Ca'Bolani Wine Dinner with Friuli cuisine

I was very lucky to be invited to a Zonin wine tasting dinner earlier this week. The wine as expected was perfect.

The venue was Bacco in Richmond. Lovely space with a decked terrace, very nice indeed.

We have a hearty 4 courses of wonderful Italian food ahead of us so i didnt want over over indulge on the 'Cichetti Misti' aka canapes.

And so the evening went something like this ...

Welcome Aperitivo

Cichetti misti (small bites)

Polenta chips with fresh black truffle very nice love a bit of polenta 

Crostini of smoked eel - my friend loved these - i wasnt too fussed. 

Fagottino of puff pastry with Montasio cheese - ok 

San Daniele ham wrapped home made herbs grissini - ok, apparently this ham is the king of parma hams 

With a glass of Prosecco frizzante Ca’Bolani - my new fav bubbles!!

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Prosciutto stagionato di San Daniele con zucca

Aged San Daniele ham served with grilled butternut squash- Didnt like this at all, cold butternut squash, what? 

With a glass of Traminer Ca’Bolani- Unoaked 2010 with a very aromatic nose, very floral which would be lost if oaked. Straw yellow with golden highlights

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Ravioli di granseola con brodetto alla Triestina

Home made crab ravioli with crustaceous broth - not really a broth more like a gravy - again a bit of a let down here. 

With a glass of Pinot Bianco Ca’Bolani - This comes from the Pinot Noir family and has been awarded "the three glasses' award. Grown close to the sea the vines are kept healthy, it is best drank with food like pasta.

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Costolette d’agnello alla griglia servito con tortino di patate

Grilled lamb cutlets served with cheese, onion and potato cake - This was lovely very well cooked lamb and 3 cutlets which is always good. the 'cake' was actually very tasty too. 

With a glass of Refosco 2005 Ca’Bolani - Red, i dont do red but it was nice. Its so old that the Romans drank it. From my notes i can see that i didnt like the smell ?

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Torta di pere marinate al vino dolce con salsa di mascarpone 

Marinated pear cake served with mascarpone & orange zest mousse - didnt like this either so no coment really. 

A glass of Ramandolo Zuccolo - not for me far too sweet but if you like dessert wines its very good i am told. 

We were also treated to a very special Pure Sauvignon Blanc from Friuli. This was my favourite - so much so we bought an extra bottle for the table - very good indeed!!!! 

All the wonderful wines are available from Zonin www.casavinicolazonin.it

The best bubbles in the world are Zonin bubbles!

Being a girl that loves bubbles its seems odd to me that I haven't yet written about them. I have always preferred to drink the fizz, its so much more that just a drink, it's the glass, the sense of occasion, the sound of the cork and the sound of thousands of tiny bubbles racing to the top. 

I have never been too fussy either until late. Now I am not sure if this is down to age or experience or dare I say possible both, dont get me wrong, theres nothing wrong with a little drop of cava from time to time but its always nice to have the good stuff if you can. 

And It is with this in mind that I call to your attention to my favourite new number one fizz to drink.... Prosecco Doc Spumante Brut from Zonin! 

Made with 100% Glera grapes using the traditional Charmat method, this Prosecco is a beautiful bright pale straw yellow in colour, with intense fruity bouquet of apples and flowers all of which work perfectly to create a well-balanced and deliciously delicate almond note, typical of the Glera grape.

The perfect bubble of all bubbles to share with friends. Its great to pair with a light and crisp summer salad. Or if you're like me... just pair it with fine sunshine and exception company! 

Casa Vinicola Zonin Spa - Via Borgolecco, 9 36053 Gambellara - Vicenza 

 www. zonin.it