Summer Wines 2011 part 2 of 4 - Three Italians Whites We Love for Summer - Verdicchio, Vermentino & Vernaccia

We had some friends over for a friday night wine tasting, they said they liked to try new wines and enjoyed Italian, and whites were fine.  I needed nothing more to happily bring out my favorite Italian trio, Verdicchio, Vermentino & Vernaccia.

These wines span Italy from the isle of Sardinia, across Tuscany to Le Marche. West to East.

Why these three? Because they are all very balanced, easy to drink and go well with summer food like salads, light cheeses and seafood.  I love Vermentino with linguine and white clam sauce. Get some fresh clams, garlic and parsley from the Montclair Farmers' Market and you are on your way to a great meal.

From the sunny climate of Sardinia comes, Argiolas Costamolino Vermentino Di Sardegna 2009 

 

Cantine Argiolas  is a great producer who makes several wonderful wines.

The Winery is in the centre of the beautiful town of Serdiana, where little has changed over the decades. The narrow streets and colorful houses of stone and adobe bricks have been preserved.

 

I think this was our favorite of these three wines. It has a soft yellow color with a touch if green. The bouquet is immediate and previews the citrus, pineapple, tropical fruits and honey flavors that are to come. It has nice acitity.  We liked it a lot. Sells for $12-$14

 

From the rolling hills of Tuscany outside the ancient city of  San Gimignano comes a beautiful wine of 100% Vernaccia. If you stopped in a local cafe and order vino locale bianco, you would probably be served something likes this and think it was the best wine you ever tasted. It is hard to repeat an experience like that but this wine by Azienda Agricola Fontaleoni comes close.  

Fontaleoni Vernaccia Di San Gimignano  2010

This wine has a softer nature than Vermentino it is fruity, flowery and has flavors of ripe white peach and acacia flower. It is soft and medium bodied.

"The Fontaleoni estate produces a crisp and lively version of Vernaccia by soft pressing, cold clarification and a slow, temperature controlled fermentation. A fresh and crisp yet elegant wine, It is delicate in flavor with a robust backbone, making it a perfect partner for food. Notes of lemon and some spice, with firm acidity in the mouth." (Winemaker’s Notes) Sells for $14-$16

Tavignano Verdicchio Dei Castelli di Jesi 2008

Off to eastern Italy on the Adriatic coast we find Le Marche an area that the NY Times  called in 2005 "The Next Tuscany."

I always suggest this wine to my friends who like soft Chardonnays. It is not going to please someone who insists on big oakey, buttery Chardonnays, but it is loved by everyone else.

The Verdicchio grape is indigenous to the Le Marche. I don't think it is grown anywhere else. It used to be shipped in funny fish shaped bottles, but was pretty awful then. Like most all Italian white wines new generations of wine makers are making these grapes into wines that are most pleasing white wines, especially when they are from small estates.

The better Verdicchio, like this one has bright acidity, freshness, and nutty flavors. It is a real crowd pleaser. full of flavor like spring flowers, sweet almonds, heather, stone fruits, and a tangy freshness, it is best after being open for an hour and served moderately chilled. Sells for $11-$14