I Nonni wine tasting October 30

I Nonni's wine shop and restaurant offer elite Italian bottlings

​I Nonni Osteria in Lilydale is set to host its annual wine tasting, showcasing the very finest Italian wine available in our market, some of it only available at I Nonni.

The tasting will take place Sunday, October 30, from 3 to 6 p.m., featuring about 100 wines, with significant discounts for same-day orders. Here are details on how to get in on the action.

The event will be set up like a trade tasting, says restaurant manager Tom Selbitschka, with five to six tables each representing a different wholesaler pouring some of the wines they sell to the restaurant. You can count on truly marquee selections at every table, from current-release Barolo and Brunello to some very traditional wines from Sicily (a hotbed of innovation as well as to throwback winemaking), Tuscany, Campania, and the Peidmont. In fact, Selbitschka says, every corner of Italy will be represented.

Wine and dine in style at I Nonni

​The event offers a survey of Italy as well as of the I Nonni wine list, so you can taste something and plan for your next dinner reservation, or you can take advantage of the same-day discounts. Every wine will be discounted if you place an order that night, with additional discounts for a mixed case or a two-case purchase.

The event costs $50, and it always sells out quickly. Call Tom at I Nonni to make a reservation at 651.905.1081.

The event will also give you a chance to explore the I Nonni site in Mendota Heights, which includes the restaurant, a fine-wine retail shop, and a great Italian market that serves fresh pastas, sauces, meats, cheeses, and other groceries. The restaurant began as a Roman-inspired osteria (that's Italian for wine and food served in a casual setting) but has developed into a wider-ranging, authentic Italian menu that responds to seasonal changes. It's not really casual, but it's not stuffy either. Chef Wally Buffalo will add a pleasing spread of cheeses, meats, and salads to the wine tasting. One of his sous chefs has apparently become a passionate salumiere, so look for the house-made salamis and cured meats.