Casale Del Giglio Winery Makes Special Guest Appearance at Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber Wine Tasting

Linda Siddera of Casale Del Giglio flew from Italy to pour wine at the 15th Annual Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce Wine Tasting held at the Kentlands Mansion in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The Chamber was honored to have her and her wines. Siddera is pictured with Nick Materese, Sommelier, of Siema Wines. Casale del Giglio currently offers a range of twenty-two products – seven white wines, one rosé, seven reds, one late harvest, three grappas and an extra virgin olive oil.

Gaithersburg /Germantown, MD (May 22, 2018) – The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) 15th Annual Wine Tasting was no ordinary wine tasting. This year, Pinky Rodgers, owner of Pinky & Pepe’s Grape Escape, invited Linda Siddera of Casale Del Giglio winery in Italy to the event. Siddera flew from Lazio, Italy to Gaithersburg, Maryland to pour wine at the Chamber’s event and for her friend Rodgers.

Rodgers met Siddera this past Summer when visiting the Casale Del Giglio winery in Italy, saying it is “an amazing vineyard”!

The tasting was held on Thursday, May 17 at the Kentlands Mansion in Gaithersburg. Over 100 area business leaders were in attendance.

The Chamber’s wine tasting affords business professionals the opportunity to meet, network and share ideas over wine. The wines are paired with small bites from eight Chamber Members and good conversation. It is a great opportunity to “WINE” down after work and allows guests to network & enjoy some great camaraderie with like-minded businesses. Our wine tasting is one of the best ways to meet ideal prospective clients & grow existing business relationships.

“It’s always great to support our local small businesses. This year we had more restaurants and caterers than ever,” said Marilyn Balcombe, GGCC President.

The event sponsors included: The City of Gaithersburg, Pinky and Pepe’s Grape Escape, Asia Nina, Barking Mad Café, Caribbean Caterers, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, The Melting Pot Gaithersburg, Not Your Average Joe’s, Nothing Bundt Cakes, & Ted’s Montana Grill, and Special Event Sponsor’s Bargain Movers & Crown Trophy.

This year’s wine tasting featured a guided wine tasting tutorial of eight featured wines compliments of Pinky & Pepe Rodgers of Pinky and Pepe’s Grape Escape. Guests were excited for the opportunity to have a conversation with Wine Sommelier’s Siddera & Nick Materese of Siema Wines. Materese specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairings.

Verelyn Gibbs Watson, Franchise Owner, Nothing Bundt Cakes; Laurie-Anne Sayles, Councilmember, City of Gaithersburg; and Paul Smith, Realtor, The Abrams Group of Re/Max Town Center are on cloud “wine” and having a blast networking with over 100 Chamber Members & guests at the 15th Annual Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce Wine Tasting. Nothing Bundt Cakes & the City of Gaithersburg were sponsors of the event.
Photo credits: Laura Rowles, Director of Events & Marketing, Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce

The wine was paired with food that including bison short ribs, lamb lollipops, coconut shrimp, chive cake and goat cheese panna cotta from Asia Nine, Barking Mad Café, Caribbean Caterers, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, and Ted’s Montana Grill. Tiramisu from Not Your Average Joe’s; bundtinis from Nothing Bundt Cakes and fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate compliments of the Melting Pot Gaithersburg rounded out the menu.

DrinkMore Water provided bottle water and rinse stations.

The City of Gaithersburg donated the use of the Kentlands Mansion to the GGCC for the evening.