Former Montrealer Fiona Perrin Birken, North American brand ambassador for Sauterne house Chateau Guiraud, came for lunch at the Hardware Grill this spring. She is based in New York City and loving it. “The sommeliers in New York are fantastic,” she says. “They are really excited about our wines.”
The surprise was the Petit Guiraud, made from fruit from younger vines, a little less unctuous, a little less sweet, remarkably fresh and delicious — have it à la Francaise with foie gras (or pâté) as a first course.
Alto Adige wine producer Franz Haas was featured at a dinner at corso 32 in May. Andi Punter from the winery entertained a full house while chatting about the wines of the 55-hectare vineyard established in 1880, and located in the sud-Tirol, at the very northern edge of Italy. Highlights of the spring menu were Alberta trout with marcona almonds, radicchio and Pink Lady apples paired with the crisply fragrant 2011 Pinot Grigio; and toothsome rabbit ragu with 2010 Pinot Nero.
Priscilla Incisa Della Rocchetta the family ambassador for Tenuta San Guido came for lunch at Lux, pouring several wines from the family estate including the 2009 Sassicaia. Sassicaia rocketed to global prominence with the 1972 vintage (first vintage was 1968) and with it the region of Bolgheri in south-west Tuscany, as a producer of high-quality wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon. What makes it so special? The soil is stony similar to Bordeaux, arguably one of the best places in Italy to grow Cab. It was a treat to taste the not-yet-ready-but-delicious-nonetheless 2009.
Feeling sad? visit braida.it for a musical cheer me up.
One foray onto the Braida website and it’s obvious, here’s a wine house that doesn’t take itself too seriously, at least when it comes to naming the wines. Their top of the line bottling is old vine Barbera from the Uccellone vineyard (which takes its name from an old lady who looked like a crow). Lovely for this summer is Il Fiore, an aromatic Chardonnay/Nascetta blend we can’t wait to have with grilled halibut. Or, enjoy Vigna Senza Nome, fragrant and sweet Moscato, perfect for cake.