A real taste of Italy

Home » Features » A real taste of Italy - and much more
A real taste of Italy - and much more
New VINOdiVINO spotlights not only wine but culture too
Posted: May 25, 2011
By Emily Thompson - Staff Writer | Comments (0) | Post comment
Walter Novak
Sommelier Dominik Kos and chef Mario D'Innocenzo.
If you've been dreaming of swirling a full-bodied Chianti on a sun-drenched Tuscan piazza but
won't be making it to Italy anytime soon, you needn't look any further than Old Town Square,
where nearby a newly opened wine bar and restaurant offers a taste of Il Bel Paese and much
more.
"This is a new location, but the same philosophy: wine, gastronomy and culture," said Giancarlo
Bertacchini - who co-owns VINOdiVINO along with the De Vignani family, Giorgio Maver and
West One Real Estate, s.r.o. - of the restaurant's move to Old Town in early April. Though the
tourist paths of Prague are saturated with Italian eateries and pizzerias, the wine selection, cuisine
and cultural programs at VINOdiVINO set it apart as a destination for true Italophiles who want
to learn more about the culinary and viticultural arts of Italy.
In addition to offering 500 wines from Italy and other famous wine-making regions,
VINOdiVINO's new location, reconstructed by the construction firm Praga Edile, takes the
degustation experience one step further by hosting events to help those interested in all things
Italian refine their knowledge of the country and its products.
Once per month, the restaurant will hold a tasting event focusing on a specific region of Italy.
Guests can enjoy wine and food presented by top chefs and sommeliers in the lower level of the
restaurant, which is equipped with projection equipment to provide guests with detailed
information about the region where the evening's delicacies originated.
VINOdiVINO
Address: Štupartská 18, Praha 1
Tel.: +420 222 311 791
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: Vinodivinopraha.cz
At a recent event, restaurant staff led guests on an appetizing tour of the Piemonte region in the
northwest corner of the country. The program included tasting of eight types of wines from the
area, and even lesser-known names like Contarini, Batasiolo and Vietti were on the menu.
Culinary specialties from Piemonte were a central part of the evening, and guests were able to
indulge in dishes hard to find outside of that region, like Bresaola, an aged beef served as an
appetizer, and a beef filet cooked in Nebbiolo d'Alba wine, and for desert, Zabaione cream with
moscato d'Asti wine.
But, of course, the wine is the star of the show.
"Your glass will never be empty," said restaurant director and chef Mario D'Innocenzo, who
helps would-be wine aficionados perfect their ability to recognize subtleties in the wines' bouquet
by doing blind tastings.
In a separate series of classes, D'Innocenzo shares his kitchen skills, which he finely tuned
growing up in central Italy, with guests interested in learning the secrets of Italian cuisine.
The restaurant also invites external wine experts in for classes focused exclusively on wine, and
Bertacchini says all of the events are a popular choice for company parties.
But even aside from the classes and cultural events, it's worth popping into VINOdiVINO for a
glass or two, as they have 16 white and 16 red varieties available by the glass. The lunch specials
are also inviting, and surprisingly affordable considering the quality and location.
D'Innocenzo says during the afternoon hours between lunch and dinner, full kitchen service takes
a break and staff focus on a wide variety of cold specialties imported directly from Italy
recommended to complement the different wines: salamis, salads and fresh cheeses, including
buffalo mozzarella.
"After all," D'Innocenzo said, "wine without food just doesn't really work."
Emily Thompson can be reached at
[email protected]