Carpe Vinum Friday Flights! Italy’s Sicily!
Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope we all made it through this year’s Holiday season in one piece. Furthermore, I hope anyone who made New Year’s resolutions did not resolve to drink less wine, because I’m here to tempt that wine resolution bug. And how? Easily! This week’s tasting is featuring the wines of the sunny Italian island of Sicily! They’re irresistible, and incredibly unique!
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, and is just off the “toe” of the “boot” that is Italy, if that makes any sense to you. The Sicilians are some of the longest-lived people in the world, which is attributed to their diet. Of course, that includes wine. It also includes a lot of olive oil and plenty of seafood among other healthier food choices, coupled with a lifestyle and beautiful landscape that makes someone WANT to live a really, really long time. To which I reiterate, also includes the wine.
Sicilian wine fascinates me because they tend to feature grape varieties that are unheard of elsewhere. The climate can be extremely hot, as the North coast of Sicily runs along the same parallel as the North coast of Africa. This harsh climate specializes the variety of grapes that can be grown to warmer weather varieties, naturally. The best known grape from the region is the Nero d’Avola, a hearty medium to full-bodied red, and loaded with fruit. A number of other grapes which are new to me include the Frappato Nero, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, and a number of the wines featured tomorrow include blends of these. These are my favorite wines that Italy has to offer and they are unlike any other!
So Friday, January 6th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:
Sicilian Wines!!
Villa Tonino 2002 Syrah
Tasca d’Almerita 2003 Regaleali Nero d’Avola
Antichi Vinai 2002 Don ‘Gia (Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola)
Fourplay 2003 IGT (Frappato Nero, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, Nero D’Avola)
Ajello 2002 Furat (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Nero d’Avola)
More Sicilian Wines!!
Morgante 2002 Don Antonio Nero d’Avola
Benanti 2000 Rovitello (Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese)
A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!
Next Friday tasting is Wines of Chile!
M