Nolan Creek Winery celebrates Italian wine, harvest

“The planning on the menu was to showcase some things that I do really well, and to show people what to expect when they dine at La Riv,” Letson said.

Rosenberg’s knowledge of wines, history and food helped convey to attendees and their imaginations on a savory journey of flavors throughout Italy’s countryside and coastlines.

Guitarist and singer Joe Young helped set the tone as he performed jazz standards and pop favorites throughout the evening.

The reception opened with a “Molo 8 Lambrusco and Arancini” — bread crumb-ccovered fried rice balls — with sundried tomato pesto.

“This is not the lambrusco of 15 years ago,” Rosenberg said. “There have been many improvements.”

Immediately following, a crostini with grilled chicken liver pate, parmesan, capers and lemon zest whetted appetites along with “Santadi Vermantino Villa Solais,” a white wine from Campania.

“This is where Roman emperors went to relax, and where George Clooney vacations now,” Rosenberg said.

“Insalata di Grano,” a light salad with farro grains, frisee endive, shaved fennel, confit tomato, and lemon-vinaigrette came next, accompanied by a red wine, “Vila Matilde Greco di Tufo.” Rosenberg described how the mountainous area’s lack of trees led the ancient Phoenicians and Greeks to use their spears as supports to keep grape vines off the ground, this ancient practice is reflected in the name “Greco.”

“Grapes from vines should struggle, to concentrate their sugars,” Letender said. “Those gnarly vines we see are going deep to find water and minerals in these limestone regions.”

While all were sipping “Santadi Grotta Rossa,” a red wine that was served solo, Rosenberg related the story of Texas scientist T.V. Munson.

“You may not know this, but it was a Texan who saved wine,” he said. By grafting Texas native grape root stocks to European vines in 1880, Munson saved France’s vineyards from devastation by the phylloxera root louse.

“This is the fourth or fifth event we’ve been to at Nolan Creek. It introduced us to different food and wines we might not have tried without this pairing,” said Britt Dalton, of Salado. “It’s always been fruitful for us.”

Nolan Creek Winery will carry all of these wines exclusively, and they will appear on the menu at La Riv, Nolan Creek Winery’s sister venue opening at 7410 W. Adams in Temple this fall. For more information, call 254-613-4475, or go to winesofnolancreek.com.