SO SORRY ABOUT THIS BUT WE HAD TO CANCEL THIS EVENT BECAUSE OF AN EMERGENCY REQUEST BY THE @iacctexas. THEY HAVE A GOVERNMENT DELEGATION COMING TO HOUSTON UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEY NEED ME THAT NIGHT.

OUR CONCERT SUNDAY IS CONFIRMED. SEE DETAILS BELOW. THANK YOU.

Back when Piedmont growers first began shipping Pelaverga to the U.S. in the late 1990s, they were eager to let us Yanks know that many believe the grape variety to have aphrodisiacal properties.

Locally, it is sometimes referred by its nickname “Basadonne,” or “Lady Kisser,” they told us.

But some, digging deeper, would also tell us that the name “Pelaverga” can be translated as “branch peeler” or “branch scraper.” The word pelare means to skin or to peel.

Romance language speakers familiar Latin know that the word verga means branch. In modern-day neo-Latin languages like Spanish and (archaic) Italian, it can also be used to denote the male… well… “member.”

I’ll be pouring a wonderful Pelaverga at my last Houston wine dinner of the year at Davanti on Monday, December 9. Please email me if you’d like to join me (the spots are already limited). We’ll also be pouring some other favorite Piedmont wines, including the Veglio Barolo.

Here’s the menu, below, and YES, we are doing white truffles! Chef Roberto already ordered them. This is a great value for the wines and menu. I hope you will join us. Please email me to reserve (limited space).

And if you’re free on Sunday, December 8, I will be playing three sets with Katie White on vocals at Vinsanto starting at 4. NO COVER.

Last gig was SO packed. Come early to grab your spot!

These shows are super fun and a TON of the wine crew comes out for these. Our band is sounding the best it ever has. Please join us.

Aperitivo
Focaccia with fresh toma cheese and guanciale
Giovanni Almondo 2023 Roero Arneis Bricco delle Ciliegie

Antipasto
Cisrà, a chickpea and potato soup with lamb meatballs
Cantina Massara 2022 Verduno Pelaverga

Primo Piatto
Risotto with Fontina cheese and white Alba truffles
Mauro Veglio 2022 Barbera d’Alba

Secondo Piatto
Braised beef with chanterelles
Mauro Veglio 2020 Barolo

$140 per person
wine, tax & gratuity included

Image via TorinoDoc.com.