Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Italy may be thousands of miles away, but that doesn’t hinder the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ICCPI) from bringing the Italian way of socializing to our shores. L’Aperitivo Italiano is a series of events mounted by the ICCPI where members and guests can mingle over authentic Italian food and wine in a relaxed setting. “We try to show what is the best of Italy in one night,” says ICCPI President Sergio Boero. “The way we (Italians) socialize, we believe it’s very easy, with a glass of wine, we talk about other things that are different from the office. So you’ll start to release stress and relax.” After work, Italians usually go to bars to hang out or head home to make dinner for their friends, so it’s no surprise that Italians know how to drink and value the importance of unwinding with friends. Ponte Rialto’s al fresco area and indoor seating Their most recent event, L’Aperitivo Romano, transported guests to Rome. Held at the Ponte Rialto at Venice Grand Canal Mall in McKinley Hill, Taguig, the event put the spotlight on Casale del Giglio, a wine estate founded in 1967 by Dr. Berardino Santarelli that lies around 50 km south of Rome. Casale del Giglio wines: Bellone Bianco Lazio 2018, Cesanese Rosso Lazio 2017, and Albiola Rosato Lazio 2019, Guests tried three wines Casale del Giglio: Cesanese Rosso Lazio 2017, a spicy ruby red wine with the intense aromas of marasca cherry (which was featured in the Netflix’s Two Popes starring Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio and Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI), Albiola Rosato Lazio 2019, a deep pink rosé with notes of raspberry and wild strawberry, and the Bellone Bianco Lazio 2018, a white wine with lush notes of ripe tropical fruits like mango and papaya (the crowd favorite). Bellone Bianco Lazio paired with Ponte Rialto’s Spaghetti Cacio Pepe The Bellone Bianco paired perfectly with Ponte Rialto’s Spaghetti Cacio Pepe (meaning cheese and pepper), a pasta dish that’s as tasty as it is simple. It’s apparently the Italians’ ultimate comfort food, and is not on the menu (yet) at Ponte Rialto. Maybe they’ll make this special off-menu item for you when you visit and ask nicely. Casale del Giglio wines The Cesanese Rosso Lazio, was best paired with the Bucatini all’Amatriciana, a classic red sauce pasta that takes its spiciness from black pepper and dried chilis and its depth of flavor from guanciale (Italian salt-cured pork jowl), as the red wine balanced the strong flavors of the pasta. Italian antipasti and cold cuts from Casale del Giglio and Panzerotti Other Italian appetizers were offered to pair with the wines: Crostini with Mozzarella and Anchovy, Fiori di Zucchine Fritte, Bruschette Pomodoro, Panzeroti, Arancini, Cheeses from Casale del Giglio (pecorino romano, gorgonzola, provolone), and assorted meats from Casale del Giglio (Proscuitto Amatriciano, Lonza Amatriciano, Salame Aquilano Schiacciatto, Coralina, Coppiette Di Suino, Salame Cicolana, Tronchetto di Porchetta, Arricia). (L-R) Sergio Boero, President of ICCPI, Kalila Aguilos of Ponte Rialto and Giorgio Pazcasio, Vice-President of ICCPI “I met the wine producer (of Casale del Giglio) when I went to Rome six months ago,” Sergio shares. ”And we decided to bring their wines here for the first time. We’re trying to enlarge the offer of Italian wine present in the market. We notice that we don’t have, for my point of view, the share that we deserve. Because Italy is the biggest producer of wine in the world, in terms of numbers. In terms of quality, with the French, we are the best producer of wine. And here (in the Philippines), there aren’t a lot of Italian wines. So the ICCPI is trying to bring new offers, new wines, and we allow people to taste first before they buy it.” (L-R)Sergio Boero, President of ICCPI, Andie Aguirre-Jugueta, Jugs Jugueta and friends Guests enjoying la dolce vita The Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines was established in 2011 with the aim to bridge business relationships between Italy and the Philippines. It is a non-profit organization builds up business trades between Philippine and Italian companies, promotes each other’s cultures, and creates employment in the Philippines. ICCPI holds different L’Aperitivo events as well as different functions that showcase Italian culture through food, drinks, music, and arts. They have different L’Aperitivo events depending on the seasons and are planning on having a movie-themed event this coming April which you should not miss. For more information and schedules of future events, follow the ICCPI on Facebook and visit their website.