Grignolino varietal wine

Apart from the Freisa and Ruche varietal wines, the Grignolino varietal wine is one other red wine which shows itself as a light bodied, ruby red coloured wine coming from Piedmont. These 3 varietals give consumers an option to start an evening with something on the 'light bodied, fresh red fruits side' before progressing to medium and full bodied options for the later part of the evening. 

Local wine consumers tend to be more familiar with the Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetta varietals coming from Piedmont rather than the other 3 varietals mentioned above. But a country like Italy which is noted for having the largest number of native grape varietals has a treasure trove of wines to offer for the curious wine enthusiast who is willing to venture further afield to discover something different to try and taste.

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Grignolino d'Asti 2019

This Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Grignolino d'Asti 2019 comes from the municipality of Montaldo Scarampi, Piedmont. Pale red-ruby colour greets the eye (one would almost think its a rose wine). Floral aromas are noticeable followed by sour red cherry and strawberry notes. Palate follows through with similar profile of red fruits backed by spice notes. Lively acidity keeps the wine fresh while noticeable tannins in the finish adds to the character. Tannins does not come as harsh, bold or overpowering though.

Wine trivia:

Grignolino in local Italian dialect refers to 'pips' (highlighting the fact that this varietal has a greater number of pips then other grape varietals). 

Apart from Grignolino d'Asti DOC, the other DOC appellation notable for this varietal is 'Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese DOC'. Some of the other DOCs it can be found are Colli Tortonesi, Gabiano and Monferrato.

In Singapore you can get this wine via Luigi's Wines Pte Ltd.

Happy Sips!

Wine from the Cesanese d' Affile varietal

Something new I came across this year; a red wine made from the Cesanese d'Affile varietal. It comes from the Lazio wine region (in central Italy). Production revolves around the town of Affile, which is located close to the Central Apennines.

This varietal is native to Lazio and production numbers are small. This could be one reason why this wine is not readily found in local wine outlets. The other reason could be that it takes a 'brave' wine merchant to import wines made from varietals that local wine consumers are less aware of. Not many will want to take the risk of carrying wines which local consumers may hesitate to buy due to lack of familiarity.

The usual Lazio wines one encounters locally tend to be white wines produced from Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC & Frascati DOC appellations; and also possibly sweet wines from the Cannellino di Frascati DOCG appellation. A red wine from the Lazio wine region tends to be a rare exception.

Damiano Ciolli Silene Cesanese DOC Superiore 2019

The Damiano Ciolli Silene Cesanese DOC Superiore 2019 shows with a bright ruby red, lightly coloured appeal. There's the aromatic appeal with red berry, floral and spice notes which captivate one's attention. It's medium bodied with a pleasing silky texture and ample acidity to keep the body fresh and lively. It offers a pleasant sip.

The Cesanese di Affili DOC requires a minimum of 90% Cesanese d'Affile varietal in its wine. It can be made either in the dry or sweet style.

This particular wine (a dry red) is made from 100% Cesanese d'Affile varietal. Grapes are hand harvested and fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks.

You can find this wine locally via the Italian Wine Club.

Happy sips!

Nebbiolo varietal produced in a fizzy, rose style

Something light and inviting to begin the evening with; and surprisingly it's made from the Nebbiolo varietal.

Most times in Singapore we see Nebbiolo sold as still, red wines; especially when they come from Piedmont's Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara or Gheme sub-regions. It's taken seriously with the need to age and at times decant awhile before serving. 

This particular wine caught my attention as it brings out the 'lighter' side of Nebbiolo. It's made in a fizzy, rose style, something not usually seen when you visit a local wine retail outlet. 

This 2015 Fabio Gea 'Falavosca' Rosato Frizzante comes from Barbaresco. The viticultural practice leans toward the organic way. Upon harvest,  destemmed grapes undergo a short maceration before fermentation begins. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered. A nifty wine label made from handmade paper further lends to this wine's appeal.

2015 Fabio Gea 'Falavosca' Rosato Frizzante

wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered

It's available in Singapore now via Arcodyn Pte Ltd.

Happy sips!

The Ruche wine

 

Ruche, the aromatic, light bodied red varietal grape from Piedmont. It’s hardly known over here.

Sadly it gets lost in recognition and presence compared to the other well known reds from Piedmont made from the likes of Nebbiolo, Barbara, Dolcetta (and even Brachetto). Red wines from Piedmont made from varietals like Freisa, Grignolino and Ruche are by and large still a yet to be discovered endeavour among the local wine drinking population here. It is encouraging though to see local wine merchants making the effort to import and introduce these less familiar varietals to our wine drinking public.

2020 Crivelli Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG

This 2021 Crivelli Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG reveals a youthful bright ruby red colour with purple highlights in the glass.

Red rose aroma captures your attention first, followed by red berry and spice notes. The aromas does not come as bold (neither are they overwhelming), instead they offer a persistent and pleasant experience.

The body is light plus in weight with red fruits and spice being the prominent flavours. There’s ample acidity to keep the body alive and fresh. There’s a good presence of tannins in the body without the tannins being aggressive or harsh. A certain harmony in the body makes you want to finish the first pour quickly and happily reach for the second one. At 15% abv it’s certainly not a pushover sip.

I am happy to see this wine currently imported and sold in Singapore. You can find it via Luigi's Wines.

Wine bit:

This wine is produced in the Monferrato Astigiano area (located northeast of Asti). Among its communes,  Castagnole Monferrato and Scurzolengo stand out as important ones for Ruche wine production.

Happy sips!

A Tasting of Fattoria Betti wines in Singapore

An evening with wines from the Montalbino wine region of Tuscany. I had the opportunity to attend a winetasting cum dinner last week at Singapore eatery Casa Tartufo. It was a press meet to introduce wines from Fattoria Betti winery. This event was hosted by Guido Betti, a co-owner of this winery.

A brief introduction by Guido Betti revealed that this winery is located within the sub-region of Montalbano DOCG (in a small town called Quarrata). It’s a family owned winery presently in the hands of 2 brothers: Gherardo Betti the resident oenologist takes care of viticulture & winemaking, while Guido Betti concentrates on sales & marketing.

Guido Betti with Edmond Yau Kin Hung

Guido Betti highlights that production at present is around 60,000 bottles but with the potential and ability to produce more in the near future. At present this winery grows Chardonnay, Trebbiano, Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varietals for use in their wines. For now, Fattoria Betti wines are exported to countries like Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Bianco di Toscana IGT "Creto die Betti"2018

  

 

The first course for the evening was Burrata with Rucola, Sicilian tomatoes and pesto paired with a white, a Fattoria Betti Bianco di Toscana IGT “Creto di Betti”2018”. This is a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Trebbiano Toscano with current production at around 4,000 bottles. You get a play of floral, citrus and stone fruit aromas on the nose and palate from this wine. The fruit on the palate is fresh and young with a noticeable ripe element to it. This medium bodied wine also reveals a fleshy and supple side to it in the mouth. Acidity supports the fruit rather than overwhelm it.

Chinati Montalbano DOCG 2018

The second course was Purple potatoes Gnocchi in spicy tomato sauce paired with a Fattoria Betti Chianti Montalbano DOCG 2018. This wine is a blend of 90% Sangiovese with the remaining 10% made up of Canaiolo and Colorino. Current production is at around 20,000 bottles. Fresh aromas of black & red cherries and spice greet you in nose and palate. The medium plus body reveals soft tannins, smooth texture, easily noticeable fresh cherry notes and an ample display of acidity. It’s still on the youthful phase of its development profile and makes for a good example of a Montalbino red which can be appreciated while still young and fresh.

Rosso di Toscana IGT "Semel"2016

The third course was char-grilled ribeye steak with truffle fries and Pommery mustard paired with a Fattoria Betti Rosso di Toscano IGT “Semel”2016. It’s a single varietal wine comprising of 100% Merlot. This is a different creature from the previous red we tasted. Black cherry and plum notes greet you on the nose and palate. What surprises you is the intensity, power and depth revealed in the palate. It’s certainly a wine with good aging potential. According to Guido Betti, the first vintage for this wine was in 2009 and to date only a small quantity is produced. Current production stands at around 1,200 bottles only.

Rose di Toscana "Caprone"2018

The last course for the evening was Tiramisu with a Fattoria Betti Rose di Toscana “Caprone”2018. It’s a single varietal 100% Sangiovese, dry wine showing light, fresh red cherry notes of strawberry and raspberry flavours. It comes off as an easy, playful and cheerful sip. You want to sit back and enjoy it over a good conversation with friends at the table rather than ponder over it.

Edmond Yau, Claudia Bondi, Guido Betti & Morgun Pathi

In Singapore these wines are available via local wine merchant V Wine Studio at 321 Alexandra Road. My many thanks to Ms Claudia Bondi of Perle & Perlage, the organizer of this event, for her invite.

Castello del Terriccio Wine Lunch

Ms Carolina Zucchini Metelli, Sales Manager of Castello del Terriccio (Tuscany), was in town recently to showcase her company's wines. The team from Grand Vin Pte Ltd organized a tasting session for the local media folks to share with us information on the winery and its Tuscan sips.

Carolina Zucchini Metelli

The Winery

Going by size, Castello del Terrico is one of the largest estates in Tuscany (at 1,700 hectares) explained Ms Carolina. It's located long the coastal shores of Maremma (between Pisa and Bolgheri), facing the Tyrrhenian Sea. Much of this estate is given to forest lands, olive & cereal cultivation and breeding of horses. Vine cultivation at present takes up 60 hectares of the land.

The current owner, Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana Serafini Ferri (also affectionately known as ‘Pucci’), inherited this estate in mid 1970s and embarked on a wine making initiative. He sourced for good vine cuttings from France to plant in his estate. Varietals like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah and Petit Verdot found a home in his estate from late 1980s. Under the guidance of consultant oenologist Carlo Ferria, the winery adopted new vinification methods like the use of stainless steel for fermentation, French Allier oak barriques for aging wine and a shorter aging period in oak for wines to highlight fruit quality. At present, this winery’s main export markets are USA, China and Russia.

Ervin Tang, Jason Koh, Carolina Zucchini Metelli, Kate Tan & Gordon Tay

During this tasting session at Pizzeria Mozza, Carolina introduced 5 wines from Castello del Terriccio; 1 white and 4 reds. They were:

Castello del Terriccio Con Vento Blanc 2014
Castello del Terriccio Capaninno 2014
Castello del Terriccio Tassinaia 2012
Castello del Terriccio 2009
Castello del Terriccio Lupicaia 2009

Snapshot of these wines

The first 2 wines easily showed freshness, purity of fruits, ready-to-drink approachability and a cheerful personality (ideal wines to start an evening with). The noticeable acidity played a good part in keeping the fruit element lively in both wines. The 3rd wine (Tassinaia 2012), while retaining primary fruit notes as the Capaninno 2014, showed a higher flavour intensity and complexity in its body while displaying a 'ready to drink now' quality as well. The last 2 red wines revealed a persistent core of dark fruits in their body, noticeable depth, complexity, and ample tannins to justify aging to allow for further development.

Tasting notes

Castello del Terriccio Con Vento Blanc 2014

1. Castello del Terriccio Con Vento Blanc 2014
Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Carolina explained that this is a small production of 5,000 bottles/year. It’s an aromatic wine highlighting herb and floral notes. A lively, fresh fruit intense sip with a rich, supple, viscous mouthfeel. It’s not often that one comes across a SB and Viognier blend ín Singapore, I must add. The SB gives acidity and liveliness to the wine, while the Viognier contributes to the body weight and mouthfeel I suspect. Sur lie aging plays its part to contribute to the viscous nature of the body, I beg to suspect again. It makes for a good aperitif and an ideal companion for seafood dishes.

Castello del Terriccio Capaninno 2014

2. Castello del Terriccio Capaninno 2014
Another fresh and lively wine; this time a red blend (Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) highlighting the purity of fresh fruits in its body. Cherry and eucalyptus aromas reveal on the nose, with fresh red fruit flavours and acidity making for a youthful palate. A medium bodied wine enjoyable at this moment.

Castello del Terriccio Tassinaia 2012

3. Castello del Terriccio Tassinaia 2012
A red made of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and a little Sangiovese; and aged 6 months in used French barriques. A medium bodied wine which still shows primary fruit notes in palate (without being overwhelmed by tannins). Black berry, blue berry, cedar, spice, cassis and hint of chocolate notes add to the complex nature of this wine. Good balance, depth, smooth tannins and a lingering finish add to its charm. You can keep this wine (it has the quality for mid-term aging), but I see no reason for such a venture as it makes a delightful sip at this moment.

Castello del Terriccio 2009

4. Castello del Terriccio 2009
A red blend; Shiraz (50%), Petit Verdot (25%) and a mix of other red grapes (25%). It’s aged for 20 months in new French oak barriques; and spends another 5 years in bottle before release. A complex wine with dark fruits, black berry, spice, leather and tobacco aromas; a good core of dark fruits in its body with ‘grippy’ tannins adding to its character. It’s got a good structure and a strong constitution; making it an ideal candidate for further aging and development.

Castello del Terriccio Lupicaia 2009

5. Castello del Terriccio Lupicaia 2009
Carolina highlighted that Lupicaia is this winery’s flagship; it’s first vintage being 1993. It’s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a little Pertit Verdot. The varietals are fermented and aged separately in new French barriques for 20-22 months before blending takes place. It’s aged another 5 years in bottle before release. Black fruits, spice and tobacco notes reveal in nose and palate; a balanced, complex sip with good depth. There’s a lovely smooth, silky texture to its body which highlights elegance rather than a show of power. This is another wine which shows the potential to age and develop further.

Gambero Rosso Top Italian Wines Roadshow 2017 in Singapore

Gambero Rosso Top Italian Roadshow 2017 came to town on 10 Mar 2017. Pictures of this event can be viewed via this following link:

Gambero Rosso 2017 Roadshow in Singapore

Held at Chijmes Hall, this event showcased wines from 64 wine producers across Italy.

Over the last few years, this show has been garnering good support among local trade folks. Around 1,000 wine enthusiasts attended this year’s masterclasses and grand tasting. The rise in local demand for Italian wines certainly provides a good reason for the organizers to continue having Singapore as one of the destination to visit when touring this part of the world. Apart from Singapore, this show has been held in places like Seattle (USA), Cape Town (Africa), Hanoi (Vietnam), Seoul (South Korea), Osaka (Japan) and Sydney (Australia). Snippets provided by the local organizer of this event highlight the growth in local demand: “The latest trade statistics from Euromonitor (2016) showed that imports of Italian Wines has doubled in volume, from 1.3 million litres in 2009 to 2.7 million litres in 2014”.

Ms Radhika Ojha (President of Felicitas Gobal) invited Hon Ivan Scalfarotto (Italy’s Undersecretary of State for Economic Development) and Mr Luigi Salerno (CEO, Gambero Rosso Holdings) to offer the inaugural speech.

This was followed by masterclasses on Italian wines. Three sessions were conducted during this event. Marco Sabellico, Lorenzo Ruggeri and local wine specialist Lim Hwee Peng helmed these sessions. Participants for each session had the opportunity to taste and learn about 20 wines coming from different wine regions across Italy. I like this format as it offers participants a quick snapshot of wines produced across Italy’s different wine regions. Participants get to taste wines not only from the well known but also the less familiar wine regions as well. Hwee Peng provided additional insights on how these wines can be paired with Singapore’s local cuisine.

The grand tasting session was held in the afternoon at Chijmes Hall. There was a good number of local merchants standing at the wine tables showcasing Italian labels they represent. In the attempt to name a few I can include: Culina Pte Ltd, Ferrari Food+Wine Pte Ltd, Enoteca Singapore, The B.I.G. Wine Company Pte Ltd, The Italian Wine List Pte Ltd, Luigi’s Wines Pte Ltd. and Pinnacle Wine & Spirits Pte Ltd.

The regular stalwarts (referring to wine producers) from Piedmont, Tuscany and Veneto wine regions were adequately represented. What was interesting was the possibility for curious wine enthusiasts to move further afield from beyond these recognized grounds and discover varietals and wines from other wine regions as well.

In between taking pictures of this event, I had the opportunity to find a few interesting yet not often found wines in Singapore. They were:

Passerina varietal
Castorani Winery (Abruzzo) had Podere Castorani Metodo Classico; a sparkling Passerina with 2nd fermentation done in bottle and bottle aged for 3 years. Underlying the fresh and vibrant personality of this wine there was a degree of complexity and a good backbone which made for a pleasing sip. My first experience in tasting a Passerina made in the sparkling style I must add.

Pecorino varietal
The light-bodied, fresh and 'easy to approach' style of Pecorino was produced by Cantina Tollo (Pecorino Terre di Chieti 2016). Castorani Winery on the other hand had a more complex wine, the Pecorino Amori 2015. Produced via cold maceration before fermentation and later aged in lees for a few months, this Pecorino wine certainly displayed good weight and a noticeable ‘oily’ texture in palate.

A Barbera made into a white wine
A curiosity was Castello di Cigognola’s Bianca 2015 from Lombardy. It produced a white wine made from the red varietal Barbera. It showed a fresh, crisp, light personality; with a noticeable suppleness in body and kept vibrant by a good showing of acidity. (It’s locally sold by Bacco Wines SG).

Lacrima varietal
Among the reds, Velenosi Winery’s Lacrima di Morro d’Alba 2015 (Marche) drew curious wine enthusiasts to the table with its easily noticable rose aroma. The Lacrima varietal and wine is again a less known sip in Singapore. The only one I have tried locally before was by Luccheti).

Other not so commonly seen varietals which were showcased during this event were:  Refosco varietal by Zorzettig (Friuli), FCO Refosco P.R. 2015; the Lagrein varietal by Cantina Produttori San Michele Appiano (Alto Adige) A.A. Lagrein Riserva 2014 and the Nero di Troia varietal wines by Torrevento, Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Ottagono Riserva 2014 & Nero di Rroia Torre del Falco 2014.

Corniva which usually shows itself as part of a blend within Valpolicella reds (including Amarones) showed itself as a single varietal wine in Tenuta Sant' Antonio's Scaia Corvina 2014.

Elvio Cogno had an interesting Barolo V. Elena Riserva 2010 produced exclusively using the Nebbiolo Rose varietal; a limited production (around 5,000 bottles a particular year) where capacity is concerned. (When the owner-producer Valter Fissure was in Singapore last year, trade folks had the opportunity to taste the 2009 vintage).

This and similar wine events are important. They provide participants a broader view into what a country has to offer the world in relation to its wines. Often it highlights the possibility of there being more to discover than what a wine enthusiast might presently find in local wine retail outlets.



morgun pathi

A Tommasi Wine Dinner in Singapore

Simone Margheri, the Asia Export Manager of Tommasi Family Estates (www.tommasi.com), was recently in town to share about the winery and its wines. D&D Wines Pte Ltd (www.ddwines.com.sg), the local representative, took the opportunity to organise a dinner showcasing some of the Tommasi wines.

Sascha Baeggli, Julien Sauvage and Simone Margheri
 

The Tommasi family’s affiliation with wine began in 1902, when Giacomo Battista Tommasi purchased a small vineyard in the Valpolicella Classico region. Each generation following the purchase continued with the wine producing tradition. At present 9 family members of the 4th generation are involved in the management, production and marketing of Tommasi’s portfolio of wines. Giancarlo Tommasi is the current winemaker who tends to all the estates within this family.

What began in 1902 as a single vineyard plot has over the decades expanded to 205 hectares of vineyard land in the Veneto wine region (105 hectares in Valpolicella Classico region in the hills of La Groletta, Conca d’Oro and Ca’ Fiorian ) and 100 hectares in the Verona DOC region. Over the years, the family has also acquired vineyards in other wine regions of Italy to expand its range of offerings: Lombardy (Tenuta Caseo), Tuscany (Poggio Al Tufo & Podere Casisano) and Puglia (Masseria Suraini). Wines from these vineyards have helped to contribute a range of wine styles from sparkling, rose, white to red wines.

Presently wines from the Tommasi portfolio are distributed in 68 countries around the world. Scandinavia, USA and Germany are top markets in terms of volume. In Asia, the Veneto wines (notably Amarone, Ripasso, Valpolicella Classico Superiore wines) are sold in countries like Singapore, Japan, China, HK, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Korea, Philippines, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Mongolia.

During dinner wine enthusiasts present were introduced to 4 wines from Tommasi's portfolio.

 

Tommasi Poggio Al Tufo Rompicollo Toscana IGT 2014.
This wine comes from its estate in Maremma, Tuscany. The Tommasi family owns 66 hectares of land in Pitigliano and another 80 hectares in Scansano. This is a blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. It went through fermentation in temperature controlled stainless tanks, followed by maturation in Slavonian oak casks for 12 months. Its shows red berry notes in aroma and palate; an easy, straightforward sip. The Cab Sauvignon element contributes to structure and fruit presence in mid-palate.

Tommasi Viticoltori Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC 2014.
Here the red wine from Valpolicella underwent refermentation with residual grape skins (from its Amarone wine making process). This second fermentation adds body and richness to an otherwise light bodied Valpolicella red. It’s a blend made with 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 5% Corvinone. After the second fermentation (called the Ripasso), the wine is aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 15 months. There’s noticeable red and dark fruit notes with hints of pepper in palate. It reveals a medium plus supple body with smooth texture and pleasant finish.

Tommasi Viticoltori Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2010 & 2012.
The Amarone wines are produced from grapes which comes from hillside vineyards in La Groletta and Conca d’Oro. The Tommasi Amarones consist of a blend made up of 50% Corvina Veronese, 15% Corvinone, 30% Rondinella and 5% Oseleta. The grapes are dried for 100 days before pressing and fermentation takes place. The finished wine is aged for 30 months in Slavonian oak barrels before being bottled and aged for another 12 months. Both vintages displayed cherry and plum notes, hint of dried fruit nuances and a savoury appeal backed by a supple body with smooth texture. The 2012 vintage however showed more body, weight and flavour intensity than the 2010 vintage.

Simone Margheri explained that this was due to the fact that the 2012 vintage was a warm vintage which resulted in riper berries. The 2012 vintage went on to produce a more powerful, intense and age worthy wine than the cooler 2010 vintage Amarone. One can therefore enjoy the 2010 vintage now (its approachable and drinkable) and age the 2012 vintage for future consumption.

Wines from west Veneto presented by an Italian Wine Expert

Wines from areas bordering Lake Garda. This tasting offered an opportunity to learn about wines from west Veneto; a little further afield from the familiar wine areas of Soave and Valpolicella when one talks about the Veneto wine region.

Consortium Il Veneto in un Bicchiere organized this event for the benefit of local wine specialists over here. Our resident Italian wine expert, Chan Wai Xin, was at hand to introduce the wine region and wines.

Chan Wai Xin

I like to highlight here the latest achievement of Wai Xin. He recently was awarded (in Nov 2016) the Italian Wine Expert certification by Vinitaly International Academy (VIA). He is the first from Singapore (and South East Asia as well) to get this award; something wine enthusiasts from this little red dot can be proud of. It’s a rare achievement as at present there are only 6 individuals (worldwide) holding this certification. This certification comes on the back of other wine credentials he holds; like the Certified Wine Educator (CWE) and the French Wine Scholar (FWS). He certainly made an ideal speaker for this tasting.

Wines presented during this tasting were produced by a co-operative winery called Cantina Castelnuovo del Garda. It started in 1958 with 11 members and over the years has grown to currently represent more than 250 wine growers from the west Veneto region. The location of viticulture and vinification is near Lake Garda (Italy’s largest lake), a place which offers ample seafood for those residing there. It’s said of Italy that wines produced in a wine region often goes well with local cuisine. Both elements, over generations, evolve to support and complement each other. It was therefore easy to appreciate why the wines introduced during this event seemed ideally suited for seafood cuisine.

Something easy, something light, something fresh

We tasted 3 whites, 1 rose and 2 reds during this event. Most of these wines were aged in stain steel tanks thus retaining freshness and primary fruit elements. Even when oak aging was used, it was for a short period only. Thus these wines displayed freshness, a lively acidity, soft tannins (where the rose and reds were concerned) and a near delicate body; making them easy to approach, food friendly sips. You would want to enjoy these wines (ideally in generous portions and in a relaxed atmosphere) with good food and pleasant company; without going into a rigorous examination of their personalities or evolution in the glass.

Some details of the wines.
Ca Vegar Lugana DOC 2013. A Trebbiano di Lugana wine. Straw yellow in colour with a noticeable fruity aroma and a freshness in palate. A short aging period of 4 months in stainless steel which helps the wine retain its fresh personality. One highlight from Wai Xin during this event was that not all Trebbiano grapes are the same. Jancis Robinson’s book on Wine Grapes highlights a few distinct Trebbiano varietal (a good start if one likes to learn about Trebbiano grapes. Further, the Trebbiano from Lugana has been identified via DNA profiling to be identical to the Verdicchio varietal found in the Marche region. (You can read “Native Wine Grapes of Italy” by Ian D’Agata if you are curious to know the connection between Lugana’s Trebbiano and Marche’s Verdicchio).

Ca Vegar Custoza DOC 2015. A blend this one; comprising of Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Trebbianello and Cortese varietals. Straw yellow in colour with 3 months aging in stainless steel tanks. Exhibits mild floral notes in aroma and a freshness in palate. An easy, approachable light bodied wine.

Bosco del Gal Albarell Custoza Superiore DOC 2013. A white blend made using Garganega, Trebbiano Toscana, Trebbianello and Cortese varietals. Aged for 4 months is barrique. Straw yellow colour with vanilla hints in aroma. Wine with some structure in its body. A light-medium bodied wine.

Ca Vegar Bardolino DOC Chiaretto Classico 2015. A rose wine made with Corvina Veronese, Rondinella and Molinara varietals. Aged for 3 months in stainless steel tanks. Red cherry notes and a hint of floral aromas. This wine’s appeal is in its delicate body and fresh red fruit primary flavours.

Ca Bardolino Classico DOC 2015. A red wine made with Corvina Veronese, Rodinella and Molinara varietals. Aged 4 months in stainless steel tanks. Ruby red in colour with upfront red berry aromas and violet notes. Palate reveals vibrant, fresh red fruits flavours in a light body.

Bosco del Gal Pra dell Albi Bardolino Classico Superiore DOCG 2015. A red wine with Corvina Veronese, Corvinone and Rondinella varietals. Aged for 6 months in oak casks. Bright red in colour (pinot noir like comes to mind). Aromas of ripe, fresh red cherries and a hint of spice in the background. Palate reveals ripe, warm red fruit flavours with a noticeable structure in its mid-body (though not overly firm).

Though Italian wines are well represented in local wine retail outlets in recent years, its still challenging to lay one's hands on wines from the 'less famous' wine producing areas (at least less familiar to those in this part of the world). I must say it is a good effort on the part of the consortium to reach out to local wine specialists and share with them information on such wine producing areas. It certainly goes toward learning and appreciating a little more about what Italy has to offer.