It is always a pleasure to visit Valentino Restaurant in Santa Monica.  This restaurant has earned five stars as long as we can remember and is currently celebrating a 40th anniversary.  This visit was to attend the Vino California Grand Tasting which featured wines from some of Italy's most prominent vintners.
The wines represented many regions from north to south.  But for us it was an opportunity to direct our attention to the wines of Sicily.
Some of these wines now have the DOC Sicila label. It marks the 23rd DOC designation in Italy.  Our interest is somewhat proprietary since my maternal grandparents were from Sicily.
Valentino owner Piero Selvaggio was on hand to personally supervise the buffet of Italian specialties that was featured along with the many vintages.