HCM CITY — The Reverie Saigon is presenting a fine dining experience in collaboration with the award-winning Castello Banfi vineyard and winery at the hotel’s R&J Italian Lounge & Restaurant from November 20 through 24.

Lovers of Italian wines will have the opportunity to enjoy a sumptuous, six-course tasting menu prepared by the estate’s Chef Giuseppe Sposito, served with an impressive range of its Tuscan wines paired by Banfi Wine Ambassador Guillaume Blanchard.

Dating back to the 9th century, Castello Banfi is a family-owned vineyard estate and winery located in Tuscany’s Montalcino region. The estate is recognised as a pioneer in elevating the standards of Italian winemaking.

Born in Brusciano, a province of Naples, Chef Sposito began working in restaurants at only 16 years old before attending the culinary school Instituto Alberghiero in Cicciano. He then worked at the Michelin-starred restaurant Parizzi in the city of Parma, and the two-Michelin starred Perbellini. He subsequently moved to the restaurant of Castello Banfi.

Chef Sposito’s sumptuous creations with paired wines include Pappa al Pomodoro (fresh tomato, garlic, basil and Tuscan bread, extra virgin olive oil), Caciucco Livornese Salad (lobster, tuna tartare, scampi, oyster, crab, black olive and caper salad); Ribollita (traditional Tuscan vegetable soup, finocchiona salami, farmer’s bread); Pappardelle Cinghiale (home-made pasta with wild boar ragout, truffle and pecorino Toscano cheese); Guancia Maremmana (16-hour-cooked beef cheek with potato, porcini, hazelnuts and Montalcino honey sauce); and Cioccolato, Amarena, Pistacchio (chocolate and pistachio ice cream with almond crumble, with Banfi Florus Amarena cherry sauce).

The special wine dinner on November 20 is priced at just VNĐ2,488,000++ per person while the dinners on November 21 through 24 are VNĐ1,488,000++ or VNĐ2,488,000++ with paired wines.

R &J Italian Lounge & Restaurant is located at B1, Ground & Mezzanine levels of the Times Square Building, 22-36 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard and 57-69F Đồng Khởi Street in District 1. For reservations, please call (028) 3823 6688. — VNS