Anna Ghisolfi



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The snowy Monferrato and dinner at the Castello di Casale Monferrato

March 16, 2010

One of the biggest snowstorms to hit Piedmont in 20 years came at a very awkward moment, taking us all by surprise. We all just assumed it would stop snowing in a couple of hours:“It’s almost spring, it can’t snow that much.” Wrong.

All of us wine tasters eagerly marched off the bus heading straight into the grand entrance of the Castello di Casale Monferrato. The aperitivo party was already in full swing when we arrived. Tons of snow all over the Monferrato could not keep Barbera wine enthusiasts away from the dinner extravaganza… Journalists, winebloggers and buyers all dined together with the Barbera wine producers of the Monferrato region. Aperitivo was fantastic—a bountiful assortment of food and presented quite creatively—even grapes were made into very delicious tidbits to much on with our wines. The Piedmontese really do know how to make scrumptious, if not the best, “frittelle” I have ever eaten in my life—the evening’s aperitivo buffet spread was perfect evidence of this. The dinner was an elegant traditional Piedmontese meal paired with wines of the producers. The meal began with traditional Piedmontese agnolotti and a sauce garnished with Barbera “bubbles”, which were Barbera-flavored jelly-like little grapes. The second course was loin of veal with potatoes and fresh spinach. The first dessert consisted of a mousse made of ground chestnuts, served fresh together with marrons glacés. Next came a constant procession sweets: plates overloaded with assorted Piedmontese chocolates, including of course hazelnut cream and other luscious fillings. An apple tart arrived at our table too, but one person at our dinner table seemed to eat most of it. I won’t mention who it was…. Some of us really did eat way too much.

A big thank you goes to Anna Ghisolfi Catering for cooking up this elaborate and delicious Piedmontese aperitivo and dinner for everyone.

After a long day of wine tasting the aperitivo and dinner were heartwarming! Our tables were filled with laughter and the conversations to be remembered forever….

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