Sorry for the short notice on this one…but come join us this Friday evening (May 1, 2009) for a casual tasting of the wines of Cantine A Casa, at Campanile. The winemaker will be there, and for a mere $19 (tax and service included) you will receive three small bites that have been specially prepared to match the Sannio Falanghina, the Greco di Tufo and the Fiano Di Avelino wines that will be poured.

If you plan on coming, shoot me an email at info@domaine547.com and I’ll be able to let Campanile know so they can prepare enough goodies for us!

I got word from Campanile that they’re starting up round table wine dinners with their Sommelier, Jay Perrin. For $150 (inclusive of tax and gratuity), diners will sit with Jay and share in a five course meal with wine pairings. The first one, on November 11th at 6:30 PM, looks to be fantastic, and will feature new Tuscan wines.

$150 isn’t exactly chump change, so you’re probably wondering what you get for that kind of cash… Read more…

Then we have just the opportunity for you. We wrote a while back about Campanile’s Friday Night Flights program being a great alternative to wine bars.

We were particularly excited upon reading the email blast we received earlier today with their line-up for this coming Friday (August 8th)…then we remembered that we have other plans that won’t allow us to attend.

Damn shame, since one of the flights (CHEESE!) comes with a pour of Sine Qua Non’s Mr. K The Nobleman dessert wine. Check out the line-up, and let us know if you have a chance to attend. $38 for three wines (generous 2 to 3 ounce pours) and 3 small plates is a great deal — especially when you consider that Mr. K retails for $100 and up per half bottle:

Flight 1: “Fruits of The Sea”

Scallop Ceviche with Mango and Lemon
2006 Viognier “Alban Vineyard,” Failla, Edna Valley

Big Eye Tuna with Ginger and Lime
2007 Chenin Blanc “Saini Farms,” Leo Steen, Dry Creek Valley

Yellowtail with Radish and Chervil
2006 Kerner “Stiftskellerei Neustift,” Abbazia di Novacella, Alto Aldige

Flight 2: “Tuscan Reds”

Lamb Daub
2004 Sant’ Antimo Rosso “Romito del Romitorio”, Castello Romitorio

Polenta Cake with Wild Mushroooms
2006 Sant’ Antimo Rosso, Casanova di Neri

Artichokes, Bocconcini, Parsley Pesto
2004 Collazzi, Tenuta Collazzi

Flight 3: “Say Cheese”

Tomme de Savoie, Quince Paste
2007 Mosto D’Uva Parzialmente Fermentato Rose “Bigaro,” Elio Perrone , Piedmont

Stilton, Quenby Hall, Frizée
Cockburn’s 20 Year Tawny Porto

Camembert and Watercress
2002 Chardonnay “The Noble Man,” Mr. K

We recommend making reservations for the evening, by calling Caroline at (323) 938-1447.

Note, we are not affiliated with Campanile in any way, though we did host a fantabulous event there in June.

Campanile is a restaurant that has been a fixture of the LA dining scene for years, showcasing the inspired Cal-Mediterranean cooking of Mark Peel. The restaurant has drawn praise for its extensive wine list, one of the more interesting, inclusive and, one might say, accessible — pricewise — in the city. Alums of the wine program include Manfred Krankl of cult winery Sine Qua Non, as well as the proprietors of Silverlake Wine in Los Angeles; it’s wine program is currently overseen by Jay Perrin.

When we heard about Campanile’s “Friday Night Fights” concept just last week (though it has been in existence for some time), a theme night combining small plates of food with flights of wines from the restaurant’s list, we wondered if Campanile was trying to make itself over as a wine bar, even if for just one night a week. We decided to give it a go. And here’s what we found. Read more…