Las Vegas Weekly

June 18, 2010 · 2:54 PM

Frank Sinatra’s family debuts Tuscan wines at Sinatra in Encore

By Robin Leach

Sinatra in Encore.

Photo: Barbara Kraft

If Frank Sinatra were alive, there’s no doubt that he’d be dining at Steve Wynn’s Encore property Sinatra tonight, and he’d give two thumbs up to the dinner being held in his honor to unveil the first tasting ever of his beloved Tuscan red wines.

Members of Frank’s family will be guests at Sinatra to celebrate Come Fly With Me, the award-winning 2007 Sinatra Family Estates Cabernet Sauvignon and the preview of Le Voce, a Sangiovese from Tuscany that won’t even be bottled until the end of summer for September release.

Three-star chef Theo Schoenegger has prepared a four-course menu of Italian dishes for the magical occasion. He told me: “It’s totally Italian and paired to the wines. We have summer truffles and porcini mushrooms and Frank’s very own favorite Santa Barbara prawns with cannellini beans. It’s a beautiful dinner and a fantastic event. The Sinatra family gave a thumbs up to the menu. Back in New York, I cooked for Mr. Sinatra, and he always loved his clams and his meatballs. He loved good food.”

The limited-edition wine is the collaboration of Danielle Price, Wynn’s executive wine director; Frank’s children Tina, Nancy and Frank Jr.; and granddaughter Amanda Erlinger.

“The special vintage is a true testament to Mr. Sinatra as an entertainer and as someone who appreciated fine food and wine,” Danielle said. “It is an honor to raise a glass with his beloved family.” Sinatra is the only restaurant in the world sanctioned by the family to bear his name.

Danielle told me: “We had it bottled specially in Tuscany for the dinner, and it came down to the last minute for the Las Vegas arrival. We’ll need every drop for tonight. There won’t be any to take home. The Sinatra family will get the second batch.

“We had the labels printed Monday of this week here and put on today, so it’s really right from the farm to the table. There’s no picture of Frank Sinatra on the label. The family just wanted it very classy, so only ‘The Voice’ is on there in Italian.

“I went to Italy and worked with an incredible three-hectare vineyard in Fiesole, so we had the absolute top quality of exceptional fruit. I love my job. I am the only executive who can have eight bottles on my desk by noon for tasting, and I can tell everybody -- but it’s my job!”

Winemaker Bibi Graetz will serve a white Bugia wine, which Danielle describes as an “interesting and mysterious Chardonnay. “The Sinatra family will be as surprised at the same time as the dinner guests,” she said. “They have been so supportive and enthusiastic, and Sangiovese was Frank’s first red wine love.”

The festivities begin with cocktails and canapes in the Sinatra courtyard, followed by the elaborate four-course meal. Amanda said: “We are very excited about the wine and our collaboration at this beautiful property. My grandfather loved exceptional food and wine, and this dinner at his namesake restaurant couldn’t be a better way to celebrate.”

Danielle summed up: “His voice always spoke for itself, and so now does his wine.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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