Cheers To Spring In Southwest Florida With These New Italian Wines

We still might be experiencing mild cold fronts in Florida. However, this is a transition time for wardrobes as well as cuisine and wine. It's also a good time to try new things. Cheers to Spring in Southwest Florida with these new Italian wines for Wine Wednesday.

The wine comes from Mura Mura in Pedemonte, Italy and is new to the Sunshine State. On the surface, wines from the cooler climate of northern Italy might not sound like a good pairing with hot and humid Southwest Florida. However, after being introduced to them last week, I can affirm that they are.

Six wines from the Mura Mura portfolio were served during a dinner at Blossom & Brie Farm in North Fort Myers. Look for more on the location and some of the cool things happening there, later this week.

It was a near perfect backdrop for introducing this wine to the market. The estate of Mura Mura grows more than grape vines. There is orchard fruit too. Like Blossom and Brie, the land is special and tended too with great care.

During our dinner, each wine was paired with seasonal produce and proteins, many of which were harvested at the farm. The evening began with passed appetizers and a glass of Bianca. Bianca is the grape and almost everyone went back for more. It was refreshing and fruity but not sweet, with tropical notes such as pineapple. It was also a bit floral and perfect for Florida cuisine.

The reds included Barbera d'Asti. I love these wines. This one smelled inviting, fresh and almost effervescent. On the palate were lots of wild red berries, and nice acidity. I like it slightly chilled. It was served with beef carpaccio. More on that dish is below.

Two Barbarescos followed. The first was a 2017 Faset that was elegant and smooth with dried fruit on the nose. It had these great hints of dried apricot and was a little peppery on the finish. Served with roasted duck breast, it was a fantastic pairing.

Next, was Starderi. This Barbaresco was served alongside a mouthwatering strip steak with foie gras butter. The wine smelled so good I could not take my nose out of the glass to try it. There was an explosion of flavors, like a piñata, to complement the rich meat.

There was nothing typical about the Moscato served for dessert. This was not effervescent or full of fresh stone fruits and berries. This was dense. It was like sauterne, a famous dessert wine from France. This is for wine geeks and anyone who enjoys dessert wine.

Nice job Chef Wesley Robbins. I can't wait to attend more of your dinners. And welcome to Florida Mura Mura. Cheers to Wine Wednesday. Drink responsibly.

Media in attendance were given free food and drinks to sample at the reopening of the Beacon Social Drinkery, the renovated Luminary Hotel rooftop bar, in exchange for an unbiased review.

The much anticipated unveiling happened last night. Here is an inside look at the renovated Luminary Hotel rooftop bar downtown Fort Myers. The Beacon Social Drinkery is arguably one of downtown's most popular spots to mingle. Even better, it has the best sunset view. Beacon is the rooftop bar at The Luminary Hotel & Co. and it is now dressed in black, red and silver with pops of green. It is in celebration of the Chinese Year of the Dragon.

When Beacon Social initially opened, it was bright, light and airy. It is still airy, but the colors are darker and the vibe is more trendy-chic. The rafters are dark and adorned with bright red paper lanterns. Couches that once sprawled on the deck have been replaced with both high and low tops. It seems to flow better and allow for more people to mingle. There is new lighting and vibrant artwork as well. In addition, a new green wall with the words “Shed a little Light” in neon is perfect for photo-ops. It looks great. The sunset was amazing too.

The Year of the Dragon theme also carries over to the cocktails and cuisine. They have an Asian flare. The menu full of small bites has been redesigned and it got great reviews from those in attendance last night. New to the line-up include things such as Shrimp and Mango Summer Roll, Steamed Pot Stickers, Pork Belly Bao Bun, Grilled Shrimp Skewers in ginger garlic soy sauce, and lots more. In addition, it has a few of Beacon's old favorites such as Wagyu Beef Sliders and Fig & Goat cheese Flatbread.