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A Walk-Around Tasting
Join us for a casual afternoon tasting that will explore the untamed wines of Italy’s best-loved island wine regions: Sicilia and Sardegna. We're offering you the chance to meet Alberto Aiello Graci of Graci, an estate on the lava-rich slopes of Etna, and to taste an array of his mineral-laden, delicious wines made from indigenous grapes. To round out the experience, we’ll pour wines from the Giacomo Tachis-led Punica, as well as Santadi, and Contini, all accompanied by regional meats and cheeses. Chock full of indigenous grapes, ancient methods, caring producers and wild terroir, this tasting will take you for a walk on the island side.

A Walk-Around Tasting
That noise you’ve been hearing is the recent buzz about biodynamic wines. They’re the wines that are more organic than organic, more natural than nature, and more exciting than you could imagine. But what exactly makes a wine “biodynamic”? Join us for this special sit-down tasting and get “mouth-on” instruction from knowledgeable IWM sommeliers on the ebbs, the flows and the lunar pull of biodynamic wines, as you enjoy the fruit of the labors of some of our favorite biodynamic winemakers. Accompanied by regional meats and cheeses, this tasting will give you the opportunity to enjoy Movia’s energetic sparkling wine Puro, Gravner’s ground-breaking and delicious Breg, Radikon’s exciting and beautifully mature Merlot 2000, as well as wines from Umbrian great Paolo Bea--and more. If you’ve never enjoyed biodynamically made wines before, prepare to become a convert to their lively, intense, celestial styles, and if you’re fan, renew your passion and expand your palate. These wines are more than exciting--they’re dynamic.

A Walk-Around Tasting
Pinot Noir: It's the grape so distinctive that it got its own movie. As Miles Raymond says in Sideways, Pinot Noir "can only grow in these really specific, little tucked-away corners of the world. And only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot's potential can then coax it into its fullest expression." This special walk-around tasting celebrates those special corners of the world with wines from Champagne’s Andre Clouet, Slovenia’s Movia, Burgundy’s Arnoux Lachaux, Argentina’s Bodega Chacra, Italy’s Hofstatter--and more, all complemented by meats and cheese. See what all that Sideways buzz is about as you learn how terroir influences this extraordinary varietal.

Saturday, June 9 1:00-3:00pm
A vertical of vintage Brunello dating back to 1990 from the historic Canalicchio di Sopra estate matched against an authentic Tuscan menu prepared by the IWM Culinary Team – it is the perfect Saturday afternoon. This is classic Brunello at its finest, and on the afternoon of Saturday, June 9th, guests of the Italian Wine Merchants winemaker series will taste and hear the story of Brunello directly from Montalcino’s native son, Francesco Ripaccioli (winemaker of Canalicchio di Sopra). This is one of region’s original patriarchs and they have maintained their artisanal and traditional approach to making Brunello – they truly represent a dying breed under the Montalcino sun. Limited seating is available.

Monday, June 11 7:00pm
It is arguably one of the biggest events in wine this year. After 40 years at Louis Jadot, Jacques Lardière is stepping down, but not without a proper curtain call. The iconic winemaker is now preparing his worldwide farewell tour, which includes one cherished destination he has personally vowed to return to: Italian Wine Merchants (IWM). 

 On the evening of June 11th IWM will present a rare opportunity to taste the Grand and Premier Cru wines of Louis Jadot dating back to 1959, but an even more singular occasion to experience the wisdom of one of Burgundy’s fading traditionalists and protectors of the old guard. With four decades as a winemaker, and more than 100 appellations produced under the Jadot portfolio, few can speak of Burgundy, and life, like the charismatic Jacques Lardière. Every intimate aspect of the region’s treasured vineyards and past has been touched upon by this Last of the Mohicans. If these old gnarly vines could speak, they no doubt would echo the passionate words of their guardian: “Look at all the boring wines produced (from these ancient soils). Many of them are technically impeccable, but they have no soul, no personality in them. They could have been manufactured by robots.” 

 Do not miss this rare and final opportunity to experience one of the worlds most passionate and legendary winemakers while tasting the Premier and Grand Crus of Burgundy. The wines will be paired against a five-course dinner prepared by IWM’s very own Chef Kevin Sippel. Seating is extremely limited, as few destinations will offer such an intimate engagement on this farewell tour. Please plan accordingly.

A Walk-Around Tasting
Consider this event your passport to a world of wine. Join us for this mini-grand tasting where we'll be pouring more than twenty wines from around the globe. Begin with Champagne from Billecart-Salmon; then enjoy artisanal Chardonnay from Slovenia's Simcic or a glass of Maltroye's zen-like white Burgundy. Taste two great Riojas, the CVNE Imperial 2001 and the Ardanza Especial 2001, two wines that you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Sip wines from Italy's great producers Ornellaia, Quintarelli, Mascarello--and so many more--and now enjoy it all at a special pricing of $20 off our original event price. Four IWM sommeliers will serve as your tour guides at this walk-around tasting, helping you get to know wines you've never experienced and come to love even more the ones you've enjoyed. Spend two hours traveling Italy, France, North and South America as you drink wines, nibble meats and cheeses, and enjoy the company of wine-lovers like you. You'll even get a lovely parting gift of a tasting book chock full of information on the producers and the wines we're serving, and you'll receive preferential pricing on all the wines you taste. Travel broadens the mind, enlivens the spirit and enlarges the world--spend this Saturday with us and experience the world in a crystal wineglass.