A taste of Italy meets Jamaican palates
FIVE FANTASTIC Venetian-inspired food pairings and delightful company to sip and savour five enchanting Bottega wine selections. This epicurean experience excited the intimately gathered attendees at the VVIP wine tasting hosted by Bottega Jamaica at District 5 Skylounge. The main event, held last Saturday, even included a virtual tour of Italy.
“Wine is culture. Wine is hard work,” the brand’s president and chief executive officer, Sandro Bottega, explained from a revision screen. His extensive and insightful presentation took the audience on a journey through wine and grappa history: from wine glasses and bottle making to the various soils that affect the taste, fermenting process, and locations where the wines are stored and the types of wines produced. This knowledge gave guests a greater appreciation of the high-quality product in their presence.
Advised to let the wines sit for at least 10 minutes after opening, the Bottega boss did the honour of introducing each bottle. Taking a whiff of the essence, the socialites and wine connoisseurs who sat down to a masquerade mask and a marvellous menu line-up became better acquainted with the auras and aromas, employing their palate as the best ‘flavour profiler’ for the job.
Executive Chef Brian Lumley of District 5 made an appearance in the private room just to ensure that the gastronomic partnership was tantalisingly set. And it was smooth sailing for Bottega Jamaica’s manager Kerry Jones, who effortlessly guided everyone through the pairing proceedings.
The Bottega Millesimato was an idyllic pair for the mozzarella cheese, pastrami, green olives and bread sticks. From there, the bold flavour of Bottega Gold was accompanied by Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, culatello, tomato in oil and bread sticks. The bottle, however, to steal the show was the Bottega Prosecco DOCG. This sparkling wine perfectly complemented the asiago cheese, bacon pastrami, vegetable in oil and bread sticks.
The Cabernet Sauvignon on its own was not as robust as the audience anticipated, but it was a fabulous matchup for gorgonzola cheese, baked ham, mushroom in oil and bread sticks. And last, but certainly by no means least, sweet lovers basked in the blissful decadence of the Pelato Moscato. This merriment was coupled with fruit salad, fruit cookies, dry biscuits and dried fruits (dates and raisins). With bubbly all around and more delectable dishes to explore, the afternoon was, simply put, bellissima!
For more information on how you can get a bottle of Bottega for yourself, call or WhatsApp: 876-849-9841 or visit the Instagram page: @bottegajamaica.