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Barolo Heaven! New CAnaan Wine Merchants w/ PIedmont Winemaker - Giorgio Conterno

3/30/2017

Fairfield County It!
excitedly attended the

New Canaan Wine Merchants

wine tasting with
Winemaker and Owner

Giorgio Conterno
from
Azienda Paolo Conterno

Giorgio took us off to Piedmont, Italy where the King & Queen
of Italian wines are made:
Barolo & Barbaresco.

Piedmont is located in the Northwest portion of Italy where the Nebbiolo grape grows best and
delivers fabulous wine with the knowledgable care of the local winemakers.

"Ginestra" Piedmont, Italy

For Giorgio, it all started way back in 1886, when his great grandfather, Paolo Conterno, founded the
Casa della Ginestra,
dedicated to the production of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto grape wines.

Now run by Giorgio, we had the pleasure of learning about his passion for Ginestra, pictured above, the land his family owns with its unique terroir, and tasting
the quality of his wonderful wines.

My favorite was the

BAROLO GINESTRA RISERVA

It is made from the finest grape selection at Ginestra and had great structure. It was round, elegant,
with a hint of fruit, spice, and minerality.

Giorgio told us the wine is even better with ageing, with a cellar life extending to over fifteen years.

Here is owner Jeff Barbour of New Canaan Wine Merchants with Giorgio.

Jeff is very knowledgable about fine wine,
not only from the
Old World of Italy,
but in every wine region of the Earth.

You can rely on his recommendations and
his store is well stocked with highly desirable wine.

New Canaan Wine Merchants gave 10% of the sales that evening to the
New Canaan Community Foundation.

Fairfield County It!

enjoyed the wine tasting
and highly recommends

New Canaan Wine Merchants

for selection, great wine tastings & in-house knowledge
of what is the best choice for you to consider when buying wine.

Ciao,

It! Woman Kyle

California Wine Country Sonoma & Napa Valley!

3/23/2017

Fairfield County It!

had a divine wine time in

Sonoma & Napa Valley, California!

March is a wonderful month to visit
Wine Country in California.

The mountains are stunningly green and the trees sparkle with Spring buds.

We started at the historic setting of
Chateau St. Jean Winery. The buildings are from the 1920's and originally a summer home for a wealthy Michigan family.
The winery has maintained the elegance and integrity of the buildings.

They offered us 4 wines:

2015 Viognier
2012 Reserve Chardonnay
2013 Reserve Pinot Noir
2012 Cinq Cepages

Our favorite the
the ripe red fruit aroma and essence of the Pinot Noir.

In Napa we visited
Alpha Omega Winery.

It has a handsome tasting room
and you can sip outdoors on the pleasant patio, surrounded by vineyards with a lovely pool filled with fountains.

Our wine host was full of information about the vineyard,
knowledgeable about wine and enjoyable company as we sampled the whites.

The winemaker, Jean Hoefliger, who studied oenology and viticulture in Bordeaux France has paired up with Michel Rolland, an award-winning winemaker,
to create elegant,
approachable and well balanced wines of the highest quality by
blending the best of Old World and New World wine making techniques.

My dear friend left with six bottles of the
Chardonnay 2013
with nose of honey, citrus and nutmeg.

Another enjoyable winery is Rutherford Ranch Winery.

All of the wines are organic and sustainable.

"Three generations committed to 100% sustainable viticulture and the crafting of wonderful wines."

We sat outside and decided to feast on the Reserve and Chocolate Pairing.

All of the pairings were carefully crafted to complement the characteristics of the wine
and artisan chocolates.

Our favorite was the Lemon Bark White Chocolate
paired with the Carneros,
Scott Family Estate Chardonnay.
We happily departed with Chocolate and Wine in hand
acquired at the winery store.

We also headed down to lesser known Livermore Valley to visit
Wente Vineyards.
Wente is the oldest family owned winery in California,
dating back to 1883.

I found it interesting that 75% of all California Chardonnay wines are derived from the Wente Clone which creates grapes that perform well in this terroir (land characteristics, sun and overall environment).

In the picture below, we are enjoying a wine class
where you learn to identify the aromas of what you are tasting.
Is it mushroom or is it cork?
Is it butterscotch or is it vanilla or is it coconut?

Toward the end of the class there was a
contest to decipher nine specific aromas.

I thought the butterscotch was vanilla, and did not win,
but it was great fun and put our noses to test!

Afterward we had a delightful time
with even more wine around the fire pit.

What a fabulous wine time in lovely verdant California wine country!

I will be back!

It! Woman Kyle

Ah, Take me to Roma - cotto Wine Bar & Restaurant!

3/16/2017

Fairfield County "It!"

had a delicious
Rome Inspired
dining experience at

Cotto Wine Bar & Restaurant in Stamford, CT

We started with a cocktail.

Cotto's mixologist,
Eric Bufo offers quite a few interesting cocktail combinations. I tried the

SAGE ADVICE
Burned Sage Infused Tequila, Muddled preserved Lemon, Pineapple Juice, Combier, Chambord, Grapefruit Bitter

Working my way through the froth to sip the smooth herbacious cocktail was tasty and fun!

They also offer a wonderful beer & wine list.

First course was a platter of
Carni & Formagi.

You can choose from many classic antipasto to concoct your own assortment.

Wonderful fresh & tender

GRILLED CALAMARI
Piccata Oil and Balsamic Glazed

Next:

TONNARELLI CACIO & PEPE
Fresh Homemade Pasta, Pecorino
Parmigiano, Black Pepper,

BUCATINI ALL'AMATRICIANA
San Marzano Tomato Sauce, Guanciale, Pecorino, Parmigiano, Black Pepper

The Bucatini All'Amatriciana was the best I have ever tasted. The quality of ingredients and housemade pasta delighted.

Cotto recently revamped their team and it is excellent:

Claudio’s impressive background took flight in 1994 while managing the trendy Green Club, an American bistro in Ostia Lido, Rome before going on to own and operate Lasergun Pub in Via Giordani, Infernetto, Open Bar Wine Bar and Disco in Ostio Lido, and Trattoria Oggi C’e’, in Casal Palocco.

Chef Rolando Guardado, formerly of Fairfield County’s Z Hospitality Group, recently joined Claudio, refreshing COTTO’s menu and creating a catering arm for the business.

Accredited Sommelier Ian Toogood came to COTTO via Marc Restaurant Group’s A Voce in Manhattan and Le Fat Poodle in Greenwich, CT, revamping COTTO’s wine list and further elevating its service.

Completing the team is bartender Eric Bufo, who created a name for himself while at Walrus & Carpenter in the Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport, CT.

You are in great culinary hands with this impressive team of restaurant professionals.

Surf and Turf

GRILLED LAMB CHOPRoasted Cauliflower / Brussels Sprouts / Modena Aged Balsamic Vinegar

PAN SEARED BRANZINO
Pan Seared with Shitake Mushroom
and Shaved Brussel Sprouts

It would not be an Italian fete without some housemade Limoncello!

Here is the adorable team that cooked our fabulous cuisine! Including Claudio!

The depth of knowledge about Italy's wine and food, culinary skill,
quality and housemade ingredients left me feeling well taken care of.

Thank you
Cotto Wine Bar & Restaurant
for an authentic delightful Roma evening!

"It!" Woman Kyle

The Love of Art in SONO - LoveArt Gallery & Studio's "Revolution Art for Positive Social change"!

3/9/2017

Fairfield County "It!"

is looking forward to the opening reception of

"REVOLUTION
Art for Positive Social Change"
on Wed 03/22/17
6P - 9P
at
LoveArt Gallery & Studio
in South Norwalk (SONO), Connecticut

Here is owner and artist
Cabell Molina.

Cabell's artistic focus is to make the intangible tangible,
to give others the experience
of a raw emotional reaction
when viewing
her iconic inspired art
that is enhanced thru
a deep nostalgic connection.

Her latest series moves into a pop art contemplation of the evocative depths of music.
Immortalizing the power of an iconic image or lyric through mixed media.

“Taken out of context and made visual, the lyrics I choose arouse profound meanings and vivid memories for many of us. The power of music is found when two people – in this case, the artist and the viewer – are unified by nostalgia or a similar emotion. It is a great reminder that within the human condition lies a shared experience, and within that experience we discover that we are all One.”

Cabell also offers commissioned conceptual portraits.

Cabell chose SONO (South Norwalk)
for its hip location
to showcase her art and
other artists she represents.

Click here to find all artists represented.

We always have a great time and love the edgy controversial art at

LoveArt Gallery & Studio

Check it out! 132C Washington St, Norwalk.

"It!" Woman Kyle

An Elegant Affair, Hennessy Cognac Dinner at Gabriele's Italian Steakhouse

3/2/2017

What a memorable &
delicious evening
Fairfield County "It!" had at

"Journey into Hennessy"

A Cognac Paired Dinner
at Gabriele's Italian Steakhouse in Greenwich, Connecticut.

We started the evening
serenaded by a violinist and offered a choice of
two Cognac cocktails,
one more citrus
the other with Champagne.

We thoroughly enjoyed a fabulous
4 course dinner of

Seared Lobster Medallions
served over a mixed micro-green salad
in a lemon Cognac sauce
Paired with Hennessy VSOP

House Made Gnocchi
wild boar ragu with porcini mushrooms

Surf & Turf
Filet Mignon Medallions
with Bordeaux sauce
Dover Sole
with herbed spinach and champagne butter
Paired with Hennessy XO

Hennessy Paradis Imperial Offering

Valhrona Chocolate Mousse
Cognac bananna cream center
vanilla bean Cognac sauce

Kathy Chan,
Hennessy Global
Brand Ambassador, discussed the qualities and exclusiveness of
Hennessy Paradis Imperial
which retails for only $3,000 a bottle!

There were numerous buyers of the Hennessy Paradis Imperial.

The bottles acquired that evening were personally hand numbered on the bottom of the bottle
while we were at the restaurant.

What an extraordinary way to spend a Monday evening!

Thank you Hennessy and Gabriele's Italian Steakhouse
for an exceptional evening!

"It!" Woman Kyle

Barolo Heaven! New CAnaan Wine Merchants w/ PIedmont Winemaker - Giorgio Conterno

California Wine Country Sonoma & Napa Valley!

Ah, Take me to Roma - cotto Wine Bar & Restaurant!

The Love of Art in SONO - LoveArt Gallery & Studio's "Revolution Art for Positive Social change"!

An Elegant Affair, Hennessy Cognac Dinner at Gabriele's Italian Steakhouse

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