Simply Italian - Chicago and San Francisco

Simply Italian, one of the best Italian wine events held annually in the United States, is returning to Chicago and San Francisco soon. The events will be held on Monday, October 26 in Chicago and again on Wednesday, October 28 in San Francisco (details below).

Simply Italian has been a great success for a decade now, with its combination of seminars and a gala tasting for the trade. This year, seminars include one about the wines of Veneto, Piedmont and Tuscany; one on Frascati; one on Emilia-Romagna, and finally, one on Sardinia (I will be conducting that seminar in Chicago).

Following the seminars will be a gala tasting featuring more than 50 producers from various regions of Italy, including Friuli, Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, Sardinia and Tuscany.

Here are the details:

Chicago - Monday, October 26

Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile

633 N. St. Clair St.

San Francisco - Wednesday, October 28

The Fairmont - San Francisco

950 Mason Street

For more information or to register (trade only), go to ieem.usa 

or call them at: 305-937-2488

Simply Italian Returns

One of the finest Italian wine events is returning soon to New York City, Chicago and Washington, D.C. It will be held in those cities on October 15, 17 and 18, respectively and if you're an Italian wine lover living in or near those cities, you need to be there for an unparalleled day of Italian wine tasting and education.

I've been involved in moderating a seminar for this event for the past three years and I'm excited about the seminar on the wines of Collio I'll be leading in Chicago. There will also be a seminar on the wines of the Veneto that day in Chicago, as well as a seminar on Federdoc, the agency that oversees DOC, DOCG and DOP regulations; things are changing rapidly with these designations and this seminar, taught by Riccardo Ricci Curbastro, will be of invaluable assistance to anyone who wants to better understand today's Italian wine.

That same seminar will also be offered in New York City along with a special presentation on "The Legends of Italian Wine," featuring such Italian wine producers as Masi, Pio Cesare, Antinori, Argiolas, Mastroberardino and Michele Chiarlo along with another five great producers; Gloria Maroti Frazee of the Wine Spectator will moderate this seminar. After this, the seminars on Collio and Veneto will be offered.

There will be a gala tasting of hundreds of the finest Italian wine estates from the breadth and width of the country that will be held in the afternoon at all three cities.

Information on the Simply Italian events can be found here.

Please note that seating at each seminar is limited and you must register to assure your spot. To do so, contact Jessica Celona at 305-937-2488 or info@ieem.usa.


Looking forward to seeing you at Simply Italian in mid-October!

Simply Italian Returns

I wanted to let my readers know about one of the finest Italian wine events of the year. It's the Simply Italian tour and the official invitation is just out.

The event this year will focus on wines from several regions of Italy, including Veneto, Piedmont and Tuscany. There will also be a special focus on the great sparkling wines of Franciacorta (I'll be moderating the seminar in Chicago) as well as the wines from the Grandi Marchi producers, a group of some of Italy's finest wine estates, including Antinori, Donnafugata, Gaja, Mastroberardino and Pio Cesare, to name only a few.

The tour will begin in Chicago on Monday, October 24 and then move to San Francisco on October 26 and wrap up in Las Vegas on the 27th. There will be a walk-around tasting in each city.

I've been involved with this event for several years and can tell you quite honestly that this is one of the most informative happenings for Italian wines you'll ever experience. The event is for wine trade and media only. To RSVP, email events@balzac.com

Simply Italian

Photo ©Tom Hyland

Next week, the Simply Italian event will be held in three cities: New York on October 25, Chicago on October 27 and Boston on October 28. For New York and Chicago, there will be two morning seminars as well as a walk around tasting in the afternoon, while Boston will only have the tasting.

I will be moderating the two seminars in Chicago: one on Protecting DOC and DOCG Wines and the second will be on wines fom the seven Chianti districts. Joining me on these seminars will be Riccardo Ricci Curbastro, head of Federdoc; Steven Alexander, wine director for Chicago's Spiaggia Ristorante and members of the Chianti Consorzio.

These events are for the trade only - to RSVP for any of the Simply Italian events, the email is: events@balzac.com


I hope to see you in Chicago on the 27th for Simply Italian!