatia, and sells it to several restaurants and wine bars (Bacari) in Venice, including one of Venice's most wonderful restaurants of all, Al Covo. This is very cool, and Kresh was showing me a video of him actually delivering the wine by boat to Al Covo. Again, "very Cool."

So we were having a good old time at Dante and Kresh and Jay ordered a second drink, so I figured I'd get one as well. M y Negroni was good, but I wanted something different this time around, so I was to thinking what to get. I had seen a Manhattan made with Amaro instead of Sweet Vermouth, and I thought'd like to get one of those, so when the waitress came by, I asked her if she had one of those on the cocktail menu. When I explained the drink to her, she said they din't have that on the menu, but of course the bartender would make one for me, if that's what I wanted. "Cool." So I had to think about what kind of Whiskey to get, and which Amaro I wanted in place of the Sweet Vermouth. I inquired about the Amaro, and she brought me a list of Amari. I wanted to get one I'd never had before and so I chose Don Ciccio. The waitress took my order, and after probably 15 minutes, maybe more, my friends started wondering about my drink. Kresh said, "Where's your drink. It's taking a while." I wasn't worried. Hey they were busy. The drink came, and it was well worth the wait. The presentation was beautiful. My Amaro Manhattan looked great in its cocktail glass, and not just that, but there was a tiny little carafe filled with more of my Manhattan inside, and it was on Ice & Garnished with Luxardo Cherries and an Orange Twist to boot. We all admired the presentation and everyone thought it was just great. And so I took a sip of my cocktail. "Delicious!" I loved my Amaro Manhattan, and thoroughly enjoyed it,

After a while, Kresh brought up, us going for dinner. We talked it over, and decided to go to one of our favorites, and especially our "Red Sauce Club," which is our little group who go out to eat at Old School Italian Restaurants around New York. John's on East 12th Street (Since 1908) is one of our favorites, and we decided to go over there.

Anyway, as usual, we had a great time at Dante. The place is a bit expensive, but we always have a nice time, so, "Ce la Vie."

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

My NEGRONI

At DANTE

NYC

July 2, 2019

AMARO SIREN

DON CICCIO

Atrani

KRESH and  VINCE

DANTE

NYC

2019

MANGIA ITALIANO

GET IT

HOW to MAKE an AMARO MANHATTAN

Ingredients :

2 ounces RYE WHISKEY (Bulleit, Mitchers, Templeton)

1 Ounce Amaro of Choice (Averna, Lucano, Ramazzotti)

1 Dash of Angosura Bitters

1 Maraschino Cherry

1 Orange Peel (optional)

Fill a cocktail glass with Ice and some water, to cool the glass.

Place ice in a cocktail shaker (half full). 

Add a dash of Angostura Bitters to shaker.

Add the Rye Whiskey and Amaro.

Mix with with you cocktail spoon for i minute.

Discard ice from the cocktail glass. Place a strainer over the cocktail shaker and add the contents to the cocktail glass, minus the ice.

If using a orange peel (optional) add it now.

Serve and enjoy.

MICHTER'S RYE

WHISKEY

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NY Brunello Tasting 2018 of Vintage 2013 Brunello

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The Beautiful GOTHAM HALL

Where The BENVENUTO BRUNELLO NEW YORK 

BRUNELLO TASTING

Is Held Each Year

  As is usual each and every year about this time, for those New York Italian Restaurant people, Wine Geeks, people who love and work with Italian Wine or just simply love drinking it, the two most important Italian Wine Events of the Year are now upon us. The Number 1 Undisputed top Italian Wine Event in New York for the year is without question Gambero Rosso / Slow Foods TRE BICCHIERI Italian Wine Tasting held each year in New York. The number 2 most important event is the Benvenuto Brunello Tatsing held most years at Gotham Hall, and usually takes place in January. Yesterday was the Brunello Tasting at Gotham Hall. I have to say that I always love going to this tasting, but as with the Tre Bicchieri Tasting it's not quite as wonderful as it once was, but never-the-less, still fun to go to. Of course I love tasting the wines, but truth be told, these two tasting are even more about socializing than actually drinking and tasting Brunello or any marvelous wines from Italy. And so was the case at the Brunello Tasting yesterday. I ran into my friend Vince Attard first of all as I walked into the magnificent Gotham Hall and before I had tasted one wine. We chatted and minute and it was off to tasting, and we didn't even see each other at all after that, as is sometimes or not the case at these events. I saw my good friend Pietro Cavallo and Enrico Proetti my old boss who is Nettuno, Italy near Rome, he owns Bella Blu Restaurant on Lexington Avenue and who I see at almost every important Italian Wine Event of the season, "Enrico loves his Italian Wines," and it shows. I ran into my old friend and one of the top Italian Wine Guys in New York ; Charles Scicolone who I would always run into at practically every wine event of the year, but recently it has been about a year and a half since I had seen Charlie so it was good to see him once again. Yes, as I said it's more of a social event for some of us who get to drink quite a lot of Italian Wine all the time, so it's not crucial that we have as much here. So yes we've established this is a social event and for me the greatest thing to happen at this great event was running into a wonderful old friend just by a complete surprise. I was at the Fattoria Barbi table when I turned around for a second and there he was, my wonderful old friend Marco Proetti who I haven't seen for about 7 years since he moved back to Europe (Italy / London). Yes Marco and I were fast friends for a while when we both worked for his uncle Enrico at Bella Blue Restaurant back in 2007 and 08 . Marco had gone back to Europe and so we lost touch. But now he's back living in New York and working with his uncle Enrico and Bella Blu, and so we shall now hang out and spend time eating and drinking New York as we have done in the past, all cause we ran into each other at the Brunello Tasting. "You see? I told you it was a social event, din't I?" So you say, what's with all this ranting and raving about socializing at Italian Wine Events in New York, how bout the wine for Pete's Sake? OK  I'll tell you. This Benvenuto Brunello Tasting was as always for the presntation of The Latest Vintage Release of Brunello Di Montalcino, and this was for the 2013 Vintage and 2012 Reserve Brunello offerings as well as the 2016 Rosso di Montalcino and San Antimo Wines within Montalcino. I tasted a number of different Brunello from many wonderful estates. After tasting all these wine, I have to say the table that impressed me the most and the wines I like best for the day were of the estate of Poggio Salvi and their base 2013 Brunello and especially my favorite wine of the day, the Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Salvi Reserva 2012 was absolutely wonderful. The wine was full and in perfect balance with really wonderful ripe fruit and just as tasty as can be.   

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 FAVORITE WINE of THE DAY

BRUNELLO Di MONTALCINO VILLA POGGIO SALVI RESERVA 2012

  After the Poggio Salvi Brunello 2012 Reserva, my second favorite of the day was the Brunello Carparzo 2012 Reserva was extremely nice and a pleasure to drink as it had strong fruit and was in excellent balance. The Carparzo "La Casa" 2012 single vineyard Brunello was a standout as well. It disappointing I didn't see much Moscadello (Dessert WIne from Montalcino) on this day, as this is one of the Worlds most wonderful sweet wines and one I always enjoy tasting at the Brunello Tasting and especially finishing a nice meal with as I did with my good friend James Starace when we had a nice lunch one day at a Trattoria in Montalcino before we were going to our appointments at Fattoria Barbi and later on to LISINI, way back in 2001 we had atnipasti and Pasta, we drank Brunello and finished up with a nice glass of Moscadello each, and then it was on to visit the great Brunello Estate of Fattoria Barbi, Lisini, and then catching sight of the Medieval Abbey of San Antimo. Needless to say, "it was a quite wonderful day." 

PS .. The BRUNELLO COL D'ORCIA "POGGIO VENTO" 2010 was my 3rd favorite Brunello of the day. Quite Nice!  



  BASTA !!!



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Some FINE BRUNELLO

The CAPARZO BRUNELLO 2012 Reserva

Was My 2nd Favorite of The Day

 

SANGIOVESE GROSSO BRUNELLO

On The Vine in MONTALCINO

   

FATTORIA BARBI

My All-Time FAVORITE Brunello of ALL !

     

Conti Francesco Cinzano

of COL D'ORCIA

with Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

  .

SUNDAY SAUCE

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

  .

Abazzia Sant' Antimo

MONTALCINO

ITALY

  MANGIA ITALIANO ! 

Available on AMAZON.com

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    .      

BIG DOGS of ITALIAN WINE in NEW YORK

Winemaker of Sassicaia & Punica Wines SEBASTIANO ROSA

with Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke and Roberta Morrel of Morrel WInes

Get Toegther for a lillte Wine and Chat at Kobrand Italian Portfolio Tasting

at The Bowery Hotel, New York, New York

Alberto Chiarlo with Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

Alberto Chiarlo the proprietor of Michele Chiarlo  Wines 

of Piedmonte got together for a tasting of Alberto's latest vingtages

of wine, including Barbera Le Orme, Barolo Tortoniano 2010,

Michele Chairlo Barbaresco 2011, Barolo Cerequio 2010,

and Barolo Canubi Michele Chairlo 2007 & 2001 Vintgaes ..

Daniel said the whole line-up of wines was absolutely Amazing! everything was in perfect balance, full of flavor and a joy to drink.

Emelia Nardi with Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

Tatsing some Great Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino

The 1999 Il PARETO From Nozzole Was ROCKING !!!

I normally don't go crazy for non-native Italian Varietals when drinking Italian Wine. That said, I absolutely loved the 1999 Vintage of Tenuta Nozzole's "Il PARETO" a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon based wine that was amazing. It was full of flavor,perfecting and a absolute Joy to Drink. I loved It!

The WINES From MASI Where Also AMAZING !!!

Masi Agricola

I loved all of the Amarone 's that Masi was showing at the Italian Portfolio Tasting ..

The were showing Amarone Mazano 2007 which was really nic and heavy on the prune flavors.

The 2007 Amarone Campolong was awesome as was the Amarone Costera 2009 ..

My favorite Amarone of the day was Seregho Aligheri 2008 which is one of the few wines in the world aged in large Cherry Wood Cask .. The wine was AMAZING !!!

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The RAGU BOLOGNESE COOKBOOK

GRANDMA BELLINO'S ITALIAN COOKBOOK

Recipes From My Sicilian Grandmother

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

.

SUNDAY SAUCE

When Italian-Americans Cook

by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

BRUNELLO TASTING NEW YORK

BRUNELLO TASTING

New York

Gotham Hall

Release of The Great 2010 Vintage Brunello

Brunello Reserva 2009

&

Rosso di Montalcino 2013

BEVENUTO BRUNELLO 2015

The Greatest Brunello I ever drank was the 1990 Vintage of Angelo Sassetti's

Brunello Pertimali "Awesome" !!! My previous favorite, most memorable Brunello was

also a 1990, but from Valcicava, the normale ..

Getting ready to jead up to Gotham Hall for one of my favorite tastings of the year, The Brunello Tasty, where I'll be tasting the highly taunted vintage Brunello's of 2010, a great year for Brunello and the town of Montalcino .. The 2010 Vintage Brunello will be the star, along with Reservas from 2009 and the just released 2013 Rosso di Montalcino .. Some 50 producers of Brunello will be at the tasting with about 200 different Brunello's to try .. Most Brunello producers bring a couple other vintages of Brunello besides the 2010 & 2009 Riserva .. The Count Franceso Moruni Cinzano of Col d'Orcia usually brings some nice older vintages. Last year he brought his 1997 vintage Brunello which I bought 2 cases of. It's really fine and should be drunk now or within the next 2 years. If you happen to have some, drink it now (do not hold). The Count makes one of the most wonderfully impressive Reserve Brunello's of all with his Brunello Reserva Con Vento, which I always look forward to trying. It never disappoints.

BRUENLLO VALDICAVA

"The 1990 Vintage was one of the Greatest Brunello's I've ever

tasted. I drank the 1990 in the year 2006, as well as the 1990

Angelo Sassetti Brunello Pertimali .. Both were absolutely Awesome" !!!

Well, that's it for now. I'm heading up to the Brunello Tasting. I'll drink, taste, schmooze, 

take notes, and have a great time. I'll take pictures and post them and report back on

my time and impression of this the Bruenllo Tasting New York 2015 ...

Che ve Diamo Presto !!!

Daniele

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Brunello Tasting Today New York

BRUNELLO Di MONTALCINO

BRUNELLO TASTING NEW YORK Today

January 27, 2014

NEW YORK, NY

Benvenuto Brunello

BRUNELLO TASTING 2009 Vintage in New York

Precious Vines

of

Sangiovese Grosso 

aka Brunello

Montalcino

Near Sant Antimo

Dam, another year has come and gone .. It's hard to beleive another year has already gone by.

Seems just like yesterday the last Benvenuto Bruneelo Tasting at Gotham Hall in New York, happily tasting Montalcino's latest release of the 2008 vintage Brunello's along with Brunello Riserva 2007 and Rosso di Montalcino's of 2011 .. Some really wonderful Brunello last year .. i can remember loving the offerings of; Donatella Cinelli Columbini 2008, Col d'Orcia 2008, Barbi Resierva 2007, and Uccelliera 2008, and Silvio Nardi 2008 ..  

I attended a great Siminar on Brunello conducted by the great Kevin Zraly where we tasted some wonderful current vintage Brunello including the just mention offerings as well as

Il Poggione Riserva 1999 and Col d'Orcia Brunello 2001, both great vintages and now aged quite well.

The seminar conducted by Mr. Zraly was phenominal as usual and when I inquired if Kevin was going to do it again, I was dissapointed to hear he wasn't .. They got someone else whose name I do not recognize .. Hopefully the lady will conduct a fun, informative seminar, but after attending Zraly's last year, I doubt if  very many could match Kevin's wonderful performance. "Cie la Vie."

At the tasting last year, one of my suppliers asked if he the Count Francesco Maroni Cinzano by, as he wanted to give me a personal 1-on-1 tasting of his latest offerings. Of course I said yes, "Do you think I'm a Mad-Man?" Maybe? Well the Count came by the next day with some phenominal Brunello's, including; his 2008 Vintage, Rosso di Montalcino 2010, Col d'Orcia Brunello 2001, and the amazing Col d'Orcia Brunell "Col Vento Riserva" 2004 .. That wine is amazing and one of the best bottles of Brunello I tasted all year. And Poggio Al Vento 2004 was just being released in 2013, it was incrediable .. All the Counts wines are quite wonderful, and he also brought along a nice wine he makes at his property in Chile .. The wine "Erasmo" is a very fine Bordeaux Blend that I quite like, I put on my list, along with The Counts Brunello both 2005 and 2008 vintages which have been selling extremely well and our customers just love them ...

"DON'T TOUCH IT !!! DON'T TOUCH IT !!! " Cried Kevin Zraly, startling some, scarring others at last years Brunello Seminar he conducted at Benvento Brunello 2013 at Gotham Hall in New York ...

You can read more on Mr. Zraly and the 2013 Brunello tasting in my article "Brunello Tripel Header" at Ny-Foodie

JUST CLICK HERE ...

Fattoria di Barbi Table at NY Brunello Tasting 2013

BARBI BRUNELLO "One of My Favorite Brunello Houses"

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke & Count Francesco Maroni Cinzano

Drinking The Count's Famed Brunello

NEW YORK, NY

Poggio AL Vento

Brunello Di Montalcino

Riserva

2004

"one of the Best Brunello's I've ever had, and I've had some Great Ones;

Val d' Cava Madonna 1990, Angelo Sassetti 1990, Barbi Riserva 1995, Poggio Antico 1997

and many more ....

The FOLLOWING Is From The BRUNELLO Di MONTALCINO CONSORZIO Website

Brunello di Montalcino is a visibly limpid, brilliant wine, with a bright garnet colour. It has an intense perfume, persistent, ample and ethereal. One can recognize scents of undergrowth, aromatic wood, berries, light vanilla and jam. 
To the taste the wine has an elegant harmonious body, vigorous and racy, it is dry with a lengthy aromatic persistence.
 

Because of its characteristics, Brunello can be aged for a long time, improving as the years go by. It is not easy to determine exactly for how many years it improves. It depends on the vintage. It varies from a minimum of 10 years to around 30 years, but it can be kept for even longer. Naturally it must be kept in the right way: in a cool cellar, but above all with a constant temperature, in the dark, without noises and smells; the bottles should be laid horizontally.

GREAT VINTAGE SASSICAIA

The 2009 SASSICAIA IS PHENOMINAL

I LOVE IT

WENT CRAZY WHEN I TASTED IT at The 2013

TRE BICCHIERE TASTING THIS YEAR

The 1997 1998 1985 and 2007 Where Among My Favorite

SASSICAIA VINTAGES EVER

WHEN I TATSED THE 2009 ?
WELL, ONE of MY ALL-TIME FAVORITES

The 2009 SASSICAIA Is in PERFECT BALANCE

That's ALL I REALLY NEED To SAY

If a WINE Is In PERFECT BALANCE

That Pretty Much Tells The WHOLE STORY

GREAT JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT of ACID

TANNIN AROMA AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING

YOU LOOK For In A GREAT WINE

The 2009 SASSICAIA Has IT

IT's a 94 Point WINE In MY BOOK

Again, LOVE IT !!!!

SASSICAIA WINEMAKER SEBASTIANO ROSA

And I TOAST HIS OTHER GREAT WINE

BARRUA

WE TALK ABOUT BARRUA

And The SASICAIA 2009

"And YES"

WE DRANK The SASSICAIA Too !!!

The 2009

SUNDAY SAUCE ITALIAN GRAVY

SUNDAY SAUCE

ITALIAN GRAVY

Sunday Sauce .. 

Excerpted from a new book by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

"When a meal centered around a Sunday Sauce is announced, one can have visions of Blissful Ecstasy at thoughts of eating Pasta laden with Italian Sausages, Savory Meatballs, Beef Braciola, and succulent Pork Ribs. All this has been slowly simmered to culinary perfection. Yes just the thoughts can enrapture one into a Delightful Frenzy of the Most Blissful Feelings of smelling, seeing, and consuming all the ingredients, the Sausages, Meatballs and Gravy. Yes a Sunday Sauce can and does have such effects on one’s mind, body,  and soul. And, I do not want to sound prejudice, but this is pure fact, it is the Male of the Italian-American species who Love The Sunday Sauce in all its form, far more than the  female sex.  True! Meatballs too! And Italian-American men and boys Love and hold  oh-so-dare, their Meatballs, Sunday Sauce, Sausage & Peppers,  and Meatball Parm Sandwiches.

  The  Sunday  Sauce that  my mother  would make was with Meatballs and Beef Braciole. My memories are vivid watching my mother stuffing the Braciole with  garlic, parsley, Pecorino Romano, and Pignoli Nuts,  then  tying the bundles with  butchers cord to hold  the Braciole together as they slowly simmered in the Gravy.  Another fond memory was helping my mother roll and shape the Meatballs."

This pasaage has been excerpted from Daniel Bellino-Zwicke's upcoming new book 

SUNDAY SAUCE, which will be available in Paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com or at a bookstore near you. Sunday Sauce is due for November 2013 release. In the meantime see Daniel's other books (La TAVOLA,  Clemenza's Meatball Sunday Sauce) on Sunday Sauce, Italian-American Food and The Italian-American Experience in New York and America

NEW YORK'S MOST IMPORTANT ITALIAN WINE EVENT of The YEAR

TRE BICCHIERI 2013

Most Important Italian Wine Tasting of The Year

Yes, the most important Italian Wine Event of the Year is upon us, The 2013 Tre Bicchieri Tasting of Gambero Rosso is tomorrow (Domani) at The Metropolitan Pavillion. All the Big Guns of Italian Wine will be in attendance, including New York's Top Italian Wine People and many of Italy's top-producers (Italian Wine Estate Owners and Winemakers) will be on hand.
  This tasting, the Tre Bicchieri is of Italy's Top Wines as voted by Gambero Rosso, The Wine Spectator of Italy. Will be tasting many great Italian Wines, like; Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, Super Tuscans, Taurasi, and the top White, Dessert, and Sparkling Wines. Oh happy day. Along with tasting all the great Italian Wine, really my favorite aspect of this tasting is a chance to see some of my good friends (Wine Producer), taste their wines and chat a little bit. Always quite a lot of fun.

Stay tuned for tomorrows Report of my favorite wines of the day and who I ran into. Caio for now, Daniel.

TIME To TASTE WINE "Italian Wine" Brunello Chianti And ?

MY FAVORITE BRUNELLO of ALL

Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

  Time to taste Wine? Italian Wine in particular. It's always time to taste wine. Well there are times in the year when you drink and taste wine (Italian Wine) more than others. Times that is. If you happen to be in the wine or restaurant business, you know these times. September is big, with most large importers and distributors of wining having there Grand Portfolio Tastings in this month, the month of September, Summer is over, it's not only back to School it's back to business fro many, and for the people in the wine or restaurant businesses, September to the end of December is the busiest time of the year. In this month I will go to the large Portfolio Tasting of Martin Scott Wines, Winebow, Vias, and others. October and November will find a couple big Tastings of The Italian Trade Commission.
    As far as wine tastings go, things slow down for the month of December (all Business) and January. January, well that's all till the last day of January this year, as one of mine and other Italian Wine Lovers favorite tasting of the year will be, "The Brunello Tasting" and of one of my own personal favorites along with Chianti, is Brunello. They are both Sangiovese based wines. Brunello produced only in the famed wine town of Montalcino, "The Home of Brunello," the only place of Brunello for those who might not know. The also make Rosso di Montalcino in Montalcino. Both wines are made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso, also known as "Brunello," that's the name of the grape. They also produce one of the World's great dessert wines in Montalcino, of which is Moscadello. And of fourth not as far as Montalcino wine production is concerned, some properties make proprietary wines that you will know as Super Tuscans, which are made throughout all of Tuscany. 
    So The Brunello Tasting. Along with the Tri Bicchierri Tasting of the Best Wines from the whole of Italy. Anyway the BrunelloTasting. I just love it. And it will be back to just tasting the latest vintages of Brunello the 2008 Brunello's and the 2007 Brunello Riservas. Wow! There will be Brunello to taste of course, along with Rosso di Montalcino from each producer as well, and maybe a Moscadello and or some sort of Super Tuscan. Not every Brunello producer makes the later two wines.
    Now, how bout my favorites. Well, on the top of the list is the are the Brunello's from my friends the Colombini family, the normale and the Riserva of Fattporia Barbi are always amazing. The wines are always in perfect balance and true to what real Brunello should be. Other favorite Brunello's would be the Castel Giacondo Brunello from my good friends the Frescobaldi's who make superb Brunello as well as fine Chianti Rufina and some Italy's top Super Tuscan Wines.
    One big not on the Brunello Tasting of New York is that it started out as just that Brunello. For the past three years or so, The Brunello Tasting include Prosecco, Chianti, and Vino Nobile as well. This year The Brunello Tasting is back to just Brunello and other wines produced on Brunello properties. I'm glad for that. I love those other wine, especially Chianti, but myself and many others prefer the pure Brunello Tasting. And I love when they have a pure Chianti Tasting as well, which they don't do every year, but when they do, it's one of my faves.
    So yes, a big time for Italian Wines and their tastings. On February 15th 2013, the biggest and most important Italian Wine Tasting of the year will take place, it is The Tri Bicchierri Tasting of Italy's Top Wines from around the country, as rated by Gambero Rosso "The Wine Spectator" of Italy. Many great wines, but my favorite aspect of the Tasting is seeing and socializing with my many Italian Wine Friends, the Proprietors and Winemakers of Italy's greatest wines. People like the affable and talented winemaker for the famed Sassicaia Mr. Sebastiano Rosa, as well as his cousin Piero Incisa Rochetta of Tenuto San Guido, the estate where the grapes for Sassicaia are grown and Sassicaia is made into  Italy's Most Renowned and Prestigious Wine. Well there are many, including Marchese Ferdinando Frescobaldi, Emanuella Stucchi of Badia Coltibuono, the beautiful Sicilian lady Francesca Planeta of Planeta, Giovvani Folnari of Nozzole, Gianpauolo Venica who makes along with his father and uncle some Italys finest white wines at Venica. And yes, many more wonderful Italian Wine people, too many to name. Yes it's great fun at the Tri Bicchierri Tasting to see my Italian friend and taste there great wines. 
  And so ladies and gentlemen, the Hieght of The Italian Wine tasting Season is upon us with The Brunello tasting on January 31 followed by The Tri Bicchierri Tasting February 15th, the day after Valentines Day, and Love will be in the Air. The Love of Love and Italian Wine, "Mangia Beve Amore"



Article:  Daniel Bellino Zwicke

ME & THE MARCHESE

THE ESTEEMED

MARCHESE FERDINANDO FRESCOBALDI

Sebastiano Rosa of Sassicaia

Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

Giovanni Folanari of Nozzole

10 FAVORITE BRUNELLO'S

of Recent Tastings

Fattori dei Barbi  2007

Angelo Sassetti 2007

Fattoria dei Barbi Reserva  2006

Casanova Neri  2007

Frescobaldi Castel Giacondo  2007

Lisini "Ugolaia" 2006

Conti Costanti  2007

Val d' Cava 2006

Livio Sassetti "Pertamali" 2006

Castello Banfi "La Morra" 2006

Castel di Argian0 2007

My 10 Favorite Brunello's of All-Time

That I Drank

1. Angelo Sassetti 1990 (at Del Posto, NY)

2. Fattoria dei Barbi Riserva 1995 (at Barbi Estate)

3. Biondi Santi Riserva 1988 (at a friends House in New York)

4. Fattoria dei Barbi 1997 (at The Barbi Estate)

5. Biondi Santi Riserva 1997 (with Jacopo Biondi Santi, Dinner at Spark's, New York)

6. Cal d' "Madonna"Cava 1990  (at Babbo, NY)

7. Casanova Neri "Tenuta Nuova" 1993 (at Barbetta, New York)

8. Castel Giacondo, Frescobaldi 1993 (at Barbetta, New York)

9. Conti Costanti 2001 (at Macari Vineyards, North Fork, LI, NY)

10. Lisini "Ugolaia" 1995 (at Estate in Montalcino)

TREBICCHERIERI 2010 Tasting in NEW YORK

As most Americans will not know that the magazine

"Gamero Rosso" is the Italian equivalent of the Wine Spectator when it comes to Italian Wine, rating and writing about them.

Instead of a 100 Point ratings system used by the Wine Spectator and others, Gamber Rosso gives their top rated wines Trebicchieri or "Three Glasses" and Two Glasses is very good, the equivalent of a 88 or 89 on the 100 Point Scale.

Here is a List of Some of Gamberro Rosso's "Trebicchieri" Wines for 2011. The Grand Trebicchieri Tasting to be held in New York on February 18, 2011

 

SASSICAIA Winemaker Sebastiano Rossa (L to R)

Author Daniel Bellino "Z" and Giovanni Folnari of Nozzole

A. A. Gewurztraminer Kastelaz ’09 Elena Walch

Albana di Romagna Passito AR ’08 Fattoria Zerbina

A. A. Valle Isarco Sylvaner R ’09 Kofererhof 

 Amarone della Valpolicella Vajo Armarone ’05 Serego Alighieri 

 Barolo La Rocche del Falletto Ris. ’04 B. Giacosa 

Barolo Monfortino Ris. ’02 G. Conterno 

Barolo ’06B. Mascarello Bolgheri 

Sassicaia ’07 San Guido

"I'll Never forget this Vintage of SASSICAIA. 

The Greatest Sassaica Veintage ever!" Author Daniel Bellino Z 

Brunello di Montalcino Ris. ’04 Biondi Santi 

Camartina ’07 Querciabella Cervaro della Sala ’08 

Castello della Sala Umbria 

Chianti Classico Rancia Ris. ’07 Felsina 

Cof Sauvignon Zuc di Volpe ’09 Volpe 

Pasini Cupo ’08 

Pietracupa Franciacorta Brut Secolo Novo ’05 

Le Marchesine Gattinara Osso San Grato ’06 Antoniolo 

I Sodi di San Nicolò ’06 Castellare 

Le Pergole Torte ’07 Montevertine 

Langhe Costa Russi ’07 Gaja 

 Marsala Vergine Ris. ’81 Pellegrino 

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ’08 

Villa Medoro Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ’06 Valentini 

 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo San Calisto ’07 

Valle Reale Montiano ’08 

Falesco Primitivo di Manduria Es ’08 

Fino Rosso Gravner ’04 Gravner 

 Rosso Piceno Sup. Roggio del Filare ’07 

Velenosi Sangiovese di Romagna Sup. Avi ’06 

San Patrignano 

 Taurasi Radici Ris. ’04 Mastroberardino 

 Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Castello di Semivicoli ’08 Masciarelli 

 Trento Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore Brut ’01 

Ferrari Veneroso ’07 Tenuta di Ghizzano

SUNDAY SAUCE

Photo by Daniel Bellino Zwicke