Press Releases for February 15, 2008

FARMSTEAD WINES PRESENTS GLAN PIERO MARRONE AT GASTOWN'S SALT TASTING ROOM
(Directly from the press release.)

Farmstead Wines and The Salt Cellar at Gastown’s Salt Tasting Room will present an evening with Gian Piero Marrone of Italy’s Agricola Marrone on Monday, March 3rd at 6:00 p.m.

Marrone produces remarkable handcrafted, organic wines from the Piedmont region of Italy. Completely harvested by hand and pesticide-free, Marrone’s wines reflect the true nature of the soil. Coupled with wooden casks, natural fermentaion and filtration, Marrone, his wife and three daughters produce exceptional wines, straight from the soil that reflect the honest and loving nature of the family and winery.

Gian and his family have been a perfect fit for Anthony Nicalo’s Farmstead Wines, which aims to share the experience of wines hand-crafted by the very farmers who cultivate the grapes. In French, vignerons, a word inseparably meaning farmer and winemaker. Farmstead Wines works with trusted farmers, many of whom they call friends, to bring their connection with the earth to your supper table. The wines in the Farmstead Wines collection are all made by hand, through natural methods, in small quantities, with love.

The wines of Agicola Marrone will be presented against the brand-new, backdrop of Gastown’s Salt Cellar. Situated underneath Salt Tasting Room, the Salt Cellar features a floor-to-ceiling glass cooler with charcuterie and artisan cheeses, with over 1,000 bottles of wine. This event will take place at the Cellar’s 32-person, natural fir table in an intimate setting that will include dozens of Salt’s hand-crafted charcuterie from local producers such as J, N & Z Deli, Moccia’s, and Oyama Sausage Company, along with artisan cheeses from Neal’s Yard (UK), Italy, Spain, and British Columbia. Salt will offer many other treats for this event, Truffled Foie Gras Parfait, Venison Salami, Cotechino, and more.

Salt Tasting Room & Farmstead Wines look forward to what will be a unique and unforgettable evening.

Wines to be poured:
Agricola Marrone 2006 Langhe Arneis Tre Fie
Agricola Marrone 2004 Chardonnay Memundis
Agricola Marrone 2001 Barbera d'Alba La Pantelera
Agricola Marrone 2003 Barolo Pichemej
Agricola Marrone 2001 Barolo Pichemej Reserva
Agricola Marrone 2006 Moscato d'Asti Soleil d' Oro

Tickets for the evening will be $90 all-inclusive. There are only 32 seats available, so call Salt Tasting Room at 604-633-1912 to ensure your spot!






BARBARA-J0S GETS SWEET ON GANACHE
(Directly from the press release.)

Barbara-Jos Books to Cooks are pleased to offer an opportunity to a few lucky foodies to attend an exclusive events on their Social Club calendar. On Monday, February 25th at 6:00 pm, Peter Fong, of Yaletown's Ganache Patisserie, will demonstrate a menu of sweet, spicy, and vibrant flavours drawn from Pichet Ong's The Sweet Spot. This genre-breaking book will inspire you to think outside the fortune cookie with its creative interpretations of both Asian and North American desserts, such as Ovaltine and Milk Chocolate Kulfi with Caramelized Banana and Apple and Cranberry Sesame Crisp with Ginger-Rum Raisin Ice Cream. This special event costs $115.00. Call 604-688-6755 to register.

And don't forget, Today is also the last day to vote in Barbara-Jo's Second Annual Cookbook Awards, check out the nominees on the What's Cooking page, and send in your choice to bookcook@intergate.ca.





WORLD'S LEADING WINE FAMILIES VISIT BC
(Directly from the press release.)

Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and the agents of Primum Familiae Vini families are pleased to host an assembly of representatives from the world's most revered winemaking families for an international celebration of wine and food.

Primum Familiae Vini, the "Leading Wine Families", also known as PFV, is an international association of some of the world's finest wine producing families from France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Membership of the association which was created in 1992, is by invitation only and is subject to strict selection criteria. The goal of the Association is to maintain and promote the traditions and values of family-owned wine companies, ensuring that such ideals survive and prosper in future generations.

From March 9 through March 11, all members of Primum Familiae Vini will host special wine-tasting events in Whistler and Vancouver culminating in a unique Gala Dinner to be held in the Park Ballroom, Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver on Tuesday, March 11. Executive Chef Rafael Gonzalez will present a sensational five-course dinner to match the following wines of the PFV:

Pol Roger, Blanc de Blancs 1999
Hugel, Riesling Jubilee 2004
Maison Joseph Drouhin, Beaune Clos Des Mouches Blanc 2005
Marchese Antinori, Tignanello 2004
Torres, Grans Muralles 2001
Tenuta San Guido, Sassicaia 2000
Château de Beaucastel, Cuvée Hommage à Jacques Perrin 2000
Vega Sicilia, Unico 1994
Château Mouton Rothschild, 1er Cru 1989
Egon Müller, Scharzhofberger Auslese Goldkapsel 2005
Graham's Vintage Port 1980


A highlight of the event will be a live auction of the PFV Collection Case. This rare case of wine contains one unique bottle of each member's flagship wine. The collection case has been offered in the past at international charitable events and raised thousands of dollars for worthwhile causes. Proceeds for the auction on March 11 will be donated to a division of the BC Mental Health Foundation.

Special order wines from the PFV families will also be available for purchase at Signature BC Liquor Stores in Vancouver and at the March 10 tasting event.

Werner Schonberger, Vice-President of Select Wines, has been coordinating the events on behalf of the PFV agents in BC. "This is such a unique opportunity for the Vancouver public," commented Schonberger "eleven family members will be in the city for the first time sharing their passion, knowledge and vision for wine growing and the wine business."

Individuals attending the Gala Dinner from Primum Familiae Vini include: Hubert de Billy, Champagne Pol Roger; Laurent Drouhin, Maison Joseph Drouhin; Etienne Hugel, Hugel & Fils; Thomas Perrin, Perrin & Fils; Château de Beaucastel, Egon Müller, Egon Müller Scharzhof; Alessia Antinori, Marchese Antinori; Sebastiano Rosa, Tenuta san Guido; Sassicaia, Miguel Torres, Miguel Torres S.A.; Pablo Alvarez, Vega Sicilia; Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild; Rupert Symington, The Symington Family Estates.

Tickets are $350 per person inclusive of taxes and gratuities
For reservations please contact Lisa Ng at (604) 844-6714 or lisa.ng@fourseasons.com