Our trip across the Atlantic Ocean to the Canary Islands took us eight days from Rio de Janeiro. After spending two days in the Canary Islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote we headed back out to sea. As we cruised towards Casablanca, Morocco, and onwards to Spain, we attended a wine tasting that was advertised as a Tuscan Wine Dinner. I can not think of a better way to have welcomed our arrival to Morocco and beyond than tasting Tuscan wines. Let me share a Tuscan wine dinner wine at sea that was inspired by Frescobaldi.
Ready to be Inspired by Frescobaldi, Tuscan Wine Dinner © Spaswinefood
The Frescobaldi family have been producing wine in Tuscany for seven hundred years, dating back to the early 1300s. Today Fescobaldi can be described as an umbrella for many wineries in Italy. Frescobaldi owns nine wineries with a total vineyard area of 850 hectares, in Tuscany in various DOC and DOCG areas, and in Friuli. We were introduced to wines from some of their wineries during dinner.
A Tuscan Wine Dinner: Inspired by Frescobaldi
Tuscan Wine Dinner, Sabatini's © Spaswinefood
Dinner began with La Cala Vermentino wine paired with an antipasto plate.
Sella & Mosca, La Cala Vermentino Di Sardegna DOC, 2023
Sella & Mosca, La Cala Vermentino Di Sardegna DOC, 2023 © Spaswinefood
I loved the aromatic, crispness, and minimality of this 100% Vermentino from the Sella & Mosca estate vineyards in Alghero, Sardinia, Italy.
Antipasto Plate
Our antipasto plate options included:
1. Carpaccio di Mare Mediterrano
2. Bruschetta (Vegetarian Option)
Carpaccio di Mare Mediterrano and Bruschetta (Vegetarian)
Carpaccio di Mare Mediterrano © Spaswinefood
Bruschetta (Vegetarian) © Spaswinefood
Our next wine was a delicious rosé wine.
Frescobaldi, Tenuta Ammiraglia Alie Rosé Toscana
Time for Tenuta Ammiraglia, Alie Rosé Time © Spaswinefood
Frescobaldi, Tenuta Ammiraglia Alie Rose Toscana
Frescobaldi, Tenuta Ammiraglia Alie Rose Toscana © Spaswinefood
This is an elegant, highly-acclaimed Italian rosé produced at Frescobaldi's coastal Tenuta Ammiraglia estate in Maremma, Tuscany. The wine is a blend of Syrah and Vermentino grapes.
Primi Piatti
Our first plate paired with the rosé wine included:
Polpo con Presto Rosso e Gnocchi di Spinoca
Tuscan Soup (vegetarian option)
Polpo con Presto Rosso e Gnocchi di Spinoca © Spaswinefood
Tuscan Soup © Spaswinefood
I fell in love Tuscan soup during my first trip to Tuscan wine country in 2011. It is the soup made primarily with tomatoes, Italian bread and kale however, there are also heartier versions of this soup.
Secondi Piatti
Our second plate was paired with two wines.
1. Frescobaldi, Castello di Nipozzano Mormoreto IGT Tuscana
2. Frescobaldi Pomino, Castello Pomino Bianco DOC
Frescobaldi Wines © Spaswinefood
Frescobaldi Pomino, Castello Pomino Bianco DOC © Spaswinefood
Frescobaldi, Castello di Nipozzano Mormoreto IGT Tuscana
Frescobaldi, Castello di Nipozzano Mormoreto IGT Tuscana © Spaswinefood
I loved the opportunity to taste both of these wines with my second plate.
Frescobaldi Wines © Spaswinefood
These wines were paired with the following dishes:
Tagliata Di Manzo con Rucola e Scaglie Di Parmigano
Tagliata Di Manzo con Rucola e Scaglie Di Parmigano © Spaswinefood
Ravioli (Vegetarian Option) © Spaswinefood
Exploring Frescobaldi © Spaswinefood
Dolci
Our last plate was dessert. The wine was: Donnafrugata, Ben Rye Passito di Pantelleria, Sicily.
Donnafrugata, Ben Rye Passito di Pantelleria, Sicily
Pinolta Senese © Spaswinefood
Pinolta Senese is a light tuscan pine nut cake with custard creme. It was paired with Donnafrugata Passito. Whenever I get the opportunity I always enjoy Donnafrugata's Ben Rye Passito. It brings me back to 2014, the first I had this Donnafrugata wine in Sicily.
They also served crunchy almond biscotti with Frescobaldi grappa.
Fescobaldi, Luce Grappa Invecchiata © Spaswinefood
Dinner was quite an awesome gastronomic adventure with Frescobaldi wines.
Tuscan Wine Dinner Inspired by Frescobaldi © Spaswinefood
Sabatini's Staff © Spaswinefood
Amongst the wines offered at Sabatini's are Frescobaldi wines, which are on display as you enter the restaurant.
Frescobaldi Display, Sabatini's © Spaswinefood
Years ago we first visited Tuscany and since then have enjoyed Tuscan wines over the years; so it was great to attend a wine dinner featuring Tuscan wines. We certainly enjoyed the Frescobaldi wines while cruising towards Casablanca, Morocco from the Canary Islands. Earlier while in the Canary Islands we went on Tenerife and Lanzarote wine adventures before we headed back out to sea. I invite you to join me in my Atlantic Ocean Sea travels and elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and at Spaswinefood on Bluesky and Facebook. I am so looking forward to sharing more on my vine-filled explorations.
CHEERS!
Sharon
February 25, 2026
Cruising towards Casablanca, Morocco
© Spaswinefood
Frescobaldi Moments © Spaswinefood
Sabbatini's February 2026 © Spaswinefood
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