Tag Archives: piemonte

Mauro Veglio’s Arborina is to die for

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Mauro Veglio Barolo Arborina 2011

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you know I spend a lot of time with Mauro Veglio and his wife. And you probably also know that I am a huge fan, not just of their wines but of them. And their Barolo Arborina is no exception. 2011 was a good year, especially for my palate. So it’s no surprise I love their Arborina from that year. Barolo’s are heavy, and I struggle with the tannins, and although this wine has tannins, it’s very well balanced!

Mauro Veglio Arborina

Wine: Barolo Arborina

Producer: Mauro Veglio

Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy

Grape varieties: nebbiolo

Vintage: 2011

 

Eye: dark ruby color

Nose: strawberries, floral, blackberries, licorice, hint of tobacco

Mouth: dark cherries, prunes,  well balanced

 

Price Point: $40

Available at Vinmonopolet: no

Available at Systembolaget: yes

Winery Wednesday: Manzone

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Winery Wednesday: This time I am taking you to Monforte

In case you haven’t been paying attention, I have been doing Winery Wednesday for quite some time now, recommending wineries to visit in the Piemonte region. This wednesday it’s Manzone’s turn.

Winery Wednesday

Mirella Manzone

Manzone is located a little “out of my comfort zone” (we all know I am a La Morra fan), but you should make the trip! And if you’re lucky you get to meet Mirella (pictured above). Mirella and her brother Mauro recently joined their father Giovanni at the winery, and the three of them work together to produce the wines.

Manzone has a pretty good selection of wines as you can see below. And what’s cool about them is that all their wines have names. Normally all the cru barolos have names, but Manzones dolcetto is called “Le Cilegie” and the Barbera superiore is called “La Marchesa”. They also produces a white wine, Langhe Rossese Bianco, a fairly unusual grape that originally comes from Cinqueterre.

Winery Wednesday

Manzone Lineup

Anyways, if you are looking for a winery to visit, stop by Manzone. You can check out their website here.  And stay tuned for another Winery Wednesday next week!

I have a new favorite place, and it’s in Perno!

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… Repubblica de Perno

Ever been to Perno? Ever heard of this restaurant?

Repubblica di Perno

Marco Forneris, the chef

This cozy gem is tucked away in a little town called Perno, near Castilione Falletto. It’s not very far way from my usual stomping grounds (La Morra) but it feels far away because of the small windy roads and the fact that you have to drive all the way around Castiglione. Anyways, if you have never been here, you should go!

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Repubblica di Perno is “simple” but exquisite. They serve traditional food with a creative spin and the result is out of this world. Marco Froneris, the chef, used to work at La Libera in Alba. Ever been there? Anyways, Marco and his wife create a truly wonderful experience at this small restaurant in the middle of this small town, with good service and good food! The ingredients are fresh and the food made with a little TLC.

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If you go, I recommend the tajarin, maltagliati and the bistecchine. And if you’re more adventurous than me. I have been told that the lingua and the uovo are amazing! I can’t guarantee that the menu pictured will be the same if you go, as the dishes vary seasonally and probably also based on the raw materials. But anything should be delicious!

How To Wine Travel has also written about Repubblica di Perno if you want to take a look!

Wine of the Week

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Wine Review: Andrea Oberto Langhe Nebbiolo 2012

Wine Review

Wine Review Andrea Oberto

 

Wine: Langhe Nebbiolo

Producer: Andrea Oberto

Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy

Grape varieties: Nebbiolo

Vintage: 2012

 

Eye: ruby red, garnet reflections

Nose: floral, violets, red fruits,

Mouth: warm, rich, balanced

 

Price Point: $18

Available at Vinmonopolet: No, but you can find his Barolo and Dolcetto

Available at Systembolaget: No

Check out Andrea Oberto here: http://www.andreaoberto.com/ 

Fun Fact Friday

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Barolo is normally associated with wine, but sometimes we forget that many of the winemakers are farmers. Which means their skill also goes beyond the vineyards. So it’s self explanatory that many grow their own vegetables. And the “best garden” (according to the locals) is the garden of the Corino family. Giovanni and Carlo.

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The gardens, which are located beside the Corino winery, are what all the other rookie gardners aspire to. If you need any tips, I am sure the brothers won’t mind a chat. The only requirement is that you speak Italian and Piedmontese. Good luck!

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What is Giovanni Corino known for (besides wine)?

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Fun Fact Friday: Giovanni Corino

Do you know what Giovanni Corino is know for besides wine? Gardening!

Giovanni Corino

Barolo is normally associated with wine, but sometimes we forget that many of the winemakers are farmers. Which means their skill also goes beyond the vineyards. So it’s self explanatory that many grow their own vegetables. And the “best garden” (according to the locals) is the garden of the Corino family. Giovanni and Carlo each have their own garden, both equally wonderful (at least in my non professional opinion.)

Giovanni Corino garden

The gardens, located beside the Corino winery, are what all the other rookie gardeners aspire to. If you need any tips, I am sure the brothers won’t mind a chat. The only requirement is that you speak Italian and Piedmontese. Good luck!

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Throwback to picking onions in Elio Altare’s garden

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Elio Altare and his garden

As a farmer, Elio Altare does not only grow wine, he also has his own garden. If you are lukcy, you will find him braiding onions or picking fruits of the trees beside the winery, and he will most likely be sporting this wonderful red outfit (pictured below). And if you know Elio, you know that he doesn’t grow fruits and vegetables to make money; he does it because that way he’s certain they are organic. Besides, I think he enjoys it! Once a farmer, always a farmer.

Elio’s Onions
Elio Altare

 

Where does all of Elio’s produce go?

What I’m guessing started as a small garden for the family, has grown, and the Altare family has more produce then they can eat. So, they sometimes give it away! My family and I were visiting Elio Altare one day a few years ago and we found him in the garden braiding onions. (Btw, braiding onions is just braiding the green “leaves”, a way to make them stick together). Anyway, he was nice enough to give us a few bunches to bring home.

And here I am (a few years ago) proudly holding Elio Altare’s onions in front of my family’s house in Norway! If I remember correctly, we did actually eat them. How many people can say they have had Altare onions for dinner?

Looking for a winery to visit this summer?

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Alessandro Veglio’s winery is on my list of places to visit

You may have heard of the winery Mauro Veglio’s, and you guessed it: Alessandro is related to Mauro. Just below Mauro’s winery you will find Alessandro Veglio. He is a fairly new to the business, but his wines are excellent. And it always helps that he’s a great guy!

Winery Wednesday

Alessandro Veglio

His lineup includes Gattera, a cru barolo located near the famous cedar tree. I recently drank his 2008 Gattera; a fabulous wine! If you visit him you might be lucky enough to meet his english bulldog Poldo. However, he only sticks around for a few minutes before he retreats to take a nap. Quite a character.

Norwegians, you will find the wines at Vinmonopolet as he recently started shipping wine to Norway! Yay! However, I am uncertain which of the wines will be available, but hey; a few wines are better than none!

How can you book a visit to the winery?

Alessandro doesn’t seem to have his own website (which reminds me I should talk with him about that) but you can contact him through the Agriturismo next door to the winery. Check it out here. If for some reason that doesn’t work, you can always as Manu at Cantina Comunale to call him for you!

Looking for a good summer wine?

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In need of good a summer wine?

Wines are good all year, but some work better than others as “summer wine”. Below are a few of my favorites to drink during the summer months (or weeks if you live in Norway!)

Summer wine 2017

Starting from the left, we have Ettore Germano’s Herzu. It is by far one of my favorite whites from Piemonte. I don’t usually enjoy riesling, but this wine is superb, especially on a hot day. Next up is Cavallotto’s Langhe Chardonnay. Always a good choice.

Moving away from white to red, we have Freisa by Bartolo Mascarello. I am not usually very fond of freisa for some reason, but it can be quite enjoyable in the summer time (don’t know why it tastes better than in the winter, but whatever). Now, dolcetto might be my all time favorite wine to drink in the summer. A glass of slightly chilled dolcetto is hard to beat. Mauro Veglio and Elio Altare make excellent dolcetto, so you can’t go wrong there! After dolcetto comes barbera and Vietti’s La Crena might be the best of the best! Although it is a heavier wine and might be best to enjoy with food, barbera is still a very good choice! Last but not least we have Langhe Nebbiolo. The Rinaldi “nebbe” is fresh and not too heavy (although world class and on Barolo level) so if you can get your hands on this, you will not be disappointed!

Notice I did not mention barolo. Not because barolo is bad or because I don’t drink barolo in july, but because when I think of summer wine barolo is not the first thing that comes to mind. On a hot summer day I prefer a light wine, without too many tannins, and the wines mentioned above fit my “criteria”.

Do you have any favorite summer wines?

Most of these you can find at Vinmonopolet (or they should have them) but they may be sold out. I always recommend checking online.