Since our trip to Italy, I’m “all in” on Italian wines. It takes me back to just a few months ago, sitting outside in Venice, Florence, Siena, or Rome, eating pasta, and drinking the local wine. Life was good!
Mike from Beivuma Imports was back in Springfield to do another Italian wine tasting at It’s All About Wine on their Wine School Wednesday. If you want to read about the last Italian wine tasting, go to my blog post “Beivuma! (Let’s Drink!)”. Wine School Wednesday is usually held the third Wednesday of the month, but check out It’s All About Wine’s Facebook page or call the store to verify. These is a nominal fee (usually $10, less if you are a member of their wine club), but you will be tasting some outstanding wines, and learning from the professionals. Space is limited, so make sure you reserve your spot ahead of time if you plan on attending.
Speaking of Mike, check out his website and podcast, That Wine Pod, to learn more about wine. I just listened to “Pure Grace” which is about A Tribute To Grace winery, and lucky for us It’s All About Wine carries her Grenache 🙂
Back to the wine tasting! Beivuma Imports is both an importer and a distributor, and they source their wines from small production wineries in Italy, plus a few from Oregon and California. The theme for this wine tasting was “Mountain Wines in Italy”.
Calabretta Terre Siciliane Carricante 2019– The first wine we tasted was from a winery whose vineyards are located on Mt. Etna in Sicily. The grape, Carricante, is an ancient white wine variety and is thought to have been growing on the slopes of Mt. Etna for over 1,000 years. The volcanic soils make the vines struggle to find water and nutrients – the bigger the struggle, the more concentrated the flavor is in the grape. The wine is aged in stainless steel, and you may notice a nutty, dry sherry nose on the wine. The taste is fresh and bright, with some minerality due to the terroir. It is delicious on it own, or served with a fish dish. Priced at $27.99 per bottle.
Elena Fucci “Titolo” Pink Edition Aglianico Rosato 2021 – This is a delicious rosè made from the Aglianico grape. Elena Fucci’s winery is located in Basilicata in Southern Italy on Mt. Vulture, an extinct volcano, and thus the winery is built to withstand seismic activity. Elena is a rockstar winemaker who does it all at her small family vineyard. This wine is a little richer, darker, and more full-bodied rosè. It would be good served with barbecue, braised meats, or sausages. We all thought it was delicious! Priced at $32.99 per bottle.
Pojer e Sandri Pinot Noir Vigneti Delle Dolomiti 2021 – A Pinot Noir in Italy, you say? Yes, it’s true! This winery is located in the Dolomites, close to Austria, where they have very cool nights and warm days. This big diurnal shift between daytime and nighttime temperatures help grapes ripen in a more balanced way. The clone for this grape comes from Burgundy, so you know it’s going to be good. The color is a light red, and mainly aged in stainless steel but a little wood maturation at the end. The initial nose on the wine was a little funky to me, but it tasted delicious! This wine would also good if chilled for a little while. Priced at $31.99 per bottle.
Tentuta Cavalier Pepe Lacryma Christi Del Vesuvio Rosso 2021 – Lacryma Christi is the name of a wine produced on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius. The name comes from a story that Christ, crying over Lucifer’s fall from heaven, cried his tears on the land and gave divine inspiration to the vines that grew there. But, there have actually been vineyards on Mt. Vesuvius since before the time of Christ, so you are drinking (in a sense) the same kind of wine as the ancient Romans. When tasting, you can pick up the minerality of the volcanic soil. This wine would be great with barbecue, and perfect for summer. And if you bring it to a party, you have a great story as well! Priced at $24.99 per bottle.
Elena Fucci Titolo Aglianico del Vulture 2018 – We are back to Elena Fucci, tasting her flagship red wine. The wine is made with 100% Aglianico grapes, aged in new French oak, and is big and tannic. If you love California Cabernets, you will love this wine. There is a nice earthiness and smokiness to the taste and nose. This wine is a Tre Bicchieri (three-glass) award winner – a designation given to wines that are considered excellent in their respective categories. This wine is priced at $49.99, and is an excellent value.
Siro Pacenti “Pelagrilli” Brunello di Montalcino 2017 – I was so excited to taste this wine since we had taken a tour of the Montalcino wine region in Tuscany on our recent trip to Italy. This wine is technically not grown on a mountain or volcano, but at the foot of Montalcino hill. This wine is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes and since it is a Brunello, it must adhere to the stringent rules set up by the government. Brunello must be aged for at least four years (combination of oak and bottle). It is a full-bodied wine that shows generous in its youth – some vintages require a little more aging and patience. This wine would be excellent with a heavier dish, such as braised pork. I am planning on serving it next week with Taglietelle Bolognese. It is really good (my notes said “So Good!), and is priced at $59.99 per bottle
As a bonus, Jacob and Ashley poured the 2016 Elena Fucci Titolo Magnum for everyone! A really great wine, and there are only a few bottles available. Call the store if you are interested purchasing this wine.
All of these wines (and more) are available for purchase at It’s All About Wine. I hope to see you at a future Wine School Wednesday – Salute!
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