Mano a Vino

In my heaven there is lots of Pinot Bianco - Kellerei Cantina Terlano Vorberg Riserva Review

Do you ever think about what you'ld like in "heaven" or planned what you would absolutely have to have if you found your self alone on an isolated tropical island or in a secluded cabin in the mountains. Your list may be long or sparse but I am sure it has a few essentials.

This topic was discussed in What To Drink With What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine, Beer, Spirits, Coffee, Tea — Even Water — Based on Expert Advice from America's Best Sommeliers. "In the final chapter they invited sommeliers to select their 'desert island' wines, and the results are a wonderful. Indeed, if your island retreat comes equipped with a good refrigerator, a Wolf stove and a set of Calphalon." Patrick Comiskey, Los Angeles Times

My list would include this wonderful wine Kellerei Cantina Terlano Vorberg Riserva Pinot Bianco.

Kris Heart, a Delightful Italian Merlot Wine

Kris Wines are imported by the highly respected Winebow a brand you can generally count on, this wine is a Leonardo Locascio Selection. I have liked other Kris wines so decided to take a chance on this one which was on sale at Shoppers Vineyard in Clifton for $7.99.

Merlot is not a grape I would usually choose when looking at Italian wines. I generally prefer grapes indigenous to the country. Nevertheless, this turned out to be a wonderfully robust, fruit forward wine with great body.

I love the label, these artistic labels are a signature of Kris wines.

A Sangiovese Rosé from Australia - Robert Oatley

Sangiovese is one of my favorite grapes especially in its hybrid known as Brunello. From these grapes come some of the world's finest wines lovingly made in the prestigious vineyards of Tuscany, Italy.

I have enjoyed Sangiovese from other parts of the world, but a Rose of Sangiovese on first blush, no pun intended, seemed like sacrilege.

It is not that I don't like Rosé wines, I do. I especially  like unusual Rosé wines like Crios de Susana Balbo Roseof Malbec or Il Mimo Rosato Di Nebbiolo. It just seemed that Sangiovese is to nobile. I was wrong.

Italian Wine Lovers Don't Miss This

Taste 15 Italian Wines this Weekend @ VinAmanti

Each year we travel to VinItaly, the world's largest Italian wine showcase to find some special wines that would not otherwise be available in the United States. Since we can't bring all of our customers with us we have decided to do the next best thing and stage our own Italian Wine Fair, the first ever VinAmanti. This will be an unprecedented opportunity to taste over 15 wines and cash in on big savings as you stock up for the summer.

Read More Here

Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2007

As summer approaches my heart and mind turn to thoughts and feelings of wonderful seasonal dinners accompanied by wonderful Italian white wine.

Wines that compliment and accentuate the fresh flavors of summer cuisine.

A perfect example is this Vernacchia di San Gimignano found at Amanti Vinoin Montclair, NJ.

L'ardenza Cottanera Mondeuse Noir

Just in the US with Importer Banville & Jones, this fine example of the grand artistry that continues to unfold from Sicilian vineyards may soon appear on a wine list in a restaurant near you.

When it does seize the opportunity to taste this intriguing wine.

Made of 100% Mondeuse, what? Never heard of Mondeuse? You are in for a treat.

Produced by the acclaimed Cambria family, Guglielmo and Enzo Cambria with winemaker Lorenzo Landi at the Cottanera Estatein Castiglione di Sicilia, this wine exudes lucious life.

A Fine Italian Sauvignon Tenuta Luisa Friuli Venezia Giulia

This very fine Italian vino bianco is crafted of 100% Sauvignon by Michele and Davide Luisa of the Luisa family who first established Tenuta Luisa in 1927.

The vineyard located in Corona, Mariano dei Friuli, Gorizia Italy and is the source of many fine wines.

We also like their Pinot Grigio.

La Carraia Orvieto Classico a Very Pleasant Italian White Wine

Orvieto is one of my favorite towns in Italy. It is a short drive off the Autostrada A1 when traveling from Roma to Firenze.

It has one of the most beautiful Duomos in Italy and is home to many great local trattorias and of course the popular wine that bears its name, Orvieto.

Orvietto is a usually a DOCwine made with Trebbiano toscano, 40-60%; Verdello, 15-25%; Grechetto and/or Canaiolo bianco and/or Malvasia toscana, 20%; other local white varieties, up to 15%.

Here is a very pleasant Orvieto priced at around $10.

Interesting Italian Red Wines from Friuli

My brother in-law, Perry Weinstein, from California, was in NY on business. He loves Italian wines as I do and finds better Italian wines rare in his home state.

A visit to my favorite wine bar Gottino was in order.

While there we explored several wines with the careful guidance of our bartenders Martin and Jeremy. As the evening progressed we asked for very interesting wines and Martin proudly presented these two gems, a Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso by Vigneti Le Monde a vineyard in Friuli and a Schioppettino By Girolamo  Dorigo whose vineyard is also in Fruili.

You Have to Love a Good Dolcetto

In Italy's prominent wine growing region Piedmont the most famous and expensive wines, Barolos and Barbarescos, are made with the big powerful Nebbiolo grape. If you are a Cabernet fan or just like big tannic wines you will probably love those wines.

But if you are fond of Pinot Noir you will probably love Dolcetto. I do.