Aperitivo Italiano: The Wines of Lago di Garda

A little piece of the Mediterranean nestled at the foot of the Alps, Italy's Lake Garda is a wine lover's paradise. Join us for a tasting of four classic wines from the vineyards of Lake Garda with guest speaker Pierina Bianchini of Emotion for Passion. A native of Lake Garda herself, Pierina will guide us through the region's history and viticulture as we sip and snack on Italian-style appetizers.

When: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Where: Italian Cultural & Community Center, 1101 Milford Street, Houston, TX 77006

Tickets: $30 ICCC Members | $35 General Admission

About the presenter

Pierina Bianchini’s dream since childhood has been to become an ambassador and to travel the world. Today, that dream has evolved to be an ambassador for promoting Italian culinary traditions in the U.S.

In 1992, her personal journey abroad began in Maryland, where she was hosted by an amazing Indian family who quickly became her second family. In 1998, she was led from International Studies into the fascinating world of the wine industry.

Since then, she has visited special places and met amazing producers. They all share a common denominator: they have a unique story to tell, lots of love for their “terroir” and they try their best to stay true to their beliefs. Each of them had a personal journey and she wanted to be their voice, and to be part of their future journey, bringing their wines to the other side of the ocean. That is how Emotion for Passion project was born in 2015.

“When I drink a glass of wine, I like it only if it inspires an EMOTION, that emotion is the reflection of the PASSION and LOVE the producer had when he made that wine,” Bianchini says.

Pierina is a hybrid entity working six months in Italy at the wineries and six months in the U.S. with distributors and importers. She follows the wines from when they are born to when they get poured in the glass.

What does aperitivo italiano really mean?

An aperitivo (or apéritif) is often described as being similar to the American happy hour, but in reality, it’s so much more than that. An aperitivo is a ritual, joyous and mood-lifting. It relaxes you after a day of work and prepares you for the night to come. The aperitivo has long been a staple in Italy, and in recent years, has been gaining more appreciation around the world.

By purchasing a ticket to this event, you acknowledge the following: I understand that I am reserving a spot, and reservations for this event are nonrefundable. If I am unable to attend, I understand that I can transfer my ticket to a friend.

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The Italian Cultural & Community Center is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.

Host or Publisher Italian Cultural & Community Center