Sunday, September 21, 2025

Italian Winemaker Dinner at French Del Ray Cafe in Alexandria, Northern Virginia, with Owner/ Winemaker Caterina Sartarelli of Sartarelli from the Marche Region and Owner/ Chef Laurent Janowsky (September 2025)









French food and Italian wines - excellent winemaker dinner at @Del Ray Cafe in Alexandria, Northern Virginia, with Owner @Caterina Sartarelli of Sartarelli and Owner/ Chef Laurent of @Del Ray Cafe. 

Announcement 

We look forward to welcoming Caterina Sartarelli to present five of Sartarelli Vineyards‘ top wines at our wine dinner on September 17th. Located in the beautiful region east of Florence on the Adriatic coast, Caterina is half of the third generation of the founding family still operating the vineyards.

The wines presented at the dinner will be available at special pricing that evening.

Tickets are available exclusively through Eventbrite.

 


Sartarelli (Google AI based)
 
Sartarelli is an Italian winery located in the Marche region, famous for its exclusive focus on producing high-quality Verdicchio wine
. The family-run estate was founded in 1972 by Ferruccio Sartarelli and is situated in the heart of the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC area. 
 
History
 
Founding: The winery was established in 1972 by Ferruccio Sartarelli, a baker who had a deep passion for wine.
 
Family-run: Since 1990, the winery has been run by Ferruccio's daughter, Donatella, and her husband, Patrizio Chiacchierini. Today, their children, Caterina and Tommaso, have also taken on key roles in the business, managing sales and winemaking, respectively.
 
Championing Verdicchio: In an era when Verdicchio was largely considered a mass-produced table wine, the Sartarelli family took on the challenge of elevating it to a wine of excellence. Their philosophy is embodied in their motto, "In Verdicchio Veritas" ("In Verdicchio, there is truth"). 
 
Location and viticulture
 
Marche region: The winery is located in the rolling hills of the Marche region, specifically in Poggio San Marcello.
 
Estate size: The estate consists of 55 hectares of vineyards and 6 hectares of olive groves. The vineyards are planted on steep, terraced slopes at an altitude of around 350 meters above sea level.
 
Verdicchio focus: Sartarelli is dedicated to growing and producing wine from a single variety: the indigenous Verdicchio grape.
 
Sustainable practices: The family uses an environmentally friendly approach to farming. They employ chemical-free methods, encourage natural ground cover to prevent soil erosion, and perform green pruning by hand to ensure optimal grape quality.
 
Wines
 
Sartarelli produces several types of wine, all made from 100% Verdicchio grapes, including: 
 
Sartarelli Classico: A crisp, classic-style dry white wine.
 
Tralivio: A premium Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore.
 
Balciana: Another top-tier Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore from one of the winery's prized vineyards.
 
Sartarelli Brut: A sparkling wine.
 
Sartarelli Passito: A sweet dessert wine. 
 
About Us (Del Ray Cafe)

From the owners of the former La Bergerie…

…comes an innovative local eatery that melds the best of French country cuisine and American country products. Our concept is simple: We offer French style dishes prepared using the freshest ingredients available. But the food is only part of the experience: We offer a welcoming atmosphere where you’re warmly greeted and served. We’ve lovingly refurbished a 1925 Del Ray house to create a “home away from home” restaurant reminiscent of an old Virginia farmhouse where you can “come casual” and relax.

Our Story

Laurent Janowsky, co-owner of Del Ray Café along with his wife Margaret, has fond boyhood memories of growing up in the Alsace region of eastern France. He picked wild mushrooms and berries in the Vosges Mountains and cooked with his grandmother everyday. And his uncle, a French butcher, showed him the proper way to cut a side of beef. Though he left his native France when he was barely a teenager, Laurent’s love of French cuisine and his appreciation for farm-fresh dairy and vegetables has endured.

For as long as his family and friends can remember, Laurent has dreamed of creating a casual neighborhood eatery in Alexandria where folks could pop in to enjoy fresh, simply prepared yet delicious French country fare. He envisioned a place that makes his guests feel like they’ve walked in the door to visit a good friend. Del Ray Café is the culmination of that dream.

When the Janowskys bought Alexandria’s renowned French restaurant La Bergerie in 2000, Laurent began to put into practice the lessons he learned while working with master chef Jean Louis Palladin.

These days, Laurent returns to France briefly in the summertime–often with Margaret and the kids –to visit his family and renew his spirit. And there are always new food ideas that come back with him! For the other 50 weeks of the year, you’ll find Laurent here at Del Ray Café. So come enjoy a meal with us. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

Arriving
 

 
Wine Dinner 
 






Catarina Satarelli 
Chef LaurenJanowsky
 



Spumante Brut NV 
Canapes
 






Lobster Bisque
Tralivio 2022
 







Filet of Icelandic Cod
Milletta 2020
 







Duck Leg Confit
Balciana 2020
 






Almond Tart
Passito 2021
 





The Wines
 
 
Thank you 
 



Bye-bye
 

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