For culinary connoisseurs, Italy is the Promised Land of truffles, parmigiano reggiano, olive oil and, of course, wine. Among its most prestigious offerings, Borgogno’s Barolo wines from Piedmont stand out as the ‘King of Wines and the Wine of Kings.’ This revered label, crafted in a region known for world-class vineyards like Tuscany and Veneto, derives its name from a collection of hills in Barolo—a landscape dotted with 11 picturesque villages.
Amongst the makers of this sought-after wine, Borgogno—was founded in 1761—is the oldest continuously operating winery in Barolo. In its legendary underground cellars, wines are made according to tradition: long spontaneous fermentations in concrete tanks without the use of selected yeasts, and long periods of ageing, strictly in large Slavonian oak barrels.
Recently at the Penang Marriott Hotel, these sensational wines were fêted during a one-night-only wine pairing dinner at Kucina. As one of the newest Italian restaurants on the island, its Santorini-inspired interiors include aquamarine accents, a grass ceiling feature, and windows overlooking the pool.
Giovanni Oliva, founder & managing director, Ethica Wines, Asia Pacific, who presented a brief background on Borgogno to the guests, said, “You don’t have Barolo without Nebbiolo, a grape varietal that is incredibly delicate and almost impossible to grow outside this area, which gives birth to the most sophisticated and refined wines”.
A selection of Borgogno wines, such as the Borgogno Barolo DOCG Riserva 2015, were paired with Italian dishes with an Asian flair conceived by Mohd Azhar bin Azmi, executive sous chef, Penang Marriott Hotel.
During the six-course meal, indulgence was plated in the form of Costolette di Manzo, classic braised wagyu short rib marinated over the course of 48 hours to create a succulent texture. This was accompanied by cauliflower and celeriac puree with vine tomatoes, which paired beautifully with the Barolo Liste DOCG 2017. Intensely ruby red, the remarkable single-vineyard Barolo boasts classic Nebbiolo notes of rose petals and red cherries on the nose, and has flavours of ripe red fruit layered with a subtle oak influence.
The night of epicurean excellence ended with several exquisite bottles being auctioned off for charity, including the Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 2018 (Magnum 1.5L), and cheers of “Salute” echoing throughout the walls of Kucina.
Photography: Norlman Lo
