Wine Remix: VitignoItalia, May 22-24, Castel Del'Ovo, Naples

VitignoItalia-WINE REMIX presents a unique format designed by Robert Baron and produced by Radio Capri La Costa Music.

WINE-Remix is a new approach to wine tasting that opens up an exploration of the senses,; a new way to hear the different notes on each wine.

For the first time a sommelier, a DJ and a VJ will lead a wine tasting  combining all our senses to the sounds of music.

It is promised to be an extraordinary sensory experience.  A journey through the sound of wine.

Each wine will be paired with a piece of music, a result of joint research between a sommelier and DJ professionals all with the goal of enhancing your wine tasting experience.

 The tastings will be held during the three days of VitignoItalia, in the Tasting Room, from 2000 to 2100.

Six wines…six songs…space is limited to 30 people.  Reservations are a must.

For more information, or to sign up, contact:

www.vitignoitalia.it tel. 081 4104533

press office Dipinto Studio

tel. / fax: 081 681505

4th Annual Soffritto Challenge, Ariano Irpinio (Av), March 5th and 6th

A scene from last year's event

Slow Food Irpinia Colline dell’Ufita and Taurasi and Slow Food Foggia and Monti Dauni will host the 4th Annual Disfida del Soffritto…the Soffritto Challenge and the 5th Annual Sapore del Maile, Festa e Rite.

A weekend geared around traditions, rites and rituals of the beautiful community of Ariano Irpino – in Valle Ufita…a land based around farmland and farmers whose, in the past, main source of livelihood was pork. A chance to step back in time, celebrate ancient traditions, enjoy local products, food and wine. I attended this event last year and had a blast!

The highlight of the weekend will be on Sunday, March 6th when 17 communities will battle to see who makes the best soffritto, a pork based dish. Opportunities are also available to tour the area as well.

Here is the schedule:

Saturday, March 5

1730 hrs Ceramic Museum “Centro Storico of Ariano Irpino”

“Pork culture and the farmer’s diet”,

Introduction: Raffaele Coppola, Assessore all’Agricoltura della Provincia di Avellino, Antonio Mainiero, Mayor of Ariano Irpino

Panelists: Salvatore Salvatore, journalist and farming tradition scholar of the Valle dell’Ufita,Guido Pensato, journalist and wine and food historian, Franco Arminio,Federico Ceschin, marketing and territorial development expert,Michele Poligneri, Slow Food Puglia, Nicola Sorbo, Terra Madre Slow Food Campania, Donato Matassino, President Consdabi

Closing Remarks
Slow Food Italia

moderator Monica De Benedetto

2100 hrs
 Dinner “ The Flavors of the maiale nero casertano” at Trattoria Di Pietro
Melito Irpino. Reservations are necessary Tel. 0825.472010 – 333.9656781
€ 25 for Slow Food members - € 30 for non members.

Sunday March 6

0900 hrs
Registration for participants in the challenge

1000 hrs
LA PRIMA MANGIATA
A country breakfast offered by the contestants of the challenge.

1130 hrs
Presentation of the contestants for the “a lu callar” challenge.

1300 hrs
4° DISFIDA DEL SOFFRITTO DI MAIALE…The tasting and judging begins!!
Winners based on popular vote as well as by a jury of experts.

Throughout the day you can visit stands full of food, wine and local products from the region. Immerse yourself into the folkloric dancing, singing, music, storytelling and classic neapolitan card games - briscola, tre sette and scopa.



1100-1600 hrsFor those interested, guided tours to the ceramic museum, città dell’olio and the town center as well as the cathedral, and Norman Civilization Museum are available. You can reserve by calling 347.8948172.



Participating Communities are

 Ariano Irpino

 Ascoli Satriano

 Paternopoli

 Candela

 Grottaminarda

 Orsara di Puglia

 Flumeri

 Faeto

 Taurasi

 Pietra Montecorvino

 Teora

 Roseto Val Fortore

 Montecalvo Irpino

 Celenza Val Fortore

 Carife

 Guest contestants:

Condotta Slow Food Pistoia

Condotta Slow Food Tammaro Fortore


For more information on shuttle services from AVellino or where to sleep while in the area,  visit the web site http://www.condottatufiatarausi.it/  or info@condottaufitataurasi.it


See you there!!!

Jazz in Laurino-August 8-13th

Jazz in Laurino in the heart of Cilento---August 8-13th

Cilento is a beautiful part of Campania. And for 6 days, Laurino will host an amazing series of jazz concerts, courses, jam sessions. Jazz in Laurino is an event dedicated to jazz music that takes place in Laurino, a typical village in the Parco Nazionale del Cilento Cilento.

The concerts will be held inside the ancient walls of Palazzo Ducale (VIII century) and in the cloister of the Monastery of St. Anthony (XVI century).

While flipping through the site, a particular event caught my eye...Wine an Music. Yes. Wine and Music—When wine meets jazz. When food meets jazz. In collaboration with Bruno De Conciliis of Viticoltori de Conciliis, Confusi ma felici, and Osteria la Piazzetta. 2 courses to introduce you to the world of wine tasting and wine making.

Check out the web site for more info...it should be an amazing time...

http://www.jazzinlaurino.it/

Bobby Mc Ferrin in San Leucio (CE)- July 13

Summertime means festivals...music.  Here is one that is definitely 'Not to Miss'.
The Nuova Opera Festival hosts Bobby Mc Ferrin, one of the most important artists of the international jazz and pop music scene.

Belvedere di San Leucio
San Leucio (CE)


The concert starts at 9 pm ish and the tickets cost: 15 euros
For more information visit the website at http://www.nuovaoperafestival.org/

Marennà Summer Party, Friday July 16

Marennà-Feudi Di San Gregorio's Retsurant -will throw their annual Summer Party on Friday, July 16th. Chef Barrale will be on hand to prepare a menu made for l'estate. DUBL, Feudi's famed spumante ,will flow freely.  Live music perfomed on the enormous terrace of Marennà with a captivating view of the vineyards. All that is missing is YOU! 

The cost of the dinner party is 30 euro.

Reservations (highly recommended) can be made by calling 0825 986675 or prenota@feudi.it.

Feudi Di San Gregorio

Loc. Cerza Grossa

Sorbo Serpico (Av)

                                                                    

Everything is Coming Up Roses

It seems like the hot color of this summer is a cool pink…or should I say rosé. Manuela Piancastelli and Peppe Mancini of Terre del Principe hosted Antonio Fiore (Corriere del Mezzogiorno), his group of wine and food enthusiasts, I Macchoroncini, and 5 of the top chefs from Campania.

Cinque ‘Babette’ as the program called them. Five of the top female chefs joined together to present a cool pink menu to accompany Terre del Principe’s Roseto del Volturno. So after a medieval musical concert in the vineyards, a toast in the bottaio, we sat down to lunch.

The menu was as follows:

Chef Rosanna Marziale of Le Colonne in Caserta

Ricotta a cianfotta in formella, a beautiful presentation, ricotta tinted with saffron and turnip (to give it that cool pink color) and stuffed with lightly sautéed summer vegetables. Topped with mozzarella milk.

Chef Marianna Vitale of SUD in Quarto

Cheesecake di baccalà profumata al finocchietto con pomodoro confit, ceci di cecerale e buccia di limone, Haddock cheesecake with a touch of fennel, lemon peel and tomatoes. Sided with cicerale chick peas.

Angela Ceriello of ‘E Curtì in Sant’Anastasia

Paccheri con stoccafisso, Paccheri with haddock, tomatoes, olives, and capers.

Laura Iodice of Fenesta Verde in Giugliano

Involtino di tonno rosso al pomodoro, a roulade of tuna in a light summery tomato sauce sided with escarole and capers

Luisa Evangelista of Osteria La Lanterna in Mugnano del Cardinale

Bocconcino di primo sale a caglio naturale con riduzione di rosato in foglie di vite, a beautiful package of cheese that has been melted with a reduction of Manuela’s rosè

Donnarosa and Torta ubriaca di Roseta del Volturno, pink pastrries stuffed with a light cream and a chocolate cake, both made with Roseto del Volurno.

The atmosphere was light. The guest, all decked out in pink, enjoyed the wine, the meal, themselves.

Antonio Fiore was full of surprises and fun. Served as the perfect co-host for the day.

The chefs, each amazing in their own right, presented their dishes, their recipies, their personalities.

Each different, each a perfect match.

A perfect pink day…

Notte Bianca in Piano di Sorrento, 25 June 2010

Piano di Sorrento will transform, for one night, into a city full of grande entertainment and shopping. Notte Bianca means music, dancing, sports, entertainment and magic: this will happen the night between 25 and 26 June 2010. There will also be a concert by Valerio Scanu, winner of the Sanremo Festival 2010 edition. The varied program drawn up by the organizers will satisfy even those who prefer folk music, the tradition of Tammorra, etc..; Present among other groups will be Trio Tarantae who are well known in the peninsula for their skill as artists who know how to involve the public in dance. And don’t forget shopping as well as local restaurants in which you’ll find open all night long!


The program---

18.00: Via San Michele

Agrumeto: entertainment for children.

After sunset, star gazing with Astrocampania.

19.30 hours: Parade with Paranza the Ass. I Vesuvius, street performers and children along Via San Michele, Rose Square, Via delle Rose, Via Mercato, Piazza della Repubblica, Corso Italy, until Tre Esse .

2000 hrs.Shows on the following stages:
Stage Republic Square, Market Street intersection

Ensemble Luigi Denza

Ass. culturale Promo Danza di Claudia

Exhibition of vintage cars. S.D. Road Legends - Sorrento

Piazza della Repubblica,

Judy Testa Band

Piazza delle Rose

Triotarantae

Bungt & Bangt

Via delle Rose

Palestra Open Club

Magic Medley Ballet di Marilina Iacono

Via Santa Margherita

Tertium Millennium

Group Bizet

Via San Michele

Areton Club

Piazza Cota vialetto privato "Casa del Dolce"

Oratorio di San Nicola

con la collaborazione dell'Ass. Culturale "Music in the air" - Sorrento

Via Casa Rosa

Tendenze Latine

Corso Italia, intersection Via Bagnulo

B-Side Band

Corso Italia, intersection Tre Esse

Palestra Palagiò

Resurrextion (rap)

Piazza Cota (main stage)

Beginning at 22,00

I pennelli di Vermeer

Valerio Scanu

More info can be found at the following link.

Capua-Il Luogo della Lingua Festival-21 through 30 May

Hey...Capua is not that far away...

And from May 21st  to the 30th, The Luogo della Lingua Festival, an event promoted by Architempo involving the city of Capua, will take place.  An event held annually where literature is  surrounded by so many important tools: cinema, theater, visual art and the media, music in all its forms, architecture and sculpture. This year the festival reaches its sixth year, enriched by the first edition of "Falerno First Novel Award. The prize, dedicated to novice writers, combining wine and literature. Ghirelli Antonio, Mario Venuti, Marcio Rangel, Amanda Sandrelli, Blas Roca Rey, Francesca Melandri, Margaret of Rausa, Paoletta Pelagalli from RTL, Peppe Servillo, Fausto Mesolella are just some of the names who will take turns on  stage.

All the events are free.

For more info, check out the following web sites

http://www.illuogodellalinguafestival.com/

http://www.premiofalerno.it/

Three Evenings of Wine and the City at Enoteca Mercadante

As mentioned in an earlier blog, the week before Vitigno Italia, Naples hosts Wine and the City.  Enoteca Mercadante will have three special events on the 13th, 14th and 15th of May...

13 May:  Cheese Day.  An entire night dedicated to cheese. 
For info and reservations tel. 081 680964 - 334 7807377. 081 680964 - 334 7807377.

14 May; An Evening with the Winery; Firriato – Sicilia Firriato - Sicily


 Dinner with 4 wines : € 35.00
For info and reservations tel. 081 680964 - 334 7807377. 081 680964 - 334 7807377.

 

 15 May Live Music:  Mac and New Groove


A choice of 2 menus  € 25.00 excluding wine and dessert, begins at  21.30
 For info and reservations tel. 081 680964 - 334 7807377. 081 680964 - 334 7807377.

Enoteca Mercadante
Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele n.643/644 - Zip Code 80121 - Naples
Telephone: 081/680964
Stefano Continisio Mobile: 334/7807377
Francesco Continisio Mobile: 393/4110761
 Fax: 081/680964

Email: info@enotecamercadante.com

Website: http://www.enotecamercadante.com/

Greg Osby at BAG-a Definite 'Must Do Again'

Hanging out with friends, listening to great music, and trying different wines was what Fabrizio Erbaggio had in mind when he helped put together last Sunday night's concert with Greg Osby at Bacoli Art Gallery.  It was a winning formula.  It was my first time at BAG so as I walked up to the 'art gallery' I was hit by the modern architecture and it how it stood out from the other buildings in the center of Bacoli's centro storico.  Inside, a finger food buffet was placed on the bar in the hallway that leads to the first floor.  Here is where we hung out and listened to Greg Osby who played on the stage below. Stefano Pagliuca was there, and he brought his pizza, of course.  Mozzarella, tomatoes, and other buffet items were in the corner. The fun part was when we tried wines.  Fabrizio had a brilliant idea.  BYOB...bring your own bottle.  In my group, there was a restaurant owner, 2 chefs, and a handful of sommeliers.  What was on hand?  Carracci from Villa Matilde , Domaines Schlumberger Grand Cru Kessler , a magnum of Mauro Veglio Barolo Vigneto Arborina, Bovio Barolo and my personal favorite, Dubl rosato Feudi di San Gregorio to name a few.

We've got to do this again!

Greg Osby Quintet- a Fusion of Jazz and Champagne, BAG, March 7th

Sunday night is going to be special.  Bacoli Art Gallery will host the Greg Osby Quintet for an evening of mind- blowing jazz.  Here's what his web site says about this groundbreaking musician.

Saxophonist, composer, producer and educator Greg Osby has made an indelible mark on contemporary jazz as a leader of his own ensembles and as a guest artist with other acclaimed jazz groups for the past 20 years. Highly regarded for his insightful and innovative approach to composition and performance, Osby is a shining beacon among the current generation of jazz musicians. He has earned numerous awards and critical acclaim for his recorded works and passionate live performances.



Born and reared in St. Louis, Greg Osby began his professional music career in 1975, after three years of private studies on clarinet, flute and alto saxophone. Coming from a vibrant and musical city, Osby showed an early interest in the performing arts and spent his years in secondary school with a heavy involvement in Blues and Jazz groups. In 1978 Osby furthered his musical education at Howard University (Washington, D.C.) where he majored in Jazz Studies. He continued his studies at the Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) from 1980 to 1983.






Upon relocating to New York in early 1983, Osby quickly established himself as a notable and in demand sideman for artists as varied as Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Jack DeJohnette, Andrew Hill, Muhal Richard Abrams, Jim Hall and Jaki Byard as well as with many ethnic and new music ensembles in the New York area.

In 1985 Osby was invited to to join Jack DeJohnette's innovative group, "Special Edition". It was as a member of this ensemble Osby was able to fine tune the more challenging aspects of his conception in an open ended, no holds barred musical situation. Says Osby, "My musical thinking for performance and composition advanced by light years as Jack was open to my input and was very encouraging in pushing me to to maintain a steady flow of experimentation. It marked a major turning point in my development as an artist." In 1987, Osby signed his first recording deal with a new German label , JMT (Jazz Music Today). With this situation, he felt that he was finally able to document life as he saw it through music. He had free creative reign to do whatever he liked. He recorded four CD titles for that label. Osby signed with Blue Note Records in 1990 and recorded fifteen outstanding recordings for that label as a leader. In 2008, Osby launched his own label, "Inner Circle Music", which serves as a platform for many of today's brightest artists. From the pulse of the streets and the language of a generation, Osby has sketched numerous musical essays set to a contemporary score using the improvisational nature of Jazz as the connecting thread.


On "9 Levels", his latest recording on Inner Circle Music, Osby presents his wares in a sextet format and is joined by special guests, Nir Felder, guitar; Adam Birnbaum, piano; Joseph Lepore, bass; Hamir Atwal, drums; and a welcome newcomer to the international jazz scene, vocalist Sara Serpa.


So, here is a great opportunity to see this amazing jazz artist in 'our own backyard'.  To get a taste of the 'states' in Naples.  Real Jazz....

Two ways to enjoy this evening.  The Bacoli Art Gallery is a club that has two levels.  If you want to hang out on the lower level and enjoy the concert with a finger food buffet, the ticket price is 12 Euro (drinks not included).  If you would prefer to chill out upstairs in the VIP section with the Ciao Vino Winerdì crowd, with champagne and a Ciao Vino buffet which will include Stefano Pagliuca's famous pizza as well as other specialties, the price is 40 Euro.
Either way, it will be amazing... I hope to see you there!

For more info or to reserve a spot, contact

 Bacoli Art Gallery -BAG
081 52 33 802 / 338 33 12 916

Piazzetta Adriano 5/6

Bacoli, Italy, 80070

or fabrizioerbaggio@libero.it    081 509 0425


The fun starts at 9 pm...ish

Ciao Vino and Bacoli Art Gallery present: Jazz and Wine Fusion with Greg Osby ...March 7th

Take saxophonist, composer, producer and educator Greg Osby.  Jazz Musician of the year 2009.....

Add in Stefano Pagliuca's pizza and the rest of Ciao Vino's famous buffet.....

Mix in wines handpicked by Fabrizio from Ciao Vino............

The result is an eclectic evening of wine  and jazz. 

The cost of this unprecedented evening is 40 Euro which includes entrance to the show, buffet, 3 different wines and seating in the 'VIP' section.

Location?  Baoli Art Gallery (BAG) ,Piazzetta Adriano 5/6, Bacoli

 
For more information or to reserve your spot call.

348 590 7349, 081 509 0425 or


andiamotrips@gmail.com, fabrizioerbaggio@libero.it

The fun starts at 8pm ish....

Great Music, Great Message

Lost & Found (www.lostandfoundband.it) will perform a concert on January 30 & 31 (at 7:00 p.m.). This is a great opportunity for inviting friends to an enjoyable evening of great music with a clear gospel message. I took my son to see this band about a year ago and we both became great fans of their music. The concert will be held at IL Faro International Baptist Church located in Varcaturo.

In addition, there will be drawings for the following prizes:

· CD of Lost & Found

· gift certificates to area restaurants and shops

· (Sunday evening) a guitar (200 euro value) which will be played during the concert

There will not be an offering during the concert. Instead, the organizers have requested for a minimum offering of 3 euro for each ticket.

For more information, contact Il Faro, International Baptist Church, Pastore Missione/JARS
Istituto Biblico Cristiano
tel. Il Faro: 081.509.02.28
cell: 338.492.52.32