Taste of Italy

Author: Italy Texas

  • Simply Italian Great Wines – Prosecco seminar (Sold out) with Federdoc and Italian wine educator Jeremy Parzen at Taste of Italy, Feb. 26.

    Simply Italian Great Wines – Prosecco seminar (Sold out) with Federdoc and Italian wine educator Jeremy Parzen at Taste of Italy, Feb. 26.

    Please join us on Monday, February 26, as Houston-based wine educator Jeremy Parzen leads through a guided tasting of wines from Prosecco.

    “Prosecco DOC: Passion in the bubbles, with an introduction by Federdoc presenting Traceability and regulation of Italian DOC wines” will be held on the occasion of the 10th-annual Taste of Italy trade fair, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Hilton Post Oak Hotel in Houston.

    This exclusive class arrives to Houston thanks to the exciting collaboration with Simply Italian Great Wines Americas tour 2024.

    Click here to reserve.

    Click here to see all available events at this year’s gathering, including the Texas BBQ and Italian Wine seminar, the grand tasting, and much more.

    Not only is Jeremy a major fan of Prosecco and its wines. But he lived in the land of Prosecco when he first traveled to Italy as a student. Later, his first feature story for the magazine of La Cucina Italiana was devoted to Prosecco.

    As he and attendees taste through the wines together, he’ll lead a conversation on history, traditions, and new trends in the appellation.

    About Jeremy:

    Jeremy Parzen is a widely published wine writer and educator, a professor of wine and food communications at the Slow Food University in Italy, and author of the popular blog on Italian wine, DoBianchi.com. Jeremy also has a Ph.D. in Italian literature.

  • Italian Wine and Texas BBQ seminar (Sold Out)

    Italian Wine and Texas BBQ seminar (Sold Out)

    When one of the IACC team members traveled to Lombardy, Italy, last year, he was surprised to learn that young chefs there are regularly serving their guests barbecue. But not just any smoked meats, no: Across Italy, classic dry rub “Texas BBQ” is the word of the day. You won’t find any mention of “Kansas City BBQ” or “Memphis BBQ.” For the Italians it seems, only Texas BBQ will do!

    (See this article on Texas BBQ in Italy by longtime Houston Chronicle columnist Chris Reid, a frequent IACC partner and founder of the Houston Barbecue Festival.)

    On Monday, February 26, on the occasion of the 10th annual Taste of Italy trade fair and festival, the IACC will once again be presenting the “Italian Wine and Texas BBQ” seminar with leading Houston pit master Ara Malekian (in the picture above), owner of Harlem Rd. Texas BBQ, and Italian wine writer and educator Jeremy Parzen, author of DoBianchi.com.

    The event begins at 2 p.m. and will be held at the Hilton Post Oak.
    To pair with smoked wagyu brisket marinated in red Italian wine, smoked Pork belly, both items served with creamy polenta – prepared by Chef Ara – we selected the following 6 wines, featured in the Seminar:

    Langhe Nebbiolo, Cerrino, Piemonte  (available at Spec’s)
    Aglianico del Sannio, La Guardiense, Campania (available at Spec’s) Ferzo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Citra, Abruzzo (available at Spec’s)
    Cabernet-Merlot, Carlo Scala, Puglia     New to the marketChianti Riserva DOCG, Castelsina, Toscana New to the Market
    Chianti Governo, Il Risveglio, Valvirgino, Toscana (available at Spec’s)

    Please note that this event will sell out quickly! Please reserve at your earliest convenience to ensure availability.

    And for those who register before January 31, there is an early bird discount.

    We look forward to seeing you at one of the most popular Italian wine events of the year!

  • Taste of Italy Houston (February 26) buyers registration now open!

    Taste of Italy Houston (February 26) buyers registration now open!

    Taste of Italy Houston returns on Monday, February 26 — now in its 10th year!

     

    Taste of Italy Houston is the largest trade fair in the U.S. devoted exclusively to Italian food and wine. After a decade as the leading trade resource for Italian products in Texas, the gathering is one of the best attended culinary events of the year, with over 40 exhibitors, more than 300 products, and between 400-500 attendees, including trade and media. Guests attend from as far away as El Paso, Dallas, and New Orleans.

    This year’s fair is the first where the organizers will be partnering with the Simply Italian Great Wines Americas Tour. And one of this year’s seminars (at 11.30 am) will be devoted to the wines of event sponsor FederDoc – Prosecco DOC, one of the exhibitors who is part of the tour.

    The event will be held at the Hotel Hilton Post Oak by the Galleria (2001 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056) on Monday, February 26.

    Program

    11 a.m. – 4.30 pm – General admission at the Walk-around tasting – Click here to register to the Grand Tasting. The registration to either seminar will automatically allow the access to the Walk-around tasting.

    11.30 a.m. -12.30 p.m. Masterclass – “Prosecco DOC: Passion in the bubbles, with an introduction by Federdoc presenting Traceability and regulation of Italian DOC wines” (SOLD OUT).

    2-3 p.m. Our Signature Seminar on pairing Italian wines with Texas barbecue. Click here to attend this Seminar.

    The Houston Italian Wine Ambassador Competition also returns to Taste of Italy Houston this year, with new leadership and a new format, realized with the support of the Consorzio del Pinot Grigio delle Venezie. Click here to learn more. Registration is closed for this event.

  • A Taste of Italy Success Story: Winemakers break into the Texas market thanks to IACC member Beviamo International.

    A Taste of Italy Success Story: Winemakers break into the Texas market thanks to IACC member Beviamo International.

    For those of us who work at the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Texas, there could be no greater reward than to know that our efforts have connected Italian businesses with partners here in the U.S.

    For more than 10 years, our Taste of Italy trade fair and festival, the largest in the U.S. devoted exclusively to Italian food and wine, has helped Texas-based importers to discover new wines to bring to our market.

    One such case is that of Beviamo International, a Houston area importer and distributor of fine Italian wines.

    Over the years, Beviamo International’s owner Angelo Ferrari has expanded his Italian portfolio by adding wineries he’s first encountered and wines he first tasted at the fair.

    And we couldn’t be prouder to share the news that he has recently placed brands like La Guardiense, Coali (introduced by our proud member Sebastiano Bazzano with B.Connected), Silvestri, Madaudo, and even Citra, one of Abruzzo’s most important producers, at Spec’s locations across the state.

    Our mission is to create community between Italy and America. And there could be no better example of our mission fulfilled than Angelo’s recent placements at one of the biggest retailers in the U.S., with nearly 200 stores in Texas.

    Congratulations to Angelo, Beviamo International, and his wonderful portfolio of Italian wineries!

  • Thank you for a great Taste of Italy Dallas 2023!

    Thank you for a great Taste of Italy Dallas 2023!

    Thank you to all our exhibitors and participants for making Taste of Italy Dallas such a wonderful experience for all involved!

    The second annual Taste of Italy Dallas (Nov. 9-10, 2023) included:

    – 40 exhibitors from Italy and the U.S.
    – 150 buyers in attendance from across the state of Texas.
    – A sold-out master class on the wines of Rome.

    The next day, our exhibitors took part in a public-facing event hosted by Eataly, “All You Can Eataly,” where food and wine lovers had the opportunity to experience:

    – 25+ tasting stations.
    – 50+ Italian wines.
    – 25+ Italian and local craft beers.
    – Light bites from local restaurants.
    – Italian cocktails.
    – In-person chef demos.
    – Line dancing and live music.

    The organizers would also like to thank sponsor Haynes Boone who hosted our exhibitors and the mayor of Reggio Emilia, Luca Vecchi, for a welcome reception and expert panel. The law firm’s New York-based partner Giorgio Bovenzi and Dallas associate Joanna Pearce delivered excellent talks on new U.S. rules for the importation of food and wine. Warm thanks also to associate Colin Cox and partner Larry Pascal for putting such a great event together for the visiting Italians.

    To see more images of the events and exhibitors by Dallas-based photographer Claire Giroux, please click here.