Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/723381
THE MESSAGE 18 / the tasting panel / september 2016 Sicily Arrives at Sotto in Los Angeles "S icily is a continent," Diego Cusumano, proprietor of Cusumano wines, says jokingly, to express the island's diverse terroir and plethora of microclimates. The charismatic winemaker hosted a pizza and wine pairing dinner at the popular Sotto restaurant in Los Angeles in July. As Chef de Cuisine Daniel Cutler cranked out dishes like the Sicilian street snack chickpea panelle (similar to a savory beignet, with Ragusano cheese), grilled pork meatballs and Margherita and guan- ciale pizzas, diners enjoyed glasses from the family-owned Cusumano winery, which spans 1,000 acres across three separate sites in Sicily. Brothers Diego and Alberto took over the winery from their father, who had sold grapes but never produced wine. From the classic single-varietal Nero d'Avola, a drinkable un-oaked selection with medium tannins, to Noá 2013, a blend of Nero d'Avola, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, to the 2012 Ságana (which translates to "hide the treasure"), a small-production wine that amounts to only 1,500 cases per year, Cusumano wines capture the spirit of the growing region—and the selections only recently became available in the United States within the last few years thanks to importer Terlato Wines. How fitting to showcase them in the sotto (basement), which, as Cusumano explained, is where one would shelter the finest wines in troubled times. —B. T. B eam Suntory has become the official spir- its partner to the L.A. Galaxy pro soccer franchise. The Galaxy and their home field at the StubHub Center have created a multi- year partnership with the premium spirits company, and it's more than "just sponsoring a team," says Gordon Macpherson, Senior Director at Beam Suntory. With the addition of the new Jim Beam Bourbon Champions Lounge and Hornitos Tequila Cantina to the StubHub Center, the company will be able to the show off its portfolio of whiskey, bourbon and tequila to a new audience. "We wanted to give fans a chance to embrace the brand, not just in the stadium, but outside of the stadium. We've chosen drinks, menus and activities in the arena that will give them a chance to enjoy it in fun ways. We're giving people the opportunity to try the brands in the Hornitos and Jim Beam families that they may not have had a chance to purchase," shares Macpherson. Soccer is a great avenue for the company to reach its target consumer, and with the limited number of soccer franchises, Beam Suntory sought "the opportunity to be really centrally focused in L.A.," explains Macpherson. The Galaxy is the com- pany's first partnership within MLS, but as Macpherson shares, it is just the begin- ning. The company is looking into other partnerships and sponsorships with other franchises to enhance their platform in the market. —Madelyn Gagnon Beam Suntory's Jim Beam Bourbon Champions Lounge at the LA Galaxy's home field, the StubHub Center. Beam Taking the Field by Storm Cusumano wine proprietor Diego Cusumano hosted a pizza and wine pairing dinner at Sotto in Los Angeles in July. PHOTO COURTESTY OF CUSUMANO