Italian Wines Sparkle At Festive Meal

Bubbly and the queen of Italian wine are perfect matches for a four-course meal.

Italian meals mean family and festive times around the dinner table. When our daughter Rachel arrived in town, it was the ideal time to host a special meal with four Italian wines imported by Mack & Schuhle and distributed nationally. We dubbed the affair our “pasto festivo” (festive meal).

There’s no better way to greet dinner guests than with a glass of sparkling wine. Our arrival wine was the Ca di Prata Prosecco DOC Brut. Prosecco is made primarily from the Glera grape and is made using the Charmat or tank method. Prosecco gets its bubbles from a second fermentation, but unlike Champagne, the second fermentation takes place in a tank and not the bottle. The process is less labor-intensive so the final product is less costly (yay!).

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The Ca di Prata has fine streams of bubbles with citrus and apple notes. The finish is crisp and dry. It was a perfect foil for our antipasti which featured garlic crostini and olive tapenade, plenty of tomatoes and salad, and even some vegan Italian “salami.“

It was time to transition to white wine as we prepared for our second course. We opened the Barone Montalto 2020 Pinot Grigio to pair with baked polenta stacks with grilled vegetables. The subtle flavors of the polenta and roasted notes of the veggies were a tasty match with the Pinot Grigio which leads with citrus and mineral components. The stainless steel aging keeps the flavors fresh. It finishes with a light pear note.

Risotto has been the downfall of many contestants on cooking competition shows. When done wrong, it’s a puzzling mess. When done right, it is a melt-in-your-mouth delicacy. Rachel is a vegan chef, and after studying the wines, decided on crafting a scrumptious mushroom risotto.

Our red wine was the Riva Leone 2017 Barbaresco DOCG. Barbaresco is considered the queen of Italian wine (while Barolo wears the king’s crown). Both are made with the Nebbiolo grape. This wine was softer than I was expecting with floral and earthy components to the taste. It is aged for 12 months in French and American oak which contribute to a long, complex finish. This is a medium-bodied wine that matched well with the savory notes of the risotto.

We closed our festivities with the pop of a cork as we opened the Acquesi Asti Spumante. It has 9.5% residual sugar so finding the right food pairing is important. Our selection was vegan tiramisu and it was a classic pairing. The sweetness of the dessert ratcheted down the sweetness of the Asti, enabling us to enjoy its delicate spice, persistent bubbles, and honeycomb flavors. At only 7% ABV, this is a splendid end to a great dinner.

The pricing of the wines is as tasty as our meal. All are under $20 except for the Barbaresco, which is $25.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Delle Venezie DOC Unites To Promote Italian Pinot Grigio

Delle Venezie DOC, an Italian wine region devoted especially to Pinot Grigio is boosting awareness and sales worldwide.

Global Pinot Grigio Boss

To say Italy is pretty good at Pinot Grigio is a vast understatement. Italy is the number one country for Pinot Grigio production and boasts more than 40% of the world’s Pinot Grigio acreage.

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Pinot Grigio is Italy’s top exported Italian grape variety. Ninety-six percent of its Pinot Grigio is exported. Can you guess who is the biggest customer? Yes, it is the US.

A complex and versatile grape, Pinot Grigio was found in the Venetian area at the end of the 1800s. It’s an area with winemaking roots that date back to the 7th century BC.

Unifying Italian Pinot Grigio

While Pinot Grigio can be found across Italy, 85% of production comes from the regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Veneto and the province of Trento. In 2017 producers came together and DOC delle Venezie was established.

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In Italy a DOC represents a region where a set of regulations ensures the quality from a particular region. It is a step up from an IGT wine, which is a wine with geographic indication, and a significant upgrade from table wine. The three areas united under the DOC encompass more than 63,000 acres of vines.

We recently attended a webinar hosted by Consorzio DOC delle Venezie as part of the Wine Media Conference. It was an opportunity to taste and learn about premium Italian Pinot Grigio. We were guided through a tasting of Venezie Pinot Grigio by Laura Donadoni, a sommelier and authority on Italian wine.

“Pinot Grigio has really been underestimated,” said Donadoni. “The quality has greatly improved.” Going forward DOC delle Venezie will be the region that carries the banner for Italian Pinot Grigio.

The average temperature during growing season is 57 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit. She notes that the region, which includes the foothills of the Italian Alps, features acidity and complexity lacking in Pinot Grigio from warmer climates.

A Sparkling Surprise

We tasted two bottles of Venezie Pinot Grigio: the 2018 Cupcake Pinot Grigio and the Bolla Pinot Grigio Spumante. I had seen Cupcake on the store shelves and always assumed this was a California brand. I was only half right. Although the winery is located in Lodi, its Pinot Grigio is made with grapes from Venezie.

The Cupcake shattered my preconceptions and was quite delicious with crisp notes of pear and lemon. The acidity lingered and begged me to pour another glass, which I did.

Bolla is an Italian winery with a far-reaching tradition. It was one of the first wineries from the region to become recognized in the US and was championed by Frank Sinatra. Bolla also stakes a claim as the first winery to market Amarone and brands its top-tier Amarone as Le Origini.

The Bolla bottle was a surprise as I don’t recall trying a sparkling Pinot Grigio before. The bubbles tickle and are celebratory, but don’t last very long. I kept recharging the glasses to keep the fizz going. The flavor is fresh and bright apple with a touch of citrus. This could make a good substitute for Prosecco. Both wines can be found for under $10, making them quite a value.

It’s time to revisit Italian Pinot Grigio and drink in the refreshing notes of DOC della Venezie.

Pick Six! Some Top Picks To Celebrate National White Wine Day

Quench your summer thirst with these top white wines that won’t pinch your wallet.

Exploring Refreshing Alternatives

The North Carolina summer can try the hardiest soul. With daily highs in the mid-90s and heat indexes in the triple digits the heat is sweltering.

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Thankfully relief can be found in icily chilled white wine – and there’s no better time to pop open a bottle than right now. National White Wine Day is August 3.

Here’s a refreshing half-dozen picks to tide you over through the summer heat. Many are grapes you may not have yet tried, but all are below $25 – so these wines are refreshing in more ways than one.

Gradis’ciutta Ribolla Gialla 2018 (SRP $21.99)

Ribolla Gialla is a new grape for us. The grape is an ancient European variety that can be traced back to the 13th century and made a comeback in the 19th century. Notes of nuts and apples with creamy texture. No one in our group had tasted this grape before, but it became a favorite. An Italian patio champion!

Umani Ronchi Vellodoro Pecorino 2019 (SRP $16.99)

Italy’s Pecorino is known as the “grape of the sheep” for the presence of this grape in sheep grazing territory. This is a dry wine with soft fruit, good acidity and herbal notes. This is perfect with fish, cheeses and pasta. A steal at $17.

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Gradis’ciutta Friulano 2018 (SRP $21.99)

Friulano is the grape in the famed white wines of Italy’s Friuli region. Also known as Sauvignon Vert, this wine has notes of peach and apples and a rounded finish with some savory notes for interest. One sip transports you to the sun-dappled countryside of Italy!

Umani Ronchi Villa Bianchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 2018 (SRP $16.99)

Verdicchio means “little green one” and the grapes are straw colored with green tinges. This is an elegant wine with citrus and minerality and a bit more body than you might expect. It gets brief aging in stainless steel to preserve its fresh flavors.

Azevedo Loureiro e Alvarinho Vinho Verde 2019

Vinho Verde, from Portugal, is know for its amazing refreshment as well as its sub-$10 pricing. Azevedo checks all the boxes. With 70% Loureiro and 30% Alvarinho, this is a fresh, easy-drinking bottle we enjoyed with a patio meal. Citrus and tropical fruit highlight this tasty treat. Vinho Verde is a nice alternative to rosé.

Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio 2019 (SRP $12)

This is a light and lilting wine with elegant flavors of orange blossom and pear. Grapes for this Sicilian wine benefit from a Mediterranean climate and clay soil. We loved the flowing lime highlights with clean, fresh flavors. A perfect wine for pizza or fish. This can be an everyday sipper throughout the summer. 

As we close, here are a couple of thoughts about summer white wine. First, you must make sure the wine is properly chilled. You won’t be able to do so if you put the wine the fridge an hour before guests arrive. Put your wine in the fridge the day before. Your red wines, if being served outside, will also benefit from a slight chill.

If you are entertaining guests outside, don’t bring the chilled wine out until you guests have arrived. That summer heat will melt the ice and warm up the wine in no time. If you are serving appetizers, do so a little bit at a time. No one wants to eat shrimp that’s been sitting out in the sun for three hours.

Cheers and keep it cool!

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Organic Ziobaffa Brand Adds A Twist To Innovative New Wines

Organic wine is a popular luxury. But what about the history and winemakers who create them? Here’s a new wine with a most interesting back story.

Wine, Surfing And Movies

Jason Baffa is an award-winning filmmaker who has traveled the globe to make movies highlighting the love of surfing. The films, "Singlefin: yellow," "One California Day" and the newly released and award winning, "Bella Vita," embrace the inspired life of the care-free surfing sub-culture.
While filming “Bella Vita” in Italy with surfer-environmentalist Chris Del Moro and winemaker Piergiorgio Castellani, Jason earned the nickname of Zio Baffa, or “Uncle Baffa.” The crew of surfers created a film that not only celebrates surfing, but wine as well.
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A Modern Take On Old World Tradition

What happens when you turn surfer-environmentalist-entrepreneur types loose in the vineyards of Italy? Some handcrafted artisan wine that reflects the laid back surfing subculture.

Ziobaffa has released two Italian wines: the 2012 Toscana Red and 2013 Pinot Grigio. Both wines are organic with a focus on sustainability that also is reflected in the packaging and bottle.

We’ve Never Seen A Wine Bottle Like It

Before we tell you what’s in the bottle, we must tell you about the bottle itself. All of the energy used in manufacturing (100%) is from renewable resources. All of the paper used for the label is Forest Stewardship Council certified and is produced from raw material obtained through sustainable farming practices.  The labels are printed with non-toxic ink and affixed using bio-friendly, non-toxic glue.

The closure is the most unique we’ve ever seen. The innovative Helix reusable cork closure is a joint project of Owens-Illinois and Amorim, a leading cork producer.
Helix consists of an ergonomically designed stopper made from cork, in combination with a glass bottle with an internal thread finish in the neck to match grooves molded into the cork.
There’s no need for a corkscrew, you simply “unscrew” it. It also tightens up quite well, making a good seal to preserve your wine – if any is left.

But What About The Wine Itself, Dude?

Both the Pinot Grigio and Toscana Red are estate produced wines. Traditional methods are used with modern machinery.
The 2013 Pinot Grigio is a fresh tasting wine with apple and pear notes. It is finished in stainless steel to maintain the bright flavors. We had it nicely chilled at the end of a hot day and it was rejuvenation in a bottle. This is a solid Italian Pinot Grigio that will pair nicely with seafood.
The 2012 Toscana Red is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Syrah. The estate harvested grapes came from the Poggio Al Casone Vineyard, the home base for the filming of “Bella Vita.” To add to the coolness factor, the wine is made from grapes harvested during the filming of the movie.

In the glass the wine is a deep, inky purple. On the palate there is red fruit and a Sweet Tart flavor. The wine was not aged in oak. Normally we would say, “hurrah!” However, the tannins were a bit too soft for us and the wine could benefit from a bit more structure.
Ziobaffa wines are an expression of a creative, easy-going lifestyle. The combination of organic farming, a focus on sustainability, innovative packaging plus tasty wine is appealing indeed. Perhaps Ziobaffa is the next big wave in winemaking.
Full disclosure: The wines were provided as marketing samples.

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Ogio 2011 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie IGT

A pop of tartness and a dash of minerality highlight this refreshing Pinot Grigio from Ogio. Ogio is an Italian brand that began with limited distribution in the US in 2006 and last year expanded to all major markets.
The delle Venezie appellation covers three northeast regions of the country, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige. This is an area known for exceptional white wines.
The Ogio Pinot Grigio is light straw in color and light in body. The wine is tart on the tongue with notes of citrus zest. There is a bone dry minerality. The flavor notes are subtle and this should be a great wine for a variety of foods, including seafood, salads and even spicy cuisine.
Ogio is a third-generation family winery but this Pinot Grigio also embraces the flair of modern Italy. This wine has more punch than a lackluster or fruity Pinot Grigio. The price is a very reasonable $12.99.
Full Disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.

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Attems Pinot Grigio 2010, Venezia Giulia IGT, Italia

The 2010 Attems is a Pinot Grigio with full body and expressive terroir – that’s something I don’t recall saying about any Pinot Grigio.

When drinking Pinot Grigio, I expect a lightweight wine with a light fruitiness. This wine, from northeast Italy, turned my impression upside down. This is much more in the style of Pinot Gris than Pinot Grigio. Although they are the same grape, the Pinot Gris is typically more hearty and rustic.

There is some fruit and tang on the nose, but on the palate there is a savory, almost nutty quality. The body is much fuller than the typical Pinot Grigio. In Italy, 2010 was considered a “white wine year.” The fruit imparts a nice balance between acids and sugars and a great mineral quality.

The flavor notes of apple and tropical fruit have a crisp edge to them. Finishing was done for two months in oak barrels, four months in stainless steel and a final month in the bottle.
The wine retails for $19 and is recommended.

Technorati Tags: wine,Italian wine,Pinot Grigio

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