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 With the much-needed rain pouring down, it’s a perfect time to catch up on writing and sample a few wines. Let’s travel to Italy. Astoria Wines is located 50 miles north of Venice in one of the most beautiful wine-growing regions, the Veneto. This northeastern region of Italy stretches from the Dolomite Mountains to the Adriatic Sea. The Alps and the sea protect the region from harsh northern winds which in turn provide ideal conditions for growing grapes and producing wine. Astoria Wines is owned by the Polegato family and represents four generations of winemaking. The first winery, Vinicola Polegato, was established in the 1950s. Several decades later, Vittorino Polegato found an ideal location in the heart of the DOCG area to launch the next stage of the family business, the Val De Brun estate in Refrontolo. In 1987 Vittorino renovated an old 18th century home and converted it into Astoria’s headquarters. Giorgio and Paolo Polegato, (Vittorino’s sons) along with the next generation of Polegatos, led by Filippo, Carlotta and Giorgia, uphold the family name and winemaking tradition.  Photo courtesy of Astoria Wines Although Astoria Wines is noted for being the largest private producer of Prosecco DOCG in Italy, their portfolio includes Pinot Grigio, Moscatos (both red and white), Pinot Noir and a Red Blend.  The first thing I noticed when unpacking the wines was the unusual shape of the bottles. The packaging is eye-catching and original. The 2014 Alisia Pinot Grigio I.G.T is light yellow in color with intriguing aromas of fruit, floral and stone fruit. This 100% Pinot Grigio surprises the palate with fruit, peach and lemon. It is medium-bodied and dry but still fruity and nicely balanced. The long lemon zest finish is a treat! This wine would pair well with pasta, cheese & fruit, grilled vegetables and light fish. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $11  The 2012 Primo Rosso Red Blend I.G.T is made with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Pinot Noir and 20% Merlot. The color is dark ruby. It is quite aromatic with berries, herbs and spice tickling the nose. The palate offers red berries, fennel, pepper and hints of plum. The finish has hints of cocoa and dark cherry. Medium-bodied with soft tannins make this an easy wine to pair with most foods. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $11  The wines are priced well and would make great little gifts to give out at holiday time. Keep a few bottles around for that spur of the moment party as well!
Next stop might be New Zealand. Stay tuned! Happy Friday! Cheers! Penina
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It was a beautiful day in NYC yesterday. The temps hovered around 80 degrees and everyone was enjoying a day of summer in the middle of October!  I attended the Saint-Chinian walk-around wine tasting held at the Maison de la Région Occitanie. The event featured The Languedoc: Saint-Chinion wines represented by thirteen wine producers. I tasted some amazing wines which I will elaborate on over the weekend. I will also talk about the appellation, the vines and some of the producers. When I arrived home last evening, I reached for the Château Gassier Ormilles Côtes de Provence Rosé 2015 that was chilling in my refrigerator. With the warm weather and the taste of Saint-Chinian still on my palate, it was a perfect time to pop the cork! Although Provence is several hours away heading east, I was still in France! I reviewed this wine back in June. You can read the review at: http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2016/07/day-484.html  Have a great Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina  It was a beautiful day for touring the wine regions of Spain at Spain’s Great Match Wine Food Design event. There were more than 300 wines to taste from seven wine regions and culinary treats to savor from New York’s top Spanish restaurants. There were thirty-five featured denominations of origin represented in addition to several wine seminars being offered. It was a whirlwind event and I learned a lot.  Spain is no stranger to wine making with a history dating back at least three thousand years. The Phoenicians planted grapes around 1100 BC in what is known today as the Sherry region. Wine commerce ended with the arrival of the Islamic Moors in 711 AD and did not commence again until the Moors were defeated in 1492. Jumping ahead to the present, according to the International Organization of Vine and Wine, as of 2015, Spain ranks 3rd in wine production, with Italy and France taking the lead. An interesting fact: Spain has more land devoted to vineyards than any other European country. Over 400 varieties of grape are planted throughout Spain. Here is a very small list of principle indigenous grapes. Tempranillo is Spain’s most famous and noble red grape. Garnacha, Mencía, Monastrell and Cariñena are just a few of Spain’s other noted red grapes. Albariño, Verdejo, Godello, Palomino, Malvasía Moscatel and Xarel.Lo are among some of Spain’s well-known white grapes. In future posts, I’ll be talking about Cava Sparkling Wine, Spain’s answer to Champagne and Sherry, a fortified wine that originated in Spain. In the meantime, I have put together a mini slide show to give you a "taste" of the event, because sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words! And yes, the wines were delicious and memorable! Just click on the photo to pause, forward or reverse. Have a great weekend!
Cheers! Penina  A chill is in the air and the leaves are slowly changing, creating bursts of color here and there. I finally gave in yesterday and turned the heat on in my home for a short while just to get rid of the rawness. It was also time to make a big vat of my popular vegetable soup. I loaded up the pot with carrots, turnips, parsnips, celery, squash, shallots and onion and let it simmer for about 90 minutes adding dill and parsley for the last 20 minutes.  I then pureed it all and poured it back into the pot. Peas, corn and beans were mixed into the puree, creating a very healthy and hearty soup!  In anticipation of a Spanish wine tasting I will be attending next week, I opened a 2010 Lan Crianza Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain to serve with the soup. The wine is 100% Tempranillo grapes and aged for one year in oak barrels that are American and French oak incorporated into one barrel. This full-bodied wine had intense aromas of cherry, spice and hints of floral. The palate offered cherry, red berries, silky tannins and hints of oak and vanilla on the finish. It was a good pick for the soup! Everyone enjoyed it! Alcohol: 13.5% Price: About $14 http://www.bodegaslan.com   Now it’s time to make more pumpkin muffins! Someone has been eating them up! Have a great weekend!
Cheers! Penina  Having missed an opportunity to attend a wine event in the city last night because of a hectic schedule, my plan was to embrace the evening with a nice meal and a movie. However, a friend decided that his company would be far more entertaining than a movie. He was correct. So, I went into “chef” mode. I threw together a great meal that was served with the rest of the Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon that I reviewed yesterday. The wine paired beautifully with both courses. We started with a quick & simple version of Pasta Fagioli soup. Made with vegetable broth, I added more carrots and celery than beans, creating a lighter soup. A small amount of shaved Parmesan cheese topped it off.  The main course was fresh shrimp sautéed in shallots, garlic and red peppers. Al dente vegetable linguini was added to the pan at the last moment for a quick stir. As a side dish I served sautéed broccoli rabe with olive oil and garlic. Voila! Dinner!  The wine, dinner and company all complemented each other!
Happy Thursday! Cheers! Penina Even though it’s only 11:00 am and already 75 degrees outside, I’m being lured into the excitement of autumn. I just bought my first pumpkin of the season. And, I’m baking up a batch of pumpkin muffins this weekend.  While at the Wines of Burgundy tasting a few days ago, I met Luis Pannunzio, Director of Las Piedras Pura VID of Mendoza, Argentina. This family run business began with his father, Giovanni Vincenzo Pannunzio who emigrated to Argentina from Italy in 1952. His sons José and Luis now continue the tradition of winemaking that their father began. The vineyard is located in Barrancas, Maipu where attention and respect is paid to honoring the environment.  I tasted two 100% Malbecs. The first was his entry-level wine, a 2014 GV Pannunzio Malbec. Aromas of dark fruit segued nicely onto the palate. The tannins were soft with a nice finish of berries. This is not available in the US yet, but keep your eye out for it! SRP About $9 The 2014 GV Pannunzio Malbec Grand Reserva was very aromatic with lots of red fruit and a touch of floral. The palate offered dark berries, spice and licorice. Medium tannins and well balanced, this is an easy wine to serve with a variety of food. SRP About $20 http://www.laspiedraspuravid.com More reviews to follow soon!
Happy Friday! Cheers! Penina Most people hear the word Moscato and immediately think “dessert wine” or “holiday wine”. I certainly broadened my palate and way of thinking when I partook in a Moscato D’Asti D.O.C.G. Master Class held this week by IEEM and the Consorzio for the Promotion of Asti at the Astor Center in NY. The class was led by Italian Wine expert Gregory Dal Piaz and Frederico Ceretto of Ceretto Winery.  The participating wineries were Azienda Agricola Caudrina, Coppo Canelli, Marenco, Michele Chiarlo, Saracco and Ceretto.  To begin with, Moscato is the name of a grape variety, a generic term. It is grown all over the world. Moscato d’Asti wines are exclusively made from Moscato Bianco grapes which are cultivated in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy in designated areas around the town of Asti. Moscato Bianco is considered one of the oldest grapes in the Piedmont region and can be traced back to Roman times. Grown in calcareous and sandy soil, the Moscato Bianco grapes produce an aromatic substance that signifies the onset of harvest time which takes place in early September. The grapes are hand harvested and put through manual presses. The resulting pulp and juice are then refrigerated at very low temperatures in stainless steel tanks so as not to allow fermentation. After a determined period of time, usually a week, the wine is then fermented in stainless steel tanks until alcohol content reaches the right level of sweetness. The wine is then chilled down to stop fermentation. The long and cool natural fermentation preserves the fruit aroma. Moscato d”Asti wines are light and semi-sparkling with varying degrees of sweetness. The alcohol content is low and by law is not allowed to go higher than 5.5%. The basic characteristics of the wine include lively acidity with aromas of flowers, white peaches, apricot, orange blossom and sage. They tend to be light and well balanced with fresh fruit and subtle effervescence on the palate. Moscato d’Asti pairs well with savory and sweet food as was demonstrated in the class. The wines from Saracco, Caudrina and Ceretto were paired with the cheese, meat and quiche. The sweet tarts were paired with wines from Coppo Canelli, Michele Chiarlo and Marenco. The contrast of flavors between wine and food actually complemented each other, showing the uniqueness and versatility of Moscato d’Asti.  In addition to holiday meals, this is a perfect wine to serve with an array of appetizers, light fish, cold cuts and not too sweet desserts. Or, serve just as an aperitif! Next time you’re looking for a delicate, low alcohol and lively wine, reach for a bottle of Moscato d’Asti. In fact, pick up a few bottles and have a fun tasting with a few friends! Cheers!
Penina It was a “red” wine weekend. In addition to tasting some wonderful wines such as Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, I had a delicious Malbec on Sunday evening. It was one of those spur of the moment throw together meals. Fortunately, I had enough food on hand and a lot of imagination. Sautéed shrimp, veggies and tortellini made for a satisfying one dish meal.   The 2013 Catena Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina was the perfect complement to dinner. Concentrated aromas of raisins, dark cherries, earth and a hint of cocoa grabbed our attention. The palate offered blackberries, plum, spice and floral notes. Soft tannins and a silky mouth-feel added to the richness of the wine. The lengthy finish with spicy notes was perfect. Alcohol: 14% I will definitely have to explore more of this winery’s selections. http://www.catenawines.com  I have a few wine seminars and tastings to attend this week in NYC. I’m looking forward to learning about some interesting grapes and sharing it all with you! Have a great Monday!
Cheers! Penina  It’s interesting how a change in temperature can influence the palate. I awoke the other morning to crisp fall-like weather and my thoughts went immediately to making one of my hearty soups. I started compiling a list of ingredients to buy and perused my wine inventory for a bold red wine to serve with the soup. By the time I was ready to go food shopping, the humidity and heat had crept back in. The soup went on hold mode and the California Cabernet Sauvignon was gently slipped back into its resting place. With another heat wave on the horizon, I’ll revert back to “light” cooking and enjoying crisp, refreshing, chilled wines! Speaking of which… I popped open a bottle of 2013 Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa Valley. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is “made entirely from dry-farmed and organically grown grapes.” Quote taken from Frogsleap.com The color was pale straw with vivid aromas of pear, citrus, grapefruit and a hint of floral. The palate offered a tasty infusion of citrus, pear and pineapple with hints of grapefruit and melon. A combination of lemon zest and vanilla lingered on the finish. This is a crisp and beautifully balanced wine that would complement a multitude of food in addition to drinking on it’s own, as I did.  I’m off to embrace this warm but beautiful day! I’m thinking perhaps a white Burgundy might be nice for this evening!
Happy Thursday! Cheers! Penina  Nestled in the Province of Asti, in the Italian region of Piedmont, lies the town of Canelli which is home to over 10,000 inhabitants. Ancient villages, castles and bountiful vineyards perched on gentle slopes surround Canelli. The town is steeped in history and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 22nd, 2014. It is also considered the birthplace of the Italian sparkling wine, Asti.  The municipality boasts many grape varieties such as Moscato, Barbera, Dolcetto, Cortese and Chardonnay. The Barbera grape is the third most planted red grape variety in Italy and the most famous appellation is the DOCG Barbera d’Asti. Almost half of all grape vine plantings in Piedmont are Barbera. The grape is a deep color and is known for producing low tannins and high levels of acid.  Photo courtesy of Coppo Winery Coppo Winery is located in Canelli and was founded by Piero Coppo in 1892. It has remained in the family for over 120 years and is now run by Piero’s four grandsons, Piero, Gianni, Paolo and Roberto. Cousins Max and Luigi who are fourth generation, have recently joined the team. Piero began building the winery in the late 18th century, creating small underground cellars to store wine. The cellars were expanded between the 1800s and 1900s and are know today as the Underground Cathedrals. Due to their historical value, these underground cellars have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. What began in the 1800s with Coppo making the first Italian spumante with secondary bottle fermentation and giving Canelli a place in wine history, led to Coppo’s production of red wines in the 20th century. Among their most notable red is Barbera d’Asti. In 1984, the Coppo family produced the first vintage of Barbera d’Asti Pomorosso, “making it the symbol of the winery and paradigm of a new history of Barbera”. Quote taken from Coppo website. I recently tasted three Barbera d’Asti releases from the Coppo Winery, courtesy of the importer, Folio Fine Wine Partners.  2014 Coppo L’Avvocata Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2012 Coppo Camp du Rouss Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2010 Coppo Pomorosso Barbera d’Asti DOCG  The 2014 L’Avvocata is Coppo’s entry level Barbera d’Asti. It is made with 100% Barbera grapes and aged in stainless steel tanks. The color of the wine is dark cherry bordering on ruby. The aromas of cherry, plum and a bit of earth spill over into a subtle fusion of fresh berries, raspberries, spice, pepper and a hint of sour cherry on the palate. It is a medium to long finish. The wine is clean and nicely balanced with soft tannins. This is a great wine to pair with pasta, piquant red sauce, meaty fish and bold cheeses. Alcohol 13% Price: $15 (SRP)  The 2012 Camp du Rouss Barbera d’Asti is made with 100% Barbera grapes and aged in French oak barrels. The color of the wine is deep ruby with cherry, red raspberry, tobacco and spice on the nose. On the palate this full-bodied wine leads with sour cherry seguing into hints of plum, pepper and oak with a long and crisp finish. This is another well balanced wine with soft tannins, making it a perfect wine to drink alone or pair with a hearty lasagna! Alcohol: 14.5% Price: $21.00 (SRP)  The 2010 Pomorosso is Coppo’s signature Barbera d’Asti. Made with 100% Barbera grapes, it is aged for 14 months in French oak barrels. The color of the wine is dark ruby with purple hues. It has intense aromas of spice and cherry with hints of blueberry and oak that are layered and continue onto the palate. A blast of pepper and hints of tobacco linger on a long finish. Again, as with the previous wines reviewed, the Pomorosso is full-bodied, crisp and clean, with mild tannins. This wine will complement any hearty meal such as stews, meat entrees or one of my famous soups! However, I found it also paired well with the Manchego and Piave del Sapore cheeses! Alcohol: 14.5% Price: $50.00 (SRP Barbera d’Asti wines pair beautifully with a wide range of food. So, if you’re looking for full-bodied Italian red wine with lots of character and low tannins, put a little swirl in your glass and try Barbera d’Asti!
To learn more about Coppo’s history, wines and integrated farming and biodynamic techniques, please visit their website. http://www.coppo.it/en/ Cheers! Penina |
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