Wine: Barolo
Producer: Pira
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Nebbiolo
Vintage: 2007
Eye: Garnet red with orange reflections
Nose: earthy, spicy notes, fresh
Mouth: dark fruit, licorice, some tobacco
Price Point: $55
Available at Vinmonopolet: yes, but not this vintage
Nebbiolo evening, Corino and Curto
Langhe Nebbiolo @ Cantina Granveien
Friday Pizza and Pizza Wine, trying something new.
Burlotto is always a good choice.
Crashing my parents lunch so I can drink some good wine @ Le Benjamin
Blind Tasting is always fun!
Bruno Rocca Rabaja Barbaresco 2012
Wine: Barbaresco Rabaja
Producer: Bruno Rocca
Region/Appellation: Piemonte
Grape varieties: Nebbiolo
Vintage: 2012
Eye: Ruby garnet
Nose: floral, raspberry, cherry
Mouth: soft broad tannins, warm, redcurrant, blackberry, earthy,
Price Point: $60
Available at Vinmonopolet: No
It is so good to be back. I went directly from the airport to my brothers apartment, dropped my bags and headed straight for Lupa! Truly one of my favorite places. I always feel like I am coming home. I had a few glasses of Moscato, said hello to Joel, my favorite person at Lupa and met up with some friends.
After Lupa, my family and I went to Maialino for dinner. Maialinos food is good, but it’s the wine list that has us coming back for more. They have a ton of cool old stuff that is not too expensive and the selection is huge. Tonight we had Herzu by Ettore Germano, Langhe Nebbiolo by Burlotto and a 1994 Dolcetto by Bruno Giacosa. A great start to my NYC trip!
First whole day in paradise!
The day started “slow” with a cappucino at Corte Gondina and some “sightseeing” in La Morra.
I ended up having lunch at Osteria Dei Vignaiolo in Santa Maria, one of my favorite restaurants. The Panna Cotta there is to die for. The sun was out and I sat outside enjoying a bottle of Cavallotto Pinner. Life could not be better.
After lunch I went to More e Macine and shared the rest of the bottle with the staff there. I love spending time there. Always someone to talk to, always a good time. After a quick stop there I went over to Revello for a tour and a tasting. It was my first time there, although not the first time drinking their wines.
Ended the day at Mangé with a bottle of Mauro Veglio dolcetto and some very good food. Excited for tomorrow, should be a hell of a birthday celebration!
I recently discovered, and befriended, the winemakers at Azelia. Located at the bottom of Castiglione, next to Paolo Scavino, you find the not so small winery of Azelia. It just so happens that Azelia, Cavallotto and Scavino are all related– welcome to Barolo!
At the Azelia winery, Lorenzo the son is now the 5th generation of winemakers. Lorenzo, named after his grandfather, works with his dad at the winery. When you go on the tour, you will pass by a corner with a bunch of wine stacked. This is wine from the vintage Lorenzo was born, and it will be saved until a wedding or a birthday. A very nice idea, I wish my parents had been into wine when I was born.
Azelia makes a fairly wide range of wines, red, from Dolcetto to Barolo Riserva. What is interesting about Azelia, is that a large portion of their vines are very old. The vines used to make the Barbera Punta is around 60 years old. So the Azelia barbera is rather different from a lot of other barbera’s from the Barolo region.
If you want to visit the winery, you can call ahead or send an email. Check out their website for more information.
If you are staying in the Barolo area, More e Macine is a must! The restaurant is located in La Morra, along the “main road” (if there is such a thing in La Morra…)
Do not be fooled by the rather “simple” look, the food is great, wine list superb and staff incredible! Ito, the main man, is hilarious, a die hard juventus fan and a big champagne drinker. You can come to More e Macine for coffee, an aperitivo, lunch, dinner, or just to say hi! There is no occasion unfit for More e Macine.
You will also most likely run into the local winemakers, as it is a popular place for them to get a glass of champagne and hang out.
My brother leaving More e Macine with a bottle of Marengo
Welcome to Vinoteca Centro Storico! This is where the infamous Ciccio works, a man who also goes by the name Alessio. He is said to have the best champagne list outside of France, and I don’t think that is far from the truth.
Apart from his excellent taste in Champgane, you also get really good food, a freindly staff and a great wine list. Ciccio’s wife also works there, and the two of them have created a marvelous restaurant. There is room for everyone, not just the regulars that have accumulated over the years.
And more often than not, Ciccio does something crazy, like offer a blind tasting of a 1978 Barbaresco, Albino Rocca. If you’re lucky you will witness or even take part in these crazy shenanigans, and have a good story to tell your friends. You will also often run into winemakers from the area, who are there to enjoy a meal or have a quick drink with Ciccio.
Centro Storico is located in Serralunga, in the center, (Via Roma 6). You can call them at +39 0173 613203. They are closed Monday.
Last semester my friend Julia and I popped open a bottle of Vadio Sparkling Wine. We also had Vadio red, 2009. Vadio is produced by her sister, Eduarda Dias. Vadio is from Bairrada, Portugal, and they produce white, red and sparkling.
What’s interesting about this wine is that it is made with Baga, a grape that is found primarily in Bairrada. However, it’s “related” to Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo.
I have not had a lot of Portuguese wine, so I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but I thought it was very good. And it’s fun when you drink wine where you know the producers!
You can read more about their wines here: http://www.vadio.pt/
PIEMONTEGIRL 