Wine Tastings at VINO Italian Tapas

Vino Italian Tapas & Wine Bar has a number of wine tasting events and special dinners planned for May. The tastings offer a chance to taste and learn with master sommelier Chuck Furuya and a cooking demonstration and new monthly menu promotion from chef Keith Endo will allow for a fun culinary experience this month.

Photo: courtesy of VINO

Here’s a look at the themes of the events and the wines which will be tasted. All of the tastings are by reservation only, which can be made by calling 808-533-4476.

Visit VINO’s  "This Week" page for tasting notes and additional stories about the tastings from Chuck Furuya.
 

 “Rhone Valley Wine Tasting” – May 6th

On Thursday, May 6^th at 6 p.m., VINO will host a tasting of wines produced in 2007 in France’s southern Rhone Valley. 2007 was a monumental vintage producing wines with a "resounding fruit & structure, power, drama & soulful-ness."

Four of VINO’s favorites from that vintage and region will be showcased.

• 2007 DOMAINE GALLETY “Cotes de Vivarais”
• 2007 DOMAINE DU JONCIER Lirac “Les Muses”
• 2007 DOMAINE SANG DES CAILLOUX Vacqueyras
• 2007 VIEUX TELEGRAPHE Chateauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”

Wines served two ounces each for $39 a person (not including tax or gratuity).
 

“Pinot Noir Wine Tasting” – May 13th

Since 2007 was also good vintage for California Pinot Noir, on Thursday May 13^th at 6 p.m., VINO will taste four "of the most ballyhoo-ed, ‘hard to get’ stars of the vintage."

• 2007 ANTHILL FARMS “Demuth Vineyard”
• 2007 PAUL LATO “Gold Coast Vineyard”
• 2007 WH SMITH “Maritime Ridge”
• 2007 KOSTA BROWNE “Koplen Vineyard”

Four wines, two ounces each for $45 a person (not including tax or gratuity).
 

Saturday Night "Supper" – May 15th

This month, VINO will introduce a new Saturday Night "Supper" concept.

For guests, it offers a three course, value dinner featuring new dishes created by chef Keith Endo. Wine will be paired with two of the courses, reiterating the "wine served at the dinner table" culture. The new concept will also give chef Keith, the staff and  regular guests a chance to experience something new and fun each month. 

The first Saturday Night "Supper" will be on Saturday, May 15th, starting at 5:30pm.

Here’s a look at the inaugural menu:

First course
Keith’s Homemade Flatbread Pizza with carmelized fennel, lamb sausage, Waianae feta cheese & fresh Nalo Farms baby arugula tossed with a roasted garlic-shallot vinaigrette
Paired with 2008 Quattro Mani Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (5 oz)

Second course
Homemade Spinach Linguine Sicilia – red bell peppers, capers, onion, roasted fingerling potato, sliced hard boiled egg and shaved bottarga
Paired with 2008 Fonseca Vinho Verde (5 oz)

Dessert
Fresh Fruit & Marscapone

The dinner is offered for $33 a person (plus tax & gratuity).

Cooking Demo with Chef Keith Endo – May 17th

Chef Keith Endo will offer a special cooking demonstration on how he prepares his pasta and risotto. Chef Keith will showcase his insights into how he makes his pasta and risotto and share some of his recent experiences from traveling the countryside of Italy and training last summer.

Chef Keith will demonstrate (and offer you a chance to enjoy) 4 dishes. Here’s the menu:

• Ricotta Cheese & Mozzarella Aranchini (risotto balls) with pomodora sauce & basil pesto aioli
• Waialua Asparagus & Hamakua Wild Mushroom Risotto with pancetta & truffle butter
• Braised Veal Cheek Bolognese with roasted bell peppers, pepperoncini & fresh, homemade spinach linguine
• Fresh Fruit & Lemoncello Zabaglione

The demo is offered for $45 a person (plus tax & gratuity) and is offered by reservations only.

“Communal Table with Alex Stuempfig” – May 18th

Inspired by the  "country side cafes and bistros" chef Keith experienced on his recent travels to Italy, VINO will offer another of its special communal table events. Creating tasty, simple dishes that capture the essence of the regional life style and culture, chef Keith will feature four course (three paired with wines), all served family style.

Here is the menu:

First course
Nalo Greens Salad with shaved bressola, fennel & balsamic vinaigrette
Paired with 2008 Hofstatter Pinot Nero "Meczan" (4 oz)

Second course
Keith’s Home Made Linguine with crispy shrimp, fresh thyme & roasted garlic butter
Paired with a 2008 Prima Pinot Grigio (4 oz)

Third course
Seared Island Swordfish with roasted fingerling potatoes, caperberries, Kalamata olives & white wine sauce
Paired with a 2007 Villa Sparina Gavi (4 oz)

Fourth course
Jen’s Chocolate-Expresso Panna Cotta

The wines selected are all café/bistro styled "country" wines from a small, high quality importer of truly fine Italian wine named Domaine Select. Adding a fun and lightly educational element to the evening, Alex Stuempfig from Domaine Select will join the dinner.

The communal table is offered by reservations only for $42 a person (plus tax & gratuity).
 

“Wine Tasting with Jim Clendenen”  – May 24th

More details on this event will come later, but a chance to mark your calendars as Jim “Kimo” Clendenen of Au Bon Climat will be coming to VINO. Furuya describes him as "one of the most profound, worldly wine minds and winemakers of California."

The tasting will feature some of the Au Bon Climat wines to see how his are showing that glowing praise.

For reservations for any of the events above, call 808-533-4476 or e-mail Sade at svillatora@dkrestaurants.com