Introduction to Italy: The Results!
Dear Enthusiasts! This post has been a long time coming - the results from the wine club's Italian wine tasting! The club's gathering on Italian wines was a little less formal and more like a family meal (which was awesome!). We had antipasti, foccacia, and pasta to enjoy with our wine. Since this meeting was less formal, this results post will provide more detail on the grapes behind these wines instead of the traditional detailed review of the individual wines.
For those who hate surprises --
we tasted the following wines:
(1) Pinot Grigio, (2) Soave, (3) Chianti Classico, and (4) Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.
(1) Pinot Grigio
As previously mentioned, Pinot Grigio is an Italian white wine (the most popular white in Italy) that does not get much love from the wine experts. It's typically criticized for its subtle and sometimes nonexistent flavor. However, despite its lack of popularity with the cool kids, a quality Pinot Grigio can surprise you with its freshness. Its most commonly grown in Italy's northern regions, including: Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Guilia, and Lombardy.
Wine Tasted:
Villa Sonia Pinot Grigio Venezia, 2012
Grapes:
100% Pinot Grigio
Taste:
Apple, pear and melon with a clean finish.
Wine Tasting:
For the price, I would recommend this wine as a great summer sipper or something to enjoy outside with food. The scent consisted of a honeysuckle aroma. Personally, I felt the taste was a bit too mild and I was hoping for a brighter fruit flavor.
The group says...
that the wine was refreshing and drinkable. In particular, the Pinot Grigio lovers were satisfied and would buy this wine again.
(2) Soave
Soave is a misunderstood Italian white wine. Once a powerhouse white in the U.S. during the 70s and 80s, it saw a decline in popularity in the 1990s. The culprit for this decline? None other than the rapper named Gerardo (never heard of him?). He was made famous for his one hit wonder, "Rico Suave," and check out video
. Seriously! An article in the
discussed a correlation between the release of this song and decline in popularity of Soave wine in the U.S.
Despite the effects of "Rico Suave," Soave remained popular in Italy. And, remember that Soave is the name of the
wine region
and not the main grape in the wine. The primary grape in wines from the Soave region is actually called Garganega (You may see it blended with Trebbiano or Chardonnay). Garganega ripens later in the season and is known for its acidity. You may also see either
classico
or
superiore
on the label. If you have the choice between the two, go for classico. It refers to wine grown on the hillside, which means the land is less fertile and the grapes struggle a bit more (and we want our grapes to struggle - it means greater flavors!). Superiore, on the other hand, comes from the flat lands, or valley floor, which has more fertile land and prevents the grapes from struggling.
Wine Tasted:
Pieropan 2010 Soave Classico
Grapes:
Garganega
Taste:
Light and crisp taste with vibrant flavors of citrus, apple, pear and tangerine.
Wine Tasting:
The label says this wine has a brilliant straw yellow color with intense fruit aromas and long lasting fruit forward flavor.
The group says ...
they agreed! Personally, I have always loved Soave because it's a lot like Sauvignon Blanc (acidity!). The group loved the freshness.
(3) Chianti
Chianti is one of the most popular wine of Tuscany (one of the most beautiful wine regions in Italy, and definitely on my must see list!). Remember the three levels: (1) Chianti, (2) Chianti Classico, and (3) Chianti Classico Riserva. Just in case the Italian classification system was not complex enough... they introduced a fourth level -
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione.
This new top level must be produced solely from estate-grown grapes and sold at least 30 months after harvest.
With that said, there is a lot (a lot!) to learn about Chianti that likely needs its own post, so let's get to the wine tasted by the group!
Wine:
Costello D'albola Chianti Classico
Grapes:
Approximately 80% Sangiovese
Taste:
Medium body with firm tannins and medium acidity followed by bright red fruit flavor.
Wine Tasting:
The group says...
the wine had a spicy component and a balanced taste. Personally, I don't love Chianti. No real reason why, the taste just seems hit or miss. But the group thought this moderate flavor of this wine was worth recommending to friends.
(4) Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Montepulciano is a red wine grape grown primarily in central Italy and Italy's second most produced grape, after sangiovese. Wine made from the montepulciano grape is known for soft flavors, strong colors and moderate tannins. It is recommended that these wines are consumed in their youth and with food.
Wine:
Per Linda Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Grapes:
At least 85% Montepulciano (can be blended with sangiovese)
Taste:
Moderate acidity with deep cherry and plum flavor
Wine Tasting:
The group says ...
this was by far the groups favorite. They appreciated the complex flavor and noted that it paired well with food. Definitely try this wine!
That brings this (long time coming) post on the group's Italian wine tasting to a close. Until next time!
Cheers!