Author Archives: Piemontegirl

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About Piemontegirl

I am a wine lover currently located in Boston. I drink wine mostly from Piemonte and Burgundy. Two summers in a row I have worked at Vietti in Piemonte.

Trediberri – Langhe Nebbiolo 2016

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Trediberri Langhe Nebbiolo 2016

One of my new favorite winemakers in Nicola at Trediberri. You’ll have to look hard to find a more energetic, eager to learn, interesting young winemaker. The winery is located below La Morra in the middle of the vineyards. He is a relatively new winemaker, but his wines are well balanced and fresh. Definitely worth a try if you can get a hold of a bottle (or a glass).

This wine has the characteristics of a typical nebbiolo: fruity, floral, cherries. As it is a nebbiolo, it might need to breathe a little to open up, but it’s a fresh wine, easy to drink.

Trediberri

Wine: Langhe Nebbiolo

Producer: Trediberri

Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy

Grape varieties: Nebbiolo

Vintage: 2016

 

Eye: ruby red

Nose: earthy, cherries, dark fruits, floral, some spices

Mouth: fruity and fresh, solid tannins, well balanced

Price Point: $18

Available at Vinmonopolet: yes

Available at Systembolaget:

Which restaurant has the best Champagne list outside of France?

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Champagne heaven – Can you guess where it is?

Champagne

A champagne lineup like this can only mean one thing: Ciccio is involved.

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Ever been to Vinoteca Centro Storico before? If not, you should go! Ciccio, the boss, along with his wife and mother in law, runs the place where you can get the best champagne outside of France. I guess you could say that it’s his passion – besides food of course. The list of bottle he has is non existent (because it’s all in his head) but I can guarantee he will find something that suits your mood. Philipponnat, Pierre Peters, Pol Roger – you name it.

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Centro Storico is a legendary place, and all the locals seem to think so as well, because you are very likely to run into them there (especially late at night). If you follow Ciccio on Instagram you will see incredible lineups and crazy pictures. Basically, you are bound to have a good time if you go! And try the ham as well; he hand carves it right in front of you!

Barrel Tasting: Throwback to my first wine tasting

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My first barrel tasting was also my first wine tasting

Lucky me. Barrel tasting with Elio at his winery in Cinque Terre was an extraordinary experience and was the catapult that has led to so many wonderful experiences. My family was vacationing in the area and coincidentally Elio was there tending to his grapes. My dad managed to arrange a visit, a visit that turned out to be legendary.

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The visit started with a trip in the vineyards. Have you ever been to Cinque Terre? Let me tell you, it’s steep and rough terrain, so how they do vineyard work is beyond me! There’s no way to bring a tractor down, so they have to do everything by hand. Yikes! And harvest time? Carrying all those baskets of grapes up and down that steep uneven hill? It’s only for a certain type of superhuman!

Barrel Tasting

After the trip in the vineyard, he brought us to the cellar, where we proceeded to barrel taste! Keep in mind, I was only 18 at the time and this was my first wine experience whatsoever. The whole concept blew my mind and I marveled at the man standing before me. How could this (older) man have so much energy (and be in such good shape)? I had never met a person like him before and I was amazed at his passion and love for what was to me only grapes back then. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I started to love wine shortly after we met Elio.

Barrel TastingIf you ever have the chance to meet  him (and his incredible daugther Silvia) take it! And I recommend traveling to Cinque Terre, if not for the wine then for the beautiful landscape!

Wine Opener: Which ones do you use?

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Wine Opener: Got any favorites?

I don’t know if wine opener is a huge subject, but I certainly have a favorite type. Most people open “regular wines” (as in not old ones with difficult corks) and now there’s glass and screw cap, so many also don’t need an opener. Honestly, I prefer corks. Not sure why. Maybe it feels more natural that way? Any opinions?

wine opener

Anyway, if you do have a “normal” cork, the ones pictured are the most common ones these days. And yes, I know, it looks like I steel wine openers for a living, but I swear I asked if it was OK for me to “steal” them. Thank you Nino Negri, Fratelli Revello, Manzone and Vietti!

All the openers pictured are called sommelier’s kinves. My favorite opener is the one on the left, the red one from Vietti. of course it doesn’t have to be from Vietti but that type of opener, with only one metal “arm”, is my weapon of choice. The one with two “arms” just doesn’t feel as good to use, not sure why. Any thoughts?

Other types of wine openers are twist corkscrews, air pressure wine openers, winged corkscrews and Ah So openers (the one for old bottles).  Check out a more detailed description here.

Enzoboglietti – Wine of the Week

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Enzoboglietti Barbera d’Alba 2015

Although you can’t find Enzoboglietti in Norway, if you’re in find their wines you should try a glass (or a bottle). A medium size winery in La Morra (100 000 bottles a year), this family run winery produces many great quality wines of many good wines.

Among them are Brunate, Boiolo and Case Nere. They have plots in Serralunga, Barolo and La Morra (and a few other places) and they make 15 different types of wine! Read more about them here. 

Enzoboglietti

 

Wine: Barbera d’Alba

Producer: Enzoboglietti

Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy

Grape varieties: Barbera

Vintage: 2015

Eye: bright ruby color

Nose: floral, red fruits, light oak

Mouth: cherry, blackberry, smooth and earthy tannins, balanced acidity

Price Point: $20

Available at Vinmonopolet: no

Available at Systembolaget: no

Palm trees – Which Barolo Winemaker is known for them?

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Which winemaker in Barolo grows palm trees?

I bet you didn’t know that Burlotto grows palm trees as well as grapes. If you get to visit his winery in Verduno, maybe he’ll show you. You can see some of them from the street, including the beautiful big one pictured below. It’s funny to me that almost all the winemakers have their own “thing”. Elio makes sausage, Corino has geese – I wonder what other winemakers are hiding behind their winemaking skills.

If you hadn’t heard about the palm trees, you have probably heard about his wines. In one word – incredible. He recently received 100 points by Galloni for his Barolo Monivgliero 2013, which is a pretty big deal in the wine world. Anyways, if you visit him maybe he’ll tell you about his other hobby and show you his amazing collection of trees (along with his wines of course).

Palm trees

Barolo by Barolo Mascarello: Wine of the Week

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Barolo 2008 Bartolo Mascarello

Of all the Barolo wines, this might be considered one of the best. Wine is all about tastes and is a very personal matter, but Maria Teresa is a legendary wine maker in Piemonte. If you have the chance to taste her wines or even visit her, you should. This wine is well balanced with smooth tannins and powerful notes on the nose and the palate. You can keep this in your cellar for at least another decade, 10 years is still way too young!

Barolo

Wine: Barolo

Producer: Bartolo Mascarello

Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy

Grape varieties: Nebbiolo

Vintage: 2008

Eye: garnet red

Nose: floral notes, spices, dark red berries, licorice

Mouth: smooth tannins, well balanced, red fruits, earth tones

Price Point: $96

Available at Vinmonopolet: usually yes, but sold out as of right now

Available at Systembolaget: no

White Wine for the summer under 300kr

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White wine mood?

Looking for a good white wine to drink this summer?

White Wine

It’s summer, and white wine is on the menu for many people. Vinmonopolet has many good wines, but here are a few of my favorite ones you can find now. Note: some you may have to order, they might not be at a specific Vinmonpol that you visit. And for non Norwegain readers, I am sure you can find them other places too!

Herzu by Ettore Germano

A light, dry, refreshing riesling that is grown in Piemonte. I am not usually a big fan of riesling because I find them too sweet, but this one is perfect. Truly one of my favorite white wines!

Bourgogne Chardonnay by Matrot

Matrot makes wonderful wines, and what’s even better is that you can find a really good one under 200kr. They are proof that amazing wines do not have to cost a fortune. Truly a fresh, balanced wine.

Bourgogne Chardonnay by Carillon

Another good chardonnay that’s also not very expensive. Carillon produces great white burgundy, and it’s great that we can drink such good wines without breaking the bank!

Macon-Villages by Jean-Marc Boillot

Macon-Village is one of my favorite appellations in burgundy. There are so many good producers that make Macon-Villages, and JM Boillot is no exception.