October '08 Entertainment—Celebrity Chef Connection Column

Praml International, distributor of gourmet food and Regency Wines, Inc. presented their Showcase 2008, a trade show for the hospitality industry at the Orleans Hotel and Casino Sept. 8 and 9. Chefs, manufacturers and vintners paired fine food with wine and spirits along with demonstrations, seminars, tastings and debuting new products for the preparation and presentation of food. Two of the speakers were Master Sommelier William Sherer, Charlie Palmer’s Aureole and Jeff Eichelberger, Sommelier of RM Seafood, spoke about wine and sustainability.

The goal of Regency Wines, Inc. is to distribute the highest quality, most unusual and best wines to the United States market with selection based on the growers, winemakers, presentation and quality in the bottle. The founder and director, Bruno Laclotte, the son of a winemaker and a winemaker himself, formed Regency Wines in 1995.

Laclotte spent most of his life in France, studying oenology for six years and then working at some of the most reputable wineries in Bordeaux and Champagne. Laclotte perfected his art of vinification at Mouton-Rothschild and then decided to bring wines from around the world to the United States. Regency Wines imports and distributes wines in California, Arizona, Nevada as well as other states. Some of the countries where Regency Wines exports wines include France (Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy regions), Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Argentina and Chile as well as wines from Oregon and California. “It is important to bring exclusive and unique products to the United States,” said Laclotte.

Regency Wines has won awards in Wine Spectator, The Wine Advocate, Wine Spirits, the Los Angeles Times, Wine Enthusiast and awards from around the world.

Praml International has been a distributor and importer from Europe since 1987 with several fine foods product lines for the food service industry including French pastries, cakes, gourmet baking ingredients, high-quality meats and caviar.

Several wine-producing counties in California were represented at the event. From Sonoma County, there was Trinitas Wines, Mill Creek Vineyards and Winery, and Audelssa Winery featuring Zinfandel, Cuvee, Gewurtztraminer (lychee and mango, spices) and Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005. Blue Cellars, specializing in Syrah (spicy mulberry and blackberry fruit infused wine) of Napa Valley as well as Eagles Trace vineyard’s Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were offered. William James Cellars provided Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

LaVelle Vineyards, the oldest winery in Oregon’s Southern Willamette Valley, offered Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Green River Sake from Japan, Tequila 1519 and Aguirre Tequila from Mexico and Marani Vodka from Armenia, combined spirits with gourmet food.

As for some incredible food to try, there was the $1000 per pound French truffles by Tartufare, Thyme & Truffles. Marcel et Henri offered duck, chicken, veal, turkey and goose specialties. Other foods included olive tapinade, artichoke hearts (Roland), smoked salmon, quiche, scones (Dere Street), swordfish (Garden & Valley Isle Seafood), fruit tarts (Hannah Max Baking), and fois gras. There was gourmet dark chocolate (Schokinag Belgium, Germany), pasta with garlic shrimp (Florentyna), hash browns (Nonpareil), lava cake, fruit puree (White Toque), spinach and pizza puff pastry bites, cheese (Norseland, Inc.), crème fraîche (Kendall Farms), smoked salmon mousse, lamb sausage, ham slices (Olymel), Israeli couscous (Osem), 19 kinds of caviar (Plaza de Caviar), 11 types of mushroom truffle products and gelato (Fabbri).

A private party was held at the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place offering some of the finest wines available in the United States including The Right Bank wines from Saint Emilion, Fronsac and Pomerol, Chataeu Cotes De Puyblanquet, Chateau Franc Grace-Dieu, Chateau La Valade Canon Fronsac, Chateau Lagrange, Chateau La Gravette De Certan, Chateau Moulin de Lavaud and Clos des Menuts Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.

This was Regency Wines, Inc. and Praml International’s first trade show together. For more information, visit www.praml.com and www.regencywine.com.

There are mixers held at the Stirling Club to introduce people to the club and you don't have to be a member to hold an event at The Stirling Club, but membership certainly has its privileges. If you are interested, contact Membership Director Kathleen Gustafson at 784-4603 for more information.

Stirling Club at Turnberry Place

2827 Paradise Road,

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702-732-9700