Verve Restaurant and the Galleria Tennis and Athletic Club
proudly present
THE “BEST WINES” OF TEXAS:
ITALIAN GRAPE VARIETIES
BY THE MANDOLA ESTATE WINERY
(DRIFTWOOD, TEXAS)
a guided tasting hosted by
Julio and Lauren Hernandez
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
$25 per person
participants will taste and discuss
7 wines paired with artisanal cheeses
Founded in 2005 by Houston wine connoisseurs Stan and Lisa Duchman and inspired by their travels to Europe, the Mandola Estate Winery in Driftwood, Texas (about 20 miles southwest of Austin in the Texas Hill Country) recreates a small corner of Italy, where native Italian grape varieties — Pinot Grigio, Vermentino, Moscato, and Sangiovese — flourish together with the great grapes of France and California.
guests will taste the most recent vintages
of what have been called
“the best wines in Texas”
Mandola Estate Winery Vermentino 2008
Italy’s “island” and “coastal” white grape, known for its bright fruit
Mandola Estate Winery Moscato 2008
Italy’s famed “aromatic” white grape, known for its vivacity in the glass
Mandola Estate Winery Pinot Grigio 2008
The noble white grape of northern Italy, known for its complexity
Mandola Estate Winery Viognier 2008
An aristocrat of the Rhône Valley in France, used to make rich, sumptuous whites
Mandola Estate Winery Rosé 2008
A gorgeous and irresistible summertime quaffing delight,
made from a blend of French and Italian noble red grapes
Mandola Estate Winery Zinfandel 2007
A Texan twist on the great grape of Napa Valley, California,
gloriously fruity and jammy, with bold aromas and flavors
Mandola Estate Winery Canto Felice (Non Vintage)
The Mandola “signature” wine, inspired by the “canto felice”
or “happy song” of Italian lyric opera, a sweet blend of
noble red grapes, a hand-crafted symphony of flavors
Wine expert and restaurant-industry veteran Julio Hernandez was called “the best sommelier in New Orleans” in 1999 by Food & Wine Magazine. “Julio Hernandez is as extroverted as you’d expect an employee of Emeril Lagasse to be. He’s also skilled at tough pairings.” A long-time friend and collaborator of Emeril, Julio met his wife Lauren, General Manager of Verve, sixteen years ago when she began working at Emeril’s New Orleans. The food-and-wine, husband-and-wife team resides in Houston where they regularly host culinary events.
