SLOW COOKING IN CAMPANIA

Manuela Piancastelli will host a six part series of cooking and wine appreciation classes at her winery, Terre del Principe, located in Castel Campagnano (CE). The lessons will be based around meals prepared with the SLOW FOOD philosophy in mind, where students will have the opportunity to prepare lunch side by side with Manuela at her beautiful award winning winery and bed and breakfast. In addition, discussions on wine pairing and tasting will complement the afternoon as each meal will be served with a different wine from their prized inventory. Manuela, along with her husband Peppe, rediscovered 3 ancient grapes, white Pallagrello, black Pallagrello and Casavecchia. From these varieties wines were born that have earned the most important European awards like Three Glasses from Gambero Rosso and high ratings from wine critic Robert Parker (Read more).

Lessons will be held on the last Saturday of each month. The first lesson will take place on the 27^th of February, 2010. Each class will begin at 1030, ending around 1500. The cost of each lesson is 80 Euro and includes cooking lessons, winery/vineyard tour, and lunch with wine (of course).

For more information, contact Terre del Principe, 0823 867 126, 348 640 0465 or andiamotrips, 348 590 7349.

DATE	MENU
February 27, 2010	pasta e patate con la provola; carne alla pizzaiola
March 27, 2010	timballo di pasta fresca; agnello al forno
April 24, 2010	Zuppa primavera; polpettone di carne
May 29, 2010	gatto' di patate; parmigiana di melenzane
June 26, 2010	pasta ripiena al forno; peperoni imbottiti
July 31, 2010	pasta incasciata; mozzarella in carrozza

WINERDì – A Real Culture Exchange

Winerdì is a wine series started back in September of 2009 at Ciao Vino in Varcaturo. Fabrizio Erbaggio and I decided to open up his Enoteca doors to a bilingual audience. Each Friday, we focus on a theme; Campania Reds, Campania Whites, Merlot, Sparkling Wines and Chianti are just a few of the serate that we have hosted to an appreciative crowd. The wine tastings include 4 wines, a guided informal discussion headed by my young enologist-friend Vincenzo Di Meo, and plenty of great food provided by Stefano Pagliuca, Sciardac in Bacoli,Cinzia Dalmonte and Wanda Ranieri. Special guests have included winery owners such as Manuela Piancastelli and Peppe Mancini of Terre del Principe. The Winerdi team even hosted the Hollywood Handshake Team when they were in town last month. The next Winerdì event is scheduled for January 15^th-an evening devoted to Pinot Noir. There is still space available. For more info, contact andiamotrips@gmail.com or call me at 348 590 7349.

Barolo Beckons!!!

This looks pretty neat. I got an email from another expat named Megan. She owns TorreBarolo, located in the Langhe Valley-Barolo country. If you join her Facebook fan page, you will be automatically entered in a drawing to win a 3 night stay at her place. Check it out for yourself at www.torrebarolo.com or on Facebook.

Diario di una Bevuta

Focus on the wine with sommelier Angelo Di Costanzo at L’Arcante Enoteca. This series of wine tastings focus one wine-wines that have the ability to speak for themselves through every sip. The places, people, and memories that make some wines grandi.

Saturday, January 9 1930 – 2030

Contea di Sclafani Rosso del Conte 2003 Tasca d’Almerita

€ur 12,00

Monday, 11 January 1930 – 2130

Group Wine Tasting - blind panel test –

Price TBA

Thursday, 14 January 1930 – 2030

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2004 Tenuta Lodola Nuova

€ur 12,00

Friday, 15 January ore 20.30

GROTTA DEL SOLE at TIFF PizzaCaffè di Pozzuoli

€ur 40,00

more info: TIFF Pizza Caffè 081 855 54 95

or 081 804 25 66

Saturday, 16 January 1930 – 2030

Aglianico del Vulture Don Anselmo 2005 Paternoster

€ur 12,00

Thursday, 21 January 1930 – 2030

Brunello di Montalcino 2003 Tenute Silvio Nardi

€ur 14,00

Friday, 22 January 1930 – 2030

Saint Estephe 2000 Chateau Phelan Segur

€ur 16,00

Saturday, 23 January 1930 – 2030

Torgiano rosso Riserva Rubesco Vigna Monticchio 2003

€ur 14,00

Thursday, 28 January 1930 – 2030

Toscana rosso Giorgio I 2006 Fattoria La Massa

€ur 14,00

Friday, 29 January 1930 – 2030

Roccamonfina rosso Gladius 2006 Tenute Adolfo Spada

€ur 10,00

Saturday, 30 January 1930 – 2030

Langhe rosso Darmagi 2001 Gaja

€ur 18,00

For more info, or to reserve a spot, contact

L’Arcante Enoteca

Via Pergolesi, 86

80078 Pozzuoli (NA)

Tel.: 081 303 10 39

mail: larcante@libero.it

Taurasi Showdown-Caggiano and Moletteiri, January 20th

If Taurasi is your thing, you really don’t want to miss this one. On the 20^th of January, 8pm, at Città del Gusto, two grande names in the Taurasi world will meet head to head in a vertical wine tasting. Antonio Caggiano and Salvatore Moletteiri. Vigna Macchia dei Goti andVigna Cinque Querce , vintages 1999-2005 will be tasted one by one, side by side. A rare opportunity. Don’t miss it!!!.

For more info, price, and reservations, contact

Città del Gusto Napoli – Via Coroglio, 57/104 – Napoli (Zona Bagnoli)
Tel: 081.198.08.900/902
Mail: eventi.na@cittadelgusto.it

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

Starting the New Year off Right....

If you’re like me, the holiday season gave you a time to reflect on the past, dream of the future, and…. try new wines. Yes, I am still an Aglianico gal, but on several occasions, I had the opportunity to try some great wines, paired with dishes, that I would like to take the opportunity to share with you. Readers of this blog in the states, it may be a little difficult to find some of the wines I’ve listed….I guess you are going to have to pay us a visit. I’ve attached links so you check out the wines yourselves when you have un pò di tempo libero. Some links are Italian, please check them out, though and use a translator program because they are well written.

On one evening, I was treated to linguine con l’astice (cousin to the lobster). This dish was paired with a French champagne from Bruno Paillard’s Rosè Première Cuvèe. Great combination. I was fortunate to have hosts who are very attentive pairing the wine with our meals. Another evening, there were several wines served, a different one with each dish. Here I had an amazing eggplant parmagiana al bianco, that is, without tomato sauce. This was served as an appetizer in bite size portions paired with a Fiano di Avellino from Luigi Moio, Exultet 2007. (Review written by Angelo Di Costanzo-in Italian). One of my good friends is a big fan of Fiano and I’m sure she’d love to try this one.Two wines from Terre del Principe, Le Serole (Pallagrello Bianco) was the choice for our pasta alla Genovese ( a rich pasta dish made with beef, pork, onions and carrots; cooked slooowly for 10-11 hours) and Centomoggia 2003 (here) paired with another slow food favorite, roasted duck. In addition, at that meal we were served other rich dishes and another great wine from Luigi Moio and his winery Quitodecimo, an amazing Taurasi Riserva 2004. I am beginning to understand why Professor Moio is considered a master here in Italy when it comes to wine making. Once again, I have the link to sommelier Angelo Di Costanzo’s blog (here). Check out the links, but more importantly, check out the wines.

Happy New Year!!