Dinner at A16 with Cinzia

Jayne and Jon had dinner with one of their favorite winemakers on Monday night at one of San Francisco’s hottest tables, A16, which features the cuisine and wines of Southern Italy.

The evening began with an aperitivo at SQPR (above), A16’s sister restaurant, where Roman cooking is featured. We were also joined by one of Jayne’s best friends, stylist Ameliana Kamstra.

After appetizers, they brought out this delicious white pizza, topped with ricotta and guanciale (cured pig’s jowl).

We first met Cinzia Merli, owner and winemaker of Le Macchiole (Bolgheri, Tuscany), earlier this year when we lunched with her at Spago in Beverly Hills. That’s Cinzia, right, with our resident sommlier Jeremy Parzen, who recently visited her estate and tasted with her during her 2008 harvest. Jaynes is currently serving the Bolgheri Rosso, a Merlot-based blend of Bordeaux grapes, “one of the most terroir-driven wines in her portfolio,” says Jeremy.

We were also joined by our new friend Ceri Smith, who owns an awesome wine store up in San Francisco, Biondivino, where she feature great Italian wine. We were celebrating because the SF Chronicle just named her “best wine shop in the city.” Way to go Ceri! That’s sommelier Kevin Wardell pouring us a 1992 Rupe del Falco Gaglioppo (grape variety), which totally blew our minds. Really great stuff.

All in all, it was a pretty epic evening… ended with some Billecart-Salmon Rose (Jaynes favorite champagne) and 1995 Gravner at Ceri’s. But we’ll have to keep those pics private!