Hotel celebrates Year of the Rooster early with artful wine
There’s an old Italian superstition about spilling wine: If that happens, you should immediately dab a little behind your ears, like perfume, for good luck.
Chinese artist Shao Fan was charmed by that folk wisdom, and he thought of it when a Tuscan winery asked him to design a label for its upcoming vintage that celebrates the Chinese New Year.
The result, a coquettish rooster, was unveiled this month by Castiglion del Bosco, a resort and winery managed by Rosewood in Italy. The company brought its newly released Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2010 to the hotel chain’s Beijing sibling for a gala wine dinner.
Located in Montalcino, Tuscany, Castiglion del Bosco is a picturesque 800-yearold estate with vineyards producing Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino wines.
This is the third year that the Tuscan vintners have produced a commemorative wine for Chinese New Year, from a special vineyard dedicated to that vintage.
The gala dinner kicked off a series of justended white-truffle dinners, celebrating the cuisine and wine-making expertise of Tuscany.
Exclusive wines from Castiglion del Bosco have also been available this month. Brunello di Montalcino is a beautifully balanced sangiovese with a generous and emphatic fragrance. The ruby-red Campo del Drago is an extremely complex Brunello di Montacino Cru, and Millecento is a complex yet elegant reserve noted for its finesse.
The “rooster reserve”, however, has not been part of these meals — unless you and a group of friends spring for one of the 688 magnums produced for the upcoming Chinese New Year. Ten percent of the proceeds from each bottle, priced at about 8,000 yuan ($1,150), are being donated to a charity in China.
Who was the biggest winemaker at the recent ProWine 2016 fair in Shanghai? Measured in centimeters, that was easily Yao Ming, who was there to promote his Yao Family Wines produced in California’s Napa Valley. The popular retired NBA basketball star also participated in a master class with a team from the California Wine Institute.
At a recent Sunday brunch in Beijing, the wines were all Italian, but the mindset was Chinese: Even the first wine served was red. On top of that, the wines from Podernuovo a Palazzone were paired with a delectable menu by chef Marino D’Antonio at Opera Bombana. The combo made for a superb afternoon. Featured wines presented by the importer Sarment included the wineries’ fine Argirio 2012, a Tuscan cabernet Franc with a touch of cabernet sauvignon. The open bouquet has hints of cassis, coriander, allspice white chocolate, cocoa butter and nettles; the wine has a long finish on the palate with a pleasant minerality. Guests also sampled vintages of the winery’s Sortirio (100 percent sangiovese) and Therra (a blend of sangiovese, montepulciano, cabernet sauvignon and merlot). All are currently available at fine-dining establishments in China.