Believe it or not, fall is already upon us, but this warm weather means we’ve plenty of time before we start busting out the Barolo. No, right now we’re enjoying some cool autumnal whites such as this pair from Puglia. Malvasia and Fiano Minutolo by Pirro Varone are both ideal wines to enjoy this time of year. We invite you to try them both this Saturday afternoon!
PIRRO VARONE
Autumnal Whites Tasting
Saturday, October 1
3:00-6:00pm
The toe of Italy’s boot is not the first place we think of when we think of Italian wine (and at Vino we do a lot of that), but the region of Calabria currently devotes nearly 60,000 acres to grapevines, and can boast twelve DOC appellations. Chief among these is Cirò, which according to Calabrese folklore is the oldest continuously made wine in the world, dating back over 2,500 years.
Cirò grows in low hills along the Ionian coast between the ancient Greek cities of Sybaris and Kroton (Sibari and Crotone today). Indeed, viticulture in Calabria can be traced back to the eighth century B.C., when the first Greek settlers arrived in what is now Calabria. The fertile richness of the area prompted the coinage of the term “Enotria” (“Land of Wine”, from the Greek oinos), used to describe the Italian meridionale, with what is now Calabria becoming an important center for the cultural development of the Magna Grecia. Local legend even has it that Cirò descended directly from Krimisa, the wine Calabrian athletes drank to celebrate victory in an early Olympiad. Today two grape varieties of Greek origin dominate Calabria’s winemaking industry: Gaglioppo and Greco.
The vineyards of Tenuta del Conte are located near Cirò Marina, overlooking the Ionian Sea. Here the local climate is characterized by very hot days and cool nights, a factor that helps maintain acidity in the wines. Estate winemaker Francesco Parrilla is committed to Calabria’s traditions. Cultivating only native varieties and refusing chemical intervention in the vineyard, his grapes are meticulously picked by hand from vines planted in the early 1960s. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness and clarity of the wines.
Displaying berry fruit tempered by strong tannic structure, the red Gaglioppo is an ideal match for game, roasts and cheeses while the aromatic Greco is a natural partner to the fresh-caught seafood that comprises much of the Calabria’s cuisine. And remember, you can taste both wines this Saturday afternoon from 3pm!
Tenuta del Conte Cirò Bianco (Greco) 2009
$14
Tenuta del Conte Cirò Rosso (Gaglioppo) 2008
$14
For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.
Tenuta del Conte winemaker Francesco Parilla is committed to Calabria’s traditions. He cultivates only native varieties and farms the land without chemicals. The grapes are meticulously picked by hand, and vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness and clarity of the wines. Parilla uses indigenous yeast and minimal sulfur. Try his two Cirò wines, made from Gaglioppo and Greco, this Saturday afternoon!
CIRÒ TASTING
Saturday, September 24
3:00-6:00pm
Ask an Italian wine fans to name their favorite grape from Piedmont and the answer would unlikely be Grignolino. This variety has long been grown in the region but the Grignolino d’Asti DOC is routinely overshadowed by more celebrated neighboring denominations. The name comes from “grignole”, which in local dialect refers to the unusual abundance of seeds inside the grapes. What was once an abundant variety, Grignolino cultivation suffered especially when a plague of vine destroying parasites swept through the region. As a result, production is limited, a problem which has served to only enhance the wines’ appeal. The variety is being resurrected by fine young producers such as Luca Ferraris, whose Grignolino d’Asti comes from his “Vigna del Casot”, a single vineyard in Castagnole Monferrato. You can taste Luca’s terrific Grignolino this Saturday!
GRIGNOLINO D’ASTI TASTING
Saturday, September 17
3:00-6:00pm
A grape variety that has grown for generations on the steep slopes of sub-Alpine Alto Adige, Schiava produces a lightly-colored red wine that is a local favorite. Schiava finds its greatest expression on the western side of Lake Caldaro where, trained in the traditional pergola system, grapes can achieve maximum ripeness and attain the most unique reflection of their terroir. Bischofsleiten, or “Bishop’s Slope”, is a vineyard named for its founder, the Bishop of Trento, and is considered by many area producers to be the zone’s best site. Taste this delightful wine this Friday!
BISCHOFSLEITEN TASTING
Friday, September 16
5:30-7:30pm
The volcanic soils of Basilicata’s Mount Vulture make the Aglianico del Vulture appellation home to some of Italy’s most powerful and collectible red wines. D’Angelo is a name synonymous with this noble southern variety, producing wines of extraordinary expression and tremendous aging potential. Today we’re offering two of our favorite examples at a terrific price!
D’Angelo Aglianico del Vulture Valle del Noce 2003
was $54, now $40
Made from 100% Aglianico grown in the volcanic subsoil in the southern-facing foothills of Mount Vulture in Basilicata, Valle del Noce (or “Walnut Valley”) is vinified in large oak botti for up between 15 to 20 months before bottling, it is then aged in bottle until released. According to the winemaker, the wine is capable of aging for upwards of 20 years, but if opening now, he recommends decanting and aerating for a few hours before serving to allow the tannins to mellow. A complex and structured wine, with hints of volcanic minerality imparted by the distinctive terroir of the vineyard.
D’Angelo Aglianico-Merlot Serra delle Querce 2005
was $43, now $32
Inspired by the success Italian producers had enjoyed using international varieties, D’Angelo planted Merlot in his Serra delle Querce vineyard over twenty years ago. The famous Bordeaux variety, loved for its plush silkiness and earthy, ample fruit, is blended with the native Aglianico, smoothing the latter’s austere edges and proving a worthy partner. Serra delle Querce undergoes extensive aging in second-and-third-passage barriques. The wine spends 15 months in 225-liter barrels before being transferred to larger barrels where it remains for a further six months.
For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.
What better wine for Labor Day than Clic? This line of clean drinking wines from Friuli are the brainchild of Enrico Coser, son of award-winning winemaker Fabio Coser. Taste Pinot Grigio and Refosco this Saturday afternoon!
CLIC TASTING
Saturday, September 3
3:00-6:00pm
Sardinia’s history has long been determined by its geographic position as an island. Its susceptibility to invasion and cultural separation from the mainland have strongly affected its modern-day wine landscape. Indeed, the island’s most widely-planted grapes are Vermentino and Cannonau, both believed to be derived from Spanish varieties. In recent years, Sardinian winemaking has seen a sharp reduction in vine volume correlated with an impressive spike in quality production. More than just a destination for vacationers, Sardinia is now home to some of Italy’s most interesting and affordable wines.
Vino is thrilled to have obtained two classic Sardinian wines by Olianas, a relatively young company located in Gergei, a small town roughly sixty kilometers north of Cagliari. This valley’s fertile soil and numerous natural springs make it particularly favorable for grape and olive cultivation. Olianas tends twelve hectares of vines and four local varieties: Cannonau, Bovale Sardo, Carignano and Vermentino. All work in the vineyard is carried out by hand to ensure the selection of optimum fruit. And remember, you can taste both of these wines at our free tasting this Friday!
Olianas Vermentino di Sardegna 2010
$18
Though it is also grown in Liguria, Tuscany, Piedmont (where it’s known as Favorita) and in Corsica and areas of Southern France, the late-ripening Vermentino is most common in Sardinia, where it is used to make the white Vermentino di Sardegna. Olianas employs hand-harvesting to select the best fruit from two hectares of south-eastern facing vines. Fermentation lasts between 20 and 25 days in fifty-hectoliter temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Ideally served with fresh seafood, the wine also makes a great summer aperitivo.
Olianas Cannonau di Sardegna 2010
$18
Much debate has surrounded the origins of Cannonau. This ancient variety is a relative of Grenache in France and Spanish Garnacha — indeed, it is commonly believed to have been imported from Spain to Sardinia during the invasion of the island and subsequent Aragón rule. However, recent studies have suggested the grape was grown in Sardinia some 3200 years ago, a claim that would make it the oldest variety in the Mediterranean. Olianas’ Cannonau spends five months in second-passage barrique before release. Young, full-bodied and characterful, the wine is a delightful introduction to an ancient variety.
For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.
Everybody loves Lini, and if you’re a regular visitor to Vino, there’s a good chance that includes you too. The stylish Lambrusco producer continues to charm New Yorkers with its delightful line of sparkling wines that are guaranteed to suit any occasion. Our latest arrivals are the new vintages of the “In Correggio” Rosé and Scuro. You can taste both this Saturday afternoon!
LINI “IN CORREGGIO” TASTING
Saturday, August 20
3:00-6:00pm
Olianas is a young and modern winery located near Gergei, a small town approximately 50 kilometers north of Cagliari on the island of Sardinia. The company cultivates twelve hectares of vines which include the widely-planted Sardinian varieties, Vermentino and Cannonau. These two classic wines have just arrived at Vino — try them this Friday!
SARDEGNA TASTING: OLIANAS
Friday, August 19
5:30-7:30pm
