Argentine wines featured at Chioda's.

• Position: GO!

Byline: Barbara M. Houle

COLUMN: Table Hoppin'

Wines from Argentina will be paired with food from Chioda's Trattoria at a five-course wine dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 14.

The event will take place at Chioda's, 631 Franklin St., Worcester. Co-host is Renaissance Liquors, 345 Grafton St., Worcester.

Tickets cost $50 per person; $90 per couple. They can be purchased at Renaissance Liquors, (508) 753-8910.

Traditional Italian wedding soup, stuffed tortellini pomodoro with pesto, and Porchetta are included on the menu.

Marta's Vinyard, a family business located in the Lujan de Cuyo and Maipu regions of the province of Mendoza in Argentina, will be among wineries represented in the wine pairings.

The company is named after Marta Lunardi, who recently was in the Worcester and Boston area to introduce her wines to retailers.

Lunardi and other guests visited Chioda's Trattoria with Caio Galliac of Global Wines Inc., distributor of Marta's Vinyard wines.

Lunardi said she arrived in this area just in time to experience a little snow on the ground. When I talked to her before the weekend storm, she said, "We have snow in Argentina, but I never expected to see it here in October. I really wasn't prepared as far as clothing goes."

Lunardi chatted about the winery and its commitment to quality and its customers. She said each individual wine is made from one grape variety, so consumers are able to experience exactly what each particular grape variety tastes like. The winery has won medals in the Decanter World Wines Awards.

Argentina is the fifth largest wine producer in the world, according to Lunardi, who said, "In Argentina, people are very loyal to wines produced in their own country. Most times we pair a glass of wine with a meat dish, and the wine usually is bold and earthy."

Lunardi said Marta's Vinyard recently released a Malbec 2007 Private Collection in the UK. "It's an amazing wine, and it should be available in the United States by next year."

Note: Wines from Marta's Vinyard are used in restaurants in the UK that are owned by noted chef/restaurateurs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey.

Enjoy the wine dinner!

Lunardi will also host a tasting from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Ed Hyder's Mediterranean Marketplace, 408 Pleasant St., Worcester. Tasting will include award-winning wines.

Austin Liquors will hold a Fall Grand Tasting from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday in its Shrewsbury location, 20 Boston Turnpike Road, White City Shopping Center.

Lots of new wines to...