2006 was the last time I set foot in Italy. Back then it was central Italy, and like most people who have visited this country, I fell in love. I’ll never forget walking the streets of Florence, haggling with the street vendors, standing in the cafe to save a few euro on a cup of coffee and eating some of the most outstanding food I have experienced in any restaurant around the world. I had the privilege to tour many wineries back then and one thing sticks in my mind more than all else. Every person who conducted each tour talked extensively about the marriage of food and wine, in particular, the need for protein to counteract the tannins in red wine. However, not one of them offered any type of protein as we drank their Chiantis and other reds until we visited a winery owned and operated entirely by women. It was there that we were offered meat with our red wine.
Back then, wine making in Italy was male dominate. However, this winery we visited (I can’t remember the name…sorry), was an exception to the rule. And wouldn’t you know it, they understood the need to serve protein with their reds. They didn’t just talk about it, they followed through, and it made all the difference. I can still remember how good their Chianti tasted compared to the other wineries we visited, and a lot of it had to do with the meat appetizers they offered as we imbibed. That trip to central Italy was a magical time in my life.
Thirteen years later, I have made it back to Italy and this time it is a visit to the northern part of the country including Turin, Alba and Verona. The excitement is palpable! The first leg of our journey will take us through an area where some of my favorite wines are made. The Piedmont region of Italy is home to Barbera, Barbaresco, Barolo and Docetto as well as Arneis. Barolo and Barbaresco are some of the few wines I will put away in my cellar for many years. The older the better. They have both grace and power, and every once in a while, I will open a young one just to experience old world wine at its best, tannins, rust, strawberries, mushroom and dirt, is the best way to describe what you get from a youthful Nebbiolo, the grape responsible for both Barolo and Barbaresco.
Today, my wife Susie and I are in Turin and will take a look around before we head to Alba and our visit to Vietti, a fantastic producer in the area. We are very excited to check out their winery and taste some of the wines. I will also be visiting the wineries of Pico Macario and Poderi e Cantine Oddero. I will have plenty to write about, and I hope you join me on my journey through this beautiful part of the world, that produces some of the most interesting and well made old world wines. I will also be shooting some video to put up on my YouTube channel. I encourage you to check them out.
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
