By Maui Now Staff

A dish from a previous Makena Beach & Golf Resort wine dinner. Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

Makena Beach & Golf Resort’s Winery of the Month dinner brings an encore visit from Banfi Vintner, the sole US importer of the Mariani family’s Italian wine estates: Castello Banfi of Montalcino, Tuscany, and Vigne Regali Cellars Strevi, Piedmont.

Designed by Chef De Cuisine Kurt Lesmerises, under the direction of Executive Chef Marc McDowell, enjoy a five-course dinner with Italian wine pairings.

Hosted by Banfi Vintners’ Western Regional Director Richard Rossi, the event is being held tomorrow, Feb. 20 in the Molokini Bar & Grille.

The meal starts with a San Angelo Pinot Gris paired with Kumu Farm’s organic kale salad made with Hamakua hearts of palm, compressed Maui gold pineapple, laurel channel goat cheese, crispy Maui onions and miso yuzu vinaigrette.

Next, enjoy Castello Banfi Belnero with cognac-braised escargot.

The snails in question are slowly braised in cognac and seasoned with garlic, shallots and herbs, and surrounded by puff pastry with a Pernod reduction.

After that comes a duo of ahi and ono made with prociutto-wrapped fresh fish seared rare and served with fingerling potatoes, Hamakua mushrooms and Maui onion and butter-brased bok choy washed down with the Banfi Chianti Classico.

A roast venison tenderloin accompanied by Castello Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino arrives next.

Although they have pesky axis deer regularly sneaking onto the property, the venison Thursday evening hails from New Zealand. Red wine and rosemary-marinated red deer is accompanied by sautéed rainbow chard, shaved fennel and local baby beets with blackberry jus lie.

Loosen your belts, because there is still the final course of crème fraiche panna cotta with strawberry mousse and strawberry puree coming. The dessert is paired with Rosa Regale.

The dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and is $130 per person, not including tax or gratuity. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Call 808-875-5888 to make yours.