Farsons Beverage Imports Company (FBIC) Limited recently teamed up with Chef Martin Camilleri from The Chef in Xemxija to host a Cena Piemontese showcasing some great wines from Luciano Sandrone, Elio Altare and Fontanafredda.

Luciano Sandrone is one of the iconic producers in Barolo and Elio Altare is universally acknowledged to be one of the world's greatest winemakers. Fontanafredda is an historic wine estate founded in the 1800s by Count Emanuele Guerrieri, the natural son of the first King of Italy – Victor Emmanuel II – and Countess Rosa of Mirafiori.

Guests started off with Fontanafredda’s Hundred Fifty Seven Brut, a special anniversary edition brought over specifically for this dinner. Next up was Fontanafredda’s Langhe Arneis which paired very well with a scallion and wild boar risotto. Elio Altare’s Dolcetto 2014 astounded everybody with a nice complexity not usually associated with this grape variety. The highly sought-after Barolo Le Vigne 2005 en magnum from Luciano Sandrone was definitely the showstopper. It presented a nose of dark fruits, black cherries and dark chocolate. On the palate vanilla, chocolate and cassis combined with layers of fruit with a full-bodied mouthfeel and velvety tannins. Luciano Sandrone’s Barbera d’Alba 2013 was a perfect accompaniment to Chef Martin’s cheese selection from the Valle dell’Elvo. The evening was then capped off with the pleasant floral and peach notes of Fontanafredda’s Moscato d’Asti.

FBIC Ltd, a member of the Farsons Group, imports and distributes Elio Altare, Luciano Sandrone and Fontanafredda wines locally. All are available in selected restaurants, wine boutiques and The Wine Shop at Farsonsdirect in Mriehel www.farsonsdirect.com.