GRI Proudly 2010 Annual Trip to Italy: Tuscany
For its annual member's trip to Italy, GRI has announced its intention to visit the beautiful region of Tuscany from April 13-20. Travel logistics and itinerary details are still being worked out with sponsors and will be posted on the GRI web site in the near future. Check back in mid-late February.
Each year, GRI arranges trips in association with a particular region visiting its wineries, restaurants and cultural sights to afford GRI members the opportunity to make contacts in Italy, gain insight into new menu items and explore regional products and traditions.
Casa Italiana-GRI Lecture
Stefano Milioni to Speak on “Di-Vine Design”
On Wednesday, March 3, at the Casa Italiana from 6-8:00 PM, Stefano Milioni will take us on a visual and historical journey of slides and commentary on Italian vineyard designs and their marketing ramifications through the ages. The lecture will include a question and answer period followed by a reception.
Are vineyards, and their architecture, designed randomly at the whim of its owners? Is there historical significance as to why one winery is laid out much differently than another? How do their designs affect the marketing chain from the bottle shape, to the label designs and even the glasses from which the product is ultimately enjoyed.
Stefano Milioni, a native of Piedmont, has been in the publishing and communication business for more than thirty-five years. He is currently the editor of Bibenda Magazine, Duemilavini and I Ristoranti di Bibenda (all published by the Italian Sommeliers Association). He is a wine consultant who has lectured all over the world including Rome, Berlin, Tokyo, and New York.
For more information, see Calender of Events.
Educational Lectures and Culinary Seminar
New York University's Casa Italiana-Zerilli-Marimo and Gruppo Ristoratori Italiani formally announced on December 8 last year, their co-sponsorship of a series of six educational lectures and a major culinary seminar event in 2010. As Stefano Albertini, the Director of Casa Italiana explained, “With an array of programs dealing in Italian cultural studies in literature, cinema, politics and sociology, GRI's culinary emphasis---as a prominent pillar in the image of Italy---promises to make this collaboration wholly unique and engaging.” To a standing-room only audience, Tony May, Chairman of GRI, eloquently expressed the mission of GRI, “ it is a passionate promotion of authentic Italian cuisine and products that we explain to consumers through educational initiatives such as this. And then we offer it further through the wonderful network of GRI Member restaurants in New York and around the country.”
The evening was capped by a special VIP Members-Only Reception and an Open Reception, respectively before and after the program sponsored by GRI members Banfi Vinters, Domaine Select Wine Estates (DSWE), SD26, the Aroma Kitchen and Wine Bar, and IL Gattopardo.
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Banfi Wine Class Graduation Day
IL Gattopardo restaurant staff and GRI individual Members participating in the five-Saturday wine classes on Italy, taught by GRI Corporate Member, Banfi Vintners, were treated to a delightful graduation ceremony for their time and effort. Certificates and medals were handed out along with a light dinner of lasagne prepared by IL Gattopardo. All those who participated remarked upon how much they learned and how passionate the Banfi instructors were in presenting on Italian wines.
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Wine Classes at Il Gattopardo
Restaurant Member IL Gattopardo is once again partnering with Corporate Member Banfi Vintners to offer From the Origin to Today II wine classes. Sharron Mc Carthy, CWE and President of the Society of Wine Educators and Lars Leicht, Vice President and Fine Wine Ambassador of Banfi Vintners will host a series of classes for IL Gattopardo staff and GRI Individual Members. Each class explores a different geographic area of Italy and dissects the major varietals of the respective regions
January 16: “Tasting Tuscany, Brunello, Chianti and Maremma”
January 23: “Northern Corners: Tasting the of wines of Piedmont & Veneto”
January 30: “Tasting the Warm South: The wines of Rome, Abruzzi, Campania and Sicily
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