10 evenings, 60 wines, 8 Italian regions and 1 houseboat
Summer may be over, but we’re certainly not done with wine – quite the opposite, in fact. After the summer break, our tasting tour of Italy is back – and the autumn programme is set to be a real treat. You can look forward to 10 evenings during which you’ll sample 60 wines from interesting small-scale winemakers across 8 Italian regions, with a quick detour to Champagne too.
What can you look forward to on each evening?
- 6 different wines from artisan winemakers
- a variety of light refreshments (ranging from platters laden with hams, cheeses and other farm-fresh delicacies, through Italian street food, to a barbecue)
- lots of interesting facts about Italian wines and regions
- time for questions, discussion and a chat
- and, above all, a relaxed evening with people who love wine just as much as you do
Where will the tastings take place?
This year we’ve added more venues, so we can get together in even greater numbers over some fine wine. As well as Smíchov, we’ll also be holding tastings in Dejvice, Průhonice and even on board a houseboat with a stunning view of Prague Castle. All tastings start at 5 pm and last 2–3 hours.
What’s on the programme?
23 September: SPARKLING WINES ON THE VLTAVA
We’ll kick off our tasting tour in an unusual way – on board a houseboat, where Italian sparkling wines, a barbecue and fabulous views of Prague await us. During the cruise, we’ll journey across northern Italy, stopping off in several wine-growing regions from Alto Adige, through Veneto and Lombardy, right to Piedmont. We’ll taste sparkling wines produced by six different winemakers, using various methods, from classic as well as lesser-known local grape varieties. Whilst doing so, we’ll enjoy a barbecue and savour the tranquillity of Indian summer.
When: 23 September, 5–8 pm
Where: Houseboat on the Vltava; board at the Smíchov embankment in front of cellar no. 17
What we’ll be tasting: Prosecco Sui Lieviti Drusian, Metodo Classico Blauwal Cesconi, Spumante Arneis Mapoi Cornarea, Metodo Classico Alta Langa Abbona, Metodo Classico Ceppo 326 Pasini, Franciacorta Zero Dosage Laura Cugini
Refreshments: salsiccia, vegetables, potatoes and other grilled delicacies
Price: 2,500 CZK per person
Book now >>
29 September: A BLIND TASTING OF ALTO ADIGE IN DEJVICE
During our second tasting evening, we’ll be travelling to Alto Adige, a significant wine-growing region in northern Italy, where the rugged landscape, altitude and influence of the Alps all have a significant impact on the character of the wines. We’ll explore four winemakers and four different sites that showcase the diversity of local viticulture, and we’ll taste a total of six wines – ranging from whites to rosés to reds. As this is a blind tasting, you won’t know in advance what’s in your glass, so as not to spoil the surprise or take away the fun of guessing.
When: 29 September, 5–7 pm
Where: the italians Dejvice, Národní obrany 29
What we’ll be tasting: 6 wines (white, rosé, red) from the Alto Adige region
Refreshments: platters with cold cuts, cheeses and other delicacies
Price: 1,399 CZK per person
Book now >>
7 October: WINE AND ITALIAN STREET FOOD IN SMÍCHOV
The third tasting evening will combine wine with street food, an integral part of Italian street life. We’ll journey through several distinctive wine-growing regions – from the vineyards of Valdobbiadene, through the Adige Valley, to the Tuscan coast at Bolgheri and on to Montalcino. To round off the evening, we’ll head to Sardinia, to the high-altitude vineyards around Mamoiada. Each wine will be paired with a different street food speciality, from Venetian cicchetti to Neapolitan pizza.
When: 7 October, 5–7 pm
Where: the italians café / wine shop, Smíchov, Strakonická 948/1 (if there are more than 10 people, the tasting will take place in the café; for up to 10 people, it will be in the wine shop)
What we’ll be tasting: Prosecco Sui Lieviti Drusian, Riesling Ignaz Niedrist, Vermentino Le Pinete Dario Di Vaira, Pinot Grigio Riserva Cesconi, Rosso di Montalcino San Polino, Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva Luca Gungui
Refreshments: Italian street food (Venetian cicchetti with salmon, Margherita pizza, beef carpaccio with truffle oil in a panini, mini burger made with free-range beef in a panini, focaccia with mortadella and burrata, salsiccia in a panini)
Price: 1,400 CZK per person
Book now >>
13 October: PIEDMONT IN DEJVICE
Piedmont is one of the Italian regions that has firmly established itself in the world of wine. During the evening, we’ll explore the hills of Roero and Langhe and gradually introduce the grape varieties typical of this part of northern Italy. From the fresh Arneis through Barbera, we’ll move on to Nebbiolo and wines from Barbaresco and Barolo. We’ll also explore how differently individual winemakers can work with the same grape varieties and terroirs.
When: 13 October, 5–7 pm
Where: the italians Dejvice, Národní obrany 29
What we’ll be tasting: Roero Arneis Cornarea, Roero Arneis Enritard Cornarea, Barbera d’Alba Cascina Nuova Mauro Veglio, Barbera d’Alba Betlem Pedemontis, Barbaresco Bricco Neive Cigliuti, Barolo Pressenda Abbona
Refreshments: platters with cold cuts, cheeses and other delicacies
Price: 1,599 CZK per person
Book now >>
21 October: PIEDMONT AT SMÍCHOV
Piedmont deserves another evening – this time we’ll set off from the Alta Langa, where interesting Metodo Classico sparkling wines are produced, through the Roero to Barbaresco and Barolo. We’ll taste Arneis, nicknamed the ‘naughty child of Piedmont’, and compare two different interpretations of Barbaresco from winemakers whose vineyards lie just a stone’s throw apart. To round off the evening, we’ll enjoy a Barolo from one of the prestigious vineyards in La Morra. The evening will thus offer several different perspectives on one of Italy’s most fascinating wine regions.
When: 21 October, 5–7 pm
Where: the italians café / wine shop, Smíchov, Strakonická 948/1 (if there are more than 10 people, the tasting will take place in the café; for up to 10 people, it will be in the wine shop)
What we’ll be tasting: Metodo Classico Alta Langa Abbona, Roero Arneis Enritard Cornarea, Rosso Sito Moresco Gaja, Barbaresco Gaja, Barbaresco Bricco Neive Cigliuti, Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata Mauro Veglio
Refreshments: platters of cold cuts and cheeses, plus one hot regional speciality
Price: 1,999 CZK per person
Book now >>
29 October: A BLIND TASTING OF ITALIAN WINES IN PRŮHONICE
During this tasting, we’ll take a journey across Italy – from north to south and out to the islands – to demonstrate just how diverse Italian wines can be. We’ll be tasting six wines from six different regions and six different winemaking styles. As this is a blind tasting, we’ll only reveal that we’ll be tasting sparkling, white and red wines from the Alps all the way to Sicily.
When: 29 October, 5–7 pm
Where: the italians Průhonice, Květnové náměstí 50
What we’ll be tasting: 6 wines (sparkling, white, red) from various Italian regions, from Alto Adige to Sicily
Refreshments: platters with cold cuts, cheeses and other delicacies
Price: 1,399 CZK per person
Book now >>
4 November: TUSCANY AT SMÍCHOV
Most of us know Tuscany primarily for Chianti, but its wine map is far more diverse. During the evening, we’ll take a journey from the coast at Bolgheri, through Chianti Classico, to the regions of Montalcino and Montepulciano. We’ll meet several prominent winemaking families, including one of Italy’s oldest winemaking dynasties, as well as authentic small-scale winemakers, and compare the region’s traditional and more modern wineries. The common thread will be, above all, Sangiovese and the terroirs that give each wine its character.
When: 4 November, 5–7 pm
Where: the italians café / wine shop, Smíchov, Strakonická 948/1 (if there are more than 10 people, the tasting will take place in the café; for up to 10 people, it will be in the wine shop)
What we’ll be tasting: Bianco Vistamare Ca’Marcanda Gaja, Rosso di Montalcino Le Potazzine, Brunello di Montalcino San Polino, Nobile di Montepulciano Salco Salcheto, Chianti Classico Castello di Fonterutoli Gran Selezione Mazzei, Siepi Mazzei
Refreshments: platters of cold cuts and cheeses, plus one hot regional speciality
Price: 2,499 CZK per person
Book now >>
10 November: TUSCANY IN DEJVICE
We’ll begin our second encounter with Tuscany once again in Bolgheri, where we’ll compare two very different approaches to local winemaking – the micro-winery of Dario Di Vaira and the Gaja family’s Ca’ Marcanda project, established as an experiment to demonstrate how international grape varieties perform near the sea. From the coast, we’ll head inland, via Montepulciano to Montalcino, where we’ll return to the traditional Sangiovese. We’ll also be tasting wines from old and organically managed vineyards, as well as one ‘Super Tuscan’.
When: 10 November, 5–7 pm
Where: the italians Dejvice, Národní obrany 29
What we’ll be tasting: Spumante Mokab Laura Cugini (welcome drink), Rosso Bolgheri Superiore Dario Di Vaira, Promis Ca’Marcanda Gaja, Nobile di Montepulciano Vecchie Viti Salcheto, Brunello di Montalcino Helichrysum San Polino, Siepi Mazzei
Refreshments: platters with cold cuts, cheeses and other delicacies
Price: 1,899 CZK per person
Book now >>
12 November: FROM PIEDMONT TO SARDINIA IN PRŮHONICE
What should you try if you want to take a journey through Italy from the north all the way to Sardinia in a single evening? We’ll start in Piedmont with an elegant white cuvée from the Gaja family and a Barolo from Elia Grasso, then move on to Valpolicella for an Amarone, and in Tuscany we’ll stop for the ‘Super Tuscan’ Siepi from Mazzei, which was created as their take on a great wine outside the traditional Tuscan boundaries. Our journey will end in Mamoiada, Sardinia, where Cannonau is grown in old vineyards at unusually high altitudes. Glass by glass, we’ll explore four distinctive wine regions and their wines that are well worth discovering.
When: 12 November, 5–7 pm
Where: the italians Průhonice, Květnové náměstí 50
What we’ll be tasting: Champagne Zero Dosage Encry (welcome drink), Bianco Rossj Bass Gaja, Barolo Elio Grasso, Amarone della Valpolicella Begali, Siepi Mazzei, Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva Luca Gungui
Refreshments: platters with cold cuts, cheeses and other delicacies
Price: 2,199 CZK per person
Book now >>
18 November: CHAMPAGNE VS. ITALIAN METODO CLASSICO IN SMÍCHOV
To round off our autumn series, we’ll be looking at how winemakers in Champagne, Lombardy and Trentino have fared in producing sparkling wines using the traditional method. We’ll be tasting several different styles – from vintage Champagnes through Blanc de Blancs and Champagne Rosé to Lombardy’s Franciacorta and the ‘mountain champagne’ from Trentino – and comparing how the wine’s origin, grape varieties and the winemaker’s craftsmanship are reflected in the glass.
When: 18 November, 5–7 pm
Where: the italians café / wine shop, Smíchov, Strakonická 948/1 (if there are more than 10 people, the tasting will take place in the café; for up to 10 people, it will be in the wine shop)
What we’ll be tasting: Champagne Assemblage 2015 Bruno Paillard, Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2014 Bruno Paillard, Champagne Rosé Egly-Ouriet, Champagne Cuvée Bruno Paillard, Metodo Classico Blauwal Riserva Cesconi, Franciacorta Zero Dosage Laura Cugini
Refreshments: platters with cold cuts, cheeses and other delicacies
Price: 2,499 CZK per person
Book now >>
You don’t need to be a sommelier. You don’t need to be able to identify a grape variety by its aroma. All you need is a desire to taste, discover and enjoy an evening in the company of wines, each of which has its own little story to tell.
We look forward to seeing you over a glass!