Open just over a week, visitors at the new venue include celebrities Ivana Trump and Jeremy Piven.
Marchesi de’Frescobaldi, one of Italy’s most prestigious wine producers, has spread its wings to the U.S. as they opened their first restaurant on American soil. Dei Frescobaldi Restaurant & Wine Bar located inside the Astor Hotel on South Beach opened its doors with a magnificent red carpet grand opening which hosted over 800 guests.The Frescobaldi family, which has a long and storied history in Italy, plans to please the palates of South Floridians with their award winning wines and authentic Italian cuisine.
The grand opening featured a red carpet walkway to the gorgeous dei Frescobaldi terrace which featured beautiful lighting and music by award winning Italian DJ Costantino Padovano aka “Funky Junction.” Event guests, which included members of the Miami Beach Chamber and Italian Chamber of Commerce, were treated to Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi’s award winning wines as they inspected the beautifully decorated venue. dei Frescobaldi’s own award winning Italian Chef Marco De Simone and his staff showed their magical culinary talents for the event. The dei Frescobaldi grand opening’s highlight was Miami Beach Vice Mayor Michael Gongora’s dedication to owner Piero Benini where Gongora read aloud the rich history of the Frescobaldi family. He then presented Piero Benini with a Salute welcoming him and the Frescobaldi family to the City of Miami Beach. In attendance were various members of the family such as Diana Frescobaldi, along with world-renowned fashion designer Domenico Vacca, Tito Puente Jr., and local songstress Montserrat Franco.
Piero Benini (son of Maria Frescobaldi) of Tuscany, Italy created this project with the carefully chosen Alessio Limatola (an Italian restaurateur) to manage the operations. Piero Benini thought it was time to bring a Frescobaldi restaurant to the United States market and chose the Magic City as the first location. Choosing the Astor Hotel was easy as the restaurant sinks behind the lobby into a wide open space that boasts natural light and elegant décor, along with a cozy wine bar leading into a hidden outdoor terrace. Piero flew in award winning Chef Marco De Simone from Italy to create the menu.
Piero enjoys a fine glass of wine like anybody else but what sets him apart from many other wine aficionados is that the wine he drinks usually bears his last name. The Frescobaldi family’s dealings in wine date back to 1300 and has since gone on to own the largest extent of vineyards in Tuscany. The celebrated brand has owned companies associated with Ornellaia (“2001 wine of the year”) and Luce, collaboration with Robert Mondavi. Additionally Frescobaldi has produced acclaimed wines such as: Mormoreto, Giramonte and Castel Giocondo (Brunello di Montalcino). The Frescobaldi family is very entrenched in Italian history. Piero’s forefathers actually bartered their Frescobaldi wines for works of art with Michelangelo. The family also supplied wine to Henry VIII; surviving contracts in the family archives are signed by the English king. Today, The Frescobaldi family branched out to produce among other things Laudemio extra virgin olive oil and opened wine bars and restaurants in Rome, Florence and London (Harrod’s).
The dei Frescobaldi restaurant is intended for those who appreciate authentic family recipes paired with an expansive selection of wines. The restaurant boasts almost their entire portfolio, with wines that have never been made available in the United States. They will be made available in the built in “market” as well as tableside. Piero and Alessio have set plans for wine dinners and wine tastings featuring selections from the Frescobaldi wine portfolio. Chef Marco carefully planned the menu around the wine portfolio.
The Frescobaldi family has garnered worldwide accolades for their award-winning wines and has successfully branched out with their fine restaurants and wine bars all over Europe. Piero wishes to share his family’s legacy with South Florida.
Dei Frescobaldi Miami Beach is located at 956 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 inside the Astor Hotel. Please find them on Facebook: dei Frescobaldi Miami Beach. Twitter: @FrescobaldiMIA
For more information, email info@creativasgroup.com Photographs and interviews are available by request.
