Italian Wine Scholar – Page 2

Italian Bubbles: Moving Beyond Prosecco

28 Aug 2018Italy, Sparkling Wines, WSET2 Comments

When it comes to Prosecco, I believe there are three types of people: those who love it, those who turn their noses up at it, and those who will drink it . . . but only if Champagne isn’t available. I fall pretty firmly into the last category. Given a choice, I’d almost always opt for Champagne – unless I’m mixing my sparkling wine with orange juice (Helllooooo Boozy Brunch!!)

For many, sparkling wine is a commodity – completely interchangeable. And that’s totally fine. Others (present company included) are a bit more selective about their bubbles. For me, I really like what autolysis* brings to the party so, if Champagne isn’t available I’ll look for a label that says “methode traditionalle” or “methode champenoise” – which indicates that the wine was made in the traditional method* – in other words, the same way that Champagne is made. Prosecco, on the other hand, is produced by what is referred to as the tank method.*

*I realize that these terms are total winespeak for any relative newbies who might be reading this, so if you’re not exactly sure what those corkdorky terms mean – here’s a (very) quick debrief:

Traditional Method. Once the base wine is finished, it undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle. To accomplish this, a bit of yeast and sugar are mixed together, added to the base wine, and then the bottle is sealed up. As in the first fermentation, the yeast consumes the sugar and produces alcohol and CO2 – but since this is happening within a sealed bottle, there’s nowhere for the CO2 to escape to. So it remains in the bottle – creating the sparkle.

After the sugar is consumed, the yeast dies 😦 but its work is not yet done! Dead yeast cells are referred to in winespeak as “lees.” The wine “rests on the lees” for a period of time after the second fermentation is complete and this is where autolysis occurs. Autolysis is essentially the enzymatic breakdown of dead yeast cells . . . and if your eyes just glazed over by reading that sentence you’re not alone! I’ve been trying to wrap my brain around this myself. Yet another scientific concept that I’m struggling with. The duration of autolysis can be anywhere from a few months to several years – the more time spent, the more yeasty/bready characteristics in the resulting wine. Usually, lees aging needs to be at least 18 months in order for the wine to show any autolytic characteristics.

Tank Method (aka Charmat Method). With this method, the second fermentation takes place in a large pressurized tank as opposed to inside the bottle. The tank method is cheaper, faster and requires less labor than the traditional method. It’s also used with more aromatic grape varieties like Glera (the primary grape of Prosecco) and Riesling (used in German Sekt) since there isn’t the degree of lees contact – which can overwhelm the delicate fruitiness of these varietals. While you still get bubbles with the tank method, the resulting wine is much more fruity and fresh. You don’t get as much (or any) of those yummy bread dough, brioche aromas that you do with the traditional method.

While Prosecco is Italy’s best-known sparkling wine (and best-selling at over 220 million bottles a year!), the country also produces a handful of sparklers made in the same method as Champagne. And, typically, at a fraction of the cost. Here are three traditional method Italian sparkling wines that are great alternatives (NOT substitutes, because in my opinion – there is none!) for Champagne:

Franciacorta DOCG. This region released its first traditional method sparkling wine relatively recently – 1961. Since then, Franciacorta has enjoyed immense success with their wines and is currently producing over 17 million bottles annually (with the bulk of this being consumed by locals – only around 20% is exported). In 1995, Franciacorta became the first DOCG in Italy exclusively for traditional method sparkling wine.

Franciacorta is located in Lombardia and has a significantly warmer climate than Champagne. This translates to riper fruit flavors in the glass and a lower overall acidity. (Tip: look for “brut nature” or “zero dosage” versions of Franciacorta if you want to maximize acidity). Interestingly though (to me anyways!), non-vintage Franciacorta is required to spend a minimum of 18 months on the lees – which is 3 months longer than Champagne’s minimum requirement!

The grapes used in Franciacorta are Chardonnay, Pinot Nero (aka Pinot Noir), and Pinot Bianco. The latter is being used less frequently as it doesn’t add much longevity or energy to the wine.

For more info – here’s my outline on Franciacorta.

Trento DOC. These wines hail from the Trentino region located in northeastern Italy. Sparkling wine production started here in the early 1900s here thanks to Giulio Ferrari who believed the area had the potential to compete with the wines from Champagne. And while these wines are produced in the same method and use the same grapes as Champagne (the holy trifecta of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) they taste incredibly different. You’re likely to get aromas of peach, apricot, candied lemon and orange peel from Trento sparkling wines – with maybe a hint of biscuit character if they’ve been aged longer than 3 years. They tend to be fuller bodied with a level of richness to them.

Compared to Prosecco and Franciacorta, Trento DOC has a rather small production – 8.5 million bottles in 2010 (of which the Ferrari house produced nearly 60%) and the bulk of it is consumed locally. Which might help explain why I haven’t been able to get my hands on one of these . . . yet. 😉

Alta Langa DOCG. This area is becoming increasingly important for traditional method sparkling wines produced in southern Piemonte. Although it is a large appellation overall, the actual area under vine is just over 250 acres (roughly 1/3 the size of Central Park). And Alta Langa production is quite small – just over 600,000 bottles per year. Both planted acreage and production are expected to increase, however, as popularity of this region’s wines has soared in recent years. And with good reason – they have some pretty strict requirements as far as what goes into the bottle and, as a result, are producing some delicious bubbles!

Alta Langa DOCG wines are made from a minimum 90% of Chardonnay and/or Pinot Noir. And, unlike Champagne and the other regions mentioned above, there is no “non-vintage” production here. All Alta Langa wines must be vintage dated and spend a minimum of 30 months on their lees. So you’ll definitely find more of those yummy bready aromatics in wines from this region.

I hope next time you’re thinking bubbles you’ll give one of these a try. If you do, please let me know what you think! 🙂 Want to learn more about wine and bubbles? Click the link to the right and subscribe to this blog!!!

Drinking Outside the Box: 5 Northern Italian Wines to Check Out

17 Jul 2018Italy, The Vintner Project3 Comments

In life, most of us tend to stick to our comfort zone. The same route home. Our favorite coffee mug in the morning. Cozy sweats and re-runs of a show we’ve already binge watched a few times (I’m certain that I’ve seen every episode of Sex & the City at least four times). And the same varietals in our glass of wine. Even when ordering at a restaurant we’ve never been to before, or visiting a new wine store with endless options, we’ll probably choose something we know – rather than something we don’t.

Since I started studying for the Italian Wine Scholar exam a few months ago, I’ve come to realize how many grape varieties there are that I’ve never even heard of – let alone tried. (Italy itself has at least 350 different native grapes!) Hubs and I have gradually started working through some of these grapes – mostly to positive results! Proving that when I allow myself to branch out beyond what I’m comfortable with – my frequent Pinot Noir or Washington state Syrah – I expand my palate and my mind, but also my wine cellar. 😉

So, I’m encouraging you to “drink outside the box” and try something new as well. Next time you’re at a restaurant or wine store with a carefully curated Italian section (particularly from the North!) – nix the Nebbiolos, pass on the Pinot Grigios and Proseccos, and give one of the following wines a shot instead. You just might be pleasantly surprised at what you discover. 🙂

italianwineregions — *Map courtesy of the always awesome Wine Folly*

Cortese/Gavi. Cortese is the grape and Gavi the location in Southeast Piemonte where it’s been grown since at least the early 1600s. Cortese performs particularly well in Gavi and throughout the 1960s and 1970s enjoyed immense success. However, in the same manner that other popular things have been WAY overdone – the Real Housewives series (did we really need DC?), the zombie apocalypse, “Keep Calm and [fill in the blank]” – lots of producers jumped on the Gavi bandwagon and tons of meh wines were the result of this massive overproduction. Thankfully, Gavi has recovered and was elevated to DOCG status in 1998 – Happy 20 year Anniversary Gavi! Same year as me and Hubs. 🙂

Gavi DOCG wines must be made from 100% Cortese. These wines are usually crisp and refreshing with minerality and a striking lemon zest character. And while it’s best known for still wines, Gavi is also produced in a variety of sparkling styles as well.

The Gavi we had recently was from Broglia. Impressively, the estate has records of its vineyards going back to 972! The wine was slightly riper on the palate than I expected – with flavors of ripe apple and Meyer lemon along with Cortese’s trademark minerality. Some wines from this region can be nice little porch pounders for the summertime (or 10 months out of the year down here in SoCal), but this one definitely had more complexity and depth.

Arneis. This white grape is native to the Roero hills in Piemonte and was saved from near extinction in the 1960s by two prominent producers in the area: Vietti and Bruno Giacosa. Today, in large part thanks to these two, plantings of Arneis are around 2,400 acres. Arneis is a challenging grape to grow – it’s prone to poor and irregular yields and tends to drop acidity rapidly when approaching full ripeness – which often isn’t until late September. So, it’s no surprise that “Arneis” in local dialect translates to “difficult personality.”

When in the right hands, Arneis produces fuller bodied wines that are subtly perfumed and complex with aromas/flavors of white flowers, stone fruit and pear. The wines are typically fresh and floral and should be consumed within a few years of release.

We had an Arneis produced by one of its rescuers – Bruno Giacosa. The wine was definitely delicate in the aromatic department, I was getting yellow fruit (apples, pears) and some floral notes. On the palate it was zesty with a slightly bitter, but not unpleasantly so, finish. This would pair amazingly with grilled fish or lighter/herbed pasta dishes. Or a big ol’ pile of prosciutto.

Ruché. This will undoubtedly be the most challenging of the five wines to find. Ruché is a rare, aromatic red grape likely native to the town of Castagnole in Piemonte, where it has been grown for centuries. Today, there are only around 250 total acres planted to this grape in Italy and it is rarely found elsewhere.

In 2010, Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG became the first (and only!) delimited area dedicated entirely to the Ruché grape. Wines from this DOCG must be made from at least 90% Ruché (with Barbera or Brachetto making up the balance). Ruché based wines are typically intensely perfumed with aromas of roses, red fruit and spice.

I recently sampled a Ruché from Montalbera – an Italian producer hugely supportive of and dedicated to the grape. The wine was one of the most unique wines I’ve ever had. Incredibly pale in the glass, it looked like it should be delicate and subtle – yet it was anything but. The wine was full of aromas of cherries, tea leaves, orange peel and spices with very prevalent acidity and tannins and a lengthy, bitter finish. If you want to try something truly different, Ruché is your wine.

Lagrein. (rhymes with “wine” – easy to remember!) This red grape is can be found predominantly in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of Northeast Italy. Lagrein is late ripening and needs significant warmth and sun to ripen fully – so it seems somewhat counterintuitive that it would be grown in an area that’s bumping up against the Italian Alps. However, this region has 300 days of sunshine per year and a warm growing season, so Lagrein thrives – and it’s delicious!

Lagrein makes up about only 8% of total grape plantings in Alto Adige and around 1,200 total acres. There are also a few California wineries that produce a Lagrein (although I haven’t run across any of these yet). Lagrein produces fuller bodied, rich, darkly colored wines with higher tannins and acidity and often a bitter finish. The wines are frequently packed with aromas of berry fruit, violets and a savory/meaty component.

We had a Lagrein from Castelfeder, which is located in Alto Adige. This wine was somewhat reminiscent of a Northern Rhône Syrah for me – violets, charred black fruits, smoked meat. This was Hubs favorite of the two reds, probably because he’s obsessed with smoky anything since he recently purchased a new smoker. 🙂

Lambrusco. Lambrusco hails from the Emilia-Romagna region and is essentially an umbrella term covering several distinct varieties all within the Lambrusco family. Some of the more common ones you’re likely to see on a wine label are:

Lambrusco di Sorbara – produces the lightest version of Lambrusco and is considered to be the benchmark style
Lambrusco Salamino – the most widely planted of the Lambrusco varieties
Lambrusco Grasparossa – produces fuller bodied and more tannic wines

Unfortunately, most of the Lambrusco that is exported is sweet, characterless and mass-produced (kind of like my old college standby Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill – yes, dear reader, my introductory “wine” was Boone’s, please don’t judge me). Classic Lambrusco wines are dry (or very slightly off-dry) with refreshing acidity, fizziness and flavors of bright red berries and spice. To find this style of Lambrusco, your best bet is to look for DOC or DOP on the label – indicating that the wine was made according to stricter production standards and that the grapes come from a specific geographical area. Other terms to look for include:

Secco, Amabile or Dolce – these mean dry, medium-sweet and sweet
Frizzante – lightly sparkling
Spumante – fully sparkling

Hubs and I sampled a few different styles of Lambrusco, ranging from a rather flat and nondescript juicy red wine, to a delicately effervescent wine with black cherries and spice, to an incredibly aromatic sparkler full of dried black fruits. My favorite by far was the 3rd (the Medici Ermete) and it was incredibly delicious with our barbequed burgers!

So, let’s see . . . that’s 5 native Italian grapes down, only around 345 left to go! 😉

Oh – and I purchased the majority of these wines at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, CA (which I will be frequenting frequently because it’s the most awesome wine store EVER!!) But if you’re having problems finding any of these, Hi-Time ships!

Barbera

26 Feb 201826 Feb 2018Grapes, ItalyLeave a Comment

I’m a Pacific Northwest wine girl. Give me my Willamette Pinots and Walla Walla Syrahs all day long – they’re my woobie, my comfort zone, my home. Outside of the United States, I have put a stake in the ground in France. I’ve passed my French Wine Scholar exam, been inducted into the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, spent two weeks tasting in the French countryside, and stocked my wine fridge with more grower Champagne than I care to admit.

All of this brings me to Italy.

I don’t know much about Italian wines and I sure the hell am not comfortable with the ungodly number of DOCGs (74), DOCs (332) and IGTs (118). I mean, seriously, that is – to quote Hubs most eloquently – a “metric shit ton” of information for a single wine producing country. So to get me out of my comfort zone and expand my palate I took a deep breath and signed up for the Italian Wine Scholar exam.

Unlike the French Wine Scholar exam in which I was studying – for the most part – regions and grapes I at least had some degree of comfort with, with the IWS I feel like I’m starting from scratch. Sure, I know about Dolcetto and Nebbiolo – but Freisa or Bosco? Truth be told, before the IWS course I’d never even heard of these grapes! Thankfully the good folks at the Wine Scholar Guild graciously indicated “need-to-know” areas in the textbook so I’m not cramming my brain with minor details that won’t be on the exam.

My primary reasons for pursuing the IWS certification are twofold: (1) learn more about Italy in preparation for my WSET Diploma (starts in May!); and (2) get out of my comfort zone and expand my palate. I definitely tend to gravitate towards Syrah and Pinot Noir with regularity . . . too much so to be honest. If I can discover a few other go-to wines during my IWS studies, that would make all of these outlines and flashcards worthwhile (I think). Also, by almost every conceivable measure Italy is the largest wine producing country in the world – so, you know, I probably ought to be conversant about their grapes!

Fortunately, early on in my IWS studies I “re-discovered” Barbera which was a little like seeing an old friend on your first day at a new school. I’ve had it several times before, but always socially, never as part of my academic pursuits, which I honestly think makes me appreciate it even more. It’s a classic, “everybody loves a comeback” grape.

While Barbera’s exact origin is unknown, it’s believed to have existed in the Monferrato region of Piemonte (Northwest Italy) since the 7th century. So essentially, about a thousand years before Cabernet Sauvignon came into being! Currently, Italy is home to almost 85% of the world’s Barbera plantings with approximately 52,600 total acres. To put this into perspective, Italy’s Barbera production is roughly equivalent to every single grape grown in the entire state of Washington (see “metric shit ton” reference above).

Barbera used to be produced en masse and hailed as “the people’s wine”, with much of it being – to quote Miles – “quaffable, but far from transcendent.” Over the past 20+ years, Barbera has had a dramatic upgrade in its image and is no longer constantly playing second (or third) fiddle to other Italian red varietals. Producers are planting Barbera on more prized vineyard sites. Yields are being kept in check by careful pruning. And finally, to balance its crazy high acidity and diminished tannic structure, more producers are opting to age Barbera in smaller oak barrels as opposed to the traditional large neutral casks. This often results in a wine that has a layer of spicy complexity, mellowed acidity and a delicious combination of lively red fruit with vanilla notes.

When I was visiting my Dad during the holidays, we went on our traditional wine-tasting afternoon in the Red Mountain AVA (which he is fortunate enough to live practically next door to). While at one of our favorites, I noticed an older vintage of Barbera on their shelves. Knowing that there’s less than 100 acres of this grape grown in the entire state, I was curious what my home state’s version of this wine would taste like compared to the Italian classic. Here are my thoughts:

Kiona Vineyards 2010 Barbera, Red Mountain, WA. 14.5% abv. Medium ruby-garnet colored. The aromatics make me think of a delicate Cabernet – red currants and an almost vegetal note (I tend to get this with a lot of Red Mountain wines). This seriously smells like our friend Paul’s bourbon soaked cherries that he gave us a few years ago and we haven’t actually tried yet because I’m afraid I’ll be on my lips after having just one! Lots of secondary and tertiary aromas here as well – spice, charred oak, coffee, sandalwood. The wine is medium bodied and acidity is definitely pushing high. There’s a little bit of heat from the alcohol, noticeable but not overwhelming.

Cantina del Pino 2015 Barbera, Barbera d’Alba, Italy. 14.% abv. Color here runs a little more ruby-purple. This wine smells pretty – roses, black raspberries and cherries, pomegranate, but the aromatics are not nearly as strong or complex as the Kiona. On the palate, lots of the same juicy fruits with round/smooth tannins. This wine is very straightforward – it’s tasty, but there’s just not a lot going on.

While I enjoyed both, I surprised myself by preferring the Red Mountain Barbera over the classic Barbera d’Alba. The d’Alba was simple – very sour fruit driven with not a whole lot else going on. Nonetheless, both tasted delicious with my pizza! Barbera pairs wonderfully with a variety of foods – tomato based dishes like pasta or pizza, BBQ chicken or charcuterie.

Try it out for yourself – and check out the outline on Barbera!

Valle d’Aosta

27 Jan 2018ItalyLeave a Comment

If diamonds are the prime example of the adage “good things come in small packages“, then Valle d’Aosta is a very close second. The smallest wine region in Italy holds its own against its 19 regional counterparts (yes, even Barolo and Tuscany!). Thanks in part to the presence of one very large mountain in the region, Valle d’Aosta’s unique climate and elevation produce flavors that are entirely distinguishable from others in this wine rich country. Despite the comparison, if Hubs gets me a bottle of wine from Valle d’Aosta rather than a diamond for our upcoming 20th wedding anniversary, we’re going to have a very long talk.

To start with, you’ll see a lot of French influence here which dates back to the 6th century when the region was conquered and became part of the Frankish Kingdom. (Sidenote: Italy was continually getting its ass kicked back in those days by various invading barbaric tribes with, rather ironically, wussy sounding names like the Franks, Normans, & Lombards which sound like an accounting firm). Today, Valle d’Aosta is bilingual – it’s the only French speaking Italian region and you’ll find several French varieties being grown here such as Pinot Noir and Gamay.

Valle d’Aosta may be the smallest Italian region, but it contains Europe’s largest mountain – Monte Bianco (aka “Mont Blanc” as it’s known in French – which is also the name of an insanely expensive pen that your rich uncle gets you for graduating college but then you lose two weeks later when moving out of your crappy apartment…all hypothetically of course). Monte Bianco not only adds to the gorgeous scenery of the area, but importantly blocks the clouds and provides a rainshadow effect to the region, making Valle d’Aosta drier and sunnier – and a better place for grapes to thrive.

The majority of wine produced in Valle d’Aosta is high quality, DOC wine. Co-operatives (a business arrangement in which a number of growers “pool” their grapes together) are prominent and account for approximately 75% of the production in the region. However, an increasing number of growers have started to bottle their own wines and have banded together to form an association that helps them achieve this goal – often through use of shared machinery or equipment. This association of independent growers is known as “Viticulteur Encaveur” – a term that appears on a wine label or cork produced by a member.

Although many local grape varieties were lost to phylloxera, there are still ten unique and indigenous varieties grown in Valle d’Aosta including Prié Blanc, Fumin and Petit Rouge. If you haven’t heard of any of these, you’re not alone – I hadn’t either until I started studying this region!

I recently tried a Prié Blanc produced from grapes grown in the highest elevation vineyard site in Europe (1,200 meters above sea level, or 3/4 of a mile up to us non-metric Americans). Not many grape varieties can survive at this elevation, but neither can phylloxera . . . these vines are some of the very few in Italy that were entirely untouched by the pest.

Pavese 2015 Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle, Valle d’Aosta, Italy. 12% abv. Very pale lemon colored with bright aromatics of lemon, wet stone and a hint of white flowers. On the palate – holy acidity I feel like I’m drinking Lemonhead candies. Tons of lemon and minerality and electric acidity. Overall, this wine is fairly simple, refreshing – but not overly complex or interesting. $35.

If you’re interested in learning more – here’s the outline on Valle d’Aosta!

Liguria

7 Jan 201821 Jan 2018ItalyLeave a Comment

I recently started my Italian Wine Scholar studies and had a challenge choosing which region to tackle first. Do I bite the bullet and knock out the behemoth Piemonte? Start with the smallest (and possibly easiest) Valle d’Aosta? Or, do I go for the only Northern Italy region that I’ve visited and hope the fact that I’ve been there makes the information easier to retain?

This last hypothesis made the most sense to me, so I chose Liguria. We visited Cinque Terre in 2010, back when I knew a bit about wine, but was still a few years from getting serious about it. And, unfortunately, I had not yet started to keep tasting notes or bottle shots so I can’t recall the specific wines I drank while I was there. I do remember it was primarily (entirely?) white wine and it paired very well with the huge plate of pasta with pesto sauce that I wolfed down our first night in Manarola.

In reading about the region of Liguria, there is constant mention of the terraced, steep vineyards the hug the coastline. I remember this vividly because (1) I have a picture of it, 🙂 and (2) I recall the insane uphill hike we had to do in town just to get to our hotel room. Thankfully, we’d checked most of our luggage at the train station in Pisa so we arrived at Cinque Terre with only our bare necessities in backpack. This move likely saved our marriage. 😉

Manarola — Terraced vineyards of Cinque Terre

Anyhoo – if simply walking the area is strenuous, I can only imagine how challenging harvesting the vineyards would be. They’re gorgeous, but high-maintenance. (Think Real Housewives of Cinque Terre.)

Since I’m doing the IWS on my own and don’t have the benefit of tastings in class, I went in search of purchasing a bunch of Northern Italian wines at one of the local wine stores. M&S (or as I’ve started thinking of them: “Mute and Snobby”) has an awesome selection of international wines, but their lack of customer service is almost laughable. Both times I’ve been in there I’ve barely been given a hello upon entering, and nobody has offered assistance. Even after piling several expensive bottles on the counter – this garnered me a look and a nod, but that’s it. No “great choice! This wine is delicious!” or “I’m curious – what are you doing with all these Italian wines?” I’ve heard and read that this “hands-off” approach is kinda their schtick, but it’s a very bizarre way to go about a retail business. Shrug.

Anyhoo (again) – the only wine M&S had from the Liguria region was a Pigato. I scooped it up and have been sipping on it the past couple of nights. It’s growing on me:

Punta Crena “Vigneto Ca da Rena” Pigato 2014, Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Liguria, Italy.

Medium lemon-gold color. Aromas of honeysuckle, beeswax, pear, yellow apple – with tons of salinity/sea spray and herbal notes. Medium plus bodied (almost viscous, like Viogniers can be), with flavors similar to aromas plus a slightly bitter finish. The wine is interesting, but I’m not sure how much I subjectively enjoy it. Tastes like yellow fruit that’s been sprayed by the salty sea. Was better this eve when paired with a crisp salad than on its own yesterday.

Liguria is one of the nine regions covered under the Northern IWS exam and after spending the past week on this area I’m confident that I’ll be able to nail the 0.08% of exam questions on this region. 😉

Here’s the outline on Liguria.

Soave

25 Oct 2017ItalyLeave a Comment

I recently found out that my first WSET Diploma Unit classes won’t be starting until May, 2018. This is totally fine, as it gives me plenty of time to prep . . . but maybe too much time. I can’t see immersing myself solely in all things viti and vini for six months.

I’ve decided I need something else to occupy my brain during this time as well – so I’m going to register for the Italian Wine Scholar certification thru the Wine Scholar Guild.

Italian wine scholar

I’m definitely not as confident about Italian wines as I am about French. I don’t drink a lot of Italian wines and when we visited the country in 2010, I was just beginning to have an interest in wine beyond California and Washington. If I’m going to successful in the WSET Diploma, I need to have a better grasp on Italian wine regions, the DOC/DOCG system, and all those obscure grapes that you don’t see much of outside of Italy!

So, I’ll likely be putting together several outlines in the upcoming months that are Italy-centric. I’m also going to try and teach an “Intro to Italy” class at my store sometime early next year . . . because I learn something best if I’m actually having to TEACH it to someone else. 🙂

I wouldn’t call Soave (or the grape it’s made from – Garganega) “obscure”, but it’s definitely not found much (if at all!) outside of Italy. I’ve had some good Soave, but have yet to drink one that rocks my world. Here’s the outline on Soave.