This Saturday we are tasting the wines from Italy’s two biggest wine producing islands.  No travel permit required.

Sardinia –Olianas started in 2000 by Stefano Casadei, Artemio Olianas and Simone Mugnaini to produce not only organic, but bio-integrated wines.  Their 25 hectares of red and white vineyards produce Sardinian varietals with a sense of history. 
 
2018 Olianas, Vermentino $15
The Vermentino has strong aromas and orange blossoms floral notes. In the mouth it is fresh, fruity and elegant.
 
2018 Olianas,  Cannonau $15
Thisi Cannonau is fresh and strong structured with a good tannin presence. It is fruity and floral; a real Sardinian taste.  
 
2018 Olianas, Perdixi $25
75% Bovale, 25% Carignano
A unique wine named after the numerous partridges that populate the estate, the Perdixi has a charming flavor and a pleasant taste of red berries that is harmonious and well structured.  It is characterized by well-integrated tannins with a long and very pleasant aftertaste. 
 
Sicily — Since 1987 Cantine Colosi has been producing native Sicilian wines. Consisting of 24 acres of vineyards in Salina, a small island in the Eolian Archipelago, Colosi occupies an area of the island recognized for both its orientation and for the physical-chemical nature of the soil whose volcanic origins are particularly suitable for vine cultivation. The winery is located underground in order to have a constant temperature for the optimum care of the wine and to respect the strict preservation rules of the Eolian archipelago. With three generations of experience, Colosi is led by enologist Pietro Colosi in collaboration with his father Piero.
 
2018 Cantine Colosi, Grillo  $13
The Colosi Grillo has its own feisty character. It offers aromas of stone fruit, poached pear and baked apple. There are points of saffron and sweet baking spice as well. Aged in acacia tonneaux for a brief four months, this wine is designed to reveal a good amount of that elusive Grillo complexity.
 
2018 Cantine Colosi, Nero d’Avola $15
Made in a simple and easy-drinking style, this unoaked Nero d’Avola offers youthful brightness and variety-driven notes of wild cherry, cassis, licorice, potting soil and chopped black olives. There is a momentary layer of grilled fennel seed, and that completes what is no doubt an authentically Sicilian presentation.

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 3-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday, we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.