Updated: 23rd February 2004

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650th Anniversary

Sunday, 22nd February 2004
BLU, The Shangri-La Singapore
presented by
SEREGO ALIGHIERI - DAPIS - MASI

One of Italy's most famous poet/writer, DANTE Alighieri, was exiled from Florence to Verona in 1304. Apparently, his family fell in love with that beautiful city, that in 1353, Dante's son, Pietro remained & purchased the estate of "CASAL DEI RONCHI". Twenty generations of the Alighieris continued to live at this estate, immersed in its vineyards & its other agricultural products. 2003 represented 650 years of continued presence at the family Villa Serego Alighieri. The current Count Pieralvise Serego Alighieri, decided to celebrate this historical event by producing a history of the family in Verona and a 650th Anniversary Valpollicella 1999 worthy of the region's wine.
Tokyo, Sapporo and Singapore are the only Asian cities to celebrate this event with a member of the family, showcasing the 650th Anniversary Valpollicella 1999 en-magnum. At the end of dinner, 5 magnums of this wine was given away in a lucky draw.
This exceptional event was graced by HE Guido Scalici, Ambassador of Italy in Singapore, seen here with Countess Massimilla di Serego Alghieri, who expertly presented each wine of their historic estate throughout the dinner, supported by DAPIS, their Singapore importer and MASI, their worldwide marketing partner.


Peter Schintler of BLU with Serego Alighieri's wines


The Countess with Guests


The Countess discussing her wines with Mr. Tan Kah Hin & Olivier Dyens of DAPIS

 The Executive Chef of BLU (Shangri-La Singapore), Peter Schintler, created an exquisite Italian menu to highlight the wines of this historic Venronese estate. FIVE wines were showcased.

The reception wine & for the first course of "authentic Italian Prosciutto de Parma and Arugula Salad" was the Possessioni Bianco 2002. An exquisite blend of native Veronese Garganega and 25% of Sauvignon Blanc, showed the growing attention paid by Italian wineries to their white wines. This wine showed Sauvignon's bright acidity & refreshing gooseberry flavours on the nose & immediate palate. In the mid-palate the round body of Garganega came into play ending with a pleasant bitter aftertaste that went well with the sweet Parma ham & salad.

After this refresher, we went on to enjoy Peter's very well made "hand-rolled Tagliatelle with Black Truffles & Marsala Wine Butter". The Possessioni Rosso 2001 of mainly Corvina, another Veronese varietal, offered bright cherry flavours that lifted the warm flavours of black truffles & butter sauce.

Apparently, Chef Schintler, could not do without Northern Italy's risotto rice in the menu. Thus, we were treated to a nicely al-dente serving of "Caramelized Onion Risotto" supplemented by Kalamata Olives & Italian Parsley in Red Wine reduction. This typical Venonese dish was created to match the 650th Anniversary Valpollicella 1999. The natural affinity between these two Veroneses was like Romeo & Juliet - a perfect match made in romantic prose. This wine's must was first fermented in stainless steel, then, soaked in crushed air-dried rispaso grapes for a second fermentation process in large Slovenian oak casks. The resultant wine is aged in cherry-oak barrels followed by some ageing in bottle before release. This rich Valpollicella showed a well-rounded body of soft tannins with distinct cherry-flavours that blended well with the sweet caramelized onion & earthy black olive tone.

Now was time for Veronese's celebrated wine style - Amarone. "Kobe-styled Beef Tenderloin" with Black Truffle Polenta & Amarone jus slided gracefully with the elegant rather than heavy-handed Vaio Amaron Amarone 1998. This offered a complementary match, where neither dish or wine dominate. On its own, I would have rather enjoyed a more intense Amarone than this.

The other wine not to miss from Verona is the Recioto. Here the Casal dei Rochi Recioto with intensely sweet flavours of over-ripe berries with hints of cocoa was served with a compact "Chocolate and Raspberry Tiramisu" of chocolate-encasing a chocolate mocha sorbet.

The evening ended with the comely Countess touring the tables to personally thank the many guests, Serego Alighieri Grappa, in-hand.

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