One of our favorite things about seeking out new grapes is the conversations we have along the way. When we picked up a bottle of Settevigne's Tintilia del Molise in a local shop, the owner was a bit shocked that we were picking up a bottle.
“What drew you to Tintilia Del Molise?”
Well, we hadn't reviewed a bottle, and honestly I wasn't quite sure we had a varietal bottle in the past, either. So naturally we were in to try this red wine from Molise!
One of our favorite things about trying new grape varietals, is we have found some new favorite grapes.
Arneis from Piedmont is one such grape. While not the most obscure that we've tried, this gem has become a regular in our rotation and for good reason- flavor and texture often come together for a delicious pour.
Vietti's Roero Arneis was one such bottle, and while this one trended a bit more citrus on the palate, it still delivered everything we look for in this grape.
One of our favorite things about Italian wines is there are so many grapes around. There are so many, in fact, that some are often thought to be other grapes, whereas others are so similar that they all have a variant of a single name despite being biologically different.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano is one such grape, and while Vernaccia is a common grape name throughout Italy, the one grown near San Gimignano is thought to be rather unique.
For those who like crisp white wines with some phenolic texture, this one is a treat.
One thing I am a sucker for at wine shops is a recommendation of a bottle from a knowledgeable sales rep. Oh, you like that for [insert reasons here]? Say less.
This is how we discovered Ascheri Barolo which came with glowing reviews and, perhaps more importantly, a rather reasonable price point- an instant sale was had.
Although we do admit we wanted a bit more from this one, we can't overlook its excellent price point for those who want something a bit more intense than a Langhe Nebbiolo and perhaps a little less intense than more robust Barolo you may be used to.
Out of all of the obscure grapes we've tried over the years, Turbiana from the Lake Garda region of northern Italy holds a special place in our heart as one of our favorites.
One of the first bottles featuring this grape we tried was Ca dei Frati's Brolettino, which, in our opinion at least, was quite the stellar bottle with everything we look for in a delicious white wine.
So when we saw their I Frati bottle, also featuring Turbiana at a more appropriate price point, we picked it up. Although we ultimately thought this one was lacking the intensity and concentration of the Brolettino, we're still glad we tried this one because we really like this grape!
The appassimento method of winemaking is an interesting one, where grapes are dried in the sun before being fermented. This often results in a concentration of flavors, development of more raisinated fruit notes at times, too, and an increase in the sugars and subsequent alcohol in the final wines.
We're used to seeing these in the form of Amarone in the Valpolicella region of Italy, made out of the Corvina grape. So when we saw Montefiore's Barbera Appassimento from Piedmont, we were intrigued.
Although this one perhaps lacked some of the flavor concentration we'd otherwise expect from wines of this method, it brought some sufficient flavor all the same.
When we think of Sicilian wines, it is easy to immediately pop over to the popular wine region along Mount Etna in the northeast.
But there are numerous excellent wine regions all over the island, and Vittoria in the south is another that lovers of fine Italian wine should keep in mind, primarily for its two most popular grapes-Frappato and Nero d'Avola!
One of the most acclaimed producers in this area is COS (particularly for their Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG blend of these two grapes), and when we found a bottle of their single varietal Frappato available at home, we snatched it up right away. This one is a light and flavorful red wine that is perfect on a hot summer day!
When we think of wines from Veneto, Italy, our first thought isn't often Merlot. But Cantina Levorato makes a rather interesting one that works well in this cooler climate.
Strong fruit notes and subtle earthy characteristics along with a bright acidity makes this one an easy drinker for those who like fruit-forward wines.
We received this bottle as part of our Vinera Wine Society subscription that was provided courtesy for review.
When we visited Piedmont, we were fortunate to try many excellent Barolos at wine bars and restaurants. A few bottles were so good that we bought one to bring home.
Virna Cannubi Barolo was one such bottle.
One thing we loved about this one was that we also found a bottle with a bit of age, and decided to give it a try at roughly 13 years of age. It was a real treat!
Lumassina is a native grape to Liguria in northwest Italy, and is one we hadn't heard of until beginning our quest to try every grape varietal in the world.
As soon as our bottle was delivered, we realized it looked familiar. Borderline low alcohol per the label, a pale yellow color with a slightly green tint, and colorful branding? Well, it felt a lot like a Vinho Verde before opening.
So we paired it with a vegetarian feast on a hot summer day and were quite pleased to find out the wine was exactly like what we expected.