Bouquets of Italy

Suckling introduced guests to a selection of Italy’s finest wines, which were sampled as the sun set over the ocean.
The Phuket event formed part of James Suckling’s Asian road show, which also included dates in Beijing, Hong Kong and Bangkok. These popular tasting evenings showcased an extensive array of Italy’s leading vintages from more than 80 prestigious wine-makers, all hand-selected by Suckling himself.
“Our rooftop event at The Nai Harn was a truly memorable occasion and the perfect way to complete the ‘Great Wines of Italy’ Asian tasting tour,” Suckling said.
“The Nai Harn is a stunning resort which places a great emphasis on the quality of its food and wine. Having had the pleasure of working with Frank Grassmann, the general manager here, to curate the resort’s wine list, it is great to return once again for this unique gastronomic event.”
 “Phuket’s culinary scene is becoming very refined, and resorts like The Nai Harn have been instrumental in raising the bar for food and drink on the island. I can think of no better place to culminate our Asian tour than at the spectacular Reflections Rooftop Terrace,” Suckling added.
The Phuket tasting event was a “limited edition” event with just 32 select wineries showcasing their products for trade and consumer guests to savour. The event also offered a rare opportunity for guests to meet the some of the producers and learn more about their vintages.
Frank Grassmann, general manager at The Nai Harn Phuket, commented: “We are delighted to host such a prestigious event at The Nai Harn Phuket as we deepen our relationship with Asia’s top wine critic, James Suckling. It is always a pleasure to welcome James and world-class wine-makers to The Nai Harn. I am confident that this event will help establish our resort’s place on the gourmet map, not only in Phuket but in all of Asia.”
Italy is one of the world’s oldest and largest wine-producing countries, with vineyards located in almost every part of the country. This gives Italy a wonderfully diverse selection of wines, and its so-called “Super Tuscans” such as Chianti are among the most highly rated vintage in the world.
Suckling has more than three decades of experience as a journalist and a wine critic. A US national who resides in Hong Kong, he also runs the influential website www.JamesSuckling.com and he has been described by Forbes Magazine as “one of the world’s most powerful wine critics”. A firm believer that high quality Italian wines go well with spicy Thai food., he dispels the traditional belief that only white wines, such as Alsatian gewurztraminer pair best with complex Thai flavours and instead recommends top-notch red wines such as a Barolo or Brunello as a perfect complement.
All of the wines selected by Suckling for the Great Wines of Italy Asian tasting tour have achieved a score of at least 90 points on his 100-point scale, which is widely used by the hospitality industry as a benchmark for quality. 
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