YOU ARE HERE >>

Custom Search

Italian Flavor Forum XI
Loris Scagliarini – June 29, 2009
Photos by Alessandro DeSogos

Introduction • The Tasting • Prize Winning Wines •
The Grappa Seminar and the Create-a-Grappa-Cocktail Challenge
The Importer Desk • Buyers' Feedback • Blind Tasting • The Drawing • Thanks

Surprisingly, perhaps because it's summer, the best of show turned out to be a white wine, the Pinot Grigio DOC Collio, by Cantine e Distillerie Mangilli SPA, with a whopping 98.75/100. The best sparkling wine was, not surprisingly, the Prosecco di Valdobbiadene DOC Brut Ruio, by Azienda Agricola Malibrán, with a score of 94.67, while the most appreciated red wine was Maclura Toscana IGTSuper Tuscan 2003 by Terre di Nano, with 94.5 average points. With the same score, the 28 proof Mitica Mangilli by Cantine e Distillerie Mangilli SPA turned out to be the favorite among the liquors and liqueurs presented. The Mangilli products are new on the US market and we expect them to be available to US consumers in early September.

The 11th Italian Flavor Forum took place on June 22, 2009 at San Francisco's Museo Italo Americano, located at Fort Mason, in the distinctive Marina district. The current edition introduced a few new features.

In fact, in addition to tasting 99 quality and boutique Italian wines and 11 distilled spirits, the invited guests had the opportunity to taste select Italian food products, such as extra virgin olive oil, balsamic condiments, and balsamic vinegar from Modena.

The Importer Desk, where showcases quality Italian wines and foods, such as extra virgin olive oil, condiment, balsamic seasoning and sauces which are not yet imported in the US and whose producers are seeking importers and/or distributors for the North American market, is one of the new features.

The seminar 'Grappa Friulana: Tradition and Innovation', by Carlo Perissinotto, co-owner and CEO of Cantine & Distillerie Mangilli SPA from Friuli, the second new activity introduced for the occasion, was followed by the first ever 'Create-a-Grappa-Cocktail Challenge' competition, the third new feature introduced at the 11th Italian Flavor Forum.

IFF XI

Professional buyers, journalists and opinion makers of the San Francisco Bay wine and bar scene turned out in large number starting at 2PM, when the show opened officially. We were actually quite surprised, as the Golden Glass 2009 had taken place one day earlier, Sunday, June 21st, and had very low attendance according to all reports and comments heard by those among our guests and WineCountry.IT sales people who participated in it.

In the forefront, on the left, Richard Share, bartender and mixologist, who won the
Create-A-Grappa-Cocktail Challenge, tastes wines before the competition.

For the occasion WineCountry.IT poured 70 wines and 11 distilled spirits from its porfolio of Italian estate labels, including new associated producers Cantine & Distillerie Mangilli SPA and Fattoria Alois s.r.l.. In addition, the Importer Desk featured 29 wines and a collection of extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany, plain as well as flavored, a selection of balsamic condiments and balsamic vinegar from Modena.

As usual the wines were laid out so that the natural progression from the welcome desk would take the guests to the sparkling wines desk, which included Prosecco di Valdobbiadene DOC Brut Ruio, by Azienda Agricola Malibràn, Rosato Italiano IGT, a rosé made with Lambrusco grapes and the frothy red Lambrusco Emilia IGT, both by Azienda Agricola Mauro Zini.

Jesse Vida (left), one of the three baristas competing in the Create-a-Grappa-Cocktail Challenge,
chats with Loris Scagliarini, president of WineCountry.IT L.L.C.

Then the guests would continue with 16 white wines from five Italian regions, 42 red wines from seven Italian regions, and end the tour by tasting wines from the WineCountry.IT list with three dessert wines from as many regions.

The Importer Desk featured 29 wines from five producers and five Italian wine regions: Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany, Apulia and Sicily, in addition to olive oil and condiments from Tuscany.

Altogether the show offered 96 limited production Italian quality boutique wines, three boxed wines, 11 distilled spirits from Friuli, a selection of extra virgin olive oils, including the Dauno DOP, a superior organic olive oil from Apulia produced by Azienda Agricola Masseriola, and balsamic condiments from Tuscany, plus the artesian mineral water Smeraldina from Sardinia. The breakdown by region of the wines and olive oil producers presented, was the following:

• Tuscany: 25 wines and 3 extra virgin olive oils, 7 sesoned olive oils, 5 balsamic condiments and 3 balsamic sauces,
• Friuli Venezia Giulia: 13 wines, 11 distilled spirits,
• Sicily: 13 wines
• Piedmont: 10 wines,
• Veneto: 9 wines,
• Campania: 9 wines,
• Apulia: 6 wines and 1 organic extra virgin olive oil,
• Lombardy: 6 wines,
• Sardinia: 5 wines and the artesian mineral water Smeraldina,
• Emilia Romagna: 2 wines,
• Abruzzo: 1 wine.

Recognitions and Prize Won by WineCountry.IT Wines

Massimo Margelli and Cara Cacciatore

Smeraldina Mineral Water from Sardinia,
distributed in the San Francisco Bay Area by WineCountry.IT, L.L.C.

The Grappa Seminar and the Create-a-Grappa-Cocktail Challenge

WineCountry.IT, L.L.C. ha presentato con fierezza una selezione di 11 liquori from the production of Cantine & Distillerie Mangilli SPA from the region of Friuli, which is where grappa, obtained by distilling the marc after crushing the grapes to make wine, has its deepest roots.

From left: Carlo Perissinotto, CEO of Cantine & Distillerie Mangilli SPA
Enzo Arce, desk manager
Loris Scagliarini, WineCountry.IT President
Gregg Lindgren, jury head, mixologist, co-owner of Rye, Rosewood, and 15 Romolo bars.

For the occasion, Mr. Carlo Perissinotto, co-owner and CEO of Cantine & Distillerie Mangilli SPA, held a seminar entitled Grappa Fiulana: Tradition and Innovation. In addition, we decided to launch a competition among three San Francisco bartenders, Victoria D'amato-Moran of Cent'Anni Cocktails, Rich Share of Tony's Pizza Napoletana, and Jesse Vida of Beretta and Orson restaurants and bar, to create a cocktail based on grappa, thus the Create-A-Grappa-Cocktail Challenge was born.

Carlo Perissinotto, CEO of Cantine & Distillerie Mangilli SPA,
during the Grappa Friulana: Tradition and Innovation Seminar

The three-person jury included well known professionals of the San Francisco Bay bar and liquor scene, starting with the head judge, Gregg Lindgren, mixologist and partner in Rye, Rosewood, and 15 Romolo.

Gregg Lindgren faces the three cocktails before tasting them

The two other judges were Deborah Parker Wong, Northern California editor for The Tasting Panel Magazine, and Jeff (the Barfly) Burkhart, barista and writer for Here Magazine and Marin County's newspaper, The Independent Journal.

Jeff (the Barfly) Burkhart	Gregg Lindgren	Deborah Parker Wong

The judges of the competition Create-A-Grappa-Cocktail Challenge

After over 30 minutes of discussion and deliberation, the jury awarded the first place to Rich Share, and D'amato-Moran and Vida took second place by general consensus. With the first place, the excited Mr. Share took home one bottle each of the 11 distilled spirits, plus a surprise special producer prize, assigned by Carlo Perissinotto, who agreed with the jury decision.

From left: Rich Share, barista at Tony's Pizza Napoletana restaurant, Loris Scagliarini, president of WineCountry.IT, Carlo Perissinotto, co-owner and CEO of Cantine & Distillerie Mangilli SPA.

The producers prize was a bottle of Mangilli Gold, a Pinot Noir grappa aged in small barrel and packaged in a special bottle encased in a wooden box. Both Mr. Vida and Ms. D'Amato-Moran were awarded one bottle of the traditional Grappa Bianca and one of the aged Grappa Riserva..

Competitors and Cocktails

Best Overall Meadow Soprano's Bittersweet Cherry by Richard Share
	1 oz. Grappa Bianca Mangilli 1 oz. Seven Fruit Liqueur Mangilli 1 oz. Aperol 1 oz. Muddled Bing Cherries 1 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lemon Shake and pour into a champange flute with a float of Cava or Prosecco sparkling wine

Best for Creativity Dolce Mangilli (Sweet Mangilli) by Victoria D'Amato-Moran
	1.0 oz. Grappa Bianca Mangilli 0.5 oz. Seven Fruit Liqueur Mangilli 0.5 oz. Mitica Mangilli 3.0 oz. Grilled Peach Nectar (simmered in brown sugar syrup) Almond Cream Float Peace Rose Petals

Best Interpretation of a Classic The Sphere of Influence by Jesse Vida
	1.5 Grappa Riserva Mangilli 0.75 Fresh Lemon Juice 0.5 Orgeat Syrup 1 Bar Spoon of Strawberry Liqueur Shaken: Up Garnish: Bitters, Lemon Zest

Importer Desk

The Importer Desk featured 29 wines, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and balsamic condiments from six producers. Below we list the products with the score awarded by our guests using a 100-point scale.

Importer Desk

• Azienda Agricola Dal Cero Fratelli, with estates in Veneto and Tuscany:
  • Pinot Chardonnay BRUT 2008 (Sparkling Wine, 85 points)
  • Soave DOC Corte Giacobbe 2008 (White Wine, 83.75 points)
  • Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT 2008 (White Wine, 86.25 points)
  • Pinot Grigio Blush delle Venezie IGT 2008 (Rosé Wine, 82.12 points)
  • Preziosaterra Rosso IGT Toscana 2006 (Red Wine, 92 points)
  • Passito del Casale IGT Veneto 2005 (Dessert Wine, 90.91 points)


• Cantina Cellaro Soc. Coop. Agricola, from Sicily:
  • Solea Inzolia IGT Sicilia 2008 (White Wine, 87.5 points)
  • Solea Nero D’Avola IGT Sicilia 2008 (Red Wine, 82.5 points)
  • Lumà Grillo IGT Sicilia 2008 (White Wine, 81.25 points)
  • Lumà IGT Sicilia Bianco 2008 (White Wine, 88.75 points)
  • Lumà Syrah IGT Sicilia 2007 (Red Wine, 88.24 points)
  • Lumà Nero D’Avola IGT Sicilia 2007 (Red Wine, 87.06 points)
  • Cellaro Rosso IGT Sicilia 2007 (Red Wine, 87.5 points)
  • Sambuca Bianco DOC 2007 (White Wine, 85 points)
  • Sambuca Rosso DOC 2007 (Red Wine, 83.75 points)

Louise Gould

• Aziende Vitivinicole Miceli Soc. Agr. srl, from Sicily:
  • Foravia IGT Sicilia 2008 Viognier (White Wine, 90.42 points)
  • Smodato IGT Sicilia 2006 (Red Wine, 88.58 points)
  • Majo San Lorenzo IGT Sicilia 2004 (Red Wine, 86.67 points)
  • Nun Passito DOC Pantelleria 2007 (Dessert Wine, 89.67 points)


• Tenuta Ca’ Boffenisio, from Lombardy:
  • Pretesto IGT Pavia 2005 (White Wine, 82.5 points)
  • Ghiaia di Monte IGT Pavia 2004 (White Wine, 87.5 points)
  • Pinot Noir Iperbole 2006 (Red Wine, 92.95 points)
  • Piacere! Bonarda DOC Oltrepo’ Pavese 2004 (White Wine, 90.25 points)
  • Triangolo IGT Pavia 2001 (Red Wine, 91.37 points)
  • Tacabrighe IGT Pavia 2001 (Red Wine, 91.89 points)
  • Pregolato Moscato DOC O.P. 2001 (Dessert Wine, 84.7 points)

Dana Barsocchini

• Oleificio e Cantina di Massafrassa, from Apulia:
  • Vino da Tavola Bianco (White Table Wine, 75.66 points)
  • Verdeca Bianco IGT (White Table Wine, 79.1 points)
  • Vino da Tavola Rosso (Red Table Wine, 81 points)


• Ollio S.r.l., from Tuscany:
  • Premium IGP extra-virgin olive oil
  • Extra-virgin olive oil Poggiolo
  • Extra-virgin olive oil Mosto
  • Seasoned extra virgin olive oil with:
    • Basil
    • Lemon
    • Truffle
    • Garlic
    • Chili Pepper
  • Balsamic vinegar from Modena
  • Balsamic condiment seasoned with:
    • Figs
    • Honey
  • Balsamic creams:
    • Classic
    • With Figs
    • With Wild Berries.

Ollio s.r.l. products

The Buyers' Feedback

As some times happen, one of the guests who tasted almost all the wines presented, scored them about 30% less than what the average would have been, thus lowering the overall individual scores.

The food table

The Best of the Show

• Best Overall Product:
  The best of show this time went surprisingly to a white wine, the Pinot Grigio DOC Collio, a wine presented in the US for the first time produced by Cantine & Distillerie Mangilli SPA, which scored 98.75 points.


• Best Sparkling Wine:
  Ruio – Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOC Spumante Brut, produced by Azienda Agricola Malibran, from Veneto (94.67 points)
• Best Dry White Wine:
  Pinot Grigio DOC Collio, produced by Cantine & Distillerie Mangilli SPA, from Friuli Venezia Giulia (98.75 points)
• Best Dry Red Wine:
  Maclura Toscana IGT Super Tuscan 2003, produced by Terre di Nano, from Tuscany (94.5 points)
• Best Dessert Wine:
  Moscato di Sorso Sennori DOC, produced by Cooperativa Vinicola Romangia, from Sardinia (92 points).

Skip Grangre of Enoteca Starry Night, and Susan Darwin of California Wine Boutique

Jenny Snodgrass

Alberto Malvestio, owner of ALMARE Gelato Italiano

Shirley Johnson

Alison Bosweel

Carlo Perissinotto (left), CEO of Cantine & Distillerie Mangilli SPA with
Loris Scagliarini, President of WineCountry.IT

Tor

The Blind Tasting

The all-American jury who participated in the blind tasting face-off between three Italian and three California wines, similar in grapes, characteristics and price, included:

• Susan Darwin – California Wine Boutique
• Skip Granger – Enoteca Starry Night
• Reginald Anderson – Wine Collector
• Jamie McNaughton – Bartender at Mom and Pop Wines
• Todd McNaughton – Sales and Marketing at Mom and Pop Wines
• Tyany – Wine Collector.

The Blind Tasting

The Italian wines:

1. 2005 Monferrato Bianco DOC Solaluce (60% Sauvignon, 40% Chardonnay), produced by
   Azienda Vitivinicola Colledoro, Piedmont
2. Iperbole Pinot Noir 2006, produced by Tenuta Ca' Boffenisio, Lombardy
3. Perbacco Maremma Toscana IGT 2006 (Sangiovese), produced by Azienda Agricola La Carletta, Tuscany

The Italian Wines

The California wines:

1. Chardonnay 2007 Russian River Valley, produced by Taft Street, Sebastopol, CA
2. Central Coast Pinot Noir 2007, produced by Windsor Vineyards, Tiburon, CA
3. 2005 Sangiovese Mendocino Coast, produced by J. Keverson Vineyards, Mendocino County, CA
   

The California Wines

The 2005 Sangiovese Mendocino Coast, produced by J. Keverson Vineyards, located at 53 Front Street, in Healdsburg, California, won the face-off with a total score of 65, or an average score of point 8.37 on a ten point scale.

The Drawing

Among all the feedback forms returned to us with the product evaluations by our esteemed guests, we drew one form and awarded the lucky guest, Jodi Crumbley of the Sonoma Storage Emporium, three bottles of exclusive Italian wines not yet imported in the US.

• Ghiaia di Monte IGT Pavia, made with 50% Riesling and 50% Sauvignon Blanc in the Lombardy region by Tenuta Ca' Boffenisio.
• Pinot Grigio Blush IGT delle Venezie, a lightly orangy-colored wine made by Azienda Agricola Dal Cero Fratelli in the Veneto region.
• Sambuca di Sicilia DOC, a blend of Sangiovese and Nero D'Avola grapes from Sicily, made by Cantina Sociale Cellaro scarl.

Jillian Dowler

Thanks

Thank you to Alberto Malvestio of ALMARE Gelato Italiano, located at 2170 Shattuk Avenue in Berkeley, California, and master model maker Jack Halley Harper of San Rafael, California, for their participation in the event.

Vintage Ferrari model, by master model maker Jack Halley Harper