Yes it's that most wonderful time of the year again...No I haven't lost my mind. I know we are well past the holiday season but my favorite wine tasting of the year is fast approaching. Nadia Galati's Italian Wine Makers Tour comes to us a bit early in 2013 so make your plans now.

Red, white, dry, sweet, still, sparkling, this tasting has something for every wine lover. From Amarone to Susumaiello and everything in between, the Italian peninsula is represented by the very best producers from each region. Those who have attended this event in the past know it's not just the wines that make this a special evening but the winemakers themselves are such a warm, passionate, fun-loving group that you will want to hop on a plane to Italy tomorrow to visit their estates...and many of them have bed and breakfast accommodations on property.

Many of our old favorites are back this year; Giovanna Tantini [Bardolino], Sisto Tessari [Soave], Mauro Pavia [Barbera], Giovanni Cattani [Vino Nobile di Montepulciano], Albero Passeri [Brunello di Montalcino], Massimo Nicolis [Amarone], Piero Lanza [Chianti Classico], Eleonora Giorgi [Costarosa], and of course Gregory Perrucci [Puglia]. In addition we have two winemakers presenting their wines for the first time in Florida. Cristina Neri from the island of Sardegna will be pouring her Vermentino and Cannonau. And Michele Di Gregorio will be pouring the classic red and white wines of Campania, including her Taurasi. 

Dates for this year's Italian Tour are January 30th in Sunrise, January 31 in Vero Beach, February 1st in Jacksonville and then the grand finale on February 2nd in Tampa at the MOSI Food and Wine Festival. 

Go to ABCFWS.com for more details and hope to see you there!                                                                                                                                                                     

Last years group of crazy, fun-loving Italians including yours truly in the back row.

Paul Quaglini

Twitter: @abcwinepaulq