The Palace Hotel of Bari presents an event schedule full of initiatives. These events are devoted to promoting authentic regional food and wine traditions and enology courses. The courses are designed to promote knowledge of the many varieties of wine, and are organized in collaboration with AIS’s (Italian Association of Sommelier) delegation from Bari.
The elegant hotel in Puglia is not only the official headquarters of the Italian Association of Sommelier (AIS), but is also the location where the courses are being held. These courses are designed to educate the sommeliers’ of the future that will join this fascinating profession thanks to the experience and diploma acquire through their training.
There are also special initiatives planned for wine lovers. For example, “Per…corso di vino,” which includes a series of initiatives designed to deepen the participants’ theoretical knowledge of Enology. It includes student participation in a special dinner held in the exclusive hall-rooms of the Palace Hotel. Here they will match the studied varietals to specific dishes. The first appointment is set for Wednesday, May 18. The lecture deals with “Verdeca” and “Bianco D’Alessano” wines, and is followed by dinner held on Friday, May 27. The theoretical lesson on “Fiani di Puglia” is scheduled for Thursday, June 16th. The actual dinner will take place on Friday, June 24. The lecture regarding the “Bombino bianco e nero” (black and white) will be held on Wednesday, September 21st, and will be followed by a dinner on Friday, September 30th. Wednesday. November 16 is “Negroamaro’s” turn, followed by its related dinner on Friday, November 25th. The lesson on Friday, December 9 deals with “Moscato”, “Aleatico” and “Malvasia Bianca” varietals. It is followed by the dinner on Friday, December 16th, which marks the last of these events.
To promote and increase the use of typical products from the Apulian territory, such as the primary ingredients needed in its kitchen, the Palace Hotel organizes a series of events and initiatives in collaboration with the AIS (Italian Association of Sommelier). These events will take place throughout the year beginning on March 14th with “Musica dal…vivo” (Live music) held in the “Salone delle Feste”.
Special guest, at the luxurious ballroom of the Palace Hotel will be, Giovanni Bietti, author of a manual for making natural wines. He will enlighten the public on the theme of wine making and music. On this occasion he will introduce a wine tasting of six wines produced with the aid of biodynamic techniques, associated with six tracks of classic music which will be played live by a professional musicians—a violinist and pianist.
Later the Apulian hotel with its magnificent view of Bari’s picturesque downtown, known as Old Bari, consolidates its collaboration with professional enologists during the initiative called, “Settimane enogastronomiche” (Food and Wine Weeks). This initiative will feature the participation of some of the best AIS certified sommeliers. These experts will offer guests valuable advice for matching wines to a variety of dishes created especially by the hotel’s chef Vito Paradiso.
These special events include: The “Spring week” (“Settimana della Primavera”) from May 21-27th which includes the presence of a sommelier on the evenings of the 25th and 26th. The “Vegetarian Week” (Settimana Vegetariana) takes place from June 20 -25th and includes the presence of a sommelier on the evenings of the 23rd and 25th. This course is aimed at learning to match wines to vegetarian dishes made with seasonal products. From September 26th to October 1st is “Vintage Week” (“Settimana della Vendemmia”); the sommelier’s presence is expected on the evenings of September 29th and the 1st of October. The program will finish with “Truffle Week” (“Settimana del Tartufo”) which runs from November 22-26th, and includes the presence of a sommelier on the evenings of the 24th and 26th. The experts will offer their knowledge and professionalism and teach how to combine the right wine to the tasty dishes created this precious underground fungus.
Other initiatives taking place at the Palace Hotel include: “A tavola con gli Dei”(Eating with the gods). This special theme event celebrates Hellenic cuisine. It takes place over the weekend of April 8-10—and includes the participation of an AIS sommelier. “I Fiori a tavola” (Flowers on the table) is a wine and food event organize for May 23-29th which includes the presence in of a Sommelier on the evening of May 28th.
“Promoting food and wine culture has always been a flagship of the Palace Hotel. With this important agreement of collaboration with the AIS (Italian Association of Sommelier), we are certain to substantially improve our efforts and also offer an even better service to our guest”, declares, François Droulers, owner of the Palace Hotel.