Congratulations to Fred, the GTC winner. And congrats to Laurie, the fan favorite. This year’s GTC has been so exciting and we’re looking forward to making next year even better! We are very thankful to have had such wonderful contestants and incredible support and encouragement from our judges: Chef Fabio Viviani, Bon Appétit Restaurant Editor Andrew Knowlton, and the Terlato family!

Stay tuned on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/SantaMargherita) for additions to our GTC photo album and videos from the event!

Winner Fred Piccinni and Tony Terlato

“Hi Everyone! I am so excited to be coming to Chicago this weekend. The people at Santa Margherita have been wonderful and I am thrilled to be part of this experience – and really hope my recipe comes out on top! I made my recipe again last night for dinner, a huge batch, and shared it with family and friends to get their thoughts on my flavor combinations and wine pairing. I used all of the seasonal ingredients I could get my hands on and used some artistic license to make the dish – I love using what is local and in season! Looking forward to meeting Fred and Paul and being part of such a terrific event.”

So for everyone attending the Festival, be sure to watch our GTC finale at 2pm. Then walk over to the Bon Appétit tent to taste all 3 dishes with some Santa Margherita wine.

For those outside of Chicago, we’ll have updates via Facebook (http://bit.ly/d3pjcV) & Twitter (SMPinotGrigio) throughout the day this weekend so all can share the excitement.

We joined HBO and the Emmy’s for the amazing HBO Emmy Party in Los Angeles – that was an honor. The Train concert at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago was another great event. We gave out so many wine samples we ran out!

More recently, and quite suddenly, we have been asked to participate in the Fashion’s Night Out celebration tonight, September 10th in NYC! Fashion designer Michael Kors has chosen our Prosecco for his toast as he debuts his new line. In celebration of this special night in fashion, Kors is opening 23 US stores at 6pm featuring special events, music, and refreshments (that’s us!).

Next step… the Great Taste Challenge Finale in Chicago!

Entering the contest is easier than ever – visit www.santamargherita.us/Contest and follow the steps to upload your entry.  All you need to start is one of your delicious recipes that pairs perfectly with Santa Margherita Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, or Chianti Classico.  Record a quick video of yourself with your finished recipe, explaining your inspiration behind the dish and why you think it is the perfect Santa Margherita pairing.  Upload the video and your recipe to the Santa Margherita site and you are in the contest! 

The three finalists will win a 2-day trip to Chicago to compete at the Great Taste Challenge Finale at the Chicago Gourmet Festival on September 25^th.   The Great Taste Challenge Winner will be awarded an exciting 3-day trip for two to Los Angeles, and dinner with Top Chef Fan Favorite Fabio Viviani!

The contest has just begun, so be sure to enter for your chance to win!

 The energy in the Club reached new heights as celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse prepared a menu paired with all three Santa Margherita wines for the post-premiere dinner of the new movie “The Boys Are Back.”  A-List stars turned out for this intimate wine dinner, and they were greeted with a glass of Prosecco as they posed for pictures with actor Clive Owen, Emeril, and Fabio.  However, the highlight of the week was the Santa Margherita Great Taste Challenge Finale, where contestant Andreann G. won first prize with her lamb dish paired with Chianti Classico.  Interested in trying the winning dish?  Go to the Santa Margherita website to download her recipe.   Start practicing your pairing skills now – maybe you have what it takes to win the Great Taste Challenge in 2010! 

As the events at the Bon Appétit Supper Club and Café wound to a close, it was time to hustle over to the 2^nd annual Chicago Gourmet Food and Wine Festival.  The festival was a weekend long extravaganza of extraordinary food and great wines – including the family of Santa Margherita wines.  Anthony Terlato, Chairman of Terlato Wines International, and the man who brought Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio to the United States 30 years ago, and Chef Fabio Viviani won the hearts of fans during a cooking demonstration in front of a standing-room-only crowd.  Tony discussed the principles of wine and food pairing and the history of Santa Margherita while Fabio prepared his delicious Seared Tuna with Caramelized Fennel and Salsa Verde paired with Santa Margherita Prosecco.  Everyone in attendance received the recipe card but, if you were not able to make it, you can download the card on Facebook.

After the demonstration, everyone hurried over the Terlato Wines International tasting tent to try a sample of all three of the Santa Margherita wines.  A Santa Margherita apron, signed by Fabio Viviani, was raffled off –Shirley C. of Chicago was the lucky winner!  We captured photographs of the crowd throughout the entire weekend – go to www.Facebook.com/SantaMargherita to see if you are in one of the pictures.

Santa Margherita is always hosting exclusive events all across the country – all you need to do to be invited to the next event is “Become a Fan” of Santa Margherita on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (Twitter.com/SMPinotGrigio).  We make sure to give our fans the first opportunity to RSVP, so be sure to find us on online and we will see you at the next event!

While the first finalist was selected live in Chicago, we saw a fevered race to the finish in the online competition!  Amateur chefs from across the country submitted their unique recipes paired with the Santa Margherita wines, and from day one the votes and comments poured in.  By the end of the voting period, our entrants received more than 7,000 votes and hundreds of comments!  With your votes tallied, we brought in our judging panel to test the top four recipes – a very tough decision.  In the end, Andreann G. and Debbie K. came out the winners with their delicious recipes and wine pairings. 

It has been thrilling every step of the way and the final show-down at the Bon Appétit Supper Club & Café in New York City will not disappoint.  This New York hotspot is the perfect venue for the conclusion to the Great Taste Challenge.  The moment of truth is upon us: it is time to have our three talented contestants – Colleen, Andreann, and Debbie – face each other head-to-head.  Who will take home the prize?  Colleen’s delicate scallops paired with the crisp, bubbly Prosecco?  Maybe it will be Debbie’s glazed pork that perfectly highlights the citrus notes in the Pinot Grigio?  Or Andreann, with her tender lamb paired beautifully with the soft tannins of the Chianti Classico?  With the prestigious judging panel composed of Bill Terlato (CEO, Terlato Wines International), Fabio Viviani (Top Chef Fan Favorite and Restaurateur), and Barbara Fairchild (Editor-In-Chief, Bon Appétit Magazine) we are eagerly awaiting the results!