Unfortunately, I did not bring my camera with me today but I have a few iphone photos.
The day started at Vietti, where we tasted all their wines. This is something they do once a month to check the wines evolution in the barrels. After we went to lunch at Le Torri with the entire staff of Vietti!
In the evening I had dinner with all the “kids” my age. The dinner ended at about 1am and we went through about 6 bottles and 4 GT (we were 7 people).
All in all a good day.
I am back in Norway, for good this time, but some things never change. I had the pleasure of attending the Vietti Winemaker dinner at Nedre Foss Gård in Oslo Norway, and it was absolutely fantastic. It was so good to see Elena again, and the wines of course were amazing as always.
One the menu was the Arneis, the Perbacco, Barolo Castiglione and La Crena. The La Crena was incredible! We tasted one new and one old, and although they are both very good, I loved the 1998.
Ca Brione, Nino Negri: I drank the Ca Brione for the first time in a tiny wine bar located in the beautiful town of Bellagio on Lago di Como. It was an instant favorite. Refreshing on a warm summer day, but really suits any season.
Langhe Chardonnay, Cavallotto: Again, Cavallotto is one of my favorite producers, and in addition to his Pinner, his Langhe Chardonnay is very good! I prefer chardonnay less sweet and oaky, so a langhe chardonnay from Piemonte is just perfect for me!
Roero Arneis, Vietti: Slighly biased since I worked with them and they are my good friends, but I think this is one of the best whites from the Barolo region. Very fresh, earthy and easy to drink.
Are you living in Boston? Looking for a place to buy wine? Here are some of my favorite wine stores in Boston:
Central Bottle: One of my favorites. Located in Cambridge, right by MIT, this wine store is a gem. They always have Vietti wines, which you know is one of my favorite. The staff is wonderful, and very helpful. And you can find good cheese and cold cuts, to go with your wine. Check out their website: http://www.centralbottle.com/
Federal Wines and Spirits: A quirky little store, with a very messy basement where you can find Altare and Burlotto. Take a look at their website: http://www.federalwine.com/
Brix Wine Shop: I have never been here, but I have met the wonderful people who run it, and hopefully I’ll make it there soon! Brix offers multiple tastings a week, you can read more about them on their website: http://www.brixwineshop.com/
Gordon’s Fine Wine: Hidden all the way in Waltham, this store which neighbors my favorite restaurant Il Capricio. This store has a great selection, you just have to look.
Summer 2011, I went to Cinque Terre, Italy, with my family. There I met Elio Altare, the winemaker behind Altare wines, and it was one of the most memorable moments in my life. Signor Altare showed me the love he has for his wine, and it sparked something in me. Interest, curiosity, passion, love; call it what you want, but this initial meeting has started me on a sort of journey, a journey that evolved the next summer.
Summer, 2012, I had the pleasure of experiencing a wine tasting for the first time, in Piemonte, Italiy. My Dad has long been interested in wine, and finally I had the opportunity to see what all the fuss was about. Because to me, wine was just wine. Alcohol. Some tasted good, some tasted not so good. But in the end, to me, it was just a bottle with alcoholic content. After last summer, I no longer see it that way. And I will tell you why.
I am not sure where to begin. But I soon figured out that the bottle sitting in front of me had more to it than first meets the eye. The people I met, the farmer who produce the wine, they are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. Their passion for what they do is contagious. They tell their story, using their whole bodies, explaining and elaborating on the long process behind the bottle sitting in your home. These people care for their grapes, they care for their wine, and they treat the whole process with lots and lots of love. They light up when talking about their wines, and it is clear they really love what they do.
After meeting some of the winemakers in person, it makes all the difference, at least to me. When I open a Vietti wine, not only do I enjoy the taste, but I recall all those incredible moments I had with Elena, one of makers of Vietti wine. And I think maybe that for me, that is the point. I’m not that interested in all the details of the actual process of making wine. I am interested in the people, the story, and the passion.
Rejoice.
PIEMONTEGIRL 