Tag Archives: piemonte

Oddero

Posted on by
Reply

si2

Isabella Oddero and I have been friends online for a while, and I figured it was time to meet in person. And what better way thank to do a tasting at the winery. She was kind enough to show me around even though she was sick, and I got the grand and Manhatten, her golden retriever, joined us in the cellar.

si

The Oddero winery is an old one, one of the historical ones in Piemonte, dating back to the 18th century. At the start of the tour there is a little museum showing the old tools used to make wine. I just have to say “Thank God for technology.”

si1

Today, Christina Oddero is the main winemaker, with her niece Isabella doing most of the travelling and wine marketing. The first recorded bottle of wine made is in 1878. Another interesting fact about the Oddero winery is that they have a vineyard in Barbaresco, and make a Barbaresco wine, but they are one of the few who are allowed to bring the grapes back to La Morra and make it there. Usually, if you have vineyards in Barbaresco you can only call the wine Barbaresco if the wine is made within the borders of Barbaresco. The exception was made because Oddero started making Barbaresco before the rule was set in place.

si3

After the tour, we of course tasted some wines. We started with their White wine, which is a blend of Riseling and Chardonnay. It is an unusual blend of grapes, but it was very good and refreshing. We went on to the reds, starting with Dolcetto, then Barbera, then Barolo of course, their Barbaresco, and at the end I tried their Moscato. I LOVE Moscato, especially in the summer! And their Moscato Vineyard was the dowry from Isabella’s grandmothers wedding.

More e Macine

Posted on by
1

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…)

IMG_3910

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

Brezza

Posted on by
Reply

Brezza, a winery, hotel and restaurant, lies right on the edge of the town Barolo. The Brezza family bottled their first wine in 1910. Today, the fourth generation runs the operations, with over twenty two hectares. Brezza also has a hotel and a restaurant.

IMG_5394

Brezza has a Langhe Chardonnay and a Rosé. Not many wineries I have visited makes a rosé and it was interesting to taste. I tasted almost all the wines, and I think my favorites were the Barbera Santa Rosalia, Nebbbiolo Santa Rosalia and Barolo Classico 2011. There were a vast number of wines to chose from, and of course the others were good, but the abovementioned three wines stood out for me.

IMG_5391

Brezza uses glass corks on some of their wine. There are different reasons to do this. One is to reduce the number of corcked wines. It is also said that the glass cork preserves the wines better, and the wine will hold onto it’s freshness longer. I have very little knowledge when it comes to traditional cork vs glass cork, but I know the DOCG does not allow glass corks, at least not yet.

Elvio Cogno

Posted on by
1

IMG_5348

Today I visited the Elvio Cogno winery. Nadia Cogno showed me around the beautiful cantina that sits atop a hill just outside Novello in Barolo. Cogno used to be partners with Marcarini in La Morra, but in 1990 they decided to move to Novello. After 4 generations of winemakers, it is Valter Fissore and Nadia who run the winery today.IMG_5370

During my visit I got to taste the Anaschetta, Dolcetto Mandorlo, Barbera “Bricco di Merli”, Langhe Nebbiolo Montegrilli, Barbaresco Bordini, Barolo Cascina Nuova, and the Barolo Ravera. I think my favorite was the Barolo Ravera. Although the Nebbiolo was also very good!

IMG_5358IMG_5360

I thought it was interesting how they put the barbera in oak but not their langhe nebbiolo! In my mind it’s wonderful that each winery has it’s own quirks and ideas.

Vineyard Road Portfolio Tasting 2015

Posted on by
Reply

Vineyard Road had their portfolio tasting at Eastern Standard today.

IMG_4823

I was very excited to meet with Riccardo Sgarra with Paolo Scavino. His wines have been relevant in the Cantina Granveien household recently, and I was eager to learn more about the winery.

IMG_4820

Riccardo had a whole lineup, starting with their only white, going through the more basic wines and ending with their barolos. Hopefully I’ll be able to visit the winery this summer

In addition to Paolo Scavino, I stopped by a Riesling table, where they had a bottle of Keller Riesling. Although Riseling is not my favorite, it was a good experience.

Vineyard Brand has a great selection, a good variety and very nice people, so the tasting was a great experience.

Mangialonga 2013

Posted on by
3

Almost a year ago, I had the pleasure of participating in the Mangialonga.
 For those of you who don’t know, Mangialonga is basically a “walkathon” where you walk about 2km, while eating and drinking. Drinking a lot!
 EVERYONE is welcome (you have to buy a ticket of course), but last year dogs, and kids, and adults, and cripples and whatever else came through the Start line and the crossed the finish line a few drops of alcohol later.
 At the end, there is a party, with Moscato (as much as you may desire).

Ettore ‘Sergio’ Germano

Posted on by
Reply

Ettore ‘Sergio’ Germano produces wine in Serralunga D’Alba in Piemonte, Italy. At a tasting this summer, I had the pleasure of tasting both his reds and his whites. My personal favorite was the Herzu riesling, a refreshing white wine that is a recurring one in Cantina Granveien, also know as my home. I don’t have much experience with his reds, but from what I can remember, they were quite good. I met Sergio for the first time this summer, and will be sure to return again soon.

Sergio Germano, current producer of Ettore Germano