CELEBRATING LA CUCINA E VINI DI SARDEGNA
On Sunday, November 19, a group of seven AMHS members
participated in one of Osteria da Nino’s monthly wine pairing
dinners. On this night, the group enjoyed a celebration of the
food and wines of Sardegna, from its most famous winery,
Sella & Mosca.
Nino Pino, owner of Osteria da Nino, was a most gracious host, as was speaker Alfonso Gagliano, U.S. Brand Manager for Sella & Mosca. The group was treated to a dinner of tuna carpaccio, paired with La Cala 2015 (100% Vermentino); house-made squid-ink ravioli stuffed with shrimp, lobster, crab meat and minced clams, paired with Terre Bianche Torbato 2015 (100% Torbato); fregola sarda, paired with Terrerara Carignano Riserva 2010 (100% Carignano); house-made semolina gnocchi Sardi with a fennel, sausage and tomato ragu, paired with Cannonau di Sardegna 2011 (100% Cannonau); and grilled lamb chop with rosemary fingerling potato, paired with Marchese di Villamarina 2010 (100% Cabernet Sauvignon). One interesting fact about the Torbato grape – it is a white wine grape variety now grown exclusively in northwest Sardegna, largely thanks to the revival efforts of Sella & Mosca, which produces both still and sparkling versions of the once-rare grape. For some attending the dinner, this was an extra special treat as they had either visited Sardegna and/or the Sella & Mosca winery (Albert Paolantonio, Lucio & Edvige D’Andrea, and Maria D’Andrea-Yothers & Sam Yothers – wearing lapel labels with the flag of Sardegna). In addition, it was Edvige D’Andrea’s birthday – she was treated to a special cake and a rousing chorus of “buon compleanno a te”! This is the second wine pairing dinner sponsored by Osteria da Nino, where several AMHS members participated (the first one was a wine pairing dinner for the region of Puglia in May). These are very successful events, so much so that a couple of officers are going to work with Nino to arrange a wine pairing dinner for the regions of Abruzzo and Molise sometime in 2018. So stay tuned! (submitted by Maria D’Andrea-Yothers)