A little taste of Tuscany is coming to the banks of the River Ness this November as Ness Walk prepares to host an intimate evening bringing together exceptional Italian wines and some of the finest seasonal produce from the Highlands.
The five star Inverness hotel will host its Tuscan Wine Tasting & Dining Experience on Saturday 21 November, with wines from two of Italy’s most celebrated estates, Biondi-Santi and Isole e Olena, taking centre stage.
Lorenzo Tonelli of Liberty Wines will guide guests through an opening masterclass featuring five wines before the evening moves into Ness Walk’s Torrish restaurant for a specially created dinner matched course by course with further selections from the two Tuscan estates.
For wine lovers, the masterclass offers an unusual opportunity to taste different vintages side by side, including the 2019 and 2021 Isole e Olena ‘Cepparello’ and three Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino vintages spanning 2009 to 2020.
That comparison will give guests an opportunity to explore how the wines develop over time, with Tonelli guiding the tasting in a way designed to be equally welcoming to those discovering these wines for the first time and experienced collectors.
Biondi-Santi occupies a particularly important place in Italian wine history and is widely credited with creating Brunello di Montalcino, having bottled its first vintage in 1888 and spent more than a century producing Sangiovese wines renowned for their ability to age.
Isole e Olena has established an equally formidable reputation in Chianti Classico, becoming known for wines of purity and character that have helped make the estate an important name in modern Tuscan winemaking.
The evening has deliberately been designed for newcomers as well as experienced collectors, with no previous wine knowledge required to take part in the guided tasting or appreciate what promises to be a rather special collection of bottles.
Tonelli said:
“I’ve been lucky enough to taste some of the best and most unique bottles produced anywhere in the world.
“Now I get to share that passion.”
Dinner will follow overlooking the River Ness, with the hotel’s kitchen team creating a menu around seasonal Highland produce and matching each course with carefully selected wines.
Among those being poured during dinner will be a 2012 Rare Champagne, Isole e Olena Chianti Classico and Chardonnay, Biondi-Santi Rosso di Montalcino and a 2012 Vin Santo to finish the evening.
The combination gives the evening a distinctly Highland character despite its Tuscan heart, bringing celebrated Italian winemaking together with produce from the region in the riverside surroundings of one of Inverness’s five star hotels.
Tony Story, CEO of Kingsmills Hotel Group, said:
“Occasions like this don’t come around often.
“We’re bringing together two of Tuscany’s most celebrated estates and genuinely rare vintages, alongside a 2012 Rare Champagne we’re delighted to be pouring.
“Lorenzo’s passion for these bottles is infectious, and we’re incredibly grateful to bring something this special to the Highlands.
“This is an event for people who love exceptional food, outstanding wine and an all-round memorable evening.”
The Tuscan Wine Tasting & Dining Experience begins at 6.30pm on Saturday 21 November and costs £195 per guest, with places limited due to the intimate nature of the event.
Overnight accommodation at Ness Walk is also available for those travelling to Inverness, turning an evening of Tuscany on the River Ness into something rather more leisurely.
