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

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 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 and 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.

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.

The GGCC is active in providing business-to-business networking opportunities throughout the year: a collective voice in local, regional, and state legislative affairs, professional development opportunities and other services that enhance the business environment.

The GGCC is located at 910 Clopper Road, Suite 205N, Gaithersburg, MD. To learn more about the GGCC visit us at www.ggchamber.org. Find us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gaithersburg-Germantown-Chamber-of-Commerce/64339954570. #GGCCevents #GGCCwinetasting

About Laura Rowles

Laura authors the blog Your Success is Our Business on MyMCMedia. Laura is the Director of Events & Marketing for the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce - a member-based organization of businesses that have joined together for the purpose of promoting the civic, commercial and industrial progress in our communities. The area's economic well-being is a result of the caliber of work that is done by the Chamber. The Chamber has a major impact on business, income and future growth of the area. My position at the Chamber - Director of Events & Marketing - affords me the opportunity to plan quality events for our Members and market the Chamber is a variety of avenues. At the GGCC, we typically have around 30 events each year including: breakfasts, lunches, after-five's, ribbon cuttings and special events. The consensus is we have high quality events with good energy. In 2012, we had over 2,040 people visit our events. Most our events are free to Members so securing sponsorships for all events. Additionally, I am responsible for planning networking, overseeing the budget and marketing of all events in order to make them successful. Lastly, I coordinate all marketing and communication efforts of the GGCC including weekly email blasts, its quarterly newsletter, all social media platforms, media relations and community outreach.

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