The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) Hartford Chapter hosted a master class featuring Grappa Nonino at Max Amore in Glastonbury on February 28. Francesca Bardelli Nonino, of Italy’s Nonino family, led an education and tasting of the product line, followed by a cocktail competition. Bartenders used Grappa Nonino Vendemmia and Vendemmia Riserva, which were just recently made available in Connecticut, in their cocktail creations. Nonino and Adam Kaufman of Terlato Wine Group judged the competition. The first-place winner was Abe Rojas of Savoy Pizzeria & Craft Bar, with Victoria Richards coming in second and the third-place prize going to Dustin Amore of The Cook and The Bear. The first Nonino distillery was founded by Orazio Nonino in Ronchi di Percoto in 1973, in the Friuli region in northeastern Italy.
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- USBG Hartford Chapter members learned about the company’s history of distilling from family member Francesca Bardelli Nonino on February 28.
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- Nonino Grappa Prosecco, Merlot di Nonino Grappa, Picolit Cru The Legendary Grappa Nonino, Il Moscato di Grappa and Amaro.
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- Francesca Bardelli Nonino led the tasting and education session.
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- A pour of Picolit Cru The Legendary Grappa Nonino.
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- Competition judges Adam Kaufman, District Manager – Spirits, Terlato Wine Group and Francesca Bardelli Nonino.
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- First-place winner Abe Rojas of Savoy Pizzeria & Craft Bar making the Italian Landscaper, a play on a pisco sour.
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- Second-place winner Victoria Richards creating her cocktail, The First Lady.
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- Third-place winner Dustin Amore of The Cook and The Bear.
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- Competitor Jerome Daigneault of Marlborough Tavern.
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- First place-winner Abe Rojas of Savoy Pizzeria & Craft Bar, second-place winner Victoria Richards and third-place winner Dustin Amore of The Cook and The Bear with competition judges Francesca Bardelli Nonino and Adam Kaufman, District Manager – Spirits, Terlato Wine Group.
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- Jeffery Laude making his cocktail, Belly Drum.
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- Francesca Bardelli Nonino; Dustin Amore, The Cook and The Bear; and Clarissa LoNero, Little River Restoratives.
Photos by Michael Leung.
