Let's Get Tasting!
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ciao bella tasting no. 1
Gelso Bianco
Details
Producer: Tenuta i Gelsi
Region: Basilicata, Italy
Grapes: Malvasia
Tasting Notes
A white wine grown in the fertile volcanic soils of Mount Vulture in Italy (don’t worry, it’s an extinct volcano!) Intense and floral on the nose with a waxy perfume that leads into fruit flavors of lychee, pear, yellow citrus and hawthorn.
Pairing Recommendations
veggie risotto, gyoza, pad thai
Virtual Tasting Video
ciao bella tasting no. 2
Altomare
Details
Producer: Placido Volpone
Region: Puglia, Italy
Grapes: 100% Falanghina
Tasting Notes
Fermented in oak barrels with light battonage (stirring on the lees) for extra body and texture. The nose is ripe with exotic fruits like pineapple, mango and papaya sprinkled with lime zest and nestled in a hollowed out grapefruit with tangerine wedges and little white flowers all around. The palate carries all of these fun fruity flavors and adds soft almond and a hint of a salty sea breeze.
Pairing Recommendation
Scallops with parsley butter, lemon pepper wings, caprese salad
Interesting Fact
Placido Volpone is one of the first wineries to certify the supply chain of it's wine via Blockchain technology.
Virtual Tasting Video
ciao bella tasting no. 3
Ca de Lion Barbera
Details
Producer: Ca de Lion
Region: Piedmont, France
Grapes: 100% Barbera
Tasting Notes
Expressive, tart, juicy and intense. Shy on opening it quickly blossoms into a bouquet of wonderful red fruits, a touch of coffee, a handful of florals and a few other goodies as well!
Pairing Recommendations
Bolognese, pesto pasta with a touch of mint, leftovers and a dream
Interesting Fact
Barbera wines made in the region must be made before March 1st immediatley following the harvest and must reach at least 11.5% alcohol to bear the name!
Virtual Tasting Video
ciao bella tasting no. 4
Cabernet Franc
Details
Producer: Natalina Grandi
Region: Veneto, Italy
Grapes: Cabernet Franc, splash of Merlot
Tasting Notes
Ruby red and intense with a myriad of red fruit and garrigue herb aromas. Arugula adjacent black pepper and earthy plum notes on the palate with a deep, dark finish of cassis and cherry jam.
Pairing Recommendations
bologna sandwich, salami pizza, roast chicken
Interesting Fact
Veneto is home to the famous sparking wine of Italy - Prosecco!
Virtual Tasting Video
ciao bella no. 5
Nebbiolo
Details
Producer: Costa Catterina
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Grapes: Nebbiolo
Tasting Notes
A brighter expression than you'll find in the long aged Barolos. Although still aged in the same big casks, but for only 24 months, the wine displays tart raspberry and fresh snipped flower scents and drinks siwth flavors of bright red fruits, cherries soaked in alcohol and hints of liqourice and forest floor bramble.
Pairing Recommendations
Seasoned cheeses, spicy Asian cuisine, Grandpa's venison steaks, beef jerky
Interesting Fact
There are two major features affecting the weather in Piedmont: the ice cold Alps and the warm Mediterranean. The tug-of-war (a.k.a. Diurnal) temperature variation makes the whole area fill up with morning fog that slowly burns off during the day. This means the land higher up on the hills gets more sun. More sun = happy grapes = good wine. There are good wines to be found north of the Apennines in the foothills of the Alps. But since this area (around Gattinara) is much cooler, expect much lighter tasting, higher acid wines.
Virtual Tasting Video
ciao bella tasting. no. 6
Il Rosso e Il Nero
Details
Producer: Il Rosso e Il Nero
Region: Puglia, Italy
Grapes: Sangiovese, Nero di Troia
Tasting Notes
The red and the black indeed! The aromas is one of bright red cherries and deep, dark black currants. The palate moves into bright red raspberry with blackberry, licorice and a deep note of cherry liqueur.
Pairing Recommendations
pasta in red sauce, cured meats, grilled chicken wraps
Interesting Fact
Il rosso e il nero refers to the red and the black in reference to Sangiovese and Nero di Troia respectively.