Sicily Travels
After a wonderful Sicilian research visit in October last year, we were enthused to present our first tasting of Sicilian wines. At Slow Food Brisbane on February 7 we held Sicily: Antipasti e Vino; the antipasti capably made by Biagio Biuso from Biagio’s restaurant in Red Hill, Brisbane. Biagio was born in Bronte on the north-west slopes of our favourite volcano, Mt Etna. The wine selection was entirely the native varieties of Sicily: white – catarratto, grillo, inzolia; red – nero d’avola, nerello mascalese and nerello cappuccio.

Download Antipasti e Vino menu – plates and wines

If you desire the recipe for Catanian Broccoli Scacciata, Benanti has provided from Biagio’s selection.

Brunello 2007 Ratings

The Consorzio del Vino di Brunello di Montalcino (trade association) reports the revered James Suckling’s ratings of the great 2007 vintage of Brunello di Montalicino were released last week. Our Italy Wine and Food Tour will visit Castello Banfi (scored 94 for standard wine and 96 for Poggio alle Mura), Angelo Gaja’s Pieve Santa Restituta Sugarille (95) and Rennina (94); and drink Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova (98) and Luce della Vite Luce (97). We will drink a range of vintages on tour – 2004, 2005, 2006 and some 2007. Brunello di Montalcino is made from sangiovese grosso – making the fullest bodied reds of Tuscany.