Nerovivo,
3a, Jalan Ceylon,
50250 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel. No: 03-20703120
Business Hours: Daily: 12.00 -3.00pm and 5.45pm-11.30pm
5.45pm-11.00pm on Sundays
WINE pairing events were exclusive events in my mind. Never in a million years had I imagined myself attending one.
However, recently, I had the pleasure of doing so when Nerovivo together with Dionysus Asia held one to promote Tedeschi wines.
Tedeschi: ‘The tradition in your country is to go with French wines but we have decided to introduce Italian wine.’The Tedeschi winery is one of the oldest wine producers of the Valpolicella, the viticultural zone of the province of Verona, Italy.
Despite that, the wine pairing event was the first of its kind for the Tedeschi family in Malaysia and even Asia.
“The tradition in your country, in Asia, is to go with French wines but we have decided to introduce Italian wine,” says Sabrina Tedeschi, a member of the Tedeschi family.
The Italian family estate is run by her father Lorenzo together with her and her siblings Antonietta and Riccardo. They manage the entire wine-making process, from the vine to the sales.
Tedeschi was every bit approachable and not at all snotty despite her extensive knowledge of wines. Upon initial conversation, I was keen to get to the wine pairing.
The starter arrived just in time. The starter, Tiger Prawns Saltimbocca, was paired with Tedeschi Capitel Soave Classico 2010.
SUCCULENT: Tiger Prawns Saltimbocca was paired with Tedeschi Capitel Soave Classico 2010. The clear wine with yellow and green reflection, was the perfect combination for the succulent prawns.
Although not overly flavoured, the fresh, juicy prawns with cauliflower pureé and a hint of garlic butter was just the thing to whet the appetite for the night.
The wine with notes of dry fruits such as almonds, surprisingly, did not overwhelm this mild tasting dish.
According to Tedeschi, the good acidity and freshness of the wine pairs well with prawns, fish or salads, white meat and pasta.
The first entrée, Garganelli Pasta with Eggplants and Zucchini was complemented by Tedeschi Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2009.
Being a person who is not a fan of eggplants, this dish unexpectedly appealed to me. The eggplant, zucchini and basil combination was just right with the fresh wine with notes of cherry and currants.
“This wine is very versatile and is good with pasta, vegetable soup, salad, grilled vegetables, white or red meat (with mild sauces) or some fresh cheeses,” says Tedeschi.
The second entrée, Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms served with foie gras terrine and parmesan was brought out with Tedeschi Capitel San Rocco Valpolicella 2007.
This was a dish I did not enjoy. I generally stay away from innards. Therefore, the strong taste of the foie gras terrine did not appeal to my tastebuds.
I reached for the wine to take the taste away but to no avail. The well-balanced wine, with notes of cherry, raspberry and red currants after all, was meant to complement the dish, not overpower it.
This, however, did not stop me from helping myself to the parmesan and poking at the risotto from where it was free of terrine. This creamy, cheesy combination I liked.
According to Tedeschi, the rich wine matches well with the risotto and the porcini mushrooms. The fatness of the foie gras on the other hand, goes well with alcohol content of the wine.
“For its high tannin concentration, the wine is not a good match with tomato or acidic foods,” she says.
DELICIOUS: The Lamb Chop was served with Tedeschi Amarone Della Valpolicella Doc Classico 2006. The main course, a choice of Beef Tenderloin or Lamb Chop “Scottadito”, was served with Tedeschi Amarone Della Valpolicella Doc Classico 2006.
The lamb chop, rich in garlic butter had a very strong hint of oregano which I took to liking right away.
The full body wine with notes of sweet fruits like currants, blueberries, cherries matched well with the red meat.
“The wine is suitable to be enjoyed with high fat foods for its high alcohol content and spicy food for its smooth taste. However, it is not a good combination with tomato or acidic foods,” cautions Tedeschi.
“It’s important to balance the wine and food. The taste of the wine mustn’t cover the food and vice versa. Amarone requires strong food like game and aged cheese, it’s not for salad,” she adds.
The last meal for the day, the home-made Tiramisu, arrived together with Santo Cristo Moscatel Ainzon 2010, not one of the Tedeschi wines.
The Tiramisu looked so mouth-watering that I could barely resist sinking my teeth into it. I always told people that I have a separate compartment for deserts.
The sweet dessert went well with the pale yellow sweet wine comprising of a blend of honey, flower petals and a hint of raisin.
After the plates had been emptied, patrons were seen chatting and asking for refills for their favourite wines late into the night.
Tedeschi wines are distributed in Malaysia by Dionysus Asia.
