Above: three Austin-based wine professionals who attended last year’s Texas stop on the Slow Wine Guide Tasting Tour. The Slow Wine editors traveled to each stop by van. Hearing their stories of eating salad at Burger King during their “coast to coast” trip was equal parts hilarious and tragic. Taking them all to see Dale Watson at the Continental Club in Austin that night was one of my proudest moments as a Texan.
So many super cool Italian wine events happening this month in Texas between Houston and Austin. I’m happy to report that I won’t be presenting at any of them: I’ll just be enjoying them as a fan, lover, and student of Italian wine. I hope to see you there!
Vietti Wine Dinner with Luca Currado
January 18 at Tony’s in Houston
Tony is my friend and client (I manage media for his restaurant group) and I’m looking forward as much to his menu as hearing Luca’s thoughts on recent vintages.
Here are details and registration info.
Benvenuto Brunello
January 19 in Houston
The fact that Benvenuto Brunello is coming back to Houston for a second time reflects the city’s upwardly mobile status in the national wine community. As the price of oil continues to rise, so will the flow of Brunello’s garnet gold.
Slow Wine Guide Tasting
January 30 in Austin
As an adjunct professor at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, I’m part of the Slow Food/Wine team and universe. But even beyond my professional bias, I think it’s safe to say that this is an extraordinary tasting and gathering of Italian wines and winemakers.
Here’s the list of presenting wineries and a link for registration.
Dale Watson is scheduled to play that night at the Continental Club. If I miss you at the tasting, meet me for a shot and a beer back at the show. Should be fun times (always is).
And looking down the road toward the horizon…
In early March, I’ll be one of the presenters at Taste of Italy Houston, the third annual trade and consumer food and wine festival organized by the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Texas.
That’s Chamber director Alessia Paolicchi (below, far left) and deputy director Maurizio Gamberucci (second from right). I’ve been working with the Chamber for nearly a year now and really love and thoroughly enjoy our partnership.
Celebrity sommelier David Lynch and Houston Chronicle columnist J.C. Reid will also be panelists this year. It’s a great lineup and I’ve been impressed in years past by the caliber of the exhibitors.
Here’s a link to pre-register.
The “Carbonara: Pecorino vs. Parmigiano Reggiano” panel and tasting is sure to be a highlight from this year’s gathering.
2017 is already shaping up to be a great one in Italian wine and food. I hope to get to taste with you this month!
Do Bianchi 