A glass of Wine a day… keeps the Doctor away? Multiple researchers believe so, as long as you drink responsibly and always in moderation, you are good.
Oscar Farinetti (an Italian business man) converted a closed factory in Turin, Italy into Eataly in 2007. This is one of the largest Italian marketplaces in the world. Eataly currently has 27 locations around the globe and with more to come, that includes more than 15 in Italy, Japan, Germany, Brazil, Dubai, Turkey, South Korea, and United States. The store in New York opened in 2010 and the one in Chicago in 2013. The latter became the largest Eataly in USA. With a partnership with Mario Batali the megastore comprises a variety of restaurants, food, beverages, bakery, and retail items – combining whole foods style supermarket, a high-end food court and a learning center called La Scuola.
Eataly Chicago is all about eating and experiencing the Italian way, with nine Restaurants to choose from. Ristorante Toscano, Baffo, La Pizza & La Pasta, Il Pesce & Le Verdure, La Piazza, La Osteria Di Eataly, and La Birreria. I have tried them all and the Mozzarella Cheese is to die for, it melts in your mouth, and everything is so fresh which is fantastic. The Scuola has different events every week, and the one we signed up for was the Guided Wine Tasting, Classic Wines from Montalcino and Montepulciano.
We learned that Montalcino is a little town in Tuscany,Italy and it takes its name from a type of Oak tree that once covered the terrain. It is a Hill town that offers not only stunning views over the Valleys of Tuscany but also is known for its famous Brunello Di Montalcino Wine and that 2010 is a GREAT year for Brunellos.
Montepulciano is a medieval hill town as well in southern Tuscany. A major producer of food and drinks, they are so into Wine that even the City’s jail was converted into a wine Cellar.
I know I know it is only one apple a day BUT also, a glass of wine a day works as well… We tasted three different wines. Please don’t tell the doctor. The first wine we tasted was Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2013, La Rasina, Toscana. An everyday wine, the Italian motto is ‘food needs wine’; they drink more wine than water! DOC is Denominazione di Origine Controllata and it refers to government guarantees of the wine’s origins. It was a light kind of wine, blood red color, a 100% Sangiovesse Grosso which means that only that type of grape is used for those wines. It requires 6 to 12 months of aging and is a young wine.
The second one was Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010, La Rasina, Toscana – my favorite! It is at first juicy and spicy, but then soften a little and it is just fabulous. DOCG stands for: Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, a 100% Sangiovesse Grosso as well, a more brownish color. It requires five or more years of aging and is Italy’s best known red wine.
The third one was Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2012 DEI, Toscana. A variety of grapes, a ruby red color, more intense but quite fresh at the same time. It requires two years of aging.
Overall it was a great tasting and the host made it really entertaining, and fun. I highly recommend it. Eataly has events almost every day including Cooking classes, Kids Kitchen, Walking Tour in Eataly and Wine Tasting. They all sell out fast so we are definitely signing up for a different one very soon!
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