Food and wine are at the heart of Italian culture, so this Spring head along to one of six branches Donnybrook Fair between now and the end of May for their second seasonal event that will focus on Italian wine and food.
Donnybrook Fair is one of Dublin’s best-known epicurean food and wine stops and they are located across the greater Dublin area with shops in Morehampton Road, Donnybrook; Stillorgan Shopping Centre; Malahide Village, Greystones, Baggot Street, Dublin 4 and most recently, in Dundrum Town Centre.
Joe Doyle started it all in his shop in Donnybrook in the early 2000’s and since Donnybrook Fair has evolved from a small shop in a south Dublin location to a culinary destination known for their handmade meals and taste experiences. Central to the group’s ethos are their kitchens where over seventy chef and bakers prepare their quality products, under the leadership of head chef John Dunne. Many of their products are now available in over 170 SuperValu and Centra stores, nationwide, since the group became part of the Musgrave family in recent years.
So, what to look out for during the DF Italian wine promotion, well CHARCUTERIE for a start. What is a charcuterie board without a slice of prosciutto? Italian cured meats are some of the most sought after in the world, so they are sharing a selection from their finest suppliers to help you create the perfect cheese & charcuterie board. The range includes Mortadella, Prosciutto Crudo and spicy Ventricina. Their cheese selection includes TALEGGIO DI PASTURO DOP, GORGONZOLA DOLCE DOP, PECORINO CON BASILICO PDO and SMOKED PROVOLONE.
Wine has been made in Italy for at least 2,500 years. The first vineyards were planted by Greek settlers, probably as early as 800BC. However, in modern wine making terms it is only over the last thirty years or so that Italy has started to create a reputation to produce quality wine. Italy's quality regime, Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) was introduced in 1963 and since then Italy’s advance along the quality path have been significant. Though usually considered a Mediterranean country, Italy's shape, and variety of topography, from the snow-capped Alps in the north to the sun-baked coasts of the South give rise to a great variation in local climates.
San Silvestro Fossili Gavi di Commune di Gavi €19.99
The sub-region of Gavi, which extends around the village of the same name, is in the south eastern portion of Piedmont in northwest Italy. The main grape variety is Cortese. Gavi was granted the DOC of Cortese di Gavi DOCG in 1998 and quickly gained an international reputation for the quality of its white wines. Gavi has now become very fashionable mainly because the Cortese grape makes wine with a wonderfully peachy stone fruit character backed by minerality from the region’s soil structure. Wines with the Gavi di Gavi DOC are rarer as they can only be made with fruit specifically from the Gavi area. Green apple with citrus is what to expect from this fine white wine,and why not serve with a traditional Italian dishes such as seafood risotto, pesto pasta, or grilled branzino.
Villa Fura Amore Appassimento €22.99 (now €18.00)
The production method used to make this wine style is quite unique. Bunches of grapes are tied together and put on racks to dry naturally where the air flows. The process is called Appassimento or Rasinate (to dry and shrivel) in Italian. This wine from the Veneto region, made from a blend of three native grapes, has rich raisin flavours with subtle hints of spice. The perfect wine to serve with a hearty Tagliatelle al Ragu. For a true taste of Italy, you could also enjoy this with an aged cheese such as Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Terre de Faiano Nero di Troia €22.95 (now €16.99)
From Puglia, this wine is made from organic grapes grow in Southern Italy. A full-bodied red wine it packs all the power and punch you would expect from a robust wine. The ideal red to enjoy with steak or any kind of grilled meat.
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