Saturday, June 23, 7:00 PM
Sagi Cucina Italiana
23 1/2 Catoonah Street
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-431-0200
www.sagiofridgefield.com
Time to start getting things lined up for the last (official) Winetasters of the newcomers year! This month we are joining forces with Couples Night Out for a fun and casual get together at Sagi Cucina on Catoonah Street. Anyone who attended this event last year knows that it was a very, very good time and a great chance to meet some new folks and try out a great restaurant in town, too.
There are two parts to this event, a formal tasting followed by a more open cockatil event like most of our winetasters. You can attend one, or both, depending on your preference. This email got long, but please read on and see what will be going on because there are some really exciting things happening!
FORMAL TASTING
For those who are interested, we will kick off the evening at 7pm with a more formal wine tasting designed by Sabrina Rullo, Sagi's wine director and winner of the Ridgefield "Iron Sommelier" Competition.
The cost will be $55 per person, but don't let that deter you! The tasting will include five courses of light dishes chosen by Sagi's chef and culinary staff, each paired by Sabrina with a special wine from the Sagi list - the wines themselves would cost well over the price of the tasting. And note that the dishes that will be prepared are not from the Sagi menu - they have been personally selected for our group only!
With each course I will present a lesson on the wine, its region, style, and varietal type, and why it was paired with the course with which it is served. This will be a truly unique opportunity to have some amazing food paired with amazing wines by a real expert - not the long-winded hack that normally designs our tastings.
WINETASTERS "FORMAL" TASTING MENU
ANTIPASTO
Tapas-size truffle risotto
WINE: Lugana DOC San Benedetto 2010 (Veneto/Lake Garda, 100 % Trebbiano di Lugana grapes)
PRIMO
Fried Artichokes with a Curry Mayo Sauce
WINE: Vitiano Rosato Umbria 2011 (Umbria, Rose blend of 30% sangiovese, 30% merlot 30% cabernet sauvignon and 10% aleatico grapes)
CONTORNO
A Calabrese-style Caponata served over Grilled Sourdough Bread
WINE: Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre IGT 2007 (Verona, blend of 70% corvina veronese, 25% rondinella and 5% sangiovese made in an innovative ripasso style.)
SECONDO
Lollipop Lamb Chop in a mint chimichurri sauce
WINE: Luce La Vite Lucente 2009 (Tuscany/Montalcino , Super Tuscan blend of Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon)
DOLCE
Mini Canoli
WINE: Dow's 10-year Tawny Port
SPECIAL BONHEIM TASTING
As a bonus, and depending on turnout, I may grab a few "serious" goodies from my own collection to offer a unique look into some higher end examples of the types of wines we've tried all year.
Please note, we need a clear count of the people coming to this "Formal" tasting, so head on over to the Newcomers website to register and send me an email to let me know your interest. This may just sell out. (RSVP to
winetasters@ridgefieldnewcomers.org)
OPEN COCKTAIL HOUR(S)
At 8pm, for those who attended the tasting and those aren't in the mood for a lesson, we'll continue the evening upstairs in the private event space at Sagi. We will have a dedicated server and wine specialist, waitstaff service, specials on the same wines we had at the formal tasting, and the opportunity to buy a few apps, or grab dinner... it is all very informal and just an all out good time. For the second portion of the event, everyone will be handling their own bill, so there is no cost to attend, but PLEASE head to the newcomers website to RSVP so we can get an accurate headcount in advance of the event itself.
This will be an amazing closeout to the Newcomers year and a great kickoff to summer as well. We hope to see you all there!
