VEGETARIAN MENU AND WINES FROM A TRAILBLAZING NATURAL WOMAN WINEMAKER IN PUGLIA, ITALY

Once a year, we host a vegetarian wine dinner, usually in early summer, so we can celebrate the bounty of our local, midwestern produce. We like to select wines that are vegan, but also may tell a greater…more natural story. This year, we are pairing our vegetarian wine dinner with the wine of 9 Is Enough.

Valentina Passalacqua is a trailblazing young natural winemaker in Puglia, a region not exactly known for biodynamic, no sulfur wines.  She took over her family’s land (used only for cattle grazing since 1900), located inside Gargano National Park, to create a diverse farm that includes indigenous grape varietals.  Her family considered the land too difficult, too poor, for crops, not realizing that they were actually sitting on a precious marble mine – or soil that happens to be amazing for vines.  The rocky, mineral-rich soil does not retain water (also great for vines), and proximity to the sea means cooling breezes and ventilation (another plus).  Valentina’s wines are pure, elegant, never soupy as you sometimes see in wines from Puglia (it’s hot there). Because, she is careful about canopy management (to ensure grapes don’t get cooked) and picks early to retain freshness and acidity. Finally, you’ll see that 9 Is Enough gets it’s name from the fact that all 3 wines come in at 9% ABV, making them the perfect, fresh, elegant summer sippers.

$65/guest

includes amuse bouche, 3 courses & 3 wine pairings
(tax and gratuity additional)
Doors open at 6pm