Read about previous Wine Tours in USA:
- November 2009 Tour
- January 2009 Tour


WINE TOUR - EAST COAST, MARCH 2010

My 2010 Wine Tour began in Miami on March 3. The first tasting event was held on March 5, in Coconuta Grove, with about 40 participants: wine lovers and friends. It took place at La Bottega restaurant (www.labottegasociale.com) which offers great food and it is managed by Italians and French. A lovely and welcoming place (3540 Main Highway Suite C103, Coconuta Grove).

I also enjoyed the Calamari restaurant, just a few blocks away from La Bottega. Speaking of Miami friends, I must mention Ellen and Guillermo who run a really versatile ad agency (www.trimentionadvertising.com).

On March 6 I arrived in New Jersey where we organized a cultural tasting event “Wine and Art Performed by Tony Sasa & Riccardo Teresi (Sunny Tuscan)”. The discussion ranged from the marriage of food and wine to the history of Florence and Tuscany, and the history of Italian wine. This event was hosted by our great friends Fred of the USI Service Group (www.usiservicesgroup.com). The amazing catering was provided by Michael Kestin (www.simplydelishonline.com).

On March 7 we rented a car to go to DC, and because we made the big error of not booking online, they charged us for a 5-day rental an incredible sum of money. We must have been the most profitable AVIS customer in the past decade. Want to guess how much they charged us? Email me your guess to tonysasa@gmail.com

As soon as winemaker Giorgio Boeri joined me, we headed down to Washington DC. Our friend Bill, who works in the White House, hosted an amazing wine event in his lovely home. Group of great people came together and the atmosphere was wonderful, especially thanks to Bill, who is an old friend from the times when he worked on the US consulate in Florence. In fact on the first event I have organized at that consulate in 2002 Bill was my co-organizer. He is such as connoisseur of food and wine.

On March 8 we hit the road again and headed to Philadelphia. Here the wine tasting event took place in Nonna’s Restaurant (116 east Gay street, Westchester, PA). A jolly group of 20 friends and wine enthusiasts. The food was really delicious.

On March 9 we returned to New York. It took me 2 months to find a restaurant in which I could organize a wine tasting event – not because there are too few in the city (quite the contrary), but because it is New York.

We were lucky that our friend David has just opened a cozy Italian restaurant called Village Trattoria (135 West 3rd Street). Excellent food, superlative service, and friendly atmosphere. The 40 or so participants included many old friends and clients, and it’s curious how these events become a one-evening vacation in the beautiful Tuscany where we got to know each other many years ago. For me it’s always such a pleasure to bring together these friends for an event. Thank you for believing in my projects and in the work I do.

The next day, March 10, we hopped in the car again and headed to Cape Cod where Fleming’s restaurant hosted the next event. The Portuguese owner Robert Mee treated us to an amazing dinner and demonstrated what a difference a commitment to the finest ingredients makes. (www.flemingssteakhouse.com).

In this dinner we were joined by Bob Valchuis and Alek Leontie who manage a great enoteca in New Orleans. Way to go, Bob!

On March 11, we arrived in Boston which was my last stop. This final wine tasting even was organized by restaurant Lucca in the North End. (www.luccaboston.com). A dinner with about 30 friends, excellent food, and I really liked the neighborhood in which Lucca is located. And we got lucky even with the weather: this time no umbrellas and no scarves.

Wines presented at these events were:

Brunello di Montalcino “Martina”
Boeri Giorgio
Nerochiaro
Barolo Schiavenza
Borgo San Daniele
Polvanera
N'anticchia - Paolo Caciorgna
Ruggeri Corsini
Santa Lucia
Zerbina
Padelletti
San Leo and many others.

Many thanks and greetings to all our friends in the US who made these wine tasting events possible and so enjoyable!

Tony Sasa