March-April-2018

ROUSES

EVERYDAY

MARCH | APRIL 2018

the

Authentic Italian

issue

Lombardy

Franciacorta, Italy’s prized sparkling wine, is produced in Lombardy

using the “méthode champenoise” style, which involves a second

fermentation in the bottle. It’s howChampagnes and good sparkling

wines get their bubbles. In Italian, it is called

metodo

classico

(“classic

method”).

Valle d’Aosta

This is the smallest wine region in Italy. Its wines are not commonly

found in the United States.

Veneto

Veneto is situated in Northeast Italy. It is bordered to the west

by Lombardy and to the south by Emilia-Romagna. Verona,

where Shakespeare’s tragedy

Romeo and Juliet

is set, is the

wine capital of the region. It is also the home of Vinitaly, the

enormous annual wine and spirits exhibition held every April.

The province is best known for sparkling Prosecco wine; Soave,

Lugana and Pinot Grigio whites; and Amarone, Valpolicella

and Bardolino reds.

Our Sommelier suggests trying Soaves from

Bertani or Bolla. As for Proseccos, you have some choices on the menu:

Ruffino, Mionetto, Riondo, Avissi, Lunetta, Benvolio, Torresella,

Santa Margherita, Bolla and Bisol Jeio.

Trentino-Alto Adige

The mountainous Alpine area of Trentino-Alto Adige, located on

the Austrian border, is Italy’s northernmost wine region. While

Trentino is classically Italian and almost entirely Italian speaking,

Alto Adige, located just north of it, has a predominantly German-

speaking population. Because foreign grape varieties perform well in

this region, its reds and whites should sound familiar: Pinot Grigio,

Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot

and Cabernet Sauvignon. Lagrein, made with an indigenous red

grape, is a local favorite.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Some of Italy’s best Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc can be found

in Italy’s northeast regions. Friuli-Venezia Giulia shares borders

with Austria and Slovenia, touches the Adriatic Sea, and is adjacent

to the Veneto region. The area’s flagship white wine (and popular

choice of locals) is Friulano, but don’t overlook their Merlots and

Cabernet Sauvignons.

Abruzzo

The Abruzzo region’s most popular white wine is Trebbiano

d’Abruzzo. It is home also to Colline Teramane Montepulciano

d’Abruzzo, a DOCG wine made with Montepulciano, a medium-

bodied red grape. (After Sangiovese, it is the second most planted

red grape in Italy.)

Molise

Located right on the ankle of Italy’s boot, Molise is famous for its

three DOCs: Biferno (named after the region’s largest river), Pentro

di Isernia and Molise del Molise. Wines from the first two can

be red, white or rosé. Molise del Molise, the newest of the three,

encompasses the entire region and produces white, red, rosé and

even sparkling wines.

Tuscany

Almost all of Tuscany’s best wines are red. The area has five

major wine regions, including Chianti, where the country’s

best-known wine is produced. The basis for Chianti wines is

the Sangiovese grape. Other varieties include Carmignano,

Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

(not to be confused with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo).Tuscany’s

most famous white wine is Vernaccia.The region is famous also

for the dessert wine Vin Santo.

According to our Sommelier, you

can’t go wrong with any of the following Chiantis: Banfi Classico,

Banfi Superiore, Monsanto, Ruffino Aziano, Ruffino Il Ducale,

Rocca, Antinori, Santa Cristina, Santa Margherita, Tenuta

Arceno and Volpaia. If you like whites, try the Rocca delle Macìe

and Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Central Regions