Italian wine dinner at The Garden House, Stamford

The wine-tasting evenings at the Garden House Hotel are going down very well indeed with the vino aficionados of the town and locality. We held another one on Friday 3rd September, this time in association the wonderful Mr Alastair Marshall, our Adnams wine buyer.

This was a marvellous chance to sample some absolutely delicious Italian wines alongside a stunning five-course dinner created by Garden House Head Chef Peter.

The welcoming reception drink was the gently bubbling Il Colle Frizzante rosé, this was definitely enjoyed by all.

After the redcurrant & vodka amuse bouche was served, we sampled 3 Italian whites with the pan-fried mackerel fillet, mixed salad and gooseberry sauce. The whites served were the 2008 Grillo IGT, Bruno Fina, with its lovely aromas of peaches and spice with a crisp finish. The Marsala grape shines here in deliciously fragrant, full-bodied form. Also the 2009 Gavi di Gavi, Manfredi  – made from Cortese, the hero white variety in Piedmont, this wine has ample ripe peach fruit with an elegant balance of acidity. All, in my opinion, went so perfectly with the mouth-watering mackerel.

A slight pause and a delicious palate cleanser of passion fruit sorbet, and we were on to the main course and the reds. The most delectable char-grilled veal, sage mash, nutmeg spinach, anchovy and caper dressing was served with 2008 Valpolicella ‘Corte del Pozzo’, Fasoli Gino, Veneto, this had intense red fruit flavours with hints of bittersweet dried cranberry. Then the 2007 Polvanera, Primitivo, Gioia del Colle (intense damson fruit with powerful structure to compliment the juicyness) and also the 2008 Serpaiolo, Rosso Toscana, Serpaia, Maremma. Serpaiolo is a ‘Super Tuscan’, with succulent red fruit and hints of plum skins and leather.

The dessert of iced raspberries, hot chocolate sauce, raspberry sorbet, shortbread fingers was served with the absolute gem of a sweetie – the 2005 Cassiodoro, Recioto di Soave, Veneto with its delightfully fresh aromas of white flowers with a delicate honeyed sweetness – a match made in heaven.

All of this was tied together with Alastair’s wonderfully informative speaking. This man’s wealth of wine knowledge is seconded only by his wit and banter with which he mesmerised his audience. Everyone loved the Cassiodoro story, of how this wine was discovered by Simon Loftus, while on holiday and about the two elderly sisters who created this wine as a hobby and having made a few vintages have now decided that winemaking is too much work. There are only 100 bottles of the 2005 left, and we can only hope that they let us have a bit of their 2006, because after that there will be none of this delicious bargain to be had – ever!  This wine is a rare treat and the very next day we sold 24 bottles.

If the descriptions above have tempted you, book your place as soon as possible for our forthcoming dinners – the wine tasting dinners at Stamford are always sell-out. Places cost just £35 per head, which isn’t bad at all for five delicious courses, sumptuous wines and, of course, the setting.

The next wine evenings are in October. On Thursday 7th October we have an evening hosted by Australia’s Berton vineyards and one on the 15th Of October hosted by Sam Lockyer of New Zealand’s John Forrest wines. Both events start at 7.30pm. Call Stamford Adnams on 01780 753127 to book your place

Shelley, Adnams Cellar & Kitchen, Stamford