NOVEMBER 12 WINE TASTING DRAWS BIG CROWD
On a beautiful crisp fall day, 94 AMHS members and friends came together at Casa Italiana to enjoy our annual wine tasting and luncheon. Once again, the event proved to be an outstanding success, with 11 winemakers participating. This was one of our best turnouts for this popular annual event. Much credit must go to Romeo Sabatini who always helps with this event, and especially to Jim Gearing, who organized the wine makers’ participation.
And a big thank you to Three Brothers Italian Restaurant for catering a delicious lunch. Before the program got underway, we held a short business meeting to elect new officers and board members. Congratulations to our new incoming president, Ray La Verghetta, the re-elected vice presidents Nancy DeSanti and Lynn Sorbara, secretary Carmine Spellane and treasurer Peter Bell. We welcome new board member Americo (Rico) Allegrino and are very pleased that Joe and Joann Novello will be returning to serve as board members. And we thanked Maria D’Andrea who is stepping down as our president (see related articles in this Notiziario).
Once again this year, we had to forgo the usual porchetta made in past years by Joe Novello, our go-to guy for the porchetta, since there are still issues with using the Casa Italiana kitchen. However, from the comments we received afterwards, the Three Brothers lunch was enjoyed by everyone, with a delicious menu consisting of orrechiete with broccoli rabe in garlic and olive oil, sausage and peppers, rice, salad, bread and dessert. There were many varieties of wines to taste this year, made by Osvaldo Barsi, Jim and Bev Gearing, Romeo Sabatini and his
grandson Emanuele di Prima, Darrin P. Sobin, Jack Grimaldi, Wayne C. Witkowski, Diane Riccobene, John Paul Maye, and Bob and Amie Barbieri. Before the wine tasting got underway, Tom Savage of International Cellars, a wine importer who is very knowledgeable about the wines of Abruzzo and Molise, gave us a fascinating talk about wines in Italy. Tom was in Abruzzo during the earthquake last August, but that didn’t deter him from his travels to the small vineyards all over Italy. In fact, Tom urged the audience to find a local small business which imports wines from small Italian vineyards rather than the big conglomerates.
As he pointed out, if sales of these wonderful wines can be increased through publicity and marketing, that would be a much-needed boost to the economies of these regions. He noted that there are a mindboggling 500 genetically distinct grapes in Italy. So for a couple hours, we enjoyed good food and wine, got some good information, and enjoyed socializing with our families and friends. What better way to spend a beautiful fall afternoon? We would like to thank the many people who contributed to the success of this event, especially Jim Gearing, Romeo Sabatini, all the wine makers and also all those volunteers who pitched in to do the setting up of the room and the serving of the food. And last but not least, we would like to thank the donors of the raffle prizes and all those who bought tickets for the raffle which brought in $159 for our scholarship fund.