Wine Tasting with Chuck Furuya

VINO Italian Tapas and Wine Bar has announced three new events as well as a few new wines available by the glass. On Saturday, February 28th, VINO will host "The Paella Communal Table" starting at 5:30pm. Chef Keith Endo got a paella pan for Christmas. What is paella? According to Wikipedia, “Paella is an internationally famous dish consisting of white rice, meat, seafood, beans and vegetables (depending on the recipe) originating in the Valencian region of Spain. Spaniards view it as one of their country’s national dishes”. For this night, VINO chef Keith Endo will be making his rendition of Spanish paella…communal style.

Here is the menu:

–Grilled Marinated Squid served with pasta & roasted tomatoes
–Spanish styled Chop Salad with pimentos, anchovy, Spanish olives & shredded cheese
–VINO Paella
–Dessert

The cost is $35 a person (not including tax, gratuity or wine). By reservation only.

On Thursday, March 5th, VINO will also host "A Tasting of Pinot" starting at 5:30PM promptly. The night will feature a tasting of various, top caliber Pinots from Blanc to Noir.

Here are some true standouts of their category:

–2003 PAUL FURST Pinot Blanc DRY (Franconia, Germany)
–2007 DOMAINE LUCIEN BOILLOT Pinot Beurot (Burgundy, France)
–1998 HIRTZBERGER Grauburgunder Smaragd “Pluris” (Wachau, Austria)
–2007 DOMAINE THEVENET Morgon “Vieilles Vignes” (Beaujolais, France)
–2003 JADOT Gevrey Chambertin Premier Cru “Estournelles St Jacques” (Burgundy, France)

This should give quite a review of the many facets of the Pinot family. $35 a person (not including tax & gratuity). By reservations only.

Master sommelier Chuck Furuya. Photo from VINO.

On Thursday, March 12th, enjoy a "Winetasting with Chuck" starting at 5:30 p.m. promptly. The tasting is dedicated to the point that there is so much more to wine than just grapes & oak barrels. There is also attributes such as culture & heritage to understand & appreciate. From the steep, rocky vineyard or the family (complete with parents, grandparents & children) who farm the land & handcraft the wines. The tasting will include  5 very unique & special wines from nooks & crannies around the Mediterranean basin:

–2007 QUENARD Chignon Bergeron “Vieilles Vignes” (Savoie)
–2000 MASTROBERARDINO “Natural Historia” (Italy)
–2003 DOMAINE TERREBRUNE Bandol (Provence, France)
–2002 JOSE PALACIOS Corullon “Moncerbal” (Spain)
–2003 QUINTA DO CRASTO “Maria Theresa” (Portugal)

5 wines, 2 ounces each for $35 a person (not including tax & gratuity). By Reservation only.

Call 533-4476 for more information or to reserve your space for any of the three events mentioned above.

Starting this week, there are three new wines that are new by the glass:

–1993 VINA ALBALI Rioja “Grand Reserva”
–2007 QUENARD Chignin Mondeuse “Vieilles Vignes”
–2007 MELVILLE Pinot Noir “Estate”

Read the full description of all of the wines mentioned above here.