Tag Archive for: wine

Welcome home, Stephen!

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Earlier this month, Carmine’s Manager Stephen Kozicki took a break from Italian food to explore the world of Spanish food and wine during a surprise trip to Spain. He brought back some amazing photos and a wealth of knowledge. Take a look at some of the highlights!

These local beans, called maximo calibre (large beans), taste great cooked with suckling pork jus, chorizo, crackling and spices. Soak for 24 hours and cook for 3 ½ hours.

The 2-mile long town of Segovia has a rich history. It is home to the best preserved aqueduct in the world, which was built by the Romans over 20 centuries ago.

Stephen slices some Iberian Jamon before lunch at the winemaker’s home at Álvarez y Díez.

The barrel aging room at Belondrade Winery.

This cathedral took 160 years to build and is the last gothic style cathedral built in Spain.

The Ribera and Rueda region liaison, Phillipe, gives a presentation on the wine region of Rueda. Most wine produced there is white with verdejo, both oaked and unoaked, accounting for almost all of production. Unoaked is similar to a sauvignon blanc while the oaked has a richer, creamier flavor.

Stephen checking out the falcons at Bodegas Vidal Soblechero. They are trained to chase away rabbits, mice and pigeons that can harm the grape vines.

Bodegas Vidal Soblechero, a biodynamic winery, still uses horses to plow their vineyard. Biodynamics is the oldest, anti-chemical agricultural movement that predates the creation of organic farming by about twenty years.

A hot air balloon ride over the beautiful Ribera wine region.

Stephen says hello from the air!

Stephen signs off on a great trip at a winery in Ribera, which primarily produces Tempranillo. Wine barrels are only used for a few years, but the stave is saved and reused. Cheers to that!

 

Thank you to Wine & Spirits Magazine for allowing Stephen to explore Spanish culture on this trip of a lifetime. We can’t wait to see what new knowledge and expertise he brings to the Carmine’s team.

Lambrusco: The Sparkling Red Wine You’ve Never Heard Of

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For more than two decades we’ve shared our passion for Italian wine with our family, friends and anyone who joins us for dinner at Carmine’s on Penn. A love of vino (wine) has been a part of Italian culture for centuries, and the Italian Peninsula is known for housing some of the finest vineyards and wineries in the world.

Some of our favorite moments are when we have the opportunity to introduce a restaurant guest to a new Italian wine. We love sharing our extensive knowledge of Italian wine with you – our friends, family and restaurant patrons.

Over the years we’ve noticed the rise in popularity of Chardonnay, Merlot and even Moscato. While these are all wonderful varieties, we’d like to spotlight a less popular but equally delicious Italian wine variety:

Lambrusco

Known to some as ‘purple wine soda’ and others as the cheap, poorly made wine from the 1970s, Lambrusco is shaking off previous conceptions and inviting wine drinkers to give it a second sip.

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Lambrusco is a well-made sparkling red wine, boasting a perfect balance of sweetness and crisp acidity. We have found that a glass of Lambrusco provides a blissful escape from workday stress — particularly when enjoyed on the Carmine’s patio.

Currently, we are offering Cleto Chiarli Amabile Lambrusco by the glass. We invite restaurant patrons to savor the flavor of this Lambrusco at Carmine’s. Whether you prefer to unwind inside or enjoy a relaxing evening on our patio, we’d love to introduce to one of our favorite Italian wines this weekend.