by Amanda Donnelly

Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate: "Tasca d'Almerita is a consistently reliable source for delicious wines from Sicily."

Amanda Donnelly, Giuseppi Tasca d'Amerita & Chuck Russo pictured above.

Last Friday, we had a unique and extraordinary opportunity to experience an authentic Sicilian food and wine pairing with Giuseppe Tasca d'Almerita, from the estate of the same name. We were greeted by Giuseppe himself, who led us through an exquisite tasting of his wines as we enjoyed a "typical" Sicilian lunch at the Brickhouse in Wyckoff, NJ. Guiseppe spoke for awhile about the history of the estate, which was incredibly informative.

The food and wines were both out of this world. I can honestly say it just might have been my best food and wine experience to date. Over the course of 3 hours, we ate a 5-course meal, orchestrated by the extremely hospitable owner, Aldo Cascio, who is Sicilian himself, and the son of a famous Sicilian chef. The courses were paired alongside 5 delicious wines. I was truly "blown away" by the quality of the wines, as well as the food and the perfect presentation.

We started with an appetizer plate of shrimp, calamari, raw oysters, grilled vegetables, rice balls stuffed with meat, langostino, and parmesan cheese. We enjoyed this with the Regaleali Rose. This is a bright, lively Rose.  The silky, creamy texture of the wine was amazing particularly with the oysters. We also enjoyed the fantastic Leone 2007 (a blend of 85% Catarratto and 15% Chardonnay) with this course. This is a delicious white wine full of depth and elegance.

After the appetizer course, which was a meal in itself, our plates were filled with two incredible pastas: fettucine with white clam sauce, and homemade fusilli with fresh tomato sauce and ricotta insalata. The Tasca d'Almerita Lamuri Nero d'Avola was a perfect match for the tomato sauce. This red has lovely bright fruit with depth and richness and just a hint of earth. Wonderful.

When the table was cleared, I thought the meal was over, until the waiter came over to place two of the most spectacular lamb chops on our plates. They were superb when paired with the Tasca d'Almerita Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. This is a big Cabernet full of power and elegance, with great concentration. When this course was over, and I was sure once again that our meal had come to an end, we were served a plate of sliced Porterhouse, with broccoli rabe, mashed potatoes, onion rings, and french fries. We enjoyed it with my favorite wine of the afternoon - the Rosso del Conte 2004. A full, rich, delicious wine with great concentration and plenty of ripe fruit, the Rosso del Conte was a stand-out with the Porterhouse, which was cooked to perfection. Needless to say, when the meal was over, I could barely move. But - it was so worth it. Nothing could be better on a Friday afternoon than this three hour lunch with these five wines.

Today, Tasca d'Almerita is one of Sicily's leading wineries. The Rosso del Conte was actually among the first wines that ushered in the era of important reds from the South. Today, it is known as the "father" of all modern "high-end" Sicilian reds. The property itself is vast and beautiful, and has been owned by the family since 1837. Not only is it known for its world class wines, but for its internationally recognized cooking school as well. The wines of Tasca d'Almerita are celebrated worldwide for their outstanding value and presitigious history.

I urge everyone to make a selection of wines, and pair them with your own version of a Sicilian dinner! Take tips from our lunch, and go from there! The wines are simply outstanding.

ATTN Local Customers: Please join us in the shop tomorrow, Saturday May 23, when we will be sampling these wines!

Tasca d'Almerita Regaleali Le Rose 2007 Bright, deep and intense pink in color, Le Rose offers an intriguing yet delicate bouquet of cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and mulberry. Rich, persistent with refreshing acidity, this is what Sicilians enjoy in the torrid summer. ... more BN#255707 $11.99 On Sale $7.49 Bottle 750ml SKU03156 $143.88 On Sale $71.88 Case 750ml SKU03161

Tasca d'Almerita Leone d'Almerita 2007 Intense straw yellow in color with green hues, Leone offers a lovely, aromatic bouquet of pink grapefruit, apple, white peach, banana and pineapple. Fruity with balanced acidity, Leone is best enjoyed well chilled with antipasti, ... more BN#255701 $19.99 On Sale $14.99 SKU03157

Tasca d'Almerita Lamuri 2005 Intense ruby red in color, Lamùri offers a lush bouquet of blackberry, mulberry, cherry and sour cherry jam, spices, laurel, cinnamon, vanilla, coffee, licorice and chocolate. On the palate, this wine is incredibly rich, intense ... more BN#241826 $21.99 On Sale $16.99 SKU03158

Tasca d'Almerita Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Deep violet in color and dense, with a rich bouquet of red cherry, wild berries, vanilla, black pepper, tobacco, cinnamon, mint and sage. Silky, yet concentrated, elegant and balanced with a persistent finish, this is ... more BN#269257 $49.99 On Sale $34.99 SKU03159

Tasca d'Almerita Rosso del Conte 2004 Consistently a rich, structured red, the 2004 vintage is no less powerful than its predecessors. Marasca cherry flavor is complemented by notes of eucalyptus and cigar box. Refined tannins come through on the palate and ... more BN#269259 $64.99 On Sale $49.99 SKU03160