Postcards from Alba Restaurant and Wine Bar August is one of our favorite months, when so much great produce is coming from our garden and Boulder County farmers. Sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, beans, squash, peaches, cherries, fresh herbs...it doesn't get any better. Alex is introducing several new menu items featuring late summer's delectable bounty. We have a wonderful wine dinner this month, "A Taste of Liguria." Those of you who've visted Cinque Terre and other parts of this region know how fresh and satisfying Ligurian food can be. We're doing another in our series of wine tastings, this time featuring the great whites of southern Italy. Matthew has developed some great new cocktails and added some terrific wines to our list, including a beautiful rosé from Friuli. It's still a month away, but save the date and make reservations for a special dinner on September 1 - "Porchetta on the Patio" This will be a fun and delicious evening you won't want to miss. We look forward to seeing you soon. Click here to see our latest dinner menu

August Wine Dinner - "A Taste of Liguria" Wednesday, August 18 A Taste of Liguria Ligurians are fiercely proud of their cuisine and the products grudgingly yielded by the steep, rocky hillsides leading down to the sea. Their prized olive oil, pesto Genovese, and a bounty of wonderful fresh fish and vegetables comprise what many consider Italy’s brightest and healthiest regional cooking. This dinner features four classic regional dishes, each paired with a wine chosen to complement its flavors. The Menu: ANTIPASTO Sgombero in Scabeggio di Moneglia Mackerel marinated in house-made vinegar with herbs and garlic Terenzuola Vermentino Montesagna 2008 ¤ ¤ ¤ PRIMO Risotto al Pesto Genovese Carnaroli rice with basil pesto Terenzuola Vermentino Fosso Corsano 2008 ¤ ¤ ¤ SECONDO Brodetto di Mare Ligurian seafood stew with tomatoes, marjoram, and Ligurian olive oil Le Terrazze Rosso Conero 2006 Optional Wine: Terre Nere Guardiola 2007 ¤ ¤ ¤ DOLCE Pesche Ripiene Roasted peaches with hazelnuts, candied fruit, and zabaione La Morandina Moscato d’Asti 2008 $55.00 per Person Optional wine supplement: $10 For reservations call 303.938.8800 or visit www.albaboulder.com

The Perfect Summer Patio Wine - Bastianich Rosato If pink wine makes you think of sweet, insipid California white zinfandel, you should know about a whole world of wonderful rosés (rosatos in Italy) waiting for you to taste them and fall in love. Joe and Lidia Bastanich's winery in Cividale del Friuli has produced one of the nicest rosatos we've tasted in years. It's made from 100% refosco, a Friulian grape variety used in the production of many esteemed reds. This is an intensely colored rosato, filled with plums, rose petals, violets and orange peel aromas. A medium weight on the palate with soft fruit that leads to fresh and crisp acidity. The wine is a delight to drink with just about anything. It's a perfect pairing for our antipasti and small bites, ideal for your first bottle or to drink throughout the meal on a warm August night. Click here to see our complete wine list

Wine Tasting Class August 25 - Great Southern Whites Southern Italy is best known for its rich, full-bodied red wines, but the southern regions produce some amazingly delicious, complex, food-friendly whites as well. Join us to taste and discuss some exceptional southern whites. The cost of the tasting is $15 per person. If you join us for dinner that evening, any bottles of wine you order will be half-price. Space is very limited, so to ensure a place, please reserve soon.

Special Dinner September 1 - "Porchetta on the Patio" Porchetta is a classic Italian savory and moist boneless pork roast. The body of the pig is deboned and arranged carefully with layers of stuffed herbs, meat, and fat, then rolled and roasted. The skin is very crispy and the meat is silky and delicious. Porchetta has been selected by the Italian Ministero delle Politiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali as a "traditional agricultural-alimentary product,” one of a list of traditional Italian foods held to have cultural relevance. The Menu Antipasto Misto di Toscana Small bites Tuscan style Porchetta Whole boneless Long Farm pig, stuffed with Tuscan herbs and served with salsa verde and mostarda on a bed of arugula Contorni Misti Assorted vegetable side dishes Dolci Crostata di Pesche Colorado peach crostata $45 per person The dinner will be limited to 35 people, so please reserve early Call 303.938.8800 or reserve online at www.albaboulder.com