Savouring Opera wines and Italian cuisine at San Gimignano
Sommelier India, the Wine Magazine, organized an exclusive wine dinner recently in conjunction with the Opera Consortium (a cooperative of Italian wine and agricultural products) to introduce a selection of fine Italian wines to Delhi's oenophiles. Pictured right are Roberto Toscano, the Ambassador of Italy to India, and Mrs Toscano with members of the consortium.
The dinner was held on the lawns of San Gimignano, the Imperial Hotel's Italian restaurant in New Delhi, on a balmy winter evening in early December. In addition to a Brut Trento DOC 2003 served with the appetisers, the wines accompanying the superb Italian menu designed by Executive Chef Jan Seibold were, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG 2008, Valpolicella Superiore DOC 2008, Sangiovese di Romagna DOC Superiore 2007 and Salice Salentino Rosso DOC Riserva 2005.
Each representative of the different wineries introduced their wines as they were served course by course. This made for an enjoyable as well as instructive evening as guests got the opportunity to learn about the wines they were drinking first-hand from the winemakers or export managers.
His Excellency Roberto Toscano, the Ambassador of Italy to India, and Mrs Toscano were present at the dinner as were other diplomats, senior executives and businessmen.
The Opera Consortium represents, both, upmarket wines such as those enjoyed that night, as well as modestly priced table wines available in tetra-packs.
