Pair for the course

What better way to Introduce Benkay Japanese Restaurant’s new chef and some new wines than a wine dinner?

FOR an evening of pure indulgence, don’t miss out on the exclusive one-night only Dominic Versace’s Wine Dinner on Wednesday, March 26 at Benkay Japanese Restaurant, Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur at 7.30 pm. The wine dinner features some of the finest picks from Dominic Versace’s range of wines which are in turn perfectly matched with delightful creations by the restaurant’s newly-appointed Head Chef Shinzato.

 

Food and wine connoisseurs can look forward to an enjoyable evening beginning with a pre-dinner treat of pressed sushi, gritted squid meatballs. Yahata-style grilled chicken, paired with the excellent Non-Vintage Sparkling Bel Moscato N.V.

Next on the menu is the appetiser of avocado and tuna Caesar salad. To go with the dainty dish is the Non-Vintage McLaren Vale Premium Sparkling Shiraz. The seafood clear soup is matched with the 2007 Reserve McLaren Vale Unwooded Chardonnay, followed by the main course, teppanyaki salmon in Kowa-style sauce paired with the 2004 Ruspantino Adelaide Plains Sangiovese.

The piece de resistance is the dessert of Japanese rice cake with red bean, partnered with the 2007 Rossino Adelaide Plains Rose.

Since Dominic Versace wines are new in town, a bit of background in in order here. The origins of Dominic Versace wines date back to 1950 when Carmine Versace migrated from Italy to Australia. His wife, Teresa; son, Dominic and two daughters Lima and Maria followed. Carmine’s experience and vineyard knowledge ensured his immediate employment at Wynns Wineries in Coonawarra.

Over time, this tradition and culture was passed onto Dominic Versace and his wife Maria. who then purchased a vineyard in picturesque Tanunda. In 1970. Armando Verdiglione joined the Dominic Versace wine making tradition when he married Dominic’s sister Maria.

In 1980 Dominic and his wife purchased 14 acres of fertile land at 14-Raclin Read, MacDorald Park on the Adelaide Plains. He planted Shiraz, Grenache and Sangiovese, free from all artificial chemicals and successfully established “a state of” *missing article* quality grape varieties supplied to reputable wineries such as Prime Estate.

In 1990, Armando was one of the pioneers in making the first successful commercial wines on Kangaroo Island under the name of Kangaroo Island Trading Company. Following on from this success, Armando and Dominic combined forces to create their Own family brand, resulting in the birth of Dominic Versace Wiles in 2000.

With an extensive family history and tradition in vineyard and grape production, the Versace mission is to produce a natural, rich quality of wine to be shared and enjoyed in life amongst (amity and friends. During this period, the Italian tradition of making wine continued for family consumption. The Dominic Versace Vineyard is free of artificial sprays and artificial fertilisers.