I gathered this week with several colleagues from our software firm for a wine tasting of Italian varietals. I wondered if the American palettes would be biased toward the California-grown Italian varietals. I was surprised by the “favorites” rating results.
Our tasting menu included Italian appetizer pairing with appetizers catered by Cavalli's/Dallas/McKinney. Here is the wine progression with ratings:
Wine |
Appetizer Pairing |
|
2011 |
Gattavecchi Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG |
Salmon Puffs |
2011 |
Costamolino/Argiolas Vermentino di SardegnaDOCG (WA 90 Pts.) |
|
2006 |
Canneto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG (WA 91 Pts.) |
Stuffed mushrooms (Vegetable herb stuffing) |
2004 |
Casisano- Colombaio Brunello di Montalcino, DOCG, (WE 90pts. WS 90 Pts.) |
Pear and Gorgonzola Arancini |
2008 |
Seghesio Venom, Rattlesnake Hill, Alexander Valley, CA (WE 94 Pts.) (Sangiovese, French Oak) |
|
2008 |
Benessere Sagrantino – Napa Valley |
Fig Infused Goat Cheese Crostini |
2007 |
Seghesio Omaggio, Super Tuscan-style (WS 92 Pts.) |
Pork Belly Bites with a Cranberry Glaze |
2006 |
Accordini “Le Bessole” Amarone della Valpolicella (93 Pts.) |
Duck Fois Gras on Butter Crostini |
|
|
|
|
Finished with a 2005 Bellini (Rufina) Vin Santo del Chianti |
(recommend Biscotti) |
In my previous article on the Chanticleer Winery, Chris Dearden discusses the Cal-Ital movement:See below: "Taste of the Seacoast" Magazine interview: Chris Dearden, Winemaker, Chanticleer Winery, Napa Valley."
The facts: Americans drink one-third international wines and two-thirds domestic wines. 90% of that comes from California. Hypothesis? These non-sommelier, but “practiced” wine drinkers might have a biased palette towards “Cal-Ital” wines. Some history from Cal-Italia organization :
“The history of winemaking by Italian Americans in California goes back to the late 1800’s, beginning in earnest by the late 1880's. That was when a wave of immigrants from Tuscany and the Piedmont began arriving in Northern California. Some had a winemaking background and some did not. And while some cultivated [those grape] they were familiar with in their homeland, most opted to follow the conventions of the day in the selection of which grape varieties to propagate.
About a hundred years later, starting in the late 1980's and well on its way by the early 1990's, there was strong interest in alternatives to the more conventional and familiar varieties cultivated in California. As the interest intensified within a core group of producers looking to explore new and different options, it coalesced and became the category known as Cal-Italia wines.”
Surprise! Here are the “favorite” rankings among my colleagues:
First Place:2008 Seghesio Venom, Alexander Valley
Second Place:(tied) 2004 Casisano Brunello di Montalcino and Benessere Sagrantino (Napa Valley
Third Place:(3-way tie) 2007 Seghesio Omaggio (Sonoma), 2011 Costamolino Vermentino di Sardegna, and 2011 Gattavecchi Vernaccia di San Gimignano
My Conclusions: It's a tie....An even ranking and preference. Italian varietals are food friendly and their natural acidity and flavor were enhanced by the food pairings, overcoming any ordinary bias. Both the California grown varietals and the Italian-grown varietals exhibited their origins and terroir well.
Salute!
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