Cucina, the Italian restaurant at the Kigali Marriott Hotel, held its 3rd wine tasting event Thursday night, with 10 new additions to its extensive wine collection.

What started as a test event in February this year, when the restaurant threw the first wine episode, has now evolved into a bimonthly event. The second edition happened in June. It is held in partnership with the Akagera Business Group, the country’s premier wine importers and a major partner of the Kigali Marriott.

Like previous events, it was open to the hotel’s media and business partners, loyal clientele, and members of the business community.

In keeping with the event’s tradition, 10 new wine brands from across the globe were introduced at the last wine tasting. These included; Elen Pedro from Chile, Italian Prosecco, French Sauvignon wine, and a selection of South African wines. In all, it was four whites, four reds, and Prosecco (Prosecco being the Italian version of Champagne).

Chef Giovanni Gaviano, who recently took up the mantle of Head Chef at Cucina Restaurant, was at hand to create a special meal to flatter the taste buds of the wine crowd.

Simon Hodson, the Director of Food and Beverages at Kigali Marriott Hotel, said the hotel currently offers over 80 different wine brands, up from 60 when the first wine tasting event took place in February.

"Like any other city, Kigali has a wine culture and it’s growing. It’s just a matter of time before it is up there among the major wine consuming destinations in the world,” Hodson explained, adding that the hotel chose to stick to a bimonthly calendar to keep it appealing and something to look forward to.

The next wine tasting event is slated for October 11.

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