Mood:
cheekyTopic: Bartending
For last week's class, we stayed in Italy, but moved toward the central region—including Latium (where Rome is), Marches, and Tuscany (where Florence is). Marches is located along the Adriatic Coast, known for its white Verdicchio and its reds of Montepulciano, Pinot Nero, and Sangiovese. Tuscany and Latium are located along the Tyrrhenian Coast, known for whites of Chardonnay, Malvasia, Trebbiano, Vermentino, and Vernaccia, and reds of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Savignon, Merlot (love), Sagrantino, and Sangiovese.
One of my favorite whites of the evening was the Vigna Di Gino by Fattoria San Lorenzo. This grape was grown in Marches, in a vineyard in Castelli di Jesi which is near Montecarotto.
After a little bit of research, I found out more on the Marches region. With its relation to the Adriatic sea, grapes are offered a temperate climate. The clay soil tends to grow grapes which are intense and sometimes spicy in flavor. Marches is one of Italy's most important wine growing regions. Marches produces nearly equal amounts of red and white wine.
The white I mentioned above was a Verdicchio, which is the main regional white from Marches. It is known for being characteristically dry, which is why I'm surprised I'm listing it as a favorite of the night. The Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi is the most famous and historically noted DOC wine of the Marches, which as I learned from last week, DOC means it's registered by the government, and its label must state its zone of origin and meet certain production standards.
My favorite red, and all-time favorite of the evening was the BelnerO Sangiovese from the Castelli Banfi vineyard, from the southern hills of Montalcino in the Tuscany region.
According to my research finds (nerd alert), the Sangiovese red grape is thought to be named from "the blood of Jupiter."This grape originated in Tuscany, where it remains number one today. Generally, Sangiovese wines are high in tannins and acid, although it depends on many factors such as the yield, location, and the subvariety. Sangiovese wines are known for their orange tint and their lack of ability to age—they won't last any longer than ten years.
The BalnerO Sangiovese was grown in clay soil, abundant with rounded stone. According to its website, this soil adds complexity to the grape.
The other wines we tasted during class include Frascati Superior by Regillo, the Ferentano IGT Lazio 2008, the 2006 Salice Salentino Rosso Riserva 50th Vendemmia DOC, the Rosso Toscano by Castello Di Meleto, the 2007 Chianti Classico DOCG, and the 2008 Rosso di Montalcino DOC (2008 and 2003).
