Melbourne Offline / 8 July / Italy

[Ozzie W]

After discussions with some forumites there's a keen interest to do an offline with an Italian theme. So without further ado...

Date/Time: Friday 8 July @ 6:30pm

Venue: Scopri (Upstairs)

Theme: Italy

We're capping the numbers at nine. Current attendees are:
1. ChrisH
2. Ozzie W
3. Benchmark
4. Benchmark + 1
5. conformistepete
6. mjs
7. Con J

We have two more spaces and we'll maintain a reserves list too. If you'd like to come please raise your hand.

[TiggerK]

Love your work Melbourne! Hope to make it down there one day to meet you all.

You do realise the sheer scope of 'Italian' though?? At least 15 distinct regions, more than 500 grape varieties, more than a million vineyards....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Italian_grape_varieties

Cheers
TiggerK

[Chris H]

Exactly the point. More than Chianti, Brunello, Barbaresco, Barolo and Vino Nobile we now have serious contenders from Sicily, Campania, Sardinia, Veneto and more

[Ozzie W]

Would love to meet you at an offline one day, TiggerK.

We could have limited the scope to the 3 B's as we did a few months ago. But there's so many other fantastic Italian wine regions we've decided to open it up and increase the scope of our enjoyment.

[scribbler]

include me in please - I have a rare "leave pass"

[Ozzie W]

You're in scribbler.

Still one more place available for anyone interested.

[via collins]

Time to get back into it - I'm in if still available.

[Ozzie W]

You're in via collins.

Fully booked now, but I'll keep a reserves list if anyone else is interested.

Attendees:
1. ChrisH
2. Ozzie W
3. conformistepete
4. mjs
5. Con J
6. scribbler
7. via collins
8. Rory
9. Adrian

Reserves:
10. brodie
11. ?

[conformistpete]

Looking forward to this one, as I have never eaten upstairs. The last triple B Italian night we had at Scopri was great, really generous folks and tasty food.

I found something on Tigger's wiki list. That should narrow it down for the options game, you can exclude international varieties.

[Rory]

Hi Ozzie,

Put me down as a reserve, love to come. Certainly would have some interesting lessor known Italian wines to add.

[Ozzie W]

Hi Ozzie,

Put me down as a reserve, love to come. Certainly would have some interesting lessor known Italian wines to add.

You're in, Rory. Benchmark and his +1 just dropped out.

We now have another place available. Who else would like to come? Anyone that has never been to an offline is most welcome.

[Cloth Ears]

Don't have much in the way of Italian vino - some sparklings that we have when Ros' family come over and a couple of bottles we found in the boot of the Giulietta when we got home. I do have a half case of (09?) Nero D'Avola from Brown Brothers that I've been avoiding for the past 5 or so years. The first half case went so quickly that I thought I'd better chain it up for a little while.

Oh. Second thoughts. 8th is a Friday and there's only one place available. Wouldn't mind doing another one of these at some stage, though. I think it's been quite a number of years.

[Ozzie W]

Don't have much in the way of Italian vino - some sparklings that we have when Ros' family come over and a couple of bottles we found in the boot of the Giulietta when we got home. I do have a half case of (09?) Nero D'Avola from Brown Brothers that I've been avoiding for the past 5 or so years. The first half case went so quickly that I thought I'd better chain it up for a little while.

Oh. Second thoughts. 8th is a Friday and there's only one place available. Wouldn't mind doing another one of these at some stage, though. I think it's been quite a number of years.

The last place is yours if you want it, Cloth Ears. We'd love to have you join us. Plenty of retail and online stores selling Italian wines if you don't have anything suitable in your cellar. Our host Gavin even has a few including the delicious Passopisciaro Etna Rosso.

[Adrian]

I've not been to an offline before but would be keen to attend and love Scopri. Are the 3B's excluded or just not limiting?

Adrian.

[Ozzie W]

I've not been to an offline before but would be keen to attend and love Scopri. Are the 3B's excluded or just not limiting?

Adrian.

The 3Bs are definitely included, Adrian. The only requirement is that the wine be made in Italy. TiggerK provided a great list of what this covers further up the thread. I'm not sure if Cloth Ears wants to come or not, so you'll either take our 9th place or be the first reserve.

[Cloth Ears]

Hi Ozzie. I'll bow out as I'd need to bring Mrs CE and there's only one spot. And Friday is not as good as Saturday - we live in Mount Martha, so it's a bit of a trip...

[Ozzie W]

No problem Cloth Ears

Adrian you're in.

If anyone else would like to come, I'll put you on the reserves list.

[Chris H]

Folks, if you are on the list I have sent you a PM.

[Ozzie W]

Three weeks until the offline and we still have room on the reserves list if anyone wants a chance at joining us. If you're staying silent because you don't have any Italian wines in your cellar or it's a style that's unfamiliar to you, it's a great excuse to expand your horizons and taste a bunch fabulous wines. There's many retail/online stores in Melbourne and beyond that have a great selection to choose from, so accessibility to Italian wines isn't an issue. Our host Gavin usually has a fine selection too.

[mjs]

I second Ozzie's post, should be very enjoyable, great venue and we have a fair bit of fun as well. No pretentiousness, just a lot of light hearted enjoyment!! Got no idea what I'm taking at this stage!

[Chris H]

You should bring a cheekly little Masseto King.

[Ozzie W]

Good call, Chris. The King of Italian Merlot. A wine befitting of the King.

[mjs]

Have to raise the taxes on my subjects. Boccaccio has the 2012 for a mere $999.99

[Ozzie W]

Thanks for the message, brodie. You're now first reserve.

[Ozzie W]

Only a few days to go now. If anyone can't make it, please let me know.

Attendees:
1. ChrisH
2. Ozzie W
3. conformistepete
4. Con J
5. scribbler
6. via collins
7. Rory
8. Adrian
9. brodie

Reserves:
10. ?
11. ?

[Adrian]

Are we going to coordinate wines or is it lucky dip?

[Chris H]

Mask your wine and think of some questions (variety, vintage, region etc). Adds enormously to the fun as well as eduction.

[Ozzie W]

We'll coordinate so far as any lighter wines before heavier ones. We don't need to reveal anything to do that. That formula has worked very well in the past.

[mjs]

Ozzie, Chris and others,
My work commitments in Sydney this week have been extended tomorrow and I am now not able to get back to Melbourne anywhere near kickoff time, so I will have to scratch myself and hope brodie can step up. Bugger!
cheers, Malcolm

[Ozzie W]

That's a shame, Malcolm.

Brodie, are you available tomorrow?