MCBEE'S WINE DIARY: Marasco treats to an Itallian Dinner and a little Itallian wine education

THE MCBEE WINE BLOG DIARY

My mother, Camille McBee, partnered with Bobby G. Smith, Winemaker, in North Texas for over 30 years. Together they worked to develop a National and International name for Texas Wines. In 2009 she passed away too young, but she left behind a Texas Wine Industry that was better because of her dedication and she left a family with a deep rooted love and appreciation for wine and entertaining. This blog serves as a diary of my adventures in wine and as a lasting toast to my mother. -Cheers!

This blog is NOT intended to be the authority on tasting notes, or a professional guide for wine experts; it's simply a place for me to share some of my opinions and findings about wine with my friends and other wine lovers.

I truly hope you will use this blog to help you the next time you are thinking about what to buy at the wine store or deciding what to order at a local restaurant or when you travel to the wine country. ENJOY!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Marasco treats to an Itallian Dinner and a little Itallian wine education

April 5th, 2011 - Mike Marasco has a love for Italian Cuisine and Italian wine. He has spent many weeks over the past few years in Italy in culinary schools learning about the finer points of the Italian culture. He hosted dinner this week at Lombardi's new Tuscan Steakhouse, La Fiorentina, in Uptown, for the MPM Group; the Lummus', Mikeskas', Peschels' and McBees'. He ordered some great appetizers and had some suggestions for main course which included the risotto, the ahi tuna and of course the osso bu co.

Italian wines are not my expertise, but Mike really took the lead. He ordered a few great wines, including a 2007 Banfi Cum Laude, an Italian Blend which includes Cabernet, Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah from Montalcino. It was a great wine, very similar to other blended wines but much more subtle than a California blend, with less fruit and just a hint of oak. You could really taste the dark, intense Sangiovese and Syrah grapes. I never order Italian wines... not because i don't like them, but because there are always so many American and French wines that I like that I just never get around to it. I am so glad Mike took us for a tour of some of these wines.

Thanks again Marasco! Let's do it again soon.