La Morra: A little piece of heaven

La Morra – my favorite place on earth

My latest trip to La Morra was fantastic! I always say that, but that’s because it’s true. This time I tried 3 new wineries, had lunch with a good friend and celebrated my graduation – quite the schedule!

la morra

La Morra

Everyone makes fun of me because I usually see all the same people, eat at the same restaurants and eat the same foods. I know I should venture out, try new things, but when the Vitello Tonnato is soooooo good, then I don’t have any choice, right? Look at the picture below – looks so good right?

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Osteria Veglio, La Morra

3 new wineries in La Morra

I did try 3 new wineries this time: Andrea Oberto, Marcarini and Alberto Burzi. It was very interesting to meet new people, hear their stories and try new wines. All 3  visits had their own charm. Andrea Oberto spoke only italian and I ended up having to translae for some other guests. At Marcarini, the woman who showed me around, started to work with the family and then fell in love with the son. And Alberto Burzi just started his winery, it was so interesting to hear his story.

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Hope to be back in La Morra soon! A la prossima!

Next stop – Piemonte!

Piemonte – It’s been too long!

After a sort of “hiatus” I am finally going back to Piemonte! Since I moved back to Oslo it’s not as easy to take a quick trip for the weekend as it was when I lived in Milan. But the time has finally come! Yay! As per usual, my schedule is jam-packed with lunches, dinners and winery visits.. And this time I will be visiting new wineries. Should be interesting!

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Since the trip is short, I will mostly be eating at the same places and seeing many of the “usual” people, but I am not complaining!! I can’t wait to eat at Osteria Veglio, More e Macine and Osteria Vignaiolo. Ciccio is of course on the itinerary along with some champagne! And I will probably be hanging around Annunziata with my friends (Altare, Corino, Veglio – and the geese!!)

If you’re in Piemonte October 12-15 let me know!

 

Alessandro Veglio Dolcetto

Alessandro Veglio – getting better year after year

It’s always a pleasure to drink the wines of Alessandro Veglio, as you can pretty much taste the hard work and genuine effort he puts into his “grape juice”! Dolcetto is a very “basic” wine, but it’s one of my favorites. The one Alessandro Veglio makes is no exception. Balanced, well rounded, fresh, easy to drink: just as a good dolcetto should be! Alessandro started making wine fairly recently, and in my opinion his wines are getting better and better. Not that they were not good before. I opened a 2008 Barolo Gattera and it was absolutely fantastic! Way to go Ale!

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Wine: Dolcetto

Producer: Alessandro Veglio

Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy

Grape varieties: Dolcetto

Vintage: 2015

 

Eye: deep red color (typical of dolcetto)

Nose: cherries, dark fruits (plum), light, fresh,

Mouth: fruity, hit of chocolate, some licorice

Price Point: $15

Available at Vinmonopolet: Yes

Available at Systembolaget: No

Merete Bø has also reviewed the wine, check out her notes here.

Andrea Oberto – San Giuseppe

Andrea Oberto Barbera San Giuseppe

Andrea Oberto has become a new staple at Cantina Granveien, and hopefully I’ll bring some home after I visit them in October. As of now I do not know very much about the winery or the wines, but I will visit them in October and learn more about them! In the meantime you can check out Andrea Oberto’s wines here.

 

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Wine: Barbera San Giuseppe

Producer: Andrea Oberto

Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy

Grape varieties: Barbera

Vintage: 2015

 

Eye: bright ruby red

Nose: dark fruits, cherry, some spices

Mouth: dark berries, long finish, round tannins

Price Point: $16

Available at Vinmonopolet: Yes

Available at Systembolaget: No

Piemontegirl Needs Your Help

tbt cedar treePiemontegirl is going back to Piemonte – Finally!

It’s been waaay to long since last time. In May we celebrated my dad’s birthday and there was little time for exploring and going off on my own. This time I will be there for a long weekend, all by myself, and I am looking for recommendations on who to see and where to eat.

What wineries should I visit?

This is an area where I, Piemontegirl, could use some work. I usually just go back to the regular ones, mostly because I want to see old friends and try their new vintages. I will of course do that this time as well, but I also want to try something new. Any ideas?

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Got any good food recommendations?

There is no shortage of food in Piemonte, but I am tempted to try something new for once. Got any suggestions? I am obviously not looking for sushi or spanish tapas, but maybe it’s time I venture outside of La Morra? hehe…

Vinmonopolet: Wines under 200kr

Vinmonopolet: good selections for a reasonable price

There are quite a few wines available at Vinmonopolet, but you can find some great wines at reasonable prices. (Although that’s not always the case). In any event, I have listed some wines that I think highly of and that as of now are available. However, bear in mind that most of these wines have to be ordered, as in they are not usually in the stores.

 

Trediberri Barbera d’Alba , 170kr

Andrea Oberto Dolcetto d’Alba , 169kr

Azelia Dolcetto d’Alba Bricco dell’Oriolo , 189kr

Alessandro Veglio Dolcetto d’Alba , 194kr

Trediberri Langhe Nebbiolo , 185kr

Burlotto Langhe Nebbiolo , 145kr

Vinmonopolet: Wines 255kr and under

Good selections for a reasonable price

There are quite a few wines available at Vinmonopolet, andyou can find some great wines at reasonable prices. (Although that’s not always the case). Sometimes there are so many options that it’s hard to know what to buy. And if you don’t know the wines or the wine maker it can be difficult to know exactly what you are getting.

In any event, I have listed some wines that I think highly of and that as of now are available. However, bear in mind that most of these wines have to be ordered, as in they are not usually in the stores.

Here are the wines:

Oddero Barbera d’Alba, 245kr

Burlotto Barbera d’Alba, 255kr

Alessandro Veglio Langhe Nebbiolo, 250kr

Cavallotto Langhe Nebbiolo, 255kr

Vietti Perbacco, 250kr

Uve – New place to drink in La Morra

Uve Rooms & Wine Bar

There are always popping up new places to eat, drink and sleep in La Morra, and Uve is one of them. It’s located in the main street leading up to the *top* of La Morra. You can also stay there, they have rooms, but I have not tried it yet. I usually stay at Blueberry, but I’d like to try Uve sometime soon; it’s always nice to mix it up.

Anyway, I have been to the wine bar and it was really nice. You can sit inside or outside, but if the weather permits I always prefer to sit outside. They have many tables scattered around the garden, and although there is no view of the Langhe, it’s very cozy. The wine list was of course also good (it’s not exactly hard to find good wines in the area). Overall a very pleasant experience and I will definitely come back.

Any of you ever tried the rooms?

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Trediberri – Langhe Nebbiolo 2016

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:

Enzoboglietti – Wine of the Week

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