Brazil and Italy Unite!

April 29, 2010 - PRLog -- (Niagara Falls, ON) April 29, 2010 – It’s a wine drinker’s paradise at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse and Wine Bar! Not only are guests greeted with an extensive selection of Churrasco-style grilled meats, salad bar and authentic gaúcho servers; they also gain access to an unprecedented collection of Italian wines from award-winning winemaker, Piero Antinori.

Antinori maintains some of the oldest vines in Italy making it one of the leading Italian producers of fine quality wines. Five of their labels are available at Brasa, two of which are Super Tuscans. Antinori Tignanello and Antinori Solaia have been classified as Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) by the Italian government; recognizing its high quality, innovation and locality.

“We want to ensure our guests enjoy the complete dining experience and that includes pairing their meal with the ideal wine,” said Steven Bamforth, Manager, Brasa. “Red wines are best paired with a hearty meat, which is why Antinori complements Brasa’s Brazilian cuisine so well,” he added.

Similar to California varietals, Italian reds are traditionally big and robust, meaning that Brasa’s guests are able to enjoy their meal without it overpowering the characteristics of the wine. Brasa owners and management have also enjoyed a personal relationship with Piero Antinori, director of Antinori wines. Mr. Antinori has traveled twice from Italy to experience his wine at Brasa.

“On his first visit, Piero flew overseas simply to have lunch at our restaurant and then returned to Italy the same day,” said Bamforth. “In the wine world, it was comparable to being in the company of a legend. His family has been producing wines in Italy for hundreds of years and they have perfected the art of quality winemaking,” he continued.

The Antinori family has been making wine for over 600 years, spanning over 26 generations. While maintaining tradition is of the utmost priority, Antinori has never used it as a barrier to innovation. The winery continuously experiments with different growing and aging techniques to make every vintage and terroir a new experience and evolution of their wine.

The temperature in Brasa’s wine room is set at 62 degrees Fahrenheit (or 17 degrees Celsius) to maintain effective ageability and ideal pouring temperature. Brasa’s knowledgeable staff ensures that specific wines are decanted to enhance drinkability.

Brasa carries over 100 different wines from Niagara, Italy, California, France and Argentina, including several that are unavailable anywhere else in Niagara. 30% of the wine list is made up of local content and Brasa features two local wines every month. Not a wine drinker? Brasa also offers a number of single malt scotches, top shelf vodkas and a cognac selection that includes a 100 year old bottle of Louis XIII.

About Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls/Fallsview
Located on the brink of Niagara Falls, the Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls/Fallsview is Canada’s tallest hotel tower. The recent $150 million expansion was unveiled in June 2009 and includes a 53-storey, 500 room all-suite tower, bringing the room total to over 1,000. 2 new restaurants, Romano’s Macaroni Grill and Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse & Wine Bar round out the first expansion phase.  The second phase is slated to open in Spring 2012 and includes, 40,000 square feet of conference and meeting space and a 40,000 square foot themed recreation pool and spa.
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Media Contact:
Stephen Murdoch
smurdoch@oebenterprise.com
289-241-3997