I spent a lot of time tasting Australian wines during the Vancouver International Wine Festival, but I always make sure to fit in a few hours to try wines from other parts of the world. This year, Italy seemed to catch my fancy. Here are some serious and fun wines for you to enjoy.
Anna Spinato Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore NV, Italy – Did you know that there are different levels of quality for Prosecco, as there are for Champagne and other wines? Anna Spinato had 4 Proseccos to try; I tried their Brut NV and the Superiore NV. My favourite of the two was the Superiore. I asked the winery principal about the difference in vineyards for the 2 wines, and he noted that the Superiore vineyard is located on a hill and has more minerality than the Brut which is in the valley floor. Terroir again spoke to me. This wine has nice peach and stone fruit nose. Dry with higher acidity and flavours of citrus, peach and a hint of flowers. A very elegant Prosecco.
Cleto Chiarli Premium Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC 2013, Italy – This sparkling wine, made from the Lambrusco grape, I put in the “Valentine’s Day” wine category. Book mark it for next year. It had a very light red fruit nose. Dry, medium bodied, with some viscosity in the mouth, and full of sweet strawberry flavour.
Cantine Giacomo Montresor Valpolicella DOC Classico Primo Ripasso “Castelliere delle Guaite” 2012, Italy – Nice nose, with woody, vanilla and cherry scents. Lighter body, with woody, cherry and nutmeg spice on the palate. Some bitterness on the finish.
Monte Del Fra Amarone, Italy – Sorry I did not get the vintage on this wine. Full bodied dark fruit and woodiness on the nose. Full body, with ripe dark fruit, cherries, and spice/pepper at the mid palate. Also some bitterness. Very good quality!
Monte Del Fra Bardolino 2012, Italy – Nice berry nose. Dry, medium minus body, higher acidity, red berries and roses. Mineral streak. Elegant.
Cantine Riondo Castelforte Ripasso 2012, Italy – Nice red fruit, vanilla and spice scents. Medium body, soft mouth feel, fine tannins, and mineral. Cherries and pepper on the palate. Nice.
I also have another Italian winery, Guisti, that I really like, and made a separate article on them. Read about my Giusti passion here.