Roma hosts its first in-person Winemaker Dinner

ROMA welcomed the new season with its first in-person winemaker dinner on Thursday night featuring the wines of Castello di Volpaia with special guest, winery owner and winemaker Federica Stianti. This is the first time since the shutdown in 2020 that Roma has had a visiting winemaker in-house for a wine dinner.

The evening began with a fresh Italian white wine chosen by wine director Jeremy Parzen as, unfortunately, the Maremma Vermentino produced by Volpaia was unavailable for the dinner. This aperitif wine was the greeting as guests arrived and were directed back to the private party room for this exclusive dinner.

Parzen introduced Federica of the famed Chianti Classico winery which is located in the heart of the region and she introduced the dinner guests to the beauty of her home through her family's wines. Several attendees had been on Roma's Zoom wine dinner hosted during the shutdown in 2020 and had fond memories of virtually traveling Italy with Roma from their homes and several had previously "met" Federica on-line at the Volpaia virtual dinner.

Federica and Parzen discussed the high elevations of the Volpaia vineyards which sit at about 1300 feet above sea level making them some of the highest in Tuscany, the sandstone soils, the family's choice to organically produce, and how this special terroir is reflected in the elegance found in these celebrated "mountain wines".

Although this dinner is over, guests were assured that more events are being planned. Parzen shared that Nebbiolo Fest is up next on Thursday, March 24. Other ongoing wine tasting opportunities at Roma include the ongoing virtual takeout wine dinners and the Free Wine Tastings with Jeremy on Tuesdays which pair well with a dinner reservation. This writer is looking forward to attending more of these more intimate in-person wine dinners.

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The classic Tuscan seafood stew at Roma.

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