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

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?

uve

 

 

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

Palm trees – Which Barolo Winemaker is known for them?

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

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

Giovanni Corino and his geese. Did you say fun fact?!

You heard me: Giovanni Corino has geese

Most of you think of wine when you hear Giovanni Corino. And they still make wine (don’t worry), but they also have geese! How cool is that?

Giuliano Corino and the Geese

I am actually terrified of geese, so the pictures are really zoomed in. These geese are not really scared of humans so they will come right up close, especially if Giovanni is there. They LOVE him. And his vegetables. Giovanni is also known for his garden (I wrote about it earlier), and it turns out the geese are just as big a fan as me. Rumor has it they ate all his lettuce and some of the carrots. Oops. Anyway, maybe it’s just me that’s fascinated with farm birds. But if you go, let me know! Are you brave enough to pet them? I was!

Giovanni Corino and the Geese

Just casually petting his goose

Bartolo Mascarello: The Woman, the Myth, the Legend

Bartolo Mascarello: A legend

Maria Teresa Bartolo Mascarello is an incredible woman. If you haven’t been to her winery, you definitely should. You’ll find her in Barolo (the town), but don’t try to find her email adress to make an appointment. She doesn’t really use email. Or the internet. So call or ring the bell.

Bartolo Mascarello

MT is a busy woman so you may be shown around by Alan, a wonderful man from the United States who has worked with Bartolo Mascarello for years. Before Maria Teresa was the boss, her dad Bartolo was the boss. This winery has always been firm “traditionalists”, which means they only use big botti (and not small barrique).

Bartolo Mascarello

Winemaker Selfie

Maria Teresa is one of the most passionate winemakers I have ever met. She makes wines because that’s what she loves, and she’s not shy about it. Hearing her talk about her work is enchanting and I love listening every time I get to do it.

Friday Pizza with a twist

How to make Friday Pizza Mario Batali style

As you know, I make pizza almost every friday, also known as Friday Pizza. I have been making the same pizza for years, so I recently tried a new recipe. And you know what? I will probably make it this way going forward instead of the old way.

Because H-O-L-Y C-O-W: It turned out amazing!

IMG_8471

Friday Pizza Ingredients

Dough:

  • 1 1/4 cups warm water
  • 1 1/4 ounce pack active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 3 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1/2 medium carrot, grated
  • 2 (28 ounce) cans peeled whole tomatoes
  • Salt

 

Friday Pizza Ingredients

Friday Pizza steps:

Pizza dough:

  1. Combine yeast. warm water and sugar, let sit for 10 minutes (until frothy)
  2. Combine flour and salt in a large bowl
  3. Add yeast mixture and mix the ingredients until the dough is too stiff to stir. Continue with your hands until the dough doesn’t stick to the sides (add flour as necessary)
  4. Leave to rise.

Pizza sauce:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a pan, add onion and garlic, cook until soft and light golden brown (about 8-10 minutes)
  2. Add thyme and carrot, cook 5 more minutes, until carrot is quite soft
  3. Add the tomatoes and juice, bring to boil, while stirring (and crushing the tomatoes)
  4. Lower the heat after it is brought to boil, let simmer for 30 minutes
  5. This is where I put my twist: put it in a food processor. This will make it a smooth sauce (I don’t like lumps).
Friday Pizza

Friday Pizza

When you have made the dough and the sauce, roll out the pizza (or toss it if you are that good), add the sauce and whatever ingredients you like. In the picture there is regular margherita and a four cheese pizza, also a recipe from Mario Batali. Here are some of his recipes.