Wine Tasting Event at Buon Cibo
Italian Varietals You May Not Know, or Have Enjoyed Yet
Four courses. Seven wines. One sommelier guiding you through every pour.
We are hosting our first Wine Event series at Buon Cibo – an intimate evening of Italian food and rare wines, most of which you have never seen on a restaurant menu, a grocery shelf, or even a wine list. Grapes that were nearly extinct. Varietals that have been grown in Italy for over 2,000 years. Wines with stories that make them taste even better.
Our sommelier will walk you through each wine as it arrives with your course – where it comes from, what makes it special, and why it belongs with what is on your plate. No wine knowledge required. Just curiosity and an appetite.
This is not a lecture. It is a dinner party. Come hungry, come curious, and bring the people you want to share a great night with.
The Wines – 7 Pours
Each wine has been hand-selected for this evening. Your sommelier will introduce every pour with its story, tasting notes, and pairing guidance.
Nativ Grillo 2022 – Sicily
Your evening begins with a Sicilian white grape most people have never heard of. Grillo was originally grown for Marsala production, today it stands on its own as a bright, crisp wine with citrus, green apple, and a subtle saltiness locals say comes from the Mediterranean breeze. Light, refreshing, and the perfect way to open the night.
Olivi Le Buche Memento 2018 – Tuscany
A Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese and Syrah from a small estate in the Sienese hills, guided by the former winemaker of Ornellaia. Dark fruit, leather, espresso, and a long, structured finish. This is the kind of wine that made Tuscany famous -- bold, polished, and built for food.
Cennatoio Mammolo Merlot 2015 – Chianti, Tuscany
An organic Merlot from a family estate perched at 600 meters in the heart of Chianti. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels. The 2015 vintage has had years to develop into something velvety and complex, wild berries, cassis, espresso, and cedar. Not your everyday Merlot. Not even close.
Nativ Eremo San Quirico Aglianico 2020 – Campania
Aglianico is called "the Barolo of the South." It is one of Italy's most ancient and powerful grapes, the name likely comes from "Helleniko" (Greek), because Greek colonists brought it to southern Italy over 2,500 years ago. Bold, tannic, smoky, with dark cherry, leather, and volcanic minerality. A wine that demands your attention.
Schola Sarmenti Antieri Susumaniello 2020 – Puglia
Susumaniello means "little donkey" in local dialect -- named because the vines produce such heavy grape clusters they needed donkeys to carry the harvest. This grape was nearly extinct. Now a handful of producers in Puglia's sun-drenched Salento region are bringing it back. Dense, dark, rich, blackberry, dark chocolate, and licorice. A genuine discovery.
Olivi Le Buche Pugnitello 2016 – Tuscany
Pugnitello gets its name from "pugno," fist, because the grape clusters look like a clenched fist. There are only a handful of producers in the entire world making wine from this grape. It was nearly extinct before a few dedicated Tuscan growers rescued it. Bold, tannic, dark plum and dark chocolate. Most wine experts have never even tasted it. Tonight, you will.
Fondo Antico Per Te Perricone 2021 – Sicily
The evening closes where it began, in Sicily. Perricone is an ancient Sicilian grape that was once widely planted, then nearly forgotten. A few dedicated producers are bringing it back. Earthy, herbal, with sour cherry and dried Mediterranean herbs. This grape connects directly to Tom's Sicilian heritage. It was originally one of the key grapes used in Marsala production, now rediscovered as something bold, honest, and deeply Sicilian.
Wines sponsored by Davigna Wines
The Menu
Burrata Appetizer | Creamy burrata with Sicilian blood orange jam, a drizzle of hot honey, salted pistachios, olive oil, and fresh basil
Arugula Salad | Peppery arugula tossed with mandarin oranges, blackberries, heirloom tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and candied nuts, dressed in raspberry walnut vinaigrette
Prosciutto and Arugula Pinsa | Our crispy Roman-style pinsa topped with fresh mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, prosciutto di Parma, rocket arugula, and balsamic glaze, finished with garlic oil
Chocolate Cake | Rich chocolate cake with raspberry puree and a dollop of fresh cream
The Details
Sommelier-Guided Wine Tasting | Hand-selected wines paired with each course throughout the evening – with tasting notes, regional stories, and pairing guidance from our sommelier
$60 per person, plus taxes and gratuity included at $75 per person prepaid. Four courses and seven wine pours included.
Two dates. Pick your night.
Thursday, March 26 – 5:30 PM to 7:45 PM
Thursday, April 16 – 5:30 PM to 7:45 PM
Each evening is limited to 25 guests.
Take Your Favorites Home
Every Wine Dinner guest receives 10% off any wine bottles purchased that night. When you taste something you love – and you will – you can bring it home with you.
What to Know Before You Arrive
This is a cashless prepaid event, taxes, and gratuity are added at our online checkout for a stress-free experience. Please arrive by 5:15 PM so we can get everyone settled before the first pour. Must be 21+ to attend.
Full refund for cancellations 48+ hours before the event. Cancellations within 48 hours are non-refundable but transferable to another guest.
