By Erin Lavan | Associate Publisher
On Thursday evening, DiningOut was invited to a wine tasting at a local downtown favorite, D’Oro Caffe and Market {17 Northeast Third Avenue, Miami; 305.371.6300}. D’Oro is a gem of a place, offering authentic Italian specialties, and the freshest French baguettes and croissants, flown in frozen and baked each day on premises. What we did not expect was that the fine selection of rosés and reds that would be paired with their fine cuisine.
Maria Zuniga of Premier Beverage led the tasting with a wealth of knowledge on this journey. First up was a an exceptionally dry, exquisite rosé named Miraval from Provence, France. Interestingly, this wine comes from a vineyard at the home of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and she in fact designed the beautiful bottle and label. This was paired with a delicate salad of romaine and feta with a tangy citrus bite to the dressing.
Next was a sparkling rosé a little darker in color due to the Malbec grape, called Alma Negra, which translates to “dark soul.” It was paired with perfectly crusty and chewy bites of baguette topped with Italian tuna and fresh tomatoes, which perfectly cut the bubbles with their acidity, and brought out the depth of the “soul.”
Now for the reds. Maria proudly introduced us to Argentina’s king of Malbecs, Achaval Ferrer of Mendoza. This was a dark and powerful wine with a lot of complexity. The weight of this wine definitely needed some fat, and D’Oro Caffe came through with hearty chunks of Manchego nestled snuggly in their fine cut of capicola. The platter was artistically and deliciously decorated with nuts and raisins for even more flavor and texture.
Finally, another Malbec from Argentina was served, from the Colomé Vineyard. This high elevation wine was exceptionally spicy, and its intensity was softened by a truly delectable ball of mozzarella topped with a housemade decadent raspberry glaze.
Each bottle retailed in the $30 range, and all of the food served is available for purchase at D’Oro. If you are lucky enough to be invited to one of D’Oro Caffe’s wine tastings, go! But, even if you are not, there is an “Italian Aperitivo” every evening from 5-8pm when D’Oro offers complimentary delicacies with your glass of wine.
Be sure to come early and have a seat at the hip outdoor bar, where head bartender and master mixologist Greg O’Sullivan will whip you up a tasty cocktail from his expertly crafted menu of signature drinks to tempt even the most discerning palate. Choose from fruity favorites such as the Summer Fresh, an amalgamation of Absolut Citron, St. Germaine, lemongrass-infused agave syrup, lemon juice, and pineapple; or the Bâoli Pear Spirit, Absolut Pears Vodka, St. Germaine, Perrier Jouet Grand Brut, club soda, and lemon juice.
