Sparkling Wine Tasting & Tapas at Il Fornaio Palo Alto
Il Fornaio in downtown Palo Alto (520 Cowper St.) is presenting their next special drink-and-food pairing event – featuring Italian sparkling wine paired with tapas-style offerings – on Friday, Aug. 3 at 7pm.
Menu
Involtini di Asparagi Bianchi e Brie con Speck
- White asparagus with brie cheese wrapped with peck di Parma
- Paired with Contadi Castaldi Rosé, Franciacorta
Insalata di Pesce alla Peruviana
- Classic Peruvian ceviche with Dover sole and shrimp with aji limon, lime juice an cilantro
- Paired with Contadi Castaldi Brut, Franciacorta
Tortino di Risotto con Zucca e Porcini
- Risotto cake with butternut squash and porcini mushrooms in a light creamy truffle sauce
- Paired with Contadi Castaldi Saten, Franciacorta
Pesca Ripiena di Amaretti
- Baked peach stuffed with amaretto cookies and sheep’s milk ricotta
- Paired with Bellavista Vendemmia Saten 2011, Franciacorta
RSVP
The special dinner will be a mixer-style, standing event and costs $45 per guest.
Reservations can be made at (650) 853 – 3888.
Prosecco and Franciacorta
Just a bit of Italian sparkling wine knowledge for those interested…
Generally, sparkling wines – especially dry styles – help balance the richness of creamy dishes, thanks in large part to acidity, sugar and carbonation.
While many are already familiar with the Italian sparkling wine Prosecco, there are other types of sparkling wines produced in Italy, including Franciacorta.
Using different grapes, Prosecco is most often produced using the Charmat (or tank) method where the secondary fermentation takes place in steel tanks, whereas Franciacorta is produced using the Champagne (or traditional) method where the secondary fermentation takes place in the individual bottles.
Consequently, Prosecco tends to be slightly sweeter and less expensive than Franciacorta.
For more about the differences between the two types, as well as a brief overview of the other types of sparkling wines made in Italy, check out a couple quick reads from Vinepair and Wine Folly, respectively.
Cheers! Prost! Gunbae!
~Andy