Stop in this Saturday and try some captivating wines from the northern regions of Italy. We’ll be tasting wines from Lombardy, Alto Adige, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna, made from unique grapes such as Edelvernatsch, Wildbacher, and Bombino Bianco. It is not your typical Italian tasting. Come discover something new.
2010 Campodelsole San Pascasio, Emilia-Romagna $13
Bombino Bianco
Campodelsole is a Modern state of the art winery located amongst the vineyards at the foot of mount Bertinoro, a region that has grown grapes since Roman times. The Bombino Bianco, a local variant of Trebbiano, comes from an old family vineyard. The wine ages six months in stainless steel tanks, with small percentage aged in oak barriques. It is crisp yet full bodied with rich fruit flavors of citrus, mango, and melon.
2010 Erste & Neue, Edelvernatsch, Alto Adige $11
Erste & Neue is a collective of growers in the Kaltern region of the South Tyrolean Alps where they grow the grape Edelvernatsch. The wine is distinct and refreshing lighter bodied red, with a fine fruity bouquet with light almond tones. It is fruity with light acidity on the palate, and is a great match for lighter dishes.
2004 Tenuta Col Sandago, Wildbacher Colli Trevigiani IGT, Veneto $27
Wildbacher is a very old dark-skinned grape originally from Austria that was transplanted centuries ago to Marca Trevigiana in the Veneto. It is named after the district in which it was originally grown, Wildbach, which literally means “wild stream”. Its yields are extremely low, which lead to its near extinction in the mid 1900s, a period when the mass production ruled the wine industry. Tenuta Col Sandago is the only winery to produce a 100% Wildbacher. The wine is aged for 20 months in 500 liter barrels. It has aromas of small red berries and spices and herbal notes. The body is full with robust tannins and good acidity and a strong personality. It is truly unique and one of a kind.
2008 Umberto Cesari, Sangiovese di Romagna Reserva $19
This estate grown Sangiovese from Emilia-Romagna is aged for two years in barrel before release. The wine is aromatic with notes of dark fruit and violets. The flavor is full rich and dry with mouth filling tannins.
2005 Vinicola Nera, Sforzato Valtellina DOCG, Lombardy $40
Chiavennasca, (Nebbiolo)
This local Nebbiolo is grown on the terraced lands at the base of the Rhaetic foothills in Valtellina, where it has been grown since the 16th century. The grapes for the Sforzato are dried on mats like Amarone for several months and then pressed in February after the fruit has been concentrated. It is then aged for two years in large oak barrels. The wine has an intense bouquet with hints of violets, spice, plum preserves and raisins. It has a dry and savory flavor with lots of structure and complex fruit with an aftertaste of toasted hazelnuts and licorice. The Sforzato will get better and better with age.