Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to the Newsletter for the Announcement for the Tasting for the Friday that is August 3rd for the Wine shop that is Carpe Vinum! August 3rd is an important day. In Kentucky, it’s Watermelon Day! So for all of our Kentucky readers, happy Watermelon Day! In Venezuela, it’s Flag Day! So for all of our Venezuelan readers, happy Flag Day! It’s also the tasting that is the closest to the day that is the smack-dab-middle-of-summer, which is Monday. But for everyone else, it’s a tasting of seven fine wines from Northeast Italy!

“Northeast Italy,” you may ask, “Isn’t that kinda vague? Couldn’t you be more specific?”

“No.” I may reply, then I may correct myself by saying “Yes. No. Wait. One question at a time. Ack.”

So, yes. Northeast Italy as a region encompasses a lot of area. But the specific regions within are smaller, and sometimes it’s better to lump them all together for a better feel of the regional styles. Also, let’s face it: It’s three days from the smack-dab-middle-of-summer, and it’s hot. It’s too hot to be thinking about red wines. A crisp white wine is where it’s at. And when I’m thinking Italy, and when I’m thinking white wine, my gaze goes Northeast. Well, not Northeast, like gazing thoughtlessly out the window in a midsummer night’s daydream. I look to the Northeast of Italy. We’re talking specifically about Friuli, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto: Makers of some of the finest white wines in the world.

First we’ve got Friuli. It’s the region the Easternmost of our pre-drawn borders of Northeastern Italy. Well, that is to say that’s it’s the Easternmost point of Italy itself. Friuli borders both Austria and Slovenia and although the winemaking styles themselves may not be directly affected by the Historic Slavic and Germanic influence, everything else that defines the style most likely have. Like the people and the cuisine. There are a great variety of tasty whites to be had here, ranging from traditional varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris (Grigio), Gewurztraminer, and so on, it’s the native grapes that capture my attention. Grapes like Ribolla Giala and Tocai Friuliano. There are some reds in the area: Cabernets, Merlots, and some decent Cab Francs. Perhaps they’re not spectacular but we’ll argue that on another day. When it isn’t so hot.

Next we’ve got Trentino-Alto Adige. The region, as one could assume by the presence of a hyphen, is actually two separate regions. They’re always lumped together in all the books and magazines and by all the “professionals”, probably much to the annoyance of the Trentinians and Adigeans. (I’m not sure if that’s what they’re really called. Probably not. I’m making it up.) The two regions together do make up what seems to be a gateway between the Mediterranean countries and the rest of Europe. In fact, Alto Adige was a part of Austria up until the end of World War I which, technically, wasn’t that long ago. Anyway, to cut the History lesson short, there’s a lot of Austrian influence in the wines from the region. The wines have also been overshadowed by the Friulian wines in the export markets, so there aren’t a lot of them found around here.

Finally, we have the Veneto, the home of some of the most intriguing wines in Italy. There’s the Prosecco, my favorite variety of sparkling wine. There’s Amarone, one of the world’s most unique reds, made with raisinated grapes. There’s the Valpolicella, made in numerous different styles, from a Beaujolais-like style to a concentrated desserty style, with a few stops in-between. And there’s the Soave, which is one of the best white wines in the world, and one of my favorites.

Tomorrow we’ve got three whites, two reds, a rose and a rose sparkling Prosecco. The rose sparkling Prosecco is somewhat of an oddity, and I’m one of very few people in town to get it. I’ve got a few bottles left. I might be able to get a few more, but there’s no guarantee on that. Ooh, and it’s tasty too. Also note there’s an Amarone in there! They’re not cheap, that’s why I’m doing it! Y’know . . . so we can all taste it, at least.

So Friday, August 3rd, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Friuli, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto!!!
Trevisiol NV Prosecco Rose, Veneto
Dorigo 2006 Ribolla Giala, Friuli
Marco Felluga 2005 Molamatta (Tocai Friuliano, Ribolla Gialla, Pinot Bianco)
Alois Lageder 2006 Lagrein Rose, Alto Adige
Tommao Bussola 2005 Valpolicella, Veneto

Okay . . . Just Veneto Here!!!
Inama 2005 Soave du Lot, Veneto
Corte Giara 2001 Amarone, Veneto

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.

Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Germany and Austria!

M