What an exciting time in the CSW course! We have entered Italy and will spend a few weeks discovering the wines of various regions!
When I think of Italy, I immediately picture rolling hills, medieval castles, and quaint villages, but there is so much more to this vast country! Grand Mountains, Mediterranean seascapes, stunning ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the wine...oh yes the wine!
This week we will explore the wines in the North.
Think bold Barolos, crisp and dizzying Proseccos, and surprising whites that will soon become new favorites.
Barolo: these are quite simply fabulous reds. Barolo is made from the Nebbiolo grape, which is grown almost exclusively in Piedmont. Other areas in Italy, and countries around the world, have tried to grow this grape, however, they have never been able to achieve the same greatness as they have in Piedmont. Barolo is incredibly versatile, you can enjoy it with a heavy winter meal or a spring BBQ. My favorite pairing is with a charcutier board. (I am pretty sure that is my favorite pairing in most situations!) A favorite Barolo is Giovanni Rosso Barolo 2015 | Wine.com
If you love bold, rich, full bodied red wines, then do yourself a favor and grab a Barolo!
On the nose you will find violet and roses. Take her in slowly, enjoy the burst of flavors, and you will fall in love with this wine. I especially love this wine on a cool night around the fire.
Next stop is Prosecco! This used to be my go to drink when I wanted something fresh and delicious. Prosecco has similar name protection as does champagne in France. In order to be called Prosecco, it has to come from one of three specific areas in the North of Italy. Prosecco is made with the Glera grape (formerly known as Prosecco!) and is bit fruitier than Champagne. In Italy, they primarily use the Tank Method for second fermentation which is less costly and faster than the traditional method, which includes a lot of manual work. I love the fruity and floral aromas of Prosecco! La Marca is a personal favorite and easy to find anywhere!
Lastly, I want to share our wine of the week.
I selected Orvieto! This is an incredible white wine, and is made primarily with Trebbiano Tuscano and Grechetto. One of the greatest things about this CSW course is discovering new favorite wines! I have long been a fan of Sauvignon Blanc out of NZ and Albarino from Spain, but I must say, I loved this wine. I loved it so much that I ordered a case the next day. There was something special about this white, it had the crispness that I love in Sauv blanc and Spanish whites, but it had a little something else. It wasn't citrusy like SB, it was more peachy! I love trying wines with different foods, so I paired this with guacamole and it was wonderful. Then again, not sure if you can go wrong with guac!
Wandering Vine Notes:
Wine: Noe Orvieto
Primary Grape: Trebbiano Tuscano
Dry White Wine that is floral and peachy on the nose.
When to Drink: on a warm summer day with a seafood dinner! (or guacamole!)
Commentaires