On Saturday, February 3, 2024, Cantina Riter and AgriLu had the honor of participating in an unprecedented culinary event at the Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa in Rijeka. This special meeting was organized by Irena Vergani of ILVFACTORY at Nebo Restaurant & Lounge by Deni Srdoč and saw the collaboration between the talented Croatian chef, Deni Srdoč, awarded 2 Michelin stars, and the executive chef of the Michelin-starred farmhouse La Fiorida, Gianni Tarabini.
In this extraordinary experience, we had the opportunity to compare and share Italian food and wine traditions with Croatian ones. Our wine, produced in harmony with nature and respecting the fundamental principles, was the protagonist in the pairings with the dishes prepared by chef Tarabini.
"Confrontation, clash, reflection, curiosity. These are the ingredients that are not lacking in our wine and that we have found in this experience. Thanks to chef Tarabini we had the opportunity to deal with Croatian food and wine, so close but at the same time so different. A cuisine that embraces different traditions in which we confront each other through local ingredients. A great teamwork that made us feel part of an inclusive food and wine world. Definitely a rich experience to be repeated to enrich ourselves with new flavors, aromas and emotions. The wines, theirs, are soft, enveloping like the sea. Ours, Inferno and Grumello, angular like the peaks of a mountain but fine and persistent that tell of a viticulture still made up of legs and arms".
Our contribution, together with that of the other Valtellina wineries, was highlighted by the chefs through the pairings with their extraordinary dishes. Chef Tarabini has been able to carry on the excellence of our territory with mastery, and we are honored to have been an integral part of this culinary event of excellence.
The experience is part of a series of events called "Italian Flavors", organized by Irena Vergani, which underlines the growing commitment to a cosmopolitan culinary experience between Italy and Croatia.
With the active participation in the Valtellina delegation formed by Chef Gianni Tarabini, Emilio Mottolini for Cantina Riter, Luisa Pezzini for AgriLu and Alessandra Camero for public relations, we have contributed to promoting our territory and strengthening ties with the international culinary community.
A fascinating anecdote concerns the creation of the pre-dessert, where we helped to collect stones from the sea to create an illusion and a union between real Croatian stones and the stone at Braulio.
In conclusion, this collaboration represented an extraordinary opportunity for Cantina Riter and AgriLu, allowing us to share our passion for quality viticulture and sustainable approach with an international audience of lovers of good food and good wine. We look forward to future collaborations and to continue to carry on our winemaking tradition with pride and dedication!
