Wednesday night, we were invited to celebrate an intimate dinner hosted by the Marchesi di Barolo winery at Thomas Keller’s newly opened TAK Room in Hudson Yards New York.
In celebration of the Abbona family’s 90th anniversary of the Italian estate, Valentina Abbona and her mother Anna took the guests through the rich and lustrous family history of the Barolo winery beginning with a cocktail reception and leading into a formal five course dinner. Chef Thomas Keller prepared the menu for the event, consisting of an iceberg salad with Applewood smoked bacon, marinated tomatoes, and Maytag bleu cheese; a hearty and smokey hand-cut steak tartare; mouthwatering true ribeye steak with buttermilk whipped potatoes, red wine shallot jus, and garlic spinach; and a decadent dark chocolate layer cake. Accompanied with each entree were an assortment of wines from the Barolo winery including Barbera d’Alba Periagal 2016, Barolo Sarmassa 2014, Barolo del Comune di Barolo 2014, Barolo Riservas (2009, 1999, 1989), and Moscato d’Asti Zagara 2017. Favorites among the guests were the Barolo Sarmassa 2014 for its bright flavor palate which gradually opens, evolving with distinct notes of cinnamon and tamarind, and also Barolo Riserva 1989 for its rich and distinctive finish that is both crisp and intense.
Throughout the evening, Valentina shared details about each group of wine, pairing the selection with stories of its creation, along with her childhood anecdotes from growing up on the winery. Hearing Valentina and her mother speak about the years of family heritage that went into making Marchesi di Barolo what it is today was nothing short of inspiring. Valentina showed her passion for winemaking by sharing stories about her small hometown of Barolo, Italy and the great lengths that the Abbona family went through over two centuries to bring their craft to the world. Valentina spoke about Marchesi di Barolo as where modernity and tradition meet, and where a great heritage of vineyards and knowledge had been passed down from parents to children for over five generations.
This mentality of old-meets-new made Hudson Yards & TAK Room the perfect pairing for Marchesi Di Barolo.
