An exclusive Italian wine dinner that showcased Banfi wines by taking a journey to Tuscany through food, wine, and conversations.
Based in Manila, Bangkok, and Italy, the CEO L’Opera Group Inc, chef and sommelier Paolo Nesi made it a point to fly to Manila to cook a special Tuscan dinner since The Wine Club Philippines was preparing a wine pairing dinner featuring one of the best Montalcino’s wineries.
The exclusive Italian wine dinner showcased Banfi wines, including the highly anticipated arrival of the Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura DOCG 2017.
Banfi was dubbed by The Wine Spectator as “The Builders of Brunello”– wine made from the sangiovese grape. The popular wine is one of the world’s most famous wines despite the fact that the Banfi winery is young at only 44 years old.
Nesi said he was particularly happy about this because Castello di Banfi is 40 minutes from his Tuscan home town and he prepared a special menu preparing traditional Tuscan fare. He added, “We are going to travel to Tuscany in a very traditional Tuscan way. Sorry we are not very kind to vegetarians this time,” as the menu was a carnivore’s dream!
Classic Tuscan chicken liver crostini, the same recipe of Caterina de Medici’s chicken liver crostini dipped in a capon broth, and bite sized pizzettas paired with Le Rime Pinot Grigio IGT 2020 was served upon the arrival guests. Then a Tuscan antipasto of cannellini beans cooked inside a Chianti flask on top of a panzanella bread salad which was served with Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2019. A very thick and double boiled tomato soup and bread washed down with Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2020 prepared guests for the main courses.
Nesi was particularly excited to prepare his pappardelle, homemade large fettuccine with slow braised wild hare sauce. The delicate dish with perfectly al dente pasta was served with Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2017. Creamy corn polenta with slow braised wild boar and Italian deboned grilled quails paired with Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura DOCG 2017 was the second main course. Italian wild boar may be tougher than regular pork but the intense pork flavor was not gamey at all but nicely intense. Italian quail was more like a softer, young chicken.
Banfi Regional Manager Guillaume Blanchard guided the guests through an unforgettable oenological experience throughout the dinner.
The chef did keep his promise that guests would travel to Tuscany and he did it through authentic Tuscan fare and great wine to boot!
Banfi wines are distributed in the Philippines by The Wine Club.
