Italian Wine
Value Italian Wines
In the spirit of our “Value Italian” wine tasting on Thursday, I thought I would highlight some of our bargain Italian wines. I will admit that my Italian wine knowledge is not as strong as I would like it to be, but I always find that research is a great teacher. Since I love rustic Tuscan cuisine in my own home, as well as experimenting with simplistic ingredients that are in season, I really ought to be focusing in incorporating Italian wines into my rotation. And fortunately enough, there are plenty of fantastic Italian wines out there that won’t break the bank!
Italy is home to some of the oldest wine growing regions in the world. Etruscan and Greek settlers were planting grapes long before the Romans started their vineyards in the 2nd Century BC. Today Italian wines account for one-fifth of the world’s wine production, currently beating out the French in production.
Italians love their wine. It is the soul of every meal each day (as well as an occasional afternoon nip). Although Americans have increased their wine consumption and appreciation over the years, the Italians still have us beat…and by a long shot. Italians consume 59 liters per capita per year, compared to American’s 7.7 liters. Since there are 750 ml in a standard bottle of wine, that’s 10.2 bottles of wine for the Americans (that’s pitiful folks) and 78.6 bottles for the Italians. Hopefully I did my math right.
You are not going to find the typical domestic grapes, or even the French grapes, in the Italian wines. Standard grapes are Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Barbera, Nero d’ Avola, Moscato and Pinot Grigio. If you are new to Italian wines, those grapes can sound intimidating, but trust me, they’re not. Once you familiarize yourself with these grapes, picking out Italian wines becomes a more enjoyable process. The best way to learn about varietals is to taste them!
Italian wines can range from bold and boisterous to soft and subtle. They tend to have earthy and cedary characteristics in contrast to many of the domestic wines that can be very fruit forward. These characteristics come from vines that have been cultivated in the same earth for centuries as well as the “old vine” wines which can be up to 100 years old and tend to be less common in the United States due to our “newness” to wine production.
Italian wines are typically built to go with food. Meaning drier, fuller bodied wine that will compliment the food yet not overpower it either.
Here is just a sample of some value Italians:
Terredigiumara Nero d’ Avola 2007 – $15
This wine is made from 100% Nero d‘Avola, a variety unique to Sicily. Over the years, it has been referred to as the “Prince” or “Emperor” of Sicilian varietals. The grapes are ripened to perfection under the warm Sicilian sun and are picked in September/October. This wine captures the essence of Sicily. It is ripe and concentrated, offering supple flavors of wild strawberries and black cherries. The finish is soft, round and appealing, with hints of sweet red berries lingering on the palate and a spicy finish.
Brigaldara Valpolicella Classico – $15
A blend of 40% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, and a mix of 40% Rondinella, Molinara and Sangiovese. This baby Amarone is aged 6 months opposed to the standard 3 years for Amarones, giving it a much nicer price tag. Amarones are typically rich and dry, made with partially dried grapes. The process is labor intensive and time consuming, making a standard aged Amarone more on the expensive side.
Castello di Farnetella Chianti 2007 – $16
Made with the Sangiovese grape from the Chianti region of Tuscany. Very dark reddish-purple with ruby glints. This wine is a great benchmark of Chianti with its aromas and flavors. Black cherries are up first on the nose and palate, with an overtone of leather and a back note of subtle spice. Fresh and bright, mouth-watering acidity and soft, barely perceptible tannins.
Ca’ Donini Pinot Grigio – $9
A pure Pinot Grigio from northern Italy vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. Pale gold in color. Fruity bouquet with hints of crisp apples. Dry, crisp, and refreshing on the palate. Beautifully balanced to compliment a wide range of foods from white meats, shellfish and seafood.
|
|
Double Hinged Waiter Style Corkscrew – Black $1.99 The unique double-lever hinge system makes removing even the longest, most stubborn corks easy. Contoured steel handle, serrated knife blade, and Teflon coated spiral…. |
|
|
Bormioli Rocco Selecta 7-Piece Whiskey Gift Set $19.65 Classic Cut look Whiskey set… |
|
|
Govino Plastic Wine Glass Flexible Recyclable Shatterproof (Set of 4) $12.95 govino really means go anywhere you like. This revolutionary vessel designed for the ultimate enjoyment of fine wine actually works well for any cold beverage. The unique ergonomic thumb-notch makes wine swirling most simple and best of all you can reuse them or even recycle them. Each box comes with a set of four crystal-clear shatterproof “glasses” perfect for indoors or outâat a picnic, an… |
|
|
Dino: The Essential Dean Martin $11.94 The revisionist take on the Rat Pack’s razor-witted King of Cool reveals a Dean Martin who was considerably more complex than the Titan of Tipplers legend; a man who would just as soon retire to his room with a tumbler of milk to watch a TV Western than prowl the Strip with his famous cohorts. That sublime, preternatural indifference is both underscored and belied with dizzying regularity on this … |
|
|
The Best of Lawrence Welk $7.60 The best of the champagne music of Lawrence Welk, one of the most popular easy listening artists of all time. Artist: Lawrence Welk Format: Audio CD, one disc, 20 tracks Run Time: 47 minutes Producer: Ranwood Records ISBN: 14921703728 Track listing:1. Champagne Time 1:55 2. Moon River 2:35 3. Calcutta 2:12 4. Baby Elephant Walk 2:12 5. Misty 2:12 6. Canadian Sunset 2:10 7. Yellow Bird 2:13 8. Winc… |
|
|
NEW Amy Winehouse – I Told You I Was Trouble (2007 (Blu-ray) $19.50 Amy Winehouse scored a UK hit with 2003’s Frank, but her follow-up is another story. Released in 2007, Back to Black blew up worldwide. So, the bouffant belter took her soulful show on the road. It turned out to be a short trip; after only a few dates, she canceled her North American tour due to “severe exhaustion.” Fortunately, I Told You I Was Trouble captures the petite powerhouse before person… |
|
|
The Secret of Santa Vittoria [VHS] $19.98 The bestseller from The Great Impostor’s Robert Crichton inspired this leisurely serio-comedy, which takes up where Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist left off–with the death of Benito Mussolini. The dictator’s departure should come as good news for the hilltop town of Santa Vittoria, but new problems lay ahead (Federico Fellini favorite Giuseppe Rotunno shot the sun-drenched movie in Italy). F… |
|
|
I Love Lucy – Lucy’s Italian Movie/Ballet [VHS] $3.87 In “Lucy’s Italian Movie,” the wacky redhead is on her (several-episodes-long) European vacation. In Rome, she’s discovered by a well-known Italian film director; he wants her to star in his film Bitter Grapes. After years of longing to be in show biz, Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) may get her big break. But, in an attempt to affect the Method, with which she aspires to completely become her charact… |
|
|
A Walk in the Clouds $4.88 Keanu Reeves is completely wooden in this romantic misfire by Alfonso Arau (Like Water for Chocolate). Reeves plays a World War II vet who hits the road as a traveling salesman and agrees to help a desperate, pregnant woman (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon)–who is afraid to let her father (Giancarlo Giannini) see her condition–by pretending to be her husband. Most of the story takes place in the old man’s … |
|
|
I Love Lucy – The Complete Fifth Season $18.63 No Description Available.Genre: TelevisionRating: NRRelease Date: 11-JUL-2006Media Type: DVD… |
Tags: cooking, food, italian, italian wine, italian wine glasses, italian wine merchants, italian wine regions, italian wines list, recipe, recipes